Case Studies of AR for Construction Management: 5 Success Stories of Site Innovation with LRTK

Table of Contents

• Introduction

• Success Story 1: Streamlining Stake Positioning with AR Piling

• Success Story 2: Smartphone AR Surveying Cuts As-built Measurement from Half a Day to 30 Minutes

• Success Story 3: Improving Consensus and Construction Quality by Visualizing BIM Models in AR

• Success Story 4: Reducing Wrong-excavation Risk by Displaying Buried Pipes in AR

• Success Story 5: Achieving Rapid Boundary Confirmation by Displaying Boundary Lines in AR

• Conclusion

• FAQ

Introduction

In recent years, the construction industry has been undergoing major changes in construction management methods driven by ICT adoption and DX promotion. Yet on-site work still requires significant time and effort for surveying and as-built verification, and labor shortages and the aging of skilled technicians remain serious issues. Additionally, the application of overtime work regulations in 2024 (the so-called “2024 problem”) is approaching, making it increasingly important to carry out construction efficiently with limited personnel.

One promising solution to these challenges is the introduction of AR (augmented reality) technology using smartphones for construction management. In particular, combining smartphone-mounted high-precision GNSS devices for RTK positioning (real-time kinematic) with AR offers the potential to digitally transform tasks that previously relied on manpower and experience. By combining RTK’s centimeter-level positioning accuracy with AR-based visualization of site information, a palm-sized smartphone can become an “all-purpose surveying instrument,” enabling anyone—not only experts—to easily perform site surveying, stakeout, and verification of design data.

This article introduces five real-world success stories in which LRTK (smartphone RTK × AR solution) was implemented on site and brought innovation to construction management. From improving piling operations and speeding up as-built management to sharing completion images, visualizing buried objects, and expediting boundary checks, we examine concrete cases where productivity and accuracy improved on each site. Finally, we touch on the new norm of “simple surveying” that AR × RTK is pioneering, and hope this will provide useful ideas for applying these technologies on your sites.

Success Story 1: Streamlining Stake Positioning with AR Piling

On a tunnel road construction site with the harsh condition of steep rock slopes, AR piling was used for stake positioning work that had been difficult with conventional methods. Coordinate data for pile positions defined in the design drawings were registered in the LRTK cloud. When viewing the surroundings through a smartphone (iPhone) camera on site, virtual pile markers are AR-displayed at the installation positions on the screen. Workers could use these virtual markers as references to accurately identify points even on hard ground where physical piles could not be driven.

As a result, stake positioning work that previously required a surveying team to go back and forth could be performed continuously by a single person. By simply moving to the next position displayed on the smartphone screen and marking it, stake positioning over a wide area can be completed in a short time. Not only were personnel reduced, but safety improved because no assistants were needed in areas with poor footing. Also, when a site supervisor wanted to indicate “place a pile here,” the coordinate could be measured on the spot and immediately reflected in AR, facilitating smooth communication. The use of single-person surveying × AR is a prime example of achieving both significant labor savings and improved accuracy in surveying processes.

Effects:

• Stake positioning work that previously required multiple people can be conducted by one person

• Wide-area stake points can be marked in a short time, achieving personnel reduction and construction period shortening

• Work can be performed safely without assistants even in areas with poor footing, improving safety

• Coordinates can be measured on site and immediately displayed in AR, speeding up sharing of supervisor instructions

Success Story 2: Smartphone AR Surveying Cuts As-built Measurement from Half a Day to 30 Minutes

A construction company in Gifu Prefecture trialed a new point-cloud measurement method using smartphones and tablets for as-built (post-construction shape) measurement in small-scale earthworks. Surveying that had previously taken more than half a day with drone photogrammetry was completed in about 30 minutes using an LiDAR-equipped tablet (iPad) to scan the site. Specifically, for an excavation area of about 150 m², the conventional method required multiple steps—planning a drone flight → aerial photography → generating a point cloud from photos → creating drawings—which took more than five hours. By scanning the terrain while walking with an iPad equipped with LRTK, detailed point-cloud data were obtained in about 15 minutes. The point-cloud data were then immediately uploaded to the cloud and automatically converted into drawings and shared.

This smartphone AR surveying dramatically shortened processes that used to involve observing survey points one by one by hand. Because as-built measurement and earthwork volume calculation that used to take days can now be completed on the spot, the speed of construction management leaps forward. Since the acquired point-cloud data are already tagged with high-precision position coordinates, there is no need for post-processing alignment back at the office. By overlaying point-cloud datasets, the volumes of embankment and excavation can be calculated instantly, allowing real-time management of fill/excavation quantities and as-built inspections. Site staff were so impressed that some said it felt “as if our workforce had doubled,” reflecting the dramatic increase in the amount and speed of information obtainable by one person’s work.

