The Role of Landform Information in Disaster Records of Local Scale Areas Focusing on Geospatial Characteristics

Abstract

Recently, a large number of natural disasters have occurred and many records of the disasters have been collected. Insufficiencies are confirmed in landform information contained in disaster records of local scale areas. In addition, various problems are clarified that relate to geospatial information that make it difficult to comprehend natural disasters graphically. In order to make it easier to understand natural disasters, it is necessary to convert original basic landform information into higher order information. To develop higher order landform information with information on materials, processes, and ages of local areas, an overlay is needed with geomorphological results provided as geospatial information on the latest basic landform information, while retaining a geomorphological perspective. In order to understand landform information of past disaster records, they also need to be reviewed using the latest analytical techniques and study results. In such a review, it is important to attempt a comprehensive interpretation, and to refer to records in many study fields. In the process of preparing higher order landform information, one problem is that local areas have unreliable information on natural disasters. To solve this problem, it is desirable that earth science and geography education activities are undertaken sufficiently so that residents can identify local landform information by themselves and, furthermore, that disaster prevention and disaster reduction enlightenment activities are developed. Even if higher order landform information is prepared, there is likely to be damage caused by natural disasters when administrative agencies and residents have a low awareness of the information. Therefore, it is believed that records of land-use changes associated with landform conditions and their recognition can prevent the activation of a normalcy bias resulting from a deterioration of disaster memory and a decline of disaster prevention consciousness, and can increase the effectiveness of disaster prevention and disaster reduction activities in the future.