[Event Report] Presentation at Cloud-Native Geospatial Forum Japan 2026

On August 24, 2026, I gave an oral presentation at the "Cloud-Native Geospatial Forum Japan 2026 (CNG Japan 2026)," held at the JAMSTEC Yokohama Institute for Earth Sciences (YES).

My presentation, titled "Taming Data Gravity: UAV + STAC for Disaster Response," addressed the challenges of "data gravity"—the difficulty of handling and transferring massive spatial datasets (high-resolution orthophotos, DSM, and 3D point clouds) generated by UAV surveys after major disaster events, drawing on case studies from the Wajima City fire during the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake and the 2025 Saganoseki fire.

I proposed a practical workflow leveraging Cloud-Native Geospatial technologies, such as Cloud Optimized GeoTIFF (COG), COPC, and SpatioTemporal Asset Catalog (STAC), which enables rapid, lightweight sharing and integration of crucial geospatial intelligence for disaster response without relying on heavy local GIS infrastructure or proprietary software licenses.

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the organizers at Cloud Native Geospatial Global Event for hosting this inspiring forum, as well as to all the attendees for their insightful discussions and valuable feedback. I look forward to further advancing cloud-native geospatial technologies for practical disaster management and spatial information science. 

[Media Coverage] NHK Features Joint 3D Modeling Analysis on the Saganoseki Fire

Six months have passed since the large-scale urban fire in Saganoseki, Oita City, in November 2025. I would like to offer my deepest condolences to the bereaved family of the victim and express my heartfelt sympathies to all those affected and still enduring evacuation.

On May 18, 2026, NHK News (web article and news broadcasts) featured our joint research findings on the fire spread analysis using a 3D model developed collaboratively by Professor U Hiroi (The University of Tokyo) and NHK.

This 3D model digitally reconstructed the post-disaster site based on spatial data captured during our drone (UAV) survey conducted approximately one month after the fire.

The 3D analysis visually confirmed that ember/firebrand spotting driven by strong winds travelled over 150 meters from the main fire front, penetrating roof tiles and wall crevices to expand the fire. Conversely, the model clearly illustrated that wider roads capable of vehicular access and open spaces effectively suppressed fire spread by blocking radiant heat and facilitating firefighting operations.

As aging populations and unmanaged vacant houses increase vulnerability in dense wooden districts, these spatial insights provide crucial lessons for building fire-resilient communities and guiding disaster recovery planning. The commentary video and full article using the 3D imagery are available on NHK's official website.

• NHK News : https://news.web.nhk/newsweb/na/na-k10015124401000
• Drone Survery Report: https://jafse.smoosy.atlas.jp/ja/firenews20260108

[Event Report] Gave a Presentation at the Tokyo Fire Department's Urban Disaster Prevention Study Group

On March 10, 2026, I gave a presentation at the "Urban Disaster Prevention Study Group" held at the Tokyo Fire Department Headquarters.

Under the theme "Contribution of Information and Disaster Prevention via Drones in Large-scale Fires: Aiming to Contribute to Firefighting Response through the Integration of Spatial Information and Multi-layer Communication," I reported on methods for rapidly visualizing spatial information using drones during large-scale and wide-area disasters, as well as integrated technologies for multi-layer satellite communication in extreme environments. Furthermore, I proposed a practical approach toward next-generation firefighting digital transformation (DX), where acquired data is instantly shared as a Common Operational Picture (COP) to support decision-making and on-site command.

During the live voting and Q&A sessions, we had a multifaceted exchange of views based on practical operations. Discussions covered on-the-ground ideas such as building temporary relay stations in communication blackout areas, conducting 3D visualization inside collapsed houses using micro drones, and identifying flying sparks and heat sources with thermal cameras. We also discussed crucial topics like airspace control in emergency operation zones and the importance of disaster response agreements through industry-government-academia collaboration.

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to everyone involved in planning and managing this study group, as well as to all the participants for their active and engaging discussions. I will utilize the valuable insights and feedback received to further my research activities and continue my efforts to contribute to practical firefighting and disaster prevention operations.  

[News] Field Survey Report on the Large-Scale Urban Fire in Saganoseki Published by JAFSE

I would like to express my deepest sympathies and heartfelt condolences to all those affected by the large-scale urban fire that occurred in Saganoseki, Oita City, in November 2025. My sincere thoughts are with the victims and their families for their safety and a swift recovery.

A preliminary field survey report on the Saganoseki urban fire, conducted by the Earthquake Fire Specialist Committee of the Japan Association for Fire Science and Engineering (JAFSE) (Chaired by Professor Emeritus Akihiko Hokugo, Kobe University), has been published on the JAFSE website. As part of this investigation, we conducted drone surveys on December 15 and 16, capturing comprehensive aerial imagery and data that revealed upper-floor fire spread and damage to adjacent wildlands that were previously difficult to assess from ground level alone.

