Passing on Mastery to the Next Generation: A New Style of Skill Transfer Opened by AR in Civil Engineering

Table of Contents

• Serious challenges of skill transfer on civil engineering sites

• New approaches to skill transfer enabled by civil engineering DX

• Intuitive on-site work support using AR

• Educational effects of visualizing as-built data

• Benefits and challenges of introducing AR technology

• Simplified surveying with LRTK

• FAQ

In Japan’s civil engineering industry, skill transfer has become a major issue. While many veteran technicians are reaching retirement age, the number of young people who will carry the next generation is declining, creating a “skill gap” on job sites. One key being looked to as a solution is AR (augmented reality technology in civil engineering). By introducing digital technology on site, it becomes possible to convey veterans’ know-how to younger workers in an intuitive, visible form, enabling a new, efficient style of skill transfer. This article explains in detail how DX utilizing AR technology is changing the way skills are transmitted on civil engineering sites, with concrete examples and future prospects.

Serious challenges of skill transfer on civil engineering sites

First, let’s look at the current situation of human resources and skill transfer that civil engineering and construction sites face. The number of workers in the construction industry has decreased from about 6.85 million at its peak in the late 1990s to around 4.8 million in recent years, a drop of about 30%. The aging of skilled workers who perform site work is particularly pronounced: those aged 55 and over make up more than 30% of the workforce, while workers 29 and under account for only around 10%. Long working hours, harsh working environments, and the so-called “3Ks” (kitsui, kitanai, kiken—hard, dirty, dangerous) have driven young people away from the industry, reducing new hires and causing early turnover. As a result, retirements of veterans continue while successor shortages deepen, raising concerns about a break in skill transmission.

Furthermore, busy job sites often find it difficult to secure sufficient time for personnel development. The tacit knowledge that experienced technicians have cultivated through intuition and experience tends to remain person-dependent, making systematic training and technical sharing difficult. For young workers, it is often hard to see “what to do and how to do it,” and repeating confusion and mistakes on site can erode their confidence. On the other hand, veterans who would teach lack the spare capacity to do so, and valuable know-how can be lost without adequate transfer. To solve these problems and smooth the generational handover on site, new approaches are needed.

New approaches to skill transfer enabled by civil engineering DX

A promising breakthrough is civil engineering DX (digital transformation). By leveraging ICT and digital technologies to dramatically improve work efficiency, civil engineering DX has the potential not only to compensate for labor shortages and streamline operations, but also to transform the working environment itself so that younger workers can flourish. Digitalization is advancing across processes from surveying to design, construction, and maintenance. Examples include drone-based 3D surveying, automated control of construction machinery, introduction of BIM/CIM (design and construction using 3D models), remote site inspection systems, and AI image analysis for inspections. AR/MR (mixed reality) technology is naturally part of this trend, updating traditional methods that relied on paper drawings and craftsmen’s intuition and enabling “smart construction” that anyone can intuitively understand and operate.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism proposed a productivity revolution called *i-Construction* in 2016 and has strongly promoted ICT use in public works. Since then, the use of 3D survey data and ICT-equipped machines, electronic deliverables, and remote site attendance have gradually become standard practices. Recently, under keywords such as “construction DX” and “infrastructure DX,” innovation across entire work processes through data utilization and AI adoption is accelerating, not just simple efficiency gains. From 2024, restrictions on overtime work will also apply to the construction industry (the so-called “2024 problem”), making the introduction of labor- and manpower-saving technologies urgent. This background acts as a tailwind, and the industry as a whole is stepping up full-scale DX efforts.

Actively adopting digital technologies not only boosts productivity and quality but also makes workplaces smarter and more attractive to younger workers. If the image of “old-fashioned, grubby work” can be replaced by a sophisticated workplace that leverages cutting-edge technology, it will help retain and attract young talent. In other words, civil engineering DX strengthens on-site capabilities that form the foundation of skill transfer and is a crucial key to nurturing the next generation.

Intuitive on-site work support using AR

So how exactly can AR technology help on site? One typical application is AR navigation at construction sites. By overlaying lines and shapes based on drawings and 3D models onto site images captured by a tablet or smartphone camera, workers can intuitively understand “where and what to do.” For example, a 3D model of the planned structure can be displayed at full scale on the ground in AR so that workers can immediately check whether current positions and elevations match the design. There is no need to mentally reconcile drawings with the actual object; by visually grasping the finished form through the camera, even inexperienced workers can accurately identify the correct work positions without hesitation.

The benefits of AR-assisted work are countless. Key points include:

• Reduction of construction errors and quality improvement: It can drastically reduce rework caused by misreading drawings or measurement errors. Because workers can always see design lines and elevations while working, finishing precision improves and the fine adjustments that formerly relied on veterans’ intuition become unnecessary.

