Narrow Results

Different types of social infrastructure, such as roads and bridges, are essential and necessary for supporting our daily lives and economic operations. Because 39% of Japan’s road bridges and 27% of its tunnels will have been in use for 50 years or more by 2023, maintaining them has become a significant national concern (Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, White Paper on Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism in Japan (2017), p. 114). Because of the declining birthrate, the deteriorating labor force, and the weakening local economy, the Japanese government must maintain these social infrastructures while facing severe budgetary challenges. And efficient and economical maintenance strategies and plans are required. This paper proposes optimal maintenance policies which consider the unique circumstances of social infrastructure and minimize maintenance costs. By applying these policies to wave-dissipating blocks in Japan, the effectiveness of them is confirmed.