July 6, 2017

Emergency support for flood management in Sri Lanka― Expectations for provision of real-time information for effective water-related
disaster management by maximizing Japan’s advanced science and technology ―A devastating flood disaster occurred in Sri Lanka in late May 2017, leaving over 300 people deadand missing. Upon the request of the government of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka,
the government of Japan dispatched the Japan Disaster Relief (JDR) Expert Team to Sri Lanka to assist
flood recovery efforts. The Public Works Research Institute (PWRI) assisted by sending a seniorresearcher as its expert.
Since further flood damage is anticipated in Sri Lanka, disaster-related information provided byusing Japan’s advanced science and technology will be crucial for effective flood management. Under
such circumstance, EDITORIA*1, which has developed DIAS*2, and ICHARM*3, which specializes in
research on flood observation and forecasting, have decided to provide real-time flood forecasts andother information experimentally and to offer training and capacity development programs for proper
utilization of these information.

1. Outline of the flood disaster in Sri Lanka
Intensive rainfall started on May 24, 2017, and continued intermittently, resulting in a record daily
maximum rainfall of over 550 mm in some parts of Sri Lanka. This heavy rainfall caused severe floods
and landslides nationwide, especially in the Kalu River basin located in the south-western part of thecountry. More than 300 people were reported to be dead and missing, and more than 18,000 houses
were reported to be damaged (as of June 3, 2017, by the Government of Sri Lanka).
In response to this flood disaster, upon the request of the government of the Democratic Socialist
Republic of Sri Lanka, the government of Japan dispatched the Japan Disaster Relief (JDR) Expert
Team to Sri Lanka to assist flood recovery efforts from June 2 to June 11, 2017. The Public Works
Research Institute (PWRI) assisted by sending a senior researcher as its expert.
Since Sri Lanka is in the middle of the rainy season, more flood disasters are anticipated, that may
possibly cause further damages to lives and property in the country. The situation is still critical,
requiring latest information by maximizing Japan’s advanced science and technology for preventing
recurring disasters and assisting the country in emergency response and post-disaster restoration.

2. Outline of support for Sri Lanka

In response to this disaster in Sri Lanka, EDITORIA and ICHARM cooperate to provide thefollowing information for effective flood management by coupling outputs of meteorological andhydrological models developed by ICHARM with DIAS developed by EDITORIA.
 DIAS has already integrated ground and satellite precipitation data, rainfall forecasting data,
results of flood inundation analysis and forecasting, and satellite observation data on clouddevelopment, as well as ongoing floods and inundations. This information has been provided inreal time for the related organizations of the Sri Lankan government since the dispatch of the JDR
Expert Team, and will be provided continually.
 Hands-on-training and capacity development programs will be implemented for Sri Lankanexperts to utilize these data and information provided through DIAS properly and practically.

3. Expected outcomes
Through this support, Sri Lanka will be provided with various types of flood-related information
based on the latest research findings achieved by EDITORIA and ICHARM. This information will
enable the government organizations of Sri Lanka to disseminate effective flood forecasts and early
evacuation alerts, which will lead to human damage reduction and efficient emergency response.

(*1)

EDITORIA, “Earth Observation Data Integration and Fusion Research Initiative”, wasestablished in April 2006 as a research institute for studying an integrated use of earth observation
data by mutually collaborating with organizations in different fields, such as earth observation,
information science and technology, and public policy concerning disasters and agriculture, in theUniversity of Tokyo. With support from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science andTechnology (MEXT), EDITORIA has developed the Data Integration and Analysis System (DIAS),
which is capable of processing various types of massive earth observation data from heterogeneous
information sources. EDITORIA has been creating information which contributes to deepening
understanding of the global environment, to increasing prediction capabilities, and to assisting wellinformed policy making on risk management, resources management, and other critical issues.

(*2)

DIAS, “Data Integration and Analysis System”, started in 2006 as a MEXT-led project todevelop and utilize data infrastructure, can collect and store a massive volume of diverse data. DIAS
can combine different types of data including socio-economic data, and convert data into information
useful for risk management with respect to global-scale environmental issues, natural disasters, andother threats, and provide this information in real time for users in Japan and overseas. In 2010, theprototype of DIAS was developed, and in 2015, DIAS underwent further advancement and expansion
to improve its practicality as social and public infrastructure. Since 2016, more researches have been

underway to place DIAS into practical use.
(*3) ICHARM, “International Centre for Water Hazard and Risk Management”, was established inMarch 2006, as an international center under the auspices of UNESCO and a research center of thePublic Works Research Institute of Japan. Building on technologies and experience accumulated inhydrological and other related fields in Japan, ICHARM specializes in research on forecasting andanalysis of rainfall, flood discharge, and river basin inundation as well as on inundation area mapping
using satellite data. The center also provides training and educational programs covering issues onwater-related disasters in Japan and around the world.

Present situation: Test operation for rainy season

Mid-term
framework

Implemented by EDITORIA and ICHARM on DIAS

Collaboration withmember organizations ofdisaster management
platform

ALOS © JAXA (2016)

In-situ rain gauge
data (6 numbers)Satellite precipitation data（GSMaP）
4 hr latency
data (NRT)

Real time
data (NOW)

Calibration

Ensemble
forecasting
rainfall for the
next 16 days(max)Himawari-8
cloud images

Inundation
map bysatellite data(ALOS-2)

Member organizationsof national platform

Meteorology
Department

On-line Information provision onDIAS：In-situ rainfall, satellite rainfall, calibrated andInundation
analysis by using
RRI in DIAS

forecast rainfall, inundation simulations

Capacitybuilding foroperation

Concept of RRI model

Simulation andforecasting of riverdischarge, water level,
inundation extent

Irrigation
Department
DisasterManagementCenterUniversities

Inundation analysis results

and others
Email alert messages

Information
provision

Collaboration

Sri Lanka disaster management platform

Government of Sri Lanka(Irrigation Department)

Government of Sri Lanka(Disaster Management Center)

Damage reduction by pre-disaster measures

Evacuation advisory by early warning••

Promotion of research
Damage reduction
through implementation