3:00 PM - 3:15 PM
[MZZ41-06] Research on Issues and Measures for Social Application of Meteorology: An Interview Survey with Local Government Disaster Management Personnel on Typhoon Research
Keywords:Typhoon-related disaster risk reduction, Interview survey, Ethical, legal and social issues, Typhoon control/modification, Local government
1. Background and purpose of the study
Science and technology bring many benefits to society. On the other hand, ethical, legal and social issues (ELSI) may arise with the introduction of new technologies into society. Therefore, deliberations and studies have been undertaken to position science and technology and their outcomes in society in an appropriate way to achieve a better impact. The concept of Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) and its importance have also been recognized. This study reports the results of an interview survey conducted with local government personnel involved in emergency disaster response, to contribute to the study of issues and measures for the utilization of typhoon research, including typhoon control research being conducted as part of Goal 8 of the Moonshot Research and Development Program.
2. Outline of the interview survey and analysis method
This was a practical survey to examine issues related to research contributing to typhoon disaster mitigation and its social application by interviewing local government disaster management staff on five topics: 1) typhoon impact and damage and related perceptions, 2) resident awareness and preparedness, 3) use of and expectations for typhoon-related information, 4) typhoon mitigation efforts and initiatives in local government, and 5) impressions, expectations, and concerns about typhoon control/modification. The interviews were conducted sequentially over the year 2024 with local government staff from 15 prefectures and 20 cities, covering a wide range of experience levels and types of typhoon damage.
The semi-structured interviews were conducted by asking respondents questions that were sent to them in advance, and by asking them to answer related questions on the spot. As qualitative research, the transcription of the interview content was coded and inductively analyzed for overall trends, identifying issues. Quantitative research methods were partly used to analyze differences with public awareness on typhoons, which were surveyed separately.
3. Overview of main findings of survey and analysis
With regard to topics 1) and 2), most local government staff feel that typhoons have changed in recent years in terms of movement, track, increased intensity and location of occurrence, and supposed that typhoon-related disasters would become more severe and frequent in the future. Many mentioned the importance of promoting disaster risk awareness among citizens and strengthening self-help and community-based assistance, as well as strengthening hard and soft government countermeasures. It was also found that the hazards to be prepared for, the level of fear of typhoons (e.g., not wanting them to come), and the preparedness of citizens seemed to reflect the characteristics and experiences of typhoon damage in each region.
Topic 3) confirmed the need and importance to be aware of the different viewpoints and concerns between researchers/information providers involved in understanding and predicting the natural phenomena of typhoons and their hazards, and local government staff who respond based on the characteristics, time and location of impacts and damage risks caused by typhoons. Respondents expressed their expectations for the provision of concise and easy-to-understand information related to disaster response, while suggested that the provision of multiple possible scenarios could increase the reliability of information providers under the uncertainty in predictions.
In topic 5), the need and effectiveness of timely explanations, opinion hearings and sharing of issues with stakeholders as the research progresses were confirmed, through the changes between the first impression of typhoon control and the views after receiving explanations of the actual research and its system. Concerns, anticipated impacts and issues related to typhoon control expressed by local government staff based on their knowledge of disaster response and administrative experience include: difficulties in building consensus due to differences in ethics and social values regarding typhoon control; impacts on the atmospheric, environmental and other impacts, and related disputes and compensation issues; relations with the international community, including neighboring countries; the need for accurate explanations to the public about the capabilities and uncertainties of typhoon control technology; and so on.
Science and technology bring many benefits to society. On the other hand, ethical, legal and social issues (ELSI) may arise with the introduction of new technologies into society. Therefore, deliberations and studies have been undertaken to position science and technology and their outcomes in society in an appropriate way to achieve a better impact. The concept of Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) and its importance have also been recognized. This study reports the results of an interview survey conducted with local government personnel involved in emergency disaster response, to contribute to the study of issues and measures for the utilization of typhoon research, including typhoon control research being conducted as part of Goal 8 of the Moonshot Research and Development Program.
2. Outline of the interview survey and analysis method
This was a practical survey to examine issues related to research contributing to typhoon disaster mitigation and its social application by interviewing local government disaster management staff on five topics: 1) typhoon impact and damage and related perceptions, 2) resident awareness and preparedness, 3) use of and expectations for typhoon-related information, 4) typhoon mitigation efforts and initiatives in local government, and 5) impressions, expectations, and concerns about typhoon control/modification. The interviews were conducted sequentially over the year 2024 with local government staff from 15 prefectures and 20 cities, covering a wide range of experience levels and types of typhoon damage.
The semi-structured interviews were conducted by asking respondents questions that were sent to them in advance, and by asking them to answer related questions on the spot. As qualitative research, the transcription of the interview content was coded and inductively analyzed for overall trends, identifying issues. Quantitative research methods were partly used to analyze differences with public awareness on typhoons, which were surveyed separately.
3. Overview of main findings of survey and analysis
With regard to topics 1) and 2), most local government staff feel that typhoons have changed in recent years in terms of movement, track, increased intensity and location of occurrence, and supposed that typhoon-related disasters would become more severe and frequent in the future. Many mentioned the importance of promoting disaster risk awareness among citizens and strengthening self-help and community-based assistance, as well as strengthening hard and soft government countermeasures. It was also found that the hazards to be prepared for, the level of fear of typhoons (e.g., not wanting them to come), and the preparedness of citizens seemed to reflect the characteristics and experiences of typhoon damage in each region.
Topic 3) confirmed the need and importance to be aware of the different viewpoints and concerns between researchers/information providers involved in understanding and predicting the natural phenomena of typhoons and their hazards, and local government staff who respond based on the characteristics, time and location of impacts and damage risks caused by typhoons. Respondents expressed their expectations for the provision of concise and easy-to-understand information related to disaster response, while suggested that the provision of multiple possible scenarios could increase the reliability of information providers under the uncertainty in predictions.
In topic 5), the need and effectiveness of timely explanations, opinion hearings and sharing of issues with stakeholders as the research progresses were confirmed, through the changes between the first impression of typhoon control and the views after receiving explanations of the actual research and its system. Concerns, anticipated impacts and issues related to typhoon control expressed by local government staff based on their knowledge of disaster response and administrative experience include: difficulties in building consensus due to differences in ethics and social values regarding typhoon control; impacts on the atmospheric, environmental and other impacts, and related disputes and compensation issues; relations with the international community, including neighboring countries; the need for accurate explanations to the public about the capabilities and uncertainties of typhoon control technology; and so on.