| New Serial |
（planned to be posted
until Vol.10 in 2013） |
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| Stream of ITS and Positioning of ITS World Congress |
Making full use of advanced information and communication technologies
(ICT), "ITS（Intelligent Transport Systems" realizes a network
that receives and sends information among the "driver", "highway",
and "vehicle". ITS is a generic name of a new highway transport
systems designed to prevent accidents, mitigate congestion, improve comfort,
save energy, and decrease environmental burdens by optimizing the road
traffic while solving various issues related with the road traffic through
the mechanism of the network.
The beginning of the research on the field of ITS is considered to be
"ERGS" (the Electronic Route Guidance System) in U.S.A. in 1960's.
In Japan, it can be traced back to "CACS" (the Comprehensive
Automobile Traffic Control System) dealt with in 1970's. Later in Japan,
not only the Ministry of Construction, the National Police Agency, Ministry
of International Trade and Industry ,Ministry of Transport, and Ministry
of Posts and Telecommunications at that time, but also joint collaboration
of industry-university or public-private sectors have been promoting diverse
projects and activities in conjunction with ITS.
The above-mentioned five ministries and agencies at that time developed "Comprehensive Plan for ITS in Japan" in 1996. Promotion of ITS ranging widely from roads to traffic, vehicles and information communication was positioned as a national project, which should be jointly dealt with by industries, universities, and governments including the relevant ministries and agencies. 20 services for ITS users were defined and 9 development areas were established. A roadmap from development to practical use and diffusion was also created.
Through the first stage of promoting ITS based on the plan, Japan ITS
Promotion Council provided "Guidelines for promoting ITS" in
2004. Following this, it has shifted to the second stage where ITS promotion
focuses on "safe / security", "environmental friendliness
/ efficiency" and "driving comfort / convenience".
Currently in Japan, under the Strategic Headquarters for the Advanced
Information and Telecommunications Network Society (IT Strategic Headquarters),
4 ministries and government agencies, namely Ministry of Land, Infrastructure,
Transport, and Tourism (MLIT), the National Police Agency, Ministry of
Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), and Ministry of Economy, Trade
and Industry (METI) forms a framework to promote ITS in cooperation with
ITS Japan and ITS Standard Committee.
On the other hand, with regard to ITS, ITS organizations that represent North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific Region respectively promote ITS jointly (North America: ITS America, Europe: ERTICO, Asia-Pacific Region: ITS Japan).
"ITS World Congress" is held as the part of this. It is where
they exchange information from a wide range of viewpoints including technical
development , policies, and market trends. It is designed to create business
chances while solving various traffic issues by promoting diffusion of
ITS. The Congress consists of the symposium as well as events like exhibitions
and showcases.
Since the first Congress was held in Paris, France in 1994, these three
organizations jointly hold the Congress every year in three regions by
turn. In Japan, the second Congress was held in Yokohama in 1995, and the
11th one in Nagoya in 2004.
This year, "The 19th ITS World Congress Vienna 2012" is going to be held in Austria from October 22 to 26. It is decided that next year, in 2013, the 20th Congress will be held in Tokyo.
| Leading ITS Promotion in Japan from a Viewpoint of Private Sector, in collaboration
with the Nation |
ITS Japan takes representative position on the private side in ITS promotion in Japan. It takes neutral stance for the relevant ministries and agencies, and plays an important part in ITS-related activities, such as in "ITS promotion council" constituted of relevant ministries and agencies and representatives of the industries, and "Task Force on ITS" established at the ITS strategy headquarters.
According to the Web site of ITS Japan, it is January, 1994 that its forerunner, VERTIS (Vehicle, Road and Traffic Intelligence Society) was founded as a voluntary association. This was organized after decision of holding "the 2nd ITS World Congress Yokohama 1995", as mentioned above, with assistance of five ITS-concerned ministries and agencies (at that time). Research and development of the field of ITS and promotion to put ITS to practical use were set as its aim.
Since its foundation, while acting as the secretariat of Japan and the Asia-Pacific Region for the ITS World Congress, it has been conducting ITS promotional and educational activities as well as providing its members with information in Japan. Meanwhile, VERTIS was renamed to current "ITS Japan" in June, 2001.
In addition, partly because of requests from industries, it reexamined its new role. Toward implementation of three future visions (zero-traffic-fatality space, zero-congestion space, and driving-comfort space), it set up its goals including creating a livable society through the diffusion of ITS and contribution to industrial development. Its missions include the following three:
- Provide Proposals on ITS as a private representative and support for implementation of business,
- Promote studies on ITS fields and incubation through partnership with academia,
- Hold attractive world congress.
Along with these missions were depicted the basic stances as follows:
- Promote organic partnership among industries, ministries, as well as industries-governments-universities while maintaining neutrality to the relevant ministries and agencies as a representative of the private sector,
- Aim to realize the basic concept from a viewpoint of an ordinary citizen.
ITS Japan obtained certification of Specified nonprofit corporation in 2005. Currently cooperating with the relevant agencies of mobility and transport etc., it conducts a variety of projects, such as promoting development/diffusion/practical use of ITS, holding events like symposiums and forums related with international exchange, and publishing reports and English journals.
"ITS World Congress" is one of these activities. As mentioned above, following the Congress to be held in Vienna in the autumn of this year, "The 20th ITS World Congress Tokyo 2013" is going to be held from October 14 to 18 in 2013. The theme of the Tokyo Congress is "Open ITS to the Next." It is expected that this will help people get interested more in ITS and understand the trend of ITS of the next generation and the advanced efforts in and outside of the country.
FORUM8 Co., Ltd. is a supporting member of ITS Japan
and has been participating in ITS International Conference since ITS San Francisco, 2005. |
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| Top page: ITS Japan |
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Page of the international positioning of ITS Japan |
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Schedule towards
"ITS World Congress Tokyo 2013" |
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Page of the ITS World Congress |
(Written by Takashi Ikeno)
*Images provided by ITS Japan. This article is written with permission
of ITS Japan. |
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