WORLD BIZ＋
―Exploring the Reality of the Workplace Vol.7—
Transforming Japan's Railway Infrastructure with AI: 35 Companies Unite to Streamline Track Inspections

Japan's railway infrastructure supports the safe and reliable movement of millions of passengers every day, but it also faces significant challenges. As aging infrastructure and potentially severe natural disasters continue to increase demand for maintenance, skilled personnel including experienced technicians are declining, making greater operational efficiency an urgent priority.

Traditionally, track patrols and inspections have relied on workers walking the railway line, visually checking the condition of equipment, drawing on years of experience and finely honed instincts to maintain safety. However, these inspections involve inherent risks, while passing on specialist expertise to the next generation has become a pressing challenge.

To address these challenges, Sumitomo Corporation and Tokyu Railways are working together to digitalize track patrol operations.

Cameras mounted on trains capture images of the track and surrounding infrastructure, which are uploaded to the cloud via 5G communication networks. AI then analyzes the images to identify locations of possible anomalies. Rather than relying on routine on-site patrols, the aim is to enable maintenance teams to focus their efforts on areas where potential issues have already been detected.

This initiative improves operational efficiency and reduces labor requirements while helping to preserve the knowledge and expertise of veteran engineers in digital form. It marks the beginning of a next-generation approach to maintaining and managing railway infrastructure.

One of the project's defining features is its collaborative approach. Rather than being developed by a single company, it is being advanced through cooperation with railway operators across the industry. Guided by the belief that "the industry should build what the industry truly needs," Sumitomo Corporation established a consortium of railway operators. What began as an initiative involving just three companies has now expanded to 35.

The project's applications aren't limited to railways. Looking ahead, the technology could also be deployed in other areas of infrastructure facing similar challenges, such as airport runway inspections. By combining cameras with AI, the system has the potential to enhance the safety of critical infrastructure across society.

"We want to help create something that will one day become the norm." With this aspiration in mind, Sumitomo Corporation continues to work alongside its partners to help establish the next generation of industry standards.