Class Held Using an Accessibility Map to Consider Disaster Preparedness in Shibuya Ward
Developed a map that visualizes the reachable areas during a disaster—which vary depending on factors such as whether a person has a disability or is using a stroller—to contribute to public safety and security

Nikken Sekkei Ltd. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director President and CEO: Atsushi Omatsu; hereinafter “Nikken Sekkei”) collaborated with Yomiuri Advertising Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director President and CEO: Hideyuki Kikuchi) and Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chuo Ward, Tokyo; Representative Director President and CEO: Shun Ueda), held a workshop-style class on disaster prevention in Shibuya on Saturday, November 18, at Hiroo Junior High School (Shibuya Ward, Tokyo).
This class is part of the “Shibuya Disaster Prevention Caravan,” a series of events organized by the Shibuya Disaster Prevention Executive Committee with the aim of enhancing the community’s disaster preparedness.※Conducted in conjunction with this initiative, Nikken Sekkei is primarily responsible for developing an “Accessibility Map” that visualizes the varying ranges of movement for different individuals, which can be utilized to determine evacuation routes during disasters and for urban planning during normal times.

1. This class was conducted as part of the activities of the [Shibuya Smart City Promotion Organization (General Incorporated Association) Safety and Security Working Group], to which the three companies belong. Through a workshop using the Accessibility Map, the program aimed to share disaster prevention challenges with local middle school students and their families, as well as to gather information and identify key issues that will contribute to the development of future disaster prevention plans.
2. NIKKEN SEKKEI has been involved in redevelopment projects around Shibuya Station, including Shibuya Scramble Square the First Phase (East Tower) and Shibuya Hikarie, and has previously assisted Shibuya Ward in drafting safety plans and developed evacuation simulations using VR. Leveraging the expertise gained through these disaster prevention-related projects and research and development efforts, the firm developed the Accessibility Map and designed the workshop.

When planning for evacuation in the event of a disaster, it is crucial to understand how far people can travel within a limited amount of time. At the same time, there are various means of evacuation—such as on foot, by bicycle, or by car—and even among pedestrians, the reachable distance varies significantly depending on factors such as the person’s characteristics (e.g., those pushing strollers, the elderly, or wheelchair users), walking speed, and the slope of the route.
Therefore, Nikken Sekkei, in collaboration with the Nikken Sekkei Research Institute, has created an “Accessibility(the ease with which people, objects, and information of diverse attributes can reach a destination)—specifically, an “Accessibility Map.” Based on data regarding the network of roadways and sidewalks, we created a reachability map (Figure 1) that displays how far one can travel within a unit of time, broken down by attribute and speed, as well as a gradient map (Figure 2) that shows the slope angles of roads.Furthermore, using these maps as a guide, students walked through the city themselves and plotted their observations regarding the ease of walking along evacuation routes directly onto the map (Fig. 3).
The Accessibility Map is expected to have a wide range of applications—not only during disasters but also in everyday urban planning—such as determining optimal delivery routes and planning tourist routes tailored to people with various needs.

Through these initiatives, Nikken Sekkei will continue to strive to raise disaster prevention awareness in Shibuya. Furthermore, by further developing and promoting the Accessibility Map based on the insights gained from the workshops, we will contribute to the safety and security of not only Shibuya Ward but also society at large.

Nikken Sekkei is a professional services firm specializing in architectural and civil engineering design and supervision, urban design, and related research, planning, and consulting services. For 120 years since its founding in 1900, Nikken Sekkei has been committed to creating value through "social environment design," which aims to solve both explicit and implicit social issues, in order to meet the demands of society and the diverse needs of its clients. To date, it has been involved in various projects in Japan, China, ASEAN, and the Middle East, and in recent years has expanded into India and Europe.

Yomiuri Advertising Agency possesses strengths such as “Communication Design” based on full-funnel marketing; “CVIC PRIDE® Branding,” which fosters citizens’ attachment to and pride in their communities; “Digital Consulting,” which leverages technologies such as generative AI and the metaverse; and “In-Store Consulting,” which focuses on retail locations.By leveraging these unique strengths to contribute to new “value creation,” we aim to become a “GAME CHANGE PARTNER” that works alongside our clients to embrace change and drive sustainable growth for both business and society.

Mitsui Fudosan Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, it is Japan’s largest global real estate company, engaged in urban development not only throughout Japan but also overseas in cities such as New York, London, Shanghai, Taipei, Kuala Lumpur, and Bangkok. The company undertakes a wide range of projects, including commercial facilities, office buildings, residential properties, and hotels.In its retail facility business, guided by the concept of “Growing Together,” the company develops a wide variety of retail facilities tailored to the specific regions and communities throughout Japan.

Based on the “Shibuya City Smart City Promotion Basic Policy,” the Shibuya Smart City Promotion Organization aims to promote a smart city initiative unique to Shibuya City—a diverse community—through collaboration among industry, government, academia, and the public, with the goal of enhancing well-being (happiness and mental fulfillment) and civic pride.

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