Innovative Communities Join Hands: PicTrée Infrastructure Inspection in Niigata

Innovative Community Engagement Through PicTrée

In a groundbreaking initiative, Digital Entertainment Asset Inc. (DEA) and Growth Ring Grid Pte. Ltd. (GRG) have announced the successful results of their citizen-participation infrastructure inspection experiment using the innovative app PicTrée, held in Niigata City. This project is supported by Mitsubishi Electric under the Niigata City Digital Innovation Creation Promotion Subsidy and is one of the six advanced technology demonstration projects scheduled for implementation in 2025. The experiment was officially reported by Niigata City on March 18, demonstrating a significant step towards integrating citizen involvement in municipal infrastructure management.

Background of the Initiative

Niigata City grapples with the challenge of maintaining a vast number of infrastructure facilities, such as road accessory structures (including curve mirrors), within limited budgets and staffing. In this context, the PicTrée app was utilized to gamify the process, allowing citizens to contribute to inspection tasks by engaging in a fun and interactive manner. Through this approach, participants not only shared the workload but also enjoyed the process, effectively turning infrastructure maintenance into a community activity.

Experiment Highlights

The results of the experiment exceeded initial expectations. Notably, the coverage rate of inspected facilities surpassed the original target of 90%, achieving a full 100% coverage within just ten operational days. In total, 26 citizen participants successfully took and collected 9,000 inspection photographs, documenting the condition of the infrastructure.

Key Experiment Details:

- Experiment Name: Practicality Validation of the PicTrée App for Collecting Inspection Data Focused on Curve Mirrors Managed by Niigata City.
- Area: Niigata City (2km radius connecting Niigata Station, Bandai, and Furumachi).
- Target Structures: 149 curve mirrors registered within the city, of which 147 are managed by Niigata City.
- Implementation Details: Citizens utilized the PicTrée app to photograph and collect inspection data on the city's curve mirrors, with verification on data accuracy and efficiency for municipal infrastructure inspections.
- Duration: January 9 to January 18, 2026.

Future Prospects

Following the successful outcome of this initial experiment, DEA and GRG plan to deepen their efforts in Niigata City from 2026 to 2027, with aspirations to expand the initiative across Niigata Prefecture after 2027 and nationwide by 2028. The goal is to develop a sustainable model for efficient infrastructure maintenance, collaborating with Mitsubishi Electric and targeting similar challenges faced by 150 municipalities across Japan.

If you are interested in initiatives utilizing the PicTrée approach, please reach out to us at:

- Contact for Digital Entertainment Asset / PicTrée: E-mail: [email protected]

What is PicTrée?

PicTrée is a free, gamified platform where users can photograph infrastructure facilities including utility poles and manholes. It encourages participation in infrastructure maintenance and local tourism as users compete in teams to record their findings. This innovative gamification strategy has garnered approval from various stakeholders, including infrastructure providers and local governments, further promoting community engagement.

- Official Website: PicTrée Official
- Official X: @pictree_dea

Download Links and Guides

- Download: Download PicTrée
- Basic Operation Guide: Operation Guide

About the Companies

Digital Entertainment Asset Inc. (DEA)

Founded in August 2018 in Singapore, DEA utilizes gamification to create a community-driven ecosystem centered around their unique digital currency, DEP. Committed to addressing societal issues through participatory games like PicTrée, DEA aims to connect enjoyable actions with meaningful contributions. Japanese branch DEA was established in January 2026.

Growth Ring Grid Pte. Ltd. (GRG)

GRG is dedicated to democratizing infrastructure management by enabling widespread public participation in maintenance efforts. By harnessing Web3 technology, the company provides an infrastructure inspection and maintenance platform that transforms the traditionally technical domain into a relatable community responsibility. Established in April 2025, GRG continues to innovate in this pivotal area.