Investigation and construction of lighting environments which lead the independent evacuation from tsunami at night

activity in Kamaishi and Rikuzentakata of Iwate Prefecture

Abstract

The importance of evacuation to higher ground away from a tsunami safely at night has been recognized right after the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011. This research examined the lighting plannings in Rikuzentakata and Kamaishi, Iwate Prefecture which promots evacuation on heights from tsunami at night. From investigations of the escape routes for evacuees and experiments at the entrance of evacuation destinations, it was found that a series of lights placed along the evacuation paths in the direction toward higher ground could guide evacuees effectively to the safe areas. One of principal methods of the evacuation lighting to higher ground is visualizing geographical features and the characteristics of evacuation areas by lights. The reasonable and energy efficient lighting could be realized by designing according to the required performances for each location.