DataLabs Inc. has announced “Framy,” a cloud service that automatically generates BIM/CIM models from point cloud data and 2D drawings. The background includes the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism’s mandatory transition to 3D model contract documentation and the urgent shortage of specialized personnel at construction sites.

Overview and Groundbreaking Features of the Cloud Service “Framy”

DataLabs Inc., a startup promoting construction DX, announced on May 29, 2026, a new service called “Framy,” which automatically generates BIM/CIM models (IFC format) from point cloud data and 2D CAD drawings. The biggest feature of this service is that modeling work, which was previously done manually by specialists, can now be completed in just a few minutes by uploading data to the cloud and giving simple instructions.

The generated models support not only the IFC format, an international standard in architecture and civil engineering, but also the J-LandXML 1.2 format, a standard from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. This enables modeling of road alignment, terrain, and cross-sections, making it easier to integrate and manage structures, terrain, and earthworks within a single three-dimensional space. Additionally, the fact that there is no need to prepare a high-performance PC or expensive dedicated software separately for use, and the ease of operation via a web browser, greatly lowers the barrier to entry. Please refer to the diagram below.

Reliability based on SBIR-adopted technology by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism

The automatic modeling technology built into Framy is not just a private development by the private sector. The technical foundation is based on research and development results selected for the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism’s “Technology Development and Demonstration of Maintenance and Management Methods for Public Structures Using Digital Twins” (SBIR: Small Business Innovation Research). The background of development supported by the government’s innovation promotion system ensures great reliability in its application to public works.

Furthermore, when commercializing, DataLabs has repeatedly verified accuracy with major infrastructure owners, including major railway operators. Its practicality has already been confirmed at actual sites such as railway viaducts, bridges, and dams, proving not only theoretical values but also accuracy that meets practical requirements. From June 2026, based on these achievements, recruitment for about 10 test users began to further improve the level of completeness.

As a solution to the serious challenges faced by construction sites,

Behind the construction industry’s need for automated generation tools like Framy lies a serious structural challenge. Although the use of BIM/CIM is rapidly expanding due to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism’s initiative, there is still an overwhelming shortage of specialized personnel capable of creating 3D models on site, with the burden concentrated on specific engineers and outsourced contractors. Additionally, manual modeling required a significant amount of time, and the persistently high outsourcing costs posed a significant burden for small and medium-sized construction companies.

Framy aims to serve as an “automated 3D delivery factory” to address these challenges. By providing an environment where anyone can easily handle 3D data, it streamlines the handling of 3D delivery required in each phase of surveying, design, construction, and maintenance. This enables companies that have lagged behind in DX adoption due to human resource constraints to incorporate the latest technologies into their operations without missing out on contract opportunities.

[Institutional and Legal Background] Application of BIM/CIM Principles and Responses to 2024 Issues

Roadmap for applying BIM/CIM principles promoted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism

Since 2016, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has been promoting “i-Construction,” aiming to improve construction site productivity by 20% by fiscal year 2025. At its core are BIM (Building Information Modeling), which adds information such as materials, costs, and processes to 3D building models, and the use of CIM (Construction Information Modeling), which reflects this information in the civil engineering field. From fiscal year 2023, the application of BIM/CIM principles has officially begun in government-controlled projects, except for some small-scale projects. Please refer to the diagram below.

With this policy shift, contractors are now required to create and utilize 3D models according to their intended use. From fiscal year 2024, further streamlining of operations is required in response to the so-called ‘2024 problem,’ where overtime regulations at the site become stricter. The government has set a goal to elevate the stage from mere ICT utilization to a step forward in “automation,” and automated generation tools like Framy are technologies that align perfectly with this policy direction.

Mandatory transition to ‘3D Model Contract Document’ in fiscal year 2026

The institutional design aimed at the spread of BIM/CIM is currently at a critical turning point. Fiscal year 2026 is positioned as a transitional period toward mandatory documentation for 3D models. This means treating the three-dimensional model itself as a formal contractual document rather than traditional two-dimensional drawings. Furthermore, from fiscal 2027 onward, the integration of 3D models and cost estimation systems (construction cost calculation systems) is expected to become standardized, making the ability to handle 3D data a critical issue that will determine a company’s order competitiveness.

