Special Issue on NIED Frontier Research on Science and Technology for Disaster Risk Reduction and Resilience 2026

We are pleased to edit this special issue, National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Resilience (NIED) Frontier Research on Science and Technology for Disaster Risk Reduction and Resilience 2026.

We would like to thank Dr. Yuichiro Usuda, Dr. Satoshi Iizuka, and Dr. Naotaka Chikasada (NIED) for their assistance as assistant editors for this issue.

Dohi et al. analyzed the characteristics of the expansion of land below sea level due to coseismic subsidence for great earthquakes along the Nankai Trough. Kawamata et al. performed a series of centrifugal liquefaction model tests with permeable and impermeable surface layers by applying long duration motions to obtain acceleration, settlement, and pore water pressure records under different drainage conditions. The data obtained were used to assess the effects of drainage on the soil liquefaction process and on the settlement of a structure and ground surface.

Tamura and Sato investigated the impacts of sea surface temperature (SST) over the Sea of Japan on snowfall in Japan during the early winter of 2024/2025. Yamaguchi et al. investigated the three-dimensional internal structure of newly formed wind slabs using high-resolution X-ray µ CT observations of snow collected immediately after blizzard events in the Niseko region of Japan. Hirashima et al. attempted to develop a machine learning method for estimating roof snow falling hazards using the snow stratigraphy simulated by SNOWPACK and information of roof snow falling accidents from the snow and ice disaster database. Taniguchi et al. investigated the relationship between power outages and meteorological conditions during Typhoon SHANSHAN (2024) across Japan using nationwide outage records together with precipitation and wind observations from the Automated Meteorological Data Acquisition System (AMeDAS) network.

Tsutsui et al. empirically evaluated ICT-based coordination among Japanese disaster response agencies during the acute life-saving phase. Orihashi et al. examined the implementation process and operational conditions determining the success or failure of the digital transformation of disaster response in Wajima City, Ishikawa Prefecture, following the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake. Nagata et al. developed a flood disaster risk reduction (DRR) education program using the Web-GIS teaching material “YOU@RISK for Children—Flood,” developed by NIED, and evaluated its educational effectiveness by implementing it in junior high schools in Niigata Prefecture.

We hope this issue provides useful information to all readers who study earth science and disaster resilience.