資料3−1−10

Research and development projects for disaster reduction conducted by MEXT

Project Name Contents
1.Special Project for Earthquake Disaster Mitigation in Urban Areas
（The Special Project of "Dai-Dai-Toku")		 To mitigate casualties and property under severe earthquakes in urban areas, such as a metropolitan area (South Kanto:Tokyo Metropolis) and Keihanshin (Kyoto-Osaka-Kobe), the special project of "Dai-Dai-Toku" has four major goals
  • 1) Regional characterization of the crust in metropolitan areas for prediction of strong ground motion,
  • 2) Significant improvement of seismic performance of structures,
  • 3) Development of advanced disaster management system, and
  • 4) Integration of earthquake disaster mitigation research results.
  • 1) Regional characterization of the crust in metropolitan areas for prediction of strong ground motion
 In order to understand the mechanism of earthquake generation in urban areas, such as complex southern Kanto plain and the Kinki district, investigation research of large-scale crust structure is conducted. Based on this investigation, fault models and underground structure models are established for the precise prediction of strong ground motion.
  • 2) Significant improvement of seismic performance of structures
 Using shaking tables including the "3-D Full Scale Earthquake Testing Facility (E-Defense)" and various simulators for shaking table tests, experimental and numerical research are conducted to significantly improve the seismic performance of a structures.
  • 3) Advanced disaster management system
 Using Tip technology, such as IT and Robotics,"Integrated Earthquake Disaster Simulation Systems" and "Advanced Robots and Information Systems" are developed to optimize the disaster response strategy.
  • 4) Integration of earthquake disaster mitigation research results
 To mitigate earthquake disaster by strengthening the earthquake resistant capacity of the society, the following research are conducted
  • 1) Policy development to promote retrofit of existing wooden structures,
  • 2) Research on the advancement of collection, processing and transfer systems of disaster information, and
  • 3) Policy development to optimize recovery and reconstruction processes from earthquake disasters.
2.Research Project for Practical Use of Real-time Earthquake Information networks This project is aimed at the development of technologies for automated earthquake precautions that is activated before the arrival of main shock (S wave) by providing earthquake information like the magnitude, the location of the hypocenter estimated by the P wave data to various organizations, companies and people.
In this project, the techniques to collect the data from nationwide seismometer network instantly, estimate the information on the earthquake such as hypocenter and magnitude, and distribute to the users are developed. Also, the prototypes of the systems to utilize real-time earthquake information are developed.
3.Investigation and Research concerning the Tonankai Earthquake, Nankai Earthquake and other Trench-type Earthquakes
- Observation and Research aimed at Improving the Accuracy of Predictions-		 For improvement of the accuracy of the long term evaluation of occurrence potential of earthquakes (and tsunamis) and prediction of the strong ground motion and tsunami, researches for estimation of the detailed geometry and motion of the plate, the strong ground motion and tsunami source region are conducted in this project. The project consists of the following two themes.
  • 1) Investigation and Research concerning the Tonankai Earthquake and Nankai Earthquake
 Researches to understand the large scale structure of the plate at boundary region of the anticipated earthquake source area of the Tonankai and Nankai Earthquakes are conducted. Researches to monitor the seismic activity more precisely, determine the detailed geometry of the plate boundary of the area, and compare the crustal structure with the seismic activity are also conducted. In addition, development of technologies to make observation system of the ocean bottom crustal movement more stable and more accurate are improved.
  • 2) Investigation and Research concerning Trench-type Earthquakes around the Japan trench and the Chishima trench
 Researches to monitor the seismic activity around the Japan trough and the Chishima trough more precisely and compare the crustal structure with the seismic activity of the area are conducted. Also, the system for reduction and archiving the useful seismic data of the past systematically which can manage them in an integrated fashion are developed. In addition, development of a new type seismometer for observing seismic wave caused by huge trench-type earthquakes accurately are conducted.