No more paper drawings? Paperless construction management realized by AR in civil engineering

For many years, paper drawings and documents have been central to construction and civil engineering site management. However, in recent years, advances in digital technology have greatly accelerated paperless adoption on sites. Among these technologies, AR (augmented reality) has attracted particular attention. By simply holding up a smartphone or tablet, you can overlay 3D design models and information onto real-world scenes, allowing you to check the data you need on site without carrying drawings. This article explains why the construction industry is moving toward paperless workflows, and outlines the benefits and concrete use cases that AR technology—also called AR civil engineering—brings to construction management. Is a future without paper drawings achievable? Let’s explore the latest trends.

Table of Contents

• Reasons paperless workflows are needed

• Use of AR technology in the civil engineering industry

• Benefits AR brings to construction management

• Will AR make paper drawings unnecessary?

• Challenges and key points for AR adoption

• AR surveying spreading via smartphones: use of LRTK

• Summary

• FAQ

Reasons paperless workflows are needed

Relying on paper drawings and forms for construction management presents multiple issues. First, there is the problem of inefficient information sharing. Printing multiple copies of drawings for distribution and replacing them to reflect the latest revisions takes time and effort. Paper materials must be carried to the site, exposing them to damage and loss. There are also non-negligible cost burdens such as storage and printing expenses. In addition, reducing paper use lowers environmental impact and is gaining attention from the perspective of the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals).

From the standpoint of safety and quality management as well, paper has limitations. Managing large numbers of drawings and checklists manually makes human errors such as omissions or communication mistakes more likely, which can lead to oversights on site. In fact, troubles such as failures to check construction drawings or construction mistakes caused by using outdated drawings have been reported. Against this backdrop, the construction industry has been accelerating paperless initiatives in recent years. Policies such as the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism’s *i-Construction* encourage digitization and cloud sharing of drawings and documents, and digital-data-driven construction management is beginning to spread. Allowing drawings, daily reports, and inspection records to be viewed and entered on tablets reduces the need to carry paper and produces significant improvements in work efficiency and error prevention. Paperless transformation has become an essential theme in achieving on-site DX (digital transformation).

Use of AR technology in the civil engineering industry

Among the digital technologies driving paperless workflows, AR (augmented reality) is especially noteworthy. AR overlays virtual information on real-world imagery; through a smartphone or tablet camera you can display 3D models and text information on the actual scene. For example, displaying the planned finished structure model through a smartphone at a construction site visualizes what has not yet taken shape, letting you intuitively imagine the finished form without referring to drawings.

In the civil engineering industry, this use of AR (AR civil engineering) is gaining attention as an innovative means to support “construction DX.” From major general contractors to small and medium-sized construction firms, survey technicians, and infrastructure maintenance crews, AR adoption is beginning across many fields. With AR, you can compare on-site conditions with digital design data without relying on paper drawings or documents, dramatically improving the accuracy and efficiency of construction management. The next section examines the specific benefits AR brings to construction management.

Benefits AR brings to construction management

Incorporating AR technology brings many benefits to construction management, including:

• Real-time visualization of construction progress: By overlaying design models and schedule information onto on-site imagery, you can intuitively “visualize” work progress. For example, if a completed model is displayed in AR over a structure under construction, progress can be grasped at a glance and deviations from the plan can be checked immediately. This enables quick review of schedules and personnel adjustments as needed, and makes it easy to align understanding among all stakeholders.

• Reduction of construction errors and rework: By comparing 3D design data displayed in AR with the actual work while proceeding, you can detect misalignments and mistakes on the spot. Areas that were previously checked by eyeballing drawings can be instantly verified against the design with AR. Errors such as incorrect numbers of rebar, incorrect spacing, or mislocated buried objects can be detected during construction, reducing post-completion rework and material waste.

• Smoother information sharing and communication: Showing the completed image over the site video on a tablet allows owners, contractors, designers, and workers to share the same vision of the finished product. Content that is “hard to convey with drawings alone” or “difficult to explain in words” becomes obvious with AR visuals, preventing problems caused by misunderstandings. Also, sharing AR models in online meetings enables remote participants to grasp on-site conditions, reducing business trips and site visits for meetings.

