MLIT Policy on Satellite Data Use in Infrastructure
Overview
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism formulated the “Policy on Satellite Data Utilization in the Infrastructure Sector,” setting out basic measures for using satellite data in infrastructure. In response to the Japanese government designating the three years from FY2024 as the “period for expanding the use of commercial satellites,” the ministry is promoting the use of satellite data for situation assessment during disasters and infrastructure inspections.
Key points
- The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism formulated a policy on satellite data utilization in the infrastructure sector.
- The Japanese government has designated the three years from FY2024 as the “period for expanding the use of commercial satellites.”
- The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism is promoting the use of satellite data for situation assessment during disasters and infrastructure inspections.
Overview
On August 26, 2026, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism held the 13th meeting of the Headquarters for Promoting DX in the Infrastructure Sector and formulated a document setting out basic measures for satellite data utilization in infrastructure. This material organizes and communicates those measures.
The policy covers the utilization of satellite data in the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism’s infrastructure sector and organizes the basic direction for further advancing future initiatives.
Impact
Based on this policy, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism is promoting the use of satellite data for situation assessment during disasters and infrastructure inspections, and will further promote these initiatives going forward.
Details
The Japanese government has designated the three years from FY2024 as the “period for expanding the use of commercial satellites” and intends for relevant ministries and agencies to actively use satellite data provided by domestic startups and others.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism plans to publish the formulated policy on its website at a later date. Inquiries about the material should be directed to the ministry’s Technology Research Division in the Minister’s Secretariat.