News

PACIFIC CONSULTANTS CO., LTD. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director, President Executive Officer: Osamu OMOTO; hereinafter "Pacific Consultants") and Axelspace Corporation (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Tomoya Nakamura; hereinafter "Axelspace") have concluded a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU, hereinafter "this partnership") regarding a business alliance aimed at solving challenges in the social infrastructure field through the utilization of satellite data.

■ Background of the business partnership
In Japan, as the population declines and ages, securing personnel to maintain and manage social infrastructure is becoming increasingly difficult. Furthermore, the challenges surrounding social infrastructure are becoming more complex and serious, including the increasing severity and frequency of natural disasters due to climate change, and the need to address aging infrastructure. In this context, there is a growing need to utilize satellite data, which can observe wide areas regularly and non-contact, for disaster prevention and infrastructure management.

Pacific Consultants is a social infrastructure services company that has been deeply involved in the development of social infrastructure such as roads, rivers, ports and harbors, and urban planning for over 75 years since its founding in 1951, and possesses advanced expertise and a wealth of experience in the fields of disaster prevention and infrastructure management. Axelspace is a space venture that operates a satellite constellation of 100kg-class small Earth observation satellites "GRUS" in its Earth observation data provision business "AxelGlobe," and possesses advanced technological capabilities in the acquisition, analysis, and provision of high-frequency optical satellite data.
Both companies decided to form this business alliance because they believe that by combining their respective strengths, they can provide more sophisticated solutions to increasingly complex social issues.

The two companies will jointly promote the following initiatives:

• Planning, research, and development of new technologies and services utilizing satellite data both domestically and internationally.
• Demonstration and social implementation aimed at solving social issues such as disaster prevention and infrastructure management.
• Coordination of project formation, proposal activities, public relations, and sales activities that contribute to the utilization of satellite data.
• Utilization of Axelspace's satellite technology and services in Pacific Consultants' business.

Through this partnership, the two companies will accelerate the development and social implementation of solutions that connect satellite data to solving real-world problems, such as early assessment and wide-area monitoring of disaster damage in the disaster prevention field, and continuous observation and management of deterioration and deformation of social infrastructure. They will also promote joint proposal activities to domestic and international customers and ordering organizations, aiming to expand the businesses of both companies.

Comment from Nobukazu Sasaki, Technology Development Sec. PACIFIC CONSULTANTS CO., LTD.
"Pacific Consultants has been working to solve a wide range of challenges, from planning and designing social infrastructure to maintenance and disaster prevention and mitigation. Axelspace has built a foundation for capturing the Earth from space through its integrated services, including Earth observation services using its satellite constellations and the development and operation of small satellites. This partnership will integrate the strengths of both companies and serve as a starting point for creating new technologies and services together. What we aim to achieve is to commercialize new services that use satellite data to transform how we respond to and make decisions about social issues on Earth. To that end, members from both companies will collaborate, proceeding through the entire process from planning and demonstration to commercialization, and deliver Japan-originated satellite data utilization services to the world."

Comment from Daigo Orihara, Director/Board Member Axelspace Corporation
"We are pleased to collaborate with Pacific Consultants to address social challenges through the use of satellite technology. By combining our company global, overarching perspective gained from satellite technology with Pacific Consultants' domain expertise cultivated over more than 75 years, we believe we can create new approaches to social challenges where satellite technology has not been fully utilized until now. With the signing of this MOU, we will combine the strengths of both companies to contribute to realizing a future where people around the world can live more safely and securely."

■ PACIFIC CONSULTANTS CO., LTD.
Since its founding in 1951, for over 75 years, we have been a leading construction consulting company, deeply involved in the planning, design, and operation of social infrastructure development such as cities, buildings, railways, roads, airports, ports and harbors, rivers, and water and sewage systems, both domestically and internationally. With the vision of "Producing the Future," we are providing new value to society in order to realize a sustainable society where everyone can live with peace of mind.

【Company Profile】
Company Name: PACIFIC CONSULTANTS CO., LTD.
Location: 3-22 Kanda Nishikicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Representative: Osamu OMOTO Representative Director, President Executive Officer
Official website: https://en.pacific.co.jp/

■ Axelspace Corporation
establishment August 2008, we develop and operate small satellites, aiming to create a society where everyone can utilize space.

【Company Profile】
Company name: Axelspace Corporation
Location: Clip Nihonbashi Building, 3-3-3 Nihonbashi Honcho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Representative: Tomoya Nakamura, Representative Director
Official website: https://www.axelspace.com/ja/