• Improved safety and effective training: AR is also effective for on-site safety management and skills transfer. For example, displaying warning messages or no-entry zones in workers’ field of view via AR helps prevent entry into dangerous areas. If heavy equipment operators can confirm excavation height guidance via AR, they can perform safe work without relying on intuition. Inexperienced staff can learn procedures while viewing the finished state in AR, making it a useful training tool.

Will AR make paper drawings unnecessary?

With AR adoption, voices asking “do we no longer need paper drawings?” are increasingly heard. In fact, many tasks that historically relied on paper drawings or physical survey stakes are being digitized and virtualized by AR.

For example, heavy equipment operators used to check paper cross-sections or design drawings while excavating. But with AR displaying the finished terrain model through a tablet, the correct excavation depth and fill heights can be understood in real time. Workers can perform tasks while directly viewing the finished form on site, without constantly referring to drawings. Even young operators can achieve the same level of accuracy as experienced craftsmen without relying on intuition.

Positioning tasks that previously required setting reference points and driving stakes or marking lines can also be replaced by AR. Survey technicians can walk the site with a tablet and virtually place digital stakes or guidelines, confirming the design lines without physically hammering stakes. Positioning and height checks for complex structures can be completed with AR markers instead of drawings or tape measures.

AR is also proving useful in design supervision and inspections in place of paper drawings. Inspectors can simply hold up a tablet on site to compare the completed model with the constructed object. The locations of buried pipes and cables can be displayed like a see-through view from above ground with AR, eliminating the need to spread out drawings during excavation. This helps prevent overlooking buried utilities and enables safer, more efficient work.

As described above, AR can enable construction management that does not depend on paper drawings. However, paper will not disappear entirely at present. Some government submission documents and legal records still require paper originals. Nevertheless, at the daily operational level on sites, the proportion of work done without printing drawings—using tablets and AR instead—is steadily increasing, bringing us closer step by step to a state where “paper drawings are not needed.”

Challenges and key points for AR adoption

Despite AR’s appeal, there are challenges and points to consider when introducing it on site. Blindly adopting AR may lead to poor use, so it’s important to plan with the following in mind.

• Ensuring alignment (accuracy): Accurate overlay of design models in AR depends on precise alignment with the real world. Smartphone-only GPS and electronic compasses can have large errors, causing models to misalign. In the past, calibration by placing markers on site or time-consuming initial alignment was sometimes necessary. It is key to use high-accuracy GNSS (satellite positioning) or dedicated devices and build a system that can project models with an accuracy of several centimeters (several in) at all times.

• Device selection and site environment: For AR-capable devices, dust- and water-resistant tablets or smartphones are suitable. Consider models whose screens remain readable even under strong outdoor sunlight. Operational preparations such as spare batteries for long use and ensuring a sufficient number of devices when multiple personnel need them are also essential. Helmet-mounted AR glasses have appeared, but tablets remain mainstream at present given cost and usability considerations.

• Data preparation and operational rules: AR display requires 3D design data (BIM/CIM models) and point cloud data as digital assets. Start by digitizing drawings and promoting the use of 3D design internally, preparing AR-displayable content. Since digital information will be updated more frequently, establish file version control and cloud-sharing rules. Review operational flows so AR always references the latest data.

• Training and on-site adoption: Human resource development and awareness are essential for practical on-site use of new technology. Some veteran staff are accustomed to paper drawings and may initially resist AR. It is important to let them experience the benefits through training sessions and site trials, and to choose tools that prioritize intuitive usability for anyone. Gradual introduction that incorporates on-site feedback will help AR become established smoothly.

AR surveying spreading via smartphones: use of LRTK

Finally, as a cutting-edge tool supporting AR construction management, we introduce the smartphone-based high-precision positioning system LRTK. LRTK is an AR-compatible RTK-GNSS device provided by Reflexia that can be used simply by attaching a small antenna to an iPhone or iPad. With this tool, centimeter-level positioning (cm level accuracy (half-inch accuracy)) is possible with a single smartphone, enabling accurate AR projection without troublesome coordinate alignment on site.

Conventional AR apps required initial calibration by placing markers on site and manually aligning the model with the real scene. But with LRTK, high-precision position information from GNSS satellites is obtained in real time, so AR models consistently align with the real-world positions. Even if users walk around, models do not shift or float, and they are displayed stably as if the real object were actually present.

