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Goyo Construction Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as Goyo Construction), which is working to improve productivity at construction sites for civil engineering, architecture, and offshore wind power, has conducted a demonstration experiment to visualize the location information and operational status of heavy machinery in real-time in order to reduce the effort and time required for the placement and management of heavy machinery used in daily construction planning. By reflecting the location information of heavy machinery obtained from SoftBank's high-precision positioning service "ichimill" onto Goyo Construction's integrated construction management system "PiCOMS," the work required for information sharing among stakeholders has been automated, significantly reducing the burden on the site. If you would like to download the detailed case materials, you can do so from here: https://biz.tm.softbank.jp/pg9963-web-doc-entry-ichimill.html?utm_source=other&utm_medium=other&utm_campaign=_BIZ_3086

In Japanese agriculture, "tameike" (farm ponds) play an important role in securing agricultural water. However, despite the aging population in the region, most of the tameike are currently managed visually for water levels, requiring managers to visit the site during times of increased water levels, which poses challenges for safe maintenance and management. The Miyazaki City North Land Improvement District introduced a water level gauge using the high-precision positioning service "ichimill" to address this issue. By equipping an unmanned small boat with "ichimill" and updating water level information in real-time via a mobile network, they have succeeded in being able to monitor water levels without having to go to the site, thereby reducing the risk of accidents. If you would like to download detailed case materials, you can do so from here: https://biz.tm.softbank.jp/pg11697-web-doc-entry-ichimill.html?utm_source=other&utm_medium=other&utm_campaign=_BIZ_3087

Currently, the construction and infrastructure industry is facing serious issues such as a shortage of personnel and an aging workforce. The water supply, which is the most important infrastructure supporting our lives, is also confronted with various challenges, including the aging of facilities, a decrease in the number of staff, and an aging workforce among contractors. To maintain and manage water supply facilities, improving on-site efficiency is essential. To address this challenge, Nishio Rent All, a construction equipment rental company, has developed the "HAIKAN-SmartWork" piping construction information management system, which allows for the identification and management of the locations of buried water pipes based on signals received from GNSS. Nishio Rent All has adopted SoftBank's "ichimill" for obtaining location information. For more details on this case, please check our company website. https://www.softbank.jp/biz/blog/business/articles/202304/ichimill_Nishio-rent/

As the population decline accelerates, the automation of agricultural machinery is effective for cultivating vast farmland. In Shikaoi Town, Hokkaido, "ichimill" has been adopted for cabbage harvesting in extensive farmland. It was used to learn the travel paths of the cabbage transplanter and harvester. Specifically, "ichimill" attached to the agricultural machinery acquires location information and saves data such as the locations where cabbage was planted, the area, and the time. By utilizing ichimill, it is possible to pinpoint locations when checking growth conditions using images captured by satellites or drones, thereby improving the accuracy of harvest timing predictions for each farmland and aiding in the setting of travel routes for automatic harvesters and transporters. Reference article: https://www.softbank.jp/sbnews/entry/20211104_01

In the infrastructure sector, where errors have previously hindered the widespread adoption of GPS positioning, the use of RTK positioning, which can measure location information with high precision, allows for accurate measurement of elevation as well, thereby expanding its range of applications. For example, monitoring the water level of agricultural ponds has traditionally been done almost entirely by visual inspection. To improve this analog operation, we have equipped an unmanned small boat with "ichimill" to measure the elevation of the water surface and use it as a water level gauge. Since 2022, we have been providing a service that simplifies management for administrators by allowing them to grasp the acquired water level information in real-time through a mobile network. This enables installation without affecting the bank structure of the pond, significantly reducing the scale of installation work and related activities. For more details, please check the SoftBank news below. Reference article: https://www.softbank.jp/sbnews/entry/20220913_01

Accurate positioning information is essential for controlling vehicles, so the realization of autonomous driving depends on how precisely positioning can be performed. In a demonstration experiment conducted at sea by e5 Lab in 2020, receivers of "ichimill" were installed at the four corners of the hull. Not only the position of the ship but also its orientation and tilt were obtained with centimeter-level accuracy. Funai from SoftBank, who participated in this demonstration experiment, stated, "Of course, we can track the ship's route, and it can also be used to prevent ship collision accidents. In particular, I believe that using 'ichimill' will enable highly accurate steering assistance during berthing, which is when the most attention is required in ship operation. In the future, we would like to apply this to remote control and autonomous operation of vessels."

Satellite positioning, which is increasingly in demand for various applications in measurement, agriculture, and construction sites, can sometimes result in errors of 2 to 10 meters with conventional methods. "ichimill," provided by SoftBank, utilizes SoftBank's unique reference points for RTK positioning, allowing for errors to be reduced to just a few centimeters. High-precision location information can be utilized in many fields, leading to reduced work time, cost savings, and improved safety for workers. This document introduces the features and pricing of ichimill, as well as frequently asked questions regarding its implementation.

The paradigm shift in industrial structure is advancing the automation of various industries. In this context, high-precision location information is gaining attention. In automation, discrepancies in location information can reduce the reliability of collected data and lead to causes of operational errors, making it essential to capture accurate time and place for the development of industries. This document provides a detailed introduction to the service ichimill, which enables positioning with an accuracy of a few centimeters by performing RTK positioning using signals received from GNSS such as the quasi-zenith satellite Michibiki. Additionally, we will present industry-specific use cases demonstrating how ichimill is being utilized across various sectors.

Ichimill is a SoftBank service that utilizes GNSS signals and RTK positioning technology to achieve high-precision location positioning with an accuracy of a few centimeters. By leveraging over 3,300 SoftBank base stations nationwide as unique reference points, there is no need for customers to set up or maintain reference points. It supports operations that require accurate location information, such as automatic control of construction machinery and drones, progress management at construction sites, infrastructure inspections, and public surveying. Even during wide-area movement, it automatically switches to the optimal reference point, ensuring stable positioning. It contributes to the promotion of construction DX, work efficiency improvement, and enhanced safety.

In the construction industry, issues such as "labor shortages, aging workforce, technology transfer, safety improvements, and promotion of automation" are becoming prominent. In particular, "positioning errors" are a problem in the automation of drones and construction machinery, making "high-precision positioning information" crucial. We are offering a booklet on "high-precision positioning information," which is the key to the success of construction DX. [Contents (excerpt)] - Technologies essential for a future where all industries are automated - Technologies necessary for realizing construction DX - Achieving positioning accuracy within a few centimeters with "ichimill" - What is "ichimill"? - Use cases in construction sites - Public surveying *For more details, please download the PDF or contact us directly.