Major construction firms are rapidly adopting it! The day AR civil engineering becomes the industry standard

Table of Contents

• What is AR civil engineering?

• DX and AR technologies advancing in the construction industry

• Benefits of using AR

• AR implementation case studies by major construction companies

• The day AR civil engineering becomes the industry standard

• Simplified surveying with LRTK

• FAQ

What is AR civil engineering?

AR (Augmented Reality) is a technology that overlays digital information onto real-world images. Through the cameras of smartphones and tablets, 3D models and text information can be composited and displayed onto the scene in front of you, making it appear as if virtual objects exist in real space. In recent years, the use of AR technology in civil engineering and construction sites has been rapidly spreading. The so-called "AR civil engineering" can be described as a collective term for initiatives that introduce AR into the civil engineering field, bringing innovation to traditional methods of construction management, surveying, and design verification.

The civil engineering industry has traditionally relied on analog methods using paper drawings and surveying instruments. However, with rising labor shortages and demands for shorter construction schedules, and aided by tailwinds such as *i-Construction* promoted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, digital transformation (DX) on construction sites has become an unavoidable challenge. What is drawing attention is the use of smart technologies. In particular, AR holds great potential as a means of on-site data collection and communication. For example, simply holding up a tablet can overlay a model of the planned structure onto the real landscape, allowing intuitive sharing of the envisioned completed structure. Also, visualizing on site the locations of underground buried objects that could previously only be confirmed on drawings can help make excavation work safer.

In this way, AR is a technology that dramatically advances on-site "visualization". It supplements parts that used to rely on veterans’ experience and intuition with digital information, enabling anyone to intuitively grasp the situation. The purpose of AR in civil engineering is to use the latest technologies to link the real world with design data and improve construction accuracy and efficiency. In fact, recently there has been an increase in pilot projects introducing AR, mainly among major construction companies, and AR in civil engineering is no longer a special cutting-edge example but is becoming a standard technology that the entire industry should adopt.

DX and AR technologies advancing in the construction industry

The call for DX (digital transformation) in the construction and civil engineering sectors stems from chronic labor shortages, challenges in transferring skills, and the need to improve productivity. Japan's construction sites are aging, and securing sufficient personnel has become a major challenge. As one solution, the proactive adoption of ICT technologies has been promoted. By introducing digital tools into surveying, construction management, and inspection processes, efforts are being made to streamline work and reduce errors.

In this push for DX, AR technology plays an important role. Although the construction industry has long been considered more conservative than other sectors, interest in XR (AR/VR/MR) technologies has been growing in recent years due to the need for "visualization of worksites" and "remote support". For example, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism is promoting the on-site implementation of AR alongside the use of *BIM/CIM*, and from fiscal year 2025 onward a system that displays 3D models and as-built data on-site via AR to conduct quality inspections is expected to be put into full-scale operation. This is not merely a demonstration experiment; it signifies that an era in which AR is used routinely across the industry, including government, is near.

Advances in the hardware and software that underpin AR technology are also driving its adoption on site. Recent smartphones and tablets are equipped with high-performance cameras and sensors, and AR apps have seen dramatic improvements in accuracy and stability. For example, the latest iPhone and Android devices include built-in LiDAR sensors that can instantly 3D-scan surrounding geometry. By leveraging this, point cloud data of terrain and structures can be captured without specialized surveying equipment, allowing AR displays to compare current conditions with the design. In addition, when combined with high-precision GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System), virtual information can now be overlaid with centimeter-level position accuracy (half-inch accuracy). In short, now that the technological environment is in place, AR has entered a practical phase and is becoming the mainstay on site.

Benefits of Using AR

By using AR at civil engineering sites, various benefits can be realized. Here are some of the main advantages.

• Intuitive visualization: Drawings and numerical data alone often make it hard to grasp the finished image or progress; with AR you can project a life-size 3D model in front of you. Because all stakeholders can see and confirm the same "picture," mismatches in understanding are reduced, enabling smoother consensus building.

