Japan has one of the world’s top water infrastructures with a high coverage rate, excellent water quality, and low leakage rate. However, the maintenance and management of this infrastructure is riddled with various and complicated issues, such as financial difficulties due to a declining population, aging facilities, lack of human resources, and measures needed to cope with frequent disasters. How can we solve these social issues with minimal labor, resources, and finances? This is Kubota’s mission.

Kubota has been striving to save labor, energy, and costs by using the latest technologies such as ICT in the repair and renewal of pipes and pumps. In 2017, we developed the KUBOTA Smart Infrastructure System (KSIS), a water IoT solution that can be used in a wide range of facilities, including water supply and sewerage systems, agricultural water, rivers, and factories. As a system, KSIS uses IoT to diagnose, predict, monitor, and control equipment for lifecycle cost reduction and tendency management, and can improve operational efficiency and add value to the water industry.

The key point of KSIS is to “monitor water anytime, anywhere.” Cameras and communication devices are installed in water purification plants, distribution reservoirs, sewage treatment plants, pumping stations, and sluice gates, and operation and equipment monitoring data is sent to Kubota’s KSIS server for remote monitoring via the Internet. The ability to check the present status of water using various devices such as PCs and smartphones has brought about many advantages. First of all, it reduces the need for patrol-based inspections, and the status of equipment and facilities can be received via e-mail for checking. By analyzing the monitoring data and detecting signs of equipment malfunction, efficient preventive maintenance is possible. In addition, the monitoring of water supplies, sewerage, and sluice gates enables wide-area management, which when combined with weather information, makes it possible to ensure the safety and sustainability of water supplies, sewerage, agricultural water, and rivers, as well as to detect abnormalities early.

Over the years since its foundation, Kubota has been closely observing water sites and has accumulated knowledge and experience on what is important in the maintenance and management of water infrastructure. From the large amount of data collected, our experienced specialists are able to determine which data to use and how to use it, and have incorporated and utilized this know-how in AI. By actively leveraging a variety of advanced technologies and ideas, we will develop the system into one that enables efficient operations in the water industry despite unfavorable conditions in terms of human resources, experience, and financial situation.