Project reference: ARCP2010-10NMY-Koike
River Management System Development in Asia Based on Data Integration and Analysis
System (DIAS) under the GEOSSUPDATED PROPOSAL
Cover Page
1. Project Leader: Dr. Toshio Koike, Professor (University of Tokyo, Japan)
2. Project Reference: ARCP2010-10NMY-Koike
3. Project Title
River Management System Development in Asia Based on Data Integration and Analysis
System (DIAS) under the GEOSS

1

Project reference: ARCP2010-10NMY-Koike
River Management System Development in Asia Based on Data Integration and Analysis
System (DIAS) under the GEOSSPart One: Project Summary (14 columns: 2 pages)
Column 1:

River Management System Development in Asia Based on Data
Integration and Analysis System (DIAS) under the GEOSS
Title of proposed project:

Column 2:

Proponent’s Name and Title: Toshio Koike/ Professor
Name of Institution:
Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Tokyo
Address:
7-3-1, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8656, Japan
Telephone:+81-3-5841-6106
Fax:+81-3-5841-6130
Email:
tkoike@hydra.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp
Website:http://aqua.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp/REEL/
Column 4:
Has the proponent or collaborators been awarded APN Grant(s) in the past? If yes, provide details.

Yes, he was awarded as the proponent in 2006/07 and 2007/08, consecutively for the project
title: The International Integrated Water Data Access and Transfer in Asia (IIWaDATA). He has
also been awarded as a collaborator in 2008/09 and 2009/10, consecutively for the project
title: The Global Earth Observation System of Systems Asian Water Cycle Initiative
Observation Convergence and Data Integration (GEOSS/AWCI/OCDI) led by Mr. Chu Ishida.
Column 5:
Provide a concise abstract (100 words): Based on the successful achievements in planning, data

policy and data archiving which have been supported by APN, the Global Earth Observation
System of Systems (GEOSS) Asian Water Cycle Initiative (AWCI), consisting of 19 countries in
Asia, makes a well coordinated regional challenge in support to the integrated water resourcesmanagement (IWRM) in each country. This project develops a prototype of the IWRM system,
which can be also used for climate change adaptation in each GEOSS/AWCI demonstration
river basin, by integrating in-situ and satellite data, numerical weather prediction (NWP) model
outputs, and climate prediction model outputs archived on DIAS, which has been developed by
the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) of Japan.
Column 6
How is the project relevant to the APN Science & Policy Agendas, and to policy processes? Based onrecognition of the commonality in the water-related issues and socio-economic needs in the
Asia-Pacific Region, a well coordinated regional challenge GEOSS/AWCI has been organized incooperation among the 19 countries in Asia. It focuses on convergence and harmonization ofobservation activities, interoperability arrangements for observed data and collected
information, effective and comprehensive data management, and capacity building of themember countries as the most functional elements. The Asian countries cooperatively
integrate data from earth observation satellites and in-situ networks with other types of data,
including NWP and climate model outputs, geographical information, and socio-economic data,to generate information for making sound water resources management decisions.
Column 7:
Outline the activities to be conducted and state why you believe these activities are necessary:

GEOSS/AWCI made the stage 1 for implementation planning and data policy agreement from2005 to 2007, and will complete the stage 2 for data archiving, data quality control andmetadata generation by the middle of 2010 by the strong supports by APN, MEXT and themember countries. 17 member countries have already submitted their data to DIAS. They are
now implementing data quality check and generating metadata in cooperation with DIAS.
DIAS is now in its application phase. It is ready for stepping forward into demonstration forsupporting the IWRM in each member country, in cooperation between global observations andlocal applications and between research communities and operational sectors.
Column 8:
Provide information, including contact details, of the APN member and/or approved countries involved.

Each member of the International Coordination Group (ICG) of GEOSS/AWCI works as aproject team member in well-coordinated ways. Each member country supports his/her tasks
for data preparation and system application. Bangladesh: S. Karmakar (Meteorological
Department), Bhutan: K. Chhophel (Hydro-met Services), Cambodia: S. I. Monichoth(Department Hydrology and River Works), China: Q. Mingkai (Huaihe River Commission,
Ministry of Water Resources), India: S. Kaur (India Meteorological Department), Indonesia: J.

