ISDM Logo

The communities around us have learned from the bitter experiences of past disasters and have improved the disaster reduction capabilities of the region each time. On the other hand, the new urban space or social system created in this way becomes more complicated with the development of technology, etc., and often causes new disasters that human beings have never experienced. With the evolution of cities and societies, disasters are also evolving.

When a disaster occurs in a certain area, the urban space and social system are improved through the stages of emergency response and recovery, and then disaster reduction measures are conducted by damage mitigation and preparedness for future disasters. In such an endless circle, we must implement disaster risk reduction and recovery strategies for the future. This logo represents a series of cycles that are repeated in this way, that is, the disaster management cycle system (Disaster Life Cycle).

This ring consists of six cubes and an annular transparent tube that covers them. A cube with a concrete form represents an artificial environment such as a city or an architectural space, and a physical environment that combines the natural environment such as topography, water, and greenery. Each element is intricately intertwined to form our society.

In order to implement better disaster risk reduction and recovery strategies, 7 elements are indispensable: ① human beings as the subject (human activity), ② time, ③ space, ④ social system, ⑤ media that controls information and communication, ⑥ tools represented as technology, devices, and methodologies, and ⑦ society-specific context. The 6 cubes are metaphors of the six elements (② to ⑦) that we human beings, who are the subjects (①), must work on in order to realize a better society.

The International Strategy for Disaster Mitigation Laboratory (ISDM) is engaged in research targeting various regions in Japan and overseas. We have made this logo the symbol mark of our laboratory with the desire to tackle many issues related to disaster mitigation and recovery in various parts of the world within the system described here.