Vol.5 No.3 2012

28/94

Research paper : International cooperation for the utilization of earth observational data in an integrated manner (K. Iwao)−163−Synthesiology - English edition Vol.5 No.3 (2012) by countries, and all observation systems, earth datasets, prediction models, and services for earth are combined. The GEOSS 10-year Implementation Plan[8] was drafted in Brussels in 2005, and its ultimate goal was to reflect the scientific findings obtained through earth observation collaboration in policies. Specifically, nine societal benefit areas including disaster, health, energy, climate, weather, water, ecology, biodiversity, and agriculture were selected, and immediate issues that must be solved within 10 years were extracted.4.3 Intergovernmental Group on Earth Observations (GEO)To realize the GEOSS, the Intergovernmental Group on Earth Observations (GEO) was established under the international agreement in 2005. As its management body, the GEO Secretariat was established in Geneva, Switzerland. The mission of the Secretariat was to draft the GEO Work Plan,[9] manage its progress, adjust the international investments in earth observation projects, and others.Unlike the permanent United Nation organizations, GEO was set as a fixed-term organization to solve the issues by 2015. While the UN has certain binding force in its resolution, the resolution of GEO is not binding but is taken as recommendations. The GEO is operated by volunteers from the governments of 87 countries and 61 international organizations and institutions including the UN organizations, as of October 2011. The member countries of the GEO at present are shown in Fig. 4.The member countries and participating organizations of GEO are represented by principals. For the government of Japan, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) is in charge, and the deputy director-general of the Research Promotion Bureau acts as the principal for the Japanese government in 2012. Although GEO is a voluntary organization with no binding force, the member countries and organizations participate actively and contribute financial and human resources. One reason is because the GEO is positioned as an international function for the management and coordination of earth observation activities. The progresses on the issues are reported at the Plenary meeting of GEO held once a year, and at the ministerial level meeting held every three years. The resolutions at such meetings are reflected directly in the earth observation policies of the countries. In Japan, the Minister of MEXT attends the ministerial-level meeting. The other reason for the active participation by many countries, is while the methods used in each member country and organization are used as the de facto standard in various fields, the GEO may be the place to set the unified de jure standard. Therefore, the private companies as well as the government and public institutes may provide technological support to the GEO activities. However, private companies do not have membership. The public institutions for earth observation of various countries contribute as part of the member countries’ participation to GEO. The organization of GEO is shown in Fig. 5.The author participated in the activities of the GEO Secretariat as a scientific and technical officer from AIST for two years, from April 2009 to March 2011, through the Japanese government as part of human resource contribution to GEO. The Secretariat is located in the building of the World Meteorological Organization and the employees are equivalent to that of UN officers. During the author’s appointment period, personnel were dispatched from the USGS and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the USA, European Space Fig. 4 Distribution of member countries of GEO (as of October 2011)The darkened countries are current members and grey ones are non-members. Of the 193 countries that are members of UN (as of 2011), 87 countries, or about half, are participating. While there is participation by Switzerland that is not a UN member, the number of participating African countries is particularly low.Fig. 5 Organization of GEOThe GEO promotes the international cooperation of earth observation in the annual Plenary in which all member countries and participating organizations, and in the ministerial-level meeting held once in three years. To ensure smooth operation, the Secretariat is established under the Plenary, to act as the coordinator. Permanent specialty committees that provide scientific advice and temporary committees that conduct evaluation and selection, as described in this paper, may be also set under the Plenary.Voluntary contribution by companies that support the GEO activitiesTemporary (limited appointment by resolution of the Plenary)Permanent specialty committees ・Provide scientific advice ・Support capacity building, etc.Usability testing teamFunctional testing teamCI evaluation committeeTemporaryPermanentAdjustment of international activities on earth observationSecretariat work such as conference managementEnsure smooth activities of GEO, actual support of resolutionsComposed of 12 countries with consideration for geographical balanceHeld every three yearsGEO SecretariatComposed of member countries and organizations (public institutes contribute as countries)Co-chairs(USA, EC, South Africa, China)Held every yearPromotion of international cooperation for earth observation by the ministers of member countriesHeld every three yearsEarth Observation Summit (ministerial-level meeting)Executive CommitteeSpecialty committee, working group, etc.Private companies of each countriesPlenary of GEO

※このページを正しく表示するにはFlashPlayer9以上が必要です