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Project reference: ARCP2010-10NMY-Koike
River Management System Development in Asia Based on Data Integration and Analysis
System (DIAS) under the GEOSS

Loebis (Research Institute for Water Resources), Japan: T. Koike (The University of Tokyo),
Korea: D.-H. Bae (Sejong University), Lao: C. Amphaychith (Lao National Mekong Committee),
Malaysia: A. J. Shaaban (National Hydraulic Research Institute), Mongolia: G. Davaa (Instituteof Meteorology and Hydrology ), Myanmar: H. H. Than (Dept. of Meteorology and Hydrology),
Nepal: S. K. Sharma (Department of Water Induced Disaster Prevention), Pakistan: B. Ahmad(Water Resources Research Institute/National Agriculture Research Center), Philippines: F.
Hilario (PAGASA/DOST), Sri Lanka: S. B. Weerakoon (University of Peradeniya), Thailand: T.
Sukhapunaphan (Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives), Uzbekistan: S. Myagkov(Hydromet. Res. Institute), Vietnam: K. Van Duong (National Hydro-met. Forecasting Center)
Column 9:
Summarise the proposed project methodologies: By integrating in-situ and satellite data, numerical

weather prediction model outputs, and climate prediction model outputs archived on DIAS, thisproject implement to:1) To develop a distributed hydrological model in each basin by integrated in-site and satellite
data and model outputs.
2) To predict river discharge by using observed and/or model prediction data.
3) To develop optimization schemes for IWRM practices in each river basin.
4) To evaluate impacts of climate change on water resources management of each river basin.
5) To make design of measures for climate change adaptations.
Column 10:
Describe the mode of operation of the project team (i.e. what is the specific role of each team member?)and provide evidence from country-team members that they have agreed to carry out these roles: Eachteam member will have expertise in at least one of four Capacity Working Group areas: (i)GEOSS/AWCI Flood; (ii) GEOSS/AWCI Drought; (iii) GEOSS/AWCI Water Quality;(iv)GEOSS/AWCI Climate Change. The expertise of each member will complement the others,
so that requirements can be stated, benefits understood and tools developed to meet theneeds of both science and policy communities for the maximum benefit to society.
Column 11:
What are the expected outcomes/products, and how sustainable will the activities be upon completion ofan APN Grant, if awarded? The outcome will result in usable information on sound decision

making on flood disaster reduction, drought early warning, water quality management andclimate change adaptation.
Column 12:
How will these outcomes/products be relevant to and/or mainstreamed into policy-processes?

GEOSS/AWCI ICG consisting of water-related ministries and agencies of the participating
countries, international science communities, and space agencies takes a strategic
demonstration approach. By showing success stories created through these projects todecision makers, GEOSS/AWCI will shift the emphasis from scientific challenges to operational
applications to yield the societal benefits and establishes confirmed water management
infrastructure against the water related problems.
Column 13:
How will team evaluations be performed to ensure project objectives are being met? There will be on-going International Coordination Group meetings and conference calls where progress will beassessed during the Project. A set of milestones providing the basis for evaluation includes:
2010-2011: Successive data archive
2010-2012: Demonstration project implementation
2011-2012: Preparation for shifting from more-research to more-operational phase
Column 14:
Provide a concise literature review for the proposed project:(1) GEOSS 10-year Implementation Plan, Feb. 2005.
(2) GEOSS 10-year Implementation Plan Reference Document, Feb. 2005.
(3) GEOSS AWCI Implementation Plan, Dec. 2007.
GEOSS Work Plan 2009-2011, WA06-07, WA08-01e, DA09-2a, Jan. 2009.

