Uhuru Supports Sano City in Heatstroke Prevention with Digital Map Implementation

Uhuru's Initiative for Heatstroke Prevention in Sano City

In response to the increasingly severe summer temperatures across Japan, Uhuru Co., Ltd. is taking significant steps to support heatstroke prevention efforts in Sano City, Tochigi Prefecture. The company's newly launched initiative involves the 'Sano Smart Safe Map,' which provides residents and visitors with accessible information regarding cooling shelters designated by the local government. This service aims to enhance public safety by ensuring that people can quickly locate facilities where they can escape the heat.

The Importance of Cooling Shelters

As the nation grapples with heat stress-related health issues, the demand for effective heatstroke prevention measures has become more pressing. According to statistics from the Fire and Disaster Management Agency, the number of emergency transports due to heatstroke is projected to exceed 100,000 by 2025, representing the highest figure recorded since tracking began. In response to this crisis, new legislation has empowered municipalities to designate facilities equipped with cooling systems as cooling shelters, an essential resource for community health.

Sano City has publicly disseminated a PDF and text list of cooling shelter locations, opening hours, and facility names. However, the information's current format has posed accessibility challenges, particularly for transient visitors unfamiliar with the area. Understanding where to find a nearby cooling shelter can be difficult in emergencies. Thus, in 2024, Uhuru will integrate cooling shelter information into the Sano Smart Safe Map, improving the intuitiveness of the resource for both residents and tourists. The map can be accessed via web browsers without requiring app downloads or user registrations, enabling anyone—whether local residents or visitors—to find critical information effortlessly.

Expanding Information for Community Needs

Since 2022, Uhuru has participated in initiatives led by the Smart Society Foundation to promote smart city development in Sano City, supporting digital transformation strategies. One of its pivotal contributions is the 'elcompath' digital map, which serves as the backbone for the Sano Smart Safe Map. This platform allows users to switch seamlessly between various types of critical data, including locations of AEDs, medical facilities, disaster evacuation sites, flood risk zones, and cooling shelters, tailored to different community needs.

In response to growing concerns about wildlife encounters, the map is also set to include information about bear sightings in 2025, further enhancing residents' safety awareness. The elcompath platform does not require separate systems for each local challenge; instead, it adapts to meet fluctuating community needs by layering relevant information onto a single digital map.

Uhuru's goal is to ensure that municipal data is presented in a user-friendly way, reinforcing the infrastructure necessary for community safety and well-being.

The 'Sano Smart Safe Map' Defined

The 'Sano Smart Safe Map' is part of Uhuru’s digital map offering. Available to citizens via smartphone or PC, it allows users to explore various regional information related to daily life and disaster readiness.

More about Uhuru's 'elcompath'

Uhuru's 'elcompath' is a customizable digital map that integrates multiple types of information in one platform, providing a range of uses from emergency hazard maps to tourist guides and real-time public transport updates. The system's versatility has garnered recognition for its excellence in digital implementation, featured in the Digital Agency's catalog as a model service for regional governance.

It enables the integration and visualization of various types of critical data, assisting in diverse areas such as emergency response and public education while effectively bridging information gaps between government bodies, businesses, and citizens.