Tsunami evacuation drill system using motion hazard map and smart devices

Abstract

Tsunami resulting from large-scale earthquakes can cause significant damage. Therefore, a tsunami evacuation drill (TED) is important for disaster education. However, conventional TEDs do not necessarily produce the maximum effect because some participants move quickly to evacuation sites while simply imagining the tsunami and do not feel a sense of tension. We have developed a TED system that uses a motion hazard map (MHM) and smart devices (e.g. tablet computers and smart glasses). This system has three phases, i.e. simulation, evacuation and reflection phases. For the simulation, the system allows users to generate a MHM by configuring tsunami simulation using Google Maps. For the evacuation, the system presents the generated MHM by panoramically visualising the approaching tsunami (simulated animation) and plotting the participants' current locations on Google Maps. The participants can move quickly while feeling a sense of tension and viewing the simulated animation to determine the speed of and distance to the tsunami. For the reflection, the system superimposes recorded participants' evacuation routes onto the simulated animation.