Exhibition Content & Highlights at the Construction and Survey Productivity Improvement Expo: How LRTK Transforms Sites with High-Precision Positioning × AR Construction Support

What the Construction and Survey Productivity Improvement Expo Is

The Construction and Survey Productivity Improvement Expo (commonly: CSPI-EXPO) is one of the largest domestic trade shows focused on the construction and surveying industries. Held annually at Makuhari Messe, the event brings together productivity-improving solutions driven by the latest technologies such as construction DX and i-Construction. The venue features indoor and outdoor live demo spaces where visitors can see demonstrations of heavy machinery, drones, and more. Numerous specialized seminars and product PR presentations are also held, providing opportunities to learn about the latest industry cases and problem-solving ideas. For engineers interested in themes such as improving on-site efficiency, reducing labor, and increasing accuracy, this is an event not to be missed.

LRTK Booth Highlights: High-Precision Positioning × AR Construction Support

At this Construction and Survey Productivity Improvement Expo, LRTK is attracting attention in the field of positioning technology and AR (augmented reality) construction support. LRTK is a pocket-sized high-precision GNSS positioning device designed to be attached to a smartphone, strongly supporting digital transformation on-site. At the booth, LRTK’s combination of centimeter-level positioning accuracy and AR technology and how it can transform field work will be demonstrated and explained. Positioned within the categories of surveying instruments and cloud construction management tools, the booth offers an opportunity to experience next-generation construction DX through “high-precision positioning × AR construction support.”

Visitors to the LRTK booth can try a solution that handles everything from precise surveying to 3D scanning and AR navigation using just a smartphone. Many will be surprised to see “If positioning accuracy improves, AR becomes this practical!” and will realize the potential of a surveying tool that “anyone can use easily.” Below, we explain LRTK’s specific technologies and exhibits in order.

Achieving Centimeter-Level Positioning with a Smartphone

LRTK’s greatest feature is that it transforms a smartphone into a centimeter-level GNSS positioning terminal. By attaching a dedicated ultra-compact RTK-GNSS receiver to a smartphone or tablet, smartphone GPS—which normally has errors on the order of several meters—can instantly improve to an accuracy of a few centimeters. No complicated wiring or large tripods are required; the ease of taking it from your pocket and immediately starting high-precision positioning dramatically lightens on-site workflows.

This high-precision positioning is realized by supporting augmentation signals (CLAS) provided by Japan’s quasi-zenith satellite “Michibiki” and real-time correction technology RTK. Therefore, stable and precise positioning is possible even in mountainous areas or work sites outside communication zones. The booth demo shows how a smartphone with LRTK attached can measure reference point coordinates with a single touch. Simply point the device at the location you want to measure and press the button in the app, and latitude, longitude, and elevation are instantly recorded—an effect that may be especially striking to those familiar with traditional surveying equipment. Satellite reception status and accuracy indicators during positioning can also be viewed on the screen, providing visual reassurance that centimeter-level accuracy is being maintained.

Construction Support via AR Navigation

AR navigation utilizing high-precision location information is another innovative feature offered by LRTK. Through a smartphone screen, design drawings and construction models are overlaid on real-world images to navigate workers to the correct positions. For example, in pile-driving or setting-out tasks for structures, arrows and guides on the smartphone screen lead workers to pre-set coordinates, enabling even less experienced staff to accurately identify required locations. Layout marking work, which previously depended on experienced surveyors, can be handled by teams themselves with LRTK.

At the booth, demonstrations of construction support using this AR navigation function will be conducted. Through a tablet screen, full-scale virtual structures are projected onto the site so that the “place to install” is immediately apparent—must-see footage. Because of the centimeter-level positioning accuracy, AR-displayed models are free from positional shifts and align perfectly with the real ground and structures. This reduces the time spent aligning positions and re-measuring, helping prevent rework caused by gaps between drawings and the actual site. Visitors are encouraged to pick up the devices and experience AR guidance that anticipates the future of construction management.

Easy 3D Point Cloud Scanning with a Smartphone

With LRTK, you can acquire 3D point cloud data of a site on the spot using a smartphone. By combining high-precision position information with the smartphone’s built-in camera (and LiDAR sensors on supported models), detailed point clouds can be generated simply by walking while capturing the surrounding structures and terrain. Traditionally, 3D point cloud surveys required expensive laser scanners or specialist contractors, but LRTK enables a single worker to easily perform them with one smartphone.

The demo showcases point cloud scanning of booth mockups and site photos. Slowly moving a smartphone produces a colorful collection of points rendered in real time on the screen, with the shapes of objects emerging three-dimensionally. The acquired point cloud data is previewed instantly, and dimensions, areas, and volumes can be measured on the spot. For example, you can measure excavation volumes immediately at the site or overlay as-built data on the design model to confirm finish conditions easily.