Effects:

• As-built measurement that took more than five hours with drone + photogrammetry was completed in about 30 minutes

• Acquired data are immediately shared to the cloud with absolute coordinates, eliminating post-trip data processing

• Earthwork volume calculations and as-built checks can be done on site in real time, accelerating construction management decision-making

• Dramatic productivity gains enable efficient single-person operation, with users noting it felt like “having twice the manpower”

Success Story 3: Improving Consensus and Construction Quality by Visualizing BIM Models in AR

On a road construction site, a tablet (iPad) equipped with an LRTK device was used to AR-display 3D BIM/CIM models from the design phase against the actual landscape for meetings. By overlaying models of the planned embankment shape and structures onto the real terrain, owners, construction staff, heavy equipment operators, and neighboring residents could all intuitively understand the expected completion image. There was no longer a need to follow paper drawings with a finger during explanations; plans could be shared simply by standing on site and looking at the screen, speeding up consensus building.

This AR use eliminated recognition gaps among all stakeholders and greatly smoothed communication during construction. What had previously been explained using drawings and perspective images became something that could be “understood by looking” in AR, reducing the time needed for explanations. On one site, this approach reportedly reduced design intent communication errors to nearly zero, decreasing rework in later stages. Additionally, during as-built inspections, overlaying design data with the constructed object on a tablet allowed immediate detection and correction of minor defects on the spot. AR-based “site visualization” supported consensus building and quality control, contributing to improved productivity and construction quality.

Effects:

• Displaying 3D models superimposed on site allows intuitive sharing of the completed image and improves stakeholder understanding

• Meetings using AR smooth communication and reduce rework due to misunderstandings

• Miscommunication of design intent is eliminated, accelerating internal consensus building within projects

• During completion inspections, AR overlay of design data enables immediate detection and correction of defects, helping ensure construction quality

Success Story 4: Reducing Wrong-excavation Risk by Displaying Buried Pipes in AR

On sites with extensive infrastructure and buried objects, understanding unseen underground pipes and cables is a major safety management issue. At one site, 3D data of buried and backfilled underground piping were AR-projected on site to visualize underground conditions. Because LRTK’s high-precision positioning continuously corrects the current position and orientation on the smartphone, virtual pipe models can be overlaid on the real world without special markers. As if seeing through the ground, workers can confirm the routes of underground pipes on the camera view and visually grasp cautions such as “there is a pipe 〇 m (〇 ft) ahead from here.”

This AR “see-through” capability greatly reduced the risk of accidentally damaging buried pipes. Because the exact locations of buried items were known in advance, there was no need for unnecessary trial excavations or overly cautious procedures, allowing excavation to proceed efficiently and safely. On sites using this method, workers reported feeling less stressed about discrepancies between drawings and reality when digging and found it easier to instill awareness of buried items in new workers, improving both peace of mind and work speed. Furthermore, even equipment that was buried and no longer visible can be accurately reproduced later in AR, becoming valuable information for future maintenance and additional construction.

Effects:

• Intuitive pre-knowledge of buried pipes and cables prevents accidental damage

• Fewer exploratory excavations of unclear areas allow efficient and confident excavation and construction

• Easier sharing of buried object information among all workers contributes to improved safety awareness and fewer near-miss incidents

• Visualized underground infrastructure location data facilitate future inspection and renovation planning

Success Story 5: Achieving Rapid Boundary Confirmation by Displaying Boundary Lines in AR

Accurate confirmation of property boundaries is important in civil engineering and land development projects. On a development site, AR was used for boundary confirmation work. Known coordinates of boundary markers were registered in the LRTK cloud, and when viewing the surroundings through a smartphone on site, the property boundary line is AR-displayed on the ground. This enabled intuitive on-the-spot verification of whether temporary stakes or existing boundary markers matched the design boundary line.

This method greatly streamlined boundary confirmation work, which previously required calling a surveying team and carefully checking with a transit and tape measure. Even inexperienced staff can accurately perform confirmation work by simply looking at the virtual boundary line on the smartphone screen, without relying on a veteran’s visual judgment. Time needed to reconcile design drawings and the site was reduced, helping prevent rework and disputes with neighbors over boundaries. By visualizing boundaries in AR, this approach made it possible to reliably confirm boundaries with the minimum required personnel and time.