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Project reference: ARCP2010-10NMY-Koike
River Management System Development in Asia Based on Data Integration and Analysis
System (DIAS) under the GEOSSThe Main Body of the Full Proposal
1. Project Title
River Management System Development in Asia Based on Data Integration and Analysis
System (DIAS) under the GEOSS
2. Fully Detailed Proposal
Description of the entire proposed project
In recognition of the need for accurate, timely, long-term, water cycle information as abasis for sound and effective water resources and risk management and with regards tothe commonality in the water-related issues and socio-economic needs in the AsiaPacific region, a well coordinated regional challenge GEOSS Asian Water Cycle Initiative(GEOSS/AWCI) has been established among 19 countries in Asia. It was initiatedthrough the IIWaDATA project (2006 – 2008) funded by APN under the ARCP2005 andhas evolved into a strong collaborative initiative focusing on convergence andharmonization of observation activities, interoperability arrangements for observed dataand collected information, effective and comprehensive data management, and capacity
building of the participating countries as the most functional elements.
GEOSS/AWCI completed the first stage for implementation planning and data policy
agreement from 2005 to 2007, and will complete the second stage for in-situ dataarchiving from selected demonstration basins, data quality control and metadata
generation by the middle of 2010 by the strong supports by APN, MEXT and themember countries. The data are being archived at the Data Integration and Analysis
System (DIAS) that was launched in 2006 as part of the Earth Observation and Ocean
Exploration System, which is one of five National Key Technologies defined by the 3rd
Basic Program for Science and Technology of Japan. DIAS is now in its application
phase and it is ready to step forward into demonstration for supporting the Integrated
Water Resources Management (IWRM) practices in each member country, incooperation between global observations and local applications and between researchcommunities and operational sectors.
The proposed project (hereinafter Project) is designed under the GEOSS/AWCI
framework and aims to develop an advanced river management system in member
countries by exploiting the DIAS data and data integration capabilities. The system isbased on integration of data from earth observation satellites and in-situ networks withother types of data, including numerical weather prediction model outputs, climate
model outputs, geographical information, and socio-economic data to generate
information for making sound water resources management decisions while taking
global climate change into account. The system development thus includes:
1) To develop a distributed hydrological model in each basin by integrated in-site andsatellite data and model outputs2) To predict river discharge by using observed and/or model prediction data
3) To develop optimization schemes for IWRM practices in each river basin
4) To evaluate impacts of climate change on water resources management of eachriver basin5) To make design of measures for climate change adaptations.
The specified tasks will be undertaken through cooperation among the countries andparticipating organizations providing expertise in hydrological and weather prediction
modelling, satellite data use, climate change impact assessment, water resourcesmanagement, etc.
Each country has nominated one demonstration basin for which data are being archived
and where the demonstration project will be implemented by a country team incooperation with other member countries and experts from the GEOSS/AWCI
collaborating organizations and programmes. Implementation process will be led andcoordinated by a task team of which each member will have expertise in at least one of
the four GEOSS/AWCI Capacity Working Group areas: (i) Flood; (ii) Drought; (iii) Water

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Project reference: ARCP2010-10NMY-Koike
River Management System Development in Asia Based on Data Integration and Analysis
System (DIAS) under the GEOSS

