Disaster relief support and disaster prevention activities

SECOM’s disaster area support efforts

SECOM has provided disaster area support for communities following wide-ranging disasters, and it has developed both experience and know-how regarding reconstruction and recovery support activities.

As part of our efforts to contribute to society, we have launched the SECOM Disaster Support Project. It leverages the technical skills and expertise of the SECOM Group companies to energetically carry out support activities, coordinated with local governments and volunteer organizations and corresponding to actual conditions in disaster areas. Furthermore, we have continuously worked to improve the disaster prevention ability of local communities in ordinary times.

We are intensifying our cooperation with various organizations such as the Japan Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (JVOAD), across regional, industry, and sector lines. In the event of a disaster, we coordinate with related organizations such as local governments, police departments, fire departments, and the Japan Self-Defense Forces to conduct support activities not only for SECOM subscribers but for entire communities.

Cooperation with volunteer fire corps activities

Volunteer fire corps are the core of local disaster prevention. However, in recent years, the number of corps members has been decreasing throughout Japan and there is concern about a decline in the disaster prevention ability of local communities. In order to improve these conditions, SECOM actively cooperates in volunteer fire corps activities aimed at heightening the disaster response capability of local communities even in ordinary times.

For employees who belong to local volunteer fire corps, SECOM adjusts their work duties to be flexible to promote active participation in fire-related activities, training, and other events, even during ordinary working hours.

In addition, the SECOM head office and many regional offices have been certified as “an office cooperating with volunteer fire corps” by local fire departments for participating actively in the activities.

PASCO’s activities to support disaster recovery

Assessing the situation and providing information in the event of a disaster

PASCO CORPORATION is a SECOM Group company that provides geospatial information services. PASCO utilizes geospatial information technology to support national resilience through various forms ranging from preliminary measures such as risk assessment for natural disasters and creation of disaster-preparedness plans and hazard maps to support for reconstruction/recovery.

Moreover, at the time of large-scale natural disasters, PASCO uses Earth Observation satellites, aircraft, etc., to quickly ascertain and analyze disaster conditions, as well as to provide information to local governments, national government agencies, and other related organizations that implement disaster measures.

Various other initiatives are also underway.

Measures for improving national resilience through water and sewer systems

Japan’s water and sewer systems provide safe drinking water and sanitary sewer services to almost every part of Japan. The water network is roughly 740,000 kilometers long, and the sewer network is roughly 480,000 kilometers long. These networks are managed by local governments, but measures must be taken to ensure their ability to withstand earthquakes, typhoons, and other disasters, as well as to deal with inland flooding* and the aging of a tremendous number of related facilities. In recent years, heavy, highly localized rainfall has become more frequent, and the amount of rainfall runoff has risen due to urbanization. These trends further increased the risk of urban flooding (inland flooding).

PASCO is creating 3D models of urban rainwater drainage facilities, land usage, geography, and planimetric features. It is then creating inland flooding hazard maps based on inland flooding simulations and using basic designs for flood control facilities (regulating ponds, pump facilities, etc.) to provide operational assistance to water and sewer operators (local governments). PASCO is contributing to the creation of sustainable communities that are highly resistant to disasters and able to continuously provide safe drinking water and hygienic environments.

*　Inland flooding: Rainwater inundation of urban areas and farmland caused by rainfall, etc., exceeding the drainage capacities of sewers and gutters

Promoting Smart Agriculture

Japanese agriculture faces various challenges including a rising number of elderly farmers, a labor shortage, and a declining ratio of Japan’s food self-sufficiency. These problems are growing more and more severe with the passage of time. PASCO is supporting smart agriculture* by using geospatial information technologies such as aerial photography and measurement, spatial design, and satellite image data analysis to address these social issues.

For example, PASCO is using geospatial information technologies such as remote sensing and positioning services to assist farmers with determining the growth status of their crops. To address excessive crop damage caused by widespread and prolonged natural disasters such as earthquakes, typhoons, heavy rains, and volcanic eruptions, it is using satellite and aerial images to conduct crop damage studies that rapidly indicate damage assessments.

Furthermore, in December 2019, PASCO concluded a comprehensive collaboration agreement with the Tokyo University of Agriculture and the Tokyo University of Information Sciences with the aim of contributing to the development of Japanese agriculture. It is conducting various activities to originate measures for promoting smart agriculture at farming sites and to explore the potential for applying geospatial information technologies to other primary industries.

*　Smart agriculture: A new farming approach that uses robot technologies and ICT for ultra-laborsaving, high-quality production