OCEAN DATA SYMPOSIUM, DUBLIN CASTLE, 1997
Plenary Session-Theme C
DEVELOPMENT OF ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY FOR DATA COLLECTION, ANALYSIS AND EXCHANGE
NEW STRATEGY ON OCEANOGRAPHIC DATA MANAGEMENT IN JAPAN-ESTABLISHMENT OF A MARINE INFORMATION RESEARCH CENTER
Yutaka Nagata
Marine Information Research Center, JHA Mishima Bldg. 5F, 7-15-4 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104, Japan
Yutaka Michida
Japan Oceanographic Data Center, 5-3-1 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104, Japan
ABSTRACT
By using the funds defrayed by the Nippon Foundation, the Marine Information Research Center (MIRC) was established in the Japan Hydrographic Association on April 1, 1997. The task of MIRC is to reinforce the activities of the Japan Oceanographic Data Center (JODC) and to produce high quality data sets and data products available for various users： researchers on oceanic sciences, engineers on ocean exploitation and utilization, enthusiasts on marine sports and so on. The products will be distributed through electronic communication system like the internet. We are also planning to investigate basic and technical problems on data management, and new techniques of quality control applicable in JODC system. International co-operation businesses and popularization of oceanic knowledge are also the task of MIRC. We shall introduce the new organization MIRC, and new strategy of JODC and MIRC to contribute the researchers and engineers of the global environmental problems and of sustainable utilization of the oceans. Our computer and communication systems will be operating after October 1,1997, but we have already started to investigate new techniques of quality control. Some of our preliminary results will be also introduced.
INTRODUCTION
There are three organizations which handle oceanic data in Japan： the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) for real-time data collection and exchange, the Japan Oceanographic Data Center (JODC) for non-real-time historical data, and the Japan Fisheries Information Center (JAFIC) serving real-time oceanic information for fishermen.
JODC has been serving as a synthetic data bank for the oceanographic community in Japan, since its establishment in 1965. JODC is contributing to International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange (lODE) program promoted by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC). JODC collects and stores oceanographic data observed by various organizations, and arranges them for the use of secondary users. The volume of data and the number of items handled by JODC was increased rapidly. JODC has been improving its data serving system continuously, and started to operate its on-line (internet) data reference and retrieval services in 1996. We flatter ourselves that JODC is one of the most active and responsible data centers in the world.
