Fujikura and Fujikura Diamond Cable's communication cables are exhibited at the Kanto Regional Development Bureau's "Construction Technology Exhibition Hall" ◆ The latest information and communication cables supporting disaster prevention, mitigation, and national resilience On July 3, 2023, Fujikura Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as Fujikura) announced that its "small-diameter high-density slotless optical fiber cable" has been selected for display at the "Construction Technology Exhibition Hall," which showcases the latest construction technologies and initiatives by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism's Kanto Regional Development Bureau. Additionally, the "leaky coaxial cable for Local 5G" from its subsidiary Fujikura Diamond Cable (hereinafter referred to as Fujikura Diamond Cable) has also been adopted, and both products will be exhibited as "the latest information and communication cables supporting disaster prevention, mitigation, and national resilience." *For more information, please check the related product information below.

Implementing DX across the entire construction site to enhance operational efficiency, productivity, safety, and promote work style reform throughout the industry. ◆ Expanding Hirayama Construction's DX initiatives to partner companies Hirayama Construction Co., Ltd. announced on July 3 that it will collaborate with Next Field Co., Ltd. and NTT East Japan Chiba Branch to expand its DX initiatives to partner companies, aiming to improve productivity across the entire construction site. Since multiple companies collaborate at construction sites, it is not easy to instill DX among all participants. Therefore, the company has decided to expand its DX initiatives to everyone on the construction site and realize the ideal DX model. *For more details, please check the related product information below.

Sales of the data communication-focused low-cost SIM "Zero One SIM" combined with data communication devices for the construction and construction machinery industries. ◆ Support for introduction, installation, and maintenance by combining "Zero One SIM" with data communication devices. Neeswell Co., Ltd. announced that its subsidiary, Zero One Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as Zero One Manufacturing), will start offering data communication device sales services for the construction and construction machinery industries from July 1, 2023. By combining the data communication-focused low-cost SIM "Zero One SIM" provided by Zero One Manufacturing with data communication devices, we will offer a one-stop solution for introduction, installation, and maintenance at construction sites. *For more details, please check the related product information below.

Although I started working in the construction industry to acquire a skill, it takes time to actually gain that skill. ◆ About 40% want to acquire a skill Will of Construction Co., Ltd. announced the results of a survey targeting 141 young employees at construction sites nationwide on June 23, aimed at alleviating the anxieties of inexperienced young employees working in the construction field. The survey revealed that the main reason for wanting to work in the construction industry, for both men and women, was "to acquire a skill," which accounted for about 40%. Regarding "regrets about working in the construction industry," 46% of men and 35% of women responded that "it takes time to acquire a skill." Additionally, 29% of women indicated that "they cannot envision their future career," which is 13% higher than the same response from men. *For more details, please check the related product information below.

Robust body with IP57 dust and waterproof performance in a transceiver style ◆ Wireless mobile IP phone for factories and construction sites Icom Inc. announced on June 23 that it will release the wireless mobile IP phone IP210H, suitable for use in harsh environments such as construction sites, at the end of June. Like the IP200H released in 2020, the IP210H supports internal and external calls via wireless LAN/LTE connections and features a transceiver function that allows simultaneous communication with multiple devices at the push of a button. *For more information, please check the related product information below.

Adopted by one in three major companies with over 1,000 employees, it has grown into a service that supports daily DX at the site. ◆ 'Kuraemon Cloud' Supporting Site DX Kuraemon Cloud, a field sharing app by Lucre Co., Ltd., has surpassed 10,000 companies using it within a year since its launch in June last year. Kuraemon Cloud is a site DX app that allows all on-site workers to share construction photos, blackboards, and drawings in real time. This app enables quick execution of instructions, confirmations, reports, and records. It has been adopted across all 29 sectors of the construction industry, with 70,000 construction blackboards created daily at 1,750 sites. Additionally, security measures such as IP restriction features have been recognized, leading to its adoption by one in three major companies with over 1,000 employees. *For more information, please check the related product information below.

