DRI has proposed important research themes to be addressed in the next 30 years, from the viewpoint of disaster reduction. These themes show the concrete image of the role DRI intends to play in society through action research on disaster reduction. Full-time researchers work preferentially on the proposed “major research themes,” making great use of their own specialized knowledge and expertise.

Not only is Japan prone to damage from earthquakes, storms and floods, but its disaster risks have also become more complex and diverse due to the urbanization, complication and diversification of its social structure. Disaster reduction research must involve both “hardware” measures that rely simply on scientific technology, and “software” measures focused on social structures and systems.

Every local government needs concrete solutions for such problems as provision against future large-scale disaster. In today’s disaster-reduction research, various research projects have been intensified, including the search for new research domains involving not only the application of advanced scientific technologies including IT and robots, but also an interdisciplinary approach, with research projects carried out jointly by industry, government and academia.

With these circumstances as background, DRI has chosen the following major themes on which it will promote its research.

Major research areas DRI identifies important research areas in disaster reduction as “major research areas,” which should be studied in consideration of the mission, present social situation and social needs, projecting these about 30 years into the future. Full-time researchers will work preferentially on “major research areas,” making full use of their own specialized knowledge and expertise. DRI will annually inspect and evaluate individual research activities conducted within major areas and make amendments if necessary. DRI will also promote various organizational efforts relating to “major research areas.”