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Maki Koyama

小山先生 _ハザードマップと県境.jpg

Hazard map status of prefectural boundaries

小山先生_浸水域と非浸水域.jpg

Contrast between inundated and non-inundated areas of the Great East Japan Earthquake

Discipline Regional Disaster Prevention Studies

Study Area Gifu Prefecture, Kurashiki City, Osaka City, etc.

Research Themes 

-Research on disaster prevention and mitigation based on diversity

-Research on collaborative platforms centered on human resource development

A word about borders (boundaries)

When considering natural disasters, there are two boundaries: the boundary between the boundary as a phenomenon causing natural disasters and the boundary imposed by human society. These boundaries often do not coincide. The impact of natural phenomena does not change within administrative boundaries, yet hazard maps are discontinuous at administrative boundaries, and measures are also considered on an administrative boundary basis. During disasters, such as tsunamis or floods, a boundary is created between flooded areas and non-affected areas. The differences in the presence and extent of damage result in varying levels of difficulty in the reconstruction of people's lives in those areas. The characteristics of the original residential areas and the attributes of each resident further complicate societal boundaries.  Boundaries emerge everywhere, interact, and contribute to both social cohesion and division. On the other hand, designing any support system involves setting boundaries, as it requires clarity regarding the target audience, implying the establishment of a boundary between those who are the target and those who are not. I believe it is important to accept the existence of diverse boundaries and then think about how to deal with them.

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