Also, in the sector of traffic and transportation, the “Fundamental Research Promotion Program for the Transport Sector” implemented by the Japan Railway Construction, Transport and Technology Agency (Independent Administrative Institution) was abolished in fiscal 2012 and a “Transportation Technology Development Promotion Program” was newly established to focus on the implementation of truly necessary basic research by widely consolidating the knowledge of industry, the public sector, and academia. In fiscal 2013, this program invited the public for research topics regarding five research themes including “Pre-Disaster Prevention and Disaster Mitigation as well as Optimal Maintenance and Upgrading for Transport Infrastructure” and five topics were adopted.

## 2 Promoting the Utilization and Adoption of New Technology for Public Works

## (1) New Technology Utilization System for Public Works

In order to actively utilize promising new technology developed by private sector businesses, a “new technology utilization system for public works, etc.” that utilizes the New Technology Information System (NETIS) is under operation. Up to now, there were 21 recommended technologies and 47 runner-up recommended technologies chosen as innovative new technologies that will raise the level of technology concerning public works. Also, to promote efficiency of maintenance and management in the field, for the adoption of new technology in the field and the promotion of further technological development, NETIS is leveraged to set technical themes to use and evaluate the submitted technologies in the field.

## (2) Supporting the Utilization of New Technology

In order to promote the utilization of new technology in public works and other areas, utilization is evaluated at every design stage and technology with greatly benefits from utilization is designated by the ordering party when construction is contracted. Also, for new technology that the contracting office is actively considering, a provisional unit price that helps with streamlining the contracting was created for three technologies by fiscal 2013.

## Section 3 Improving Construction Management Technology

## 1 Improving Costing Technology for Public Works

For the purpose of ensuring the transparency of public works, various price data standards are made public. Also, from fiscal year 2012, to improve the efficiency of cost estimation, the “construction package type cost estimation formula” has been implemented on a trial basis and extended to fiscal year 2013. Furthermore, in response to the no-bidder/over-budget issue of recent years, overhead cost corrections for road maintenance projects in large urban areas or costing formulas that allows the reflection of the bidders estimates in expected pricing is being test implemented. Also, from fiscal year 2012 for the purpose of improving the reciprocity between the contractor and contractee, when there is a change to the contract amount, the unit prices and other matters for estimating the monetary amount or partial payments will be agreed upon by negotiations before hand for the purpose of facilitating smother negotiations following design changes or partial payments as part of the “total value contract and unit pricing agreement formula” being implemented.

Also, in addition to stipulating the public works construction costs and estimation standards, the public works construction standard unit price is established and in fiscal 2013, to respond to the aging of social infrastructure, unit prices for bridge repairs were newly established and the unit price of maintenance and repairs were revised and indirect construction cost rate were placed under review. Also, for construction machinery etc., rent, field studies are carried out for the construction machinery, etc., possessed by the contractor and the base value, maintenance and management costs, and operation costs are assessed and revisions implemented.