College of Engineering-Research Center

     ◎General Information

The Research Center for Soil & Water Resources and Natural Disaster Prevention (SWAN) was officially founded in 2000, after the National Yunlin University of Science and Technology (YunTech) in Taiwan (Republic of China) signed the Cooperation Agreement with the Water Resources Bureau, (predecessor of Water Resources Agency, Ministry of Economic Affairs, WRA). Both SWAN and WRA have been devoted in promoting soil and water conservation and proceed researches, educational awareness and relative prevention works. The work of SWAN, as well as its achievements, led the WRA in 2004 to sign a permanent Memorandum of Agreement with the SWAN and authorized it to get involved more drastically in projects and works of the local communities and the surrounding areas.

Among other major objectives, the SWAN aims to secure the quality and to promote the tasks and the innovations made in the topical soil and water resources and its environment. Among other projects, it updates and disseminates disaster prevention awareness and technical knowledge in order to educate and protect the local communities by providing assistance or by managing soil and water resources conservation projects or disaster prevention works, mostly in the counties of Changhua, Yunlin and Chiayi.

The SWAN has established five (5) Departments; Secretary, Administration, Technical Innovation, Education and Public Awareness, and Soil and Water Conservation and one (1) Laboratory; SWAN Lab, in order to develop and proceed multiple projects and works. The SWAN has managed to receive much positive feedback for its efforts and its contribution in the international research field and in activities all over Taiwan; that is why it has become a national leader in the field of natural resources and hazards. The SWAN has a very unique culture which distinctly sets it apart as one of the premier research centers in Taiwan and makes it a unique professional partner. It cooperates with universities and other research centers across the globe. It is worth mentioning that the SWAN, after becoming a member of the Asian University Network of Environment and Disaster Management (AUEDM) has participated in various environmental researches, disaster risk reduction studies and hazard management projects with several universities in order to create and apply new strategies and technologies on these matters.

◎Our Missions and Profile

A. Local Aspects

1. Assisting the local governments in planning soil and water resources usage.

2. Assisting the local governments in applying frameworks for natural disaster response and prevention.

3. Assisting the local governments in establishing prevention mechanisms and strategies for natural hazards and man-made disasters.

B. National Aspects

1. Advising and assisting the central governments in promoting policies for regional and domestic water resources projects.

2. Advising and assisting the authorities of the Chuo-Shui river in establishing a soil-water resources management system for the Chuo-Shui river alluvial fan.

3. Advising and assisting the central government in adopting and establishing mechanisms and frameworks for plans or projects for nationwide soil/water resources projects and disaster prevention and response.

C. Global Aspects

1. Being an active member and participating in the soil/water resources conservation and natural disaster prevention activities of the international academic society.

2. Applying the international mechanisms and frameworks for soil and water resources and for disaster prevention and response.

3. Sharing related researches, data and results of the SWAN with countries which are in need of assistance.

◎About SWAN

Organization of SWAN

A. Organizational Structure: 1 Director; 1 Executive Secretary and 1 Deputy Executive Secretary; 5 Department Leaders and 5 Vice Leaders; several researchers and experts.

B. Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Director: managing and supervising the operations, formulating the character and the development directions of the SWAN.

2. Executive Secretary and Deputy Executive Secretary: Providing professional and technical expertise, project planning and workflow.

3. Department Leaders and Vice Leaders: Planning and managing the implementation of works and projects, supervising the work progress, administrative matters, technological researches, policy and promotion of works and projects.

4. Researchers: Executing, performing, reporting and composing projects and works.

◎Objectives and Goals

A. Further collaboration and association with industries, governments and academia in order to improve the technology of soil and water resources and disaster prevention.

B. Advising and assisting local governments in soil and water resources and disaster prevention related issues and matters.

C. Cooperating with other institutes and research centers to integrate and exchange both academic and technological information

D. Improving the water quality in the counties of Yunlin, Changhua, Chiayi and Nantou and minimizing the coastal subsidence problems in Chuo-Shui river alluvial fan.

E. Creating and establishing disaster prevention and response mechanisms for both local and central governments, reducing the casualties caused by natural disasters.