The Trump Card for Construction DX: AR Civil Engineering Technology Is Changing Construction Sites

Table of Contents

• Construction DX and AR civil engineering technology

• What is AR civil engineering technology?

• Benefits AR brings to sites

• Use cases of AR civil engineering technology

• Challenges of AR adoption and future prospects

• Simple surveying with LRTK

• FAQ

In recent years, the construction industry has been swept by a wave of digital transformation (DX), and various technologies are being introduced to improve operational efficiency and productivity. Among them, AR (civil engineering technology) is attracting attention as a trump card that can revolutionize on-site work. By leveraging AR (Augmented Reality) technology, the way on-site work is conducted is undergoing major changes. This article explains in detail what AR civil engineering technology is in the context of construction DX, its benefits and concrete use cases, and key points for implementation. Finally, we also introduce LRTK, a simple surveying solution that utilizes AR. Now, let’s take a closer look at how AR civil engineering technology is transforming construction sites.

Construction DX and AR civil engineering technology

The construction industry has long faced challenges such as labor shortages and low productivity. Construction DX (digital transformation) is expected to be a key to solving these issues. As part of DX, various initiatives are underway, including the use of BIM/CIM, the introduction of IoT devices, and surveying by drones (for example, the i-Construction initiatives promoted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism). Recently, AR (Augmented Reality) has come into the spotlight as a new driving force for DX.

AR civil engineering technology overlays digital information onto real civil engineering sites to support work. By displaying 3D models from design drawings and survey data on the live view from a smartphone or tablet camera, it fuses the site and the digital world. As a result, tasks that traditionally relied on drawings and surveying instruments can be performed more intuitively and efficiently. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism is also supporting on-site DX through measures such as promoting remote attendance (replacing on-site attendance with video calls, etc.), and AR technology is becoming an important element supporting this trend.

What is AR civil engineering technology?

Let’s cover the basics of AR (civil). AR stands for “Augmented Reality.” It is a technology that overlays CG or text information on real-world imagery, familiar from smartphone games that make characters appear in real landscapes.

In the construction and civil engineering fields, there are broadly two types of AR approaches. One is location-based AR, which displays information at designated locations based on the current position obtained from GPS and sensors. For example, when approaching a specific point, construction drawings or safety notes related to that location can be displayed automatically. This is effective on large outdoor sites but is affected by GPS accuracy, so measures to improve accuracy are required.

The other is image-recognition (vision)-based AR. This recognizes targets or markers (QR codes or shapes) in camera-captured imagery and displays information linked to them. If markers are installed, information display is stable; there are also markerless approaches that recognize the shape of structures to overlay 3D models even without markers. For example, you can overlay a projected building model onto the real landscape or point a camera at mechanical equipment to display operation procedures.

AR civil engineering technology is characterized by linking on-site conditions with digital data in real time. While VR (virtual reality) operates entirely in a virtual space, AR takes the real site as its stage. By augmenting the real world, AR contributes to visualization and efficiency of on-site work.

Benefits AR brings to sites

Introducing AR civil engineering technology brings various benefits to the field. Let’s look at the main advantages.

• Improved work efficiency and cost reduction: With AR, survey results and design models can be checked on-site, greatly reducing the time previously spent on separate surveying and drawing verification. For example, if heavy equipment operators can check excavation guidance via AR displays from the cab, construction errors decrease and rework is prevented. As a result, work time is shortened and labor and rework costs are reduced.

• Easier image sharing: AR allows all stakeholders to view the same “visual” during meetings. By holding up a tablet on site and overlaying a completed 3D model onto the actual scenery, the final image—hard to convey with paper drawings—can be shared intuitively. This reduces misunderstandings between clients and site staff and smooths communication.

• Improved safety: AR also aids safety management. Highlighting hazardous areas on site imagery or displaying safety alerts in workers’ field of view can prevent human error. Simulating the operating range of heavy equipment and the placement of temporary structures on AR before work makes safety planning easier and reduces accident risk.

• Efficient skills transfer and training: Even inexperienced workers can perform tasks properly with AR guidance. Using a system that displays part names and inspection procedures when a smartphone is held up, knowledge can be shared without a skilled worker standing next to them. Remote support, where veterans give instructions via AR, is also possible, enabling efficient personnel training and knowledge transfer.

