It is qualitatively considered that emergency information processing by using UTM grids is effective in generating COP (Common Operational Pictures). Here, we conducted a numerical evaluation based on emergency information-processing training to examine the efficiency of the use of UTM grid maps by staff at the Tagajo City Government office. The results of the demonstration experiment were as follows: 1) The time required for information propagation and mapping with UTM coordinates was less than that with address text consisting of area name and block number. 2) There was no measurable difference in subjective estimates of the training performance of participants with or without the use of UTM grids. 3) Fear of real emergency responses decreased among training participants using UTM grids. 4) Many of the negative free answers on a questionnaire evaluation of participants involved requests regarding the reliability and operability of UTM tools.

In the case of a disaster such as an earthquake or a tsunami, the city, town, and village administration usually issues an evacuation advisory and other information through the Outdoor Public Address Speakers for the disaster reduction broadcasting system covering its area of jurisdiction. However, in areas those have previous experience of a disaster, people frequently voice the lack of audibility of the disaster reduction broadcast. In this research, we conducted a questionnaire survey on the residents in the central area of Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture, who are the victims of the Great East Japan Earthquake Disaster, on the audible quality of outdoor public address (PA) speakers of the disaster reduction broadcasting system so as to understand the current state of such broadcasts and to propose ideal methods of sending and receiving information at the time of a future disaster.