Collection of summaries of WAVE studies and research(Fiscal 2003)

October 2004

Waterfront Vitalization and Environment Research Center

Major studies conducted by WAVE are described below.
I Studies and research projects concerning port policy, planning andinformation(Studies on port policy)
Improvement of physical distribution efficiency
Fiscal year
when study

Study

Study outline

wasconducted

Nationwide study of transport of

The transport of containers for foreign trade has

imported and exported containers

been(Budget and Accounts Division,changes according to the industrial structure orLand,

socioeconomic conditions. Improving container

InfrastructureandTransport Minister's Secretariat)

undergoing

quantitative

andqualitativetransport systems is extremely important to Japan
as foreign trade has been accelerating the economic
growth of the country and serving as a backbone of2003

the livelihood of the people. The facts about theflow of containers for foreign trade should begrasped in greater detail.
In this study, against the above background, theflow of containers for export and import wasinvestigated simultaneously throughout the country.
Similar investigations were also conducted in 1970,
1972, 1974, 1978, 1985, 1989, 1993 and 1998.

Study for promoting the use of

In this study, aimed at enhancing container

wide-area container managementtransport through the ports under the control of thesystems

Tohoku(Tohoku Regional Development

examinations were made of how to reinforce the

Bureau)wide-area container management website and how
2003

Regional

Development

Bureau,to operate the website in the future with a view toencouraging the use of ports under the control ofthe bureau.
This study focused on the functional refinement of
the "experimental website for Tohoku wide-area
container management system" built in fiscal 2002.

1

Study on the physical distribution

Automobile manufacturers have recently beenof finished vehicles through theincreasing distribution efficiency to enhance theirports under the control of thecost competitiveness. Ports should therefore be

bureauimproved on a timely basis to meet such move

(Tohoku Regional Development

toward cost reduction and the manufacturers

Bureau)should be encourage to make more use of ports.
Flow of used cars has been increasing over a wide
area with the maturing of used car markets, andthe automobile recycling law has been enforced.
2003

The ports in the Tohoku area should therefor be
improved to strategically handle used cars.
This study was conducted against the above
background to grasp the conditions of transport ofentire cars (new and used motor vehicles
transported for sale, repair or disposal) in the
Tohoku area. Studies were made to adequately
review physical distribution for cost reduction.

Study for physical distribution

This study was conducted following anotherinfrastructure development andstudy of last fiscal year concerning the regional

regional

coordination for international distribution of

coordination

in

the

containers. Studies were made this fiscal year as to

Hokuriku area
(Hokuriku
Development Bureau)

Regional

2003

how to coordinate among the regions throughout
the Tohoku area for domestic physical distribution.
Methods for infrastructure development andregional coordination that are important to theenhancement of the convenience of domestic
distribution were reviewed.

2

Study for increasing physicalThis study was conducted using the budget for

distribution efficiency to reduce

promoting regional revitalization for fiscal 2003.

distribution costs

The objectives were to examine the methods for(Hokuriku

Regional

reducing the cost of international physicalDevelopment Bureau)

distribution in the areas under the direct control ofthe Hokuriku Regional Development Bureau
through cooperative efforts of the stakeholders inthe Hokuriku and Shinetsu areas, and to reduce thephysical distribution cost throughout the country
by disseminating information on cooperative
methods nationwide for respective regions toactively use and implement them.
2003

Statistics on international containers such as
those obtained in the nationwide study of transportofimported

andexported

containers

wereorganized. Cargo owners and physical distributors
were requested to respond to questionnaires andinterviewed

toidentify

international

physicalthe

conditions

distribution

and

of
the

obstacles to cost reduction. This study revealed
that the ports on the Pacific coast in particularwere used for handling imported cargoes and thatusing the ports in the Hokuriku and Shinetsu areas
could

reducethetotaltransport

cost

by

approximately 26%. Then, an action program wasreviewed to encourage the use of local ports.
Study for building a system ofThis study was conducted according to the Basictransport of used materials andLaw on Establishing a Recycling-Based Society

waste in the Chugoku area

promulgated in fiscal 2000 to identify the(Chugoku Regional Development
Bureau)2003

approach to the transport of used materials andwaste in the Chugoku area, and reviewed the needof building a system of transport of used materials
and waste and the role that the system should play.

3

Efficient port improvement, use and management
Fiscal year
Studywhen study

Study outline

wasconducted

Study for restoring passenger

This study aimed at seeking methods forterminals

restoring passenger terminals left idle due to the(Shikoku Regional Development

restructuring or discontinuation of ferry or

Bureau)passenger liner services in recent years. Data werecollected mainly on the inner ports under the2003

control of the Shikoku Regional Development
Bureau including Tokushima-Komatsushima Portand case study analysis was made to compile acollection of examples of restoration of ports withsimilar problems.

4Long-term vision and regional development
Fiscal year
when study

Study

Study outline

wasconducted

Long-term

port

improvement

The ports in Akita have been serving various

plans in Akita prefecture

purposes as the land-sea node for transporting goods(Tohoku Regional Development

and people in and outside the country, as the places

Bureau)of production activities of industries leading theregional economy, as the places of employment andas the bases for communication between people andthe sea.
The circumstances of Japan have been changing
greatly as seen in the globalization of economy andsociety, digitization, tight public finance due topopulation decline, diversification of people's values
and emergence of global environmental problems.
The "Vision for the ports of Akita" is a basis for the
implementation of the "Vision for the ports in the
Tohoku area" (developed by the Ministry of Land,
Infrastructure and Transport in 2002), and also takes
2003

the "Akita 21 comprehensive plan" (developed by
the Akita prefectural government in 2000) into
consideration. The "Vision for the ports of Akita"
intends to present a basic policy concerning the rolesof five ports in Akita, namely Akita, Funakawa,
Noshiro, Toga and Honjo Ports, in the transport ofgoods and people and the uses of the respective
ports.
A working group for developing the vision for the
ports of Akita (secretariat in Akita Port Office,Tohoku Regional Development Bureau, Ministry ofLand,

Infrastructure

Construction

and

and

Transport

Transport

andDivision,

the
Akita

prefectural government) played a central role indefining the "Vision for the ports of Akita" byinviting the views of academic experts, businesspeople and port users in the meetings of intellectuals
or in regional forums.

5Urban development centering on the port and private involvement
Fiscal year
when study

Study

Study outline

wasconducted
portThis study focused on the role of ports as "space

improvement using the attraction

for regional exchange" in addition to distribution orof the Seto Inland Sea

industrial roles. The objective was to develop a port

(Kagawa prefectural government)

vision contributing to the revitalization of coastal

Study

for

planning

areas in Kagawa prefecture through the use of theattraction of the Seto Inland Sea.
In last fiscal year, the conditions of the ports in
Kagawaprefecture

wereanalyzed

andquestionnaires were distributed to local residents
concerning the use of ports. In this fiscal year,
improvement plans (draft) were developed for the
2003

ports designated as Umi-no-Eki (seaside rest areas),
nodes in a cruising network. Based on the above
result, "Vision for the ports of Kagawa" wasdeveloped with the basic idea of developing ports
for exchange to provide access to the nature andculture of the Seto Inland Sea.
This study identified the port improvement policyof Kagawa Prefecture for the next decade. Ten pilot
projects were proposed to achieve basic goal 1,"portdevelopmentfor

promotingurbandevelopment centering on the port", a key objectiveof the vision.

