Recent Research on and Prospects regarding Disaster Prevention Technology

Various natural disasters have occurred in Japan due to geological and meteorological conditions, causing significant human loss and economic damage. Disaster prevention technology for railways has been developed through experience and has contributed to mitigating damage. Since the 2011 off the Pacific coast of Tohoku Earthquake, however, the paradigm of disaster prevention has shifted. Japanese Government disaster prevention now focuses on mitigating the impact of and resilience against large-scale disasters caused by forces larger than those considered up until now. This paper introduces the results of recent research into disaster prevention technology, and describes research plans for mitigating the impact of and resilience against large-scale disasters.