December 2017 No.79
Japanese Infrastructure Newsletter

IDI

QUARTERLY
InfrastructureDevelopment

Institute—JAPANCONTENTS
The 19th Infrastructure Technology Development Award 2017
Next-generation construction production system centered on automation of construction machinery “A4CSEL”

2Network Compatible Unmanned Construction System

4Infrastructure Development Institute – Japan (IDI)
Suido-cho Bldg, 3-1, Suido-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 162-0811, JAPAN
Tel: +81-3-5227-4107 Fax: +81-3-5227-4109 E-Mail: idi17@idi.or.jp Website: http://www.idi.or.jp/english/00index.htm

Infrastructure Development Institute - JapanThe 19th Infrastructure Technology Development Award 2017
The Japan Institute of Country-ology andThe grand prize is “Next-generation construction

Engineering(JICE) was established as a public

production system centered on automation ofinterest corporation to promote construction

construction machinery A4CSEL”.

engineering in Japan by conducting cutting-edge
research and development activities.
As more incentives should be provided for

And the three excellence prizes were awarded to“RE-PIER METHOD for efficient seismic

construction technology researchers and researchretrofitting of piled piers in service”, “Restoration

institutes to enhance the level of construction

for Preservation of Himeji Castle Main Keep,engineering more effectively, JICE commenced

National Treasure of the Heisei Era”, andInfrastructure Technology Development Award“Network Compatible Unmanned Construction

with Coastal Development Institute of TechnologySystem”.

(CDIT) under the auspices of the Ministry of Land,
Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism(MLIT).

The grand prize and one of the three excellence
prizes are introduced below.

Thirty-six technologies competed for the 19th
Infrastructure Technology Development Award.
In principle, the applicants’ technologies should

For any inquiries/ comments please contact
JICE :

have been developed within the past five years

Homepage: http://www.jice.or.jp/

and applied to the real sites within the past three(Japanese version only)

years.

E-Mail: webmaster@jice.or.jp

As a result of examination, institutes andresearchers with the following technologies wereawarded 19th prizes.

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Infrastructure Development Institute - Japan

Next-generation construction production system centered on automation of construction machinery “A4CSEL”（“A4CSEL” for performing autonomous construction work using general purpose construction machinery）

1. Background of Technology Development
In the construction industry, productivity is lower
than that of other industries, and in recent years

withtheflexibility

non-rectangularareatocopewith

whereaburied

instruments are installed (Fig. 3).

i-Construction utilizing ICT has been promoted inJapan. In addition, the aging of skilled technicians,
the decrease in young workers, and the occupationalsafety due to mixed work of construction machinery
and workers remain as challenges.

Robotization

and automation are being promoted as one of thesolutions, but in the current information construction
system and the unmanned construction system withremote control etc., it has not reached a fundamental

Fig. 1 Automated dump truck.

solution to the two problems of productivity and safety
improvement. In order to meet all tasks of laborsaving, productivity and safety, we developed the next
generation automated construction system named(Quad-ACSEL:

Automated/Autonomous/Advanced/Accelerated

Construction“A4CSELsystem for Safety, Efficiency, and Liability) “.

2. Detailed Description of the Technology
We have applied the next-generation construction

Fig. 2 Automated bulldozer.

system constituted of three types of automaticconstruction machineries in the dam construction.
➢Haulage and unloading the material byautomated dump truck: Automatic haulage
and unloading the material to the prescribed
position (Fig. 1).

➢Spreading and shaping the material byautomated bulldozer: Automatic spreading andshaping the materials after receiving theFig. 3 Automated vibration rollers.

signal that the automated dump truck leaves(Fig. 2).
➢Compaction

thematerialbyautomatedvibration roller: Automatic compaction work
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Infrastructure Development Institute - Japan

Fig. 4 Construction image of “A4CSEL”

3. Advantage of the technology
Using our development system, multiple automatedconstruction machines are able to work only byhuman instruction by a tablet terminal
simultaneously, unlike unmanned construction
systems by remote control, such as disaster
restoration sites. As a result, it will realize
improvement both of productivity and safety of theconstruction (Fig. 4).
Automation of construction machines by➢

installing measuring equipment and control

Fig. 5 The cooperative work of automateddump truck and bulldozer

PC in general-purpose construction machinery.
High accuracy and precision construction by➢automatic control algorithms based on
operation data of skilled workers.
Equipped with a safety measure system with➢

5. Installation Record➢

Damconstruction

workconstruction

work

July 2014 - May 2015

contact prevention function by multiple means
such as obstacle recognition technologyGokayama➢Oitagawa

DamApril 2016 - May 2017

4. Applicability➢➢

The cooperative works by our developed

Technology Developer: Kajima Corporation

three kind of automated machines are

Joint Developer: Komatsu Ltd.

demonstrated in the embankment area at

Contact: Satoru Miura, Kajima Corporation

the dam body (Fig. 5).

