"KoCoRo" project

In Kochi Prefecture, where aging and depopulation are serious problems, various activities to build an information-oriented society are underway to solve these problems and revitalize the regional communities. One of these is the KoCoRo (Kochi Communication Road) project for creating a regional community ITS.
For one year in 1997, a social experiment was carried out to study the future development and practical application of the ITS system in which "michi-no-eki (road stations)" will play a central role.
In order to utilize the results of this social experiment for providing comprehensive services to drivers and regional residents, and for promoting ITS for various purposes, a new social experiment called Regional Community ITS Program -KoCoRo '99 was started in 1999.

Web site screen of KoCoRo '99

Provision of wide-area road traffic information via Internet

Information on traffic regulations, rainfall, road surface conditions with respect to the roads managed by the Kochi Prefectural Government, Ministry of Construction, Shikoku Branch of the Japan Highway Public Corporation, and Honshu-Shikoku Bridge Authority, are displayed on a map in the Internet screen. Information on traffic congestion and vacancies at parking lots near Kochi City are also provided via the Internet.

[ Example of users' evaluation ]

1. Interest in the system
   The web site attracts about 200 hits per day average.
   It was three times this value during the frequent traffic closures due to snowfall or freezing of road surfaces caused by cold spells.
   
2. Effectiveness of information
   Nearly 80% of respondents said that information on traffic regulation was useful, and more than 50% said that road surface information was useful.
   
3. Request for the system in future
   There is demand to increase the kinds of information provided. The requested information, in descending order, is information on traffic congestion, distance and time to major destinations, and schedule for traffic closures.
   

Provison of wide-area road traffic information(Web site screen)

Installation of information terminals at "michi-no-eki"

In 1997, Kochi Prefecture conducted a one-year social experiment using information terminals installed at several "michi-no-eki (road stations)," which will serve as the foundation for computerizing the motorized community. The purpose of the experiment was to promote human exchange, develop industries and revitalize regional communities by providing various information on roads and sight-seeing to people. The information provision is based on the client/server system, in which the central "michi-no-eki" has an information processing/controlling server and the other "michi-no-eki" has only a client server.
The system provides information on traffic regulations, vacancies at parking lots, weather, sight-seeing, and administrative activities.

[ Example of users' evaluation ]

1. Feedback from "michi-no-eki" users about the information service
   96 percent of respondents said that the service is attractive and 99 percent said that they support the service.
   
2. Users' needs
   Needs for informartion on sight-seeing are the highest, followed by road information and then weather information.
   
3. Request for additional information
   Users request the addition of various information, including information on traffic congestion and detours, and distance and time to major destinations.
   

People using information terminals at a "michi-no-eki"