National Push to Improve Accessibility Data
Overview
Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has established the Guidelines for Mobility Support Services in Pedestrian Spaces, which set out how to advance these efforts, and the Accessibility Facility Data Development Specification, which provides common rules for preparing and sharing accessibility facility information nationwide. The documents are intended to help local governments and others develop and update data on pedestrian spaces and other areas. Their use is expected to enable data links across regions and the creation and advancement of mobility support services.
Key points
- Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism established guidelines and common data development specifications.
- Cross-regional data links and the creation and advancement of mobility support services are expected.
- The documents emphasize coordination among local government departments and planned data development tailored to regional challenges and needs.
Overview
Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism is advancing the release of open data on pedestrian-space features such as step information and accessibility facility information, to support outings by people who need mobility accommodations, including older adults and wheelchair and stroller users. Developing information on diverse facilities, including pedestrian spaces, requires coordination among multiple local government departments. When specifications vary by municipality, linking data across regions and expanding services become difficult.
To address these data development challenges and enable local governments and others to prepare and update data efficiently and according to plan, the ministry established a document outlining how to proceed and a specification setting nationwide common rules for data development and sharing.
Impact
Using the data is expected to enable digital services such as route guidance that avoids steps and searches for accessible facilities, contributing to an inclusive society where everyone can travel independently and with confidence.
Use of the guidelines and specification is expected to advance data development by local governments and others, leading to the creation and enhancement of digital services such as accessible route guidance apps.
Details
The guideline is titled “Guidelines for Mobility Support Services in Pedestrian Spaces,” and the specification is titled “Accessibility Facility Data Development Specification.” The former summarizes how local governments and others can develop and update data; the latter provides common rules for preparing and sharing accessibility facility information nationwide.
For data development, it is considered important to identify priority data based on regional challenges and needs and to proceed according to plan. Summaries of the guideline and specification appear in Reference Materials 1 and 2, respectively; an overview of the measures is provided in Reference Material 3 and on the measures’ website.