The government decided on November 29 the Long-life Infrastructure Master Plan to prepare for large-scaled natural disasters such as the Inland Earthquake of Tokyo Metropolitan area, and the Nankai Trough Earthquake, prolonging aged infrastructures valued at 800 trillion yen. It also aims to raise infrastructure business to the nation’s growth industry by strengthening its competitiveness as well to become a global front-runner in the field. Based on the Master Plan, ministries will decide individual action plans and facility plans. Requesting municipalities and related organizations to follow the plan, the government in cooperation with local governments will facilitate strategic maintenance and renewal of infrastructures.

The Master Plan determines right timing to take appropriate measures according to results of inspections in terms of effective and reliable function control. The Maintenance Cycle System, which keeps records of the facility status and renovation history, will be developed, aiming to reduce the total cost of maintenance and to level the expenses of the governmental budget. Industry-academia-public research and development of new technologies are to be promoted to develop the maintenance business. Application of new technologies is expected to boost the industry to become growing import business. (2013/12/02)