News

DAIWA LIFENEXT CO., LTD. (headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President: Keitaro Takebayashi; hereinafter “DAIWA LIFENEXT”) that is a member of Daiwa House Group and Rikei Corporation (Headquarters: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo; President & CEO: Satoru Isaka; hereinafter “Rikei”) are pleased to announce that the companies will start offering “VR Earthquake Drill,” that is specialized for earthquake disasters preparedness, a new content of the “VR* Fire Drill” for condominium residents that was released in November 2021. This is a result of the “joint R&D of next-generation disaster-preparedness content for condominiums” based on a tripartite collaboration agreement with the City of Yokohama.
*VR：Virtual Reality

Images of the “VR Earthquake Drill”

Key Points

• With just one smart phone, users can participate in the drill anytime, anywhere, and as many times as they like.

• Practical content reflecting “damage and inquiries from residents” from past earthquakes.

• Specializing in condominium earthquake disasters, three programs are available according to phases of disaster: “During Earthquake,” “After Earthquake,” and “Life of Post-Earthquake” Editions.

Background of the joint R&D

Since various disasters have occurred across Japan lately, it is important for condominiums where it is estimated that more than 10% of the nation’s population live, to be proactive in disaster prevention activities and disaster preparedness. The “VR Fire Drill (https://www.daiwalifenext.co.jp/management/vr_firedrill.html),” service for condominium residents developed by combining DAIWA LIFENEXT’s expertise in solving-problems through their management association activities and Rikei’s VR generation technology, has been well received by many management associations while repeatedly improved and expanded its contents since the launch in November 2021.

On the other hand, since there have been large-scale earthquakes one after another across Japan in recent years, including the Noto Peninsula Earthquake on January 1, 2024, we have received many requests from customers to develop VR content specializing in earthquake disasters.

Thereby DAIWA LIFENEXT and Rikei now jointly developed the “VR Earthquake Drill,” a new content of the “VR Fire Drill” that provides easy-to-understand information necessary for each phase of earthquake through VR images, reflecting inquiries and damage analysis from condominium nationwide that DAIWA LIFENEXT has been entrusted management when actual earthquakes occurred in the past. Through the service, we aim to prevent past earthquake disaster from fading away, contributing to improvement of residents’ self-help capabilities by encouraging them use the service on a daily basis.

Three Features

(1) Participable anytime, anywhere, and repeatedly
Users can participate in the drill at their convenience just by viewing VR images on the internet with their smartphone or other devices, thereby expected to increase the participation rate.

(2) Practicality based on past-earthquake analysis
The “VR Earthquake Drill” reflects the analysis of past earthquakes including various inquiries from residents, as well as the damage to condominiums that DAIWA LIFENEXT entrusted management.

(3) Expectable workload reduction on management associations
It is expected that the VR drill reduces the workload on management associations of condominiums, since it includes tasks required for having drills, such as advance notice to residents, totalization of participants number, and post questionnaire.

Details

Three programs are available for disaster’s different phases of earthquake that tend to have prolonged impact on residents’ daily life. “During Earthquake,” “After Earthquake,” and “Life of Post-Earthquake” Editions.

(1) “During Earthquake Edition”

The VR simulate the shaking of a 6+ seismic-intensity earthquake using CG of a room following an earthquake. In addition to providing a realistic experience of earthquake between with and without furniture-fall-prevention measures (*1) , as well as the effectiveness and how to put them with live-action video simulating past earthquake (*2) using an actual shaking-board.

*1 furniture-fall-prevention measures: supervised by the Disaster Prevention Equipment Inspection Association.
*2 live-action video simulating past earthquakes: produced by cooperation with the Disaster Prevention Equipment Inspection Association and the Chiba Institute of Science.

(2) “After Earthquake Edition”

Once the earthquake-shaking subsided and personal safety are secured, the next step is to secure utilities such as water, electricity, and gas facilities. The followings are examples of what may occur actually to condominiums and practical method how to deal with.
＜Examples＞
・Reasons why water is cut off in condominiums due to power outages caused by earthquakes, and how to deal with.
・Reasons why gas is shut off automatically when 5+ seismic-intensity earthquake, and how to deal with.

(3) “Life of Post-Earthquake Edition”

When utilities are cut off by earthquakes, residents in have the option of “home evacuation. “ Life of Post-Earthquake Edition” introduces the decision basis which to choose a home evacuation or a shelter evacuation, as well as necessary preparation for home evacuation.
＜Examples＞
・Preparedness for front-door problems such as not opening, closing, or locking properly.
・Reasons for prolonged elevator emergency stops due to earthquakes and necessary preparedness.
・Toilet and hygiene measures

“manbow,” Disaster Prevention Service Brand for Apartment Buildings

The service is one of the “manbow” brand, disaster preparedness services from DAIWA LIFENEXT. Based on the concept of “making condominium disaster prevention a part of daily life, not someday, “manbow” is the brand that provides services optimized for condominiums to meet the changing needs of disaster prevention with the times and that can be spontaneously prepared for in everyday life, including hardware like buildings and facilities as well as software for example self-help and mutual aid. By using with other services including the “Only One Disaster Prevention Manual Production Service” that is also one of the “manbow,” it is possible to improve the disaster preparedness and self-help capabilities of residents more effectively.
About “manbow” : https://www.daiwalifenext.co.jp/management/manbow.html

The Future Form of Condominium Management “CONDOMINIUM NEXTYLE”

DAIWA LIFENEXT as a comprehensive condominium-living support company has developed “CONDOMINIUM NEXTYLE,” which evolved from conventional uniform management service to tailored one in order to flexibly respond to the issues that each condominiums facing and its diverse values, as well as realize safer, more secure, and more comfortable lives for customers.

About DAIWA LIFENEXT CO., LTD.

DAIWA LIFENEXT services in a wide range of areas related to customers’ living and real estate, including building management services for condominiums, rental condominiums, buildings, logistics facilities, commercial facilities, and hotels; management of rental condominiums, shared houses, conference hotels, and renovated hotels for corporate clients; and corporate services such as office relocation support. We are a collection of people working under the concept of “carving out a better future starting here and now, and every individual aims to continue working together with customers and society to create a more affluent lifestyle while valuing the philosophies, values and feelings of every person.

About Rikei Corporation

Since its establishment in 1957 as a solution vendor in the IT and electronics industries, Rikei Corporation has provided a variety of solutions ranging from systems to networks, VR/AR contents, electronic materials and electronic devices.

Rikei proposes solutions that utilize cutting-edge technologies and advanced products from Japan and overseas, and contributes to business development such as improving efficiency of operations and profits of customers.

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