Telegram-Based Chatbot Application for Foreign People in Japan to Share Disaster-Related Information in Real-Time

When a disaster occurs, early evacuation of residents is one of the effective ways for the reduction of human damage. Then, the rapid collection and delivery of accurate disaster-related information are essential. In this study, we develop a chatbot application as an add-on to the Telegram platform interface. This chatbot provides emergency information to foreign people in Japan at the time of disasters. The information provided by the proposed application is, for example, the nearby evacuation points such as the evacuation centers and train stations, and the real-time disaster information based on the user's current location. People can also share disaster-related pictures via the proposed application. Such pictures may be useful not only for disaster-affected people but also for governmental agencies to gain a better understanding of current conditions and thus help them make informed decisions.