Citation

Horiike R, Nakai H, Itatani T, Shirai F, Konishi K. PLoS One 2019; 14(6): e0217512.

Affiliation

Division of Health Sciences, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Osaka Prefecture, Japan.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Public Library of Science)

DOI

10.1371/journal.pone.0217512

PMID

31170210

Abstract

The Nankai Trough in Japan has been identified as a geological feature that could cause extensive damage in the event of a major earthquake. In this study, we investigated the impact of effective guidance signs for hearing-impaired individuals requiring special care when escaping to a tsunami evacuation building (emergency evacuation location) using geographical information system (GIS) and viewshed analysis. We selected an area we considered would suffer severe damage following a major earthquake and tsunami; we identified difficulties in the provision of escape routes. Using GIS, we determined the time required for escape and tsunami arrival time if effective signs were installed; we undertook such analysis using the height data of buildings in the target area. With effectively installed guidance signs, the average required evacuation time was 36.88 minutes; without such signs (which is currently the case in the target area), the average time was 47.10 minutes: that would result in citizens getting caught by the tsunami. Installing effective guidance signs would allow hearing-impaired individuals to escape to an evacuation building before being hit by the tsunami.

Language: en