6

OtherFiscal year
when study

Study

Study outline

wasconducted

Study for promoting tourism inThis study aimed at collecting data on theports

examples of promotion of tourism in ports and(Budget and Accounts Division,

obtaining basic data and knowledge about tourism

Land,

promotion measures to be taken in the future.

InfrastructureandTransport Minister's Secretariat)

Tourism will be promoted in ports in coordination
with the move of the central government forbuilding a tourist country, the "visit Japan"
2003

campaign being executed by the Ministry of Land,
Infrastructure and Transport, and the efforts tocreate space for tourism and exchange.
In the study, data were analyzed on the promotionof cruising and industrial tourism, an emerging typeof tourism, referred to at the Northeast Asia Port
Authority Directors' Conference held in 2004
through 2006.

Study on hands-on learning inThis study examined the ways for children toports in Tokyo Bay

prepare(KantoRegional

Development

textbooks

on

their

own

for

the

comprehensive studies of ports during the "hours

Bureau)forcomprehensive

studies"recommended

according to the new official guidelines forschoolteaching. Children used to receive numerous
pamphlets when they had a tour of a port. In the2003

future, materials will be prepared to enable children
to learn about ports or waterfront areas using apersonal computer under certain themes, and to
confirm what they have learned during the field
tour. This study aimed at developing a "systemuseful for preliminary studies" to achieve the above
goal, identifying the effects of the system andhelping increase the understanding of ports andenlightening children on ports.

7

Study for improving a historicThis study checked the possibility of improving

port in Naha

Naha Port using the historic heritage in the Naha

(Naha

Port

Construction

andAirportpier area as part of the creation of bustling space for

Office,Okinawa

exchange. The objective was to contribute to theGeneral Bureau)development of a historic port improvement planthat was scheduled for the next fiscal year.
In the study, the historic value of the Naha pierarea was identified. The possibility of improving ahistoric port in the area was reviewed based on the
public

2003

views

and

improvement.

Then,requirements
problemsfortheinvolved

in

implementing the plan and corrective measuresrequired were identified.
As a result of the study, it was found that the Nahapier area with Miegusuku and Omonogusuku, portmonuments of the medieval age, was of particularlyhigh historic value. It was also noted that a historic
port could be developed using the heritage,achieving coordination with the redevelopment of
the Naha pier area specified in the Naha Port
improvement plan, and that signs should beinstalled to present the historic heritage of the areaand historic port environment creation projects
should be implemented.

8Planning and investigation projects
Creation of comprehensive port space
Fiscal year
when study

Study

Study outline

wasconducted

Study for establishing a major

In order to establish a major wide-area disasterwide-area

prevention base in Kawasaki Port, a committee

disasterprevention

composed of academic experts and officials of thebase in Kawasaki Port
(Keihin

Port

Office,central

Kanto

Regional Development Bureau)

2003

government

andmunicipalities

held

meetings three times to identify basic conditions,defined basic ideas during a disaster and undernormal conditions, and developed a basic design. A
disaster prevention forum was held to help the
public have better understanding of the project.

9

area

This study was conducted based on the results ofimprovement in Beppu Port forcoastal area improvement in Beppu Port (in thefiscal 2003

Mochigahama, Shoningahama and Kitahama areas)

Study(BeppuforPort

coastal

Office,that had been carried out up to the last fiscal year by

KyushutheRegional Development Bureau)

publicimprovement

involvement

method.

plan

also

was

A detailed

developed

andlandscaping measures were reviewed for the
Mochigahama area.
A landscape study team was formed to develop an
improvement plan paying attention to the use of theport and landscaping. Views were exchanged with aseparately established technical study team toensure technical compatibility in terms of the shapeand location of facilities and cross sectional
2003

structure. At the workshops held simultaneouslywith the above measures involving the local
residents,

agreementwasreachedtobuildconsensus.
As a result of this study, outlines of plans were
defined for constructing coastal facilities in the
Mochigahama area in a project under the directcontrol of the bureau and for protecting theenvironment (greening the ports) by the Oita
prefectural government. In the process, experts
participating in the landscape study team gave plain
explanations to increase public understanding atworkshops, playing an important role in mutual
understanding between local residents and theadministration and in consensus building.

10StudyforaThis study was conducted to identify the policy

train/tram-based transport system

for introducing a tram-based transport system inin waterfront areas for fiscal 2003

Niigata City that had been gathering attention in the(Niigata

Airportareas under the direct control of the Hokuriku

Construction Office, Hokuriku

Regional Development Bureau. Problems to be

Regional Development Bureau)

involved in the implementation of the system werePort

developing

andgrasped.
Expectations
tram-based
throughfortransportinterviews

andproblems

system
with

were

with

the

identified

administrative

andbusiness people and questionnaire surveys. Check2003

was made of a plan to introduce a tram-basedtransport system in Niigata. Space where thesystem would be installed, the influences ofdifferent levels of services to be provided andsystem operation plans were reviewed. LRT (lightrail transit) was assumed because its serviceability
was confirmed in a study of the previous fiscal
year. Cost performance was estimated althoughroughly. The superiority of the system wasconfirmed. Proposals were made as to how toprovideexplanations

about

systems

implementation. Future actions were defined basedon the above results.

11Improvement, management and operation methods
Fiscal year
when study

Study

Study outline

wasconducted

Study on the economic ripple

This study aimed at identifying the role of Sakata

effects produced by Sakata Port

Port in regional economy, quantitatively estimating(Sakatathe effects of port development and identifying the

Port

Office,TohokuRegional Development Bureau)

degree of contribution of the port to regional
economy and employment.
To meet the objectives, methods for estimating theeffect of port development on the regional
economy, and the present conditions of Sakata Portand the economy of Yamagata prefecture were first
analyzed. Then, questionnaires were distributed tothe industries dependent on or related to Sakata Port
to analyze the use of and trend in the port. Based on
2003

the survey results, the quantitative effects of theport on the regional economy were estimated.
Recycling business operators were interviewed toanalyze the present and future effects of the
improvement of Sakata Port as a recycling port on
the regional economy.
As a result, it was found that Sakata Port produced
an annual economic effect worth 83.8 billion yen on
the regional economy and that the development of
the recycling port was expected to produce anannual economic effect worth 860 million yen.

12

Studyfor

Global warming has been regarded as "one of thecountering global warming at

most critical environmental issues affecting thecontainer terminals

base of human existence because of its serious(Tokyo

on

the

Port

measures

Office,Kanto

effects on the natural ecosystem and the humanRegional Development Bureau;

being. The issue should be actively handled throughBureau of Port and Harbor, Tokyo

international cooperation.

Metropolitan Government; andIn Japan, measures to counter global warming

Tokyo Port Terminal Corporation)

were outlined in March 2002. To control global
warming, "all the players such as the national andlocal governments, businesses and the people
should make utmost efforts in their respective
2003

positions." Efforts are also required at ports.
Joint research efforts by the Ministry of Land,
Infrastructure and Transport; the Bureau of Port andHarbor of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government; andTokyo Port Terminal Corporation intended to help
the businesses involved in the operation ofcontainer terminals take measures to control global
warming. The energy use mechanism was identified
incontainer

terminals

where

the

level

of

consumption of energy was highest in the port, andcomprehensive measures to counter global warmingin container terminals were examined and a menuof actions was presented.

