Report of Land Transport Session - By Prof. Eiichi TANIGUCHI Kyoto University

Report of Land Transport Session

               By Prof. Eiichi TANIGUCHI
                          Kyoto University

Presentations of the session
1. Importance of Transport Data Collection and Processing for a Model
     Development of International Cargo Traffic
    Dr. Ryuichi SHIBASAKI,
    National Institute for Land and Infrastructure Management (NILIM)

2. Present Status and Problems of Asian Highway Database and Trans
    Asian Railway Data Prepared by UN ESCAP
    Mr. Hikaru NISHIMURA, Central Consultant Inc.

3. Published or Unpublished Data of the TSR Intermodal Transport
    Ms. Hisako TSUJI, Economic Research Institute for Northeast Asia
    (ERINA)

4. Current Status and Issues of Logistics Network in ASEAN
   - Outline of “ASEAN Logistics Network Map” Project -
    Mr. Tetsuo SHIBATA and Mr. Yu YOSHIDA,
                        Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO)

5. The Research on the Cross-border Transportation Infrastructure
    Mr. Hiroshi TAKEUCHI, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)

1. Importance of Transport Data Collection and Processing for a Model
Development of International Cargo Traffic (by Dr. Ryuichi SHIBASAKI)

What are problems?
1. Accuracy of Regional-basis Cargo Demand
  - Model input data cannot be validated due to lack of actual data
2. Database Maintenance
  - Most of commercially-based data are very expensive
  - Data processing takes thousands of man-hours

2. Present Status and Problems of Asian Highway Database and Trans Asian
    Railway Data Prepared by UN ESCAP (by Mr. Hikaru NISHIMURA)

        Major Problems of AH Database
        • Some countries have never submit important
        information, such as traffic volume on each AH section
        • Some countries have never submit update of AH
        database information
        • Progress of AH improvement is too fast to catch up
        latest information in some countries
        • Revise of maps should be done manually both for
        simple route maps and GIS maps

3. Published or Unpublished Data of the TSR Intermodal Transport
                                                       (by Ms. Hisako TSUJI)

 Issues regarding the statistical data availability of the TSR route
 1. Russian Railways’ data is not open
        - Extremely limited published data
        - Ambiguous definition
        - Corporate nature
 2. Limits in alternative approaches
        - Port and maritime statistics
        - Neighboring country’s railway statistics
        - Road shipping statistics
 Recommendations
     - Require disclosure of statistical data to Russia
     - Japanese industry association (TSIOAJ)’s initiative
     - ROK industry association (KIFFA)’s initiative

4. Current Status and Issues of Logistics Network in ASEAN - Outline of “ASEAN
Logistics Network Map” Project – (by Mr. Tetsuo SHIBATA and Mr. Yu YOSHIDA)

 Logistics Database: Proposal to ASEAN
 - Develop statistical information database concerning logistics
 environment using common format throughout ASEAN
 - Logistics efficiency benchmarks

 - Provide information for private sector for their logistics management.
 - Logistics efficiency benchmarks become an incentive for each
 country to improve its logistics environment, and through a positive
 competition among countries, the competitiveness of the region will be
 also strengthened.

5. The Research on the Cross-border Transportation Infrastructure
                                              (by Mr. Hiroshi TAKEUCHI)

  Issues for the Promotion of CBT
  1. Issues on Infrastructure
  (1)ICD Development (Function for storage and Hub on corridor)
  (2)Development of the Border Facility and Management System
  (3)Solution for the missing link on the corridor
  2. Issues for implementing SWI, SSI
  (1)Revision of Customs Law (Customs Operation in the other)
  (2)Unification of the necessary Documents
  (3)Development of the Border Facilities (CCA, Scanner, ICT)
  (4)Training for Customs Officers at Border
  (5)Establishment of Transit Cargo Guarantee Organization
  3. Issues for Logistics and Transport Industries
  (1)Establishment of liability insurance systems for CBT
  (2)Establishment of information network on logistics in the GMS
  (3)Clarification of the public duties for transport promotion

Issues/Problems on Land Transport Data pointed out in presentations
1. Very Poor Data Availability (lack of data at crucial level)
- Some countries never conduct necessary statistical survey
         (lack of understanding on the importance of data collection,
                          scarce incentive to conduct, insufficient funds, etc.)
- Various types of data are needed for comprehensive understanding of
transport
- Limitation of data acquaintance due to governmental policy and business
secrets
- Language problems
2. Difference among countries, difference among organizations
- Different attitude on statistics
         (some countries are very secretive and non-cooperative)
- Different data definition
- Some organizations try to collect and estimate data, but most of them are
done independently (no enough collaboration)
3. Difficulty of maintenance
- Rapidity of change (too fast to catch up)
- Some commercially-based data are very expensive
- Who does maintain the data? Who will pay for it?

What should we tackle with at a starting point? (tentative)

1. Who (what organizations) are in charge of data collection?/
   who should take an initiative on this matter?
           It is difficult to supervise this kind of complicated and sometimes
           sensitive matter for one/several particular organization(s),
           because people who will utilize data have different objectives
           and different positions

           Instead of that, it might be very important to establish
           opportunities to exchange information, strengthen interaction,
           and develop some common awareness among resource
           persons like this workshop

           Also, it is important to design some incentives/motivations to
           conduct statistical survey and data processing; e.g. involving
           business people and encouraging big sponsors to support the
           activities

2. How should be structured a “sustainable” framework for data
collection?/ how can we have people understand its importance?
           It is important to have people (especially who in charge of data
           collection and processing in each country) understand how
           beneficial for his/her country it is persuasively

3. How can we encourage to conduct statistical survey, especially
for developing countries?
           - More cheaper methodologies and technologies for statistical
           investigation (ex. utilizing satellite pictures and GPS data)
           should be developed and implemented
           - Workshops in developing countries is also useful
           - Statistics should be published in English

4. What kind of / how does each country conduct statistical
survey?
           The research on differences and characteristic comparisons of
           transport statistics among countries are needed

5. What is a role of EASTS ?

          - EASTS should provide some platform/guidelines to collect
          data and arrange special session in its conference
          - Some existing organizations such as ADB and UN-ESCAP
          and cooperative frameworks such as ASEAN-JAPAN Transport
          Partnership would be key-players for collaborative research
          - ECMT (European Conference of Ministry of Transport) will be
          a good example to refer