On September 15, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) concluded a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on road asset management (Note 1) initiatives with the National College of Technology Maizuru (Maizuru National College of Technology) of the Independent Administrative Institution National College of Technology Organization. The MOU was signed online between Mr. Keisei Tanaka, Director General of JICA’s Social Infrastructure Department, and Mr. Yasuo Utsumi, President of Maizuru National College of Technology.
JICA has established the “Road Asset Management Platform” to utilize Japan’s experience and expertise in technical cooperation, and is working toward the realization of effective and efficient road administration based on asset management methods through the establishment of preventive maintenance and management of road infrastructure in developing regions and research and development support for asset management technology and infrastructure life extension technology. We are working toward the realization of effective and efficient road administration based on asset management methods.
Maizuru National College of Technology established the Institute of Maintenance Education for Infrastructure (iMec) in 2014 to train local infrastructure maintenance engineers. iMec accepts a wide range of students from construction-related technical colleges, local government officials, and private civil engineers from all over Japan, and provides not only classroom lectures but also practical training in nondestructive testing (Note 2) and hands-on experience with actual deteriorated bridges. 2 and hands-on learning by using actual components and bridges in service. iMec contributes to society as a core facility for preventive maintenance of road infrastructure.
This next MOU will establish a framework for improving the asset management capacity of road infrastructure in developing countries, mainly in the area of preventive maintenance. iMec’s experience and expertise in training engineers is expected to contribute to solving road infrastructure issues faced not only in Japan but also in developing countries.
In the future, through iMec, we will train human resources capable of handling maintenance, management, and repair of road infrastructure. Specifically, we plan to utilize iMec’s educational materials to prepare educational materials on road and bridge maintenance and management in foreign languages, and to provide technical guidance for long-term trainees from developing regions related to “road asset management”.
By improving maintenance and management capabilities through preventive maintenance, it is expected that the aging of road infrastructure, which has become a global issue, will be addressed, leading to safer and more secure use of roads. This collaboration will also contribute to Goal 9 of the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals), which is to create a foundation for industrial and technological innovation.
(Note 1) Asset management in social infrastructure refers to the concept of positioning social infrastructure as national assets and systematically and strategically maintaining and enhancing the value of assets. Road asset management is a concept that applies this asset management approach to the maintenance and management of road assets such as roads and bridges.
(Note 2) Technology to detect harmful flaws in machine parts and structures without destroying the object.
© Source JICA
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