#AI Chatbot #Kyoto, Tokyo #TODA Corporation #HACARUS

HACARUS Collaborates with Toda Corporation on AI Chatbot Development

In a significant move towards enhancing safety and quality management in the construction industry, HACARUS Inc., headquartered in Kyoto, has announced its partnership with Toda Corporation, based in Tokyo, to develop an AI chatbot designed to leverage past safety and quality case knowledge. This initiative includes consulting services that aim to improve search accuracy (Reinforced Autonomous Generation - RAG) for safety-related information.

Background of the Initiative

Toda Corporation identified the need for an advanced approach to safety and quality guidance, especially for younger engineers who may not have extensive experience on construction sites. A primary challenge was the creation of daily safety instructions used in morning and afternoon meetings, which needed to accurately reflect historical incident cases, quality defects, and relevant safety regulations. Existing knowledge within the company was scattered across various systems and file formats, necessitating an environment where on-site personnel could quickly access essential information.

Project Details and Outcomes

Instead of embarking on a large-scale system development from the outset, the project adopted a phased approach based on real-world verification and iterative improvement. Initially, a prototype AI chatbot was developed, enabling users to engage in a dialogue format to search and reference past case examples. The chatbot integrated information from environmental quality management data and safety portals scattered throughout the company.

This setup allowed users to input specific tasks and receive associated case examples, effectively creating a user-friendly system. Following initial on-site tests, the project demonstrated benefits such as improved information retrieval efficiency and heightened awareness of risks. However, challenges concerning response variability and search accuracy also emerged.

In response to these challenges, a review of the system architecture and data processing workflow was conducted. This involved optimizing data structures, enhancing preprocessing, implementing algorithms that combined multiple search techniques, and controlling the response format to streamline answers. As a result, the search accuracy (hit rate) improved significantly, and the number of cases where necessary knowledge and source information were provided increased.

Future Directions

Despite the accomplishments, the project recognized the ongoing issue of irrelevant responses being generated during parallel searches. Moving forward, improvements to the algorithm and fuller utilization of full-text search capabilities will be key objectives. Toda Corporation's DX Strategy Division is considering collaborations with AWS Kendra to further enhance search accuracy while minimizing irrelevant answers. Such advancements are expected to better establish the chatbot on-site and elevate the standards of safety and quality guidance overall.

Company Backgrounds

Toda Corporation
Established in 1881 and officially founded in 1936, Toda Corporation offers a range of services including construction and civil engineering, urban and regional development, real estate transactions, and renewable energy projects. Leading the charge is President Yoshisuke Otani.

Official Website

HACARUS Inc.
Founded in 2014, HACARUS aims to