#Japan #Tokyo #Gragram #Hakusan Corp #JR East Design

Innovative Disaster Assessment with Gragram

On March 27, 2025, Takanawa Gateway City will open its doors, featuring the state-of-the-art disaster assessment system, Gragram. This system has been developed through a partnership between Hakusan Corporation and JR East Design. Their collaborative effort aims to bolster safety and security in line with the city's vision of being a testing ground for a richer living environment a century into the future.

Gragram, a registered trademark by both developing entities, establishes a new standard for disaster response. The system integrates multiple measuring devices within buildings, allowing for effective assessments during earthquake occurrences. By leveraging the insights of structural engineers, Gragram evaluates each building's unique characteristics, ensuring that damage assessments are precise and relevant.

Functionality of Gragram

Upon detecting an earthquake, Gragram provides immediate assessments to facilitate prompt evacuation or to determine the ongoing usability of the building. This process involves a thorough evaluation of structural integrity, along with non-structural elements such as exterior materials, ceilings, equipment, and furniture.

Immediate Damage Assessment Display
Right after an earthquake, Gragram activates the “Immediate Assessment Display,” presenting urgent information on whether evacuation is necessary. It evaluates five key aspects: structural components, exterior materials, ceilings, equipment stability, and furniture tipping. Color-coded rankings and visual damage illustrations help users quickly comprehend the building's overall condition.

Diagnostic Reports
Following an earthquake, Gragram automatically generates detailed diagnostic reports, complete with commentary to inform stakeholders about the building's capacity to function as a disaster response center. These reports align with the building's Business Continuity Planning (BCP) strategies, presenting straightforward insights into whether the structural integrity allows for continued use.

About Hakusan Corporation

Hakusan Corporation has a long-standing history of supporting earthquake observation networks operated by the AIST (National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Resilience) and various university-led volcanic monitoring systems. Their disaster assessment system, VissQ series, has been introduced in over 400 buildings since its launch in 2011.

In 2020, they expanded their offerings with the launch of an IoT earthquake observation service, which incorporates a compact seismic measurement device with LTE connectivity and cloud services. To date, over 1,000 units have been shipped, being utilized across various sectors, including manufacturing, logistics, and infrastructure facilities. Hakusan's mission is to contribute to global earthquake disaster prevention, fostering partnerships that enhance safety through advanced technology.

About JR East Design

JR East Design specializes in the planning and development of railway-related facilities. With a focus on urban developments around train stations in the Tokyo metropolitan area and even in rural locations, they ensure coherence with surrounding regions through collaboration with local governments and other stakeholders. JR East Design continually strives for innovations in ICT applications and environmentally conscious design, remaining at the forefront of urban development initiatives.

In summary, the adoption of the Gragram system in Takanawa Gateway City marks a significant step towards enhancing disaster preparedness and public safety in urban settings, reflecting the commitment of both Hakusan Corporation and JR East Design toward creating a secure living environment for future generations.