Outline of GFAS
Akira TERAKAWA
Public Works Research Institute (PWRI)
Tsukuba, JapanI am going to talk about Background IFNet (International Flood Network)
 GFAS (Global Flood Alert System) CHARM (International Center for Water

Hazard and Risk Management under
the auspices of UNESCO)Public Works Research Institute(PWRI)• History
1927: Established
1979: Relocated to Tsukuba(Area:126ha, Staff: 550)
2001: Re-organized into two institutes(PWRI and NILIM)• Staff : 219 (including 151 researchers)• Research topics: about 200• Budget (FY 2004): 6 billion JPY(55 mil. US$)200 Research topics
focusing on 14 priority
research projects• to ensure safety• to conserve and restore theenvironment• for efficient management ofinfrastructure9 Research Groups with 20 teams• Construction Technology Research Dept.
• Material and Geotechnical Engineering• Earthquake Disaster Prevention• Water Environment• Hydraulic Engineering• Erosion and Sediment Control• Road Technology• Structure• Niigata Experimental Laboratory

Internationally common recognition
2002

World Summit on Sustainable Development(Johannesburg)
2003 3rd World Water Forum(Kyoto, Shiga & Osaka)

Water related disasters such as flood anddrought are major challenge for ensuring
sustainable development
Urgent needs for appropriate actions toprevent or mitigate impacts from water
related hazards

Various Natural Disasters over the World

From ‘World Atlas 2003-2004’
Ninomiya Shoten, 2003

Historical wind and flood disasters in Japan

from ‘Rivers in Japan’, MLIT, 2003

In the case of downpour
in Fukui Prefecture inJuly 2004, 283mm/day
was recorded at Miyama
Observatory.

Inundated situation of Sanjo City, Niigata Prefecture
after downpour in July 2004. 421 mm/day of rainfall
was recorded at Tochio Observatory.

Various Measures for integrated
River and Basin managementfrom ‘Rivers in Japan’, MLIT, 2003

InternationalFloodNetwork

Concept of IFNet
To internationally share the knowledge andexperience for flood damage mitigation among
flood affected countries and concernedorganizations
 Exchanging information
 Raising public awareness of floods
 Establishing floods high on the international agenda

Established at the 3rd World Water Forum
held in Kyoto, Shiga and Osaka in March, 2003

Framework of IFNet
Basin Managing
Authorities

PWRI

Planning of Disaster
preparedness and management

National
HydrologicalService

Research inflood, drought,
landslide

APFM

FM, FF in the country

IFNetDeveloping FMpolicies/ support
system for countries

GFAS

Networking of NGOs and GOs/
people s concerns in FM
SpaceIFNet
Participants
People’s concern in FM
at grass-root level

AgenciesGovernance of IFNet since August 10, 2003
Chairperson: Mr. Avinash C. Tyagi
Director of Hydrology and Water Resources,
World Meteorological Organization (WMO)

Vice Chairperson: Mr. Akihiko Nunomura
Director of River Planning Division, River Bureau,
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MLIT), JAPANVice Chairperson: Mr. Kees P. van Laarhoven
Director General for Water Affairs, Ministry of Transport, Public
Works and Water Management, THE NETHERLANDS

Acting Director General : Mr. Kazuo Umeda
Director of 2nd Research Department,
Infrastructure Development Institute (IDI) JAPANActivities of IFNet provides mechanism for the exchange of information andopinion by establishing on interactive web site and circulating
periodic newsletter.
z Good Practices/ Lessons Learned

 inputs and convenes/ co-sponsors symposia, workshops andother meetings on topics related to flood encourages its participants and others to coordinate theirefforts and collaborate in joint projects and thus improve theeffectiveness of their individual programmes.
 planning projects that bring benefits to the participants;
z GFAS - Global Flood Alert system
z Flood Hazard Mapping (in planning)

How to participate
Participation in IFNet is open to all who haveknowledge and experience in flood problems
and are actively involved in efforts to reduce thenegative impact of flood on society and naturalenvironment
Participation form
http://www.idi.or.jp/vision/ifnetregistration-e.html

Flood Report from IFNet participants (Example 1)

Floods in Bangladesh in 2004

Two young girls push a pot full of relief food as they swim back to theirsubmerged homes at the downtown of Dhaka July 25 while flood victims queue
up before a homoeopathic dispensary at the neighbouring locality as thegovernment is yet to offer healthcare service.
Reporteur: Mr. Shahidul Islam Chowdhury

BANGLADESH

Flood Report from IFNet participants (Example 2)

Floods in Bangladesh 2004

Septuagenarian Tafurunnisa sloshes her way throughstinky floodwaters in Dhaka on July 25 to buy
essentials at a nearby market that now seems lightyears away.
Reporteur: Mr. Shahidul Islam Chowdhury

BANGLADESHFlood Report from IFNet participants (Example 3)

Floods in Mozambique 2002

Reporteur: Dr. Imasiku Anayawa Nyambe

ZAMBIAFlood Report from IFNet participants (Example 4)

Flood in Tokai Area, Japan in 2000

Dyke Break of the Shinkawa river 12th Sep. in Nishibiwajima town

Outline of GFASOne of the contents of IFNet (free ofCharge to registered members)

