Information sharing platform to assist rescue activities in huge disasters

— System linkage via data mediation —

Abstract

Various “ unexpected ” situations caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake severely hampered disaster-control systems of Japanese national and local governments. A flexible framework for disaster information systems that is reorganizable depending on circumstances is required to mitigate such serious situations. In this article, I propose the concept of “ loose linkages ” of information systems based on data mediation and a platform for disaster mitigation information sharing. The platform enables us to link various systems quickly, so that we can reconstruct disaster information systems according to various situations in major disasters. I found that the concept was effective for the Great East Japan Earthquake along with various ad-hoc activities of information volunteers. We should spread this concept and platform to Japanese national and local governments, and support organizations to prepare for future disasters.