#Japan #Tokyo #Infrastructure #Ministry of Land #Construction by-products

Correction of Statistical Errors in Construction By-Product Survey Data

On April 25, 2023, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) acknowledged that certain numerical data published in the "Fiscal Year 2018 Construction By-Product Survey Results (Final Values)" was incorrect. This announcement comes after an internal review initiated following the data's initial release on January 24, 2020. As a result, MLIT has temporarily suspended the online availability of this survey data until all errors can be rectified.

Details of the Errors

Currently, the ministry has identified inaccuracies in various tables, including:

• - Table 4(1): Consolidated summary of construction by-product generation
• - Table 5(2): Summary of material utilization and recycling rates (excluding on-site use)
• - Table 9: Breakdown of construction by-products by type of work
• - Table 10(1): Material use by type of construction (including on-site use)
• - Table 11: Types of disposal sites for generated construction soil (including on-site use)
• - Table 13: Status of large-scale transportation of construction by-products
• - Table 14: Disposal locations of construction by-products
• - Table 16: Number and processing capacities of recycling facilities identified by capacity
• - Table 18: Rate of recycling and resource reclamation of construction waste

Moreover, there could be additional inaccuracies in other figures that are still under review.

Causes of the Errors

The primary reason for the discrepancies was traced back to human error during manual data entry. The error has been exacerbated by a lack of thorough verification during the data aggregation process. MLIT has acknowledged these shortcomings and has committed to rectifying these issues promptly.

Future Actions

MLIT is currently engaged in a comprehensive review to confirm the extent and causes of the errors and is working diligently to correct them. Once the corrections are finalized, the ministry will promptly update the website with the revised figures and a list of corrections. Furthermore, to prevent such errors from happening in the future, MLIT plans to implement more robust verification procedures during data compilation and publishing.

Overview of the Construction By-Product Survey

The aim of the construction by-product survey is to gain an accurate understanding of the volume and utilization of construction by-products. It serves as foundational data for evaluating the progress of recycling efforts and assists in the reassessment of systems in response to changing conditions. The data collected will also be pivotal in the development of new strategies for managing construction waste effectively.

In conclusion, while the recognition of these errors is unfortunate, it is also a crucial step toward ensuring the integrity and reliability of government statistics. The public deserves accurate information, and the ministry is taking all necessary measures to restore confidence in the data they provide.