Land Transportation Systems
and Their Future
TAKASHI UNEDA
JUNJI FURUYA
NAOSHI NOGUCHIICHIRO FUJITAYOICHI HIBINO

2.1 Overview
MHI has been manufacturing conventional railwayvehicles such as steam, diesel, and electric locomotives
and rail motors and freight trains since early 1900s. MHI
has also been developing new transportation systems tomeet diversified transportation needs. The section that
follows details these transportation systems and theirprospects.
2.2 Present transportation systems
MHI developed monorails, then constructed new tran-sit systems and urban railroads. MHI is now developinglinear Shinkansen.
(1) Monorails
Monorails are roughly classified into straddled andsuspended. MHI is manufacturing suspended monorails, which do not generate loud noise and can turnsharply. Suspended monorails are unaffected by adv e r s e w e a t h e r c o n d i t i o n s s u c h a s s n o w. M H I
suspended monorails are operating on the Shonan
Fig. 11).
Monorail and Chiba Urban Monorail (Fig.
(2) New transit systems
New transit systems use rubber tires that do notgenerate loud noise and ensure high performance,making them suitable for automatic operation. InJapan, MHI is now constructing new transit systems
by providing vehicles, electrical power systems, andmaintenance facility to Tokadai New Transit,
Kanazawa Seaside Line, Kobe-Rokko Island Line, Port
Island Line, Hiroshima Rapid Transit, and Tokyo
Fig. 2
Waterfront New Transit “Yurikamome” (Fig.
2).
MHI exports the new transit system by full turnkey contract. An in-airport transit system to HongKong International Airport and a transit system toFig. 1 Suspended monorail "Chiba Urban Monorail"

Fig. 2 New transit system "Yurikamome"

1. Introduction
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) is developing guideway transportation systems, such as railroadsystems and new transit systems (transportation systems), for land transportation. MHI is also
manufacturing products for road transportation such as
toll collection and intelligent transport systems (ITS).
This paper gives an overview of transportation systems,
toll collection system and ITS technology, and their prospects.

2. Transportation systems

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Seng Kang Newtown in Singapore as urban transportation are in operation. MHI is also constructing newtransit systems at Miami Airport in the U.S.A., atChangi International Airport and Punggol Newtown
in Singapore.
“Crystal Mover,” a transit system vehicle developedby MHI, has been evaluated highly, winning the METI
(Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry) Prize. The
photo beside the title shows the vehicle.
(3) Skyrails
Skyrails have been developed to transport smallloads along steep slopes. Vehicles are suspended froma slender I-shaped girder. Its “Traction by rope”
mechanism ensures high performance and climbing
stability. Linear motors at stations control transport
speed. MHI tested a skyrail system on a test line at
the works and introduced it to Senogawa. This skyrail
now connects the Newtown, constructed on a slope,Fig. 3
to a nearby station (Fig.
3).
(4) Light rail transit (LRT)Light rail transit (LRT) has attracting considerable attention as urban transportation for short andintermediate distances. MHI implemented a turnkey
project to provide an LRT, including civil engineeringand construction work, to Manila. This LRT has eased
traffic congestion and provided convenient transportFig. 4
to citizens (Fig.
4).
(5) Linear motor systems
Linear motor systems (superconducting magnetically levitated (maglev) railroad) are now being
developed as next-generation ultrahigh-speed transportation. MHI has used airplane technology to
aerodynamic design of the front shape of maglev vehicles, and has delivered 3 lead vehicles. MHI is also
supplying bogies, air brakes, hydraulic systems, ventilation and air-conditioning systems, and generators.
At the Yamanashi Maglev Testline, test runs are beFig. 5
ing conducted (Fig.
5).

(6) Shinkansen
As a system integrator, MHI is developing a Taiwan Shinkansen for the first such export from Japan.
2.3 Future of transportation systems
MHI will develop, improve, and introduce short, intermediate, and long-distance transportation to create“passenger-friendly towns.”(1) Short and intermediate-distance transportation systems
Automated people movers (APMs) are typical transportation suitable for short and intermediate-distancetransportation. To provide better passenger service,
waiting time of passengers should be reduced by shortening operation intervals. This requires high-density
operation. To fulfill such needs, MHI will develop newsignal systems.
LRTs are attracting attention for easing urban traffic congestion. Smooth boarding and alighting areprevented by gap of height between vehicle floor andstation platform for conventional vehicles. MHI will
provide low-floor vehicles to align floor and station

Fig. 4 LRT "Manila line 3"

Fig. 5 Linear motor system "Yamanashi Maglev Testline"

Fig. 3 Senogawa Skyrail

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Vehicle detection andidentification technology

Vehicle detection
sensor

License plate recognition
technology (image processing)Toll collection system

Ticket issuing technology
Wireless communication
technology (ETC)
On-vehicle equipment
technology (ETC)

Toll collection
terminal

Application toITS

Security technology
Computer technology

Data processing
equipment

Communications network technology

Fig. 6 Construction of toll collection system
Toll collection system and element technology

lection terminals, and data collection equipment. Vehicle
detection sensors detect vehicles and calculate the number of vehicles passing through a toll gate. Ticket-issuingunits issue the toll tickets. Toll collection terminals readtickets and calculate tolls. Data collection equipment
collect data from vehicle detection sensors installed attollgate lanes and from toll collection terminals, calculating data for each lane and tollgate. Elementary
technology used for these units is shown in Fig. 6
6. Thissection focuses on license plate recognition and radio
communications technology.
(1) License plate recognition
License plate recognition equipment was originallydeveloped to distinguish the type of vehicles by thenumbers and sizes of license plate. Cameras, illumination lamps, and image processing units wereinstalled on Singapore ERP systems to take picturesof license numbers of illegal vehicles traveling at 180km/hr or less. Singapore ERP systems are used on
toll-gateless free-flow multi lanes. The technology developed for these lanes is now used in free-flow
Fig. 7systems in Japan (Fig.
7).
(2) Radio communications
The radio communication for ETC is dedicatedshort-range communication (DSRC) and the radio

