Presentation
Construction CALS/EC (Continuous Acquisition & Lifecycle Support / Electronic Commerce)

Mr. Osamu Sogo
Deputy Director, Engineering Affairs Division, Minister's Secretariat, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Japan

Entering the 21st century we embark on an era of historic change. The Japanese population is expected to decline at the beginning of the 21st century. This demographic change will lead to a reduction in infrastructure spending. Therefore, future public works must be of higher quality and lower cost. The social capital stock is steadily increasing and social capital should be used over a longer term and in a wider way. Since the burst of the bubble economy, construction investment has been declining in Japan, but the number of licensed companies has been increasing, indicating an increase in competition. This prompts the need for enhanced utilization of high technology in the restructuring of the construction industry, and greater involvement by the public in the process of public works.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has been developing a system known as CALS/EC as a means of transforming public works in the 21st century by utilizing information technology. CALS/EC is being pursued according to an action program which stipulates that CALS/EC will be applied to every process of the projects formerly under the authority of the Ministry of Construction.

In April 2001, a new service, Bidding Data Service, will be inaugurated, which will able users to search data on a website to be established. Electronic bidding is also expected to be introduced for public works projects. In 2001, electronic bidding via the Internet will be used for 100 construction works and projects, chosen in order of size. It is hoped that e-bidding can be applied to all projects by the end of 2004, and that by using e-bidding, resources will be saved in the bidding process, and data sharing will reduce miscommunication.