Greeting from Director

The fifth medium to long-term plan (hereafter, Fifth-term Plan) of the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) was initiated in April 2020. The Research Institute for Geo-Resources and Environment (GREEN), which is one of the research institutes that belong to AIST, was established as an independent organization in 2001 after major restructuring of former national agencies. As part of the Fifth-term Plan, the mission of GREEN is to undertake “Investigation and research on sustainable utilization and preservation of the geosphere”, with a focus on the following three important research themes:

1. Investigation, research and applications of geo-resources
2. Investigation and research on the utilization and preservation of the geo-environment
3. Development and application of geo-exploration and geo-analytical techniques

The theme, “Development and application of geo-exploration and geo-analytical techniques”, has recently been added to the themes in the Fifth-term Plan. In the Fourth-term Plan, AIST focused extensively on connecting the seeds of technology to actual businesses. GREEN has concentrated on similar research initiatives and, compared to the 2014 fiscal year, has tripled its research budget for the 2019 fiscal year by attracting funding from private companies. One of the factors affecting this increase in funding has been that GREEN effectively identified the needs of private companies and then developed workable solutions to address those needs. Consequently, its importance in addressing the mission of the Fifth-term Plan remains unchanged.

Hiroyuki IMAIZUMI, Directer of GREEN

Overview and Research activities

More generally, the aims of AIST in the Fifth-term Plan include:

1. Solving social challenges,
2. Expanding of bridging research,
3. Establishing fundamental scientific information and
4. Pioneering accomplishments of AIST.

Of these aims, GREEN has formed collaborative partnerships with several research departments to address social challenges and to focus on “Environmental evaluation, recovery and management that aims to harmonize environmental preservation and development/utilization”. In particular, the Geological Survey of Japan (GSJ) is actively involved in this initiative. Moreover, GREEN participates in other collaborative research projects, such as “Development of fundamental techniques for significant reductions in greenhouse gases”, “Development of advanced techniques on mineral resource utilization and system evaluation”, and “Technical development of innovative diagnostic methods for assessing infrastructure integrity and extending infrastructure lifespans to construct sustainable safe-secure society”.

Regarding the aim “Expansion of bridging research”, GREEN has focused on three important research themes in a research project being undertaken by the GSJ titled, “Evaluation of geosphere for aiding industrial utilization”. For the third aim, “Establishment of fundamental scientific information”, GREEN leads “Standardization and implementation of test methods for evaluating contaminated soil” and “Collection and analysis of underground water information and promotion of applications”.

GREEN participates in a variety of other collaborative projects that are outlined in the Fifth-term Plan.

1. Environmental evaluation, recovery and management that aim to harmonize environmental preservation and development/utilization
   In order to harmonize environmental development/utilization and support the activities of industry/society within the context of environmental preservation, and to improve the quality of life of society in general, GREEN has developed a variety of techniques for evaluating, remediating and managing environmental impacts. In this regard, GREEN is focused on research and development in the following areas:
   • Environmental impact assessments associated with the development of natural resources and the recovery and management of contaminated environments in the Geosphere and Biosphere,
   • Preservation of water resources, as well as surveying, analyzing, evaluating and managing environmental impacts associated with the development of natural resources in the marine environment,
   • Environmental monitoring, various kinds of analyses, risk assessments for harmonizing environmental preservation, and resource development/utilization in conjunction with the social sciences.
2. Development of fundamental techniques for significant reductions in greenhouse gases
   In order to achieve the reduction targets for greenhouse gas emissions, GREEN undertakes fundamental research on innovative environmental techniques with international cooperation, and aims to realize a zero-emissions society through empirical studies on renewable energy.
3. Technical development, including an evaluation system, of a high efficiency material-recycling society
   In order to shift from a society based on material consumption to a society based on material recycling, GREEN conducts research on the development and recycling of functional materials, as well as techniques for recycling and evaluating the CO2, NOx etc. that are produced during the fabrication of these fundamental materials.
4. Technical development of innovative diagnostic methods for assessing infrastructure integrity and extend infrastructure lifespan to construct a sustainable and safe-secure society
   GREEN has undertaken to develop innovative techniques for evaluating the integrity and extending the lifespan of infrastructure. These techniques, which were developed in collaboration with the public and private sectors, have been applied to existing infrastructure to benefit society.

Furthermore, GREEN has supported the activities of the Global Zero Emission Research Center, which was established prior to the Fifth-term Plan, by developing CCU/CCS techniques focused on resolving social challenges.

GREEN participates in research on evaluating the geosphere for industrial applications. Practical research topics include the following:

1. Technical development and preparation of relevant information for evaluating of underground resources, such as conventional/unconventional fuel resources, metal/non-metal mineral resources, minerals, geomicrobiological resources, and deep geothermal resources/ground-source heat-pump systems,
2. Technical development and preparation of relevant information for evaluating and assessing geo-environment utilization applications, such as underground disposal and/or storage, and geo-environment preservation of groundwater or soil,
3. Development of geological survey techniques for investigating physical/chemical properties and dating of underground rocks and soils for industrial applications,
4. Standardization of test methods for evaluating contaminated soils and for promoting rational and minimal-impact environmental assessments of soil and water contamination,
5. Publication of groundwater, geological and geoscience maps for terrestrial and marine areas according to intellectual infrastructure plans of the government.