• Real-time confirmation and immediate correction: Traditional failures like noticing defects only after concrete placement can be prevented. Deviations can be detected on AR immediately and corrected on the spot, enabling early remediation. This avoids unnecessary re-mobilization of machinery and personnel on later dates.

• Promoting independence and growth of young workers: AR acts like a “navigation system” for the site, guiding work so that inexperienced newcomers can proceed without constantly asking seniors “Is this correct?” As a result, they gain confidence and learn skills faster through practice. Veterans also face reduced burdens from time-consuming one-on-one supervision, improving team workflow and productivity.

AR can also be used as a tool for remote support. For example, a site worker wearing smart glasses or using a smartphone can share live footage with a veteran located elsewhere who can provide guidance. The experienced technician can overlay diagrams or markers in AR from their viewpoint to instruct the onsite newcomer, allowing detailed guidance without traveling to the site. This reduces time lost to travel and enables young workers to access veteran expertise anytime, anywhere. It can also be applied to safety instruction, such as remotely checking hazardous areas and displaying AR warnings, contributing to overall on-site safety improvement.

Educational effects of visualizing as-built data

On site, as-built data are measured after construction to verify whether the work was carried out according to design. As-built management is an indispensable process for quality assurance, but historically measurement results tended to be submitted only as reports and not fully used for onsite learning. A list of numbers alone fails to convey a tangible sense, and data were often treated as simply “pass the inspection and that’s it,” so valuable data were not tied to staff development.

However, advances in technologies such as 3D laser scanners and photogrammetry now make it possible to visually check as-built data on site. With tablets equipped with high-performance LiDAR sensors and small surveying devices attachable to smartphones, anyone can capture point cloud data (3D as-built measurement results) on site in a short time. By overlaying the acquired 3D data on the design data and displaying deviations as a color-coded heat map (for example, areas higher than design in red and lower areas in blue), it becomes immediately obvious where there is excess or deficiency. If this is checked on site immediately after construction, it is possible to grasp at a glance how much and where corrections are needed and to order touch-up work the same day if necessary. Digital technology is enabling real-time and visible as-built verification.

Visualizing as-built data not only helps quality control but also has a significant effect on training young engineers. Specific educational benefits include:

• Immediate feedback for review: Reviewing results with data immediately after construction allows teams to quickly share what went well and what needs improvement. Rather than holding review meetings the next day, discussing improvements on the spot with data greatly speeds up the PDCA cycle.

• Encouraging objective self-assessment: Color-coded display of as-built deviations allows workers to objectively evaluate their construction accuracy. Feedback based on visual facts rather than intuition provides reassurance and clarifies points to watch next time, helping motivate workers by showing their growth.

• Visualizing tacit knowledge: Veterans’ “sense points” and empirical rules become easier to share through data. For example, a veteran’s intuitive advice like “compact this area a bit more carefully” becomes easier for young workers to understand when shown alongside measured data. Converting skilled craftsmanship into numerical and visual forms smooths skill transfer.

• Accumulating knowledge and creating teaching materials: As-built data accumulated from sites becomes valuable company-wide knowledge. Using past project data in new-worker training helps novices grasp what “acceptable precision” looks like, and excellent or failed examples can be turned into teaching materials with 3D models. This provides systematic learning opportunities that OJT (on-the-job training) alone cannot fully supply.

By not merely compiling as-built data into reports but visualizing and using it, site quality and productivity improve and young workers’ learning effectiveness dramatically increases. If a data-driven review culture takes root, continuous improvement and a rise in technical capability across the organization can be expected. The accumulated 3D data can also serve as a digital twin for maintenance and future project planning, so a single construction can become an asset for the future.

Benefits and challenges of introducing AR technology

As we have seen, digital technologies including AR hold great potential for skill transfer and strengthening on-site capabilities. Finally, let’s summarize the benefits of introducing AR technology on site and the challenges to overcome.

Benefits of AR adoption:

• Increased productivity: Efficiency gains and error reduction enable limited staff to achieve higher output. For example, surveying work that used to take two people half a day may be completed by one person in about one hour using AR-compatible devices. This directly shortens construction schedules and reduces costs.

• Enhanced quality and safety: Visualizing design information improves construction accuracy, reducing rework and defects. AR glasses can visualize hazardous areas and enable remote safety instruction, contributing to lower risk of occupational accidents.

• Promoted human resource development: AR creates an environment where young workers can efficiently acquire skills through practice. Digitally sharing veterans’ sense points improves learning effectiveness and speeds up training. With technology that makes techniques “visible,” beginners find it easier to understand and maintain motivation.

• Attracting young talent: Implementing the latest technologies on site itself makes the workplace appealing to younger generations. It prevents the impression of an “old industry” among IT-savvy next-generation workers and offers the appeal of working with cutting-edge technology.

