11:00 AM - 11:15 AM
[MTT39-08] Development of a GIS web application for natural phenomenon information based on infrasound measurements
Keywords:tsunami, disaster prevention, natural disaster, infrasound, GIS
Large-scale geophysical phenomena that can cause disasters, such as earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, and debri flows, emit ultra-low frequency sound (infrasound) at frequencies below 20 Hz, the lower limit of human hearing. The importance of infrasound lies in its long-distance propagation and vertical propagation characteristics. Infrasound generated several thousand kilometers away can be sufficiently detected if it has large amplitude, and therefore it has high applicability and utility as a remote sensing method. If such sonic waves can be observed and detect specific amplitudes at an early stage, it will be possible to build a system that provides warning of the arrival of serious phenomena such as tsunamis. Therefore, even an affordable infrasound observation device using a MEMS barometric pressure sensor has been proven that infrasound can actually be observed in events that could potentially result in a natural disaster, such as a volcanic eruption. It has also been proved through field experiments that it is possible to obtain information on remote natural events, such as estimating the location of sound sources with a certain degree of accuracy.
However, this information would be more useful if it were available not only to experts in geophysics and disaster prevention, but also to the general public. Therefore, we attempt to build a GIS (Geographic Information System) web application for natural phenomenon information and design the data obtained with these technologies into visualized information that is accessible even for non-experts. It will enable users to understand real-time natural event information on a daily basis, which will be useful for local disaster prevention and mitigation.
In developing the digital platform, we conducted “an awareness survey regarding the use of natural event information”. The survey targeted Hokkaido residents who are registered at Health Information Science Center, the Hokkaido Information University. The purpose of the study is to analyze the usage status of natural event information by general residents, awareness of disasters and disaster prevention, and their interest level in infrasound. From 970 valid responses, it was found the followings: there exists a general need for infrasound measurement information on natural phenomena, a demand to check the information on smartphones during outdoor activities, many opinions expressing concern about abnormal weather in recent years, and a high level of interest in installing measurement devices.
Regarding the visualization of the measurement data, the visualization rules were designed to extract and emphasize the amplitude of frequency sound using diameter of the circle and colors on GIS as an expression method that allows real-time measurement data to be visually recognized as natural event information. The data to be visualized is acquired by building a system that acquires real-time measurement information for each point and its amplitude value from a server using asynchronous two-way data communication with low communication delay. In the developed GIS web application for natural events, the travelling atmospheric disturbances (vibrations) could be visually observed. With the application, the natural events information can be recognized by the general public in real time. Furthermore, we found that it is possible to capture different scale of the disasters such as tsunamis, with adjusting threshold parameters. As a next step, we plan to conduct a UX (User Experience) survey and make further improvements to the application. In this presentation, we will present a part of the development.
Acknowledgment: This study was conducted under NICT's contract research 22605 “subtitle: Standardization of multi-point micro pressure fluctuation measurement package for local disaster prevention and citizen cooperation demonstration experiment in suburban and mountainous areas”.
However, this information would be more useful if it were available not only to experts in geophysics and disaster prevention, but also to the general public. Therefore, we attempt to build a GIS (Geographic Information System) web application for natural phenomenon information and design the data obtained with these technologies into visualized information that is accessible even for non-experts. It will enable users to understand real-time natural event information on a daily basis, which will be useful for local disaster prevention and mitigation.
In developing the digital platform, we conducted “an awareness survey regarding the use of natural event information”. The survey targeted Hokkaido residents who are registered at Health Information Science Center, the Hokkaido Information University. The purpose of the study is to analyze the usage status of natural event information by general residents, awareness of disasters and disaster prevention, and their interest level in infrasound. From 970 valid responses, it was found the followings: there exists a general need for infrasound measurement information on natural phenomena, a demand to check the information on smartphones during outdoor activities, many opinions expressing concern about abnormal weather in recent years, and a high level of interest in installing measurement devices.
Regarding the visualization of the measurement data, the visualization rules were designed to extract and emphasize the amplitude of frequency sound using diameter of the circle and colors on GIS as an expression method that allows real-time measurement data to be visually recognized as natural event information. The data to be visualized is acquired by building a system that acquires real-time measurement information for each point and its amplitude value from a server using asynchronous two-way data communication with low communication delay. In the developed GIS web application for natural events, the travelling atmospheric disturbances (vibrations) could be visually observed. With the application, the natural events information can be recognized by the general public in real time. Furthermore, we found that it is possible to capture different scale of the disasters such as tsunamis, with adjusting threshold parameters. As a next step, we plan to conduct a UX (User Experience) survey and make further improvements to the application. In this presentation, we will present a part of the development.
Acknowledgment: This study was conducted under NICT's contract research 22605 “subtitle: Standardization of multi-point micro pressure fluctuation measurement package for local disaster prevention and citizen cooperation demonstration experiment in suburban and mountainous areas”.