How did the Kobe earthquake research contribute to improve the worldwide knowledge about earthquakes?
People can understand the difference between plate boundary earthquakes and inland earthquakes due to active faults. Even if the probability of an earthquake occurring is small, estimating damage before disasters happen is very important. The process of an earthquake’s epicenter can be clearly analyzed with networks of seismographs. GPS data can explain the balance between two plates’ boundaries. The process of propagation of the P wave and S wave was used for emergent issue of warning, before damage was generated. How did you contribute as a researcher to improve Japanese disaster management capacity? After the Kobe earthquake, we began to understand the importance of information. Therefore, we now use GIS as well as GPS to manage damage. Also, the Museum conducts training of local government staff who play central roles in disaster management. In these training programs, the Museum shares the experiences of the Earthquake, and systematically provides practical knowledge and skills in
