Initiatives to create an environment that keeps pests away
Using the knowledge we acquired through the development of BSET, we jointly developed a pest risk display system for greening works in partnership with Ishikatsu Exterior Inc., a Group company specializing in landscaping, in order to simulate the risk of pests during the design stage of projects.
The system supports the creation of an environment that keeps away insects and other creatures that are typically considered harmful, and therefore has the opposite concept of BSET, which supports the creation of an environment that attracts birds and insects. It applies the basic habitat evaluation procedures (HEP), but with the evaluation of “quality” converted to the evaluation of “harm.”
With the cooperation of Ishikatsu Exterior, which possesses the know-how on vegetation, we first developed an evaluation method to score the nuisance level of bugs that attack each tree species to be planted at the site under study based on three factors: human harm, property damage and impression. Furthermore, weights are assigned on the outbreak level of these bugs for each tree species, to come up with an overall score of the risk arising from planting each tree species. The results are then visualized through color coding on the site plan.
Evaluation method of the pest risk display system for greening works
To increase the system’s effectiveness, scores must be provided to as many potential tree species as possible. To achieve this, we created a new plant database that is separate from BSET. The pest risk display system for greening works has been building a performance record by creating proposals for a wide range of properties.
With an extensive plant database as its backbone, the system is also applicable to maintenance works of deciduous trees and other greenery. Hence, we are also working on developing a new system in this area.
Example of a construction using the pest risk display system for greening works
Recognized in the 8th Kids Design Awards:
Green Space Plan at Poppins Nursery School Nishi-Gotanda
The building was designed and constructed by our Company. After careful discussions with Shinagawa Ward, where the school is located, the client and school administrators regarding their vision of ideal childcare facilities in the city center, we proposed a design and construction project that would serve as a model for urban childcare facilities and contribute to the local community as well, using the concepts of “design for seasonality and inspiring curiosity” and “safe and secure childcare facilities.” As we were actively carrying out greening works throughout the facilities with a design for seasonality and inspiring curiosity, we also proposed a plan for planting vegetation with a perspective of controlling the risk of pest outbreaks, with the aim of realizing the concept of safe and secure childcare facilities.
In the final plan, we changed the fragrant olive to Japanese holly and the Chinese evergreen oak to the fruit-bearing Japanese summer orange, to follow the client’s request. The system also provides a database of alternative plants that can be used immediately in the simulation for other plans to suit the client’s requests.