Tokyo ? The government is planning to introduce more information technology gadgetry, such as tags with integrated circuits and Global Positioning System-related equipment, to help improve relief delivery operations in large-scale natural disasters.

By attaching IC tags to aid supplies or having transport vehicles equipped with GPS, the government aims to manage aid delivery in a more integrated manner.

While the central government, municipal governments and ordinary people nationwide send massive amounts of relief supplies to areas hit by large-scale disasters, the distribution of these supplies can cause problems and confusion.

For example, supplies can end up concentrated at one shelter, or items can get delivered to a shelter that does not actually need them. These problems typically stem from difficulties in understanding the demands of individual shelters and efficiently distributing aid supplies.