Disaster Prevention Activities Research Articles

Variation of Geospatial Representation of Community Hazard Maps with Disaster Prevention Activities

Abstract. After the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, the limitation of assistance by public bodies in the time of such massive natural disaster struck has been recognized. Moreover, it has acknowledged that self-help by suffered families and mutual support of neighbours are crucial to mitigate further damage. Since then, the major focus of the disaster management in Japan has altered to effectiveness of non-structural measures for a forecast crisis. Thus, improving the existing hazard maps into those that show actions to be taken by residents in an easy-to-understand manner has been dictated by the national government.This study discusses the geospatial representation of an alternative hazard map from residents’ perspective with the local community activities. Those mapping activities have been conducted for some years in a study area. Then, the geospatial information represented on the community hazard map has gradually changed. At the early year of the activities, the map represents the certainty of disaster risks. At the late year of those after few modifications have made, the map mainly argues the possibility of risks from residents’ perspective.

Using Weather Pattern Recognition to Classify and Predict Summertime Heavy Rainfall Occurrence over the Upper Nan River Basin, Northwestern Thailand

Abstract In this study, self-organizing maps in combination with K-means clustering are used to objectively classify the anomalous weather patterns (WPs) associated with the summertime [May–June (MJ) and July–August–September (JAS)] heavy rainfall days during 1979–2007 over the Upper Nan River basin, northwestern Thailand. The results show that in MJ, intensive rains are mainly brought by the remarkable enhancement of the westerly summer monsoon. Meanwhile, westward-propagating tropical disturbances including tropical cyclones are the primary factors that reproduce heavy rainfall over the Upper Nan in JAS. These results also suggest that the occurrence time of local heavy rainfall is strongly related to the seasonal transition of the summer monsoon over the Indochina Peninsula. The classification results are then implemented with the perfect prognosis and analog method to predict the occurrence (yes/no) of heavy rainfall days over the studied basin in summer 2008–17 using prognostic WPs from the operational Japan Meteorological Agency Global Spectral Model (GSM). In general, the forecast skill of this approach up to 3-day lead times is significantly improved, in which the method not only outperforms GSM with the same forecast ranges, but also its 3-day forecast is better than the 1–2-day forecasts from GSM. However, the false alarms ratio is still high, particularly in JAS. Nevertheless, it is expected that the new approach will provide warning and useful guidance for decision-making by forecasters or end-users engaging in water management and disaster prevention activities.

Resident awareness of disaster prevention and issues of voluntary disaster prevention activities in sediment-related disaster hazard areas

Resident awareness of disaster prevention and issues of voluntary disaster prevention activities in sediment-related disaster hazard areas

Automatic Generation of an Evaluation Model of Regional Disaster Prevention Activities Based on Self-Evaluation Questionnaire

Regional disaster prevention activities must be evaluated in terms of their effectiveness and suitability, and then improved on the basis of this evaluation. Those who can evaluate such activities are required to have abundant on-site experience in and extensive knowledge on disaster prevention. However, there is a shortage of such talent, and the training and nurturing thereof requires considerable resources. To address these issues, machine learning was introduced in our previous study to automate the evaluation of such activities. In the present study, we propose the automatic generation of the evaluation model of such activities using the responses of a self-evaluation questionnaire as the input variables. The output variables are the results of a review committee consisting of experts on disaster prevention. This paper describes the application of the model to the fourth Disaster Prevention Map Contest, examines the predicted results, and discusses the application conditions and issues to be resolved.

