LAB LOGA page on LabLog, a review site (not the lab's official page)
Morimoto Lab
Machine-translated · View original
A lab that explores the future of transportation and cities through data and technology.
AboutAbout the lab
Understanding changing cities and transportation through data.
The Morimoto Lab studies transportation and land use in regional cities.
Its themes relate to urban planning, including promoting public transport, compact cities, and TOD (transit-oriented development) strategies.
The lab also works on issues such as traffic impact assessment, traffic safety, and population projection and urban shrinkage.
Key terms
- TOD
- An approach to urban development centered on public transport hubs such as train stations (transit-oriented development)
- Compact city
- An approach that concentrates urban functions within a compact area in response to population decline
- Intrinsic demand
- Reasons for travel other than reaching a destination, such as enjoying the travel itself
NewsLab news
A student received the Best Student Paper Award at an international conference
An undergraduate student was selected as an Outstanding Presenter at the 53rd Technical Research Presentation Meeting of the Kanto Branch of the Japan Society of Civil Engineers
Professor Morimoto received the President’s Award at the Waseda University Teaching Awards
Two master’s students received the YUPN Best Paper Presentation Awards at the 2025 International Conference of Asia-Pacific Planning Societies
A student received the Best Presentation Award at an international conference
ResearchResearch themes
The Morimoto Lab conducts research along two axes: urban planning and transportation. In urban planning, it covers smart cities, compact cities, and TOD; in transportation, it covers topics such as autonomous driving, LRT (light rail transit), and traffic safety.
*Illustrative imageRethinking the Role of Cities
In response to a changing society, including population decline and global environmental issues, the lab studies “smart cities” that use ICT and “environmentally friendly cities.”
*Illustrative imageCompact Cities and TOD
The lab studies “compact cities,” which concentrate urban functions in response to population decline, and “TOD,” which develops communities around public transport.
*Illustrative imageRethinking Next-Generation Transportation
The lab researches the introduction of “next-generation transportation” such as LRT, autonomous driving, and electric vehicles, as well as “intrinsic demand,” meaning the desire to enjoy travel itself.
*Illustrative imageRoad Space and Traffic Safety
The lab works on reorganizing road space and parking to suit changing transportation systems, making use of the roadside “curbside,” and traffic safety research using AI.
MembersFaculty
The Morimoto Lab consists of faculty members, doctoral, master’s, and undergraduate students, and secretaries.As of 2026
- ProfessorAkinori Morimoto
- ProfessorNaohiro Kitano
- Assistant ProfessorLucas Belliard
- Assistant ProfessorHidetora Tomioka
VoicesStudent voices
Compiled from answers by students who were in the lab. Ratings and reviews reflect individual students' experiences, not the lab's official views.
Students who take part in an interview may receive a thank-you gift worth ¥1,000, regardless of what they say.
On a 4-point scale, ● marks where students' answers fall
Who is this lab for?
What's great about this lab?
What did you learn after joining?
What's the vibe, and what is the professor like?
Where do graduates go?
RelatedLabs similar to Morimoto Lab
Sasaki LabSchool of Creative Science and Engineering, Department of Civil and Environmental EngineeringUrban planning, transportation engineering
Sekine LabSchool of Creative Science and Engineering, Department of Civil and Environmental EngineeringRiver engineering, hydraulics, and urban flood disaster prev…
Sato LabSchool of Creative Science and Engineering, Department of Civil and Environmental EngineeringEngineering design
Ono LabSchool of Creative Science and Engineering, Department of Civil and Environmental EngineeringBridge engineering, steel structures, earthquake engineeringThe information on this page is compiled by the LabLog team from the lab's public information and interviews. For corrections or removal requests, please contact LabLog, not the lab.
Report an errorAbout the images
The top and research theme images are illustrative and were not taken at the lab. They are cropped from Wikimedia Commons images. Cropped CC BY-SA images are provided under the same CC BY-SA license as the original (version shown on each line).
- Top image: “Tochigi Utsunomiya Haga LRT Utsunomiya Sta” Makochan12.9 / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Rethinking the Role of Cities: “20080708 Chicago City Hall Green Roof” TonyTheTiger / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Compact Cities and TOD: “Temporary plaza, Utsunomiya station east” Miyuki Meinaka / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Rethinking Next-Generation Transportation: “Hairpin turn R477” Alpsdake / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Road Space and Traffic Safety: “Fading road crossing in Park View Road N17” Alan Stanton / CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Sasaki Lab): “Aerial view of Autobahnkreuz Köln-Nord” El Grafo / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Sekine Lab): “20081207 Kurobe River Alluvial Fan” Beh / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Sato Lab): “Side View Of Concrete Bridge” Collins Musonda / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Ono Lab): “STEEL GIRDER BRIDGE” Devilbose / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
About LabLog
LabLog is a lab review app for students only. Student members at each university interview students in labs and publish what they say. Student voices can only be read by students who sign up with a university email address. Operated by bestiee Inc.
Learn more about LabLog ↗Search engines and AI may reference the basic lab info and rating summaries on this page and the description of LabLog. Student voices are for student members only. Automated collection by programs (scraping, or input to or training of AI) is prohibited under Article 8 of the Terms of Service. If you need data for research or analysis, please contact us.