Quality; and (iv) Climate Change to assure that the system to be developed isapplicable to a complex set of water resources management issues to meet the needsof both science and policy communities for the maximum benefit to society. In addition,
the process and outcomes of the Project will be observed by the GEOSS/AWCIInternational Coordination Group (ICG), which includes representatives of water-related
ministries and agencies of the participating countries and thus has direct connection todecision-makers. By showing the success stories created through the demonstration
projects to decision makers, the GEOSS/AWCI activities including this Project will shift
the emphasis from scientific challenges to operational applications to yield societal
benefits and establish confirmed water management infrastructure against the water
related problems.
Detailed Work Plan
(1) Preparation for the Kick-off Plenary Meeting: assuring solid attendance based on
the GEOSS/AWCI network; survey on existing data sharing, exchange, andmanagement schemes by the member countries; finalizing the demonstration project
implementation plans; set up the Project homepage under the GEOSS/AWCI website.
(2) Kick-off Plenary Meeting (Tokyo, 5 – 6 October 2010): Demonstration project
leaders will introduce the background, objectives and final goals as well as benefits fornational research and water management groups. Functions of DIAS and tools fromother ongoing projects (observation, data management, data integration, informationtransformation) will also be demonstrated. Each country and regional organization will
present existing data sharing, exchange, and management schemes. The Project Task
Team members will be nominated and the tasks identified that include:
a. Distributed river runoff model developmentb. Rainfall prediction system developmentc. River runoff prediction including floods, droughts, and water quality
d. Early warning and operation optimizatione. Climate change impact assessment
f. Climate change adaptation
Specific steps to be undertaken under the above tasks will be discussed.
(3) Follow-up to the Kick-off Meeting: A report will be drafted and disseminated by theend of 2010. Collaborative implementation of demonstration projects will begin and theTask Team will initiate work on tasks (a), (b), and (c). Regular teleconferences will beheld to assure the progress and a website updated accordingly.
(4) 1st Task Team workshop in conjunction with the 5th GEOSS AP Symposium (to be
decided site in Japan, March 2011): Progress in hydrological modelling and prediction
work will be reported and based on the status further strategic steps will be outlined.
(5) Follow-up to the 1st Task Team workshop: A report will be drafted anddisseminated by the end of April 2011. The work on demonstration projects and tasks(a)–(c) will continue being coordinated by the Task Team, who will hold regularteleconferences.
(6) 2nd Plenary Meeting and Task Team workshop (TBD site in Asia, November 2011):
Outcomes of demonstration projects will be presented and accomplishment of tasks(a)–(c) and completeness of the data archive will be evaluated. Strategic steps for the
next phase including preparation for shifting into more operational-phase will be
discussed and outlined. Possible papers in peer-reviewed journals will be proposed.
(7) Follow-up to the 2nd Plenary: A report will be drafted and disseminated by the endof 2011. Work focusing on the abovementioned tasks (d), (e), and (f) will begin and thedemonstration project will continue through these tasks. Simultaneously, preparation
for shifting into more-operational phase will begin in cooperation with the country
policyanddecision-makers(through
the
GEOSS/AWCI
ICG
members).
Teleconferences will be held on the same regular basis.
(8) 3rd Task Team Workshop (TBD site in Asia, March 2012): Progress in work on
operation optimization, climate change adaptation, and decision-making support will bereported and based on the status further strategic steps will be outlined. Status of
preparation for operational applications will be reviewed.

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Project reference: ARCP2010-10NMY-Koike
River Management System Development in Asia Based on Data Integration and Analysis
System (DIAS) under the GEOSS(9) Follow-up to the 3rd Task Team Workshop: A report will be drafted anddisseminated by the end of April 2012. The work on demonstration projects and tasks(d)–(f) as well as preparation for operational applications will continue being
coordinated by the Task Team, who will hold regular teleconferences.
(10) Final Plenary Meeting (TBD site in Asia, September 2012): Final reports on
outcomes of the demonstration projects will be given and accomplishment of tasks (d)–(f) evaluated. Preparedness for shifting into more-operational phase will be assessed
and further strategic steps will be formulated. A second set of peer-reviewed
publications will be proposed.
(11) Follow-up to the Final Plenary Meeting: A report will be drafted and disseminatedby the end of November 2012 including recommendations for ensuing activities. The
final report to APN will be drafted.
Relationship to the APN’s Second Strategic Plan
The Project will provide a system of advanced methods and tools based on the DIAS
archive and functions for integrating data from earth observation satellites and in-situ
networks with other types of data, including numerical weather prediction model
outputs, climate model outputs, geographical information, and socio-economic data to
generate information for making sound water resources management decisions in the
Asian region. The envisioned River Management System will support IWRM practices byenabling: (i) to predict river discharge by using observed and/or model prediction data;(ii) to optimize dam and other river structures operations; and (iii) to evaluate impactsof climate change on water resources management. It will be also supportive in making
design of measures for climate change adaptations. All the specified capabilities will be
developed and applied in the demonstration project basins in GEOSS/AWCI member
countries and results will be published. Also, through collaboration with policy- anddecision-makers in member countries the Project aims at operational applications of the
System to support IWRM practices in response to climate change that will also
contribute to sustainable development.
These specific deliverables will contribute directly to the mission, core strategies andvision identified in the APN’s Second Strategic Plan. In addition, from the morescientific perspective of the Project, the System will be used to support ongoing efforts
to identify, explain and predict changes in the Asian water cycle in the context of bothnatural and human components as well as to examine where the potential
vulnerabilities to human and natural systems exist.
Contribution to APN’s Agenda’s
Science Agenda – The Project is focusing on specific issues related to water resourcesmanagement and impacts of climate change on water resources as a way of addressing
capabilities for sustainable development. Starting from the survey of existing methods
and building upon them to develop a new, comprehensive system to support IWRM
practices that will be introduced into an operational sector, the Project will contribute to
the improvement of the effectiveness of transfers of scientific knowledge to thedecision-makers in the Asian region as a contribution to the APN’s science agenda.
Policy Agenda – The targeted System is designed as a tool for transferring scientificknowledge to information required by policy and decision-making sectors. Its
development will be implemented through collaboration between research communityand policy and decision-making groups and it is intended to be adopted in operationaluse. In this way and by cooperating with other institutions and bodies that address
issues relating to science policy interactions such as WMO, ICSU, UNESCO, and others,
the Project is embracing a specific APN strategy formulated under its Policy Agenda.
Institutional Agenda – By adopting a cooperative scheme of GEOSS/AWCI consisting of
regular international teleconferences and working throughout each year between major
plenary meetings and Task Team Workshops, the Project will enhance year-round6

