[H-TT14] Geographic Information Systems and Cartography

[HTT14-P04] Online Workshop for Educating Disaster Risk Reduction using a Simplistic Digital Map with Basic GIS functions

*Hiroyuki Yamauchi¹, Jiali Song¹, Takashi Oguchi^2,1 (1.Department of Natural Environmental Studies, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 2.Center for Spatial Information Science, The University of Tokyo)

Keywords:WebGIS, disaster risk reduction education, exercise, questionnaire survey

Although people may understand disaster risks by using GIS, existing GIS products with many functions are difficult to use for those without specialized knowledge. Therefore, we developed a simplistic online digital map with basic GIS functions such as switching layers and measurement tools, using ArcGIS API for JavaScript. We had an online workshop using this digital map and taught how to use GIS to understand disaster risks. The workshop consisted of the lecture part for about 35 min and the exercise part using the digital map for about 80 min. Eighteen participants at ages from 10s to 60s joined the workshop. In the lecture part, we explained the usefulness of GIS in disaster risk reduction based on some cases of past disasters. In the exercise part, we firstly explained how to use the digital map. Then the participants were asked to answer five quizzes related to flood risks in Tokyo using the digital map. At the end of the workshop, we conducted a questionnaire survey to verify usability and educational effects of the digital map. Although the participants had various ages and professions, almost all of them could interpret information about evacuate shelters and high-risk areas from the digital map without feeling strong difficulties. These observations indicate that simplistic GIS functions in the digital map are useful for basic education of disaster risk reduction than existing GIS products with many professional functions. We plan to provide learning materials for those who like to create similar digital maps for educational purposes.