Metropolitan Highway’s Initiatives Using Digital Technology First, he explained the promotion of DX that the company is currently undertaking. The company is promoting the use of digital technology to improve productivity and sophistication, particularly in road maintenance and management, in order to respond to social environments such as aging infrastructure, a shortage of engineers, and natural disaster risks that are becoming more severe every day. In this issue, examples of repair and reinforcement work using BIM/CIM and pavement cutting work using ICT construction equipment were introduced. BIM/CIM stands for “Building/Construction Information Modeling, Management” proposed by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. The model is a collection of objects that includes walls, columns, and other parts, and information such as dimensions and materials can be embedded in the parts that make up the model. The system is introduced at the planning, survey, and design stages, and is also used for subsequent construction and maintenance management, facilitating the sharing of information among all parties involved throughout the project and improving the efficiency and sophistication of productivity. The trial work incorporating BIM/CIM was conducted near Kiba on the No. 9 Fukagawa Line. In the information management for repair, damaged areas were clearly indicated with pins, and inspection records were added as attribute information, which improved the certainty and efficiency of on-site management. In terms of work efficiency, the combination of BIM/CIM models and MR devices led to an approximate 40% reduction in the time required for ruling out the area to be treated as a base for the application plate, and an approximate three-fold increase in productivity compared to the time required for conventional work. As an example of the use of ICT (Information and Communication Technology), the company introduced the cutting of existing pavement in the vicinity of the Rinkai Fukutoshin (waterfront subcenter) on the Bayshore Route (westbound). The position of the construction machine is measured by GNSS (satellite positioning system), and the cutting drum is automatically controlled based on road surface information from sensors. He explained that the results have improved the quality of cutting accuracy, shortened work time, reduced operator work, and improved safety. In promoting DX, President Maeda said that the “Metropolitan Expressway DX Vision,” which consists of five pillars, has been formulated and that he hopes to realize the vision by the 2030s.
Disaster Prevention Efforts Focused on Earthquakes and Heavy Rainfall In preparation for increasingly severe natural disasters, disaster prevention efforts in terms of both hardware and software have become important measures. Among the several disaster prevention measures, the company is particularly focusing on countermeasures against earthquakes and heavy rainfall. As President Maeda stated, “The mission of Metropolitan Expressway is to secure routes for emergency vehicles within 24 hours. In terms of hardware, the safety of elevated bridges is being strengthened, and measures to prevent catastrophic damage such as bridge falls and collapses have been completed. To prevent heavy rainfall, drainage facilities have been improved, pre-cleaning has been carried out, and pavement has been upgraded, and sandbags have been deployed in areas expected to be submerged. To ensure prompt response, four drills are held each year: an earthquake drill in April, a comprehensive disaster drill in September, a power outage drill in October, and a snow/freeze drill in November. The company reminded users to gather information on weather conditions, take precautions when driving, slow down and move to one side of the lane in the event of an earthquake, and leave the keys in the car when leaving the car to evacuate.
Efforts for Improvement Based on Users’ Voices The number of inquiries from users is approximately 630,000 per year, most of which can be answered immediately, such as travel time and traffic congestion, etc. However, 3,475 (0.6%) opinions and requests are carefully addressed, and those that have the potential to lead to specific improvements are charted for progress and management. Management is underway. Of the 137 cases picked up, 131 have been responded to, and the remaining 6 are scheduled to be completed by the end of the year. The case studies included the improvement and new installation of guide signs near the Shiodome JCT junction on the Inner Ring Route, the Daikoku Exit junction on the Daikoku Line (off-ramp), and the Asada Exit on the Yokohane Line (on-ramp). In the area of facilities, he introduced the change in the shape of the door lock of the multipurpose restroom at the Yashio PA on the No. 6 Mukojima Line (up) and the installation of hooks on the wall of the restroom at the Shibaura PA on the No. 11 Daiba Line (up).
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