Challenges of AR adoption:

• Initial costs and equipment: Investment is required to introduce AR glasses, high-performance tablets, and communication environments. However, affordable AR solutions using smartphones have become more common recently, lowering the barrier compared to before.

• On-site adoption: Resistance to new technologies and lack of proficiency at sites are issues. Some veterans may be accustomed to traditional methods and feel uneasy. While training periods are needed for everyone to become proficient with digital devices, appropriate education and support can enable a smooth transition.

• Data preparation and operation: Effective AR use requires establishing foundations such as design data, 3D models, and positioning systems. In small- to medium-sized sites, preparing and managing data can be burdensome. However, aligning with national initiatives promoting BIM/CIM and digitization will make necessary data easier for anyone to handle in the future.

Although there are challenges, technological advances are creating evolving solutions, opening the way for AR to fit naturally into sites. Especially lately, “AR technology usable on smartphones” has emerged, allowing site DX to start easily without expensive dedicated equipment. Next, let’s look at a representative example: simplified surveying using LRTK.

Simplified surveying with LRTK

Did you know that combining AR technology with smartphones has dramatically simplified surveying work on site? LRTK (a positioning system supporting high-precision GNSS) is a prime example. It uses a small GNSS receiver that can be attached to a smartphone to obtain real-time, cm-level high-precision position information (half-inch accuracy). Traditionally, surveying involved carrying heavy equipment and working in pairs, but with LRTK it is possible to complete surveying with a single smartphone such as an iPhone, enabling accurate measurements by one person.

For example, in tasks such as setting ground elevations or determining installation positions for structures, beginners can identify prescribed coordinates without confusion simply by following AR guidance displayed on a smartphone screen. The latitude, longitude, and elevation of acquired points are automatically recorded in the cloud, making it easy for experienced technicians to review data later and provide advice. Data positioned with LRTK can be converted to a coordinate system equivalent to public surveying, allowing direct use in as-built management and drawing corrections.

Smartphone surveying tools like LRTK bring major benefits to sites by fostering a culture of “anyone can measure and record anywhere.” If young employees can handle surveying tools and participate in staking out and marking out tasks, the barrier of “surveying is only for specialists” collapses, raising the team’s overall skill level. In one site, as-built measurement that used to take two people half a day was reported to be shortened to one person in one hour by using LRTK. By combining veterans’ experience with the latest technology, it is possible to advance skill transfer while achieving both efficiency and accuracy. Properly adopting such tools can create sites where people of all generations can utilize digital technology and thrive. The new style of skill transfer that AR civil engineering opens up is being shaped by these on-site innovations.

FAQ

Q: What is AR civil engineering? A: “AR civil engineering” refers to incorporating AR (augmented reality) technology into civil engineering and construction sites. Specifically, it involves using smartphones, tablets, or AR glasses to overlay digital information onto the site and applying it for work support and education. Applications range widely, from displaying drawings and 3D models in real space to guide construction to enabling remote veteran technicians to support sites.

Q: What benefits come from using AR on site? A: AR dramatically improves on-site work efficiency and accuracy. For example, AR navigation reduces construction errors and rework, improving quality. Real-time verification and immediate correction enable early detection and remediation of issues. In training, inexperienced workers can act autonomously using AR guidance, boosting confidence and accelerating skill acquisition. AR remote support also allows veterans to instruct newcomers from afar, enabling detailed training even at sites facing labor shortages.

Q: How does AR help with skill transfer? A: AR is a powerful means of visualizing the tacit knowledge and sense points of experienced technicians. Intuitive tips and cautions from veterans can be presented concretely on AR as lines, models, or notes, enabling direct transmission to young workers. Visualizing as-built data in AR allows young workers to objectively evaluate their work results. This immediate feedback fosters a mindset of self-improvement and smooths skill transfer.

Q: What hurdles exist when introducing AR on site? A: Main hurdles include introduction costs and preparing equipment, and improving staff IT literacy. AR glasses and dedicated devices can be expensive, but inexpensive solutions for smartphones and tablets are becoming available. On-site staff unfamiliar with new technology will need operational training, but many products feature intuitive UIs and tend to be adopted easily once used. Starting with pilot implementations and gradually expanding the scope helps the technology take root on site without undue strain.

Q: What is simplified surveying? What can you do with LRTK? A: “Simplified surveying” refers to surveying methods that can be carried out easily without specialist surveyors. With LRTK, smartphone-based simplified surveying can achieve high accuracy comparable to conventional surveying equipment (errors on the order of several centimeters, a few inches). Tasks such as measuring ground elevation or determining installation positions for structures can be completed by one person in a short time. LRTK uses satellite signals, so large-scale reference setup is unnecessary even on wide sites. Acquired data can be saved and shared to the cloud for use in drawing comparisons and as-built management. In short, LRTK makes “surveying anyone can do” a reality, speeding up and streamlining sites and making it easier for young workers to acquire surveying skills.