Japan is taking a major leap in disaster management with cutting-edge digital twin technology aiming to improve disaster prediction and response. Led by Professor Oishi Satoru from Kobe University’s Research Center for Urban Safety and Security, the initiative seeks to create virtual replicas of real-world environments to simulate the impact of earthquakes, tsunamis, and floods with unprecedented accuracy.
The technology is part of Japan’s Cross-Ministerial Strategic Innovation Promotion Program (SIP), which prioritizes real-time information-sharing among agencies like the Cabinet Office, Self-Defense Forces, and Fire and Disaster Management Agency. The goal is to avoid delays in emergency response, a lesson learned from the 1995 Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, where critical information took more than half a day to reach government officials.
By integrating vast amounts of data including building structures, traffic patterns and population density, digital twins can generate hazard maps predicting flood levels, building collapses, and evacuation routes. The system can also simulate multiple disasters simultaneously such as an earthquake damaging sea walls before a typhoon hits helping authorities allocate resources effectively within six hours of a catastrophe.
Despite its promise, the technology poses challenges in public communication. Authorities fear that revealing raw simulation data could spark panic or controversy over prioritized safety measures. To address this, Kobe University is fostering open discussions to ensure disaster preparedness remains a collaborative effort.
With Japan facing an increasing number of extreme weather events, experts believe digital twin technology could reshape disaster resilience, offering a smarter, data-driven approach to saving lives and minimizing destruction.