Sumitomo Corp. has launched a demonstration project aimed at automatically detecting abnormalities on runways and elsewhere at airports with the use of artificial intelligence, it announced Thursday.

This initiative is expected to address labor shortages in airport maintenance and inspection operations. Cameras mounted on autonomous vehicles and drones will capture images of runways, guide lights, security fences and other objects. An AI system would then be used to detect abnormalities such as surface cracks and damage to equipment.

The project will be conducted at 19 airports, including Narita Airport and Kansai Airport. Airports across the country are facing a shortage of personnel responsible for facility maintenance and operations, a problem that is particularly acute at regional airports. Sumitomo aims to put the system into practical use as early as during the fiscal year starting April.

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This article is from The Yomiuri Shimbun. Neither Dow Jones Newswires, MarketWatch, Barron's nor The Wall Street Journal were involved in the creation of this content.

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