Communication Structure, Protocol and Data Model Toward Resilient Cities in Japan

Abstract

This chapter proposes a wider view of disaster risk reduction in local communities through structured communication and information exchange. Smart city planning shows that resilience toward disasters equates with confidence in efficient responses. Information collection, sharing and delivery are, therefore, the keys in local communities to providing effective disaster management operations and relief to citizens. Community members clearly demonstrate expectations in the organization of information and communication that would increase resilience. Multiple stakeholders such as local municipalities and communities, state and prefectural government, private industries, NPOs and civil volunteers should all be involved in disaster response. Required information at each organizational level varies in terms of information granularity and contents. Moreover, there is no prior understanding of who owns what information, a fact which hinders collecting and sharing it effectively in the event of a disaster. A standardized data model that can be shared by related organizations on an everyday basis is mandatory. In addition, a common structure must be in place for information delivery from a local municipality to its citizens. This chapter asks what the information needed in a disaster consists of and how we can structure it across different organizations and devise a communication protocol between local municipalities and their citizens.