Citation

Ohshimo S, Sadamori T, Shime N. J. Intensive Care 2018; 6: e82.

Affiliation

Department of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima, 734-8551 Japan.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group - BMC)

DOI

10.1186/s40560-018-0354-0

PMID

30574333

PMCID

PMC6296104

Abstract

The western Japan rainstorm disaster on July 6, 2018, was one of the most serious natural catastrophes in Japan, excluding earthquake events. Its main characteristics were severe and widespread flooding and landslides which cut off many areas, interrupting both traffic and telecommunication, and loss of clean water supply. We explored the utility of unmanned aerial vehicles to collect precise information on traffic disruption and damage to hospitals for patient rescue and for efficient allocation of resources. This visualized information was beneficial for determining rescue strategies. Lessons from this disaster and novel technologies could contribute to minimizing damage in future disasters.

Language: en

Keywords

Drone; Flooding; Landslide; Unmanned aerial vehicle; Water supply