Figure II-2-7-1

Summary of the Basic Act on Water Cycle

## Outline of Basic Plan on Water Cycle

## General

1 Our Relations with the Water Cycle

2 Definition, Period and Structure of the Basic Plan on Water Cycle

## Part 1 Basic Policy of Water Cycle Measures

1 Comprehensive and Integrated River Basin Management

2 Approach to Maintain/Restore Sound Water Cycles

3 Adequate Use and Benefits of Water

4 Maintenance of Sound Water Cycles in Water Use

5 Actions Concerning Water Cycle under International Cooperation

## Part 2 Comprehensive and Systematic Measures on Water Cycles Implemented by the Government

1 River Basin Cooperation

-Framework for Comprehensive and Integrated River Basin Management-

(1) River basin area

(2) Concepts of comprehensive and integrated river basin management

(3) River basin water cycle council and river basin water cycle plan

(4) Contents of River basin water cycle plan

(5) Development process and assessment of the river basin water cycle plan

(6) Measures for developing and promoting the river basin water cycle plan

2 Maintenance and improvement of Water Retention/Recharge Function

(1) Forests (2) Rivers (3) Farmland (4) Cities

3 Adequate and Effective Water Use

(1) Stable water supply and drainage

(2) Sustainable maintenance and use of groundwater

(3) Strategic maintenance, management and renewal of water infrastructure

Source) MLIT

4 Education of Sound Water Cycles

(1) Promotion of water cycle education

(2) Raising awareness of water cycles

5 Voluntary Activities by Private Entities

6 Research for Developing and Implementing Water Cycle Measures

(1) Research on the current situation of water cycles in river basins

(2) Research on the effect of climate change on water cycles and adaptability

7 Promotion of Science and Technology

8 International Partnerships and Cooperation

(1) International partnerships

(3) Overseas expansion of water business

9 Human Resource Development in Water Cycles

(1) Human resource development and international personnel exchange under industry-academic-government collaboration

Part 3 Requirements for the Comprehensive and Systematic Promotion of Measures on Water Cycles

1 Effective Measures on Water Cycles

2 Responsibilities, Collaboration and Cooperation of Stakeholders

3 Announcement of Measures on Water Cycles

## 2 Future Initiatives on Water Cycle Policy

Going forward, under the Headquarters for Water Cycle Policy, the MLIT will push forward various measures of the Water Cycle Basic Plan in an efficient and effective manner in coordination with water cycle related government agencies while establishing coordination structures at the regional levels.

## Section 8

Efficient, Prioritized Deployment of Measures

## 1 Efforts to Improve Productivity in Construction Production Systems Including "i-Construction"

As Japanese workforce continues to shrink as a whole, the need augments to automate, streamline and upgrade construction management system workflow for higher productivity while endeavoring to improve the cost structures in the successive stages of social infrastructure development planning, engineering, construction and management in order to develop social infrastructures efficiently and effectively for maximized social infrastructure stock effects and to assure their quality in the future. The MLIT promotes a variety of approaches that help improve productivity from perspectives of developing and utilizing new technologies and methods, leveling construction timings and maintaining fair construction periods, expediting communication, making efficient use of technicians and craftspersons.

In November 2015, it was decided to promote i-Construction, a new initiative aimed at drastic improvement in productivity in lagging areas that includes civil engineering and concrete work by working on three measures—full use of ICT, standardization of specifications and leveling of construction timing, thereby dramatically increasing the productivity per skilled worker of construction sites as a whole. In order to examine the basic policy and promotion measures to this end, the establishment of i-Construction Committee (chaired by Hiroshi Komiya, Chairman of Mitsubishi Research Institute) was announced. The i-Construction Committee met four times since December 2015, and broad opinions received were put together as a report in April 2016. Based on the report, positioning 2016 as the beginning year of productivity revolution, the MLIT will make all-out efforts to enhance productivity, increase each worker's productivity.