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Table of Contents

• What is AR civil engineering?

• Productivity challenges of conventional methods

• Key points for productivity improvement using AR

• AR civil engineering vs conventional methods: on-site comparison

• Challenges of implementing AR civil engineering

• Simple surveying with LRTK

• Conclusion

• FAQ

What is AR civil engineering?

AR civil engineering refers to the use of AR (augmented reality) technology at civil engineering sites (infrastructure construction and civil works). AR is a technology that can overlay digital information onto real-world views. Through dedicated smart glasses, tablets, or smartphones, 3D design models and drawing information can be displayed on the actual site, allowing workers to simultaneously check the real space and virtual information.

Digital transformation (DX) has been accelerating in the civil engineering industry in recent years, and on-site AR implementation has attracted attention within this trend. In particular, AR utilization in civil engineering has been gaining momentum over the past few years, and initiatives referred to as "AR civil engineering" are spreading. AR technology makes it possible to intuitively confirm on-site the finished form that used to be imagined only from drawings or surveying data. As a result, it is expected to help prevent construction mistakes and improve work efficiency.

Productivity challenges of conventional methods

In conventional civil engineering work, many analog tasks that require manpower and time have been performed, such as paper drawings, on-site staking (layout marking), and measurements with surveying instruments. For example, in pre-construction surveying work, surveyors use specialized equipment such as total stations with multiple people to measure terrain shapes and elevations. Based on the survey results, staking and marking operations such as driving stakes and layout marking are required to set ground elevations and structure positions. These tasks require careful manual work to ensure accuracy and inevitably tend to take time.

There are also issues in on-site verification during construction. Construction crews compare paper drawings with the site to confirm whether the site conditions match the design drawings. However, it is not easy to imagine the finished form from two-dimensional drawings, and there are cases where differences in understanding lead to incorrect installation of rebar or piping. If misalignments or interferences are discovered after construction, rework becomes necessary, consuming extra time and cost.

Furthermore, there were efficiency issues in communication. When explaining site progress to clients or designers, it can be difficult to share the image with only verbal explanations or drawings, and frequent site visits or business trips may be required. If all stakeholders do not share the same completed image, discrepancies in understanding can cause rework and additional adjustment tasks, lowering productivity.

Thus, conventional methods have issues such as "it takes effort to accurately grasp site conditions," "it takes time to understand and share drawings," and "mistakes are often noticed too late," which tend to lead to extended schedules and increased costs.

Key points for productivity improvement using AR

Introducing AR civil engineering can be expected to bring various improvements to the issues of conventional methods described above. Here are the main points of productivity improvement achievable through AR utilization.

Streamlining surveying and construction planning

AR technology greatly streamlines surveying and construction planning. For example, surveying work that previously took several people half a day can be measured immediately by a single person using AR-compatible apps or tools. Even without expensive dedicated surveying equipment, simply holding up a tablet or smartphone on site can instantly calculate terrain shapes and excavation/embankment volumes and display the results on the screen.

By using AR in this way, the time and personnel required for surveying can be greatly reduced, speeding up the entire schedule. Additionally, walking the site while overlaying planning information and design models for each construction step in AR makes it intuitive to grasp the work range and the next steps. This allows work to proceed smoothly and helps prevent unnecessary waiting time.

In overseas cases, there are reports that displaying 3D design data on site in AR and eliminating the need to redraw into 2D drawings (drawing creation) reduced costs equivalent to about 7–11% of the overall project budget. Cutting the time and effort spent on drawing creation and data conversion is a major advantage of AR utilization.

Reducing mistakes and preventing rework

AR civil engineering directly contributes to reducing construction errors. Because the completed 3D model and design information can be overlaid and checked against the real object through AR devices on site, it becomes easier to detect construction mistakes based on incorrect interpretation on the spot.

For example, there have been sites where the design layout of conduits and rebar was displayed in AR on a tablet screen and compared with actual installation positions. This made it possible to detect and correct before construction issues such as "pipe interference" or "positional misalignment" that used to be noticed only after construction. Even small discrepancies can be checked and corrected immediately on site, preventing major defects and rework.

Compared to checking on paper drawings, directly overlaying digital models makes inspections much easier. A major construction company reported that introducing an AR system for managing equipment piping work significantly reduced the burden of matching drawings with the site. As a result, human errors decreased, lowering the risk of schedule delays due to quality defects.