For example, in complex sites with many visual obstructions, LRTK allows you to accurately place virtual stakes at unseen target points. From a safe distance, you can specify a target position and place an AR pin at those coordinates, enabling surveying without entering hazardous areas. This makes it possible to perform simple surveying efficiently even on steep slopes or in areas where heavy equipment is operating, directly contributing to reduced work time and improved safety.

LRTK is now creating a new trend of “smartphone surveying” in civil construction management. Because it is easy for anyone to use without relying on experience, site staff can perform surveying and AR checks with their own smartphones, earning high praise. As a trump card for achieving paperless, smart construction management, LRTK is expected to see wide use. If you are interested, please check LRTK’s official information. Why not bring the new “visualization” and efficiency of AR to your site?

Summary

Paperless construction management that does not use paper drawings is no longer a fantasy but is becoming a reality. Especially with the evolution of AR technology, environments where necessary on-site information can be checked and shared digitally are beginning to emerge. A time is near when anyone on site can view and make decisions using design models with only a smartphone or tablet, without carrying drawings.

Of course, achieving complete paperlessness requires organization-wide DX promotion and operational rules, but adopting advanced technologies like AR step by step will certainly move you forward. To achieve the goal of more efficient and sophisticated construction management, consider trying AR on a small site first. Let’s realize smart construction management that does not rely on paper drawings and open up the future of construction sites.

FAQ

Q. If we use AR technology, will we really no longer need paper drawings?

A. The use of AR has made construction management that does not depend on paper drawings much more realistic. Because design models can be viewed directly on site, many scenarios that previously required spreading drawings can be replaced. However, whether paper becomes completely unnecessary depends—paper may remain for backups and statutory documents for the time being. Even so, at the daily operations level, AR enables workflows without printed materials, and opportunities to rely on paper drawings are expected to decline dramatically.

Q. What devices and preparations are needed to use AR on site?

A. Basically, you can start with a smartphone or tablet and an AR app that runs on it. In addition, you need 3D design data for AR display (BIM/CIM models, etc.). For higher-accuracy AR, devices that improve positioning precision—such as high-precision GNSS units that attach to smartphones or integration with surveying prisms—are desirable. Also prepare by importing data onto devices in advance and checking batteries and communication environments.

Q. What is the difference between AR and VR, and which is more effective on construction sites?

A. AR (augmented reality) overlays digital information on the real scene and can be used while viewing the actual site, which is its main advantage. VR (virtual reality) immerses the user in a completely virtual space via goggles and is more suitable for office-based planning reviews or designer training than on-site work. Because work on construction sites requires awareness of surroundings, AR— which augments the real environment with information—is often more effective in many scenarios.

Q. Do you need specialized knowledge to use AR on site?

A. Special programming knowledge or advanced skills are not required. Recent AR apps have intuitive interfaces, and site personnel who can perform basic smartphone or tablet operations can use them effectively. However, some initial familiarization is needed, so providing simple operational training at introduction is recommended. For veterans who are less comfortable with IT, gradual acclimation through on-site demonstrations is advisable.

Q. How much does AR implementation cost?

A. Implementation costs vary depending on the solution chosen. If you can use existing smartphones or tablets, you can start at lower cost than purchasing dedicated equipment. On the other hand, investing in high-precision positioning devices or proprietary applications requires certain capital. However, because AR implementation can produce mid-to-long-term cost reductions through improved efficiency and reduced errors, many companies are proceeding with pilot implementations while evaluating cost-effectiveness. Starting with small-scale sites to validate effectiveness and expanding gradually helps mitigate risk.

Q. How widespread is AR in the construction industry?

A. AR is still in a transitional phase but has rapidly increased its presence in recent years. Major general contractors are moving from trial introductions to full-scale operations in some cases, and with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism’s promotion, opportunities to see AR on sites are increasing. However, many small and medium-sized companies are still at the early stages, so overall it can be said AR is “about to expand in earnest.” As industry DX advances, AR is likely to become one standard tool in construction management within the coming years.

Q. What is LRTK?

A. LRTK is the brand name for a series of high-precision GNSS positioning devices that attach to smartphones. It provides real-time centimeter-level position information and enables automatic, high-precision alignment of design models for AR. While conventional AR required time-consuming alignment, using LRTK allows stable AR display on site without complicated calibration work. Because surveying and AR checks can be handled with a single smartphone, LRTK is expected to be a key enabler of a new construction management style that reduces reliance on paper drawings and many pieces of equipment.