News

Rikei Corporation (Head Office: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo; President & CEO: Tetsuo Kuroda: hereafter “Rikei”) would like to announce it has participated in “the Verification Testing of Diversifying the Methods of Transmitting Disaster Information to Residents” (Koto City, Tokyo), and that this verification testing has been completed now.

Background for Rikei Participating in the Verification Testing

We, Rikei, made a joint proposal with Koto City in response to a request for proposal for a “good disaster information transmission system,” in connection with the Fire and Disaster Management Agency’s “project of securing and upgrading the infrastructure for efficient fire and disaster management, which is strong at the time of a disaster and which also combines other methods of information transmission, and was successfully selected (together with Koto City) from among 63 local governments which submitted proposals.

Outline of Koto City’s Disaster Information Transmission System

Koto City is located in the eastern part of Tokyo, and is surrounded by waters such as Sumida River to the west, the Arakawa River to the east and the Tokyo Bay to the south, now with a mix of various regional environments, including traditional towns, high-rise condominium complexes, streets full of offices, and large-scale customer-attracting facilities such a the Tokyo Big Site, etc.

Our proposal has considered such regional environments, and has offered disaster gathering/transmitting methods matching the needs of a city. For this reason, rooftops of earthquake-resistant buildings were used to set up six base stations and to connect between them with disaster-strong 4.9 GHz band multiplex radio communications to create a system in which radio communications network infrastructure connecting among the base stations is established, over which images, voice and text information is transmitted.

Features & Advantages

This system is a practical “disaster information transmission system” , in which our accumulated technologies for long-distance multiplex radio LAN, Wi-Fi streaming video and J-ALERT telegraphic text analysis are used as core technologies, and which meets the needs of various local governments.

This system consists of the following sub-systems which Rikei has developed and created for Koto City.

1. Area One-segment Broadcasting System
   We have provided necessary support and assistance to enable Koto City to obtain a license for operating Area One-segment Broadcasting as a broadcasting station which was the first and successful attempt among the 23 ku (wards) in Tokyo.
2. J-ALERT Linked System
   When J-ALERT information is received, this system automatically gets linked to it, allowing the operator to insert L-type Telop.
3. Video Contents Selection System
   When a disaster occurs, 4types of video contents – camera images, DVD images, GIS map images and PC screens are selected, with emergency information being sent real-time from the ward’s fire and disaster management center to redidents.
4. IP Cameras (those in front of railway and subway stations, and those installed along the Arakawa River)
   Through a single switchover operation at the ward’s fire and disaster management center, it is possible to see the status of the Arakawa River and the crowing level in front of the stations.
5. Automatic Vending Machines with Outdoor Display
   Automatic vending machines with outdoor display (which is designed to provide information related to fire and disaster management) were produced and installed within parks held and run by Koto City.
6. Multiplex Radio Communications System (4.9 GHz FWA system)
   A multiplex radio communications network has been established and run by Koto-ku in order for Koto City to be able to get important information at the time of disaster occurrence when communications is restricted.
7. High-Performance Speakers
   High-performance speakers were requested by the Fire and Disaster Management Agency and Koto City. These speakers are to be used together with existing radio speakers used for the purpose of administration for fire and disaster management, and are intended to improve the information hearing environment.
8. Solar Panel Power Generation System
   This system is intended for use even during power outage due to a disaster so that Koto City’s run multiplex radio communications network can be used without disruption during such a disaster.
9. PHS In-House Telephone System
   Within the PHS antenna coverage area, Koto-City’s staff can use this system as an in-house telephone. This system can also be used for information gathering at a time when a fixed telephone system cannot be used.

What Rikei would like to stress is the following facts in designing and creating this system.

• System designing which has considered eliminating electric wave hindrances common to big cities as well as the high effectiveness in areas facing the sea and rivers.
• The system designing has been done with the intent of using generally available machines and equipment to be able to flexibly respond to diverse information transmission methods which exist now and also may emerge in the future.
• The system designing has also considered lower running costs for this system, including maintenance, etc.
• Another remarkable feature of this system is the fact that transmission of information such as images, voice and text is done via portable terminals, tablet terminals, FM radio, Area One-segment Broadcasting onto outdoor digital signage, mail distribution streaming vide distribution. This use of existing information transmission methods is not to impose any extra financial burden on residents.

J-ALERT, Plaza Monzen Nakacho, Toyosu Shell Tower, Ariake East Promenade, High-Performance Speaker, Emergency Interrupt Broadcasting System, Radio, IP Urgent Broadcasting System(automatic non-regular broadcasting), Office Building, 5 GHz band Multiplex Radio Network, School, Condominium Building, Total Residents Center, 2.4 GHz band Radio LAN Hot Spot, Hot Spot Coverage Radius: 1km, Automatic Vending Machine with Outdoor Display, Mobile Terminals, Area One-segment Broadcasting, Broadcasting Coverage Area: not yet fixed, PHS, Antenna for PHS, IP Camera, High-Performance Speaker, 4.9 GHz band Multiplex Radio Communications, Average 30 Mbps throughput, Camellia Plaza, Koto-ku Fire and Disaster Management Center

Future Development

The Fire and Disaster Management Agency has posted the results of this verification testing on its Home Page. Each of organizations including regional public organizations will select the best information transmission method(s) which best matches its regional conditions and will push for the introduction of such selected method(s). Rikei will continue to offer the best proposals, fully considering the conditions and needs of each region, do system designing based on such proposals, and build the proposed systems, thus contributing to the society further in the field of fire and disaster management.

Note: See the Fire and Disaster Management Agency’s following guide.
Guide on having good Information Transmission Methods and Systems for cases of Fire and Disaster (Verification Testing of Various Information Transmission Methods to Residents)

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