Abstract
Abstract. Geographic location is one of the most fundamental and indispensable information elements for us to work on disasters. For example, in the case of the Tohoku Earthquake in 2011, aerial photos taken immediately after the earthquake greatly improved the information sharing among different government offices and facilitated the rescue and recovery operations, and maps prepared after the disasters have been assisting the rapid reconstruction of the affected local communities. In addition, in the case of the Kumamoto Earthquake in 2016, up-to-date geospatial information technologies were well applied to grasp the disaster situation such as UAVs and InSAR. Advancement of web mapping technology allows us to understand the situation by overlaying various location-specific data on base maps on the web and specify the areas which the activities should be focused on. 3D modelling technology enables realistic understandings of the relationship between disaster and topography. Geospatial information technology can support the proper judgement of preparation and emergency response against disaster by the individuals and local communities through such as hazard mapping and information services using mobile devices. Thus, geospatial information technology is now more and more taking vital role for all the stages of disaster risk management and responses. Acknowledging such vital role of geospatial information for disaster reduction, Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030, adopted at the Third United Nations World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction repeatedly indicates the importance of use of geospatial information technology for disaster reduction.
Highlights
Geographic location is one of the most fundamental and indispensable information elements for us to work on disasters
In 2012, on the basis of the lessons learned about the usefulness of geospatial information in the disaster response for the 2011 off the Pacific coast of Tohoku Earthquake, the above act was amended to include a provision for maximizing the use of geospatial information in the collection and the communication of information concerning disaster prevention, reflecting larger expectation by the government for the geospatial community to provide proper geospatial information promptly
After the Tohoku Earthquake, the GSI delivered base maps of damaged areas to relevant government offices, starting from small-scale maps sent to central government offices via the Internet or in the form of paper maps
Summary
Geographic location is one of the most fundamental and indispensable information elements for us to work on disasters. In Japan, the Basic Act for Disaster Countermeasures designates relevant government agencies and other organizations for disaster response operations. The Geospatial Information Authority of Japan (hereinafter “GSI”), the national organization in Japan’s government for production and coordination of basic geospatial information, is included as one of them, having a legal authority providing GSI with a mandate to work on disasters. In 2012, on the basis of the lessons learned about the usefulness of geospatial information in the disaster response for the 2011 off the Pacific coast of Tohoku Earthquake (hereinafter “the Tohoku Earthquake”), the above act was amended to include a provision for maximizing the use of geospatial information in the collection and the communication of information concerning disaster prevention, reflecting larger expectation by the government for the geospatial community to provide proper geospatial information promptly
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