Common Ground is a common platform proposed by architect Keisuke Toyoda that collects "things" and "information", using 3D spatial information to seamlessly connect real and digital spaces in real time. The cross-industry use of 3D design data (for example, in construction) and widespread accessibility of game-development software offering high graphical capabilities make platforms that seamlessly connect real and digital spaces more achievable than ever. To bring advanced services using cutting-edge technologies such as robotics and XR (cross-reality) into real-world social use, it is essential to build platforms capable of gathering and integrating diverse data with ease. Equally essential is the broader conversation around integrating society-wide systems, from administrative infrastructure to social norms and conventions.
It was against this backdrop that Common Ground Living Lab (CGLL) was founded in July 2021. CGLL's aim is to bring together players from across industries to realize a next-generation space where people of all kinds could participate in society free from geographic, linguistic, and physical constraints. Rooted in a physical launch space, CGLL provides an environment where the real and digital worlds converge, facilitating cross-disciplinary co-creation and deep discussion among experts. This platform aims to create an accessible society where, for example, children in Tokyo can take classes with children overseas, or robots extend mobility and independence to those who need it. By opening up shared access to experiment sites, sensors, and data, and support through networking events and steering-committee-member companies, CGLL will draw in interested companies and organizations from the technology sector and beyond. CGLL is also reaching out to non-technical sectors to make this platform a starting point for discussing and materializing a future society where everyone, human or robot, enjoys a shared understanding and common ground.
Common Ground Living Lab is a future-oriented service with far-reaching potential as a platform that brings together experts from different domains, local residents, and companies to collaborate on solutions to social challenges using 3D data drawn from architecture and urban environments. By treating real social environments as living laboratories, the platform facilitates experimental research and enables data-driven policy formulation and business development. Beyond that, this platform also has the potential to foster a participatory approach to local governance, in which residents are actively involved in developing solutions to challenges specific to their communities quickly and efficiently.
Finally, at its most ambitious, this project aims to strengthen collaboration among government, industry, and academia, creating new model cases for building a sustainable society with a vision that extends well beyond any single region.
