purpose of exchanging data and information in the field of earthquake prediction as well as conducting academic deliberations about them between government agency, universities and relevant organizations, and the Coastal Movements Data Center, which is for the purpose of collecting and providing tidal records observed by relevant organizations to contribute to the research of crustal movement.

## $ ^{12} $ Stranded Commuter Measures

If a large-scale earthquake occurs in a major city, urban functions will be paralyzed and more commuters will be stranded than the Great East Japan Earthquake, therefore to secure the safety of evacuees and stranded commuters in regions where urban functions are concentrated, the “Act on Special Measures Concerning Urban Reconstruction” was amended in April 2012 and the “Urban Reconstruction Safety Protection Plan System” was newly established.

Across the nation, 63 regions are designated as urban reconstruction emergency development regions to host a urban reconstruction emergency development council, create a urban reconstruction safety protection plan, conclude agreements on urban reconstruction safety protection facilities, and carry out deregulation for cooperation between the public and private sector for a system designed to improve the disaster prevention capabilities of urban areas.

In addition, person trip survey and other data were utilized to estimate the flow of stranded commuters across a wide area and debate the accommodation of stranded commuters at urban transport facilities such as traffic node facilities and evaluate network routes.

## (8) Snow Damage Measures

## ① Securing Winter Road Traffic (Snow and Winter Works)

In accordance with the “Act on Special Measures concerning Maintenance of Road Traffic in Specified Snow Coverage and Cold Districts,” to support safe and comfortable living, strengthen exchanges and cooperation between regions, projects for removing snow, preventing snow, snow damage, and frost damage on roads (snow and winter works) are being promoted. Also, when large vehicles are stalled due to unusual snowfall, to prevent an additional flow of traffic from causing severe traffic congestion; traffic will be closed at an early stage in coordination with prefectural police and carry out concentrated snow removal to ensure traffic is restored quickly. Furthermore, sharing and unifying the broadcasting of snow removal conditions and other information as well as improve the efficiency of snow removal, the establishment of information relaying headquarters by the relevant organizations of road administrators is being promoted.

## ② Avalanche Disaster Measures in Heavy Snowfall Regions

Across the nation there are about 21,000 avalanche risk areas and to protect human lives from avalanche disasters in settlements, the development of avalanche prevention facilities is being promoted.

## ③ Implementing Snow Clearing Waterways Projects

In heavy snowfall regions, in addition to securing flood control functions, water conveyance channels are being developed for rivers with abundant water volume to supply small and medium-sized rivers flowing through the city with water for snow clearing waterways.

## (9) Sophistication of Disaster Prevention Information

## ① Aggregation of Disaster Prevention Information

The “MLIT Disaster Prevent Information Center” $ ^{Note} $ enables citizens to easily obtain and utilize disaster prevention information by aggregating and providing information available such as rainfall as well as provide a comprehensive array of information on disaster responses and disaster prevention.