Development and Applications of the Global Map

The Geographical Survey Institute of Japan has been implementing the Global Mapping project not only as the participating organization from Japan, but also as the Secretariat of the International Steering Committee for Global Mapping. As the Secretariat, the Geographical Survey Institute of Japan has made efforts to develop and promote the Global Mapping project through international cooperation. Due to these efforts, the development of Global Map version 1 has dramatically progressed toward the goal of the completion of global coverage. As of February 18, 2008, 162 countries and 16 regions are participating in the Global Mapping project (ca 97 % of the whole land area), and 48 countries and 3 regions have released their Global Map version 1 data (ca 49 % of the whole land area). The International Steering Committee for Global Mapping plans to release Global Map Version 1 of all land areas of the globe in 2008. 1