INTRODUCTION
The Disaster Preparedness and Prevention Centre (DPPC) of Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology (MJIIT), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), as a leading research center in promoting a transdisciplinary approach for local resilience agenda towards achieving the UNDRR Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030. In this high-impact project, we provide local expertise, demonstrationsites, and research-oriented project assistance in supporting the demonstration of disaster and crisis reporting (DC Report) of the QZSS facilitated by the Cabinet Office of Japan and Asian Disaster Reduction Centre (ADRC) from Kobe, Japan. The demonstration will use provisional disaster information provided by the DRM agency to evaluate how the prototype equipment and system will work in coding/decoding messages that willbe sent to QZSS, received from QZSS, and transferred between devices.
BACKGROUND
The Satellites Report for Disaster and Crisis Management (DC Report), facilitated by the National Space PolicySecretariat, Cabinet Office Japan (CAO-NSPS), is a crucial platform for disseminating vital crisis managementinformation via the Quasi-Zenith Satellites System (QZSS). The DC Report is a service that to publish crisis management information from organizations for disaster prevention. The information is transmitted via Michibikisatellite.
This strategic service capitalizes on QZSS’s ability to transmit essential disaster information, including earlycyclone or flood warnings, to ground receivers. These warnings are then efficiently communicated through diverse methods such as alarms, sirens, voice messages, and text, leveraging wireless networks. This feature holds particular significance for areas with limited or no internet or cellular connectivity, ensuring timely communication with those in need. Moreover, QZSS remains invaluable even in regions with established telecommunication infrastructure, as conventional systems can prove unreliable during severe disasters.
To prepare for the practical deployment of this service, a validation demonstration will be conducted to ensure QZSS’s enhanced capacity for disseminating the DC Report to Malaysia. The Japanese GNSS constellationQZSS, referred to as “Michibiki,” and operated by the Japanese Government, has demonstrated consistenteffectiveness since its official launch with a 4-satellite constellation in November 2018.
Furthermore, the Japanese Government has successfully tested a disaster early warning system utilizing one of its QZSS satellites to transmit information from weather monitoring institutions. This initiative aims to significantly contribute to improved disaster prevention in the Asia-Pacific region, with a specific focus on supporting evacuation efforts and managing relief activities in remote areas, such as mountainous regions. Notably, this system’s utility extends beyond mere warning transmission; it has proven valuable in facilitatingcomputer connectivity between evacuation shelters and disaster response centers, as demonstrated throughsimulations.