Delivered on April 20, 2026
From Railway GIS to 3D Osaka Station: JR West Consultants' Vision for a "Railway OS" and the Future of Spatial Data Infrastructure
Speakers:
Tomohiro Shimizu, IT System Design Department, JR West Consultants Co., Ltd.
Affiliation and position information is as of the time of distribution
We welcome Mr. Shimizu from JR West Consultants to discuss the development background of their proprietary GIS that supports railway infrastructure, its evolution over approximately 20 years, and the practical application of their mobile GIS, which is used by over 15,000 people in the field. Furthermore, we will discuss the potential of a digital space platform centered on the Osaka Station 3D map, the aim of the ideathon for continuous business creation, and the prospects for co-creation through external collaboration and the foundation as a "railway OS."
*Please note that some parts of the audio are difficult to hear. We apologize.
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Maximizing On-Site Value Through Location Information Technology and MultiSoup's Mission
MultiSoup Co., Ltd. is committed to maximizing on-site value through the use of location and spatial information technology, providing location information technology to industrial sites both indoors and outdoors. Their service, "iField," has been implemented in a wide range of industrial sectors, including manufacturing, logistics, construction, and infrastructure, addressing diverse on-site challenges through solutions. Mr. Nasu states that within the past year, they have completed standard compliance for high-precision positioning both indoors and outdoors. Having achieved high-precision implementation for challenges that were previously technically difficult or cost-prohibitive, they are now entering the next stage of pursuing "added value that can only be provided through high precision."
The Role of JR West Consultants and the IT System Design Department
JR West Consultants Co., Ltd. is a construction consulting company of the JR West Group, established in conjunction with the privatization of Japanese National Railways (JNR) into JR West. The company handles everything from planning and design to construction and maintenance of railway infrastructure, supporting infrastructure development in the real world.
The IT System Design Department, where Mr. Shimizu works, plays a crucial role in connecting diverse specialized design tasks—including civil engineering, architecture, and electrical engineering—through the power of IT. Beyond being merely an IT department, its distinguishing feature is its focus on streamlining and reducing the labor involved in real-world infrastructure development using digital technology, as well as building infrastructure environments in digital space and promoting the creation of platforms that link various tasks.
Development and Evolution of a Proprietary GIS Specialized for Railway Operations
One of the company's major strengths is its "Railway GIS," which has been in operation for approximately 18 years since 2007. At the time, general-purpose GIS systems struggled to handle location management based on the unique distance markers (kilometers) used in railways, so a custom engine was developed. Initially launched as an "electronic track layout system" for drawing management, over the past 20 years, its functions have expanded to include structural maintenance, disaster prevention information management, and improving on-site operational efficiency.
Currently, in addition to advanced PC-based use, a mobile version of the GIS, designed for on-site convenience, is also available. This mobile version was developed with a focus on user-friendliness, based on the concept of a "railway map app." Specifically, it is used as a daily tool for on-site location confirmation and pin placement via photography. Currently, approximately 16,000 users within the JR West Group utilize the system, making it an extremely widespread infrastructure, with one in two employees using it.
Cross-organizational risk management through data utilization
The widespread adoption of GIS has also brought about significant changes in the utilization of data. Traditionally, risk information was managed individually by each department, including "track maintenance" (managing railway lines), "civil engineering" (managing bridges and tunnels), and even "electrical" and "architectural" departments. However, with the advent of user-friendly mobile GIS, risk information registered by other departments can now be easily accessed. This has enabled the sharing of safety information across departments, contributing to improved safety in on-site work.
Digital Twin Business Ideathon Utilizing Osaka Station 3D Map
The company is currently focusing not only on railway line management but also on the use of digital technology in station buildings and surrounding urban development. As a symbolic initiative, they held the "Digital Twin Business Ideathon: Let's Think of Business Ideas Utilizing Osaka Station 3D Map" on April 20, 2026.
In this event, approximately 50 participants from about 20 companies explored new business models based on a "3D campus map" that goes beyond traditional two-dimensional representations. The focus is on how to connect this platform, which recreates Osaka Station, one of Japan's most complex structures, as a 3D space, to sustainable businesses. Mr. Shimizu emphasized the importance of a system that can continuously maintain data on rapidly changing station spaces, leveraging his strengths as a consultant with detailed information from the design stage.
Future Outlook: Competition and Co-creation as a Railway OS
Regarding future prospects, Mr. Shimizu positioned his company as a "platform-building company," describing its role as a "railway OS." He envisioned the company providing the OS foundation, and then collaborating with diverse partner companies, including LBMA Japan member companies, to develop applications and solutions that run on it, leveraging their knowledge and skills.
To build business models and solve social issues that cannot be addressed solely by the company, embodying "co-creation," the LBMA Japan slogan, is the direction the company aims for. This initiative, centered on location information and digital twins, has the potential not only to enhance the maintenance and management of railway infrastructure but also to create new social value.
Summary
This article, through an interview with Mr. Tomohiro Shimizu, explored the trajectory of digitalization and the future vision of JR West Consultants. Our proprietary railway GIS development, which began in 2007, has evolved through mobile deployments tailored to on-site needs and has now become an indispensable tool used by half of our employees. Furthermore, our digital twin project at Osaka Station represents a challenge to a new business phase, combining the data accuracy of our consulting expertise with the ideas of our partner companies. Built on the foundation of our "railway OS," co-creation with diverse companies is expected to evolve the use of location data beyond mere efficiency improvements into sustainable services that enrich our lives.