Moreover, AR enables visualization of underground buried utilities. If buried pipes and cables that previously required excavation to confirm locations are digitized in 3D in advance, they can be confirmed from the ground surface via AR. This helps prevent accidental damage to existing pipelines, contributing to safety and reduced restoration costs.

Improved information sharing and communication among stakeholders

AR civil engineering also greatly contributes to smoother communication. Because site conditions and the finished image can be shared in real time via AR even without being physically present, all stakeholders can more easily understand the same "current site."

For example, showing clients or designers a full-size display of the planned structure in the real space on a tablet screen conveys the image more intuitively than explaining with paper drawings alone. When explaining to nearby residents, showing the post-completion appearance on the spot can help gain acceptance and facilitate consensus building.

Remote assistance is also possible, where experts in distant locations view the site through AR and provide instructions. Since appropriate advice can be given in real time without traveling to the site, travel time is reduced and decision-making is accelerated. In practice, initiatives have begun where skilled technicians share the view of a worker wearing smart glasses and display instructions or markings on that shared image in AR for remote guidance. This supports young workers and streamlines inspections and on-site attendance.

Such speedy information sharing contributes to mistake prevention and improved safety. As the saying goes, "seeing is believing," and AR aligns the understanding of the entire on-site team, strengthening teamwork and improving work efficiency.

Safety and training benefits

Using AR in civil engineering offers benefits in safety management and human resource development. By highlighting hazardous areas and points of caution on AR devices, workers can more easily recognize risk locations in advance. For example, displaying no-fall areas in red on AR for high-altitude work sites or visualizing the swing radius of heavy equipment can help prevent accidents.

AR is also useful for new employee training. Visualizing veteran workers' know-how as AR content and presenting it to newcomers on site makes it easier to understand tips and cautions that are hard to convey verbally. Because trainees can learn while actually experiencing on site, skill acquisition speeds up and contributes to productivity improvement.

AR civil engineering vs conventional methods: on-site comparison

As described above, AR civil engineering improves efficiency and productivity in various ways compared to conventional methods. Here, let's summarize the specific differences between on-site tasks when using AR and when using conventional methods.

By utilizing AR civil engineering, tasks can be performed with fewer people and with real-time situational awareness, enabling efficient construction that eliminates waste. Conventional methods relied heavily on craftsmen's experience and intuition, making processes prone to individual dependence. AR technology fills that gap and creates an environment where anyone can perform on-site tasks accurately and quickly.

Challenges of implementing AR civil engineering

Of course, there are challenges to address when introducing AR civil engineering. It is important to understand the hurdles of new technology and take countermeasures.

First, there is the issue of equipment and cost. Using AR on site requires compatible smart glasses or tablets and the digital data such as 3D models. Procuring multiple dedicated devices at once requires a corresponding investment, and if your company has not prepared three-dimensional design data, you must consider the cost of creating it. However, in recent years, AR apps that run on smartphones and tools that operate on general-purpose tablets have become more common, and in some cases it is possible to introduce AR at relatively low cost without relying on dedicated equipment.

Next is the challenge of skill acquisition and personnel training. Site workers need training to operate AR equipment. Many veteran employees are unfamiliar with digital tools, so initial resistance or confusion is likely. However, choosing apps with user-friendly UIs and simple operation procedures can lower the barrier to adoption. Once they actually use it, they often realize its convenience, and in some cases it becomes indispensable on site.

Another challenge is accuracy and calibration (alignment). To accurately overlay a design model in AR, it is essential to align the real-world coordinate system with the digital model. Traditional AR solutions required manual calibration on site, such as placing markers or aligning to known points. This is time-consuming, and even small misalignments can cause the AR display to shift and potentially cause confusion.

However, technologies that solve this alignment issue have now emerged. One such solution is the LRTK introduced next.

Simple surveying with LRTK

To maximize the effects of AR civil engineering, technology that can quickly and accurately perform positioning and measurement on site is key. LRTK was developed precisely as a solution for that purpose.

LRTK is a series of AR-utilization tools developed by a startup company that anyone can easily use. Its greatest feature is the ability to perform continuous centimeter-level high-precision positioning. To reflect the translation rule for cm accuracy: centimeter-level (cm level accuracy (half-inch accuracy)). This allows digital design data to be displayed in its "intended position" without having to set reference points on site for coordinate alignment. In other words, the cumbersome on-site alignment work is unnecessary, and even if you hold and move the device around, the AR display always aligns precisely with the model and the actual position.

