Behaviour of the Disaster Resistant Communication Systems Utilizing IT Technologies by Electric Power Companies in Japan

摘要

At the 37th Paris Session in 1998, we reported that Japan is prone to natural disasters such as earthquakes and typhoons and that electric power companies (EPCOs) in Japan have, over the years, implemented a variety of disaster prevention measures for communication systems in order to maintain robustness and flexibility in the face of such threats from nature. This paper presents examples in which effects of the implementation by EPCOs in Japan of the measures for earthquake and storm disaster prevention reported at the above Session were verified during recent earthquake and typhoon disasters. EPCOs in Japan have aggressively strengthened disaster prevention measures including proactive approaches to preventive actions against damage from disasters and prompt restoration actions in the event of disasters; thus have implemented disaster prevention measures utilizing IT technologies progressing remarkably. Such disaster prevention measures include video teleconference systems used as means to communicate with offices in disaster areas, visual surveillance and monitoring systems using general-purpose Web browsers utilized for monitoring damage caused by disasters, and emergency messaging systems that enable immediate understanding of the situation of the staff in disaster areas in the event of sudden disasters. This paper reports that such disaster prevention measures were utilized as very effective means when disasters actually occurred. It also describes backup measures, measures to provide redundancy over a wide area, and security measures as issues to be considered in constructing disaster resistant communication systems utilizing IT technologies.