FY2016

The Tokai University Glocal Monitoring Center (provisional name: T-GLOM) will be established as a new base on the Shonan Campus. It will consolidate personnel; construct laboratories; install a satellite receiving system, data analysis system, and database system; and begin coordination with internal and external organizations.

Establishment of a research base
The Glocal Monitoring Center (T-GLOM) will be established as a new base in the Shonan Campus, and personnel will be consolidated. Interdisciplinary teams will be formed for each theme in satellite data analysis and social media systems, and data analysis and database systems will be established to start research activities.
Establishment of a satellite receiving system
A satellite receiving antenna will be installed on the roof of Building 19, whose construction is scheduled for completion in FY2016, and it will begin test receiving of NASA satellite data.
Establishment of a satellite data reception network and international coordination
We will initiate coordination for the establishment of an international satellite data receiving network, and conduct data exchange tests with the US, Europe, and other countries by the end of the fiscal year.
Establishment of a system to gather disaster-related information from social media
We will put into practical application the prototype of a system that extracts disaster-related information in real time from the vast amount of information circulating on Twitter and other social media and stores such information in a database.
Organize an international workshop
A workshop will be held in or around December for relevant organizations to come together from inside and outside Japan to confirm the project’s activity policy and to widely promote it to a wide range of people.

FY2017

Sophistication of satellite reception and processing systems
The new antenna system will have an added function to automatically extract images of disaster-stricken areas from time-series observation data when the user enters the location information of the disaster area on a smartphone or other device during an emergency.
Establishment of a satellite reception network and international coordination
We will establish a network for exchanging and sharing satellite data among multiple organizations and countries, and it will start operation with individual counterpart organizations within this fiscal year. Working with NASA, we will start the construction of an Arctic sea ice information sharing system. And working with RADI, we will start aerosol data sharing and full-scale joint research on air pollution.
Synchronization tests between satellite data, drone images, and information devices for field surveys
We will construct a distribution system on a trial basis to allow satellite data and drone images of a disaster area to be viewed on information devices used for on-site surveys and on the smartphones of local residents.
Construction of a real-time crisis map generation system using information from social media
We will put into full operation a system for collecting disaster-related information from social media, the prototype of which was built in FY2016. We will also construct a real-time crisis map generation system that displays on a map the real-time disaster situations and needs for relief based on the information acquired. System verification and evaluation will be conducted jointly with the disaster management-related departments of Hiratsuka City and other municipalities near the university. Also, assuming that communication will be disrupted in the event of a large-scale disaster, we will simultaneously promote research and development of disaster-resistant communication technologies, such as infrastructure-less communication.
Preparation of guidelines on social care for disaster victims
Social care for disaster-affected students and teachers became an important theme in the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquake. Based on this experience and the characteristics of a comprehensive university, we will examine the state of social care for disaster-affected residents from various angles, including psychology, nursing care, and medical care, and we will formulate guidelines.
Organize local workshops
Workshops will be held at local governments and other organizations collaborating in this project to report on its progress and exchange information about future regional collaboration.

FY2018

Further sophistication of satellite reception and processing systems
We will make satellite data processing compatible with multiple satellites and realize integrated processing of heterogeneous sensor data with different resolutions and observation wavelengths.
Full-scale operation of a satellite data sharing network
We will begin full-scale operation of a multi-institutional and multi-national network for exchanging and sharing satellite data, and fully implement data exchange, sharing, and joint research among three or more institutions.
Establishment of a system to distribute satellite data and drone images to information devices for field surveys
We will construct a distribution system to allow satellite data and drone images of a disaster area to be viewed on information devices used for on-site surveys and on the smartphones of local residents, and also begin full-scale use.
Personalization of a real-time crisis map and construction of a system for distribution to smartphones
By improving and sophisticating the real-time crisis map generation system built in FY2017, we will construct a system to deliver personalized disaster information to smartphones according to the attributes and circumstances of residents. We will also integrate disaster-resistant communication technologies, which have been under research and development since FY2017, and conduct verification experiments assuming the occurrence of a large-scale disaster that affects residents of municipalities near the university.
Synchronization test of the global monitoring system and global monitoring system
We will integrate the global monitoring system and the local monitoring system, which were developed separately, to conduct synchronization tests based on disaster scenarios.
Organize regional and international workshops
To demonstrate the Glocal Monitoring System and discuss the future plans of the project, we will hold workshops at the local governments collaborating in this project and international workshops at the Kumamoto Campus.

FY2019

Verification and evaluation of the satellite reception and processing system
We will start verification of the effectiveness of monitoring systems for sea ice and air pollution that have already been constructed. In addition, we will perform integrated processing of heterogeneous sensor data for the most recent disaster, and verify and evaluate the results. We will identify problems and challenges and implement countermeasures.
Verification and expansion of satellite data reception network
We will verify the operation status of the multi-institutional and multi-national network for exchanging and sharing satellite data and expand research on data exchange, sharing, and joint research among three or more institutions.
Verification of a system to distribute satellite data and drone images to information devices for field surveys
In order to ensure effective cooperation, we will perform verification on the distribution system constructed in FY2018 to allow satellite data and drone images of a disaster area to be viewed on information devices used for on-site surveys and on the smartphones of local residents.
International application of disaster mitigation information systems utilizing social media
We will implement international application of the system established in FY2018 with overseas partner institutions.
Use of guidelines on social care for disaster victims
We will use the prepared social care guidelines with relevant local governments.
Organize regional and international workshops
We will hold workshops at the local governments collaborating in this project and international workshops at the Kumamoto Campus to demonstrate the system. The future plans for the project will also be discussed in these workshops.

FY2020

Improvement and stable operation of the glocal monitoring system
We will improve the existing system as necessary and establish a system for continuous and stable operation as a university. We will also expand the international collaboration system.
Preparation of report
The achievements of the past five years will be summarized in a report. Specifically, we will prepare manuals and guidelines that the general public can use and distribute them to relevant organizations and local residents.
Organize project presentations and international workshops
We will hold presentation session on the results of this project at local governments and other organizations collaborating in this project to demonstrate the system and discuss the future plans for this project. Also, we will hold international workshops and invite overseas related organizations to widely promote the results of the five-year project both at home and overseas, and to explore new developments for the future.