Improving Regional Resilience and Supporting Disaster Preparedness
Development and Supply of Disaster Preparedness and Mitigation System Using AI

Sompo Japan has concluded a business alliance with One Concern, Inc. and Weathernews Inc. to jointly develop a
disaster preparedness and mitigation system using AI to enhance local disaster preparedness. As our first project,
we are developing and testing a system for flood and earthquake damage prediction in Kumamoto City, Kumamoto, Japan.
We aim to assist the development of a community resilient to disasters and provide services that contribute to the
security, health, and wellbeing of local residents.
●Background and outline
With the large number of major natural disasters in the past few years, there is a heightened need to develop new
measures to address natural disasters, particularly given that disaster-related rules of experience and prediction
methods amassed over the years have started to prove ineffective. In light of these conditions, in order to enhance
local disaster preparedness capabilities, Sompo Japan has formed a business alliance with One Concern, a Silicon
Valley (U.S.A.)-based startup specializing in disaster preparedness systems. The two companies have begun jointly
deploying a disaster preparedness and mitigation system using advanced AI technology.
One Concern’s mission is to minimize the damage caused by any disaster. Guided by
this mission, One Concern provides disaster prediction and disaster preparedness and mitigation systems using
cutting-edge technologies such as AI. In the U.S.A., such systems have already been adopted by local governments
such as Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle.
Sompo Japan, One Concern, and Weathernews have commenced verification tests for the development of an original,
localized disaster preparedness and mitigation system for Japan in the city of Kumamoto, as their first project to
enhance disaster preparedness capabilities in the country. The system, as the first of its kind in Japan, will
perform advanced, precise simulations of damage caused by disasters by making effective use of information supplied
by Weathernews—specifically, historical weather and weather prediction data unique to Japan. As a result, the system
will facilitate the development of a city resilient to disasters and will support the lives of local residents by
contributing to their security, health, and wellbeing.
●Service details
The new system will enable accurate damage prediction services before, during and after natural disasters such as
floods and earthquakes, and real-time monitoring of the status of damage, at the level of blocks (lots). To do so,
the system will harness AI and various types of data related to local disaster preparedness, such as information on
weather and buildings.
Damage prediction system for flood
Damage prediction system for earthquake
●Moving forward
Following the verification tests from March 2019, Sompo Japan is aiming to develop a disaster prevention and mitigation system unique to Japan.
Sompo Japan, One Concern, and Weathernews
will strengthen their activities by working closely with local governments to help realize “town development focused on
disaster preparedness and mitigation” using the system. Looking ahead, Sompo Japan will evolve and enhance services
that link the system and insurance products, as well as BCP consulting services that harness the expertise of Sompo
Risk Management, which conducts the Sompo Holdings Group’s risk consulting business. By doing so, Sompo Japan
will provide the support needed to ensure that people have security, health and wellbeing in their daily lives.