With the development of information and communication technology (ICT), various applications of information technology have been developed in the human, social, and natural sciences. Now, such studies have coalesced as “informatics”, which has developed as a wide-ranging interdisciplinary study.
On the other hand, area studies are the holistic discipline that comprises all fields of study, such as the natural environment, human ecology, sociology, history, culture, economics, and politics. However, area studies have accumulated insufficient case studies, experience, and study results related to informatics, although some pioneer studies have actively applied geographical information systems (GIS) and remote sensing (RS). We need to develop future research activities to the end that informatics can show new methods and findings to area studies, and informatics itself can be developed further through the application of information technology to area studies.
Considering the present state of informatics and area studies, this session will gather case studies and research findings that apply ICT. This session aims to deepen the discussion on the creation of this new discipline through the exchange of experience and to lead to collaboration and harmonization between area studies and informatics.
This session is a joint symposium with the “GIS-IDEAS 2006 International Conference”, which will be held at Vietnam National University. This is the first interactive videoconference involving Kyoto University and Ho Chi Minh City through the Internet.
|
(25Kb)
