Space Data Adds Lightning Strike and Blackout Simulation Feature "Thunder & Blackout" to "Storm Simulator"

Space Data, Inc. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Kohei Sato; hereinafter "Space Data") has added a new feature, "Thunder & Blackout," to its AI-powered disaster damage prediction and assessment tool, "Storm Simulator," which predicts and assesses damage from weather disasters. This new feature simulates power outages caused by lightning strikes. The system estimates the range of power outages, the number of affected households and population, and the estimated recovery time, starting from the location and current of lightning strikes on a 3D urban model, and visually represents the spread of damage in three dimensions.

Background of Development

Lightning strikes can cause sudden power outages even in urban areas, either through direct strikes on power transmission and distribution equipment or induced lightning. While power outages can cascade and affect social functions such as transportation, communication, healthcare, and data centers, it has not been easy to grasp the extent of the affected area, the number of households and people impacted, immediately after an outage occurs.

Space Data's disaster risk assessment AI, "Storm Simulator," which utilizes satellite data and digital twin technology, has previously focused on typhoons, heavy rain, and floods. With the addition of lightning strikes, the system can now comprehensively assess power outage damage caused by lightning.

Key Features of "Thunder & Blackout"

*This simulation utilizes Google Photorealistic 3D Tiles, Cesium, and Geospatial Information Authority of Japan aerial photography tiles as 3D base data, combined with sample data on district information, outage areas, population, and household numbers, and a simplified estimation model. The estimated outage range and recovery time are based on sample data; integration with real-time data such as power grids, weather, and lightning observations is planned for future expansion.

Estimation of power outage damage originating from lightning strikes: Based on factors such as the magnitude of lightning current (kA), the system calculates the radius of the outage, affected area, number of affected households, and affected population, indicating outage levels from Lv1 (partial outage) to Lv4 (large-scale outage).

Presentation of estimated recovery times: The system provides an approximate estimated recovery time based on the outage level. This can be used as a guideline for evacuation, initial response, and planning power restoration.

Intuitive 3D visualization: The system reproduces lightning strikes, the spread of outage zones, and the dimming of buildings within the outage areas on a 3D urban model. The spread of damage can be viewed panoramically through outage area maps and time-series trend graphs.

Interlocking with weather conditions: Displays alongside rainfall and wind speed associated with thunderstorms, making it easier to grasp the overall situation.

*This feature is currently a simulation based on sample data, and the estimated impact range of power outages is based on a simplified estimation model. Integration with real-time data such as power grids, weather, and lightning observations will be pursued in future expansions. By replacing regional data, the system can be deployed in cities other than Tokyo.

Future Outlook

Space Data plans to expand the scope of "Storm Simulator" from typhoons, heavy rain, floods, and lightning strikes to cover all types of weather disasters, including strong winds, hail, and tornadoes. Furthermore, as part of "Geo-Resilience," the company aims to develop a comprehensive disaster risk assessment platform that supports everything from prediction and damage assessment to early warnings and decision-making support, thereby contributing to disaster prevention and crisis management for governments, local authorities, and infrastructure operators.

"Storm Simulator" and "Thunder & Blackout" are provided to organizations engaged in disaster prevention and crisis management, such as governments, local authorities, and infrastructure operators. Detailed service explanations and demonstrations are available. If you are interested, please feel free to contact us via the inquiry form below.

About Space Data, Inc.

Space Data, Inc. is a technology startup that aims to create new industries and social infrastructure by integrating space and digital technology, driven by the vision of "a society where everyone can utilize space."

By leveraging digital twin technology that precisely reproduces the Earth's and space environment, the company aims to build digital platforms that support the future, from urban development and disaster prevention to national security. Furthermore, through the development of operational infrastructure for space robots and space stations, Space Data is working towards the realization of a space society.

Latest initiatives and announcements are introduced in the "NEWS" section on the Space Data official website.

For details, please visit https://spacedata.jp/news

Company Name: Space Data, Inc. Representative: Kohei Sato Location: Toranomon Hills Business Tower 15F, 1-17-1 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo Capital: 1.513 billion yen Business Content: Investment and research related to space development HP: https://spacedata.jp NEWS: https://spacedata.jp/news X: https://x.com/spacedatainc LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/spacedatajp/ Recruitment Information: https://www.wantedly.com/companies/spacedata/projects

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