## (2) Internationalization and Other Efforts for railways

Just as Europe is actively promoting the international standardization of European standards, for the international expansion of Japanese railway systems, undertaking international standardization is an important issue. If Japan’s superior technology is omitted from international standards, there is a possibility that existing domestic standards will be abandoned, adversely affecting the railway industry, therefore requiring a strategic response. For this reason, at the “Railway Technology Standardization Committee”, active initiatives are being promoted, under the cooperation of academic rail technology experts and the railway industry, such as deliberations on the international standardization strategy for railway and coordination of domestic standards with regard to international standards.

The second Plenary Meeting of the International Organization for Standardization’s (ISO) Technical Committee for Railway applications (TC269) and contributed to outcomes such as the proposal of individual standards and the operation of committees.

At the National Traffic Safety and Environment Laboratory (Independent Administrative Institution), Japan’s first certification body of international standards in the railway sector, has acquired solid certification experience since the establishment of the Certification Office and contributed to the international expansion of Japan’s railway system.

## (3) Efforts for International Standards Regarding Ships and Mariners

International maritime transport businesses operate through ships and mariners of various nationalities, and regarding the safety of ships and protection of the marine environment, global rules including conventions such as SOLAS, MARPOL, and STCP must be adhered to by these operations. Japan continues to actively participate in the drafting process of these conventions with significant contributions. As one outcome, in fiscal 2013, the International Maritime Organization in (IMO) generally agreed to the new standard proposed by Japan for stability (index for the stability of the ship and difficulty of capsizing).

## (4) International Harmonization of Standards and Certification Systems in the Civil Engineering and Architecture Sector

In recent years, in the sectors of civil engineering, architecture, and housing where the internationalization of the market is evolving, legislative operations such as certifying the performance of imported building materials as well as approval of rating agencies and implementation of measures such as technical cooperation and other activities by organizations including JICA are being carried out as well as participation in the drafting of standardization for design and construction technology by ISO for initiatives to promote international harmonization of standards and certification systems for the civil engineering and architecture sector. Also, as part of the efforts to reflect Japan’s accumulated technology in international standards, deliberations are being carried forward to develop, revise, etc., domestic technical standards with consideration to trends in the creation of international standards.

## (5) International Standardization of Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS)

In order to promote the development of efficient applications, international contributions, and the development of the related industries in the country among others, the international standardization of ITS technology among international standardization bodies such as ISO and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is being promoted.

Especially for ITS, standardization activities for the gathering and utilization of probe information via ITS spots are being conducted through participation in the Technical Committee (ISO/TC204) on the international standardization of ITS. Also, at the Europe World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations (UN/ECE/WP29), activities are underway toward the international standardization of Advanced Safety Vehicles (ASV). In June 2013, a guideline was formulated for the utilization of ITS.

## (6) Standardization of Geographical Information

For the purpose of ensuring compatibility for the interoperability between Geographic Information System (GIS) with differing geospatial information, international standards are being formulated through participation in the ISO technical committee for Geographic information/Geomatics (ISO/TC211). Also, initiatives are taking place to standardize domestic geographic information.