An autonomous road roller compacts the ground at the Naruse Dam construction site in Higashinaruse, Akita Prefecture on October 18. (©Kyodo)
On October 18, Kajima Corporation unveiled a groundbreaking achievement: fully automated dam construction. Kajima is currently building a dam in Akita Prefecture. Its technology not only addresses Japan's labor shortages but also enhances efficiency while eliminating the risk of workplace accidents. Moreover, it marks the world's first fully automated dam construction, carried out entirely by machinery. Looking ahead, Kajima is exploring the potential for selling this technology and its applications in space exploration.
At the Naruse Dam construction site in Higashinaruse village, Akita Prefecture, a fleet of up to 14 automated construction machines is engaged in building the main body, which holds back the water. These construction machines are remotely monitored from Kajima's facility in Odawara City about 400 kilometers (249 mi) away. Although engineers work on construction sites around the facility, no human labor is required at the Naruse Dam site.
Quality and Efficiency
The computer-equipped construction machines are meticulously controlled by the system, enabling dump trucks to move in reverse without needing to make cumbersome U-turns. "These machines [unlike humans] don't get tired. They exhibit exceptional productivity, all while maintaining top-notch quality," explains Yoichi Izushi, who leads the division for automated construction.
Kajima began developing its fully automated construction system, known as A4CSEL (pronounced "quad-accel"), back in 2009. After its successful debut at the Naruse Dam, Kajima plans to implement this cutting-edge technology in the construction of Shitara Dam in Aichi Prefecture.
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(Read the article in Japanese.)
Author: The Sankei Shimbun
