New Technology for a New Century
International Conference 
FIG Working Week 2001, Seoul, Korea 6–11 May 2001

Abstracts

CURRENT STATUS OF GLOBAL MAPPING PROJECT: RELEASE OF GLOBAL MAP VERSION 1.0 AND START OF PHASE II

Hiroshi UNE, Shozo KAJIKAWA and Akira YAGUCHI, Japan

Key words: Global Mapping; Global Map Version 1.0; global environmental problems; global spatial data.


Abstract

Background

Global Mapping Project was advocated by the Ministry of Construction of Japan in 1992, responding to the Agenda 21 adopted by the UN Conference on Environment and Development held in Rio de Janeiro. The need of the Global Map for addressing global environmental problems has been well confirmed at the UN.

Concept and Contents of Global Map

The objective of Global Mapping Project is to help us understand the status of global environment and to facilitate the identification of future challenges. The Global Map is produced for the whole land area of the earth at one kilometer ground resolution, and is to be revised every five years.

The Global Map is in a digital format for easy handling by computer and its content is equivalent to conventional maps at a scale of 1:1,000,000. It contains vector data (transportation, boundaries, drainage and population centers) and raster data (elevation, vegetation, land cover and land use). It is being produced using existing paper maps and digital data sets. Satellite images are also used for revising data.

International Steering Committee for Global Mapping

Global Mapping Project is promoted by International Steering Committee for Global Mapping (ISCGM), which is composed of 18 members of 15 countries. Its secretariat is located at the Geographical Survey Institute.

In November 1998, the United Nations recommended the heads of National Mapping Organizations in the world to participate in the Project. The number of countries and regions participating in the project is 80 as of August 31, 2000.

Global Map Specifications

Global Map Specifications version 1.1 is in the most part consistent with ISO/TC211 recommendations for geographic data standards, which is found at http://www.auslig.gov.au/mapping/global_m/specv1_1.htm.

Global Mapping Forum 2000 and Release of Global Map Version 1.0

"Global Mapping Forum 2000" was held in Hiroshima in 28 - 30 November 2000 to commemorate the completion in rough of Global Map version 1.0 and further to promote the development. Taking this opportunity, Global Map version 1.0 was released to the public. It is available via either internet or CD-ROM.

Global Mapping Project Phase II

Phase I of the Global Mapping Project was successfully completed in 2000. At Eighth Meeting of ISCGM held at Cartagena, Colombia, on May 25, 2001, the start of Phase II of the Project was declared.


CONTACT

Hiroshi Une, Shozo Kajikawa and Akira Yaguchi
Geographical Survey Institute (GSI), Japan
Kitasato-1
Tsukuba
305-0811
JAPAN
Tel. + 81 298 64 6911
Fax + 81 298 64 6923
Email: une@gsi-mc.go.jp 

24 March 2001


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