A Study on the Flood Hazard Map

—From the Cases of Tokyo Area—

Abstract

The number of urban flood hazard has increased recently, as we can see in the cases of Fukuoka flood disaster in 1999 and Toukai flood disaster in 2000. In the case of crises of flood hazard, the flood hazard map, which gives various warnings and directions to run for the places of refuge, plays an important role to save the lives of people involved. Based on those disastrous damages in the past, many local governments are beginning to compile and distribute their own flood hazard map.

In this research paper, the contents of the flood hazard maps of the seven wards in Tokyo area, namely Itabashi ward, Kita ward, Shinjuku ward, Suginami ward, Chiyoda ward, Nakano ward and Bunkyo ward, are compared from the various aspects, such as elements of their compositions, the uses of languages for descriptions and practical effectiveness and usefulness of these maps in real hazardous situations.

On the basis of this research some proposals are made to improve the flood hazard maps more effective and user-friendly.