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Co-Creating an Ocean Platform

problems. That is where AI and IoT technology come in, to create an information sharing system that individuals cansafely and affectively use."

COMPANY NAME

P.G.System Co.,Ltd.

Collecting the Data of the Seto Inland Sea

P

PROJECT TITLE

Creating a Safe and Unified System ofMarine Traffic and Rideshare
A current social problem in Japan comes in the form of individuals who live on remote islands. Due to the aging
population, companies are unable to maintain ample lines to minor islands, and the people living there. P.G.SystemCo.Ltd., aims to realize a new transportation infrastructure by creating a maritime system using water taxis and privateboats. By creating a unified information system using the cloud and other AI and IoT technologies, they are hoping tohelp those in need.

For this project, the team will collect data from a variety of places, including oysters rafts, light buoys, and already logged
tourism data from ferries and other boats. This data will be then fed into a system that will combine it with current routes. Thissystem, dubbed the maritime dynamic map, will hopefully solve many of the existing problems in the area.
After creating a useable prototype, the first round of field tests will include collecting realtime location information of boats
via smartphone devices. The use of automatic recognition software in this project will help prevent any accidents that mightoccur. Funding from Hiroshima Sandbox will come to an end in March 2021, so until then the team is working on a way tomake a profit using the system. Further field tests are also planned to take place in Onomichi.
Future business plans for this system are all encompassing and plan to include several industries. The first concern ismaking a safe and reliable system to manage navigation. The second is to promote tourism to these more rural areas by using
apps based off of users preferences. Once tourism has increased in the desired locations, they will then push to initiate amaritime rideshare system. The decision to extend this to boat rentals is also being considered by the team.

A Diversified Team Helps Fuel the Project
Tsukuda used to work for the technology giant, Fujitsu, before he was recruited to P.G.Systems in 2015. During his time atFujitsu, he learned all about the company's already existing systems for supporting safe ship navigation and high infrared
cameras. He uses this background and knowledge to fuel the current project.
The team for this project is made up of individuals with work experience spanning over several different industries. P.G.
Systems works to coordinate and lead the whole team, while the Fujitsu Kyushu division is in charge of developing IoTdevices. Setouchi DMO, a joint private/public organization that is in charge of revitalizing the tourism industry in the area, willhandle PRs. The Hiroshima Prefecture Tourism Association and the National Institute of Technology Hiroshima College arealso planning on joining the team in the near future.
Tsukuda comments, "It's so encouraging to have the support of a group like Hiroshima Sandbox. Joining them hasreally helped our cause, but we know we're not done yet. To get realtime information in regards to ship navigation,a partnership with boat manufacturing companies is a must. Unfortunately, we can't handle everything just byourselves."

The Uphill Battle Continues"We have a pile of problems," says Tsukuda. "However, there are many stakeholders in the maritime business, so if
we can partner with them and have them help promote our idea, it would be a big win. We have to tackle things one
at a time, and once we have a steady foundation for system, then the next step is automating it. It would be exciting
to see if we could work together with other Hiroshima Sanbox projects, such as the one in Miyajima."

TRANSPORTATION

Maritime Rideshare for People on Islands
Although many industries have already embraced new technological advantages, the fishing industry in Japan still seems tobe behind the times. This is said to be in part by the size of the industry and markets, as well as ample infrastructure. However,P.G.System is trying to change all of this. They were selected by Hiroshima Sandbox for their proposal to create an
information sharing system for marine traffic using the cloud.
Hiroyuki Tsukuda, project head, commented that, "It's a big problem that a lot of people are losing the ability to travel
freely. If the population issue continues at this rate, all traffic to these remote areas will cease altogether. One fix tothis could be to build a bridge, but the problem with bridges are that they are usually far from residential areas. In
addition to that, most of the residents of the island themselves are older, and without access to cars or licenses. That
is why maritime services are still greatly needed in these areas. A proposed solution is to increase the flow of
tourism to these areas, which will in turn, naturally increase the number of ferries and boats servicing the area."On the other hand, the project also takes inspiration from the popular rideshare services in America and Europe. In theseplaces individuals share their private cars with others, as a kind of self-regulated taxi service. Due to its convenient and cheap
nature, this idea has continued to spread, and is slowly making its way to Japan. P.G.Systems intends to take this idea andapply it to aquatic situations.
Tsukuda says, "If we can create a rideshare system using mainly privately owned boats, and pre-existing maritime
taxis, then that would be a huge benefit. However, we need to be careful. Increasing the number of boats has thepossibility to lead to more accidents, especially in an area like the Seto Inland Sea, where there are already many

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HIROSHIMA SANDBOX●P.G.System Co.,Ltd.／Hiroyuki Tsukuda

HIROSHIMA SANDBOX

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