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Intelligent Transportation Systems and Winter Operations In Japan
FHWA International Technology Exchange Programs

September 2003

 


Click on a link below to go a specific topic in this section:
Address Information
Notice
Technical Report Documentation
Study Team
FHWA International Technology Exchange Programs
International Technology Scanning Program: Bringing Global Innovations to U.S. Highways
Abbreviations and Acronyms

GENERAL REPORT INFORMATION

U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration
International Technology Exchange International Technology Exchange Program

Office of International Programs
FHWA/US DOT (HPIP)
400 Seventh Street, SW
Washington, DC 20590
Tel: 202-366-9636
Fax: 202-366-9626
international@fhwa.dot.gov
www.international.fhwa.dot.gov

Publication No. FHWA-PL-03-016
HPIP/09-03(5M)EW

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NOTICE

The contents of this report reflect the views of the authors, who are responsible for the facts and accuracy of the data presented herein. The contents do not necessarily reflect the official policy of the Department of Transportation.

The metric units reported are those used in common practice by the persons interviewed. They have not been converted to pure SI units because in some cases, the level of precision implied would have been changed.

The United States Government does not endorse products or manufacturers. Trademarks or manufacturers' names appear herein only because they are considered essential to the document.

The publication of this document was sponsored by the U.S. Federal Highway Administration under contract number DTFH61-99-C00005. awarded to American Trade Initiatives, Inc. Any opinions, options, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Government, the authors' parent institutions, or American Trade Initiatives, Inc.

This report does not constitute a standard, specification, or regulation.

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Technical Report Documentation

1. Report No.
FHWA-PL-03-016
2. Government Accession No. 3. Recipient's Catalog No.
4. Title and Subtitle
Intelligent Transportation Systems and Winter Operations in Japan
5. Report Date
September 2003
6. Performing Organization Code
7. Author(s)
Paul Pisano, Richard Nelson, Robert Blackburn, Steven Brandau, Diana Clonch, Joseph Doherty, David Jones, Carl Kain, Paul Lariviere, Gregory Mandt, James McCarthy, Wilfrid Nixon, Daniel Roosevelt
8. Performing Organization Report No. 9. Performing Organization Name and Address
American Trade Initiatives
P.O. Box 8228
Alexandria, VA 22306-8228
10. Work Unit No.(TRAIS) 11. Contract or Grant No.
DTFH61-99-C-0005
12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address
Office of International Programs
Office of Policy
Federal Highway Administration
U.S. Department of Transportation
13. Type of Report and Period Covered 14. Sponsoring Agency Code 15. Supplementary Notes
FHWA COTR: Hana Maier, Office of International Programs

16. Abstract
U.S. transportation agencies seek to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of winter maintenance operations by developing advanced systems and equipment. The Federal Highway Administration, American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, and National Cooperative Highway Research Program sponsored a scanning study of Japan to investigate advanced technologies for winter maintenance operations and implementation of those advances in Japan’s intelligent transportation system (ITS) architecture.

The U.S. delegation visited Hokkaido, Japan, to review advances in winter operations procedures, winter maintenance equipment development, and road weather data collection. The team also observed that significant advances are being made in Japan on improving communication systems and protocols used between road weather information system sensors and operations centers.

The scanning team’s recommendations for U.S. application include testing several advanced winter maintenance vehicle systems, investigating integration of weather-related information into ITS corridors, developing performance-based standards for winter maintenance, and establishing a data-sharing project involving the National Weather Service and transportation agencies.

