Arai Gumi Corporation (Head Office: Nishinomiya City, Hyogo Prefecture; Representative Director: Kimikatsu Baba; hereinafter "the Company") conducted a demonstration experiment of drone inspection targeting the inflow and outflow sections of a rainwater storage facility that is difficult for humans to enter, at the Hachienosato rainwater storage facility in Higashiosaka City. This experiment aims to establish a new inspection method to improve the safety and efficiency of infrastructure maintenance in Higashiosaka City.

1. Necessity and Challenges of the Demonstration Experiment

Generally, storage facilities often have complex structures to control the inflow and outflow of rainwater and sewage. These facilities are prone to cracking and corrosion of internal structural components due to aging, making regular inspections indispensable.

However, due to their structure, these facilities face the following challenges:

* **Physically Difficult for Human Inspection:** In places with narrow internal spaces, it is difficult for people to enter and inspect. For tall structures, scaffolding needs to be erected for investigation. * **Increased Risk:** Areas inaccessible to humans may experience delayed discovery of deterioration, leading to concerns about sudden accidents or functional failures.

2. Overview of the Demonstration Experiment and Innovative Technology

In this demonstration experiment, inspection work was carried out using the narrow space inspection drone "IBIS2" manufactured by Liberaware Inc.

**【Experiment Overview】**

* **Location:** Higashiosaka City, Hachienosato rainwater storage facility, inflow/outflow section. * **Period:** November 28, 2025 (Friday). * **Equipment Used:** Narrow space inspection drone "IBIS2" by Liberaware Inc. * **Verification Items:** * Confirmation of stable flight capability in narrow and complex structures. * Confirmation of the performance of lighting and ultra-high-resolution camera for clear shooting even in dark environments. * Verification of reduced inspection time and labor-saving effects by comparing with conventional inspection methods.

3. Results of the Demonstration Experiment

As a result of this demonstration experiment, the narrow space inspection drone "IBIS2" succeeded in penetrating deep into the structures with narrow spaces and clearly capturing the internal structure and facility condition.

The following achievements were particularly confirmed:

1. **Ensuring Safety and Reducing Risk:** The risk of personal injury was reduced by streamlining inspection work and eliminating the need for workers to enter hazardous environments. 2. **Innovation in Utilizing Deterioration Diagnosis Data:** By accumulating still and video data captured by the drone, it becomes possible to track the progression of structural deterioration, allowing for the planning of long-term maintenance and repair.

【Higashiosaka City Public-Private Partnership Desk】 November Reiwa 7 (2025): Demonstration Experiment on Inspection Work for Sewerage Facilities Utilizing Drones / Arai Gumi Corporation https://www.city.higashiosaka.lg.jp/koumin/0000041774.html

【Inquiries Regarding This Matter】 Arai Gumi Corporation, Business Development Department TEL: 0798-26-3111 https://www.araigumi.co.jp/contact/

Press Releases from Arai Gumi Corporation https://prtimes.jp/main/html/searchrlp/company_id/146123

Keywords: Drone, Sewerage, Inspection, Infrastructure, DX, Labor Saving, Aging, Safety, Maintenance, Maintenance

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  • Source: PR TIMES
  • Category: News