A social experiment of a new strong-motion monitoring system(Kyoshin Monitor) with earthquake early warning
Hiromitsu Nakamura, Shin Aoi, Takashi Kunugi, Wataru Suzuki, Shohei Naito, Hiroki Azuma, Hiroyuki Fujiwara(National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Prevention)

1. Introduction
In August 2008, NIED started “Kyoshin Monitor”, which is a web service providing 24 hour live shaking maps of earthquake in Japan. After the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake (M9), the access number of theKyoshin Monitor increased surprisingly, and drew much attention of both experts and general public. The JMA’s earthquake early warning system for the 2011 Tohoku earthquake was not able to issue awarning to wide areas, which actually experienced the severe shakings, due to an underestimation of the earthquake magnitude. Our purposed method for detecting mega-magnitude earthquake based on
distribution of observed strong-motion data has been effectively examined as a system independent of the earthquake early warning system.The combination of the earthquake early warning system as thelatest forecast, with the Kyoshin Monitor as the real observation is much important in mitigating earthquake damage. We have developed a new Kyoshin Monitor that can provide the combined information(hereafter referred to as the “Trial Version Kyoshin Monitor”).
In this research, a social experiment with the general public of the Trial Version Kyoshin Monitor has been carried out from Sep. in 2012 to Feb. in 2013. Questionnaires were used to collect information on
the background and motivation for using the Kyoshin Monitor, opinions on the version used, use status, usability, and other appropriate items, aiming to understand the public’s needs for the delivery, use andutilization of strong-motion observation information in the future. The social experiment was implemented through a limited online publication of the Trial Version Kyoshin Monitor to experiment participants
following user registration. Public participation through a social experiment website was invited three times between Sep. and Oct. in 2012, and a total of approximately 4000 participants joined.

3. Recruitment of participants

2. New Kyoshin Monitor
FeatureIndicates the strong motion data observed in real time and forecast information according toEEW. (Circles indicate estimated P- and S-wave fronts and estimated seismic intensities.)
Receives observation values updated in 1-sec. intervals as numeric data via HTTP andtransfers data to client sites.
Uses Google Maps as a base map. (A fixed map version is also prepared.)

Public participation through a social experiment website (Fig.2) was invited three times. As aresult, approx. 4,000 people participated in the experiment. All of them agreed to the experimentconditions before registering IDs (email addresses) and creating passwords.
First group (1,000 participants): Recruitment began on September 3,2012, and ended on the same day.
Second group (2,000 participants): September 20 to October 7.
Third group (1,000 participants): October 11 to November 4 (Fig. 3).
How participants learned ofthe experiment

10/11

10/21

11/1

Fig. 2: Recruitment page(No.1)

11/4

Fig. 3: Transition of participant number (group 3).

User’s location

press
Word of Search
Twitterreleasemouth engine

SNS

newsp E-mail Facebook TV
aper

OthersFig. 4: How participants learned of experiment.

Fig. 1: Outline of the Trial Version Kyoshin Monitor. (Functions common to the fixed map
version are indicated in red; those common to Google Maps the version are indicated inblue.)Fig. 5: Prefecture distribution of participants (absolute value).
distribution of
4. Questionnaire survey Age
respondents
9 or younger

Questionnaire No. 1 (November 29 toDecember 21, 2012)
Replies received: 2640 (66%)

10 to 19

Q. Improved awareness toward disaster prevention after
introduction of the Trial Version Kyoshin Monitor

Fig. 6: Prefecture distribution of participants (ratio to population).

Questionnaire No. 2 (February 12 to 25, 2013)Replies received: 1903 (47%)

20 to 29
30 to 39
40 to 49
50 to 59
60 to 69

1. Increased.

70 or older

2. Somewhat increased.

Q. Estimated seismic intensities by EEWS(multiple)
76% of the respondents indicatedimproved awareness.
1. It helps me to know the level of the impending earthquake shaking in advance.

3. No change.

Q. Reason for participation (multiple)

2. It helps me to compare the actual and estimated shaking.

4. Somewhat decreased.

1.To help with the development of countermeasures for earthquakes.

