Improvement awareness
of disaster management using virtual reality-based tsunami disaster drills
Kadoya Koki, Yamato Yuya, Hayashida Koichi, Yoshida Masaho and Shen Zhenjiang
Disaster Advances; Vol. 17(3); 1-7;
doi: https://doi.org/10.25303/173da01007; (2024)
Abstract
Virtual reality has the potential to be a unique tool to experience simulated disasters
in a dynamic and immersive environment. Researchers thus developed an experience-based
tsunami drill in a virtual reality space using a tsunami evacuation simulation on
a head-mounted display. A 3D model of Mikuni-Minato area, Sakai City, Fukui Prefecture,
Japan, was built based on data. Questionnaires survey were supplied to 28 participants
who were residents of the Mikuni-Minato area. The questionnaire included items on
the effectiveness of tsunami simulation, evacuation behavior, awareness of disaster
management and possible future actions after the evacuation drill.
The findings reveal that the evacuation drill effectively improved awareness of
disaster management among local residents. In particular, 46.4% stated “I decided
to improve the evacuation route,” 67.9% stated “I realized that disaster drills
were important,” and 60.1% stated “Will prepare disaster goods.” While the study
confirmed the effectiveness of VR-based drills using head-mounted devices, we suggest
further improvements to make the simulations more realistic.
