Navitime Japan began offering a “Flooding Precaution Point Avoidance Route” function in its “Car Navi Time” car navigation application.
When searching for a route, “routes to avoid flood-prone areas” are suggested for approximately 3,600 locations in Japan that may be flooded due to heavy rainfall, etc., and where rainfall of 30 mm or more per hour is expected. If there are multiple flood-prone areas along the route, a route that avoids all of them is displayed.
Even if it is not raining at the start of the trip, if heavy rain is expected on the route during the trip, the system will suggest switching to a “route to avoid flooding points” during navigation according to the amount of rainfall measured every five minutes.
The app also provides a function that allows users to check flood-prone areas on the hazard map prior to departure, as well as an audible and iconic alert when approaching flood-prone areas along the route during navigation. With the addition of this new function, it is now possible to avoid flood-prone areas in advance.
© Source travel watch