3. It is more visible if indicated on individual maps.

5. Decreased.

2. I feel anxious about frequent earthquakes.

4. I don't care.

6. Other (free description).

3. I want to know about the occurrence of an earthquake as early as possible.

Q. Reasons (multiple)

4. I am interested in earthquakes.
5. I needed to participate due to my job.
6. It seemed interesting.

6. I've never seen that before.
7. Other (free description).

1. I have begun to pay attention to earthquakes in everyday circumstances.

7. I have been interested in the Kyoshin Monitor.

5. I can't understand what they are showing.

2. I have been interested in earthquakes since then.

8. Other (free description).

3. I understand that earthquakes are frequent in Japan.

Q. Information needed in conjunction with the Trial Version Kyoshin Monitor (multiple)

4. I think that I am now able to take action before large shaking starts.
5. Other (free description).

Q. Reasons (multiple)

Q. Fixed map version or Google Maps version

1. Damage due to earthquakes.
2. Evacuation centers.

1. It was easy to see.
2. Its small map saved screen space.
3. It was only a small load on my PC.
4. My browser only supported the fixed map version.
5. No special reason.
Fixed map
6. Other (free description).

3. Tsunamis.
4. Transportation.

Q. Need for service like Trial Version Kyoshin Monitor

6. Crime-prevention.

Google Maps

7. Twitter.

1. It was easy to see.
Both

2. Ability to zoom in and out of the map.

Neither

3. Availability of past earthquake data.

5. Weather conditions.

8. Hazard maps.

1. Absolutely yes.

4. No special reason.

2. Yes.

5. Other (free description).

97% of the respondents
answered “Yes.”

3. I have no preference.
4. No.

Q. Terminal environment (multiple)

9. Past records of seismic center distribution.
10. Locations of active faults.
11. Locations of important facilities.
12. Nothing in particular.
13. Other (free description).

Q. Application of the Trial Version Kyoshin Monitor (multiple)
Q. Action taken when “earthquake occurs” (multiple)
1. I went under the desk or took shelter.

1. Daily disaster prevention (peacetime).

2. I stood on guard.

2. Reminder immediately after earthquake occurrence.

3. I informed other people near me of the alarm.

3. Trigger for evacuation.

4. I kept watching the Kyoshin Monitor.

4. Grasp of damage due to the earthquake.

5. I turned on the TV.

5. Communication tool for disaster prevention.

6. I typed a message on the Internet bulletin board.

6. Education about disaster prevention.

7. I did nothing.

7. Science education material.

8. The early earthquake announcement was not displayed.

8. Learning about earthquakes.

9. Other (free description).

9. Other (free description).

Q. Location of use (multiple)

Q. Frequency of use

1. My home.
2. Work site (incl. school).

Q. User impressions of those who checked the monitor on
December 7 after a large earthquake (M7.3: Seismic intensity
5 lower) in Sanriku-Oki (multiple)

1. Almost constantly.
3. Indoor areas other than 1 and 2.
2. Once or more a day.
3. Several times a week.
4. Train, car, or other transportation.
4. Several times a month.
5. Outdoors.
5. Once a month.
6. When I felt earthquake shaking
6. Other (free description).
7. Seldom.
8. Other (free description).

Q. Recommended application environment for the Trial Version Kyoshin Monitor (multiple)
1. Smartphone.
2. PC.

1. I could not believe that such a large earthquake had occurred.
2. Since I could see the gradual spreading of the strong motion on
the monitor, I could act calmly.

Q. Visibility

Q. Understandability

1. Very good
2. Good
3. OK
4. Not good
5. BadQ. Operation

3. I confirmed (or tried to confirm) whether my location would
experience significant shaking later.

3. OK
4. Not good
5. Bad

1. Very good

4. One-segment.

4. I wanted to know whether a Tsunami would occur.

5. TV.

5. I panicked and did not remain calm.

6. Advertising TV on train (digital signage).

6. I felt nothing special.

7. Other (free description).

1. Very good
2. Good

3. Windows gadget.

2. Good
3. OK

7. Other (free description).

4. Not good
5. Bad

5. Conclusion The most common request stated in the free opinions was for the Trial Version Kyoshin Monitor to be available to everyone and that itnot require a login. Because the extensive provisions of frequently updated and real-time earthquake information with no user limitations introduces many
issues regarding network and computer resources, methods for providing adequate information under such circumstances should be examined in the future.
Acknowledgement: We would like to express our gratitude to the participants of this social experiment.