ITS Chapter 3 Chapter 3 Current Situation of ITS in Japan

In Japan, we have been taking on the challenge of ITS in various fields of development. The sections that follow describe ITS works being carried out in the nine fields of development indicated in the implementation guideline.

(1) Advances in Navigation Systems

Since April 1995, VICS (Vehicle Information and Communication System) has been in operation, providing navigation services on public roadways in the capital region, expressways extending from Tokyo to areas within a radius of about 100 kilometers, and the Tomei and Meishin Expressways.

Concerning VICS, improvements are being made to beacons and data processing infrastructure along the expressways nationwide and public roads in major cities. In addition, investigations and studies are being conducted on the recognizability, operability and readability of the navigation equipment to secure safe vehicle operations. Business activities and research and development on navigation systems are being conducted accordingly.

Studies are also being made on how information should be provided to the in-vehicle navigation system to secure safe vehicle operations.

(2) Electronic Toll Collection Systems

Regarding non-stop electronic toll collection system, studies are being conducted on the collection of technical information, test operations and applications for practical use. On the basis of the results of experiments conducted on non-stop electronic toll collection system, discussions are now focusing on technical standards for wireless card systems.

(3) Assistance for Safe Driving

ASV (Advanced Safety Vehicle), in which electronic technologies are applied to make highly intelligent vehicles, will be aggressively pursued to improve road safety. Driver support will include managing situations that are beyond the driver's ability to control by means of various automatic control technologies. Following the presentation of technical guidelines, Japan conducted a demonstration test with a prototype ASV.

Additionally, information and telecommunications technologies are fully utilized for SSVS (Super Smart Vehicle System). Research and development work, including studies of protocols, multiple vehicle identification technologies and vehicle control system interfaces have been conducted.

Research and development and public experiments are being undertaken on danger warning, operation control and automated driving for AHS (Automated Highway Systems), which is intended to provide support for safe driving through provision of information collected from roadside sensors, and use of road-vehicle communications.

Improvements are also being made on related regulations such as institutionalization of a small power millimeter wave radar, which plays an important role in preventing vehicle collisions and in facilitating automated driving control.

(4) Optimization of Traffic Management

Japan is conducting research and development on (1) optimal control algorithms to perform efficient signal control, (2) a system to provide traffic information to in-vehicle equipment, and (3) dynamic route guidance, by considering optimal vehicle allocation by utilizing destination-related information. Research, development, and field tests are being undertaken on signal control methods as well as provision of detour information intended for reducing traffic pollution.

Field tests and demonstrations are also being conducted to verify the practicality of two-way communications between roads and vehicles required for traffic management, as well as of new signal control systems for enhancement of managing capability at intersections.

Additionally, efforts are being made to improve the standards of signal control functions, traffic information collection and the provision functions of traffic control centers across the country.

(5) Increasing Efficiency in Road Management

Japan is conducting test operations of electronic passage permits, and automatic weighing systems for special-purpose vehicles.

Research, development, and deployment work is also being conducted on a system that gathers road surface conditions information, weather and disaster information and accident information required for maintenance and management of roadways by means of sensors and ITV cameras. Work is also proceeding on another system to provide drivers with traffic restriction information by means of message boards, roadside communications (roadside radio broadcasts) and beacons.

Additionally, research and development work is being conducted on a system capable of gathering information on working conditions of road patrol cars and maintenance vehicles. Investigations are being made on the integration of these systems, including the structure of the database, to manage road information.

(6) Support for Public Transport

In order to secure priority passage for public transport vehicles, field experiments are being conducted on priority signal control by utilizing two-way communications with on-board equipment installed on buses, and provision of information on bus locations to the respective bus operators.

Additionally, while progress is being made in making intelligent and information-oriented roads and signals, an overall investigation including studies on subsystems and cost-bearing effectiveness, is being conducted on measures required for structuring an advanced road transport system to include buses and taxis.

(7) Increasing Efficiency in Commercial Vehicle Operations

While progress is being made in making intelligent highways and signals by overlaying them with an information network, a comprehensive survey is being conducted on measures required for structuring an advanced highway transportation system that makes the system available for trucks and other vehicles, including subsystems required and cost-effectiveness involved.

As research and development is underway for building a new freight and fleet management system where vehicles will travel in devoted lanes on a dual mode track, field experiments on automated platooning are being conducted by using two or more vehicles.

Further efforts are being made to improve transport safety and travel management, and discussions are being conducted on enhancement of travel data recording.

(8) Support for Pedestrians

Japan is conducting development work and field tests on improvement of green time adjustment systems for pedestrian signals by using (1) portable pedestrian signal equipment to improve signal control for pedestrians by more appropriately responding to pedestrian behavior and (2) a signal control method incorporating the detection of pedestrians by sensor. Work is also underway on guidance and pedestrian induction methods by using sounds.

In addition, Japan is conducting research and development on proper means of route guidance to improve safety for pedestrians, including the elderly and handicapped, and a system to provide useful travel information to pedestrians.

As a measure for vehicle drivers, a trial is being conducted on a system intended to prevent vehicle-pedestrian collisions by detecting pedestrians that are in the paths of vehicles and by automatically applying the brakes.

(9) Support for Emergency Vehicle Operations

Japan is developing vehicle equipment as part of a system that will include automatic notification to the appropriate emergency centers and other stations in the case of an accident.

Japan is also promoting measures to secure improvement of facilities for mobile communications in tunnels, and continuity of mobile communication services from the viewpoint of information-oriented roads. These measures involve test studies of mobile microwave-band communication technology.


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