Project reference: ARCP2010-10NMY-Koike
River Management System Development in Asia Based on Data Integration and Analysis
System (DIAS) under the GEOSS

communications between member countries, liaison functions, Project Leaders, relevant
secretariats and the global change community at large, and thereby will be contributing
directly to a main element of the APN Institutional Agenda.
3. Scientific Contribution of each Participating Country
Each participating country will: (i) design and implement a demonstration project; (ii)provide necessary in-situ data and further needed information; (iii) provide suitable
existing tools and methodologies; (iv) provide scientific knowledge on local
phenomena; and (v) provide support in shifting from the scientific challenge tooperational applications through demonstrating the project outcomes to decisionmakers.
4. Capacity Building for Global Change Research
The Project is proposed under the GEOSS/AWCI, which has a solid capacity building
component organizing training seminars in various fields of expertise including: satellite
data exploitation for hydrometeorological practices, water resources management,
disaster mitigation and others; hydrological modelling using advanced distributedhydrological models; GIS training; and others that all are useful skills in conducting
global change and adaptation research focusing on water cycle. The Project itself willbuild capacity in the field of advanced hydrological modelling, integration data fromvarious sources for IWRM practices using advanced tools, climate change impacts
evaluation and adaptation measures in the participating countries. It will provide an
opportunity for young scientists from countries where meetings will be held toparticipate in these events.
5. Relevance to Policy Processes and Sustainable Development
The GEOSS/AWCI International Coordination Group (ICG) consists of representatives ofwater-related ministries and agencies of participating countries and of international
science communities and space agencies members. The demonstration project
implementation and results will thus be supervised by policy- and decision-makers ofparticipating countries, which will help to mainstream the developed/applied
methodologies into operational IWRM applications in these countries. Throughdeveloping and propagating advanced methodologies for generating information formaking sound water resources management decisions and building capacity in the
IWRM arena the Project contributes to the sustainable development efforts in the region.
6. Administrative support, in-kind contributions and co-funding consideration
The University of Tokyo provides administrative support to GEOSS/AWCI and thus to
the Project through the proponent’s office staff. MEXT, Japan provides the DIAS dataarchiving and integration functions, in-kind service for the project management to
GEOSS/AWCI and thus to the Project, and monetary contribution of US$ 60,000/year.
The University of Tokyo, the United Nations University, JAXA, ICHARM and othercollaborating organizations provide in-kind capacity building support. Each member
country provides in-kind contribution for data management, demonstration project
implementation, and application planning to GEOSS/AWCI and thus to the Project. Eachmember country supports its ICG member’s tasks on data preparation and systemapplication.
7. Relationship between Global Change Research Programmes and Networks
GEOSS/AWCI and the Project interacts with the WCRP GEWEX Coordinated Energy andWater Cycle Observations (CEOP) project through exploitation of the unique integrated
CEOP dataset and data integration functions and through providing in-situ data fromdemonstration project basins to DIAS and thus making it available for CEOP scientificchallenges, in particular CEOP Hydrological Applications Project. The Project work
focusing on assessment of global change impacts on water resources is also compliant
with and contributes to the efforts being undertaken by other core projects such as
IGBP and ESSP.

