5:15 PM - 7:15 PM
[SVC31-P09] Utilization and challenges of UAVs in volcanic disaster prevention response
Keywords:UAV, volcanic disaster, volcanic disaster prevention, volcanic monitoring, administrative agency
Recently, UAVs have been utilized in various disaster and disaster prevention fields worldwide. Their uses range from assessing the extent of damage and searching for survivors to collecting information, delivering supplies, and aiding in rescue operations. Compared to manned aircraft such as helicopters, UAVs have the following advantages: faster response times, no need for large landing areas, acquisition of detailed information, reduced risks to rescuers, and reduced operating costs. UAVs are also starting to be used in the field of volcanic disaster prevention. For example, since 2021, UAVs have played a critical role in monitoring volcanic eruptions on Iceland’s Reykjanes Peninsula. These versatile tools have been used for various purposes including search and rescue, scientific research, and mission mapping. On the other hand, there are still few cases in Japan where UAVs have been used in volcanic disaster response.
In 2021, the hazard map of Mt. Fuji was revised for the first time in 17 years, and in 2023, the Mt. Fuji Volcano Evacuation Basic Plan was made public. Local governments in Yamanashi, Shizuoka and Kanagawa prefectures are presently working on the creation of evacuation plans in the event of a volcanic eruption of Mt. Fuji. In contrast to other active volcanoes, Mt Fuji has a wide area, including the summit and flanks, designated as an expected crater area. This may make it difficult to detect the location of the eruption vent until immediately before or after an eruption. In order to reduce the human damage caused by volcanic eruptions, it is necessary to accurately and quickly detect the activation of volcanic activity through various approaches, such as geophysical and geochemical monitoring, and to speed up the initial response to volcanic disasters.
On 6th and 7th December 2024, Yamanashi Prefecture conducted a training exercise to deploy a local response headquarters and a local response drill, both of which were based on the scenario of a volcanic eruption at Mt. Fuji. In the training, we conducted tests using UAV to collect the following information: 1) searching for some signs of eruption on the surface, 2) understanding the situation of the vent and the ejecta after an eruption, and 3) confirming the evaporation status of residents. The UAV used in the tests is the DJI Matrice 300 RTK, an industrial-use multi-rotor UAV equipped with DJI Zenmuse H20T, which combines a telephoto camera, a wide-angle camera, and a thermal camera. The aerial footage taken by the UAV was live streamed via a web conferencing system to the disaster response headquarters, on-site response headquarters, and surrounding city and town halls that were participating in the training.
The UAV observation team consists of two people: a pilot and an assistant. The pilot concentrated on operating the UAV, while the assistant monitored the safety of the surrounding area and responded to web conferences. When taking aerial photographs from the UAV hovering around 140 m above the Mount Fuji Research Institute, which is located at an altitude of 1,000 m at the northern foot of Mt. Fuji, we were able to capture relatively clear images of objects up to 7~8 km away by using the telephoto camera. The thermal camera made it possible to see the differences in temperature on the surface of the mountain. Sharing the visual information obtained on-site with relevant disaster management agencies in real-time via a web conferencing platform is expected to improve the volcanic disaster prevention response at Mt. Fuji. On the other hand, issues were also highlighted such as ensuring the safety of UAV observation team after an eruption and legal issues regarding the operation of UAVs after a disaster. This presentation will mainly discuss the utilization and challenges of UAVs in volcanic disaster response, which were revealed through these real-world training scenarios.
In 2021, the hazard map of Mt. Fuji was revised for the first time in 17 years, and in 2023, the Mt. Fuji Volcano Evacuation Basic Plan was made public. Local governments in Yamanashi, Shizuoka and Kanagawa prefectures are presently working on the creation of evacuation plans in the event of a volcanic eruption of Mt. Fuji. In contrast to other active volcanoes, Mt Fuji has a wide area, including the summit and flanks, designated as an expected crater area. This may make it difficult to detect the location of the eruption vent until immediately before or after an eruption. In order to reduce the human damage caused by volcanic eruptions, it is necessary to accurately and quickly detect the activation of volcanic activity through various approaches, such as geophysical and geochemical monitoring, and to speed up the initial response to volcanic disasters.
On 6th and 7th December 2024, Yamanashi Prefecture conducted a training exercise to deploy a local response headquarters and a local response drill, both of which were based on the scenario of a volcanic eruption at Mt. Fuji. In the training, we conducted tests using UAV to collect the following information: 1) searching for some signs of eruption on the surface, 2) understanding the situation of the vent and the ejecta after an eruption, and 3) confirming the evaporation status of residents. The UAV used in the tests is the DJI Matrice 300 RTK, an industrial-use multi-rotor UAV equipped with DJI Zenmuse H20T, which combines a telephoto camera, a wide-angle camera, and a thermal camera. The aerial footage taken by the UAV was live streamed via a web conferencing system to the disaster response headquarters, on-site response headquarters, and surrounding city and town halls that were participating in the training.
The UAV observation team consists of two people: a pilot and an assistant. The pilot concentrated on operating the UAV, while the assistant monitored the safety of the surrounding area and responded to web conferences. When taking aerial photographs from the UAV hovering around 140 m above the Mount Fuji Research Institute, which is located at an altitude of 1,000 m at the northern foot of Mt. Fuji, we were able to capture relatively clear images of objects up to 7~8 km away by using the telephoto camera. The thermal camera made it possible to see the differences in temperature on the surface of the mountain. Sharing the visual information obtained on-site with relevant disaster management agencies in real-time via a web conferencing platform is expected to improve the volcanic disaster prevention response at Mt. Fuji. On the other hand, issues were also highlighted such as ensuring the safety of UAV observation team after an eruption and legal issues regarding the operation of UAVs after a disaster. This presentation will mainly discuss the utilization and challenges of UAVs in volcanic disaster response, which were revealed through these real-world training scenarios.