GNSS receiver rental arrangements unnecessary: cm-class high-precision LRTK ready for one-person use

Table of Contents

• GNSS receiver rental arrangements unnecessary: cm-class high-precision LRTK ready for one-person use

• Challenges and cost structure of GNSS receiver rental

• Lightweight, high-precision, no arrangements needed: new possibilities brought by LRTK

• Use cases of LRTK in construction, infrastructure, and disaster response

• Pocket-sized and single-person completion: a new style of surveying work

• The appeal of iPhone integration: AR confirmation and point-cloud scanning

• Summary: easy high-precision surveying made possible by LRTK

High-precision positioning using rented GNSS receivers is widely seen on construction sites and in surveying work. GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) is a general term for satellite-based positioning technologies that include GPS, and using dedicated high-precision GNSS receivers makes it possible to obtain centimeter-class location information essential for mapping and construction management. However, because of their high performance, the equipment tends to be expensive and large. For this reason, renting GNSS receivers only when needed may seem like a cost-effective solution at first glance. However, there are several challenges with rentals in terms of arrangements and costs, and these can in fact hinder productivity on site.

This article explains the common challenges and cost structure of GNSS receiver rental, and introduces a new alternative option: the cm-class high-precision positioning device “LRTK” that is ready for one-person use. LRTK is a pocket-sized, lightweight device that, when used together with an iPhone, enables high-precision positioning easily. Not only does it eliminate the need to arrange rental equipment, it also opens up the possibility of completing surveying work with a single person, without relying on multiple people. Let’s look at how this solution, whose use is expanding across construction, infrastructure, and disaster response, can transform on-site operations, with concrete examples.

Challenges and cost structure of GNSS receiver rental

First, let’s organize the common challenges and cost structure of conventional GNSS receiver rental. Borrowing high-precision GNSS equipment temporarily can reduce initial investment, but the following disadvantages are often pointed out.

• Time-consuming and troublesome arrangements: Renting equipment requires prior reservation and coordination. You must secure a schedule so the equipment is available at the desired time and handle communications and contract procedures with the rental company. If sudden surveying work occurs, there is a risk that the equipment will not be available immediately depending on availability.

• Rental fees accumulate: Because GNSS receivers are advanced surveying instruments, rental fees are also high. Depending on the model and rental period, it is not uncommon for fees of tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of yen to accrue for several days to several weeks of use. Repeated rentals can drive up costs, and over the long term expenses may be equivalent to or exceed purchasing the equipment outright.

• Ancillary costs and personnel: In addition to the equipment rental fee itself, transportation costs, insurance for the equipment, and security deposits may be required. High-precision positioning often requires a base station and data communication, and additional network RTK communication contracts or service fees may be incurred. Furthermore, operating rented GNSS equipment requires specialized knowledge, so securing experienced surveyors or operators must also be considered.

• Lack of flexibility: Rental periods are limited, so if you need to measure a bit more or delays occur, additional extension procedures and fees will be required. Because the equipment is not owned by your company, you must handle it carefully, and in the event of damage there are risks such as compensation or repair costs. The inability to use equipment immediately when needed or to use it freely can slow on-site responsiveness.

As described above, rental operation of GNSS receivers involves costs and hassles. Of course, there are benefits such as lower short-term costs compared to purchase and the ability to try the latest models, but at sites where equipment is used frequently, you may often feel that renting every time is inefficient. So is there a way to resolve these issues while making high-precision positioning easier to use? One answer is the new option introduced next: LRTK.

Lightweight, high-precision, no arrangements needed: new possibilities brought by LRTK

The solution that has emerged as an alternative to GNSS receiver rentals is our company’s LRTK. LRTK is a palm-sized RTK-GNSS receiver designed to work with a smartphone, and it is an immediately deployable tool that allows centimeter-class positioning without rental arrangements. Its features can be summarized as follows.

• Pocketable lightweight device: LRTK weighs only a few hundred grams (comparable to a smartphone) and has an ultra-compact design with a thickness of about 1 cm (0.4 in). Compared to conventional static GNSS receivers and long antennas, it is overwhelmingly compact and portable—you can walk around the site with it in your work clothes pocket. There is no need to carry large tripods or heavy equipment, reducing physical burden.

• Immediate use when paired with an iPhone: Attach LRTK to an iPhone (or iPad) with a dedicated smartphone attachment or case, launch the dedicated app, and you can start positioning immediately. No complicated initial setup or specialized controller is required; all you need is the LRTK unit, a smartphone, and a communication environment. Once it receives satellite signals, high-precision positioning begins immediately, allowing you to start measurement work on the spot.

