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■ Research Results |
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１．Review of studies on Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake
On the occasion of the 10th anniversary of this disastrous quake, we reviewed the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake in detail, from various perspectives. We also discussed future disaster prevention-related issues and new research themes.
We examined academic research papers, reports and records of measures taken by administrative organs, and books written by various authors, to find what facts existed, what kind of research and studies were conducted in the recovery and reconstruction process after the Earthquake, and what knowledge was gained from these studies.
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“Medical policy trends after the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake” |
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“Various housing reconstruction problems from the urban planning perspective” |
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“Development of volunteer activities in times of disaster” |
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“Research trends concerning lifelines, earthquakes, and disaster prevention research after the Southern Hyogo Prefecture Earthquake” |
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“Ideal earthquake control measures for water supply systems as lifelines” |
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“Problems and improvements of disaster response” |
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“Initial information immediately after the occurrence of disaster” |
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“Initial response by the national and local governments of affected areas, immediately after the occurrence of disaster” |
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“Economic recovery from the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake and restoration financing” |
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“Development of administrative policies concerning support for disaster victims” |
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“Information on active faults and earthquake risk reduction” |
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２．Development of volunteer coordinator training program
| Since the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake Disaster, many local governments have been studying disaster-volunteer acceptance systems. DRI has collected and organized know-how to effectively introduce private-sector support to disaster sites, and has developed a training program to foster human resources who can put such know-how into practice. DRI has actually already carried out this training. |
３．Establishment of comprehensive system for evaluating earthquake recovery policies in urban areas
After considering disaster recovery policies from legal, economic, and political science perspectives and clarifying the significance and limitations of those perspectives, we have studied the important elements for evaluating recovery policies. As a result, we have clarified that
(1) in restoration/recovery philosophy during this time of shrinking population and zero economic growth, “sustainability” should come before economic development; and
(2) we should aim to achieve recovery that can stand up to evaluation by a “civil society,” not through the government alone or even by voluntary coordination among individuals, in order to take advantage of the relative and diverse levels of public involvement inherent in civil society. |
４．Headquarters assistance in disaster response to Niigata Chuetsu Earthquake
| Headquarters assistance in disaster response is one of the important responsibilities of DRI. The purpose of this program is to dispatch specialists with practical and systematic knowledge of disaster management to disaster response headquarters set up in affected areas, so as to provide appropriate advice and information to headquarters managers and thereby help mitigate the damage and promote smooth recovery and reconstruction. When the Niigata Chuetsu Earthquake occurred on October 23, 2004, DRI dispatched specialists to local governments of the affected areas. That was the first time since its founding that DRI had provided headquarters assistance in disaster relief operations in a large-scale disaster. This report summarizes DRI’s headquarters assistance during the Niigata Chuetsu Earthquake, including the activities and support services provided by the dispatched staff. The report also discusses how headquarters assistance in disaster response should be provided in future. |
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DRI full-time researcher, Kenji Koshiyama, gives advice at Niigata Prefecture Disaster Countermeasures Headquarters. |
５．Development of TRUST system
In the near future, great plate-boundary type earthquakes are expected to occur in the Nankai-Tonankai region. In the event of a large earthquake in the Nankai and Tonankai areas, powerful earthquake motion is predicted in a wide area, covering from Chubu to Kyushu, and a large tsunami is expected to strike the Pacific Ocean coastal area. The TRUST (Tsunami disaster Response with Unitive STrategies) system was constructed as an information system by which multiple villages, towns, cities and prefectures can cooperate in carry out disaster response by sharing information about earthquake and tsunami occurrences, and information about social damage when such large-scale and wide area disaster has occurred.
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※Development of tsunami damage estimation simulation architecture is ongoing in the Special Project for Earthquake Disaster Mitigation in Urban Areas
(Representative: Yoshiaki Kawata) |
６．Survey of communities in disaster recovery public housing
Following the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, many problems were caused by the collapse of communities due to the transition in living environment of disaster victims (evacuation shelter R temporary housing R permanent housing). Various disaster-victim support measures were studied and carried out to help resolve these problems.
