“Nature becomes visible only when it’s measured” — Rusutsu Resort launches a hands-on field measurement project for its water and forests
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🔍 Rusutsu Resort’s monitoring activities to “see, understand, and protect” nature
To live in harmony with the water, forests, and snow nurtured by Hokkaido’s natural environment, we carry out monitoring initiatives that observe, measure, and leverage nature itself.
Through sensors and surveys conducted by specialists, we translate nature’s rhythms into data, aiming to balance resort operations with environmental conservation for the future.
💧Water monitoring
- Real-time monitoring of Rusutsu’s abundant water resources—including spring water, groundwater, and river water—using IoT water-level sensors, rain gauges, and flow meters.
- By visualizing the natural flow of water, we are establishing a framework that supports both efficient water use and groundwater recharge—returning water back to nature.
- These data also provide a basis for safeguarding the region’s water environment and help prepare for climate-change impacts and disaster risks.
🌲Forest monitoring
- Forests store water and let it seep slowly into the ground—a process known as “recharge” (kanyō).
- Through monitoring, geological surveys, and on-site forest assessments, we pinpoint areas with high water-retention capacity.
- Where necessary, we thin overcrowded stands or plant new trees to restore the forest’s ability to “nurture water.”
- By understanding the connection between forest and water, we are redesigning the resort’s water cycle from the woods outward.
Exploring the Relationship Between Groundwater and Forests: The Rusutsu Terrain Traversed by Professor Kuraji and Dr. Takashima
❄️Snow monitoring
- Snow—an iconic symbol of Rusutsu—serves both as a natural resource and as the starting point of the water cycle.
- We continuously monitor and record snowfall volume, air temperature, and melt timing, linking these data to the effective use and conservation of snowmelt water.
- In the future, we aim to store and reuse snow—such as for snow-based cooling or agricultural applications—so that it is no longer a single-use resource.
How Much Snow Do We Have? – Let’s Make Better Use of Rusutsu’s Snow!
🧭 The future of Rusutsu, supported by environmental monitoring
Our monitoring is far more than mere data collection—it is our way of listening to the “voices” of water, forests, and snow. We share these insights with local communities, businesses, schools, and our guests so they can inspire the next course of action. The data we gather is applied to initiatives such as the following.
- Resort management based on water, forest, and weather data.
- Application in educational programs—such as geo tours and hands-on materials for school excursions
- Planning and introduction of green infrastructure and regional water management in partnership with businesses and government bodies
- Communicating “visible nature” through blogs and exhibits to foster environmental awareness
🌿 A future we can protect through measurement
Understanding the state of nature is the first step in protecting it. Blending science with sensibility to make nature “visible,” Rusutsu Resort continues to evolve as a destination committed to safeguarding its water and snow for the next 100 years.
From Resort to Future Infrastructure — Rusutsu’s Next Move to Connect IoT and Nature