Global Mapping Project
Technical Challenges and Perspectives in the Future -
Tsuneo Tanaka, Kosei Otoi, Hiroshi Masaharu, Hiromichi Maruyama, Yoshikazu Fukushima
Geographic Department, Geographical Survey Institute, Ministry of Construction, Japan
KEY .WORDS: Global Map, Earth, Environment,
Geographic data, Specifications, Vegetation.
1. Introduction
"The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development,
so called the Earth Summit, was held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in
1992 in order to discuss countermeasures against global
environmental problems, such as deforestation, desertification and
acid rain. In “Agenda 21,” the specific action plan adopted at this
conference to materialize sustainable development, it is mentioned
that it is important to collect various data and information and
enhance their usability. Based on this state of affairs, Ministry of
Construction of Japan recognized that it was crucial to have
geographic information to understand the present status and changes
of global environment to cope with global environmental problems,
and has advocated the concept since 1992 to develop geographic
data set under international cooperation, namely “Global Map”
development concept.
Global Map is a huge geographic information data base in lkm
ground resolution or at a scale of 1:1,000,000 in digital format to
understand the present status and changes of global environment and
to cope with global environmental problems caused by those
changes. Basic principles of Global Map are the following: to cover
the whole globe; to have consistent specifications, and to be
provided widely to the public. These principles are derived from the
problems that existing geographic information, in which some have
been developed on global scale, are not always opened to the public,
do not have consistent accuracy and standards, have area without
data, and have the area which have lower accuracy. Also it is needed
that Global Map will be available to as many people as possible. In
this paper, the history of Global Map development concept is
summarized. Technical specifications adopted as a draft at
International Steering Committee for Global Mapping and a
prototype version of Global Map Japan based on the specifications
are also described.
2. History
In order to promote Global Mapping concept, Geographical Survey
Institute has been advancing technological development needed for
Global Mapping using technologies of geographic information
processing and remote sensing. Also we have implemented
technical training for developing countries. On the other hand, we
have worked to form intemational agreements on Global Map
development through the participation of international conferences
on geographic information and holding of Global Map workshops,
as listed below:
v In November 1994, the First International Workshop on
Global Mapping was held in Izumo City, Shimane Prefecture,
Japan with the participation of thirteen countries and one
international organization. It was resolved to develop the data
set with the goal of the year 2000, to establish a steering
committee for preparation activities and coordination of
Global Map development, and to facilitate technological and
economic support.
e In February 1996, the Second International Workshop
on Global Mapping was held in Tsukuba City, Ibaraki
Prefecture, Japan and national mapping organizations of ten
countries and three international organizations participated in
the Workshop. “Intemational Steering Committee for Global
Mapping (ISCGM)" was established, which was resolved at
the First International Workshop on Global Mapping and
intended for the information exchange among national
mapping organizations and the coordination between the
projects related to the development. The members were from
thirteen countries including those who were not able to
participate in the Workshop itself. At the First Meeting held
immediately after the establishment, it was resolved, that’
ISCGM make approaches to various countries for the easy
access of existing data set, and that national mapping
organizations should develop data with the coordination of
other data development projects as well as work on
governments for funding.
9 In November 1996, "Interregional Seminar on Global
Mapping for the Implementation of Multinational
Environmental Agreements” was held in Santa Barbara,
California organized by the United Nations Department for
Development Support and Management Services the
University of California at Santa Barbara and Geographical
Survey Institute. “Santa Barbara statement” was adopted as
the consensus of participants. In the Statement, it was
recommended that overall Global Map development should be
implemented under the umbrella of the United Nations and the
effort should be recognized at national, regional and global
levels. Also "the Second Meeting of International Steering
Committee for Global Mapping” was held at the same time
and working groups were established for the discussions of
specifications and action program.
® In November 1997, “Global Mapping Forum’97 in
Gifu” and “the Third Meeting of International Steering
Committee for Global Mapping” were held at Gifu Prefectural
Library, and draft action program for Global Map
development and draft technical specifications of Global Map
data set (hereafter referred to as draft specifications) were
adopted subject to the future improvement. In this context,
Global Map concept was advanced from the mere theory to
the concrete development project.
3. Draft Action Program
In the draft Action Program, Global Map development is largely
divided into two phases. The First Phase is by the year 2000 that data
development is scheduled to be completed. And the Second Phase is
for data update after the year 2001. At the First Phase, data
development with six items, which are described later, will be
materialized under the umbrella of the United Nations with the
international cooperation of national mapping organizations and
using existing geographic data both in analog and digital form
complemented with remote sensing data. At the Second Phase and
after, it is intended to increase data items and to use remote sensing
technology to carry out efficient update. For the data set
development of the First Phase, following data sets are currently
considered to be used, namely GTOPO30, Global Land Cover
characterization and Vector Map Level 0.
484 International Archives of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing. Vol. XXXII, Part 7, Budapest, 1998
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