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Research paper : Information sharing platform to assist rescue activities in huge disasters (I. Noda)−124−Synthesiology - English edition Vol.5 No.2 (2012) Even in such a situation, various forms of trials-and-errors were done to mitigate the damages as much as possible. There are many factors that enabled such mitigations, but it is thought that the design policy of the platform proposed in this paper, including the concept of open system, standard, and downward scalability functioned effectively.In this earthquake, there was much relief and support by information volunteers on the Internet. For example, in the Person Finder led by Google, photos of the handwritten evacuee lists were shot with a digital camera, and the volunteers at the sites entered this information as text data to create a database. This simple but effective method was certainly supported by advanced technologies such as cloud computing and high-speed Internet, but it was a typical instance where simple functions (photo shooting by digital camera, text reading by people, and database search) were mediated by image and text data. Although there were time delays due to human processing, the linkages were made without problems, most likely due to the fact that it was mediated by data rather than by function.As mentioned in subchapter 4.3, the “Toreta Doro Map” (road passability report information) was provided by Honda, Toyota, and ITS Japan. This time, detailed data was released using the KML, an international standard format.Note 6) Therefore, various attempts were made for information integration using the available data. For example, the author et al. lightened the weight of the passability information to create and provide a map that combined the information for gas stations and road blockages (Fig. 12).[17] There were also volunteers that worked to create image files of the passability information that was viewable only on PC so it could be viewed on cell phones. That several attempts can be made concurrently is one solution for responding to diverse needs in times of emergency. There should be more focus on the point that one of the foundations that makes this possible is the build-up of processing by data mediation through a universal format. Such grass-root system development and ad hoc system configuration centered on revisions and linkages are often neglected in disaster measures that are involved in the heavy mission of saving lives. However, considering the case-by-case response to the course of events including the unexpected ones, such loose but supple methods must also be considered. As a preparation, it is necessary to diffuse the system configuration based on the concepts of an open system, a universal format and a protocol standard, and downward scalability.6 ConclusionIn this paper, the design policy for disaster information system based on the concept of module linkage centered on data mediation and the mitigation information sharing platform that is the implementation of this concept were discussed.The concept of data mediation aims at rough and simple module linkages. It realizes the case-by-case linkages of simple functions rather than advanced linkages of high functions.As discussed in chapter 3, whether major or minor, disasters include unexpected events, and the local governments must respond flexibly. Many of the cases in the Great East Japan Earthquake presented the necessity for case-by-case responses and the efficiency of the ad hoc system construction through data mediation to support such flexibility.Of course, mere data linkages will not take care of all disaster prevention work, and security technology to handle privacy information and the framework for accurate and high-speed processing of massive data will become necessary and possible with the advancement of technology. The concept and the platform proposed in this paper must be developed further by responding to the changes.AcknowledgementsThis project was supported by the following: Special Project for Earthquake Disaster Mitigation in Urban Areas, Special Coordination Funds for Promoting Science and Technology, Science and Technology Project for a Safe and Secure Society, and Special Project for Earthquake Disaster Mitigation in Tokyo Metropolitan Area of MEXT; and Strategic Advanced Robotic Elements Engineering Development Project of METI. The system was developed with the cooperation from many people who participated in these projects. I am grateful for their cooperation.NotesNote 1) This is a concept where the system is designed so the function is maintained according to the capacity of the device, even if the system is run on a small and poor information processing device. The counter-concept is “upward scalability” where the function is maintained even if the size is increased.Note 2) For multimedia data, there are several standard formats such as MIME, but some are difficult to handle with XML such as certain streaming formats, and there is the problem of data size. It is necessary to employ a format with emphasis on operation over long periods, and the choice should not be limited to XML.Note 3) The connection with the backend database is implemented with abstracted API. So, switching to other database is easy.

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