13

Cost benefit analysis in Susaki,

This study was conducted to make contributions

Murotsu

to cost performance evaluation of projects forandKamikawaguchi

Ports(Kochi

improving breakwaters in the (a) mouth of Susaki
PortConstruction

andAirport

Port, (b) Murotsu Port Murotsu area and (c)Office,Shikoku

Kamikawaguchi Port Kamikawaguchi area.

Regional Development Bureau)

The respective ports and projects were firstoutlined to confirm the roles and characteristics of2003

the projects. Then, cost performance was analyzed
and the effects on the regional economy were
grasped based on the interview results or other data.
Information on the efforts to reduce project costs
and the local requirements were also organized.
As a result, the benefit/cost ratio was found to be
more than 1.5 in all of the three projects.
Implementing the improvement plan was therefore
considered desirable.

Basic

study

concerning

Public container terminals have been operatedtheoperation of container terminals

jointly by multiple terminal operators using(Kantoterminals. Integrated efficient operation is now

Regional

Development

possible in designated structural reform areas.

Bureau)Against such a background, this study aimed atreviewing the conventional method for operating
public container terminals and thereby examining
2003

the future direction of terminal operation.
The present ways of operation of container
terminals at four ports in Tokyo Bay were identified
and the modes of operation at domestic andoverseas container terminals were categorized into
several patterns. Then, the future direction of publiccontainer terminal operation and promotion ofterminal use was defined and measures forencouraging the use of terminals were proposed.

14

Long-term plans and development measures
Fiscal year
when study

Study

Study outline

wasconducted

Study on plans to use Hitachinaka

In this study, the present conditions of roll-on

Portroll-off and ferry routes to Hokkaido, which were

(Kashima

Port

Construction

andAirportconsidered highly likely to encourage the use of

Office,

Kanto

Hitachinaka Port and the possibility of promotion

Regional Development Bureau)of use of the port, were examined.
Information on the recent changes in condition
due to the imposition of new restrictions wereorganized,

and

the

conditionsofphysical

distribution between Hokkaido and Kanto areas
were grasped based on the results of national
freight transportation surveys, port statisticalsurveys and field surveys. Problems were identified
2003

concerning the present conditions and future
potential through interviews of those concerned.
Based on the data obtained, problems involved in
the promotion of use of Hitachinaka Port andcorrective measures were examined.
This study confirmed that Hitachinaka Port could
play an important role in physical distribution along
the routes between Kanto and Hokkaido areas andthat the volume of cargoes was expected toincrease. It was suggested that measures should betaken in cooperation with the ports in Hokkaido forincreasing the capacity of roll-on roll-off and ferryroutes, modifying the time schedule and increasing
loading efficiency at the port.

15

Study for promoting cruising in

The Okinawa development plan, aiming at the use

Naha Portof the beautiful sea of Okinawa as a tourist(Development
Department,

Construction

resource, recommends "integrated and focused

Okinawa Generaldevelopment of public tourist facilities to handle
international cruise ships in order to build an

Office)international ocean resort." In this study, the present
conditions and problems of the facilities at the
Naha Port passenger pier were identified and therequirements of passengers and shipping lines were
grasped. The objective was to propose a basic
improvement policy for promoting cruising.
In the study, the present conditions of cruise and2003

tourism using Naha Port and the requirements ofpassengers and shipping lines were obtained
through interviews and questionnaire surveys.
Based on the data obtained, structural andprocedural measures to promote cruising through
Naha

Port

were

examined.

A

basic

port

improvement plan was developed based on the
results of evaluation by a committee.
As end products, five ideas for improving thefacilities of the passenger pier in Naha Port andspecific plans corresponding to the ideas were
defined for promoting cruising. Then, a facilities
improvement plan was developed.

16Port city planning and public involvement
Fiscal year
Studywhen study

Study outline

wasconducted

Study for port city planning inThis study reviewed a city port development plan

Kuwana Port

for Kuwana Port (a local port under the control of(Yokkaichi Port Office, Chubu

Mie prefectural government) Akasuka area to obtain

Regional Development Bureau)basic data such as the concept of the plan and amenu of actions. Fishery operators, and members ofcivic groups involved in "port city planning","tourism" and "education" such as residents'
associations

andelementary

schools

wereinterviewed to identify the requirements for port
city planning. Then, a rough port city development
plan was prepared.
2003

As a result of the interviews and surveys, it was
found that port assets such as the fishery at Kuwana
Port and the history and culture of the Akasuka areawith a fishermen's town had been unknown to thepeople living in the city center and hinterland. The
area was not familiar to the residents. It wasconsidered necessary to make the Akasuka area
widely known to the public. In the Kuwana port
city planning, therefore, a menu of port city
development

measureswas

proposedthatemphasized the physical link with the city centerand the enlightenment on the history and culture of
the Akasuka area.

17

OtherFiscal year
when study

Study

Study outline

wasconducted

Development of virtual reality

This task aimed at developing three-dimensional

systems in Naha Port for fiscal

data and a virtual reality (VR) application program

2003

to examine what facilities should be installed

(Naha

Port

and

Airportduring the improvement of Naha Port and what

Construction

Office,Okinawa

impact the improvement would have on the

General Bureau)

environment. Another objective was to develop
computer graphics animation programs based on
the VR data for disseminating information atbriefing sessions in the regions concerned or via theInternet.
In the first phase of the task, the required level of2003

data precision was identified, and additions andrevisions were made to the data prepared in fiscal
2001 and 2002 on the conditions and plan at thetime, to develop the latest plans for the Urasoe andShinko pier areas using three-dimensional data. The
three-dimensional data were used to build VR
application systems for use at study forums or for
presentation.
In the second phase, computer graphics animation
programs were produced based on the VR data fordisseminating information at briefing sessions in
the regions concerned or via the Internet.

18

Information research projects
Port EDI
Fiscal year
when study

Study

Study outline

wasconducted

Management and operation ofWAVE started developing the port EDI systems

port EDI systems

according to the "basic policy for using EDI for(Budget and Accounts Division,

administrative procedures" defined by the Ports andLand,

Harbors

Infrastructure

andBureauoftheMinistry

of

Land,

Transport Minister's Secretariat;

Infrastructure and Transport and the Maritime

Maritime Safety Agency; andSafety Agency based on an "outline of policies for

National Institute for Land andgeneral distributors" that was finalized at a cabinet

Infrastructure Management)

meeting in April 1997. WAVE started systems
operation on a trial basis in October 1999.
With the revision of the Port and Harbor Law in2003, installing and managing port EDI systems
were defined as a task of the central government on
2003

June 1. Then, full-scale systems operation wasstarted. A one-stop-service system went into service
on July 23 that made possible interconnection withsystems of other agencies e.g. Sea-NACCS/crew
landing permit system. The maintenance of
one-stop-service

systemequipment

becamenecessary. The operation and management of
quarantine application were also additionallyrequired. Service was commenced on March 29,
2004 for "filing and payment of tonnage dues", one
of

the

NACCS

applications.

Thus,

the

one-stop-service system was further enhanced for
greater user convenience.

