SoftBank Tests Remote Post-Quake Building Checks With Digital Twins
SoftBank has trialed digital twins to carry out post-earthquake building safety assessments remotely, working with the town of Susami in Wakayama Prefecture.
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giftdetect· the right gift in minutesSoftBank has completed a technical trial in which digital twins were used to carry out emergency building safety assessments after a major earthquake remotely. The company ran the test three times between June and November in cooperation with the town of Susami in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan.
The trial was part of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism's Smart City implementation support program. Susami is a town expected to suffer damage in a Nankai Trough megaquake. The test took place at the former Esumi Elementary School, which serves as a disaster-response base and evacuation shelter. Damage such as cracked columns and walls and tilting of the building was simulated in the school building and gymnasium, and the structures were then converted into 3D data with 3D scanners and other equipment. Qualified assessors, located away from the site, checked and evaluated the extent of damage and deformation.
According to SoftBank, every item required for assessing reinforced-concrete buildings could be checked and evaluated remotely.
Why it matters
Emergency risk assessments after large quakes are meant to prevent secondary disasters, but on-site surveys are dangerous and take considerable people and time. Remote assessment aims to address both problems.
Drill and next steps
On November 11, the Susami ICT disaster drill for fiscal 2026 was held on site. Certified assessors judged building conditions remotely using the digital twin, and a disaster-response drone fitted with a speaker told people by voice whether they could enter a building.
Based on the results, SoftBank plans to advance the use of digital twins in disaster prevention and to put the remote assessment technology into practical use, with the aim of offering it to local governments across Japan. The company is also considering automated AI-based assessment in the future.
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