• cm-class high-precision positioning via RTK: LRTK is equipped with the latest high-performance GNSS chip and supports multiple satellite systems (multi-GNSS) such as GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and Michibiki (QZSS). By using multiple frequency bands such as L1/L2, it achieves stable positioning and, using the RTK (Real Time Kinematic) method, keeps positioning error within a few centimeters (within a few inches). RTK positioning that previously required a base station and rover pair can be realized with LRTK as a single unit plus a communication service.

• Reliability even outside communication coverage: Normally RTK positioning requires real-time correction information, but LRTK supports the centimeter-class augmentation service provided by Japan’s quasi-zenith satellite Michibiki (CLAS; half-inch accuracy). Therefore, even in mountainous areas or disaster zones where Internet communication is cut off, it can receive correction signals directly from satellites and continue high-precision positioning. It is powerful even at sites without mobile network coverage, offering reliability in emergencies.

• Affordable and easy to introduce: LRTK offers lower introduction costs compared to conventional high-precision GNSS equipment. Because you can use existing iPhones or iPads you already own, there is no need to purchase dedicated surveying controllers or large antennas. The unit price itself is significantly more affordable than large surveying instruments, making “one per person” deployment a realistic option. If repeated rentals are driving long-term costs up, purchasing LRTK as an asset may often be more cost-effective.

As described above, LRTK combines “high precision,” “lightweight,” “no arrangement needed,” and “cost efficiency,” and has the potential to significantly change on-site positioning styles. In the next chapter, we will look at specific use scenes to see what kinds of field tasks can be carried out easily by one person using LRTK.

Use cases of LRTK in construction, infrastructure, and disaster response

LRTK’s features are useful across a wide range of fields. Here we introduce how LRTK brings efficiency and changes to on-site operations in construction, infrastructure maintenance, disaster response, and surveying.

• Surveying and layout on construction sites: On civil engineering and construction sites, high-precision positioning is essential for pre-foundation terrain surveys, as-built control during construction, and stakeout work. Tasks that traditionally required two people using a total station can now be completed by one person with LRTK and a smartphone. For example, you can measure multiple points of ground elevation on a development site to calculate cross-section averages in real time, or accurately mark stakeout points on site based on coordinates in the design drawings. Measurement data can be uploaded to the cloud for sharing, reducing the need to return to the office to process drawings. Because the device is pocket-sized, surveying while moving around a large site is not burdensome, and the ability to measure whenever needed dramatically improves the speed and accuracy of construction management.

• Inspection and maintenance of infrastructure: For inspections of roads, bridges, tunnels, and railways, it is important to record the exact locations of cracks and damaged areas. With LRTK and a smartphone, simply taking photos will automatically record the latitude/longitude and camera orientation, saving them to a cloud map. Inspectors no longer need to write locations on paper maps or sort photos back at the office. Since coordinates from previous inspections remain, you can accurately revisit the same points using AR navigation next time. For rail track inspections, walking along the track while collecting continuous LRTK position logs makes it possible to monitor rail settlement—enabling data collection methods that were previously difficult. Even on mountain railways, CLAS-compatible LRTK can position without network coverage, and the high-precision data collected can be centrally managed and shared in the cloud. It is expected to be a tool that brings reliability and efficiency to infrastructure management.

• Disaster response and emergency surveying: In disaster sites such as earthquakes and floods, rapid measurement and sharing of damage information are required. LRTK is a positioning device that demonstrates mobility in emergencies. For example, when carried into a disaster area, a single person can rapidly measure the locations of collapsed buildings and landslides one after another and share the information with headquarters in real time via the cloud. Major disasters can sever communication infrastructure, but as noted above LRTK can receive correction information from satellites and continue high-precision positioning even outside network coverage. LRTK has actually performed well at earthquake sites in Japan where carrying large equipment was impossible. Its small size makes it easy to transport by helicopter or on foot, contributing to quick digital recording of on-site conditions. From initial damage surveys right after a disaster to progress management of restoration work, LRTK can serve as the eyes and feet of on-site personnel.

• Daily surveying and investigation tasks: For routine tasks such as topographic surveys and land investigations performed by surveying companies and construction consultants, LRTK is a powerful tool. Tasks like measuring elevation differences, checking boundary points, and measuring as-built shapes that were previously outsourced can be performed in-house with ease. LRTK can output positioning data in the Japan Geodetic Datum, making it easy to integrate directly with CAD drawings and GIS data. Leveraging its smartphone integration, you can simultaneously record notes and photos with positioning, or calculate earthwork volumes from acquired point-cloud data—enabling a one-stop workflow from on-site measurement to document creation. This allows engineers without surveying expertise to conduct accurate on-site checks, maintaining quality at sites suffering from a shortage of experienced staff.