19

StudyfordevelopingaStudies were made to incorporate into the

one-stop-service system

one-stop-service system the application processes(Budget and Accounts Division,

not yet digitized and the notification procedure thatLand,

was made mandatory with the enforcement of a

InfrastructureandTransport Minister's Secretariat;

revised

SOLAS

Convention(Internationaland Maritime Safety Agency)

Convention for Safety of Life at Sea) and therevision of laws concerning stranded ships left on
the shore. Preliminary and detailed designs weredeveloped.
2003

Preliminary design
The flow of system steps and information wereorganized. Functional requirements and how thesystem would be used were determined from asystem user's viewpoint.
Detailed design
Program configuration was defined to achieve thefunctional requirements identified in preliminary
design.

20

Investigations into port information
Fiscal year
when study

Study

Study outline

wasconducted

Study

for

definingtheThis study was conducted to examine thespecifications for an information

specifications for the information platform forplatform for port-based physicalport-based physical distribution as a basis for

distribution (to be subjected tosharing port-based physical distribution information

verification tests)

exchanged among the operators concerned, in order(Tokyo metropolitan government;

to digitize and increase the efficiency of port-based

Yokohama,

Fukuoka,physical distribution. Terminal operators, marine

Kitakyushu, Osaka and Yokkaichi

cargo distributors, customs brokers and land

municipaltransport companies have been separately trying to

Kobe,

governments;

andNagoya Port Authority)

digitize and increase the efficiency of port-based
physical distribution.
In this study, information on how containers werecarried into and out of ports was organized basedon the results of questionnaire surveys and existingmaterials. Review sessions were held for defining
2003

the specifications for an information platform for
port-based physical distribution (to be subjected toverification tests) with the participation of themembers of shipping lines and port administrators
as well as the stakeholders mentioned above. Thus,
the specifications for the information platform for
port-based physical distribution were determinedwhile listening to the views of the stakeholders.
In this study, standard application processes anddata items to be shared that were required for social
experiment were identified when transporting
containers with cargoes out of the port andtransporting empty containers into the port at thetime of import, and when transporting empty
containers out of the port and transporting
containers with cargoes into the port at the time ofexport.

21

II Study and research projects concerning the port environment andenvironmental ISO
Environment-related projects
Research on environmental policy
Fiscal year
when study

Study

Study outline

wasconducted

Studyconcerning

nature-based

experiencethePrograms were examined for equipping fieldon

instructors with the capability of offering to thebeachespublic opportunities for experiencing the nature in(Kanto Regional Development

the sea areas and on the beaches with a view to2003

Bureau)obtaining better understanding of the public aboutmarine nature restoration projects.
Check was made of (i) details of nature-oriented
experience and the (ii) programs for developing
instructors.

Study

for

disseminating

For achieving a sound hydrologic cycle, it isenvironmental information(Yokohama

Research

important to centrally control and disseminate
andinformation on environmental data collected andEngineering Office for Port andwhere they exist.

Airport)In this study, the policy was defined for effectively
using the Tokyo Bay Environmental Information
2003

Center that started operation in June 2003 as a basis
for sharing environmental information with thegeneral public. Comments were obtained from
intellectuals

andstakeholders

atcommittee

meetings and review sessions on the methods ofproviding, standardizing and using environmental
information.

22

Study concerning the method for

In this study, verification was made of the contentsmonitoring the Sea of Japanof the Hokuriku Regional Development Bureau(Hokuriku Regional Development

draft environmental data book edited by the port

Bureau)and airport department concerning the naturalenvironment and social conditions in the areas
under the control of the Bureau. Then, the final
version of data book was prepared. A Hokuriku
Regional

Development

Bureauenvironmental

website edited by the port and airport department
2003

was developed to disclose information on thenatural environment and social conditions in theareas under the control of the Bureau. Part of
information was disclosed. At the time of
disclosure, the composition of the environmental
website was reviewed. Data in the environmental
data book were provided at the website. A review
was also made of the methods for updating
environmental

information

providedattheenvironmental website and of the management
system.

23

Studythe

In this study, a review was made of public

second-phase project for Tokyo

awareness programs through comprehensive studies

Bay waterfront roadabout environmental education in order to obtain(Tokyofor

implementing

Port

Office,Kanto

public understanding of the second-phase project

Regional Development Bureau)

for Tokyo Bay waterfront road being carried out by
the Tokyo Port Office of the Kanto Regional
development Bureau.
Educational materials were developed about the2003

environment for high school students in cooperation
with non-profit organization members, academic
experts and school officials.
The materials were examined at study meetings
attended by the stakeholders after the organizationof information on the existing materials used during
the hours for comprehensive studies and on the
problems specified by teaching staff.
The materials were used in classes to increase
accuracy.

Study for reviewing the methodsThis

for comprehensively create orenvironmental improvement activities in Ise Bay,

restore the environment in Ise Bay

aimed at examining methods for comprehensively(Chubu Regional Development

create or restore the environment in Ise Bay by

Bureau)diverse stakeholders such as the administration,
2003

study,

conducted

based

on

the

past

operators, researchers, and representatives of civic
groupsandnon-profit

organizations;seeking

specific measures effective for improving theenvironment in the sea areas of Ise Bay throughnaturerestoration

or

other

measures;anddeveloping a "draft plan to create or restore theenvironment in Ise Bay.

24

Studyconcerning

port

Environmental considerations have recently been

improvement methods friendly torequired when developing social infrastructurecoral reeves

systems. Port facilities should also be constructed(Development

Construction

with due

Department, Okinawa General

ecosystem.

Bureau)The Development Construction Department of theconsiderations ofthesurrounding

Okinawa General Bureau of the Cabinet Office has
been improving the key ports in Okinawa
prefecture while preserving the natural environment
since the reversion of Okinawa to the sovereignty
of Japan. Coral has naturally been embedded inbreakwaters, wharves and bulkheads. As a result of
port improvement, large quantities of coral have
2003

emerged in places where no coral used to grew.
This suggests the possibility of port improvement
friendly to the ecosystem nurturing coral.
This study aimed at helping improve ports friendly
to coral reeves. Research and study results
concerning coral obtained by the Okinawa General
Bureau and domestic research institutes wereorganized. Views of intellectuals were obtained atreview meetings to examine the environmental
protection policy at Naha, Hirara and Ishigaki
Ports. Presentation materials were prepared about
the environmentally friendly measures taken by the
Okinawa General Bureau for submission to the 10th
International Coral Reef Symposium to be held in
fiscal 2004.

25

Study for building a regional

This study was conducted as part of thecooperation network"nature-oriented experience and environmental(Hakata

Port

Construction

andAirporteducation in waterfront areas" at which the Ports

Office,Kyushuand Harbors Bureau of the Ministry of Land,

Regional Development Bureau)

Infrastructure and Transport was working to
identify the policy for building a network forcooperation with the non-profit organizations andcivic groups working in the coastal areas inFukuoka prefecture under the control of the Hakata
Port and Airport Construction Office of the Kyushu
Regional Development Bureau.
In the study, details of nature-oriented experiencethat could be obtained in the area under the control
2003

of the Bureau were investigated using existing
literature. Based on the results of the investigations,details of activities wereassumptionofreviewed on thecooperation

with

non-profit

organizations and civic groups. Case study methods
were used to identify the requirements andproblems in relation to nature-oriented experience.
Case study methods were applied to snorkeling thatelementary school children were enjoying inFukuoka prefecture, through cooperation among thecentral government, local municipalities, non-profit
organizations and civic groups. The results werehighly rated.
Then,

proposals

were

made

for

environmental education in coastal areas.

