Japan Infrastructure Waymark

Japan Infrastructure Waymark (JIW) operates as a specialized drone-based infrastructure inspection firm, strategically positioned to address Japan's significant challenge of aging public works and a declining workforce. Established in April 2019 as a wholly-owned subsidiary of NTT West, JIW was founded by Takumi Shibata, who now serves as President and CEO. Shibata's journey began at NTT West, where he gained firsthand experience with the difficulties of maintaining the company's vast and aging infrastructure, which includes approximately 4,000 buildings and 1,000 transmission towers. Recognizing that these maintenance challenges would soon be faced by other infrastructure operators across sectors like electricity, gas, and transportation, he established JIW, becoming the youngest president of an NTT West group company.

The company's business model is centered on providing comprehensive, one-stop infrastructure maintenance services. This encompasses everything from initial consulting and planning to the execution of drone-based aerial photography, followed by AI-powered diagnostics and report generation. JIW serves a diverse client base that includes its parent company NTT West, as well as local utilities, government agencies, and private entities across Japan. Revenue is generated through these service contracts, alongside the sale and rental of drone equipment, pilot training, and maintenance services. A key element of their operation is a proprietary cloud-based workflow system, the "Waymark Portal," which standardizes the inspection process to ensure consistent, high-quality results.

JIW leverages advanced drone technology, including autonomous flight systems, to conduct detailed inspections of a wide array of structures such as bridges, slopes, transmission towers, solar panels, and wind power facilities. A core component of their technological advantage is the use of Skydio drones, which are capable of operating in GPS-denied environments like the underside of reinforced concrete bridges. This capability allows for the capture of precise imagery necessary for thorough structural analysis. The collected data, including images and 3D point clouds, enables engineers to detect issues like cracks and rust, monitor construction progress, and assess post-disaster damage with high efficiency. The firm also developed the "Waymark Note" application to streamline the recording process during bridge inspections.

Keywords: infrastructure inspection, drone services, AI diagnostics, asset management, structural health monitoring, Japan, NTT West, drone inspection services, civil engineering, construction technology, bridge inspection, tower maintenance, solar panel inspection, wind turbine inspection, disaster assessment, autonomous drones, 3D mapping, cloud-based inspection, facility maintenance, public works