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Project reference: ARCP2010-10NMY-Koike
River Management System Development in Asia Based on Data Integration and Analysis
System (DIAS) under the GEOSS

8.

Related Research Work
Regional collaborative effort aiming at a river management system that is envisioned by
the Project takes advantage of the achievements of GEOSS/AWCI in: (i) establishing awell coordinated international network of 18 countries in Asia, (ii) data policy
agreement, and (iii) populating the DIAS archive with quality-assured in-situ data fromnominated demonstration river basins. It employs existing data management, data
integration, and information transformation methods and hydrometeorologicalmodelling tools to build up an advanced IWRM support system in participating countries
and promote its utilization in operational applications. As such the Project is incompliance with GEOSS objectives. The relevant reference documents include: The
GEOSS 10-year Implementation Plan and Implementation Plan Reference Document(Feb. 2005); GEOSS AWCI Implementation Plan (Dec. 2007), GEOSS Work Plan 20092011, WA06-07, WA08-01e, DA09-2a (Jan. 2009).

9. Communications, Publications and Open Access to Data
The Project results will be presented at the proposed plenary meetings and otherrelated events as well as posted on the GEOSS/AWCI website. The Project considers
publication of demonstration project results in peer-reviewed journals. Per agreed to
GEOSS/AWCI data policy and the DIAS standards, all the collected and produced data
will be open to public and accessible through the internet.

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Project reference: ARCP2010-10NMY-Koike
River Management System Development in Asia Based on Data Integration and Analysis
System (DIAS) under the GEOSS

Timeline

Appendix 1

Project activities

Year 1 (2010/2011)
From October 2010 to September 2011
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

Preparation for the Kick-off
Meeting; Survey of existing data
schemes
Kick-off plenary meeting;establishing a task team;Distributed hydrological modelingand prediction systemdevelopments; Demonstration
project implementation;
Teleconferences
Progress report to APN
The 1st task team workshop to
ensure the progressContinuing work on development ofan IWRM supporting system;
Demonstration project
implementation; Teleconferences
Date/Venue
October 2010/Tokyo
March 2011/Japan (Tokyo?)

EventKick-off plenary meeting
1st task team workshop

Project activities

Estimated No. of participants
60
30Year 2 (2011/2012)
From October 2011 to September 2012
1

2

3

Continuing work on development ofan IWRM supporting system;
Demonstration project
implementation; Teleconferences
The 2nd plenary meeting: reportingon the demonstration projectprogress and outcomes; and 2nd
task team workshop
Development of dam operation
optimization, climate change
adaptation and decision-making
support methods and tools;
Demonstration project
implementation; Teleconferences
The 3rd task team workshop to
ensure the progressContinuing work on development ofan IWRM supporting system;
Demonstration project
implementation; Teleconferences
The Final Plenary Meeting: final
reports on the outcomes of thedemonstration projects
Final report
APN project and financial reporting

9

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

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Project reference: ARCP2010-10NMY-Koike
River Management System Development in Asia Based on Data Integration and Analysis
System (DIAS) under the GEOSS

Date/Venue
November 2011/ TBD
March 2012/TBD
September 2012/TBD

Event
2nd plenary meeting and2nd task team workshop
3rd task team workshop
Final plenary meeting

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Estimated No. of participants60
3060