26

futureStudy concerning the methods forIn this study, methods were examined for building

promoting the use of Shimoda

a setup for cooperation between the centralPortgovernment and port administrators, and regional(Shimizu

Port

Office,Chubuorganizations such as autonomous bodies, related

Regional Development Bureau)organizations and non-profit organizations, whichwasconsiderednecessaryforensuringthetransparency of public utility projects including port
improvement, for encouraging the involvement ofdiverse regional organizations, and for building a
consensus.
2003

In the study, case study analysis was made for
examining the methods of cooperation withstakeholders working in coastal areas including theports in the Shimoda area under the control of the
Shimizu Port Office of the Chubu Regional
Development Bureau.
As a result of the study made through cooperation
among

the

stakeholders,theresidents

who

participated in the study made favorable comments.
Information on the results and problems wasorganized and proposals were made for reflection of
the results in specific measures.
Study on the environment in sea

The basic policy based on the "special measureareas in the Sea of Ariake and thelaw concerning the restoration of the Sea of Ariake

Sea of Yatsushiro

and the Sea of Yatsushiro" stipulates that marine(Kumamoto Port and Airport

environment

Construction

deployed that are capable of collecting garbage andOffice,KyushuRegional Development Bureau)

improvement

ships

shouldbeinvestigating the environment. The Ministry ofLand, Infrastructure and Transport placed "Kaiki", a2003

marine environment improvement ship, into service
at the end of fiscal 2003. In this study, a plan wasdeveloped for regular environmental study thatwould be conducted from fiscal 2004. The objective
was to collect valuable data to supplement a joint
study conducted by other organizations taking themerits and demerits of the ships into fullconsideration. In fiscal 2004, the data will be
disclosed in a database.

27

Construction

of

Osaka

Port

The objectives of this work were to collect andenvironmental databasecentrally control the data possessed by the Kinki(Kobe Research and Engineering

Regional Development Bureau of the Ministry of

Office for Port and Airport)

Land, Infrastructure and Transport, autonomous
bodies around Osaka Bay and other government
agencies and build a database for sharing theinformation to help prepare data for various plans;
and to review the data on the environment in Osaka
Bay for dissemination to the public and help the2003

public understand port environmental measures.
A review had been made for building an Osaka
Bay environmental database since fiscal 2001 at
study meetings of academic experts. Up to fiscal
2002, the contents of the database had been
examined and the basic part of the database had
been built. In fiscal 2003, efforts will be continued
to build and review the database. The results ofwork for the past three years were disclosed to thegeneral public at the website in April 2004.

Study

for

reviewing

marineIn this study, data were collected on the present

environment improvement in theconditions of sea areas in the Sea of Yatsushiro, andSea of Yatsushiroeffective environmental improvement measures(Kumamoto Port and Airport
Construction

Office,KyushuRegional Development Bureau)

2003

were examined.
As a result, inflow load was found in the northzone of the Sea of Yatsushiro and the load of fish
farms in the south zone.

28

Study on the nature restoration

The objective of this study was to collect basic

methods in Okinawa

data for "full-scale implementation of nature(Development
Department,

restoration through the participation of diverse

Construction
Okinawa

players", a basic policy. The basic policy was

Generalpresented in the need of "nature restoration" in the

Office)"New National Strategy for Biological Diversity"
defined at the Council of Ministers for Global
Environment Conservation on March 27, 2002, the"law for promoting nature restoration" established2003

in December 2002 and the "basic policy for nature
restoration" defined at a cabinet meeting in April
2003.
The need of nature restoration in the coastal areasin Okinawa, the nature restoration method in theport area and the areas requiring nature restoration
were identified. Methods were also reviewed fornature restoration including the cooperation withenvironmental groups, and nature restoration
projects plans (draft) were proposed.

Basic study for nature restoration

This study aimed at identifying the requirements

through cooperation between thefor the cooperation among the residents, civic

public and the administrationgroups and the administration in the sea areas in Ise(Nagoya

Researchand

Bay and Mikawa Bay, and at obtaining basic data

Engineering Office for Port andfor defining the roles of the stakeholders.

Airport)In order to protect or restore nature in Ise Bay and
2003

Mikawa Bay, it is necessary to share the history ofnature conservation, protection and restoration in
the sea areas and exchange views among theresidents, civic groups and the administration. In
this study, lectures and citizens' meetings were held
to share information, exchange views and collect
data.

29

the

This study was conducted to collect and analyze

environmental learning throughthe basic data required for understanding thethepresent environment in the Set Inland Sea to

Study

for
accessreviewingtothenaturalenvironment of the Seto Inland

implement

Sea for fiscal 2003

projects in the sea areas of the Set Inland Sea

(Ube

Port

Office,effective

environmental

restoration

around Yamaguchi prefecture, and to examine how

Chugokuto proceed with environmental teaching in the Set

Regional Development Bureau)

Inland Sea.
Data were collected and organized on the naturalsea areas in the Seto Inland Sea and the present
conditions were analyzed by sea area based on thedata. Examples of environmental learning covering
2003

rivers as well as sea were collected. Approaches toenvironmental restoration were analyzed. Guidance
and advice were obtained in operating committees,
and

draft

curriculums

weredevelopedforenvironmental learning through the access to thenatural environment of the Seto Inland Sea.
This is a two-year study. The draft curriculums
developed in this study will be applied in fiscal
2004 on a trial basis. The problems that will beidentified will be solved before finalizing thecurriculums. At the end of the study for fiscal 2004,
more practical and highly applicable curriculums
will have been completed.

30

Studythe

The ports of Okinawa have conventionally beenenvironmental protection in therequired to serve as physical distribution hubs whenports of Okinawa

planning port improvement. In this study, the(General

concerning

Affairs

Department,

natural environment left in the port area andOkinawa General Bureau)surrounding sea areas was examined to enhanceliving conditions by actively protecting and using
the valuable natural environment through theprovision to local residents and tourists of places
2003

for access with nature through nature-oriented
experience and eco-tours.
First, the natural environment and regional
characteristics

of

Okinawa

wereidentified.

Advanced examples of nature-oriented experienceand eco-tours were collected and organized. A plan
applicable in the port area and in surrounding sea
areas was proposed and caste study analysis was
made. The results and problems were extracted andthe measures to use the results were proposed.

31Study on public-involvement-typePortenvironmental measuresconsiderations as in the case of land reclamation

(Naha

Port

Construction

improvement

requiresenvironmental

andAirportfrom the sea. Growing environmental awareness in

Office,Okinawa

recent years has been resulting in consensus

General Bureau)building among local residents taking much time
and thus making smooth facilities improvement
difficult. In Okinawa in particular, people have beenfeeling a greater interest in the environment because
few natural environments similar to the one in
Okinawa are found in other areas of the country
owing to the local subtropical climate.
In other business fields than ports, environmental
considerations have also been required. In riveradministration in particular, environmental issues
2003

have been matters of greater concern than for ports
because of great environmental impact as in thecase of a dam. In river administration, therefore,
environmental efforts have been made earlier thanin other public utility projects. As a result, moredetailed examinations have been made of thebuilding of relationships with local residents andnon-profit organizations and of the creation ofenvironmentally friendly projects.
In this study, investigations were made about theenvironmental

measures

taken

in

river

administration in order to help apply similar
measures in port administration. Examined were thehistory of environmental protection and the present
systems including those for maintaining therelationship with non-profit organizations.

