#Japan #Tsukuba #Vacan #Disaster Awareness #Tsukuba City

Enhancing Safety: Tsukuba's Digital Signage Initiative

As natural disasters become increasingly frequent, enhancing disaster preparedness has become critical. In response, Tsukuba City in Ibaraki Prefecture has partnered with Vacan, a company specializing in AI technology and real-time congestion monitoring, to launch an innovative digital signage pilot project. This initiative, set to run from May 12, 2025, to March 2028, aims to raise public awareness about disaster preparedness and facilitate smoother evacuations during emergencies.

Objectives and Background

In recent years, Japan has witnessed a surge in natural disasters, which has heightened the need for reliable disaster preparedness strategies. To address this urgent concern, the collaboration between Tsukuba City and Vacan focuses on two main objectives: increasing overall disaster awareness among residents and reducing congestion at evacuation sites by encouraging dispersed evacuations.

Vacan has a strong track record in disaster management, having successfully implemented digital solutions for real-time congestion monitoring and evacuation maps for over 200 municipalities. The company is set to broaden its efforts in Tsukuba by delivering essential meteorological information and disaster preparedness content through digital signage in public facilities. Moreover, during emergencies, the signage will display crucial information about nearby evacuation centers, including their locations and congestion status.

Overview of the Pilot Project

The digital signage will be strategically installed in three locations: the Tsukuba City Hall (1F), the Crisis Management Office (2F), and the Tsukuba City Citizens' Service Center near the station. In everyday scenarios, these screens will share weather updates and disaster preparedness content aimed at educating the public. During emergencies, they will feature real-time maps detailing where evacuation centers are located and their current congestion levels.



The weather information and public awareness content will be powered by the City Watch system, developed by Sonare Co., Ltd. Each day, around 700 pieces of proactive behavioral suggestions will be randomly displayed, adjusting automatically to match the severity of warnings when issued. This content aims to provide actionable advice during various stages of a disaster event.

Communicating Congestion Information

During disasters, Tsukuba City will utilize the VACAN Maps feature to visually present information about the occupancy and congestion levels at nearby facilities via the signage. This same technology has already been employed in multiple municipalities during significant weather events, such as Typhoons No. 7 and No. 8 in August 2023, and the Noto Peninsula Earthquake in January 2024, attesting to its effectiveness in real-time disaster scenarios.

Future Perspectives

Looking ahead, Vacan intends to enhance its offerings beyond congestion monitoring. This includes integrating My Number Card functionality for managing entry and exit to evacuation shelters, as well as creating evacuee registries to support effective shelter management. The collaboration promises to integrate additional services for public facility reservations, tourism updates, and event information through VACAN’s digital solutions. Vacan aims to work cooperatively with an increasing number of municipalities to facilitate safe and efficient evacuations through continuous innovation and the introduction of new functionalities.

About Vacan

Company Name: Vacan Inc.
Representative: Tsugumasa Kawano
Location: 2-5-1 Kojimachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, WeWork Hanzomon PREX South 3F
Established: June 2016
Website: Vacan
Vacan is a company selected for the J-Startup program in 2019 by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan. Its innovative use of AI technology enables it to detect availability in various locations such as restaurants, cafes, toilets, tourist attractions, and shelters, broadcasting this data through digital signage and smartphones. Vacan’s comprehensive services aim to eliminate waiting and enhance convenience across multiple domains.