Delivered on March 9, 2026
The Current State of Disaster Prevention x Data <Hi-Lights, Founded Two Years Ago>
Speakers:
Kozue Yamada, CEO of Hi-Lights Co., Ltd.
Affiliation and position information is as of the time of distribution
Yamada, the host of LBMA Japan, and Kawashima will be discussing the theme of LBMA Japan Disaster Prevention x Data. Under the slogan "Increase the number of people who can be saved as a matter of course," Yamada is working to improve evacuation simulations and evacuation plans using people flow data. However, Yamada will share his current situation, where the disaster prevention market has high barriers to entry, and local governments, in particular, struggle to secure sufficient budgets for data utilization in both normal and emergency situations. While the number of solutions for information collection and visualization is increasing, damage prediction and simulation remain scarce, posing a challenge for the current state of data and disaster prevention. Yamada will discuss new possibilities for the disaster prevention business, including BCP demand, economic circulation during disasters, and the systematization of volunteer management!
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The Rapidly Growing Disaster Prevention Market and the Reality of Data Utilization
The disaster prevention market is a growing industry, predicted to reach 153.3 billion yen by fiscal year 2027.
However, a detailed breakdown of this market reveals significant barriers to the use of advanced information, such as people flow data.
Currently, the majority of local government budgets are allocated to physical support for post-disaster recovery and reconstruction, leaving insufficient budgets for data utilization in peacetime or emergency situations (within 72 hours of a disaster).
While local government officials understand the importance of data, the market is still not fully developed enough to monetize it or introduce specific services.
The Private Market is Growing in Accordance with BCP Measures
Meanwhile, signs of change are emerging in the private (B2B) sector.
In particular, with budgetary measures for corporate business continuity plans (BCPs) clarified from 2025 onward, general affairs departments and disaster prevention departments are increasingly embracing data utilization.
Many companies have implemented some form of disaster prevention service, and in some ways, private-sector-led data utilization is more advanced than that of local governments.
Gap in the "Prediction" Area as Seen from the Solutions Map
When we examine current disaster prevention solutions, the information collection and visualization fields are already in a "red ocean" state with numerous services.
A rich range of services are available that can address a wide range of disasters, including fires, earthquakes, and tsunamis.
However, the "simulation" field, which predicts damage in advance, remains a "gray zone" with very few solutions.
The underlying reason for this is the issue of economic rationality. Even if private companies invest heavily in predicting damage to their own buildings or specific areas, the investment itself is unlikely to directly translate into improved revenue or reputation.
Breakthrough through the Integration of Technology and Business Models
The key to overcoming this challenge is the use of AI and a "phase-free" (switchable between emergency and peacetime) business model.
Damage simulation, which previously required enormous time and cost, is now being significantly shortened through the use of AI, particularly GeoAI, which handles geospatial information.
Additionally, a business model incorporating disaster prevention capabilities into existing operations is gaining attention, allowing for routine logistics management and rapid transition to reconstruction support in emergencies.
For example, a dump truck traffic management system could be used to improve operational efficiency during normal times and track reconstruction support during disasters. This creates a need for systems that balance economic and social benefits.
Building Trust with Stakeholders and the Importance of Community
In a highly public-facing field like disaster prevention, trust—who you develop with—is even more crucial than the content of the service.
It is essential to build networks with key players, such as the national government, the Japan Meteorological Agency, and major private companies, and to work together to identify true needs and implement the system in society.
Furthermore, systems that address specific pain points faced by local governments in the field, such as volunteer management (such as the complexity of paper-based management)—can also help promote economic circulation.
Summary
Data utilization in the disaster prevention field has faced significant obstacles beyond technological advances: structural market challenges and a lack of economic rationality. However, new business models are being created thanks to growing corporate awareness of BCP, cost reductions through AI, and the introduction of a phase-free approach that does not distinguish between peacetime and emergencies. Hi-Lights Co., Ltd. is working to transform disaster prevention from a mere cost into a part of sustainable economic activity by improving the speed of analysis centered on people flow data and promoting the creation of a highly reliable network through collaboration between industry, government, and academia. Going forward, using the power of data to continue proposing concrete solutions to the challenges faced by local governments and private companies will be a sure step towards realizing a society where "help is a given."