Japan’s space agency JAXA is working with Kumamoto to make their earthquake damage program better. They’re focusing on a system that uses satellite photos to see how much buildings are damaged after an earthquake. The idea is to make the technology more accurate so it can be used all over the country. Basically they compare pictures before and after an earthquake and look for changes that show damage.
To help them get better, JAXA will use a lot of data from the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake like about 200000 records of building damage. This info will help them adjust the program so it can be more precise in checking the damage. Having a more accurate tool means rescue teams can figure out where help is needed the most a lot faster after an earthquake.
The big goal is for the program to work really well across all of Japan. JAXA wants a nationwide system that can quickly and correctly assess damage using both satellite images and the Kumamoto earthquake data. This will help authorities respond more effectively when an earthquake hits and also help communities get back on their feet faster.