Dr. Naho Yamashita

Assistant Professor

The University of Tokyo

My research expertise is environmental systems engineering and industrial ecology, with a primary focus on advancing circularity and decarbonization in the construction sector. I investigate how construction materials, particularly steel, cement, and timber, can be more sustainably managed throughout their life cycles. My work addresses critical themes such as climate change mitigation and adaptation, construction and demolition waste management, strategic stock management, and urban sustainability. Built on the idea of urban metabolism, I use material stock and flow analysis (MSFA) to measure the stocks and flows of construction materials and their primary elemental components, including calcium, silica, aluminum, and carbon, in urban structures. This method provides a thorough understanding of how industrial material flows affect resource use and CO₂ emissions. It helps find practical strategies for reaching carbon neutrality and material circularity, especially in the Japanese context. Recent projects have included estimating carbon stocks stored in forests and timber used in buildings, addressing potential carbon stocks and evaluating the balance between supply and demand for timber resources. I also examine CO₂ uptake in concrete, exploring its potential to offset emissions from clinker production, one of the most carbon-intensive processes in the construction industry. These studies contribute to the development of a structure- and material-based building stock model that can inform long-term strategies for urban planning and infrastructure management. My research has been supported by the Environment Research and Technology Development Fund, the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, and industry partners such as Shimizu Corporation. I also actively collaborate with international institutions, including Leiden University (Netherlands), CSIRO (Australia), Seoul National University (South Korea), and the University of Freiburg (Germany), to promote interdisciplinary and globally relevant research in sustainable urban development.