In this research, DRI researchers in different specialized fields jointly conducted multifaceted surveys of disaster recovery public housing (all housing), which is the “final stage” of living space for disaster victims. Specifically, the researchers carried out multiple surveys of
(1) residents (individual disaster victims),
(2) representatives of residents’ associations,
(3) living environment of housing complexes and
(4) supporters from outside the housing complexes.
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They then analyzed the influences and effects of various measures supporting disaster victims and the functions of housing complexes as communities for achieving the “life recovery” purposes of each individual disaster victim.
These surveys have provided valuable data for clarifying the overall picture of earthquake disaster recovery, and survey data analysis has yielded important knowledge concerning not only future disaster recovery and disaster mitigation measures, but also the formation and operation of communities in a “super-aging” society. As part of its information dissemination efforts, DRI also organizes lectures intended for the general public in and outside of disaster areas. |
７．Post-disaster surveys
(2004/2005 Sumatra Coast Earthquake; 2005 Pakistan Earthquake)
On December 26, 2004, a massive 9.0 magnitude earthquake off the coast of Indonesia’s island of Sumatra triggered tsunami waves, killing over 200,000 people. On March 28, 2005, another huge earthquake with a magnitude of 8.7 struck near Nias Island, off the northwest coast of Sumatra, causing severe damage to Gunung Sitoli, the capital city of Nias, with 452 deaths. DRI conducted a field survey in cooperation with the Asian Disaster Reduction Center, to assess the damage from these earthquakes. Through the survey, we aimed to identify problems that arose during the recovery process in those disaster areas, to examine what and how assistance and support should be provided to disaster areas, and to incorporate lessons learned from these devastating earthquakes into future disaster response in Japan, where a series of huge earthquakes are expected (Tokai, Tonankai and Nankai Earthquakes). During the field survey trip, we exchanged ideas and opinions with organizations concerned, on the basis of experience and lessons from the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake.
Pakistan Earthquake of October 2005 caused 75,000 deaths and injured more than 73,000 people. The most striking characteristics of the damage caused by this earthquake were: extensive slope failure in the mountain region, leaving numerous communities isolated; and collapse of many masonry structure buildings and houses with low earthquake resistance. DRI dispatched its full-time researchers to join the JICA Project Formation Team that carried out investigation of disaster-hit areas including assessment of earthquake damage and the progress of response activities. |
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Disaster-affected areas along the river on Nias Island, where many houses suffered devastating damage
Collapsed buildings in Islamabad, Pakistan
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８．Research on disposal of wastes produced by floods
When floods and other natural disasters occur, large quantities of waste such as rubble and furniture are generated from flooded or collapsed buildings and homes. The purpose of this research was to develop an accurate, easy-to-use formula for calculating the amount of waste produced by a flood. To estimate the amount of waste produced per affected household, we analyzed data collected from 49 flood-affected municipalities to which the Disaster Relief Law applied in 2004. Results showed that the estimated amount of waste per household was 0.6 tons in the case of flooding below floor level and 4.6 tons in the case of flooding above floor level. We also examined flood waste separation behavior of residents; it was found that in cities/towns where the same waste separation procedure was used as in ordinary times, separation was done properly to some extent, but when a special procedure was introduced for the disaster situation, waste separation was not performed properly.
The findings of this research were used by the Environmental Improvement Division, Environment Bureau, Health, Welfare and Environment Services Dept., Hyogo Prefectural Government in instructing the staff at the waste disposal departments of municipal governments in Hyogo Prefecture on how to develop disaster waste disposal plans, in the “Briefing Session on the Agreement on Cooperation in Disaster Waste Disposal among Municipalities and the Development of Disaster Waste Disposal Plan.”
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Waste generated by Fukui Heavy Rainfall Disaster in
2004
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