17. Key Words
Winter maintenance operations, intelligent transportation system, advanced maintenance vehicle system, road weather information system, maintenance decision support system
18. Distribution Statement
No restrictions. This document is available to the public from the
Office of International Programs
FHWA-HPIP, Room 3325
US Dept. of Transportation
Washington, DC 20590
international@fhwa.dot.gov
www.international.fhwa.dot.gov
19. Security Classif. (of this report)
Unclassified
20. Security Classif. (of this page)
Unclassified
21. No. of Pages
58
22. Price
Free
Form DOT F 1700.7 (8-72) Reproduction of completed page authorized

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Intelligent Transportation Systems And Winter Operations In Japan
Prepared by the International Scanning Study Team:

Paul Pisano
FHWA
Co-Chair
Diana Clonch
City of Columbus, Ohio
Paul Lariviere
FHWA
Richard Nelson
Nevada DOT
Co-Chair
Joseph Doherty
New York State DOT
Gregory Mandt
National Weather Service
Robert Blackburn
Blackburn and Associates
Report Facilitator
David Jones
Idaho Transportation Dept.
James McCarthy
FWHA
Steven Brandau
Henry County, Illinois,
Highway Dept.
Carl Kain
Mitretek Systems, Inc.
Wilfrid Nixon
University of Iowa
Daniel Roosevelt
Virginia DOT
 
 

and
American Trade Initiatives, Inc.
&
LGB & Associates, Inc.
for the
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)
U.S. Department of Transportation
and
The American Association of State Highway and
Transportation Officials
and
The National Cooperative Highway Research Program
(Panel 20-36)
of the Transportation Research Board
September 2003

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FHWA INTERNATIONAL TECHNOLOGY EXCHANGE PROGRAMS

The Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) Technology Exchange Program accesses and evaluates innovative foreign technologies and practices that could significantly benefit U.S. highway transportation systems. This approach allows for advanced technology to be adapted and put into practice much more efficiently without spending scarce research funds to recreate advances already developed by other countries.

The main channel for accessing foreign innovations is the International Technology Scanning Program. The program is undertaken jointly with the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) and its Special Committee on International Activity Coordination in cooperation with the Transportation Research Board's National Cooperative Highway Research Program Project 20-36 "Highway Research and Technology - International Information Sharing," the private sector and academia.

FHWA and AASHTO jointly determine priority topics for teams of U.S. experts to study. Teams in the specific areas being investigated are formed and sent to countries where significant advances and innovations have been made in technology, management practices, organizational structure, program delivery, and financing. Scan teams usually include representatives from FHWA, State Departments of Transportation, local governments, transportation trade and research groups, the private sector, and academia.

After a scan is completed, team members evaluate findings and develop comprehensive reports, including recommendations for further research and pilot projects to verify the value of adapting innovations for United States use. Scan reports, as well as the results of pilot programs and research, are circulated throughout the country to State and local transportation officials and the private sector. Since 1990, FHWA has organized more than 50 international scans and disseminated findings nationwide on topics such as pavements, bridge construction and maintenance, contracting, intermodal transport, organizational management, winter road maintenance, safety, intelligent transportation systems, planning and policy.

The International Technology Scanning Program has resulted in significant improvements and savings in road program technologies and practices throughout the United States. In some cases, scan studies have facilitated joint research and technology sharing projects with international counterparts, further conserving resources and advancing the state of the art. Scan studies have also exposed transportation professionals to remarkable advancements and inspired implementation of hundreds of innovations. The result: large savings of research dollars and time, as well as significant improvements in the nation's transportation system.

For a complete list of International Technology Scanning topics and to order free copies of the reports, please see the list contained in this publication, as well as: Website: www.international.fhwa.dot.gov or Email: international@fhwa.dot.gov

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International Technology Scanning Program: Bringing Global Innovations to U.S. Highways

Safety
Managing and Organizing Comprehensive Highway Safety in Europe (2003)
European Road Lighting Technologies (2001)
Commercial Vehicle Safety Technology and Practice in Europe (2000)
Innovative Traffic Control Technology and Practice in Europe (1999)
Road Safety Audits - Final Report and Case Studies (1997)
Speed Management and Enforcement Technology: Europe and Australia (1996)
Safety Management Practices in Japan, Australia and New Zealand (1995)
Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety in England, Germany and the Netherlands (1994)