Effects:

• Tasks that previously required multiple people and long hours for boundary inspections and layout can be smoothly performed by one person

• Discrepancies in temporary stake placements or boundary markers can be found on the spot, reducing rework such as re-measurement

• Less-experienced technicians can accurately grasp boundaries by referencing AR-displayed lines, improving confirmation accuracy

• Prevents neighbor disputes caused by deviations from construction area or misrecognition of boundaries, enabling confident construction progress

Conclusion

Above, we presented five cases where AR application in construction management, enabled by LRTK implementation, transformed site operations. From stakeout and as-built verification to consensus building, buried object management, and boundary confirmation, AR × RTK technology demonstrates its effectiveness across various scenarios. A common thread is that a new way of working is being realized in which “anyone can measure and verify immediately on site.” If high-precision surveying and information sharing can be achieved with a single smartphone instead of heavy equipment and specialized skills, site productivity will dramatically improve.

The new norm of “simple surveying” pioneered by LRTK is beginning to change construction management significantly. Tasks that used to rely on veteran intuition and manpower can now be streamlined and enhanced through digital technology. Even under increasing constraints from labor shortages and work-style reform, AR × RTK enables efficient and safe site operations with limited personnel. Indeed, the LRTK series, as an easy solution supporting smart construction, aligns with initiatives such as i-Construction and site DX promoted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. Going forward, AR technology will be an indispensable key in construction management. We encourage you to consider the benefits of introducing AR on your sites.

FAQ

Q1. Do I need special equipment or advanced knowledge to introduce AR technology on site? A. No, you can start without expensive specialized equipment or expert knowledge. For example, with solutions like LRTK, anyone can intuitively use AR functionality simply by attaching a small GNSS receiver to a smartphone and launching a dedicated app. Operation is simple and training requirements for site staff are low; in most cases, basic proficiency can be achieved in a few hours of training. Compared to conventional surveying equipment, these systems are also easier to carry, making them convenient for many on-site situations.

Q2. Can smartphone AR displays really provide accurate alignment? A. Using a system that corrects the smartphone’s position with RTK-GNSS like LRTK makes it possible to overlay virtual objects on the real world with an error of a few centimeters. Typically, a smartphone alone has an error of about 5–10 m with GPS, but RTK dramatically improves positioning accuracy so that discrepancies between design positions on drawings and the actual site become almost imperceptible. Practical construction sites have confirmed that AR-displayed models and real objects align closely enough for practical use.

Q3. Is AR-based position confirmation possible in places where satellite positioning is unstable or indoors? A. In environments where GPS satellite signals are difficult to receive, high-precision RTK positioning becomes challenging. In areas such as streets of high-rise buildings or under dense tree cover, accuracy may temporarily degrade or positioning may be interrupted. In such environments, after performing a baseline alignment in an open area, it is possible to continue short-duration work by complementing with smartphone inertial sensors and camera visual markers, but current AR positioning is difficult for fully GNSS-blocked indoor or underground locations. In those cases, reliance on conventional total station measurements or waiting for future technological advances may be necessary. However, LRTK can support Japan’s Quasi-Zenith Satellite System Michibiki (CLAS signal), so positioning is possible in a relatively wide range of environments as long as satellites are visible, even in mountainous or out-of-communication areas.

Q4. Are there benefits to AR introduction for small sites or short-term projects? A. Yes. In fact, small projects with limited personnel stand to gain the most from AR solutions that allow single-person surveying and as-built management. Tasks that previously required hiring external surveyors can be handled quickly by in-house staff, reducing outsourcing costs and waiting time. Even for short-term projects, using AR for daily progress checks and as-built inspections enables rapid situation assessment and record keeping, facilitating coordination with subsequent work. AR technology contributes to efficiency and quality improvement regardless of project scale, from small sites to large-scale projects.

Q5. Is using AR glasses (smart glasses) instead of smartphones an option? A. There are cases using see-through AR glasses or helmet-mounted displays. However, dedicated glasses tend to be expensive, have narrow fields of view, and may require skilled operation, posing barriers to widespread on-site use. In contrast, using smartphones or tablets leverages devices many people are already familiar with and keeps introduction costs relatively low. LRTK is designed as a smartphone-based solution, balancing GNSS-backed accuracy with the ease of smartphone AR. Starting with familiar smartphone AR and considering other devices as needed is a practical approach.