• Quality control and prevention of issues: By comparing design data and actual work with AR during construction, mistakes and defects can be detected early. Things like rebar placement or missing components can be detected on the spot, preventing rework. It also helps avoid ordering mistakes or “this isn’t what I expected” issues after ordering. For client presentations, allowing clients to preview the finished appearance via AR can reduce disputes caused by differing perceptions.

These benefits are being supported by actual cases where AR has been used on sites.

In this way, AR has the potential to dramatically improve site productivity, safety, and communication.

Use cases of AR civil engineering technology

AR has already been demonstrated and utilized at several sites, and its effects have been reported. Here are representative AR use cases in the civil engineering field.

AR use for site surveying and terrain measurement

A major general contractor developed an app that uses a smartphone or tablet camera and AR technology to easily perform terrain surveys and earthwork volume calculations. Where embankment and excavation volume measurements previously required surveying equipment and multiple people, they can now be done by one person simply by pointing a device. Survey results are displayed on the screen in real time, allowing immediate understanding of soil volumes and instant reflection in construction plans. This initiative has significantly reduced the time and cost of surveying.

AR for design data visualization and construction management

Another major construction company has adopted AR for on-site construction management. Holding up a tablet on site overlays 3D models from design drawings and piping routes onto the live view. This allows checking whether piping and structures are built as designed at a glance, without the effort of comparing drawings to the actual work. Site managers can verify even complex equipment piping on AR, reducing the burden of inspections and confirmations. As a result, it has greatly contributed to streamlining construction management tasks and ensuring quality.

AR for remote support and skills training

Advanced construction sites are also experimenting with AR-based remote support. For example, in remote mountain areas or tunnel works where it is difficult for specialized technicians to come immediately, experiments have been conducted in which experienced personnel support the site remotely via AR. Site workers share live footage using helmet-mounted smart glasses or smartphones, and remote experts annotate that footage with markers or instructions, enabling precise guidance and troubleshooting without being on site. There are also moves to guide machine operation with AR displays for new worker training. This reduces travel time and labor costs and improves the efficiency of skills transfer.

AR for quality inspection and measurement

AR is also useful in quality inspections. For example, one construction company implemented a system that quantitatively visualizes whether vibratory compaction during concrete placement has been properly performed. The device carried by the worker displays compaction progress with color coding so that missed areas are immediately visible. This allowed real-time detection of insufficient compaction even when working on multiple areas simultaneously, contributing to quality improvement. In another example, systems combining AR and LiDAR have emerged for rebar inspection. Using a tablet’s AR function (with LiDAR sensor), rebar spacing and quantity can be measured and displayed overlaying the actual rebar, enabling rapid inspections by a single person. These examples show AR’s great potential to reduce labor and improve accuracy in measurement and inspection tasks.

Challenges of AR adoption and future prospects

Despite many advantages, there are several challenges when introducing AR civil engineering technology on-site. First is the issue of alignment accuracy. To accurately overlay digital information with AR, it is necessary to know the device’s position and orientation with high precision. Standard GPS alone can produce errors of several meters (several ft), which can be fatal when, for example, displaying the location of buried underground utilities. The accuracy of smartphone and tablet sensors also affects alignment and stability.

Next is the issue of data preparation. 3D models, drawing data, and reference data for inspections that AR displays must be prepared in advance and optimized for each site, which requires effort. Since site conditions in civil engineering works constantly change, an operational system to keep data updated is also required. In addition, practical issues such as device durability in field environments, use in rain, and visibility under varying ambient light conditions cannot be ignored. Information security and confidentiality are also important considerations.

Solutions driven by technological advances are emerging for these challenges. Regarding positioning accuracy, GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) combined with RTK (Real-Time Kinematic) technology now enables centimeter-class positioning (half-inch accuracy). Utilizing this makes AR displays with minimal error possible even on large outdoor civil sites. Modern smartphones and tablets are also equipped with high-performance LiDAR sensors and processors, allowing them to handle complex AR processing smoothly. On the software side, AR platforms that easily integrate with BIM/CIM data and applications with intuitive UIs for site use are increasing.

