Topic 4: Producing a Safe and Secure City: Next-Generation Atmospheric and Hydrospheric Sensing Technology

Background

Natural disasters appear to be increasing in number each passing year, causing not only economic damage but also mental and physical hardship for those affected. In order to protect cities and its citizens from natural disasters, it is necessary to detect various atmospheric and hydrospheric occurrences as well as observe cumulonimbus clouds with the aid of weather radar. Even with a supercomputer it is difficult to accurately predict when and where heavy rainfall and strong winds will occur. Toshiba has developed a phased array weather radar, which enables forecasting of up to 30 minutes before heavy rainfall [1][2]. However, in order to help more people evacuate, it is necessary to capture the signs of cloud condensation hours earlier. Although accurate forecasting is beneficial for preemptive evacuation an aerial technology that detects in real-time rivers breaking their banks, residential flooding and tornado movement would be an excellent tool for rescue services as well as for citizens who have yet to evacuate. In addition, it would make it easier to calculate the economic damage ensuring quick and efficient reconstruction. In this research, 3D real-time sensing technology that observes the wind flow and water vapor movement in the sky as well as 2D real-time sensing technology that captures tornado and flooding on the ground are required. In addition, sensor fusion that combines multiple sensing technologies is expected to play a crucial part in producing a safe and secure city.

Suggested Research Proposals

• Research and development of ground-based radar and radiometer for real-time 3D sensing of water vapor
  
• Research and development of Doppler LIDAR, etc. for real-time 3D sensing of wind high up in the atmosphere as well as near ground level
  
• Research and development of sensors for real-time 2D sensing of hydrospheric phenomena
• Research and development of sensor fusion technology that combines multiple meteorological and hydrospheric sensing technologies

Related Papers

[1] https://www.toshiba-clip.com/en/detail/5826

[2] https://library.wmo.int/pmb_ged/iom_109_en/Session5/O5_02_Mizutani_Active_Phased_Array_Weather_Radar.pdf