<Lecture
Outline>
The use of digital terrestrial broadcasting has
started, and the infusion of information communication
technologies will surely have an impact on ITS. The advent
of the digital era and the digitalization of broadcasting
and communications requires that various issues be resolved,
including the meaning of interactive communications, influence
on moving objects, and so on.
Specifically, in order to study the influence on moving objects, a project entitled "Study Group on Planning of Using Radio communication Systems Such as Cellular Phone, DSRC and DTTB" has been started. The committee chairperson is Dr. Takayuki MORIKAWA, Graduate School, Nagoya University. The Tokai Bureau of Telecommunications of the Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications has established an ITS implementation headquarters to emphasize the promotion of ITS. A validation experiment was conducted in February 2004, proving that images transmitted to moving objects via digital broadcasting are of excellent quality. The next issue is to determine the roles that terrestrial broadcasting, mobile phones and DSRC will play. A major issue will be creating the contents to be provided.
With this as the background of the progress in information communication technologies development, the 2004 Aichi-Nagoya ITS World Congress will be held. This year will mark the second time for the congress to be held in Japan, following the first congress in Yokohama in 1995. The congress has met 10 times to date, and our intentions are to create a new tide for the next 10 years. Based on the theme "ITS for a Livable Society", our aim is to conduct the World Congress in such a manner that allows the public the ability to participate and experience ITS firsthand. It will be changed from the former congress that focused on experts to a congress that promotes citizens' participation, where they can actually feel ITS and become familiar with it.
The World Congress will be held from October 18-22, and the related exhibitions can be viewed from October 19-24, extended to be open Saturday and Sunday. We, the Organization Committee will work together with the organizations implementing ITS in Japan. Presently, the estimated scale of the congress is 5,000 persons registered, 50,000 visitors and a total of 500,000 participants from throughout Japan. As for the venue, the opening ceremony will be held at the Aichi Arts Center, and sessions and exhibitions will take place at Port Messe Nagoya(Nagoya International Exhibition Hall).
Focusing on the concept of citizen participation, "ITS World", an actual city built to show the safety and environmental conveniences of ITS, will be built in Port Messe Nagoya. In it will be exhibited authentic ITS mechanisms. Participants will learn about ITS mechanisms at the Georama Theater, and become to understand them through experiencing ITS and society of the future firsthand. During the week before the World Congress as well as while it is being held, an ITS festival will be held at Oasis 21 to enliven the atmosphere. Together with the Nagoya Festival, various activities will be implemented to create a lively and fun environment in which to present ITS.
Technology showcase tours will be one of the features of the World Congress. Unlike the technical tours of factories previously conducted, these tours will take participants to visit locations where they will experience (showcase) examples of Japan's cutting-edge ITS. A total of 10 courses will be setup in and around Nagoya and Toyota cities, 10 courses for visiting other areas in Japan in addition to Aichi Prefecture, and three courses in other countries, bringing the total to 23 courses in all. The DSRC experience tour created by the Tokai Bureau of Telecommunications is one such tour. ITS in Japan is highly appreciated throughout the world as the result of the abundant activities carried out in the past. This time, not only will our activities improve the quality of the World Congress, they will work to realize the participation of the citizen for the first time.
With the digital era as the background, expectations for the future of transportation in our society depends on evolving ITS. And the dissemination of the Internet and other factors are strongly influencing the wave of information communications development and ITS in our daily lives. The 2004 Aichi-Nagoya ITS World Congress will be held under the above circumstances, and it is important that we make others understand and see the future of transportation in society so that we, too, can consider what must be to successfully attain our goals. We are expecting many registrants and participants.