• Improving efficiency of surveying and as-built (dekigata) inspections: By combining AR with positioning technologies, surveying and as-built inspections that traditionally required experienced personnel and considerable time can be completed quickly. For example, after paving work you can scan the pavement to create point cloud data, overlay it with the design model, and display elevation differences as a color heat map so that bumps and deviations from the design are obvious at a glance. This makes it possible to immediately locate defective areas on-site and perform corrections right away.

• Improving safety: AR also contributes to worker safety. In hazardous locations such as steep slope faces, it is important to assess conditions remotely without personnel entering. If you display a 3D model of terrain captured by drones or smartphones in AR, you can virtually indicate and share areas at risk of collapse and restricted-entry zones. Visualizing underground buried objects can also help prevent accidental excavation and damage to utility lines during digging operations.

• Training and knowledge transfer: Work that has relied on veterans' intuition and experience can have that know-how made visible and passed on to newcomers via AR. For example, AR markers can indicate where to check during rebar inspections, or construction procedures can be displayed in AR on-site to support new workers. When teaching complex procedures, a life-size guide appearing in front of trainees accelerates understanding.

These benefits can be expected to produce effects such as shortened work time, reduced human error, and standardized quality. In particular, because even less-experienced staff can perform accurate surveying and construction inspections using AR guidance, it directly leads to improved on-site productivity. In other words, AR is a tool for augmenting human capabilities, and by digitally supplementing the eyes and hands of skilled workers, it can raise the overall baseline.

Case Studies of AR Implementation by Major Construction Firms

The benefits of using AR are being validated not only in theory but also in real projects. Here, we introduce several examples of AR adoption by leading companies in the construction industry.

From the fact that prominent construction companies are successively moving to adopt AR, strong expectations for AR in civil engineering can be seen. The key point is that it is beginning to take root not as one-off demos or event-style use but by being integrated into everyday on-site operations. As major companies showcase successful examples, a momentum of “we must also take this on” is building within the industry, and adoption is starting to spread to small and medium-sized enterprises.

The Day AR Civil Engineering Becomes the Industry Standard

As we have seen so far, AR technology is steadily increasing its presence in the civil engineering field. So when will “the day AR civil engineering becomes the industry standard” arrive? It would not be an exaggeration to say that the answer is already just around the corner.

As noted above, major companies have taken the lead in adopting AR and are achieving results. The technologies and know-how they have integrated into on-site workflows will eventually spread to partner companies and other sites. In fact, the roadmap for *i-Construction 2.0* put forward by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism predicts that by around 2030 digitalization and automation will advance across most construction production processes, and within that context AR is positioned as a standard tool.

Next, we should not overlook that the technical hurdles are rapidly coming down. Situations that once required dedicated, expensive AR glasses and markers can now deliver a fully practical AR experience with a standard smartphone, off-the-shelf apps, and a few additional devices. For example, by using a smartphone app paired with a GPS receiver, accurate model alignment becomes possible even on large outdoor sites. With the cost and effort barriers being removed, the psychological hurdle to adopting AR has also dropped significantly.

Furthermore, younger engineers and workers tend to have little resistance to digital tools and are more inclined to actively embrace and use them. If the personnel who will take the lead on-site in the future naturally begin to carry out communication and verification tasks using AR, that will become the new norm. In other words, the day AR civil engineering becomes the industry standard is likely to coincide with the timing when the new generation leads on-site operations.

Given these circumstances, it is fair to say that "civil engineering sites where AR is taken for granted" will become a reality in the not-too-distant future. Rather, it is important to start preparing now so you don't get left behind by that wave. There are many things you can do, such as conducting in-house training on AR technology or trialing it at small-scale sites. At first, staff with specialized knowledge may take the lead, but if you choose user-friendly tools, anyone can become accustomed to them in a short time. Once you experience its convenience and effectiveness, you won't want to go back to operating without AR──that day may be closer than you think.

Simplified Surveying with LRTK

What is helping to further promote the adoption of AR civil engineering is the existence of smartphone surveying technology that anyone can easily use. A prime example is simplified surveying using a system called "LRTK." LRTK (smartphone RTK surveying) is a next-generation surveying tool that enables position measurements with centimeter-level accuracy (half-inch accuracy) by attaching a compact RTK-GNSS receiving antenna to a smartphone. No difficult operations are required; simply prepare a smartphone and the dedicated device and launch the app to measure your position with high accuracy or to obtain coordinates of any desired point.

