News

Rikei Corporation (Head Office: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo; President & CEO: Satoru Isaka; hereinafter “Rikei”), is pleased to announce that it has begun cooperating with Tokio Marine & Nichido Risk Consulting Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President & CEO: Taizo Shimakura; hereinafter “TRC”) in the development of VR content for education and drill services related to fire and disaster prevention.

Service overview

TRC will provide the following paid services to general private companies using content developed with Rikei’s latest VR technology (allowing the experience of evacuating during a fire; extinguishing a fire with fire extinguishers; working in pairs to operate fire hydrants) in order to enhance customers’ capability to respond to fires.

(1) Carrying out VR disaster prevention drills (disaster prevention seminar + VR experience)

(2) Holding VR disaster prevention experiences

(3) Provision and lending of VR disaster prevention equipment

(4) Consultations to support the enhancement of customers’ capability to respond to emergencies through VR disaster prevention drills

We believe that the above services will be useful for customers with problems such as being unable to carry out drills in which the participants actually operate fire extinguishers; being unable to set aside sufficient time for drills, not being able to carry out fire drills; and customers desiring to improve the results of fire prevention drills.

In addition to the above, services can be customized at the customer’s request, for example, incorporating video of customers’ facilities into the VR space.

Background

With the increased efficiency of logistics and supply chains, the impact on businesses from disasters and the secondary impact on society and the economy have increased. Under these circumstances, social demand for improved capability to respond to situations before and after disasters has further increased. However, it is not sufficient to mitigate possible damages from disasters merely to increase the functions of buildings and equipment.

For example, there are cases where emergency response manuals such as firefighting plans including evacuation procedures in emergency situations and responses for initial firefighting do not necessarily include content suitable for the companies or facilities. Most fire preparedness training has been carried out by conducting evacuation drills and initial firefighting in situations not considering the ever-changing diffusion and spread of fire and smoke, and does not sufficiently consider the improvement of actual effectiveness in actual disaster situations. In addition, in some commercial or other facilities, there may be cases where fire drills using fire extinguishing agents and water for extinguishing fires cannot be carried out, or where comprehensive fire drills are not possible do to schedule conflicts among emergency response personnel.

TRC’s education and drill content that we have begun offering at this time incorporates the combination of Rikei’s latest VR technology and TRC’s firefighting knowhow that it has accumulated over many years; and thus includes content with improved practicality and reality. We consider that the content of this service will improve the initial response of each individual in disasters that may occur, to make their actions more appropriate and more immediate.

Images of the VR content

Future development

In the future, we will develop content capable of offering more realistic augmented reality (AR) experiences by using technology that calculates behavior trends by statistically processing the results of VR disaster prevention drills, including the behaviors of the participants who have taken part in such drills, and by fully utilizing our AR technologies.

We believe that the enhancement of the capability to respond to disaster situations is a task for corporations that directly influence business continuity in disaster situations. Rikei will continue to develop and offer VR services for disaster prevention and mitigation.

About Tokio Marine & Nichido Risk Consulting Co., Ltd.

Tokio Marine & Nichido Risk Consulting Co., Ltd. is a company belonging to the Tokio Marine Group, which includes affiliates such as Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co., Ltd. TRC was established in 1996 with the knowhow that Tokio Marine had accumulated over more than one hundred years. TRC will offer practical and highly effective measures against a wide variety of risks arising in corporations.

About Rikei Corporation

Established in 1957, Rikei Corporation is a solution provider for the IT and electronics industries.

Rikei offers a wide variety of solutions centered on the world’s cutting edge technologies and advanced products in the fields of system solutions, such as entrance exam and educational affairs systems and IT infrastructure, business strategy, and information security solutions. It also provides network solutions, such as satellite communication data transfer systems, digital video transfer systems, network systems for telecommunication operators and other private companies, wireless access systems, and disaster management information systems. In addition to solutions, Rikei provides electronic components and devices, such as high frequency components, high performance adhesives for industrial use, testers for automotive audio and navigation equipment, power grid analysis systems, defense-related machinery and security systems.

Product names and company names mentioned herein are the trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.