KDDI Smart Drone Develops Disaster Drone Supply Transport Guidelines for Mie Prefecture, Preparing for Nankai Trough Earthquake

KDDI Smart Drone has been commissioned by Mie Prefecture to develop the "Disaster Drone Supply Transport Guidelines," aimed at establishing a system to quickly deliver supplies to regions potentially isolated by road blockages during large-scale disasters such as the Nankai Trough earthquake.

Building on lessons from the Noto Peninsula Earthquake, these guidelines organize procedures—including preliminary preparation, operational structures, role allocation among stakeholders, and flight safety checklists—so that municipalities in Mie Prefecture can safely and smoothly conduct drone supply transport in collaboration with private operators and residents.

Background With concerns regarding the Nankai Trough earthquake, Mie Prefecture faces the risk of isolated areas due to road disruptions or landslides. Delivering essential items like food, medicine, and hygiene supplies is a critical challenge. There was an urgent need to develop practical guidelines to enable municipalities to effectively utilize drones in such emergencies.

Overview of the Guidelines The guidelines outline end-to-end practical procedures, covering operational structure, selection of landing sites and flight routes, legal compliance, and coordination before a disaster, as well as post-disaster organizational reorganization, route planning, cargo loading/unloading, and flight documentation.

【Core Components of the Guidelines】 1. Operational Structure: Defining roles for municipalities, private operators, and residents. 2. Peacetime Preparation: Selecting aircraft and routes, legal compliance, and flight training. 3. Disaster Response: Procedures for route verification, transport, and logging. 4. Disaster Types & Special Measures: Handling progressive and sudden disasters. 5. Practical Tools: Standardized flight logs and inspection record forms.

Verification Summary Joint field verification was conducted with local company NRT in Inabe City and Minamiise Town.

- Inabe City: Tested transportation of 15kg fuel cans and route selection criteria around obstacles. - Minamiise Town: Tested transportation of bottled beverages and cargo handling using a winch system. - Timeline: Conducted between November 2025 and January 2026.