Pocket-sized and single-person completion: a new style of surveying work

As described above, using LRTK shifts the work style from “multi-person surveying” to “quick, one-person surveying.” This directly improves site efficiency. For example, leveling surveys and boundary confirmation that traditionally required two or more people can be completed by one person by attaching LRTK to an extendable pole (monopod) and checking the smartphone screen. Because the device is pocket-sized it is easy to handle and allows agile movement in confined sites or high places. Tasks that used to require assistants can now be done solo, reducing the burden of arranging personnel and the safety management workload for workers.

The concept of “one person, one device” who can measure instantly updates how on-site work is done. LRTK’s intuitive smartphone app guides the user through simple operations, so positioning and data recording can be done with the push of a button. There is no need to worry about complex settings or calculations, and people without specialized skills—from young staff to veterans—can immediately contribute as effective operators. Even at sites lacking experienced surveyors, measurements can be carried out without being dependent on individuals, which is a major advantage. This single-person surveying style, which could be called the “democratization of surveying,” will be a key to productivity improvements in the construction and civil engineering industries going forward.

The appeal of iPhone integration: AR confirmation and point-cloud scanning

Because LRTK integrates with the iPhone, it enables convenient digital features not found in conventional surveying equipment. The most notable examples are the combination of AR (Augmented Reality) technology and point-cloud scanning.

With the dedicated app, you can display target points and lines from design data as AR overlays while walking the site, and real-time guidance will lead you to the specified position. By following arrows and markers on the smartphone screen, you can navigate to stakeout points or previous measurement locations with centimeter-level accuracy (half-inch accuracy), so even on a first visit or a delayed re-survey you can pinpoint locations without getting lost. This AR-based on-site confirmation is far more reliable than conventional methods that relied on drawings or handheld GPS units and intuition.

LRTK also pairs excellently with the LiDAR scanner function built into higher-end iPhone models. LiDAR can scan the surrounding terrain and structures to obtain 3D point-cloud data, and you can add LRTK’s high-precision coordinates to that data in real time. As a result, as-built measurement and earthwork volume calculations that previously required expensive 3D laser scanners or extensive surveying can now be performed on site with a smartphone and LRTK. Acquired point-cloud data can be uploaded to the cloud immediately, allowing the office to view a real-time 3D model of the site and issue instructions. The ability to record and share accurate 3D information while on site is a major strength of the mobile–GNSS integration.

Photogrammetry is also powerful. When you take photos with a smartphone equipped with LRTK, high-precision position tags and orientation information are automatically embedded in the photos. Inspection photos are plotted on a map so it is immediately clear where each photo was taken. On the cloud, you can overlay past and current photos to compare deterioration progression with a single tap. Without relying on paper records or human memory, you can achieve objective on-site understanding backed by digital evidence.

In this way, the combination of LRTK and a smartphone goes beyond mere positioning functionality and smartens on-site work by integrating digital technologies such as AR, 3D scanning, and cloud connectivity. These features directly reduce site workload and improve quality, enhancing the added value of surveying and inspection tasks.

Summary: easy high-precision surveying made possible by LRTK

For sites troubled by the hassle and cost of GNSS receiver rentals, LRTK is a long-awaited new solution. Eliminating rental arrangements and enabling centimeter-class positioning (half-inch accuracy) anytime, anywhere with a pocket-sized device and a smartphone dramatically lowers the barriers to surveying. One person can complete on-site measurements and share data on the spot, eliminating wasted time and allowing work to proceed efficiently. Accurate measurements become possible even without experienced technicians, enabling stable quality control in an era of labor shortages.

Introducing LRTK represents a shift from the conventional idea of “borrowing equipment only when needed” to a style of “routinely using high-precision equipment in-house.” It may seem like new technology at first, but anyone who has used smartphone apps will find it intuitive, and the simple setup means the adoption barrier is very low. This solution, born from listening to field needs, is already being used across construction, infrastructure, and disaster response.

If your site struggles with the hassle of GNSS receiver rentals or inefficiencies in surveying, consider trying easy high-precision positioning with LRTK. By leveraging the latest technology, you should be able to carry out on-site work with unprecedented speed and quality. Why not pioneer a new era of “one person, one high-precision GNSS” together with LRTK?