Unlike disaster management, environmental monitoring has no real trigger to start something new. Its scope is the normal (non-disaster) situation, and its operations are strongly connected with each country’s regulations and routine tasks. SAFE prototype activity aims to strengthen environmental monitoring in member countries. The activities are implemented by a project team that consists of the prototyping executor, the technical supporter, and the data and application creator. The project team members work together to support the environmental monitoring system in each member country. The team can ask other SAFE members to support their activities, and the members should react to the team’s request. To ease barriers to start-up, the first stage of prototype activity is limited to two years. At the end of the first stage, the joint project team will consider follow-up activity with other SAFE members.

At APRSAF-15 in Hanoi, four issues to be considered prototypes were discussed. It was recommended that new prototypes may be applicable to these categories, and that other topics should not be excluded. The four prototypes were integrated water-resources management; glacier shrinkage and potential danger of glacier lake bursts; agriculture and forestry; and ocean environment, coastal process, and sea level rises.

SAFE prototype activity will be promoted by the voluntary project team members for each subject, and SAFE will encourage them by giving the authority for official SAFE activity. Below Figure is a flow chart for the launching of a new prototype activity.

Any member may make a proposal. Members should consider the purpose, the resources, the schedule, and their partners. The ideal situation is to finish establishing an original project scheme in this phase. However, the proposer may ask other SAFE members to join the proposal in phases 2 and 3.

Members make proposals through the portal. They may ask other members to support the project.

All members should consider how to support the submitted proposal. As the SAFE secretariat, JAXA coordinates the team-building. The project team should be organized before the annual SAFE WS.

At the annual SAFE WS, the project team should pass a peer review, which is organized by assigned reviewers approved by SAFE members. However, only at the first SAFE WS will the SAFE secretariat endorse the reviewers.

After passing the peer review, the project will be authorized as an official SAFE activity. The project team can request support from other SAFE members to promote the prototype. Also, as the SAFE secretariat, JAXA will assist in their activity. At the same time, the project team should report the status of the activity to other SAFE members through SAFE WS and/or the SAFE portal.