Recent research and development programs for infrastructures maintenance, renovation and management in Japan

TLDR

The program aims to demonstrate efficient bridge and infrastructure maintenance by reducing work burden and cost, and the article reviews representative examples and outcomes. Since 2014, the 5‑year program under CSTI’s Strategic Innovation Program has coordinated about 60 research projects across universities, institutes, and industry to develop key technologies in non‑destructive testing, monitoring, robotics, performance prediction, durable repair materials, and ICT‑based data management for infrastructure.

Abstract

New research and development program named “Infrastructure maintenance, renovation and management” was started in 2014 under the Council of Science, Technology and Innovation (CSTI)’s Strategic Innovation Program (SIP) of Japan. The 5-year program covers various subjects of infrastructure maintenance with key technologies in condition assessment using non-destructive testing, monitoring and robotics, long-term performance prediction, development of durable high-quality of material for repair and replacement, and management of large amount of bridges and other infrastructure data using advanced information and communication technologies (ICT). The program consists of about 60 research projects involving universities, government research institutes and industries. This initiative is designed as an example for efficient bridge and infrastructure maintenance by reducing the burden of maintenance works and cost. This article describes an overview of representative examples and the outcomes of research and development projects under this program.