Having been developed cooperatively
by MLIT, JAXA and IDI

To generate Rainfall Map (Global, RiverBasin), Excessive Rainfall Area Map,
Flood Alert Email ・・・Based on data from Global ObservationSatellites (Global Coverage)
JAXA : Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency
IDI : Infrastructure Development InstituteTRMM (Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission)
Launched in November 1997 for measuringtropical rainfall distribution
5 sensors– PR (Precipitation Radar)– TMI (TRMM Microwave Imager)– VIRS (Visible Infrared Scanner)– CERES (Clouds and Earth’s Radiant Energy System)– LIS (Lightning Imaging Scanner)

Is going to finish its life span
to be evolved into GPM

Illustrative figure of GFAS
Rainfall information

Heavy rain around theUpstream of ○○ River

Observation Satellite

Around the downstream of ○○ river

石塘樋門Flood Alert EmailGrandStationsRaw
Data

Organizations in Charge of Flood
Forecasting and Disaster Prevention

Global Rainfall Maps

Data Processing System
On-Line・Data for climate forecasts (real time/near real time data)
・3-hour global precipitation map (real time/near real time data)

Satellite Data for GFAS
Based on TRMM, DMSP and 5 geostationary
meteorological satellites
Latitude 60°N ~ 60°S
Latitude 0° ~ 360°
Grid size 0.25°* 0.25°(22km * 28km around Japan)
Every 3 hrs
Near real time data (2~3 hrs after observation)

Objectives of GFAS

To support flood forecasting and warning
operation

By providing near-real-time distributed
rainfall information based on sateｌｌite
observation

For river basins where exist no or
insufficient (telemetered) rainfall data
NOTICE: This is NOT a system which impose or
replace the ground observation and conventional
systems.

Effectiveness of GFASGFAS is effective especially under thefollowing conditions: Large River Basin where near-real-time

areal rainfall distribution data are notobtainable,
 Trans-boundary River Basin where

prompt data transmission between
countries is difficult.

Concept of Flood Alerting EmailGroundStations

Satellites
Observation(GPM

3-hour Global Precipitation DataOn-LineTRMM(4-30 km)

Data Processing System
Probability Calculation

PresentRainfall>

Alert Level ofrespective rivers

Alert!
(Information Dissemination to Countries Concerned)

Output of GFAS (image sample)
Daily Precipitation of Aug 1, 2003

Derived from TRMM Data of Global Real-Time 3-Hourly
Precipitation Analyses (3B42RT) by JAXA

10-year

Return Period30-year

Return Period

Daily Precipitation Probability(Image Sample)

Derived from TRMM Data of Rain Accumulation (3B42) by JAXA

Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna River Basin
Daily precipitation on July 11, 2004

Display large scale of selected basin

Outline of Global Precipitation
Measurement (GPM)

zScheme of establishment in observing global precipitation every 3 hours with the main
satellite and 8 constellation satellites

zJapan’s contribution: Development of dual precipitation data and launch of H2-A Rocket

Constellation
Satellites

Core Satellite
Dual Frequency Radar
Multi Frequency Radiometer

Satellites with Micro-waveRadiometers

Observation of rainfall with moreaccurate and higher resolution

More frequent Observation

Adjustment of data fromconstellation satellites

Cooperation ：JAXA (Japan)

NOAA(US),NASA(US),ESA(EU),
China, Korea and others

Dual frequency Radar, Rocket

NASA(US)
Satellite Bus, Micro-wave
gauging measurement–Earth heating Phenomena–Study of Climate Change–Improvement offorecasting system

Global Observation
every 3 hours•IWRM•Flood Forecasting•Forecasting of crop

productivity

Development Schedule
2003-4• System Development using Current Available
Satellite Data2005• 1st Launch of GFAS- Global and River Basin Rainfall Maps
- Excessive Rainfall Area Maps2006
• (4th World Water Forum in Mexico)• Flood Alert through Email200?
• Establishment of GPM

the International Centre for
Water Hazard and Risk
Management
under the auspices ofUNESCO(CHARM)Framework of CHARM
 Accumulated knowledge andexperience trying to overcome
water-related disasters
 Global network such as IFNet forinternationally sharing valuable
information
Contribution to prevent or
mitigate water-related disasters
in the world

Pillar Activities of CHARM
ResearchData/
Information

CurriculumResults/
Outcomes

ParticipationKnowledge

Information
networking

NetworkTraining& Capacitybuilding

Activities- Research  Contribution to international projects suchas WWAP and JUWFI (UNESCO/WMO) Hydraulic / hydrological prediction,observation, modeling and analysis
 Risk assessment and risk management
technologies for water-related hazards
under various socio-economic, geographicand climatic conditions

Activities- Training and Capacity building PWRI has long experience in conducting JICA
training courses for over 35 years
including- River and dam engineering- Sabo engineering
Africa 1/1

Pacific 1/1

Latin America10/5Middle
East
32/7

Total Number ofTrainees/Countries
101/27
in FY 2003
Asia
57/13

Activities- Information Networking Information networking will be synergizedwith research and training activities
in order to enhance integration andcoordination:
Through the information network…
••••

Research output will be widely disseminatedFeedback from countries / regions will be reflectedin the research projects
Trainees will develop domestic links to their own
countries/ regions
Local needs for training items would be clarified

A Blueprint of the Centre BuildingResearch Staff
Center buildingOffice space: 20 (at the initial stage): will be completed inautumn 2005
: 2,000m2

END
Thank you for your attention
http://www.unesco.pwri.go.jp