SB Technology develops a data analysis platform to centrally manage Ryukoku University's agricultural data using Microsoft Azure. Provide comprehensive support from collection, visualization, and analysis

SB Technology Corp. (Headquarters: Shinichi Ata-ku, Tokyo, President ＆ CEO: Chikaichi Ata, hereafter referred to as SBT) and Ryukoku University (Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture, President: Takashi Irisawa) are collaborating to promote the digitalization and development of Japanese industry in the field of agriculture. In our efforts to develop highly specialized human resources who will drive added value, we are developing a data analysis platform that allows students to freely access, analyze, and utilize data themselves, and as part of their education, we are developing next-generation “ We would like to inform you that we have held a lecture aimed at developing "agri-DX human resources".
Together with Ryukoku University, SBT will realize DX through comprehensive support including data collection, visualization, and analysis, and will help realize cross-disciplinary research between the Faculty of Agriculture and the Faculty of Advanced Science and Engineering and create new educational opportunities. Contribute greatly.

■Background

As the aging of agricultural workers and the seriousness of the shortage of farmers increase year by year, it is essential to improve productivity using digital technology in order to make agriculture a sustainable growth industry. Under these circumstances, Ryukoku University is collaborating with the Faculty of Advanced Science and Engineering in order to improve the level of practical training at the Faculty of Agriculture, and is focusing on developing "agri-DX human resources" who have digital minds and skills in the field of agriculture. . Traditionally, we collected and managed farm environmental data and conducted daily practical training, but the data could not be centralized, and there were issues with data management and sharing.
This time, we evaluated SBT 's extensive development experience and knowledge of Microsoft products, as well as its ability to develop a data platform that can centrally manage and analyze various farm sensors provided by various manufacturers. Thank you for making this initiative possible.

■Initiative details

We have developed a data platform to automatically aggregate and analyze data collected from sensors installed on farms, such as weather, water quality, and soil, into Microsoft Azure.

We have improved the ease of handling and accessing data by dividing it into three structures: a collection platform that receives data, a data storage platform that stores raw data, and a processing platform that facilitates visualization and analysis. Even in the unlikely event that data is deleted, it is configured so that it can be restored immediately, allowing students to freely access the data and perform analysis with peace of mind.

It supports accumulation of various data formats (CSV, Excel, JSON, etc.), and also supports manual upload in order to effectively utilize previously collected data. By providing various upload methods without specializing in automatic collection, we have increased the scalability as a data platform.

As part of this initiative, SBT data scientists gave lectures on report writing exercises using actually collected agricultural data for students from the Faculty of Agriculture and the Faculty of Advanced Science and Engineering. Students visualize the acquired data using Microsoft Power BI and use it to understand the growing environment of crops. By introducing BI tools that can analyze from multiple angles, future approaches to growth will be considered based on the insights obtained from the data.

■About the future

In the future, Ryukoku University plans to expand the number of sensors that can be collected and work toward more advanced analysis using AI in order to further utilize the data analysis platform. SBT will continue to support the utilization of data infrastructure by providing advanced analysis technology by data scientists and supporting the creation of new value through analysis.

■ About SB Technology 's data platform construction support

We build the optimal data integration platform to meet your requirements. We offer one-stop, optimal solutions, from consulting by specialized engineers to cloud platform design and construction, visualization and analysis after data accumulation, and AI utilization. In addition, we have a backup system for security solutions and operational aspects, which are our strengths, and we can provide total support for customers to realize DX using data.

■ SB Technology Corp.

https://www.softbanktech.co.jp/
As a core company in the SoftBank Group's ICT services, SB Technology utilizes cutting-edge technologies such as cloud, security, IoT, and AI to support customers' DX and create new business. We have strengths in the development of Microsoft products such as Microsoft Azure, and since starting our Microsoft business in 2009, we have supported a variety of customers from enterprise companies to government agencies, and have one of the top implementation records in Japan. To do.

■Ryukoku University

https://www.ryukoku.ac.jp/
Ryukoku University is a comprehensive university with 10 faculties, 1 junior college, and 10 graduate schools, which began in 1639 as a school dormitory established at Nishi Honganji Temple in Kyoto. With a philosophy of "self-reflection and altruism," we will continue to tackle challenges that are spreading on a global scale and do our best to pursue new possibilities for society.

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