Research Trends and Results

Measures for more efficient and secure logistics
MIZUTANI Masahiro, HeadSATOMURA Daiki, Senior Researcher
Disaster and Emergency Management Division, Coastal Marine and Disaster Prevention
Department(Key words) International logistics, security inspections, logistics information
1. Introduction
In response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks ofSeptember 11, 2001, in 2004 the revised SOLAS
Convention came into force and the Act on theAssurance of Security of International Ships and Port
Facilities took effect.
And the United States began to demand thatexporting countries perform 100% cargo security
inspections, resulting in fear that meeting therequirements of such strengthened security could slow
down logistics.
As a result of the internationalization of industry on
the other hand, the impacts of any interruption or
slow-down of economic activities by terrorism or alarge-scale disaster will have wide repercussions, andthere is now a demand that economic activities indisaster regions be quickly restored.
So our division has conducted research to clarify
trends and characteristics of new security technologies
capable of responding to the increasingly strict
security requirements, to develop methods ofpredicting the slow-down of logistics by strengthening
inspections and of evaluating countermeasures, and tocreate logistics information systems, which will be one
tool for speeding up action to restore economies after
disasters.
2. Trends and characteristics of security measuretechnologies
We collected information about overseas emergency
response programs, and at the same time, clarified new
X-ray inspection technologies capable of discovering
hazardous substances including non-metals hidden incontainers as container cargo inspection technologies,
and identification technologies to deter suspicious
people.
3．Development of logistics slow-down prediction
and countermeasure evaluation methods
It is feared that strengthening logistics security
inspections will increase gate waiting time, causing
congestion of trailers.
So we conducted a field survey to clarify the actual
situation and performed numerical simulations thatcan represent and evaluate the situation. The change ofwaiting time caused by longer inspections was also
numerically simulated, showing that if inspection timeincreases, it will be impossible to deliver all cargoes topiers. A numerical simulation confirmed that it would
be possible to handle the cargoes by changing present
specialized lanes into multi-purpose lanes as acountermeasure.

Photo. View of vehicles waiting for a gate to open
Approximately 300 vehicles are waiting
4. Internationalization of logistics information
systems
It is necessary to clarify the state of logistics at
normal times in order to promptly takecountermeasures when an international logistics
network has been disrupted by a disaster or byterrorism.
Logistics information systems are now being built
around the world, but it would be beneficial to build
an information network linking nations and able todeal with international supply chains. So we arecooperating with administrative bodies in theconstruction of container logistics information
networks linking countries.
5. Conclusions
At this time, the internationalization of
manufacturing etc. has given international logistics
networks an important role in the international
economy, and any slow-down of logistics could slow
down international economic activities.
So technologies that can be used to smooth logistics
are becoming increasingly important, and we willconduct research to create more efficient security

countermeasures and logistics.
[Sources]
TECHNICAL NOTE of NILIM
695http://www.nilim.go.jp/lab/bcg/siryou/tnn/tnn0695.h
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