Planning and Environment
European Right-of-Way and Utilities Best Practices (2002)
Wildlife Habitat Connectivity Across European Highways (2002)
Sustainable Transportation Practices in Europe (2001)
National Travel Surveys (1994)
European Intermodal Programs: Planning, Policy and Technology (1994)

Policy and Information
European Practices in Transportation Workforce Development (2003)
Emerging Models for Delivering Transportation Programs and Services (1999)
Acquiring Highway Transportation Information from Abroad (1994)
International Guide to Highway Transportation Information (1994)

Operations
Freight Transportation: The Latin American Market (2003)
Intelligent Transportation Systems and Winter Operations in Japan (2003)
Traveler Information Systems in Europe (2003)
Meeting 21st Century Challenges of System Performance Through Better Operations (2003)
Freight Transportation: The European Market (2002)
Methods and Procedures to Reduce Motorist Delays in European Work Zones (2000)
European Winter Service Technology (1998)
European Traffic Monitoring (1997)
Traffic Management and Traveler Information Systems (1997)
Snowbreak Forest Book - Highway Snowstorm Countermeasure Manual (Translated from Japanese) (1996)
Winter Maintenance Technology and Practices - Learning from Abroad (1995)
Advanced Transportation Technology (1994)

Infrastructure-General
Contract Administration: Technology and Practice in Europe (2002)
Geometric Design Practices for European Roads (2001)
International Contract Administration Techniques for Quality Enhancement (1994)

Infrastructure-Pavements
Pavement Preservation Technology in France, South Africa and Australia (2002)
Recycled Materials In European Highway Environments (2000)
South African Pavement and Other Highway Technologies and Practices (1997)
Highway/Commercial Vehicle Interaction (1996)
European Concrete Highways (1992)
European Asphalt Technology (1990)

Infrastructure-Bridges
Performance of Concrete Segmental and Cable-Stayed Bridges in Europe (2001)
Steel Bridge Fabrication Technologies in Europe & Japan (2001)
European Practices for Bridge Scour and Stream Instability Countermeasures (1999)
Geotechnical Engineering Practices in Canada and Europe (1999)
Advanced Composites in Bridges in Europe and Japan (1997)
Asian Bridge Structures (1997)
Bridge Maintenance Coatings (1997)
Northumberland Strait Crossing Project (1996)
European Bridge Structures (1995)
Geotechnology - Soil Nailing (1992)

All publications are available on the Internet at www.international.fhwa.dot.gov

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Abbreviations and Acronyms

AASHTO American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials
AHS advanced cruise-assist highway system
APWA American Public Works Association
ATI American Trade Initiatives
ATIS advanced traveler information system
AVL automated vehicle location
CCTV closed-circuit television
CERI Civil Engineering Research Institute
DEC Hokkaido Development Engineering Center
DMS dynamic message system
DOT Department of Transportation
ESS environmental sensor station
ETC electronic toll collection
FHWA Federal Highway Administration
GPS global positioning system
HAR highway advisory radio
HRDB Hokkaido Regional Development Bureau
ITS intelligent transportation systems
JHPC Japan Highway Public Corporation
JMA Japan Meteorological Association
JWA Japan Weather Association
LED light-emitting delineator
MDSS maintenance decision support system
MICOS meteorological information comprehensive on-line service
NACE National Association of County Engineers
NWS National Weather Service
PC personal computer
PIARC Permanent International Association of Road Congresses
PSA public service announcement
R&D research and development
RWIS road weather information systems
RWML Road Web Markup Language
SICOP Snow and Ice Pooled Fund Cooperative Program
SIRWEC Standing International Road Weather Commission
SNET Sapporo Information Network
STIP scan technology implementation plan
U.S. United States
VAMS value-added meteorological service
VICS vehicle information and communications system
WAP wireless application protocol
XML eXtensible Markup Language

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Page last modified on November 7, 2014
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