With Araya's AI technology and Obayashi Corporation's on-site expertise, it is possible to reduce labor and improve productivity in concrete pouring planning. ◆ Joint research and development of a concrete pouring planning system in the construction industry On June 20, 2023, Araya Inc., which specializes in AI algorithms and product development, announced that it has signed a joint research and development agreement with Obayashi Corporation. The two companies will collaborate on research and development related to a concrete pouring planning system in the construction industry. *For more details, please refer to the related product information below.

In the construction industry back office, a strong paper culture remains. ◆ The most common method of document exchange is "paper." Infomart Co., Ltd. announced the results of a survey on "overtime limit regulations and the status of digitalization in operations," targeting 362 employees in the construction industry on June 15. According to the survey, regarding the "overtime limit regulations" starting in fiscal year 2024, less than 10% of respondents said they "know about it and can explain it to others," while about half responded that they "do not know." In terms of operational digitalization, the most common method of document exchange was "paper" at about 30%, followed by "Excel or spreadsheets" at about 20%. Notably, the response indicating that invoices are on paper accounted for about 40%, the highest among all documents. *For more details, please check the related product information below.

Transitioning to a comprehensive platform company that provides new services and content in both software and hardware ◆ From flow-type to stock-type Takamiya Co., Ltd., which develops, manufactures, sells, and rents temporary equipment such as scaffolding, announced on June 9 during its financial results briefing that it has introduced a new business model called the "Takamiya Platform." The platform aims to provide high-value-added services to customers who purchase and deposit the next-generation scaffolding system "Iq System," transitioning from a flow-type business to a stock-type business. *For more details, please check the related product information below.

A local 5G and Wi-Fi environment was established at a large-scale excavation construction site, allowing applications and 4K cameras to operate smoothly. ◆ Achieving a Wide-Area High-Speed Wireless Environment with Local 5G On June 7, East Japan Railway Company, Ando Hazama Corporation (hereinafter referred to as Ando Hazama), and NTT Broadband Platform, Inc. announced the results of a joint demonstration experiment showing that utilizing local 5G is effective in realizing a wide-area high-speed wireless environment. In the demonstration experiment, a local 5G and Wi-Fi environment was established at Ando Hazama's large-scale excavation construction site, where the operation of BIM and construction management applications was confirmed, and site conditions were checked remotely using a 4K camera. *For more details, please refer to the related product information below.

Immediate labor hour limit regulations are still unaddressed due to cost issues and inadequate environmental preparation. ◆ Over 25% have "not taken any measures" Safie Inc., which provides cloud recording services, announced on June 7 the results of a survey on the reality of work style reforms in response to the 2024 problem in the construction industry, targeting 689 managerial employees working for construction companies. The survey revealed that half of the respondents were aware of the 2024 problem, but a quarter stated that they had "not taken any measures." Many expressed hopes for remote presence to streamline on-site operations, citing expectations such as "reducing travel and waiting times," but it was found that there are concerns about costs and other issues regarding implementation. *For more details, please check the related product information below.

A dilapidated slate roof over 30 years old is transformed into a robust roof through insulation, waterproofing, and special repair coatings. ◆ Achieving roof longevity while keeping costs down Yoshioka Kogyo Co., Ltd. announced on June 5, 2023, the launch of insulation, waterproofing, and special repair coatings for slate roofs. This service is being implemented in collaboration with Toyoko Co., Ltd. It began offering in May 2023, and feedback from customers in the chemical industry who have had the work done indicates that, in addition to extending the life of their roofs, the waterproofing and insulation have improved their working environment. The insulation, waterproofing, and special repair coating provides insulation, waterproofing, and reinforcement effects to the roof all at once by spraying three layers of resin. The first layer is a "special polyurethane foam insulation layer," the second layer is a "special polyurethane resin reinforcement waterproof layer," and the third layer is a "UV-resistant, non-combustible topcoat layer." A reassuring 10-year leak warranty is also included. *For more information, please check the related product information below.

