Japanese companies deploy generative AI to automate construction estimation

Nitto Kogyo, with support from IBM Japan, has developed a multimodal generative AI application designed to extract circuit and equipment information from electrical distribution board drawings. The system aims to address labor shortages and the loss of specialized expertise by automating the complex task of reading technical drawings. The application will be rolled out to approximately 50 sales representatives across 23 locations in Japan starting in October 2026.

In a separate development, AI developer and° has partnered with interior renovation firm GO. REFORM to deploy an AI tool that automates the quantity takeoff process from PDF or photographic drawings. The tool identifies measurements for floors, ceilings, walls, and fixtures to create draft estimates. Starting in November 2026, the technology will be extended to GO. REFORM’s subcontractors to reduce the heavy workload of manual estimation typically performed late at night, aiming to improve efficiency and shorten project timelines.