32

Study concerning the support in

A review was made of the "sea, play and learning"

comprehensive learning in Sakata

program in Sakata Port. The study aimed atPortexamining(SakataPort

Office,Tohokuthecomprehensive

Regional Development Bureau)

environment
2003

to

methodsoflearning

concerning

obtainsupportgeneralinthepublic'sunderstanding of the improvement of Sakata Port,
providing opportunities for comprehensive learning
to raise the awareness of children, the basis for thecountry's future, about the sea and ports andpromoting exchange among children throughnature-oriented experience on beaches.

Study

on

the

fishingpark

This study aimed at making a versatile review ofsupporter system(Kinki
Bureau)Regional

management of facilities including fishing parks
Development

through the cooperation among the citizens, experts
2003

and the administration based on the relationshipbetween the people and the sea (beach) and the
public needs of fishing, and at identifying the needand problems of the creation of a new system.

33

Environmental creation planning and technology (ecosystem)
Fiscal year
when study

Study

Study outline

wasconducted

Verification tests for seaweed bed

This study was conducted to monitor the seaweeds

construction in Omaezaki Port ingrowingfiscal 2003

environmentally friendly breakwater in the west of(Shimizu

Port

Office,intheretardingsectionoftheOmaezaki Port and embed parents, and to verify the

Chubu

effectivenessRegional Development Bureau)ofenvironmentallyfriendlybreakwaters for creating seaweed beds.
The ultimate goals of building seaweed beds using
environmentally friendly breakwaters are to release2003

zoospores from the seaweeds that grow in theretarding section and to create new seaweed beds
around the breakwater. In this fiscal year, numerous
parents were implanted in the retarding section andthe conditions of seaweed bed created in a slit-type
caisson were examined. The effectiveness ofenvironmentally friendly breakwaters for releasing
zoospores was verified. Problems and methods ofverification of effectiveness of the breakwaters
were identified.

34

Study concerning the methods ofIn order to find the direction of methods fornature restoration in Ise Bay andquantitatively evaluating

Mikawa Bay

various nature restoration technologies applicable to(Nagoya

Researchtheeffectiveness

of

and

Ise Bay and Mikawa Bay, examinations were madeEngineering Office for Port andof the methods of an experiment for verifying

Airport)effectiveness evaluation methods and of themethods of evaluation when implementing projects.
A basic study was conducted for developing basic
rules related to the coordination and cooperation
betweentheadministration

andnon-profit

organizations in nature restoration projects.
The study was conducted under four themes.
2003(i) Tideland development using dredged materials(ii) Technology for creating seaweed beds(iii) Technology for improving bottom sediment(iv) Coordination between the administration andnon-profit organizations
As a result of the study, plans for experiments fordeveloping tideland and seaweed beds using
dredged materials were proposed under themes (i)and (ii). An effective monitoring method was
proposed in bottom sediment improvement projects
under theme (iii). Proposals were also made fordesirable coordination and cooperation between theadministration and non-profit organizations andtheir roles under theme (iv).

35

Study concerning the methods forIn this study, field investigations were conducted

controlling poor oxygen waterto grasp the conditions of poor oxygen water mass

mass in Ise Bay and Mikawa Bay

in Ise Bay and Mikawa Bay, and measures to(Nagoyacontrol the occurrence of poor oxygen water mass

ResearchandEngineering Office for Port andwere examined using quantitative data.

Airport)

As a result of the study, the process from the2003

occurrence through the disappearance of poor
oxygen water mass could be confirmed based on thefield data. Information on the characteristics of poor
oxygen water mass in Ise Bay and Mikawa Bay wasorganized. Based on the study results, water quality
monitoring plans, methods of providing data andmeasures to control the occurrence were proposed.

36

Studyontheenvironmental

In order to establish technology for developing

characteristics of muddy tideland

muddy tideland effectively using dredged materials(Shimonoseki(supplement

Researchandthemarinenaturerestoration

Engineering Office for Port andhandbook) and to protect or restore muddy tideland

Airport)in the Sea of Ariake and the Sea of Yatsushiro, it
was decided to start a technical review and conduct
field surveys and testing in fiscal 2003.
In fiscal 2003, knowledge about the muddy
tideland in the Sea of Ariake and the Sea of
Yatsushiro(e.g.

conditionsfortidelanddevelopment, basic conditions for the growth ofanimals and plants, functions of the tideland and2003

methods of evaluating the functions) was organizedusing the existing materials. The conditions forgrasping the environmental problems and functionsof muddy tideland were identified. The fieldsurveys and testing were conducted by the
Kumamoto Research and Engineering Office forPort and Airport. The results of the field surveys
and testing were reflected in technical review.
As a result of the study, problems of the muddy
tideland in the Sea of Ariake and the Sea of
Yatsushiro were identified. Study items were
proposed that were required for identifying thefunctions of tideland that could not be grasped
based on the existing materials.

37

Improvementofcoastal

A committee for developing an eco-coast along

environment in a public port

Kojima Port (Karakoto area) held review meetings(development of methods forin fiscal 1998 and developed a plan to apply area

developing eelgrass beds)

protection measures through beach nourishment to(Kurashiki Regional Development

improve the seacoast for disaster prevention,

Bureau,environmental conservation and effective use, andOkayamaprefectural

government)

to restore (transfer) the eelgrass beds that would be
lost by beach nourishment in (to) nourishedbeaches.
At the site, a pilot transferal area was specified infiscal 1999. A pilot transferal and a pilot seedingarea were established in fiscal 2001. A medium-size
pilot project site was established in fiscal 2001 and
2003

2002. Monitoring has been continued in themeantime.
In this fiscal year, how the eelgrass bed was being
restored in the pilot transferal areas was monitored.
Methods for restoring eelgrass beds in the areas
were examined and the restored eelgrass beds were
subjected to adaptive management.
The knowledge already available and the results ofmonitoring in this fiscal year showed that therestoration of eelgrass beds in the areas was
effective, that transplanting suckers by fixing theunderground stem was effective, that seeding on
artificially-made rough beaches using mats was
efficient and that restoring eelgrass beds in the
zigzag or square format was effective.

38

Study concerning marine nature

A law concerning the promotion of nature

restoration

restoration has been enforced and urban renewal(Kobe Research and Engineering

projects and other moves are now being madeOffice for Port and Airport)

toward nature restoration. In order to use as basic
data for reviewing nature restoration in Osaka Bay,data were collected on the steps taken by theadministration, research institutes, and generalpublic and non-profit organizations and on the
problems involved.
2003

The collected data were used when holding
lectures concerning related activities to foster publicawareness of the need of nature restoration in OsakaBay.
The study revealed that the administration,
research institutes, the general public and non-profit
organizations have been taking various measures torestore nature in Osaka Bay. The lectures helped
increase public interest in nature restoration in
Osaka Bay and thus proved to be an effectivemeans of public enlightenment.

39

Environmental creation planning and technology (waste, recycling andhazardous materials)
Fiscal year
when study

Study

Study outline

wasconducted

Development of bottom sediment

The following studies were made of the plans for

purification plans in a pollution

improving the bottom sediment in Tagonoura Port

control project in Tagonoura Port

that had a dioxin concentration higher than the(Tagonoura

environmental quality standards.

