# Chapter 5 The 2016 Kumamoto Earthquake and ICT Utilization

As a result of efforts to strengthen communication and broadcasting infrastructure after the Great East Japan Earthquake and the expansion of the use of smartphones, ICT was fully utilized at the time of the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquake for communicating and sharing information in disaster-stricken areas. LINE was the third most frequently used means for collecting information at the time of the earthquake, following mobile phones and terrestrial broadcasting.

☐ It is expected that new ICT tools will be more positively utilized in the future, in such forms as indirect public notices by the use of the L-Alert and the analysis of big data of SNS information (disaster information analyzer (DISAANA)).

## I nformation communication and sharing in disaster-stricken areas and roles of ICT

## Ensure safety and relief through strengthening communication and broadcasting infrastructure

Reinforcement of facilities has produced an effect

Thanks to efforts for strengthening infrastructure based on lessons learned from the Great East Japan Earthquake, the broadcasting and communication infrastructure in disaster-stricken areas continued to function well. Base stations which had suspended transmission resumed services for mobile phones within two weeks and broadcasting was restarted within 72 hours, supporting communications among residents and business continuation of local governments and companies. Based on these results as well, efforts for strengthening infrastructure should be further promoted.

## Dissemination of smartphones enabling responses to diverse information needs

LINE was ranked the third as means for collecting information

Smartphones, which have disseminated rapidly after the Great East Japan Earthquake, are highly evaluated as effective with their capacity to respond to diverse information needs through the use of the verbal communication function, email function, LINE and other SNS, and diverse Internet applications. It is also necessary to develop an environment highly resilient to disasters for their utilization (free access to Wi-Fi networks and lending of battery chargers at the time of a disaster, etc.).

## I mprovement of environment for utilizing ICT during evacuation, etc

Increased use of Wi-Fi networks at the time of a disaster

Under the emergency system, "00000JAPAN," approximately 55,000 APs at the largest were made available all over the Kyushu area, and tablets were fully utilized at shelters for collecting information. In this manner, information was shared efficiently through active utilization of ICT. People who had known of "00000JAPAN" and used the system accounted for 23%. It is a challenge to utilize the system more promptly and flexibly at the time of a disaster while devising better utilization of ICT envisaging concrete usage such as for communicating information on shelters necessary for properly establishing and operating shelters.

## 2 Active utilization of new ICT tools and expected effects

## Active utilization SNS information and big data (DISAANA/D-SUMM)

New possible means of collecting information

It is considered to also be effective for local governments to utilize big data tools (DISAANA, D-SUMM), with which needs and other information of disaster victims can be collected directly from SNS.

## I ndirect public notices using the L-Alert, as well as news tickers and data broadcasting

Usefulness of the L-Alert

Approximately 45% of the respondents highly evaluated indirect public notices using terrestrial broadcasting, such as news tickers and data broadcasting, during the restoration period after the earthquake (terrestrial broadcasting was ranked second among useful communication means following mobile phones). While improving the information input function and information transmission system of the L-Alert, it is necessary to enhance the effectiveness of indirect public notices utilizing the L-Alert in order to improve convenience and ensure efficient and effective information communication.

## I dentity verification using individual number cards at the time of a disaster

Cited problems concerning the handling of personal information at the time of a disaster include cumbersome procedures for providing personal information and negative effects of information collection in handwriting. Identity verification using individual number cards is one option for solving these problems and achieving simpler information management.

## 3 Business continuation at the time of a disaster and ICT

Less than 40% use cloud services

Local government and companies, etc. have come to be aware of the importance of business continuation at the time of a disaster, and all companies that provided responses said that they have taken measures for data backup. However, only 36.1% of them are using cloud services. 46.2% of companies that have multiple business bases are making efforts for system redundancy as concrete costly measures, while such percentage is only 25.0% for companies that have only a single business base. Measures and the scope of efforts for system redundancy thus vary depending on the size of the company. Therefore, efforts should be made for developing and operating a common infrastructure to enable diverse organizations to utilize ICT, thereby strengthening disaster resilience of a society as a whole.