The Development of Earthquake Disaster Prevention Education for Schools and its Application

This article aims to explore disaster prevention education strategy for schools and attempts to make some implications for the applications of actual actions for disaster reduction in schools. The paper goes three stages to tackle disaster prevention education and disaster response. First, we reviewed the current status and underlying problems of disaster prevention in Korea and then conducted a case study with the Great Han‐Shin Awaji Earthquake and the Great East Japan earthquake. Finally, we drew out some implications based on the improvements in terms of disaster prevention actions taken after Japanese earthquake. The results of this case study show that disaster prevention training should be based on the education programs involving students, not learning by rote. Keywords: Japan, Disaster Prevention Education, Great Han‐Shin Awaji Earthquake, Great East Japan Earthquake

Design and Implementation of UAV System for Autonomous Tracking

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) is diversely utilized in our lives such as daily hobbies, specialized video image taking and disaster prevention activities. New ways of UAV application have been explored recently such as UAV-based delivery. However, most UAV systems are being utilized in a passive form such as real-time video image monitoring, filmed image ground analysis and storage. For more proactive UAV utilization, there should be higher-performance UAV and large-capacity memory than those presently utilized. Against this backdrop, this study described the general matters on proactive software platform and high-performance UAV hardware for real-time target tracking; implemented research on its design and implementation, and described its implementation method. Moreover, in its established platform, this study measured and analyzed the core-specific CPU consumption.

The capacity building of disaster management in Bojonegoro regency

East Java is a disaster-prone area. Head of the National Disaster Management Agency, Syamsul Maarif (2012) states that “East Java is a disaster supermarket area. Referring to Act Number 24 Year 2007 Concerning Disaster Management, disaster prevention activities are a series of activities undertaken as an effort to eliminate and/or reduce the threat of disaster (Article 1, paragraph 6).The disaster mitigation is a series of efforts to reduce disaster risk, through physical development and awareness and capacity building in the face of disaster (Article 1, paragraph 9). In 2009, the Provincial Government of East Java has been established Regional Disaster Management Agency and complete it through Local Regulation of East Java Province Number 3 Year 2010. This research was conducted in Bojonegoro. This study described the capacity building disaster handling and used descriptive research with qualitative approach. It focused on the capacity building for community preparedness in the face of. This study showed the vulnerability of regions and populations to threats flood and drought in could be physical, social and/or economical. The aims of the capacity building for the individuals and organizations are to be used effectively and efficiently in order to achieve the goals of the individuals and organizations.

An Analysis on the Characteristics and Implications of Disaster Prevention Activities according to the Types of Citizen Participation

An Analysis on the Characteristics and Implications of Disaster Prevention Activities according to the Types of Citizen Participation

Development of Community-based Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Program for Volunteer Leaders of Villages in Disaster-prone Area of Bangladesh

The aim of this study was to develop a community-based disaster prevention and mitigation program for volunteer leaders of villages in disaster-prone areas of Bangladesh. The action research method was used in this study. The target area was 10 villages. A needs survey for disaster prevention and mitigation was conducted among 100 village volunteer leaders (10 leaders from each village). Based on survey results, disaster prevention and mitigation training programs were developed and training contributed to enhancing volunteer leaders’ knowledge and techniques. In order to implement disaster prevention and mitigation activities in the community, the cooperation of the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (the local counterpart in this study) was vital Follow-up programs were modified according to the needs of the target area. Collaborative community-based activities conducted together with municipalities and NPOs will have to be empowered to continue disaster prevention and mitigation activities in the area.

Automatic Performing Method of Regional Disaster Prevention Activities Evaluation Model Using Machine Learning

Automatic Performing Method of Regional Disaster Prevention Activities Evaluation Model Using Machine Learning

Disaster prevention, disaster preparedness and local community resilience within the context of disaster risk management in Cameroon