Port

Authority,

Shizuoka prefectural government)-A verification test was conducted for a method of
dredging

dioxin-polluted

bottomsediment(preventing pollution) to evaluate the effects of thepollution prevention measures.
-Laboratory tests confirmed that an equation
representing the correlation between turbidity anddioxin concentration could be predicted throughpreliminary check of the relationship between
2003

turbidity and suspended solid and of silty clay
content of bottom sediment. A monitoring plan wasdeveloped.
-Following

theguidelines

of

the

centralgovernment, the quantity of polluted earth was
calculated based on the results of investigations of
dioxin in bottom sediment in fiscal 2002 and 2003.
The border between the ground and sedimentstratum was defined as the boundary of the polluted
area.
Intermediate and final treatment methods werereviewed according to the guidelines of the central
government with due attention to the characteristics
of Tagonoura Port.

40

Study for leaching tests on dioxin

The environmental quality standards stipulate thatlevel of bottom sediment in ports

bottom sediments should contain less than 150(Port

pg-TEQ/g of dioxin. Verification was made of theandAirportResearch

Institute)

relationship between dioxin content and leaching in
the bottom sediment with the dioxin levelexceeding the environmental quality standards. The
results of the study were intended for use in
selectingdisposal

sites

and

in

smoothly

implementing projects.
The results of the studies conducted by local
municipalities in five ports with the dioxin
concentration level higher than the environmental
quality standards were used to compare dioxin
content and leaching and to examine the methods
for measuring dioxin leaching. Correlation was
found between dioxin content and leaching in agiven single port but no correlation was foundbased on the results in all the ports. It was verified
2003

that using seawater as the solvent resulted in the
reduction of leaching and in the reduction of therisk of leaching in the case of coastal landfilling.
Article 5 Section 2 Clause 4 of the enforcement
order of the Seawater Protection Law was revised.
It was additionally stipulated that the bottom
sediment to be dumped in the coastal landfill should
contain dioxin leaching of less than 10 pg-TEQ/l".
(The revised clause has been in effect since October
2003.) Then, the relationship between dioxin
content and leaching was verified in the bottom
sediment with the dioxin content exceeding theenvironmental quality standards.
Using pure water as the liquid for detecting theleaching level was expected to produce a different
level of leaching from that in coastal landfill where
bottom sediments were dumped in seawater. The
same sample was therefore analyzed both in purewater and seawater. The filter paper had a pore
diameter (diameter of the particle to be retained) of41

1.0 µm. The ratio of dioxin in a fine particle with adiameter of less than 1.0µm was identified.
As a result, correlation was found between dioxin
content and leaching. The ratio between content andleaching

variedaccordingtotheisomercomposition of dioxin. In the case where a coastal
landfill is to be used for final treatment of bottom
sediment, content and leaching should be analyzed
at a sufficient number of locations considering theisomer composition of dioxin, and the distributionof concentrations of leaching dioxin should be
estimated based on the concentration of dioxin
contained.
The concentration of leaching dioxin was higher
when pure water was used as the solvent than whenseawater was used. It was therefore revealed thatthe measurements in leaching tests specified in the
notification of the Ministry of Environment were on
the safe side in coastal landfill. Full attention shouldbe paid to the filtering process in the leaching test
(e.g. selection of filter paper and clogging of thefilter).

42

Fiscal 2003 study on the structural

In this study, ISO (International Standardization

criteria

Organization) standards and standards of major

of

waste

disposalbulkheads in other countries

countries of the seismic design methods for waste(National Institute for Land anddisposal bulkheads were examined. Data were

Infrastructure Management)collected and organized, and a comparison wasmade with the present design standards of Japan.
Design methods for civil engineering structures
should satisfy international standards including theISOstandards

accordingtogovernment

procurement codes or the Agreement on Technical
Barriers to Trade (TBT). For seismic design ofcontrolled waste disposal bulkheads, ensuring the
2003

compatibility

withchanging

international

regulations including ISO standards is essential.
Investigating overseas examples based on thedevelopments in the world is necessary to ensurethat Japan's design methods of coastal waste
disposallandfill

complywithinternational

standards. In this study, therefore, the present
conditions of the ISO standards for the design ofcoastal waste disposal landfill were investigated.
Information was also collected and organized on thedesign standards for coastal waste disposal landfill
in major countries. Then, a comparison was madewith the present design standards of Japan.

43

Fiscal 2003 study for controlling

In this study, a simple method for measuringdioxin in bottom sediment in ports

dioxin concentration in bottom sediment was(Kinkiexamined as a means of quickly and economically

Regional

Development

grasping the area and quantities of earth polluted by

Bureau)bottom sediment dioxin in ports. Methods were also
checked for monitoring water quality at thespillway when controlling pollution in ports.
Three off-the-shelf measurement methods wereselected to check the serviceability as a simple
method for measuring bottom sediment dioxin ascompared with standard methods. The selected
methods were found to be short of absolutemeasurement to verify the satisfaction of the2003

environmental quality standard. They, however, hada great potential in grasping the relative distributionof concentrations in the study area quickly at low
cost as long as the dioxin-induced pollution wascaused by nearly one and the same factor.
Based on the results of investigations that the
Osaka prefectural government conducted at coastal
waste disposal landfill, proposals were made for the
methods and standards of monitoring water quality
at spillways using turbidity as an indicator of
dioxin, and for the actions to be taken at the time ofspillway overflow. Monitoring water quality atspillways will be required when taking dioxin
control measures in ports.

44

Environmental creation planning and technology (other)
Fiscal year
when study

Study

Study outline

wasconducted

Fiscal 2003 study concerningThis study was conducted to obtain basic data forvegetation technologies in New

examining construction plans for vegetation in the

Kitakyushu Airport

landing area of New Kitakyushu Airport being(Kitakyushu Port and Airport

constructed for service commencement in fiscal

Construction

2005.

Office,KyushuVegetation

technologies

wereactively

adopted for minimizing maintenance cost, andRegional Development Bureau)

optimal and efficient construction methods were
examined taking into consideration the bedrock of
rock

and

gravelandtheenvironmental

characteristics at the offshore location.
In the study, basic vegetation plans and test plans
were developed based on the basic study, andvegetation was carried out on a trial basis andfollow-up
2003

studies

were

made.

The

"New

Kitakyushu Airport vegetation technology review
committee" staffed with four experts and astakeholder was established for discussions andreview.
As a result of the study, it was confirmed that theimmediate goal of constructing green space at thetime of opening of the airport (early vegetation
using the turf grass for cold regions) could beachieved where construction had to be carried out
during the autumn for service commencement innext spring. It was suggested that treatment(mowing) and follow-up studies should be carriedout in and after next spring to achieve the ultimate
goal of developing green space using low prostrate
turf grass.

45

Study on vegetation environment

Examinations were made and plans developed forin Mabori area in Yokosuka

an environmental improvement project in the(Keihin

Port

Office,Kanto

Mabori seashore area in coordination with a plan toRegional Development Bureau)develop highways in the shade in the Mabori
seashore area along national highway 16 that the
Yokohama National Highway Work Office of the
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport will
be implementing. The public involvement method
was adopted and the views of local residents andhighway users were taken into consideration.
2003

For project implementation, diverse methods wereused to build a consensus. A review committee
composedofacademic

experts,

andtherepresentatives of the administration and local
communitywasestablished.

Todisseminate

information to the public and encourage public
involvement, open houses were held, a website wasmade accessible, questionnaires were distributed,
and a virtual reality system was used to enablepeople to simulate the selection and arrangement oftrees on the Internet.

