Antarctic Operation Center
The Antarctic Operation Center (AOC) made a start on April 1, 2004 according as NIPR was established by the Inter-University Research Institute Corporation as a Research Organization of Information and Systems. The tasks of AOC are 1) planning and arrangement of Antarctic research plans of medium range, 2) logistic support to the Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition (JARE) and discussing environmental and safety measures involved with JARE and 3) promoting the efficiency, automation and remote-controlling of basic observations in JARE.
The activity of AOC was started under the framework that the tasks of AOC were constituted as a rule of NIPR and individual role of each interlocking staff was designated. Especially, we will deal with several action items aggressively which lead to the fruitful goal “Hopeful Future of Antarctic Research” indicated by the director-general of NIPR. Because AOC’s activity is in its infancy, the activity should be evaluated after a lapse of several years.
A new style of Antarctic research is required at the opportunity of actual service of the new icebreaker after Shirase. At the same time, AOC is also required to change its organization for efficient operation of JARE in its new age. Integration of AOC and a part of the office of administration is planed to construct a new efficient and vital organization for conducting Antarctic research in following generation.
