Rikei Corporation (headquarters: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo; President & CEO: Satoru Isaka; hereinafter “Rikei”) announced joint development of dedicated tablet devices with augmented reality (AR) technology for surveying water damage risk, together with MS&AD InterRisk Research & Consulting, Inc. (President: Terumi Nakamura; hereinafter “MS&AD InterRisk R&C”). The tablet will be used by MS&AD InterRisk R&C for water damage risk survey.

The dedicated tablet device is equipped with water disaster AR software jointly developed by Rikei and MS&AD InterRisk R&C, with the help of Professor Tomoki Itamiya, the director of the XR Research Institute at Kanagawa Dental University.

The camera of the dedicated tablet device can be used at factories, commercial and public facilities being surveyed to overlay CG of water damage. By projecting flooding anticipated by hazard maps and the depth of past flooding, it is possible to recreate flooding of buildings and equipment in a real way, which can help make assessments of water damage vulnerability and considerations of disaster prevention more concrete.

Background behind the water damage risk survey service

There have been numerous occurrences of water damage caused by typhoons and heavy rainfall in recent years. MS&AD InterRisk R&C is conducting on-site surveys of factories and commercial facilities to reduce water damage, working with the Group general insurance company Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Company as well as Aioi Nissay Dowa Insurance.
Making realistic recreations of flooding anticipated by hazard maps, the depth of past flooding, and the circumstances during past disasters are effective approaches to increasing awareness about and preventing water damage.

The AR technology of Professor Tomoki Itamiya of Kanagawa Dental University can project the inundation situation of an arbitrary depth with CG on the landscape image in front of you taken with a tablet camera.
With the provision of this technology, Rikei, which has expertise in VR content that simulates disasters, and MS&AD InterRisk R&C jointly developed a dedicated tablet device specializing in risk survey.

Overview of the water damage risk survey service

With this dedicated tablet device jointly developed by Rikei and MS&AD InterRisk R&C, MS&AD InterRisk R&C can provide optional services with their regular water damage risk surveys.
The investigator brings a dedicated tablet device when they conduct the water damage risk survey and takes photos of surveyed buildings and machinery with anticipated flooding CG imagery overlaid. The flooding depth shown will not only be based on hazard maps but can be set freely, which makes it possible to create images for places that do not show up on hazard maps or based on flooding scenarios the customer wants to see and records of past disasters.

The captured images will be included in a risk survey report to be submitted at a later date and used to propose improvements to water damage risk. For example, the installation of water cut-off boards at the entrance and exits of buildings, the relocation of motors and power panels in manufacturing facilities, and reexamination of storage methods in product warehouses will make it easier to imagine concrete flood prevention measures that need to be consider.

Examples of images pictures created

Water damage risk survey providing method

Water damage risk survey services using the dedicated tablet devices are provided by Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Company and Aioi Nissay Dowa Insurance, as well as risk consulting services directly contracted by MS&AD InterRisk R&C.

About MS&AD InterRisk R&C

MS&AD InterRisk Research & Consulting, Inc. is the core of the MS&AD Insurance Group’s risk-related services, provides services and information as well as conducting surveys and research related to various forms of risk reduction and accident prevention, including natural disasters, fires, and explosions. The company will continue to work for customers’ safety and security by providing solutions to social issues in the sense of preventing disasters, reducing disaster risk, and countering new risks.

About Rikei Corporation

Since its establishment in 1957 as a solution vendor in the IT and electronics industries, Rikei Corporation has provided a variety of solutions ranging from systems to networks, VR/AR contents, electronic materials and electronic devices.

Rikei proposes solutions that utilize cutting-edge technologies and advanced products from Japan and overseas, and contributes to business development such as improving efficiency of operations and profits of customers.

*Product and company names mentioned herein are the trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.