Less than 10 months until overtime regulations, the actual situation and awareness improvement in construction sites is still minimal. ◆ About 70% have not addressed the overtime limit regulations. Works Mobile Japan Co., Ltd., which provides "LINE WORKS," announced the results of a "Survey on the Actual Situation and Awareness in Construction Sites" targeting 1,031 construction site managers and workers on June 5. This survey was conducted to understand the actual conditions in construction sites and the improvement of worker awareness in preparation for the overtime limit regulations starting in April 2024. The results showed that regarding the overtime limit regulations starting next fiscal year, 60% responded with "I don't know/I haven't heard about it," and 70% said they were "not doing anything in particular" to address the regulations, indicating only slight improvement compared to the previous survey. Regarding overtime hour management, 44% still reported that "overtime hours are not being counted appropriately." Additionally, the intention of construction workers to change jobs or leave was about 30% among those with monthly overtime hours exceeding 45 hours, which is 10 percentage points higher than those with less than 45 hours. *For more details, please check the related product information below.

"Scanat" for high-precision digitalization of spaces undergoes a major update ◆Easily obtain, share, and manage spatial information for anyone On June 1, 2023, nat Inc. (hereinafter referred to as nat) released version 1.1.0, a major update of its iOS app "Scanat." The new version includes features that allow anyone to easily obtain, share, and manage spatial information, improving the efficiency of field surveys and communication related to the site. *Please check below for related product information.

A construction site tour was held for students of the Architecture Department at Tobata Industrial High School. ◆34 second-year students from the Architecture Department participated in the construction site tour. Iken Construction Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as Iken Construction), part of the Iida Group Holdings, announced that it held a construction site tour for students of the Architecture Department at Fukuoka Prefectural Tobata Industrial High School on May 30, 2023. A total of 34 second-year students from the Architecture Department at Tobata Industrial High School participated in the tour. *For more information, please check the related product information below.

Efficiently create 3D terrain data from 3D models with intuitive operations for construction planning. ◆ Launch of "Smart Construction Design3D" EARTHBRAIN Co., Ltd. announced on June 1st the launch of "Smart Construction Design3D," a solution that allows users to easily create 3D models on terrain data and digitally consider construction plans. This solution can be used anytime from any internet-connected device since it can be drawn on a web browser. With 3D point cloud data of terrain obtained from drones and other sources, users can easily create 3D models of temporary construction roads and more with just intuitive operations, even without specialized knowledge. It is user-friendly, enabling not only designers but also contractors to easily create 3D models, allowing for construction planning to be considered on 3D data and reducing construction planning time. *For more details, please check the related product information below.

New Technology Enables CLT Construction on Narrow Land ◆ Japan CLT Technology Research Institute Develops "LC-gate Method" On May 26, the "Japan CLT Technology Research Institute," operated by Life Design Kabaya, announced the development of the "LC-gate Method," a CLT construction method designed for narrow sites. Additionally, the first building utilizing this method was completed on May 24 as part of a project leveraging the Forestry Agency's "CLT Utilization Building Demonstration Project" in Setagaya, Tokyo. *For more details, please check the related product information below.

The Structural Planning Institute participated in the development of use cases for the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism's project "PLATEAU." ◆ Demonstration of Use Case Development for Fiscal Year 2022 On May 23, 2023, the Structural Planning Institute announced that it had conducted a demonstration of use case development for the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism's project "PLATEAU." In the use case development for fiscal year 2022, demonstrations were conducted for "Simulation of Urban Vibrancy Evaluation" and "Snow Disaster Countermeasure Support Tool." *For more details, please check the related product information below.