However, on site, after completing the two-dimensional design, there is often a double effort where a separate 3D model is created. To address these inefficiencies, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism aims to standardize “3D design,” which automatically calculates quantities from 3D models. Framy has responded to this trend by developing features that automatically detect differences between 2D drawings and generated 3D models, enhancing its capabilities to minimize workplace disruption caused by regulatory changes.

The Future of Automation Aimed at by i-Construction 2.0

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism aims for complete automation of construction sites by fiscal year 2040 and has formulated “i-Construction 2.0” for fiscal year 2024. This concept aims to realize construction sites that maximize digital technology and maintain high productivity safely and efficiently even with a small number of people. Specifically, the ambitious plan aims to reduce labor by at least 30% by fiscal year 2040, meaning productivity will increase by 1.5 times.

The 3D data automatic conversion platform provided by Framy is a technology directly linked to the “automated data integration” that underpins i-Construction 2.0. To utilize design data for controlling ICT construction machinery or to build digital twins (technologies that reproduce real-world information in cyberspace) for construction simulations, accurate and large-scale 3D models are required. Automatic generation technology that does not rely on manual labor is an essential piece for achieving advanced infrastructure management at the national level.

[Future Developments & Points of Interest] The True Value of Construction DX Brought by 3D Data Utilization

Expansion into the Architecture and Equipment Sector and Cross-Industry Collaboration

Framy’s applications extend beyond civil engineering structures such as roads and bridges. DataLabs, the developer, is currently actively working to support automatic generation of IFC models from 2D drawings in the architectural and facility fields. Development is underway to automatically generate structured models not only for structural drawings but also for air conditioning and piping floor plans, as well as room spaces, corridors, columns and beams, fittings, and piping systems.

If this expansion is realized, it will become an extremely useful tool not only for general contractors but also for design offices, subcontractors responsible for equipment work, and even building owners responsible for building maintenance. By seamlessly linking data collected by each player at different phases on a common platform, information sharing throughout the entire lifecycle of construction projects becomes possible. The construction of such cross-industry platforms is expected to serve as a catalyst to boost DX across the entire construction sector.

Next-generation management methods that turn 3D models into ‘management assets’

DataLabs’ vision for Framy goes beyond being a mere “delivery creation tool.” We aim to build a collaborative platform that utilizes the BIM/CIM model groups generated and accumulated as corporate ‘management assets.’ Specifically, by adding review functions that allow users to leave comments on the model per component and version control functions during design changes, the company aims to create an environment where designers, clients, and contractors can continuously update and operate the models.

In the future, there are plans to automatically calculate quantities from these models and directly link them with cost estimation and cost management systems, thereby visualizing profit margins for each project and improving estimation accuracy. As 3D data begins to directly contribute to management decision-making, BIM/CIM support—previously seen as a “cost”—will shift in awareness to an “investment” aimed at improving corporate profitability. Please refer to the diagram below.

Competitiveness and Survival Strategies for Companies in × AI and BIM Era

The fusion of AI technology and BIM is accelerating so much that 2026 may be called the “Year of AI × BIM” by future generations. Traditional BIM was a “database entered by people,” but with the advent of services like Framy, AI has entered an era where it can understand drawings and point clouds and generate its own models. This change is predicted to have an even greater impact on the industry than the shift from CAD to BIM.

What will be a question for construction companies going forward is not simply whether they have introduced BIM, but their ability to efficiently generate and utilize structured data that AI can process—that is, their ability to respond to “AI × BIM.” If modeling tasks are automated by generative AI, engineers will be able to focus on more advanced design decisions, construction management, and creative tasks. Companies riding this wave of technological innovation and leveraging digital technology will become the new leading players in the construction industry in a population decline society.

Reference Page

• [i-Construction 2.0 ~ Towards Automation of Construction Sites – Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism] https://www.mlit.go.jp/report/press/content/001740336.pdf

• [DataLabs develops cloud service ‘Framy’ that automatically generates BIM/CIM models from both point clouds and 2D drawings, and begins recruiting test users | Press Release from DataLabs Inc.https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000065.000083637.html

• [Terms of Use & Disclaimer – Framy]https://framy.jp/terms

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