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The new Ishioka Tunnel project (in the second work section) involves the construction of a water conveyance tunnel with an inner diameter of 3.5 m by the slurry shield tunneling method. The project has two characteristics, long-distance excavation and quick construction. The tunnel has a length of 5,000 m without any intermediate shafts. This is one of Japan’s leading long-distance tunnelling projects. Construction including design is carried out quickly over a period of 36 months. Permanent excavation was started in late April 2004. A highest rate of monthly shield advance of 500.85 m was recorded. Construction was carried out rapidly at an average rate of monthly shield advance of 338 m, higher than 320 m as planned. The shield reached the reception shaft approximately two months earlier than scheduled. This paper provides an outline of construction and describes the major techniques applied. (A) This paper was presented at Safety in the underground space - Proceedings of the ITA-AITES 2006 World Tunnel Congress and the 32nd ITA General Assembly, Seoul, Korea, 22-27 April 2006. For the covering abstract see ITRD E129148. “Reprinted with permission from Elsevier”.

Increasing use of computers and information systems by local governments in Japan led to the establishment of the Local Authorities Systems Development Center (LASDEC) in 1970. LASDEC is a national resource center for research, development, and operation of computers and information systems in support of local government administration. Both central and local government support, financial and nonfinancial, have been crucial to its continued success.