Also noteworthy are unique use cases combining point cloud data and AR. According to booth staff, it is possible to scan buried pipes during construction and then, after backfilling, view them as if seen through the ground via AR from the surface. In one real-world case, buried piping recorded with LRTK could be accurately located later through AR visualization. This reduces the risk of damaging buried utilities during future excavations and dramatically improves traceability of construction records. The latest functions combining point cloud scanning and AR hold great potential for future infrastructure management and maintenance, and they are generating many questions at the booth.

Intuitive Operability Supporting Single-Person Work

LRTK’s concept is “anyone can measure anytime, anywhere.” The developer aimed for each field engineer to carry a personal surveying device and use it whenever needed. When you actually handle it, you may be surprised by its intuitive operability. The dedicated app is designed with a simple, easy-to-understand interface so users can proceed from positioning start to data saving without confusion. Those familiar with smartphones will find it almost instruction-free.

At the booth, interested visitors can pick up and operate LRTK themselves. Seeing first-time users perform surveying and AR projection with just a brief explanation from staff will demonstrate how easy it is to learn. Traditionally, surveying has been seen as something to leave to specialists, but LRTK significantly lowers that barrier. As a result, single-person work becomes more versatile, allowing smooth surveying and as-built verification even at sites facing labor shortages. Even experienced engineers who feel uneasy about using machines or software will likely be convinced of its usability after trying it once.

Centralized Data Sharing with Cloud Construction Management

The value LRTK creates is not limited to the moment data is collected on-site. Measured coordinates, point clouds, and high-precision photo data can be uploaded to the cloud on the spot and shared within the company in real time. Using the dedicated cloud service “LRTK Cloud,” data can be sent from a site smartphone with a single tap, allowing office staff to access it immediately. The booth display shows measured points automatically plotted on a web map and listed with point names, timestamps, and notes.

This cloud integration enables construction management that keeps the field and the office constantly connected. For example, if point cloud data collected on-site is shared to the cloud immediately, the office can begin volume calculations and drawing creation right away. Previously, detailed office review had to wait until data was brought back on an SD card or USB memory, but with LRTK, back-office tasks can begin while still on-site. Uploaded data is stored in the cloud, making it easy to search and view past construction records and survey histories. If you need to recheck the location of a cable buried on a particular site, logging into the cloud retrieves the point cloud and coordinate data from that time instantly. There is no need to flip through paper field notebooks or photo albums anymore.

With managed security and access rights, necessary information can be shared with the right people, enabling communication based on unified data from supervisors to site workers. Improved traceability, of course, also streamlines report preparation and inspection responses, allowing you to fully appreciate the advantages of cloud construction management.

Expected Benefits of Implementation

The combination of high-precision positioning × AR construction support provided by LRTK can bring significant benefits to field sites. Based on reactions and questions from booth visitors, the following implementation advantages can be expected:

• Reduced labor (fewer personnel): Because surveying and setting-out can be completed by one person, tasks that previously required two-person teams can be done solo. This reduces staffing burdens and helps alleviate labor shortages.

• Error reduction and quality improvement: Centimeter-level positioning accuracy and AR visualization greatly reduce human error and mis-measurement. Consistent construction according to design reduces rework and stabilizes quality.

• Increased work speed: Time losses from waiting for machinery or survey crews are eliminated, allowing immediate measurement and verification when needed. Faster on-site decision-making can shorten overall project schedules.

• Improved traceability: Survey data and construction records are automatically saved to the cloud, making it clear later who did what, when, and where. There is no worry about lost documents or missing records, and report preparation and inspections become smoother.

These effects ultimately lead to dramatic improvements in on-site productivity and safety. On sites that have introduced LRTK, staff report “surveys finish quickly and overtime has decreased” and “the reliability of record data has increased, making reporting to clients easier.” At the LRTK booth, please ask staff about concrete cases of these implementation benefits. Hearing firsthand accounts will help you form a clearer image of how LRTK could fit into your own operations.

For Those Who Can’t Attend the Expo: How to Learn More About LRTK

This article introduced LRTK’s features and appeal, focusing on the exhibits at the Construction and Survey Productivity Improvement Expo. Experiencing the actual devices at the venue is best, but we understand some people cannot attend due to distance or schedule conflicts. Rest assured—LRTK’s basic surveying functions and usage can also be learned online.

Our LRTK official site (https://www.lrtk.lefixea.com/) publishes product information, case study articles, demo videos, and more. You can experience through video how easy it is to survey and create point clouds with a smartphone. The site’s inquiry form accepts demo requests and technical consultations. If you want to try it on-site or hear a concrete implementation plan, please contact us via the form. Our specialist staff will provide detailed guidance through online meetings, etc.

Construction site DX is an urgent challenge, but the arrival of easy-to-use yet powerful tools like LRTK has certainly lowered the barrier to taking the first step. Use the insights gained at the expo or the online information to bring new positioning and construction support technologies to your site. We hope LRTK can help you take the first step toward transforming the future of your field.