On the afternoon of September 17, 2015, the Earth Observation Data Integration & Fusion Research Initiative welcomed the Crown Prince and Princess at the Institute of Industrial Science. The visit provided the opportunity to introduce the state of research and development on the DIAS e-infrastructure system that facilitates the effective utilization of Earth observation big data, and to present initiatives to resolve various social issues, such as water-related disaster prevention/reduction based on data prediction and integrated analysis.

The royalty arrived at the University of Tokyo Institute of Industrial Science at 2PM, after which they listened intently to explanations covering research to create databases of observed weather and rainfall conditions in real-time to help predict flooding; the system for the provision of hydrological information for rice cultivation in Cambodia; and a visualization system to assist in the understanding of climate mechanisms unique to the Tibetan plateau, which influence the rainfall distribution in Asia. They next stopped by the DIAS core server storage room briefly.

On the day, the lectures were given by Professor Toshio Koike, representative researcher for the Data Integration & Analysis System Program (DIAS-P), School of Engineering/Director of the International Centre for Water Hazard and Risk Management, and Professor Masaru Kitsuregawa, Institute of Industrial Science/Director General of the National Institute of Informatics.
Thereafter, the Crown Prince and Princess went on to visit a sewage treatment facility in Minato Ward, Tokyo, and Shinagawa Season Terrace (Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism).

Photo 1: Director General Fujii of the Institute of Industrial Science meets the royal couple

Photo 2: Explanation of DIAS given by Professor Toshio Koike

Photo 3: Inspecting the DIAS core server at A Block, Institute of Industrial Science

For more details, please watch the following video (in Japanese):