On behalf of Geological Survey of Japan (GSJ), National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), I would like to welcome all the participants to the 6^th Asia Pacific Meeting on Near Surface Geoscience and Engineering incorporating the 15^th SEGJ International Symposium in Tsukuba, Japan.

Tsukuba City has developed as research and academic city, which fosters both the convenience of the metropolitan area and the natural richness of the countryside. By clustering research institutes, different specialized fields and cultures can intersect, creating synergistic effects such as creating new knowledge and technologies. Needless to say, these are sources of innovation. This circumstance in Tsukuba must be good influence to let the Symposium a complete success.

Among many national institutions, AIST has continued its research toward realizing a sustainable society by introducing technologies to solve social challenges and generate economic development, all under the slogan, “technology to society.” GSJ boasts the longest history in the seven research departments of AIST and has developed its ability and skills in geosciences. GSJ's objectives to contribute to resource ensuring safety, environmental conservation and utilization, and disaster mitigation and prevention aims to resolve issues and problems in our society.

“Near Surface” is an important research subject for GSJ as well. This is because the Near Surface contains various infrastructures that support our social activities and daily lives. A huge earthquake occurred at the Noto Peninsula last January, and considerable damage is still ongoing. One of the reasons for this is that infrastructure such as water, gas, and electricity have not been restored. Deformation and liquefaction of the ground have also had a fatal impact. This shows that for the resilience of our society, proper understanding of the properties of the near-surface geology is indispensable for the construction of sustainable and sound infrastructure, also providing essential intellectual information for disaster prevention and mitigation of these infrastructures from opposite viewpoint. From this perspective, it is very meaningful for GSJ that the International Meeting on Near Surface Geoscience and Engineering is held here in Tsukuba.