Our Technology Development Project was Selected for the Technology Development Theme "Feasibility Study of Overseas Demonstration of Satellite Data Utilization System" which is the Public Invitation of the Space Strategy Fund.
PACIFIC CONSULTANTS CO., LTD. (Address: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Representative Director, President Executive Officer: Osamu OMOTO) was selected as a business operator on February 7, 2025, together with co-proposer Gaia Vision Inc. (Address: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Yuki KITA) for the "Feasibility Study of Overseas Demonstration of Satellite Data Utilization System *2", one of the public invitation themes of the Space Strategy Fund for FY2024 implemented by the National Research and Development Agency The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) *1. The project is scheduled to run for two years and started on April 1, 2025.
The adopted technical development project, "Demonstration of a service to provide real-time 3D analysis information on global flood damage using satellite data," will develop a 3D analysis and assessment system for global flood damage by combining spatial analysis and hydraulic analysis in response to the recent frequent floods occurring around the world. The aim is to provide a service that can estimate and grasp the flood situation, the number of affected population and houses, the amount of damage, and other damage conditions and damage factors quickly, remotely and off-site, with the required accuracy at the initial stage of a disaster, and support proposals for necessary recovery and reconstruction responses.
*1 For details about the Space Strategy Fund, please see the official website.
https://fund.jaxa.jp/
*2 Technology development theme: Overseas demonstration (feasibility study) of satellite data utilization system
https://fund.jaxa.jp/techlist/theme19/
■ Purpose of Technology Development
In order to respond to frequent floods around the world, we will develop a 3D analysis and assessment system for global flood damage by combining spatial analysis and hydraulic analysis. Currently, inundation areas are provided by various companies and organizations through satellite image analysis, etc. However, it is difficult to quickly obtain information on the damage situation and factors of damage, such as the number of affected population and houses, due to damage to infrastructure such as communication and transportation. On-site surveys are required, but collecting information takes time and effort, which leads to problems such as the expansion of damage and delays in recovery and reconstruction. Therefore, we aim to develop a service that can estimate and grasp the damage situation and factors of damage, such as flooding, the number of affected population and houses, and the amount of damage, quickly, remotely and off-site, at the initial stage of a disaster, and support the proposal of necessary recovery and reconstruction responses.
■ Expected Efficacy
There are other services that analyze and provide damage situations based on satellite data, but there are few cases where the damage situation and damage factors are analyzed and used for post-disaster recovery and reconstruction projects. The features of this service are 1) It covers the whole world, 2) It can quickly produce results in about 1-2 weeks, and 3) It can analyze not only the flooding situation but also the damage situation and damage factors. Since it can grasp the flooding and inundation situation as well as the damage situation and damage factors at the initial stage of a disaster, it can support government agencies in proposing necessary recovery and reconstruction responses. In addition, it will contribute to the recovery and early resumption of business for infrastructure operators (railroads, etc.) and business operators (factories, etc.) in the flooded areas.
■ Future Outlook
We have supported national and local government efforts to implement disaster prevention and deduction measures. This technology development will develop tools to grasp the damage situation and factors of damage, and support the planning and implementation of rapid disaster response, targeting disasters that occur frequently not only in Japan but all over the world. Using the experience and knowledge gained in supporting government disaster prevention, we aim to expand disaster prevention services for a variety of stakeholders around the world.