Going forward, AR civil engineering technology will further develop and powerfully drive on-site DX. In the future, integration of AR with AI and IoT could enable smart construction management that analyzes site conditions in real time and automatically displays optimal instructions. The spread of lighter, more user-friendly AR glasses and helmet-mounted displays will allow workers to constantly access needed information while keeping both hands free. Furthermore, combining AR with a digital twin that reproduces the entire site in a virtual space will enable instant understanding of site conditions and precise remote instructions. If vendor-developed on-site AR solutions become standardized and AR is established as an industry-wide information-sharing platform, productivity and safety in civil engineering are expected to improve dramatically.

Simple surveying with LRTK

Among these AR technology advances, particular attention is being paid to simple surveying using LRTK. LRTK is a positioning platform that combines high-precision RTK-GNSS technology with smartphones; with a dedicated small receiver and a smartphone, anyone can easily obtain centimeter-level position information (half-inch accuracy).

Traditionally, precise surveying required specialized surveying equipment and skilled surveyors. But with LRTK, site personnel themselves can perform surveying and as-built checks with a smartphone in hand. For example, using an LRTK-compatible app, simply tapping a survey point instantly records the point’s latitude, longitude, and elevation with high accuracy. Also, based on acquired point cloud data and coordinates, design drawings and the actual site can be perfectly overlaid on the smartphone screen for AR display. This allows intuitive on-the-spot confirmation such as, “The drawing says a structure should be here—has it been correctly positioned on site?”

Simple surveying with LRTK does not require special equipment or complex procedures, so it can be extremely effective on sites short of surveying specialists. It can be used in a wide range of situations, from checking ground elevation in the early stages of civil works, to as-built measurement during intermediate inspections, to final as-built management after completion. In the future, with one LRTK unit anyone could feel like “anyone can be a surveyor,” enabling DX benefits to permeate every corner of the site. The combination of AR civil engineering technology and LRTK heralds a new era in which digital and field are seamlessly connected.

Going forward, such simple surveying tools will become a cornerstone of on-site DX, strongly accelerating the digitalization of the entire construction industry.

FAQ

Q: Do I need expensive equipment to introduce AR civil engineering technology? A: Not necessarily. Recent smartphones and tablets come with standard AR capabilities, and you can start by leveraging those. Ruggedized devices or waterproof cases for site use make regular smartphones sufficiently practical. Even for more full-scale efforts, it’s possible to introduce AR incrementally—for example, by combining AR software with existing surveying or GPS equipment.

Q: How can I eliminate AR display misalignment? A: Minimizing misalignment requires improving device positioning accuracy. Using RTK-GNSS instead of standard GPS can reduce errors to the order of a few centimeters. For example, RTK-compatible systems like LRTK enable AR overlays that are accurately aligned based on high-precision positioning. Calibrating at reference points on-site beforehand is also effective.

Q: I’m worried that creating and operating data for AR will be difficult. A: It’s recommended to start with simple use cases. For instance, scanning terrain or adding notes to photos of construction locations can be done without specialized 3D data. Gradually, you can move to full AR using BIM/CIM models. Nowadays, cloud services and software often support data conversion and management, lowering the barrier compared to before. If you lack in-house know-how, consulting with companies that support AR implementation is an option.

Q: Will AR technology become commonplace in the construction industry? A: Currently, adoption is still limited to some advanced sites, but diffusion is expected to accelerate as technology evolves. Initiatives like i-Construction and remote attendance promoted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism are favorable factors, and there is a high possibility that AR and XR (extended reality) will become standard tools on sites within the next 5–10 years. Younger workers tend to be less resistant to digital technologies, so future sites may commonly see workers using AR goggles or smartphones naturally to work safely and efficiently.

Q: Do I need to provide dedicated AR glasses (smart glasses) on-site? A: At present, dedicated AR glasses are not always necessary. In many cases, smartphones and tablets are sufficient to utilize AR. Dedicated smart glasses offer the advantage of hands-free information access, but they can be costly and heavy, raising adoption barriers. It is realistic to first try AR on handheld devices, verify its effectiveness, and consider introducing AR glasses later if needed.