Information contained in this news release is current as of the date of the press announcement, but may be subject to change without prior notice.
March 29, 2021
The ‘MICHIBIKI’ high-precision position technology system accurately measured soil volumes using images from an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) and Smartphone
Sydney, March 29, 2021 -- Hitachi Australia Pty Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd. (TSE: 6501; "Hitachi"), has announced that it has, in collaboration with Hitachi Solutions, Ltd., successfully completed a technical demonstration of soil volume measurement in the Western Sydney area near the new Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport. The demonstration was administered by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, Japan (MIC), and utilised Japan's innovative Quasi-Zenith Satellite System1 ‘MICHIBIKI’.
The demonstration involved utilising an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) that was positioned using ‘MICHIBIKI’’s high-precision positioning technology and an independent trial was also performed using a Smartphone device. The results were then compared to results obtained from an onsite laser scanner which was used as a baseline measure.
The demonstration confirmed the highly accurate results achieved by ‘MICHIBIKI’. The soil volume measurement results obtained from the UAV and Smartphone were similar to those obtained from the laser scanner with a variance of ± 1-3%.
The ‘MICHIBIKI’ system has significant potential for civil engineering and other applications requiring accurate and timely measurement of stockpiles such as in the Resources and Agri-based industries as it represents an important improvement over traditional methods such as ‘Total Station’2 and would assist businesses to manage onsite resource scheduling and other supply chain challenges.
The demonstration also confirms the possibility of utilising the ‘MICHIBIKI’ system at remote locations in the Asia-Pacific region where internet services or cellular network coverage is not available or reliable.
"I believe the ‘MICHIBIKI’ system will bring accurate and effective measurement solutions for different applications and assist in supporting infrastructure development in Western Sydney in a satellite-data-driven way. It will eventually also guide us to Society 5.0, the society of the future” - Chie Mashima, Managing Director, Hitachi Australia.
The Western Sydney Aerotropolis is rapidly emerging as a key centre for bilateral cooperation between Japan and Australia in technology-enabled industries.
Reference
1 The Quasi-Zenith Satellite System is a Japanese satellite positioning system that covers Asia-Oceania regions.
2 Total Station: General measuring device used for surveying
Hitachi Australia Pty Ltd. headquartered in North Ryde, Sydney, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd. (TSE: 6501; “Hitachi”), headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. Hitachi has been operating in Oceania for over 50 years and through its subsidiary companies offers a wide range of solutions for smart cities, transportation, mining and agriculture; with operations in every Australian state and territory and throughout New Zealand. For more information, visit https://www.hitachi.com.au.