Cloud service "BuildApp" realizes productivity improvement across the entire construction process ◆ Digitizing "Construction Management" improves productivity Nohara Holdings Co., Ltd. announced the results of a survey on the awareness of digitalization in construction site operations, targeting 267 site supervisors and managers (site representatives) on May 17. The survey revealed that the most serious industry issue perceived by site supervisors and managers is "labor shortage," at 63.3%. Additionally, 65.5% of site supervisors and managers expressed concern about a potential decrease in jobs due to lack of digitalization, which was the second highest after design at 69.9%. The business processes that respondents believe are lagging in productivity improvements due to digitalization were ranked as follows: 1st "Construction and Specialty Work," 2nd "Construction Management," indicating a strong awareness of the delays in digitalizing construction site operations. Furthermore, the top business area believed to improve productivity through digitalization is "Construction Management," suggesting expectations that digitalizing construction management will enhance productivity. *For more details, please check the related product information below.

Supporting DX in the infrastructure sector across organizations ◆ Providing "TerraVerse" Pasc Corporation has begun offering "TerraVerse," a 3D geospatial information data distribution platform utilizing the software "SkylineGlobe Server" from Skyline, a U.S. company. This initiative aims to support the promotion of infrastructure development and data utilization, including DX across ministries and organizations. TerraVerse allows for the establishment of a distribution and utilization environment for 3D geospatial information data in a short period without the need to build a dedicated server. Its application areas include urban planning, rivers, sediment control, disaster prevention, BIM/CIM, and roads. *For more information, please refer to the related product information below.

With the addition of an automatic comment creation feature, we aim to reduce plan creation time and improve order rates. ◆ Easy-to-understand proposal comments automatically generated by ChatGPT Anshin Planning Co., Ltd. announced on May 18 that it has added a feature to its housing proposal tool "My Home Robo," developed in collaboration with Lib Work Co., Ltd., which automatically generates guidance texts for plan proposals using "ChatGPT." In My Home Robo, AI selects plan candidates based on responses to a questionnaire from the client, and from those, sales personnel further narrow down to create the final proposal document. With the integration of ChatGPT, My Home Robo can now automatically include easy-to-understand proposal comments in the proposal document based on the client's questionnaire responses. The automatically generated comments can also be edited and published on the smartphone web My Page, making it useful for remote proposals. *For more information, please check the related product information below.

Patent obtained for technology that automates the process of extracting specific areas from detailed drawings of building structures using AI. ◆ The time required for the extraction process can be reduced by approximately 70%. On May 16, 2023, SpiderPlus Inc. announced the acquisition of a fundamental patent technology called "Automated Detail Extraction AI," which automatically extracts various detailed drawings from building structure diagrams using AI. It is stated that by utilizing this technology, the time required for the extraction process can be reduced by approximately 70%. *For more information, please check the related product information below.

Preventing Falls and Drop Accidents in the Construction Industry through Image Recognition AI ◆ Joint Development by Hitachi Solutions and Okumura Corporation Hitachi Solutions, Ltd. began selling the "Detection Service for Non-Users of Fall Arrest Equipment Hooks for the Construction Industry," jointly developed with Okumura Corporation, on May 17. Since February 2019, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has tightened safety standards, mandating the use of full harness-type "fall arrest equipment" during high-altitude work. This service automatically detects non-users of "fall arrest equipment" hooks during work on steel frames using image recognition AI and sends notifications if the non-use condition continues for a certain period. Construction managers can detect the non-use state remotely, and since the footage is stored in the cloud, it can also be used for accident trend analysis and safety education for workers. *For more information, please refer to the related product information below.

Self-employed workers in the construction industry can receive compensation for work-related accidents through special enrollment in workers' compensation insurance. ◆75% are specially enrolled in workers' compensation insurance On May 12, the Workers' Accident Compensation Center announced the results of a survey regarding work-related accidents, targeting 106 self-employed workers in the construction industry who have experienced such incidents. The survey revealed that when faced with work-related accidents, 75% were specially enrolled in workers' compensation insurance, while 25% were not enrolled, resulting in difficulties such as not receiving compensation for lost wages or having to bear the costs of medical treatment for injuries or illnesses themselves. Additionally, over 70% of respondents felt that accidents could happen at any time due to their experiences with work-related accidents, and over 80% recognized the importance of special enrollment in workers' compensation insurance. *For more details, please check the related product information below.

