[S-VC31] Mitigation of volcanic disasters - basic and applied researches

[SVC31-05] Surveillance of Kusatsu-Shirane volcano using a drone port operated remotely from the Kusatsu Town Office

*Akihiko Terada¹, Masayoshi Tamura² (1.Volcano and Earthquake Research Division, Multidisciplinary Resilience Research Center, Institute of Innovative Research, Institute of Science Tokyo, 2.NSi Corporation)

Keywords:drone port, volcano surveillance, disaster mitigation, Kusatsu-Shirane volcano, DOCK2

A flight test using an autonomy drone was conducted at Kusatsu-Shirane volcano, Japan, on 26 June 2024. The drone flying over Kusatsu-Shirane volcano was operated by a pilot authorized under the Civil Aeronautics Law at the Kusatsu Town Office, 6 km from the takeoff and landing point, under the direction of the mayor of Kusatsu Town. The mayor gave the pilot takeoff instruction and took aerial photographs. During the flight, a volcano expert briefed the mayor on the current status of the Kusatsu-Shirane volcano based on the video transmitted in real time from the drone. Stakeholders, such as mayors, and experts observe the same scene, allowing stakeholders to quickly and safely assess the volcano situation themselves. Autonomous drones would be an effective means of quickly achieving a common understanding of the current status of volcanoes among stakeholders, volcanologists and other experts, and other interested parties. It is important for the effective use of autonomous drones that test flights be conducted before a volcanic eruption or unrest occur so that stakeholders can better understand the autonomous drone system.