Cameroon was one of the 57 countries that participated in the Global Network of Civil Society Organizations for Disaster Reduction (GNDR) Views from the Frontline (VFL) 2013 project on everyday disasters, community resilience and disaster preparedness. Working with 6 other civil society organizations, Geotechnology, Environmental Assessment and Disaster Risk Reduction administered 400 questionnaires to frontliners in 7 administrative regions of the country on 14 disaster indicators that assessed the underlying causes of disasters and the level of preparedness and resilience of the communities. Scores from the 89% of informants who responded show that Cameroon occupied the 43rd position globally, was 15th out of the 23 African countries, and was 7th out of the 9 West African countries surveyed. Cameroon average scores for all 14 indicators were lower (poorer) than the West African average, suggesting that a lot more effort is needed in managing disaster risks in the country, i.e., reducing vulnerabilities and increasing preparedness and resilience. At the national level, the Center and Adamaoua Regions recorded the lowest scores of the survey. Above-average scores recorded for some indicators in the Southwest, Northwest and Far North Regions are interpreted to be due to disaster prevention activities like monitoring via early warning systems, resilience building and outreach exercises carried out for disasters like landslides, floods, gas explosions from lakes, and volcanic eruptions, in these areas. Cameroon presently has many laws relating to disaster risk management matters, but an analysis of how the laws are applied shows that the expected results have not been attained, mainly because of over-centralization and a reactive, rather than a proactive approach to disaster risk management. Given her current disaster risk profile, Cameroon has to increase research, better manage, and make disaster risks a central tenet in her development project decision-making, if the goal earmarked in her development vision to become a newly industrialized country by 2035 has to be realized. We propose the creation of an autonomous statutory National Disaster Risk Management Agency which will have a local community-driven bottom-top approach to disaster risk management, and disseminate appropriately tailored disaster risk information to promote a proactive community-based resilience and disaster prevention framework. This will fulfill the post-2015 Sendai framework priority of action No. 2 (strengthening disaster risk governance to manage disaster risk) and appropriately prepare Cameroon to face the challenges of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Household's disaster prevention activities, agglomeration and economic growth

AbstractThis study analyses the effects of household's natural disaster prevention behaviour on the population distribution in urban and rural areas and on fertility in a simple overlapping‐generations model economy. Natural disasters such as floods and earthquakes happen world‐wide and affect the economic activities. This paper specifically addresses household preparatory behaviour for natural disasters and analyses effects of disaster probability on the population distribution in urban areas and rural areas and fertility in an economy. Results of our analyses show that the increase of disaster probability can engender promotion of urban agglomeration and decreases fertility. Moreover, we introduce a public natural disaster prevention policy into the model and analyse the effects of public policy for natural disasters on the economy.

Action-based flood forecasting for triggering humanitarian action

Abstract. Too often, credible scientific early warning information of increased disaster risk does not result in humanitarian action. With financial resources tilted heavily towards response after a disaster, disaster managers have limited incentive and ability to process complex scientific data, including uncertainties. These incentives are beginning to change, with the advent of several new forecast-based financing systems that provide funding based on a forecast of an extreme event. Given the changing landscape, here we demonstrate a method to select and use appropriate forecasts for specific humanitarian disaster prevention actions, even in a data-scarce location. This action-based forecasting methodology takes into account the parameters of each action, such as action lifetime, when verifying a forecast. Forecasts are linked with action based on an understanding of (1) the magnitude of previous flooding events and (2) the willingness to act "in vain" for specific actions. This is applied in the context of the Uganda Red Cross Society forecast-based financing pilot project, with forecasts from the Global Flood Awareness System (GloFAS). Using this method, we define the "danger level" of flooding, and we select the probabilistic forecast triggers that are appropriate for specific actions. Results from this methodology can be applied globally across hazards and fed into a financing system that ensures that automatic, pre-funded early action will be triggered by forecasts.

Protection for Lives of Mothers and Children by Utilizing Regional Supports in the Event of a Natural Disaster

Severe natural disasters occurred, according to progress of global warming. For recent years in Japan, seasonal heavy rains have occurred in several areas and many people have been affected by disaster damages. In the Great East Japan earthquake and its tsunami, killed and missing people reached over 20,000 and about 500 children were included among these dead people. For protecting big and unpredictable disasters under climate change, we have to change the concept of complete protection by hard measures into the concept of how to reduce the human damage and of how to reduce the damage risk. It is very important to balance the hard and soft measures. Capacity building for protecting the life of mothers, children and elder people by utilizing the regional support groups is important. I focused on disaster preparedness such as disaster prevention activities and investments for risk mitigation, to protect the lives of mothers, children and elder people. A study meeting for disaster prevention with nurses, doctors and students in nursing schools will establish the sustainable capability of and the knowledge for disaster prevention. The physical power of mothers and children is weak and moreover mothers are very busy. Therefore, their participations in disaster prevention activities are limited. I proposed a new support system by the cooperation with regional support groups.

