Proposal of Distributed Scheduling Heuristics Using Mediation Agent

This paper proposes an agent-based distributed scheduling system against the background of the deregulation of electric utility and the smart grid for the renewable energy, and then focuses on a maintenance scheduling in the context of real problems. A synchronous backtrack algorithm, a welD-known method for distributed scheduling problems, has difficulties handling （A） rapid schedule adjustments and （B） impartial assignment. Thus, this paper proposes two kinds of heuristics： （1） parallel assignment and （2） multiple priority strategies, and developed the distributed scheduling system which makes use of the heuristics. It consists of schedulers for each power station and mediation agents which have cloning and merging functions to support the implementation of the heuristics. Finally, the result of experiment shows an improvement when handling the rapid adjustment and the impartiality issues with reasonable computational overhead.

Navigation System for Foreign Tourists in Japan

The present study aimed to design, develop, operate and evaluate a sightseeing navigation system in order to support foreign tourists＇ efficient acquisition of sightseeing spot information in Japanese urban tourist areas, about which a variety of information is transmitted, by enabling information to be accumulated, shared and recommended. The system was developed by integrating Web-GIS （Geographic Information Systems）, SNS （Social Networking Services） as well as the recommendation system into a single system. The system used the non-language information such as signs, marks and pictograms in addition to English information, and displayed sightseeing spot information and conduct navigation on 2D and 3D digital maps of the Web-GIS. Additionally, the system was operated for two weeks in the central part of Yokohama city in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, and the total number of users was 54. Based on the results of the web questionnaire survey, all of the specific functions are highly evaluated, and the usefulness of the system when sightseeing was excellent. From the results of the access analysis of users＇ log data, it is evident that it can be said that the system was mainly used before sightseeing and users confirm their favorite sightseeing spots and made their tour planning in advance, using 2D and 3D digital maps.

Comparative Study on Woody Biomass Use and Application in Japanese Biomass Towns

This study aimed to grasp the characteristics of woody biomass use and application in leading examples of Japanese biomass towns, and made the following two points clear： （1） Biomass town plans had been officially announced in 318 districts by 2011, and in about 71% of the districts, woody biomass use and application, which is classified into four types, was being conducted; （2） In each example studied, regional characteristics were reflected and there were distinct characteristics. Shimokawa Town in Hokkaido made the most number of efforts, and after 2008 the number of efforts was increasing; however, along with each of the other examples, the use and application of forest timber offcuts is a task for the future.

Environmental Information Statement for Home Appliances at Online Stores in Japan

This study aims to identify the current situation and problems of environmental information statement for major four home appliances （refrigerators, washing machines, air conditioners and television receivers） sold at online stores in Japan, and then to suggest how to improve the situation, through a questionnaire survey conducted among businesses that operate online stores and online malls with multiple online stores. The findings of this study are summarized into the following two points： （l） It is found out that environmental information statement for the home appliances at online stores has four problems： （i） less information on ＂three Rs （reduce, reuse and recycle）＂ and ＂chemical substances＂ than the one on ＂energy conservation＂; （ii） cost for providing environmental information statement; （iii） issues associated with a label and mark placement; （iv） issues associated with energy conservation statement. （2） Improvements are suggested for each of the four problems listed above, and shown are （i） the effectiveness of, and need to promote, a label and mark placement; （ii） cost burden on buyers; （iii） need of active efforts made by businesses and of dissemination of legal regulations to businesses.