AI automatically extracts danger points from images of work conditions and construction sites to support the safety activities of workers. ◆ Preventing the stagnation and formalism of KY activities HACARUS Inc. released the beta version of its app "HACARUS Workplace Safety for KY," which supports KY (danger prediction) activities in industries such as construction and manufacturing, on May 8 and published the product site. Safety management in manufacturing and construction sites is conducted through daily KY activities, but there are concerns about stagnation and formalism. Additionally, workers with less experience struggle to identify danger points appropriately. This app automatically extracts danger points from camera images of work conditions and construction sites using AI, helping to prevent the personalization and formalism of KY activities. It also displays past labor accident cases from similar tasks to reduce the risk of labor accidents. KY sheets can be created on the app for immediate sharing, and they can be saved as PDFs or submitted and managed on paper. Furthermore, handwritten signatures are possible to confirm that workers have conducted KY activities. *For more information, please check the related product information below.

The "Sukedachi Employee" website provides information useful for job changes and career development in the construction industry. ◆ Providing information to lead to successful job changes in the construction industry On May 9, 2023, Sukedachi Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as Sukedachi) launched a "Job Change Support Page" for job seekers within its construction industry-focused job service "Sukedachi Employee." To support job seekers in achieving successful job changes and making better career choices, the page offers not only job change know-how but also features on specific job types and trivia about the construction industry, providing information useful for job changes and career development. *For more details, please check the related product information below.

A mixed-use facility has opened in the newly completed Ginza Takagi Building, located on the site of the former Ariga Photo Studio in Ginza 7-chome. ◆ The mixed-use facility, which includes a sauna, will open sequentially starting in late September. Takagi Building Co., Ltd. announced that it will sequentially open the mixed-use facility "SALON 91°" (Salon Ninety-One), which includes the sauna facility "91° SAUNA" offering a panoramic view of the Ginza streets, in the newly completed commercial building "Ginza Takagi Building," which was completed on May 1, 2023. Additionally, they have started recruiting tenants for the office floors located on the 2nd to 8th floors. *For more details, please check the related product information below.

Training on the use of full harness-type fall arrest equipment for high-altitude work and scaffold assembly has been conducted. ◆ Various special training sessions for new employees to enhance their understanding of the workplace have been implemented. On April 28, 2023, Takamiya Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as Takamiya) announced that it has conducted various special training sessions to deepen the understanding of the workplace for new employees. The training is being conducted at two equipment bases operated by Takamiya, which is involved in the development, manufacturing, sales, rental, management, and logistics of temporary equipment, including scaffolding. *For more details, please refer to the related product information below.

Leading the creation of the CCUS (Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage) market through a comprehensive licensing agreement ◆ Collaboration with Italy's Saipem on CO2 capture technology On April 27, 2023, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as Mitsubishi Heavy Industries) announced that it has concluded a comprehensive licensing agreement with Saipem, a major engineering company in Italy, regarding CO2 capture technology. This move aims to lead the creation of the global carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) market toward achieving carbon neutrality. *For more details, please check the related product information below.

A survey on the utilization of the New Technology Information System (NETIS) conducted among 100 executives and managers in the civil engineering industry by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. ◆ Utilization status of NETIS as reported by 100 executives and managers in the civil engineering industry On April 25, 2023, Seisui Industrial Co., Ltd. announced the results of a survey on the utilization status of the New Technology Information System (NETIS) in the civil engineering industry. This was based on an internet survey conducted among 100 executives and managers in the civil engineering industry. *For more details, please refer to the related product information below.