Title: ITS in Japan, a different approach to transportation policy

Authors: Sed S. Saad

Addresses: 21st Century COE (Centre of Excellence) Programme on ITS/Telematics, GITI Research Center on Telecommunication, Waseda University, 1011 Okuboyama Nishi-Tomida, Honjo-Saitama 367-0035, Japan

Abstract: As nations face emerging challenges within the global network economy and transportation, developed countries have initiated Intelligent Transport System (ITS) strategies ITS master plans have positioned their ITS plans as integral parts of their transportation policies. In contrast, Japan has opted for a different approach by considering ITS as part of a national telecom policy. This paper illustrates ITS in Japan through Vehicle Information and Communications System (VICS) case. Most ITS experts consider VICS as one of the most successful ITS deployments in the world whereas the global telecom industry recognises the Japanese i-mode as equally successful in the mobile internet success.

Keywords: intelligent transport systems; ITS; Japan; transportation policy; telecom policy; government policy; public-private-academia partnerships; vehicle information and communications systems; VICS; intermodal transportation.

DOI: 10.1504/WRITR.2006.011150

World Review of Intermodal Transportation Research, 2006 Vol.1 No.1, pp.45 - 54

Published online: 19 Oct 2006 *

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