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Ichimill is a service that 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." *1 GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) refers to the collective term for satellite positioning systems such as QZSS (Quasi-Zenith Satellite System), GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo. *2 RTK (Real Time Kinematic) positioning is a method that allows for high-precision positioning by using two receivers, a fixed station and a mobile station, to exchange information in real time between the two points.

• Distance measuring device
• Other measurement, recording and measuring instruments

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

• Distance measuring device

In Japanese agriculture, "tameike" (farm ponds) play an important role in securing agricultural water. However, despite the aging population in the region, most 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 were able to monitor water levels without having to visit the site, successfully 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

• Other measurement, recording and measuring instruments

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 more necessary than ever. To address this issue, 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 location of buried water pipes based on signals received from GNSS. Nishio Rent All has adopted SoftBank's "ichimill" for acquiring 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/

• Other measurement, recording and measuring instruments

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 agricultural land. It was used to learn the travel path of the cabbage transplanting and harvesting machines. Specifically, by using "ichimill" attached to the agricultural machinery, location information is obtained and data such as the location where the cabbage was planted, the area, and the time is saved. By utilizing ichimill, when checking growth conditions with images taken by satellites or drones, it allows for pinpoint location identification, improving the accuracy of harvest timing predictions for each farmland, and can be used to set travel routes for automatic harvesters and transporters. Reference article: https://www.softbank.jp/sbnews/entry/20211104_01

• Other measurement, recording and measuring instruments

In the construction industry, it has been decided to "principally apply BIM/CIM (Building Information Modeling/Construction Information Modeling) to all public works excluding small-scale projects by 2023." To realize BIM/CIM, three-dimensional data of the subject is essential. "Ichimill" is being utilized as a means to enhance the accuracy of this three-dimensional surveying. The method of achieving high-precision three-dimensional surveying by combining the LiDAR function and GNSS positioning information installed in smartphones and tablets has also been highlighted in the draft guidelines for construction management by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, attracting attention. Furthermore, by combining it with drones, accurate surveying of even broader areas is possible, which is expected to lead to increased efficiency in surveying operations that have previously taken a long time. Reference: Draft Guidelines for Construction Management Using Three-Dimensional Measurement Technology / Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism https://www.mlit.go.jp/tec/constplan/content/001612930.pdf

• Other measurement, recording and measuring instruments

Until now, the infrastructure sector has been hindered by errors that have prevented the widespread adoption of GPS positioning. However, with RTK positioning, which can measure location information with high precision, the range of applications expands as altitude measurements can also be taken with high accuracy. For example, monitoring the water level of agricultural reservoirs has been almost entirely done visually until now. To improve this analog operation, we have equipped an unmanned small boat with "ichimill" to measure the altitude 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 allows for installation without affecting the bank structure of the reservoir, significantly reducing the scale of installation work and other related tasks. For more details, please check the SoftBank news below. Reference article: https://www.softbank.jp/sbnews/entry/20220913_01

• Other measurement, recording and measuring instruments

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 ship. 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 docking, which is the most nerve-wracking part of operating a ship. In the future, we would like to apply this to remote operation and autonomous navigation of vessels."

• Other measurement, recording and measuring instruments