Inspection Survey of Forest Roads under Rainy Weather Conditions Conducted as Practical Training for Students

As part of practical training for students, maintenance work on forest roads in the Terasawayama Research Forest at the Faculty of Agriculture, Shinshu University, was scheduled for June 2023. However, because of rainy weather, the focus of the exercise was changed to a road inspection survey. We explained the purpose of the survey to students, and gave a lecture about the significance of maintenance of forest road and drainage facilities. After moving to the survey site, students then walked along the road between the northern and southern ends of the site, which measured approximately 760 m in length. During the inspection, they examined problem points, such as hollows in the roads and clogged drainage ditches, and recorded the locations and issues on a map. The survey was conducted by 36 people (32 students and ４ teaching staff) in 110 minutes. From reports returned by the students, a total of 64 students (by multiple answers) described the inspection survey itself, 53 described practical training under rainy weather, 14 described the significance of practical training in rainy weather (e.g., actual observations of water and sediment movement), and 10 students described the disadvantages of practical training in rainy weather (e.g., notes getting wet). A total of 33 students stated that it enhanced their interest in science or technology, and 23 students described the importance of forest road management. Consequently, the change in the survey due to rainy weather seemed to be beneficial for field education. The success is attributed to the explanation of the survey purpose prior to the inspection, the selection of content that precisely matches the rainy weather conditions, the careful preparation of alternative content in case of bad weather, and the students' previous experience with field education.