Approach to Materiality (Material issues)Supporting early restoration at disaster sites

Community and Social Development

Background and issues

When a disaster occurs, it is imperative to ensure the early restoration of affected areas. To this end, faster information sharing and appropriate support are required. Currently, email is the technology used by those not physically present to obtain disaster site information. However, email communication may take time and there may also be a failure to convey detailed information. Even if photos of disaster sites are shared, such images often miss elements required by the recipient.

Serving the social good through business

Ricoh is thus aiming at facilitating efficient communication from disaster sites by using a “Disaster Cloud” (provisional name) incorporating the THETA 360.biz cloud service capable of dynamically displaying 360° images. This service will enable anyone who is not at the disaster site to view 360° images plotted over map information, helping them to accurately grasp disaster situations promptly and thus provide appropriate assistance. In addition, accumulated data is being used to examine related measures and for future disaster education.
In 2019, Ricoh provided the Disaster Cloud for a demonstration experiment at the Kyushu Technology Office of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and offered technical support including user instruction.
By offering the 360° camera and cloud service, Ricoh expects to help solve problems concerning information sharing at disaster sites and support early restoration from disaster damage.