Semi-Integral Architecture: Sustainable Infrastructure Concept

In recent years, the percentage of infrastructure in Japan that is more than 50 years old has increased at an accelerating rate. This is due to the fact that most infrastructure, such as roads, was built after the period of high economic growth. In order to continue to use these existing infrastructures in the future, it is essential to create innovations in maintenance and repair. In this paper, we focus on bridges, as a typical constituent of road infrastructure, and propose a new concept of product architecture called “semi-integral type” based on the characteristics of bridges as a clue to solve such problems. Infrastructures such as bridges are used for a long period of time with maintenance and repair, unlike “modular type” personal computers and home appliances, or “integral type” automobiles with internal combustion engines. Semi-integral type is a concept that promotes an understanding of sustainable infrastructure that aims to extend the life and improve the functionality of existing infrastructure through partial improvement and expansion of existing structures. This concept is expected to contribute to the creation of innovation, technological strategies for companies, and the circular economy through the effective use of resources and longevity.