height, to provide “passenger-friendly” vehicles.
(2) Intermediate and long-distance transportation
systems
Intermediate and long-distance transportation may
require new railroad lines, but improvement of existing railroads is also effective. MHI will electrify
existing lines and improve single-track lines to doubleor quadruple-tracked to enable trains to travel athigher speeds, reducing operation time. MHI also will
install and improve signals to improve safety.
(3) Long-distance transportation systems
High speed is required for long-distance transportation. MHI will contribute to testing of maglev with
its technology developed in various fields.

3. Toll collection technology and projected ITS development
3.1 Overview
In the 1960s, MHI developed and delivered the firsttoll collection system in Japan and since then MHI has
provided toll collection systems implementing the latest
technology and catching up with the needs of customers
such as automation.
Also, MHI is the first company in Japan to develop
electronic toll collection (ETC) for nonstop cashless payment, which is the ultimate goal of toll collection systems.
MHI delivered toll collection systems to Malaysia andSingapore. In Singapore, the first electronic road pricing (ERP) system in the world was established, and thesystem attracted the attention of the whole world. InJapan, ETC has been operated since the spring of 2000.
MHI delivered ETC systems to Tohoku Highway, DainiShinmei Highway, and Hanshin Expressway in operation
now. This section details the technology of toll collection
system, including ETC, and the prospect of ITS applying this technology.
3.2 Element toll collection technology
The toll collection system are mainly composed ofvehicle detection sensors, ticket-issuing units, toll col-Fig. 7 Vehicle photographed by Singapore ERP and license plate
number displayed on monitor

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needs for real-time, diverse, enhanced traffic information.
MHI has been developing traffic flow measurement
sensors while applying license plate number recognition and vehicle detection technologies. These sensors
count the number of vehicles, calculate the speed, andidentify the type of vehicles.
Recently, MHI also developed the system that including a fisheye lens to upgrade image processingperformance. In traffic congestion, conventional systems could not provide accurate measurement. The
use of fisheye lens enables accurate measurement
even in traffic congestion, monitor vehicle movement
and ambient conditions over a wide range using asingle camera. This system is thus applicable to transportation and road management equipment, such asat crossings. MHI is now studying the application ofthis new system to different fields such as parking
charge and toll collection, sudden event and falling
object detection, road surface condition checking, andFig. 8
intruder detection (Fig.
8).
(2) Radio communications technology development
DSRC radio communications technology is usedfor ETC. MHI is studying how to apply this technology to other systems, and testing prototypes.
MHI is also standardizing applications, disseminating systems, and marketing DSRC products. MHI
is focusing on application of DSRC technology toMHI products such as parking lot equipment andharbor facilities. MHI has introduced a DSRC electronic parking system (EPS) to Singapore andnonstop toll collection systems are now operating
Fig. 9at parking lot gates (Fig.
9).

Fig. 8 Traffic flow measurement system withfisheye lensMonitor screen of traffic flow measurement systemwith fisheye lenscommunication area is narrow. At first, MHI implemented a frequency of 2.45 GHz for passive
communications for ERP/ETC systems of Singaporeand other cities in Southeast Asia. MHI then implemented a frequency of 5.8 GHz and active
communications systems for ETC systems in Japan.
This communication enables free setting of the communication area according to the services provided,
making this communication system expandable andsuitable for communication between roadside equipment and vehicle for ITS.
3.3 ITS development(1) Image processing technology development
In the field of road management and assistance forsafe driving, attention is focused on products and systems of visible image sensor using ITV camera becauseof expanding the sphere of road management, the[ITS applications]
Road surface condition sensor(Image processing)
Vehicle detection
and determination
technology

Traffic flow measurement(Image processing)

License plate
recognition technology(Image processing)Road condition
sensing system(Image processing)Road control system(Image processing)

Traffic control system(Image processing)
Wireless communication technology(ETC)

Road pricing system(ERP)

On-vehicle equipment technology(ETC)
DSRC applications. Parking lots
. Harbor ITS
Fig. 9 Development of major ITS technologies

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(3) Other MHI technology
In road and traffic management, MHI is developing proprietary technology for the environment andefficiency of ITS. MHI is, for example, developing noisebarrier with ASE (Active Soft Edge) that reduce dynamic road noise using a reverse-phase wave soundsource, and applying biological evolution models tothe distributed intelligence technology to develop new
traffic control algorithms.

MHI will thereby help establish more convenient systems to meet social needs and solve road traffic problems,developing and providing more efficient, eco-friendly,
safer products.

Mihara Machinery & Transportation Systems Works

Kansai Office

4. ConclusionWe have reviewed MHI land transportation systemtechnology. MHI will apply vehicle manufacturing technology developed over many years and aerodynamic andmachinery manufacturing technology to transportation
systems. MHI will, as a total transportation system supp l i e r, m a n u f a c t u r e f a s t e r, d e n s e r, l o w e r - n o i s e ,higher-performance transportation systems so that human-friendly towns can be created.
In toll collection system and ITS, MHI will apply image processing and radio communications technology andglobal positioning system (GPS) technology mobile communications technology to cell phones and the Internet.

Takashi Uneda

Naoshi Noguchi

MACHINERY HEADQUARTERS

Junji Furuya

Ichiro Fujita

Yoichi Hibino

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
Technical Review Vol.40 No.1 (Feb. 2003)

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