Sep. 03, 2026
Sumitomo Corporation
Sumitomo Corporation Launches AI-Powered Equipment Maintenance and Inspection Demonstration Across 19 Japanese Airports- Building a Shared Solution to Support Sustainable Airport Operations -
Sumitomo Corporation (Head Office: Chiyoda-ku; Representative Director, President and Chief Executive Officer: Shingo Ueno; "Sumitomo Corporation") has launched a demonstration project in collaboration with 19 airports across Japan aimed at deploying AI for the inspection and maintenance of airport facilities and enhancing airport operations. The initiative is being conducted as part of the "practical application support for advanced solutions (advanced wireless system utilization type)" under the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications' "Regional Community DX Promotion Package Project," funded through the FY2025 Supplementary Budget.
In recent years, shortages of personnel for airport facility maintenance and operations have become increasingly severe. Regional airports with limited air traffic demand face a particularly heavy burden from the cost of maintaining and renewing facilities, making it difficult for individual airports to introduce systems to improve operational efficiency. To address these challenges, Sumitomo Corporation is developing a solution jointly developed and shared Platform model enabling multiple airport operators to share data, AI capabilities, and digital infrastructure while reducing implementation and operating costs, thereby helping to reduce implementation and operating costs.
In this demonstration, cameras mounted on autonomous vehicles and drones capture images of runways and aeronautical lights, security fences and other facilities, with the resulting video data transmitted via local 5G networks. AI is used to detect runway cracks and surface abnormalities, damage to facilities, damage to security fences and other anomalies. By automating inspections previously performed manually, the project aims to reduce the manpower required for inspection operations by 30–50%.
In addition to the maintenance and inspection of airport facilities, the project aims to enhance and streamline aircraft takeoff and landing operations. Cameras installed on airport aprons will record aircraft arrivals and departures, while location data will be collected from ground support equipment (GSE) vehicles used for tasks such as transporting baggage and towing aircraft. By visualizing the operating status and actual utilization of equipment and vehicles, the project will identify operational bottlenecks and seek to improve business processes and operational efficiency, including optimizing workforce allocation and improving productivity.
Demonstration project participants include Hokkaido Airports Co., Ltd., Narita International Airport Corporation, Central Japan International Airport Co., Ltd., Kansai Airports, Hiroshima International Airport Co., Ltd. and Fukuoka International Airport Inc. Going forward, Sumitomo Corporation will work to improve the accuracy of AI analysis by expanding participation, with the ultimate aim of full-scale deployment across the airport industry.
Sumitomo Corporation is promoting the use of digital technologies in transportation infrastructure, including the application of AI to railway infrastructure inspection and maintenance. The Company will continue to solve challenges in social infrastructure fields such as airports, railways and roads through co-creation with multiple operators, thereby contributing to the realization of sustainable regional communities.
