Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Technology Basic Plan and is actively adopting the resulting outcomes in public works, the construction and transport industries, and elsewhere.

(1) Initiatives in facilities and Other Organs, Extraordinary Organs, External Bureaus, and National Research and Development Agencies

Key initiatives undertaken by facilities and other organs, extraordinary organs, external bureaus, and national research and development agencies under the jurisdiction of MLIT are as outlined in the figure. National research and development agencies selectively and efficiently conduct research according to social and administrative needs for the purpose of securing maximum results from research and development for the sound growth of our national economy through improvements in the level of science and technology in Japan and other benefits.

Figure II-10-2-1 Major Initiatives for FY2015 by Facility Organizations, Special Organizations, and External Bureaus

Organizations, etc.	Summary
Geospatial Information Authority of Japan	Operating under the auspices of the Geography and Crustal Dynamics Research Center, the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan engages in research and development activities in order to realize a society that utilizes geospatial information in an advanced manner and to contribute to disaster-prevention and environmental objectives by Development of a system to monitor slip deficit rate and forward slip on plate boundaries based on wide-area crustal movement data, engaging in research on ionospheric correction technology for the sophisticated monitoring of crustal movements based on the use of satellite-based SAR interferometry, Efficient creation method of land vulnerability information for producing earthquake hazard maps, and Improvement of orthoimage productivity by full-automated aerial triangulation.
Policy Research Institute for Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism	The Policy Research Institute for Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism carries out surveys and research activities for the purpose of making broad contributions to the formulation of policies in the field of national land and transportation. In FY 2015, topics of research that was carried out include the following: organizational safety management methods of transport companies; use of big data for the administration of land, infrastructure, transport, and tourism; strategic public infrastructure maintenance and renewal through integrated partnerships among various players; and method for predicting the domestic visit area distribution of foreign tourists visiting Japan.
National Institute for Land and Infrastructure Management (NILIM)	The National Institute for Land and Infrastructure Management engages in research and development work with a primary focus on research concerning the maintenance of infrastructure, an area that includes methods for diagnosing the soundness of road structures, design methods pertaining to repairs and reinforcement work, and sewage inspections and deterioration diagnostic techniques; research concerning disaster prevention, disaster mitigation, and crisis management, an area that includes high-precision methods for predicting the occurrence of sediment-related disasters through the use of real-time observation and monitoring data, river embankment technology for prolonging the period prior to collapse as much as possible, and technology for improving safety while residents flee from a tsunami striking a port or harbor; research concerning the intelligent use of methods for quantitatively assessing technologies to facilitate the more effective use of roads through the use of ETC2.0 and technologies for incorporating energy-saving design into the varied skeletal structures of homes in an area; and research concerning innovations into work procedures, such as in terms of new approaches to the execution of a project through a public-private partnership.
Meteorological Research Institute	Conducted research on understanding the phenomena of weather, climate, earthquake volcanoes, and the ocean as well as predictions to contribute to “strengthening measures for typhoons and torrential rains”, “strengthening measures for earthquake, volcano, and tsunami disasters”, and “strengthening of measures related to climate change and global environment”.
Japan Coast Guard	Conducted testing and research for equipment and materials used for Coast Guard duties, testing and research for forensic science at sea, and advancing observation technology for seafloor crustal movements.

National research and development agency	Summary
Public Works Research Institute*	Conducted research and development to contribute to the efficient creation of quality social capital and the development of Hokkaido such as “Research on prevention, mitigation, and early recovery from more intensified and diverse natural disasters”, “Research on strategic maintenance and management of social capital stocks, and “Research on innovative technology for greener social infrastructure”.
Building Research Institute*	Conducted research and development on technologies related to housing, building, and urban planning such as “Research and development related to the promotion of low-carbon housing, building, and cities”, and “Research and development on technology to improve the safety of buildings against earthquakes, etc.”
National Traffic Safety and Environment Laboratory	Conducted test research related to the safety assurance of land transport and environment preservation, technical standards conformity assessment of automobiles, and technical evaluations related to recalls, including “Promoting the development and commercialization of next generation heavy vehicles” and “Survey on the requirement for communication between a pedestrian and a vehicle.”
National Maritime Research Institute*	Conducted research on ensuring the safety of marine transport, preservation of marine environment, marine development and advanced marine transport including, “Research for advanced analysis technology for high precision reproduction of marine accident occurrence conditions”, “Research on green evolution of ships that contribute to revolutionary technology to reduce the environmental burden”, and “Research on advancing and developing a safety evaluation method on renewable marine energy production systems”.
Port and Airport Research Institute*	Conducted research and development to contribute to the formation of a safe and secure society, the maintenance and creation of excellent environment in coastal areas, and the creation of an energetic economic society including “Research on community protection from large scale earthquake and tsunami”, “conservation and recovery of ecological system along coastal areas and CO2absorption, and “Environmental improvement of enclosed coastal seas”, and “Research on strategic maintenance and management of ports and harbors and airport facilities”.
Electronic Navigation Research Institute*	Implemented research and development for advancing air traffic management systems such as “Expanding the capacity of airways”, “Expanding the processing capacity of congested airports”, and “Safety and technology that connects air and land”.

$ ^{*} $ National research and development agency