Surveillance of Kusatsu-Shirane Volcano, Japan: Test Flight of a Droneport System Operated Remotely from the Kusatsu Town Office

Abstract

A flight test using a droneport system was conducted to undertake surveillance of Kusatsu-Shirane volcano, Japan, on 26 June 2024. The drone was operated remotely by a pilot authorized under the Civil Aeronautics Law and stationed at the Kusatsu Town Office, 6 km from the takeoff and landing point, under the direction of the mayor of Kusatsu Town. The mayor gave the pilot takeoff instructions and took aerial photographs. During the flight, a volcanologist briefed the mayor on the current status of Kusatsu-Shirane volcano based on the video transmitted in real time from the drone. Stakeholders such as the mayor and scientists observe the same scene, allowing them to quickly and safely assess the status of the volcano themselves. A droneport system are therefore an effective means of quickly achieving a common understanding of the status of volcanoes among stakeholders, volcanologists and other experts, and other interested parties at a time of volcanic unrest. To ensure the effective use of a droneport system it is important that test flights be conducted before a period of volcanic unrest or eruption so that stakeholders can better understand the system.