This "non-shifting AR projection" is revolutionary for site technicians and is a unique strength of LRTK. In traditional AR, virtual models tended to drift as users moved, but with LRTK you can freely walk around and perform verification work without worrying about such shifts.

Furthermore, the LRTK series is also easy for anyone to use. It can be used simply by attaching a pocket-sized receiver to a smartphone or tablet, and no special expertise is required. Site personnel can easily set it up on their own devices, reducing confusion from introducing new equipment. In terms of price, it can be introduced relatively inexpensively compared to typical surveying equipment, making it easier to deploy across multiple sites.

By utilizing LRTK, a single unit can handle everything from high-precision surveying to AR display of design models, layout marking, and photo documentation. This dramatically shortens the time required for on-site surveying, measurements, and as-built verification, directly contributing to overall productivity improvement. The LRTK series is also a solution that aligns with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism's i-Construction policy and strongly supports DX in the construction industry.

Conclusion

AR civil engineering has the potential to bring dramatic productivity improvements compared to conventional methods. It offers benefits in on-site work efficiency, error reduction, smoother communication, and enhanced safety, all of which contribute to shorter schedules and cost savings. This can be a major support for the construction industry, which faces labor shortages and pressures for workstyle reforms.

Of course, introducing new technology comes with challenges such as initial costs and personnel training. However, these hurdles are decreasing year by year. With the ongoing development of BIM/CIM data, preparing 3D models for AR is becoming easier. In the context of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism's promotion of i-Construction, understanding of ICT utilization is also spreading. AR technology itself is advancing, and solutions like LRTK that enable easy, high-precision AR on site have emerged.

Going forward, AR civil engineering is expected to become a standard on sites while complementing conventional methods. Shifting from an era that relied solely on drawings and craftsmen's intuition to one that fully leverages digital technology to achieve "visualized site management" presents an opportunity for a productivity revolution. Companies that have proactively introduced AR are already saying, "Once you use it, you can't go back." Those who adopt AR in civil construction may lead the way in the future.

Finally, if you are interested in AR civil engineering or simple surveying tools, consider how they could be used at your company’s sites. As a key to promoting on-site DX and balancing productivity improvement with quality assurance, AR technology and solutions like LRTK can contribute to your projects.

FAQ

Q: What is AR civil engineering? A: AR civil engineering is the use of AR (augmented reality) technology in the field of civil engineering. Using smart devices or AR glasses on site, design drawings and 3D models are overlaid onto the real landscape. This allows workers to check real-world sites and digital information simultaneously, helping prevent construction errors and improve efficiency.

Q: What benefits does introducing AR bring? A: Introducing AR speeds up surveying and layout marking, allowing efficient work even with fewer personnel. It enables early detection of construction mistakes and reduces rework, contributing to shorter schedules and cost savings. It also makes it easier to share the finished image among stakeholders, smoothing explanations and meetings, and offers safety benefits by displaying hazardous areas in AR.

Q: What are the challenges when introducing AR civil engineering? A: Main challenges include equipment costs, data preparation, and training site staff in digital skills. Preparing AR-compatible devices and 3D models requires initial investment, and older workers may be hesitant to operate new equipment. Effective countermeasures include choosing low-cost AR tools that run on general tablets and providing careful operational training. Maintaining AR display accuracy through alignment technology is also important, but recent solutions like LRTK address this challenge.

Q: What equipment is needed to use AR on site? A: Essentially, you need a device capable of displaying AR content (such as 3D design models). Specifically, tablets, smartphones, or head-mounted displays (AR glasses) are examples. For obtaining high-accuracy positioning outdoors at civil engineering sites, combining a GNSS receiver is effective. For example, combining a tablet with a high-precision GNSS receiver enables accurate AR surveying and layout marking on site.

Q: What is simple surveying with LRTK? A: LRTK is an AR tool that leverages high-precision RTK-GNSS technology to automate on-site alignment while enabling rapid surveying and as-built management. By connecting a pocket-sized GNSS receiver to a smart device, anyone can easily achieve centimeter-level positioning (cm level accuracy (half-inch accuracy)). This allows accurate layout marking and AR display of 3D models without special expertise, simplifying and speeding up surveying work. Using LRTK, a single person can quickly grasp site conditions, contributing to overall productivity improvement.