46

Landscape and green space
Fiscal year
when study

Study

Study outline

wasconducted

Study for creating green space inThis study was conducted to prepare basic plans

the Sakai waterfront area offor developing a greening hub in the Sakai

Osaka Baywaterfront area of Osaka Bay (landfill in Sakai 7-3
Development

district) designated as the site of "restoration of

Bureau and Osaka prefecturalurban infrastructure in a metropolitan region" in an

government)

urban renewal project (specified in the third phase),(KinkiRegional

and to identify the project implementation measureson the assumption of the involvement of the public
and non-profit organizations.
Basic plans and project implementation methods
were examined based on the results of the fiscal
2002 study (identification of present conditions and2003

problems at the site, and development of draft
improvement

concept

andproject

scheme).

Opportunities were created for the participation of
stakeholders, and public relations activities were
performed toward project implementation in fiscal
2004.
In the study, a basic plan was developed thatspecifiedtheimprovement

policybyzone,

infrastructure system improvement plans andvegetation plans, and proposals were made about
project implementation methods appropriate to therole of each participant and about the need ofsystem improvement.

47

the

The third offshore gun battery is now beingaremoved at the mouth of Tokyo Bay. A symposium

waterway at the mouth of Tokyo

was held to have the general public recognize theBayhistory and technology of construction of gun(Tokyo Bay Waterway Office,batteries including the existing first and second

Kanto

batteries and to discuss how to use the remaining

Basic

study

concerning

offshoregunbatteries

Regionalon

Development

batteries. Slightly less than 800 citizens living

Bureau)mainly in Yokosuka City attended the symposium.
2003

Yo Tsumoto, a writer, and other academic experts
providedlecturesdiscussions.

The

and

participatedpercentage

of

in

panel

peoplewho

responded to a questionnaire exceeded 40%. Ninety
percent of respondents wanted to visit a gun battery
and 80% preferred the preservation of batteries as aheritage or a tourist resource. Nearly the same
percentages wanted to preserve the batteries "asthey are" or "after restoration". Detailed discussions
are required when taking actions in the future.

48

III Voluntary research projects
Fiscal year
when study

Study

Study outline

wasconducted

Systemenhancement

forThis study was conducted to identify theeducation based on the website

significance of learning about ports during the"hours for comprehensive studies" recommended
according to the new official guidelines forschoolteaching, and the considerations required
during teaching.
In the study, information on how comprehensive
studies were being supported by the administration
was organized, and the need and problems were2003

identified through questionnaire surveys. A learning
support system was developed to enable children tolearn about ports or waterfront areas using apersonal computer before actually making a tour ofa port. The goal of the system was to equip children
with the capability of finding themes and thinking
about it on their own.
A study forum was established to discuss thesignificance of comprehensive studies about ports
and related considerations.

Revision of port green spaceWith greater awareness of the environment inmanualrecent years, it is important, when implementing
projects, to consider the preservation, restorationand creation of the environment, the prevention of
globalwarming

andtheconstructionofrecycling-based society.
Against such a background, various laws related to2003

the development of green space in ports have been
established or revised since the publication of the"manual for vegetation design and construction ingreen space in ports" in 1999.
The present manual is the only manual available
on the improvement of green space in ports.
Revision was proposed to reinforce the manual toadapt to the changing conditions surrounding ports.

49

Marinenaturerestoration

Waterfront areas have recently been developed

handbook - plan, technology andowing to economic development and efforts have

implementation -been made to restore lost natural environment in thevicinity or in other locations. Restoration efforts
have, however, frequently been made only on trial
basis because of inadequate technical know-how
available. It is therefore important to apply theexperienceandknowledgeabout

precedingexamplesat therestorationsite. Waterfront

Vitalization and Environment Research Center(WAVE) has been publishing literature since 1998("manual on coexistence of ports and tideland",
October 1998, "manual on the coexistence of port
2003

structures and seaweed", October 1998 and "manualon port improvement friendly to coral reeves", June1999). WAVE has been providing materials to fieldengineers and administrators, and determined thatcollecting more practical knowledge would be
required to support nature restoration efforts
everywhere as a nature restoration promotion law
was established in January 2003. Then, WAVE
published four-volume “Marine nature restoration
handbook - plan, technology and implementation -”by compiling the latest technological achievements
and paying attention to new practices such as thecooperation

among

citizens,

non-profit

organizations, researchers, the administration andbusinesses.

50

Technical research committee on

Interest has been increasing in the preservation of

the bases of seaweed growth

soundglobalenvironment,

transferofrich

environment to coming generations and thedevelopment of sustainable society in and out ofJapan. Various efforts have been made energetically.
In shallow sea areas, seaweed beds, tideland andsand beaches that had been reduced due toeconomic growth are now being restored or createdin order to develop rich ecosystem and to createsound sea areas.
Building recycling-based society further requires
the development of recycling technologies and theuse of recycled products. Steel slag has been usedas materials for civil engineering work. Steel slag
solidified with carbon dioxide has been developed
2003

by applying carbon dioxide to steel slag. In fieldtests, blocks made of solidified steel slag have
proved to be more effective as seaweed growthbases than stone or concrete blocks conventionallyused.
The Waterfront Vitalization and Environment
Research Center (WAVE) established a technicalresearch committee on the bases of seaweed
growth. WAVE compiled effective technologies forenabling seaweeds and coral to grow on the bases
made of steel slag solidified with carbon, a recycled
product, into the "manual for using steel slag
solidified with carbon" in order to help develop
marine development technologies friendly to theenvironment through the development of bases ofseaweed and coral growth.

51

Joint study on the impermeability

Recycling-based society has recently been built inof embedded steel-plate cellular

Japan from a viewpoint of protecting living

bulkheads

environment and making effective use of resources.
Publicawareness

has

been

increasing

andtechnologies have been advancing in relation to thesafety of waste disposal facilities. The "ordinanceconcerning the technical criteria for general andindustrial waste ultimate disposal facilities" wasrevised in June 1998 (ordinance issued jointly by
the Prime Minister's Office and the Ministry of
Health and Welfare on June 6, 1998). As a result,more strict requirements have been set for the
structure and functions of waste disposal bulkheads.
2003

Embeddedsteel-plate

cellularbulkheads

areregarded to be structurally highly impermeable. The
impermeability

has,however,

not

been

quantitatively confirmed. Then, the Waterfront
Vitalization and Environment Research Center(WAVE) and the Embedded Steel-plate Cellular
Structures Association conducted a joint research toverify the impermeability to apply embedded
steel-plate cellular bulkheads to controlled waste
disposal landfill. Based on the research results,
information on the structure and use of steel-plate
cellularbulkheads

wasorganized,

and

the

"guidelines for applying embedded steel-plate
cellular bulkheads to controlled waste landfill" were
published.

52

Report on the joint research on a

In this research, fertilizer runoff tests and turf

greening

methodenvironmental

with

small

grass growth tests under salt stress were conductedburdeninto evaluate the applicability of environmentallyfriendly,waterfront areas

low-environmental-burden

greening

methods. The greening method using organic
2003

materials made by fermenting the bark of Japanesecedar or Japanese cypress and fermented compost
made of wheat, soybean or other type of corn is
expected to contribute to long-term safety ofwaterfront vegetation, recycling of dredged materialand cost reduction. The effectiveness of thegreening method was verified in this research.

53