GLOBAL MAP AT RIO +20

Organized by the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan, this side event will take place on 22 June from 11:15am to 12:45pm in the Japan Pavilion in Athletes’ Park. The event will be supported by the International Steering Committee for Global Mapping (ISCGM), the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Brazil, and the United Kingdom. Japan will lead presentations pertinent to Global Map, data development under international cooperation, and use of Global Map data for sustainable development, followed by presentations by the Co-Chair of the United Nations Committee of Experts on GGIM, the IBGE and the JAXA.

Global Mapping project is an endeavor advocated by the Ministry of Construction (present Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism) in 1992 to develop a digital map (Global Map) covering the whole globe to accurately express the status of global environment, implemented in international cooperation of respective National Mapping Organizations (NMOs) of the world. The Global Map can be used for studying global environmental problems, etc.

The Global Map data development is underway steered by the International Steering Committee for Global Mapping (ISCGM). The Geospatial Information Authority of Japan (GSI) serves as the ISCGM Secretariat which takes a central role of the project management. The GSI also provides developing countries with necessary technologies.