E-Mail: miuras@kajima.com,Utilization not only for dam construction but

TEL: +81-42-489-6502

also for general construction work confirmed.

FAX: +81-42-489-8440

December 2017 No.79
3Infrastructure Development Institute - Japan

Network Compatible Unmanned Construction System（Emergency ICT System for Large Scale Unmanned Construction）
1. Background of Technology Development
The

importanceofFurthermore, in an effort to develop new technology

controlledfor the Network Compatible Unmanned Construction

construction machinery has been recognized since theSystem, we created the CAN-LAN converter for therestoration work after the Mt. Unzen Disaster

ICT construction machinery, the high precision image

followed by other large-scale reconstruction works.

transmission system for sophisticated operations

The object is to develop a system which can provide

video, the autonomous operation system by remotethe operator with accurate and beneficial information

control system, and real time management system ofin a poor-reality desolate environment, and to do thisconstruction machinery using IoT. These systems may

as quickly as possible. Following the Great East

be combined and arranged according to the site

Japan Earthquake, restoration sites under harshconditions (see figure 2).

unmannedof

theimplementation

construction

byremotelyconditions increased significantly, and there was ademandtodevelop

technology

enabling

theconcentrated introduction of plenty of construction
machinery. We developed relevant technology toresolve various issues and the technology wasincorporated into the Aso Bridge District Slope
Disaster Prevention Work.

2. Technical Content
The Network Compatible Unmanned Construction
System was customized and developed on site totransmit

bulk

data

consistingofoperating

information, visual information and ICT data of theconstruction machinery into IP (Internet Protocol),using fiber optics cable and Wi-Fi LAN (see figure 1).

Figure 2: New technology development and implementation

To quickly launch an unmanned construction
system, we first develop a sophisticated remote control
room furnished with a set of configured remote control
system equipment, and achieve early commencementof unmanned construction (see figure 3).

Figure1: Comparison with conventional systems

Figure 3: Sophisticated remote control room

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Infrastructure Development Institute - JapanFor the first time in the history of our country, anThrough the network, all information was gathered

unmanned construction system with i-Constructionin the remote control room, allowing construction

was used in all phases of the difficult emergency

machinery to be monitored in real time, achieving thedisaster restoration work.

overall implementation of i-Construction. (Actualrecord of the Aso Bridge)

3. Coverage of Technology
Overall disaster restoration work and construction
in bad conditions in hazardous areas (tunnels,

5. Social Significance and Evolution ofTechnology

repositories, nuclear plant decommissioning sites, etc.)

This development allows for the easy

The network technology is widely applicable to suchsites using i-Construction.

implementation of the latest network technology andextends the possibility of a speedy incorporation ofunmanned construction, while improving disaster

4. Effect of Technology
IP conversion of data of both the construction

application capacity in complicated and difficult
situations. As a result, the i-Construction

vehicle and control room mitigates the distance limits

environment is well in place, greatly contributing to

between the construction site and remote control room,

futuristic technology with its goal of productivity

making it possible to build the remote control room at

improvement in civil engineering.

a distance of several hundred kilometers from the site.
Compared to conventional methods, it requires fewertransceivers, lowering wireless equipment costs by

6. Performance of Technology
Aso Bridge District Slope Disaster Prevention Work,40%. (Actual record of the Aso Bridge District SlopeMay 2016-March 2017

Disaster Prevention Work)And four other cases

The sophisticated remote control room allowed
construction activity to start in only two days andApplicant: Kumagai Gumi Co., Ltd.

shortened the construction period by 12 days. (ActualTechnology Developer: (Kumagai Gumi Co., Ltd.)

record of the Aso Bridge)

Kitahara Seirou, Asuma Tsubasa

By applying the overall system, it provided theJoint Developer: Kyoei Machinery Engineeringoperator of the remote control room with usefulCo., Ltd., (YK) E-. MEC

information, alleviated the burden and improved

E-Mail: skitahar@ku.kumagaigumi.co.jp

accuracy, so that the construction period was（Mr.kitahara）

shortened by two months (25%) from the original

TEL:+81-3-033260-2111

schedule. (Actual record of the Aso Bridge)

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Infrastructure Development Institute - Japan

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