The Asia-Pacific Earth Observation Pilot Project

1. Summary

The National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA), the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency of Thailand (GISTDA) and the National Institute of Aeronautics and Space of Indonesia (LAPAN) are implementing a series of pilot projects aimed at improving the useof satellite data by government agencies in those countries. This Asia-Pacific Earth Observation Pilot Project also aims to contribute greatly to promoting capacity building for wider use of satellite data in the region as a whole.

2. Background

A five-years pilot project was launched in Thailand in November 1997 and a three-year pilot project beganin Indonesia in March 1999. In addition, the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) started training course on the use of satellite data in March 2000. These efforts have the following aims:

NASDA launched the Marine Observation Satellite-1 (MOS-1) in 1987 and the Japanese Earth Resources Satellite-1 (JERS-1) in1992. Data from these satellite are received by parabolic antennas in Thailand and Indonesia, contributing greatly to expanding the operational use of satellite data by those countries' administrations.

3. The work of the pilot project - Japan's contribution to the pilot project

NASDA plans to launch the Advanced Earth Observing Satellite-II (ADEOS II) in 2002, and is also developing the Advanced Land Observing Satellite (ALOS) which is scheduled to be launched in 2004. Since these will provide new opportunities of using satellites data, AIT, GISTDA, LAPN and NASDA decided to continue the pilotproject as WSSD type 2 partnership.

4. Project Partners