6) Hardware configuration 
Fig.5 illustrates the basic hardware configuration. With optical filing systems integrated into the systems 
centering around EWS, the overall structure consists of color electrostatic blocks, color copiers, kanji 
printers, and other peripheral devices. A series of EWS exchange data by using LAN (Local Area 
Network: Ethernet). 
We believe that effective hardware utilization can be achieved by adopting methods which use general- 
purpose computers to control large-volume data and to realize functional divisions of the examination 
output results, counter inquiry procedures, etc., by effecting data changes with the EWS. 
7. Newly developed application functions 
The following is application software that can be used by utilizing the ARC/INFO. 
1) Road network control subsystems 
When constructing new roads, by calculating the travel speed and congestion distribution levels in 
conventional road usage, variations can be estimated in traffic flow on road networks, including newly 
constructed roads. 
2) Accident preventive inspection information control subsystem 
By analyzing road conditions for safety, data can be prepared to enable a priority judgment to be made 
regarding repair plans in coordination with the present traffic volume. Furthermore, the progress of the 
repair plans themselves can be controlled. 
3) Traffic census data control subsystem 
By controlling the present traffic volume data, the priority of road repair plans can be determined based on 
the obtained accident statistics data and road pavement examination data. Then basic materials can be 
prepared for use as long-term repair guidelines for prefectural road networks. 
The above mentioned are the results of the development of application functions following the purchase of 
digital road data prepared by the Japan Digital Road Management Association. This data is converted to 
numerical values from topographical maps scaled at 1/25,000 — 1/50,000. By using this data, the 
development of support functions for planning operations becomes easier from analysis procedures of 
conducting macroscopic comprehension of prefectural road networks. 
8. Conclusion 
Conventional road management systems have been individually developed in the form of facility 
management type (ledgers, documents/drawings control) and permit information control. (road occupying 
structures, special vehicle traffic). As result, data could not be possessed in common and consequently, 
wide-scope data utilization was impossible. On the other hand, a road management system utilizing GIS 
makes possible completely new system into which plan-supporting functions are incorporated, as are 
facility information/permit information controls. 
In conclusion, we wish to list the following themes, which should be tackled in the future. 
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