Visibility of Signs Functioning as Urban Disaster Prevention under the Jurisdiction of Municipality

Field Survey on Higashiyama, Kyoto

Abstract

This paper shows the field survey of visibility of signs functioning as urban disaster prevention under the jurisdiction of administration. The research zone is Higashiyama, Kyoto, which is among the most popular destinations for stranger in Japan. In the area, the layout plan of signs for evacuation to refuge base is insufficient, and the visibility of signs under nighttime or moonlight is at low level especially for foreign stranger and the Aged. To remodel signs in terms of character size is needed, because the size is relatively immune to the natural deterioration compared with contrast and reflectance. In particular, characters indicating present location and other crucial information should be enlarged. It is important to reconsider sign's design and management outside the jurisdiction of administration.