#Japan #construction #Tokyo #Claude AI #Meguru Co.

Transforming the Construction Industry with AI

In a groundbreaking initiative, Meguru Co., a leading player in Japan's construction sector, has made waves by releasing a novel AI skill designed for profitability evaluation in rental reinforced concrete (RC) apartment construction. Set for public release on October 21, 2025, this skill, titled "General Constructor - Construction Project Feasibility Preparation", is a pioneering contribution to the construction industry, utilizing the advanced capabilities of Anthropic's Claude AI.

The Skill's Functionality

The AI skill automates the crucial task of profitability assessment for rental RC buildings within Tokyo's 23 wards. By leveraging real estate property information, known as “Myosoku,” along with nearby geological data, the skill can perform profitability evaluations with precision. This represents a significant leap forward, transforming complex decision-making processes into an accessible platform that allows even novices to make expert-level judgments in just 30 seconds.

Addressing Industry Challenges

The construction landscape has faced significant challenges, particularly in feasibility assessments for rental housing. Investors and developers traditionally grapple with the need for substantial expertise across multiple domains, including construction costs, soil conditions, and regulatory compliance.

One of the most critical components of this evaluation is the foundation design, which heavily relies on soil assessments. This task typically requires several years of field experience to master.

Regrettably, the construction industry is currently experiencing a stark shortage of skilled professionals. The training necessary to cultivate such expertise can take anywhere from 5 to 10 years, causing delays and missed opportunities in project development and investment decisions.

Key Features of the AI Skill

The "General Constructor - Construction Project Feasibility Preparation" skill boasts several notable features:

1. Automated Soil Evaluation and Foundation Design Decision
- Determines soil quality (hard, intermediate, weak) based on the N-value distribution.
- Selects the optimal foundation type (flat foundation or pile foundation) based on building height and soil conditions.
- Generates a list of necessary soil testing items automatically.

2. Comprehensive Cost Estimation
- Provides detailed estimates for construction costs, foundation expenses, retaining wall costs, and demolition fees.
- Applies adjustment coefficients based on site conditions such as elevation and access.
- Calculates total project costs, including a 5% overhead.

3. Profitability Assessment
- Estimates potential rental income.
- Calculates gross yield.
- Assesses the financial viability of projects by integrating data from their extensive construction performance database and established industry rules.

Advantageous Features

Democratizing Expertise

Historically, specialized assessments in the construction sector often come with hefty consulting fees ranging from tens of thousands to even hundreds of thousands of yen, but with the launch of this skill, Meguru has made it accessible for anyone at no cost.

This development follows the release of Anthropic's official document-skills and establishes Meguru as a leader in industry-specific custom skills.

Level of Precision

Unlike approximations, the skill implements real decision-making logic and cost tables employed on construction sites. The soil evaluation includes a tri-layered refinement process—assessing soil quality, determining foundation type, and specifying necessary tests, ensuring that professional-level judgments are achieved consistently.

Transparency and Accountability

The AI skill is designed to be transparent, clearly indicating the decision-making grounds and disclosing sources of data and calculation processes to users, allowing for verification and credibility throughout the assessment process.

Custom Skills: A New Dimension

Custom Skills represent a significant advancement in AI capabilities, enabling the embedding of specialized knowledge and workflows into Claude AI. This feature allows AI to be assigned domain-specific expertise, marking a pivotal shift from traditional Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) methodologies.

How to Use the New Skill

To leverage this groundbreaking skill, users simply need to:
1. Download "General Constructor - Construction Project Feasibility Preparation."
2. Access Claude AI.
3. Upload the downloaded ZIP file to the Custom Skills section.
4. Upload the real estate property information and nearby geological data.
5. Respond to any follow-up questions from Claude AI to complete the feasibility assessment.

Disclaimer

It is important to note that estimates generated by this skill are referential and do not guarantee actual construction costs. Variations may arise based on soil conditions, regulatory changes, and market fluctuations. For detailed estimates, consulting with professional construction companies or design offices is recommended.

This innovation heralds a new era in construction management, positioning Meguru Co. at the forefront of industry transformation through AI.