The Frontline of Bear Damage Countermeasures: “Regional Safety Protected by Data” Led by GIS and GISBox

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The frontline of “bear damage countermeasures” transformed by GIS and GISBox

In recent years, damage caused by bears has been increasing rapidly across Japan. Especially in the Tohoku, Chubu, and Hokuriku regions, the number of sightings in satoyama (border areas between human settlements and mountains) has reached a record high, causing serious impacts on local governments and residents. Amidst this situation, scientific risk analysis utilizing **Geographic Information Systems (GIS)** and information-sharing mechanisms that allow for immediate response in the field are gaining attention.

■ The Role Played by GIS

GIS is not just a map-making tool, but an integrated information platform that can visualize and analyze by linking “time” and “space”. By plotting bear sightings and damage locations on a map and overlaying them with environmental data such as season, time of day, elevation, and vegetation, it is possible to quantitatively grasp sighting trends and high-risk areas.
Furthermore, by analyzing the terrain of mountainous areas, the distribution of orchards, and the positional relationship between hiking trails and settlements, it is possible to estimate bear movement paths, leading to advance warnings for residents and hikers, as well as the optimization of patrol routes.
By sharing such spatial information, local governments can implement scientific and rapid bear countermeasures that do not rely on “intuition” or “experience”.

■ Practical Application with GISBox

As a platform for utilizing such GIS data in the field, “GISBox” is attracting attention. GISBox is an integrated GIS tool that converts vast amounts of geographic data into lightweight tile formats, allowing for high-speed display in web and mobile environments.

For example, local governments can use GISBox to publish bear sighting and damage information as **WFS (Web Feature Service)**, allowing residents and patrol teams to check the latest information in real time.
Also, by utilizing **WVT (Web Vector Tile)**, thousands of sighting data points can be displayed smoothly on a map, making it viewable even in mountainous areas with limited communication environments.
Furthermore, by combining satellite imagery and elevation data (DEM) to generate 3D maps, bear transit paths and dangerous areas on mountainsides can be confirmed in three dimensions.

In addition, by using the “publish as a service simultaneously” function, the map URL automatically generated by GISBox can be embedded into a local government’s official website or disaster prevention app. Residents will be able to grasp “where is dangerous right now” in real time from their smartphones.

■ Toward Sustainable “Coexistence-Type Risk Management”

By combining GIS and GISBox, it is possible to grasp the relationship between bear ecology and human activity through data, shifting from “visualization” of damage to “prevention”.
By having not only local disaster prevention officials and researchers but also the residents themselves share and update information, a new form of risk management aiming for coexistence with nature will come into view.

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