Evaluation of the effects by implementing and improving the ‘ F lood H azard M apping T raining C ourse’

In addition to structural measures such as flood protection levees, dams and retarding basins, flood hazard maps (hereafter referred to as ‘ FHMaps ’), as a part of nonstructural measures, has recently been recognized as more important in J apan, which has suffered from recurrent flood disasters until today. By utilizing the experience of training on flood management, J apan I nternational C ooperation A gency and the I nternational C entre for W ater H azard and R isk M anagement implemented the ‘ F lood H azard M apping T raining C ourse’ (hereafter referred to as ‘ FHM‐TC ’) for 5 years from FY 2004. The FHM‐TC was implemented successfully by improving the framework and curriculum of the training course and by reflecting comments and requests from trainees of the past training courses who participated in the follow‐up activities. This paper introduces the outline of FHM‐TC , which includes the recently developed field exercise method ‘Town‐watching’, and it describes the year‐by‐year improvement of the FHM‐TC from its implementation of the previous years (e.g. the enhancement of the management and support systems), and the development of supporting tools based on the feedbacks of the follow‐up seminars. It also evaluates the effect of the training course on the trainees' understanding level on flood hazard mapping, which was investigated by conducting questionnaire survey and giving simple test to the trainees. Furthermore, it presents the development of a new training course by utilizing the experiences of the FHM‐TC .