The advantage of this LRTK is that surveying work can be performed easily by a single person. Traditionally, surveying reference points and verifying as-built conditions required a two-person team to operate a total station. However, with LRTK, by simply localizing (calibrating) a smartphone at a known point on site, one person can walk around holding the device and instantly obtain coordinates for the required points. For example, even on a large development site, a heavy equipment operator can measure the height of fill with an LRTK-equipped tablet and immediately check the depth of buried utilities. In other words, 'one-site, one-smartphone surveying' is becoming a reality.

Furthermore, LRTK also includes an intuitive guidance function using AR display. When you set the coordinates of the target you want to measure, an arrow and the distance are displayed on the smartphone screen in real time, guiding you to the target location like a car navigation system. Even inexperienced workers can accurately mark locations such as pile-driving positions simply by following this AR navigation. In addition, when combined with the smartphone’s built-in LiDAR, it can scan the site terrain as a high-density point cloud. Because the acquired point cloud data is automatically linked with positioning information, advanced analyses such as comparing that point cloud with the design model in the cloud and immediately creating a heat map to check the differences can be completed on site.

The combination of simplified surveying using LRTK and AR assistance can truly be called the trump card for civil engineering DX. An era has arrived in which on-site personnel themselves can carry out accuracy management and as-built inspections without special surveying instruments or advanced expert knowledge. If you have so far thought, "There's no way our site could use the latest technology," why not start by trying simplified surveying with a smartphone and LRTK? AR surveying tools that run on the palm of your hand can become far more dependable partners than you might imagine, and they should reshape conventional on-site practices.

FAQ

Q1: What is the difference between AR and VR? A1: AR (Augmented Reality) is a technology that overlays digital information onto real-world scenes, allowing you to check data while looking at the actual site. VR (Virtual Reality), on the other hand, immerses you in a completely digitally generated virtual environment where real-world visuals are not visible. In the construction industry, AR—which can overlay data onto the real site—is better suited for construction management and surveying, and is used to compare actual scenery with design drawings.

Q2: What effects does introducing AR to construction sites have? A2: In short, tasks become more efficient and safety is enhanced. For example, because you can confirm the finished form through a smartphone screen without looking at drawings, mistakes are reduced, and surveying tasks can be automated, which can save time. Also, displaying hazardous areas with AR makes it easier for workers to warn each other, which helps with safety management. In terms of communication, everyone can hold meetings while looking at the same 3D model, making communication smoother.

Q3: Do you need special equipment or advanced skills to use AR? A3: No, in recent years there are increasing cases where AR can be utilized with just smartphones or tablets. You don't need to prepare expensive dedicated equipment; a common mobile device and a compatible app, combined with a small GNSS receiver if necessary, are often sufficient. Operation training for field staff is often simple enough that spending a few hours using it lets them master the basics, so it can be handled without being an IT specialist. Using tools like LRTK makes it possible to complete positioning and AR display entirely on a smartphone, which further lowers the barrier.

Q4: Can small construction companies and sites implement AR? A4: It is entirely possible. In fact, AR can help limited staff work more efficiently, so small sites are often the ones that benefit most from the technology. You may be concerned about initial investment and operating costs, but recently affordable devices and subscription-based services have begun to appear. It's a good idea to try AR features on a limited basis first, and once you experience the benefits, gradually expand their use. There are simple AR surveying tools that can be started with a smartphone app and services offering free trials, so we recommend starting small in a way that fits your company's needs.

Q5: Will AR in civil engineering really become widespread in the future? A5: Yes, judging by current trends, AR in civil engineering will become increasingly common. Major companies are producing results one after another, government promotion policies, and improved usability due to the proliferation of devices—these favorable factors are coming together. In five or ten years, it is highly likely that "using AR on site will be the norm." Therefore, even gaining experience little by little now and accumulating know-how within your company will contribute to future competitiveness.