Disaster Reduction Measures Against Inundation in Underground Area and Development of Disaster Prevention Action Plan Using TimeLine

Japan uses underground spaces more widely than in other developed countries. Underground spaces around terminal train stations and areas under station plazas are used in developing public pathways with stores. One such area, managed by a single underground city manager, has a floor area of about 80,000m2. In 1999, the Mikasa River near an underground area in front of Hakata Station flooded the underground area. The importance of antiflood measures for underground area was pointed out after the Hakata disaster and Japan’s Flood Control Act was partly amended, but measures have not been implemented satisfactorily. In this paper, the author reviews the current situation in Japan’s underground areas for flood disaster and based on the awareness surveys of underground managers and users, the researches on systemizing antiflood measures for underground areas and the applications of a disaster prevention action plan (TimeLine) for protecting persons from flooding are shown using an example of the underground shopping area in front of Nagoya Station as a case study.

Development of a Typhoon Search and Prediction System for Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Action Plans Based on Typhoon Course Analysis

River administration in Japan requires the ability to predict flooding events and to respond to them with appropriate judgment and action. The accuracy of systems for flood prediction modeling, which have been studied by the authors, has been increased with a new approach developed by the authors. We have developed a system for analyzing flood data from past typhoons and other flood disasters. We utilize this data to identify and prioritize the important duties of river managers during predicted typhoons. These prioritized duties are arranged into timeline-based disaster prevention action plans. This paper describes the design and development of a support system used to analyze flood data for disaster prevention and action plans. We specifically developed a typhoon search and prediction system, which utilized neural network modeling, for flood fighting, based on disaster prevention and action plans.

Study on the Promotion of the Working Generation’s Participation in Voluntary Disaster Prevention Activities

Study on the Promotion of the Working Generation’s Participation in Voluntary Disaster Prevention Activities

Disaster Prevention Activities of Japanese Fire Companies

Many lives were saved due to local disaster prevention activities such as evacuation guidance during the Great East Japan Earthquake. On the other hand, those involved in local disaster prevention activities were negatively affected in many cases. Therefore, local disaster prevention activities and safety-ensuring measures during large-scale disasters are being reviewed. This paper focuses on fire companies that are expected to develop and implement the core of local disaster prevention activities. In order to study the effectiveness of safety measures in areas that are vulnerable to natural disasters, disaster prevention activities focusing on water and wind disasters in particular were studied in Kiho Town in Mie Prefecture following the Great East Japan Earthquake. As a result, information communication measures, equipment, and manuals proved to be effective in areas that are at risk of disasters other than earthquakes. In addition, the importance of sharing manuals in organizations was also shown, because disaster measures in fire companies tend to be performed based on individual experience. Furthermore, the importance of cooperation with other organizations in the region was also demonstrated.

時間経過に伴う住民の防災意識と防災対応行動の変遷過程に関する研究

本研究では，地域住民の防災意識や防災対応行動の状態の時間経過に伴う変遷過程について，簡便な数理シミュレーションによって記述する分析フレームを提示するとともに，そこでの未知パラメータの値を実態調査データを利用して同定することにより現況再現・感度分析・シナリオ分析を行った．その結果，調査対象地域においては，どのような条件下においても最終的な防災意識の低下は免れ得ないことが示唆されると同時に，ある種の社会条件が整うことにより防災対応行動が持続的に活性化される状況が生じ得ることが示された．

274 GISに基づく詳細モデルを用いた三次元津波遡上解析とその防災活動への応用

274 GISに基づく詳細モデルを用いた三次元津波遡上解析とその防災活動への応用