Our investigation highlighted key factors contributing to the fire's expansion, including firebrand spotting driven by strong winds—which caused fire to jump approximately 1.4 km to Tobishima Island as well as spread discretely across the urban area—and regional characteristics such as high building density in a wooden-framed district. Furthermore, the survey analyzed "firebreak" locations where fire spread was halted through a combination of fire-resistant structures, road widths, firefighting efforts, and wind direction. Following our previous survey in Wajima City after the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake, this investigation further demonstrates the effectiveness of drone-based spatial surveys in large-scale fire management.

For more details on the survey and analysis, please visit the official JAFSE link below.

JAFSE Survey Report: https://jafse.smoosy.atlas.jp/ja/firenews20260108

[Event Report] Presentation at CSIS DAYS 2025

On November 14, 2025, I gave an oral presentation at "CSIS DAYS 2025," the annual research conference hosted by the Center for Spatial Information Science (CSIS) at the University of Tokyo's Kashiwa Campus.

My presentation, titled "Lightweight UAV-DSM Approach for Urban Fire Damage Mapping: Wajima 2024," introduced a rapid building-level damage mapping method evaluated on the urban fire near Asaichi Street in Wajima City following the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake. In this study, I proposed a lightweight DSM-based Damage Metric (DSM-DM) that calculates relative elevation differences within building footprints using UAV-derived Digital Surface Models, eliminating the need for pre-disaster imagery. The method demonstrated high consistency in rapidly classifying buildings into totally destroyed and partially remaining structures within hours—capturing structural damage tendencies across wooden, steel, and RC buildings—thereby providing an actionable first-pass damage layer to assist emergency responders during initial post-disaster triage.

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Center for Spatial Information Science for hosting this conference, as well as to all attendees for their insightful feedback and discussion. I will continue my research efforts to advance practical geospatial methodologies for real-world disaster management.

For more details on the conference, please visit the link below.

https://www.csis.u-tokyo.ac.jp/event/csisdays25_notification/

[Presentation Report] Participatin at the 31st Annual Conference of JASDIS

On November 8, 2025, I gave an oral presentation at the 31st Annual Conference of the Japan Society for Disaster Information Studies (JASDIS), held at Kansai University Takatsuki Muse Campus.

My presentation, titled "Building Damage Estimation in the 2024 Wajima Large-Scale Fire: Trial Application using High-Resolution UAV-DSM Aerial Surveying," introduced a method for rapidly estimating building-level fire damage following the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake. By utilizing a single univariate metric (DSM-DM) calculated from UAV-derived Digital Surface Models (DSM) without requiring pre-disaster imagery, the proposed approach enables the rapid estimation and visualization of primary building damage (such as totally destroyed vs. partially remaining) within hours of data collection. I demonstrated that this method effectively captures structural damage tendencies—such as the high destruction rate of wooden buildings versus the structural retention of RC and steel buildings—highlighting its practical utility and operational considerations for supporting initial emergency response.

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the organizers at JASDIS for their hard work in hosting this conference, as well as to all the participants for their engaging discussions and valuable feedback. I will continue my research efforts to advance practical spatial information analysis to support real-world disaster response and information sharing.

For more details on the conference program, please visit the link below.

http://www.jasdis.gr.jp/_src/3457/02-31kai.pdf?v=1773894676380

[Event Report] Gave a Presentation at "Chiba Academia Lecture"

On October 13, 2025, I gave a lecture as a guest speaker at "Chiba Academia Lecture 3," hosted by Chiba Prefecture and the Sawayaka Chiba Kenmin Plaza, held both in person and online.

Under the title "Evacuate or Stay? Disaster Literacy to Prepare for Hesitancy in Decision-Making," I discussed the hesitation and complex decision-making during disasters faced by people requiring special consideration—such as the elderly, individuals with disabilities, and infants—as well as community supporters. In my talk, I highlighted the importance of enhancing individual disaster literacy (understanding risks, recognizing the need for preparation, and acting promptly) while emphasizing the essential integration of welfare services and disaster preparedness. Through interactive quizzes, case studies of successful community initiatives, and the practical use of individual evacuation support plans and disaster timelines, we explored ways to build an inclusive community support network where no one is left behind.

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Chiba Prefecture and the staff at Sawayaka Chiba Kenmin Plaza for organizing this wonderful seminar, as well as to all attendees, both on-site and online, for their active participation and enthusiastic engagement. I look forward to incorporating these valuable exchanges into my ongoing research and public outreach to further enhance community resilience.

For more details, please visit the official event page below.

https://www.skplaza.pref.chiba.lg.jp/plugin/databases/detail/435/1078/819#frame-1078