Contribution to realization of a safe and secure society(2) Development of technology to support risk management for water-related
disasters occurring more frequently and severely in Japan and overseas
Research period: FY 2016 - 2021
Program leader: Director of Water-related Hazard Research Group

Research Summary

Various simulation images using satellite information
Understanding of characteristics of snow
accumulation distribution at high altitude
areas using laser measurement technology

Snowmelt-runoff
model

Understanding of rainfall and terrain information
using satellite observation information

Sophistication ofdam operation

Original satellite rainfall image
Flood prediction
accuracy
improvement
Farmland water
demandR&D Program

Flood damage
estimation range
view
Soil water content

OutﬂowSatellite rainfall image after accuracy improvement

An example of accuracy improvementon satellite rainfall information used for
ﬂood forecasting

Outline of the current disaster information system
Municipal responsibilities fordisaster management
Accumulation of a variety of disaster risk information
Identiﬁcation ofdisaster hot spots

Sharing risk information

Real-time ﬂood
simulation

Providing multiple types ofinformation in GIS
Past disasterrecords

Information fromresidents

Debris ﬂow
simulation

In recent years, rainfall events have become more localized, intensive, andextreme; for example, more events with an hourly rainfall of over 50 mm
have been observed throughout Japan. In the future, due to the impact
of global warming, more regions of the country will suffer from extreme
rainfall that may be even more intensified and frequent. In constant, snowy
cold regions are projected to have a shorter snowfall period and, as a result,less snowpack.
In this research project, we aim to develop technologies to characterizewater-related disasters in terms of meteorology, hydrology and resulting
damage. We will also develop technologies for various organizations tocope better with disasters using technologies for collecting and providing
information. The following are the main research goals:(1)	Development of technologies and models for improving accuracy offlood forecasting and long-term water balance analysis

Providing information
through tablets andsmartphones

Providing evacuation information

Disasterprevention
speaker

Disaster TV
phone

Safe evacuation
Shelter

Acquiring disaster risk
information of yourlocation(2)	Development of technologies for analyzing water disaster hazards
in various natural and local conditions, methods for water-related
disaster risk assessment using highly accurate, advanced estimation
approaches, and indicators for evaluating the effectiveness of disasterprevention measures(3)	Development of methods for producing, utilizing and communicating
useful information on disaster prevention and disaster status to assist
efforts in disaster prevention and mitigation
These technologies and methods will be used to establish systems toestimate damage and risk using real-time observation information.
Such systems will make reliable disaster information readily available formunicipal disaster management personnel, who will thus be able to makewell-informed decisions for effectively fighting floods and leading safe
evacuation in time of disaster.

PUBLIC WORKS RESEARCH INSTITUTE 20167