It is my great honor and pleasure to welcome all of you to take part in the International Conference on Earth Observations and Social Impacts (ICEO&SI). This conference is jointly hosted by National Taiwan University (NTU, Department of Geography) and Taiwan Group on Earth Observations, also known as TGEO. On behalf of TGEO, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to NTU (Department of Geography) for the excellent preparation of the program, venue and many festive activities. Meanwhile, I appreciate very much the sponsors of the ICEO&SI, who make it possible for gathering us here. Last but not the least, I appreciate all of the participants who make the gathering meaningful and fruitful.

     After ICEO&SI 2011, TGEO has reached several significant achievements by signing the Memorandum of Understanding with The Mongolian National Society of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (MNSPRS) in 2011, and officially becoming a member of the Asia Pacific Water Forum (APWF), obtaining the sponsorship of International Association of Geodesy for ICEO&SI, and appointing distinguished scholars as our society advisors, including NCKU President Hwung-Hweng Hwung, NCKU professor Ching-Liang Tseng, NYUST President Academician Yeong-Bin Yang, Former NCU President Academician Lou-Chuang Lee and Former NTU VP Professor George Tai-Jen Chen, in 2012. Making such a great step in international relationship, TGEO continues to bring you ICEO&SI which will simultaneously address nine areas of critical importance to the sustainability of global environment and societal welfare; including Natural Disasters, Health, Energy, Climate Change, Ecosystems, Agriculture, Biodiversity, Water Resources, and Meteorology. These issues are of great concern of people, governments, and private sectors, as well as the Group on Earth Observations.

     It is my vision and expectation that TGEO will support ICEO&SI as a great platform for the scientific leaders from all over the world to discuss and exchange innovative ideas to advance the crucial knowledge, techniques and solutions for human beings. I am glad to announce that ICEO&SI will be jointly held by National Chen Kung University in 2013, and by National Yunlin University of Science and Technology in 2014. With the success of these meetings, it is foreseeable that TGEO will sustain her contributions to our society, our country, and the globe.

     Finally, on behalf of TGEO, I hereby express my wholehearted thanks to all the organizers and everyone who contributes efforts to this conference. Furthermore, I wish all the participants a very pleasant stay at this fantastic city Taipei, and overall success of the ICEI-SI 2012.

     It is my great honor and pleasure to welcome all of you to take part in the International Conference on Earth Observations and Social Impacts (ICEO&SI). This conference is jointly hosted by National Taiwan University (NTU, Department of Geography) and Taiwan Group on Earth Observations, also known as TGEO. On behalf of TGEO, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to NTU (Department of Geography) for the excellent preparation of the program, venue and many festive activities. Meanwhile, I appreciate very much the sponsors of the ICEO&SI, who make it possible for gathering us here. Last but not the least, I appreciate all of the participants who make the gathering meaningful and fruitful.