The Frontlines of Construction Machinery Automation: The Future of Construction Brought by ICT Construction Equipment

In recent years, the construction industry has seen growing attention on ICT construction equipment—construction machinery that leverages information and communication technologies. Against the backdrop of increasingly severe labor shortages, aging veteran operators, and demands for productivity improvement, efforts are underway to revolutionize traditional labor-dependent construction processes with digital technologies. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has also been strongly promoting the spread of ICT-based construction under the initiative "i-Construction," with a goal of improving construction site productivity by 20% by 2025. At the forefront of this movement are advanced construction machines equipped with GNSS, sensors, and cloud technologies—namely, ICT construction equipment.

This article explains the frontlines of construction automation enabled by ICT construction equipment, addressing both the technical components and the regulatory framework. It clarifies how elements such as GPS/GNSS positioning, IMU (inertial measurement unit) and gyro sensors, machine guidance (MG)/machine control (MC), cloud integration, remote operation, and data integration with BIM/CIM function and combine to realize on-site automation. It also touches on regulatory challenges arising from the introduction of the latest technologies (such as restrictions on unmanned machines, safety-related regulations, and accountability in the event of accidents) and operational issues encountered on sites that have actually implemented ICT construction (such as difficulties in accuracy correction, limitations of communication infrastructure, and problems with operator training), citing concrete examples. Finally, the article introduces the recently notable LRTK (smartphone × compact GNSS device) as an easy way to perform high-precision surveying and proposes steps by which field engineers can start ICT adoption at low cost and in a practical manner.

What is ICT construction equipment?

ICT construction equipment refers to construction machinery equipped with positioning sensors and digital drawings, providing automatic position measurement and work guidance functions. For example, a power shovel or bulldozer can be fitted with a GNSS antenna and attitude-detection sensors so that the vehicle’s position (latitude, longitude, elevation) and the orientation and tilt of the working attachments (bucket or blade) can be obtained in real time. A three-dimensional design model is loaded into the machine, and the operator’s monitor constantly displays the difference between the current blade tip position and the design surface. Therefore, the operator can intuitively understand on the monitor “where is being excavated or filled now” and “how much more must be excavated to reach the design surface” without repeatedly consulting paper drawings or stakes. Even inexperienced operators can achieve the design-specified accuracy by following the machine’s guidance without complicated setup steps. In this way, construction machines that utilize ICT technologies broadly are collectively referred to as ICT construction equipment.

In conventional construction, surveyors set up stakes and mark lines on site based on paper drawings, and operators relied on those to operate heavy machinery. During construction, repeated re-surveying to check excesses or shortages and manual inspections of the finished work were necessary, requiring many personnel and time. In contrast, ICT-enabled construction (ICT construction) has machines that continuously measure their own position and operate while comparing against a digital three-dimensional design model, greatly reducing the repetitive surveying and rework previously required. As a result, in addition to improvements in productivity (shorter work times) and labor savings (reduced personnel), benefits include stabilized quality (prevention of excessive excavation or filling) and enhanced safety (fewer situations where people work close to heavy machinery).

Core technologies supporting ICT construction equipment

Behind ICT construction equipment is a combination of several advanced technologies. Below is an organized list of the main components that make ICT construction equipment possible and their roles.

• GNSS positioning (GPS, etc.): Using satellite positioning systems (GNSS such as GPS, GLONASS, QZSS), the current position of the machinery is measured in real time. By combining with a base station fixed to the ground or networked RTK correction information, high-precision positioning with errors on the order of several centimeters is possible. This allows the machine’s position and elevation to be constantly known in the site coordinate system.

• Attitude sensors (IMU, gyro): IMUs (Inertial Measurement Units) and gyro sensors detect the tilt and orientation of the machine body and attachments (arms, blades, etc.). High-frequency measurement of the machine’s roll and pitch angles and the bucket angle, integrated with GNSS position information, enables calculation of the precise three-dimensional coordinates of the blade tip. These form the foundational data for blade-tip position display on the monitor and for automatic control.

• Digital three-dimensional design data: Construction design drawings are loaded into the machine as digital 3D models (BIM/CIM data). Models of the final terrain, design elevations, and slopes for roads or reclamation sites are stored so the machine can continuously compare the current blade-tip position with the ideal form. This allows the operator to immediately know, for example, “how many centimeters (a few inches) more should be excavated to reach the target surface.”

• Machine guidance (MG): Guidance functions that assist the operator. MG-capable machines display on the operator’s monitor the current blade height, the difference from the target surface, slope, and direction of travel based on GNSS/sensor measurements and design data. The operator then uses that information to manipulate the bucket or dozer blade to achieve the target heights and shapes. Machine guidance provides assistance via on-screen displays only; the actual hydraulic operations are performed by the operator.

• Machine control (MC): Automatic control functions of the machine. In MC-capable machines, in addition to MG-style monitor displays, the control system links to hydraulic cylinder controls to automatically adjust the movement of blades or buckets. If the operator provides rough input, the machine performs fine height adjustments automatically. For example, when excavating with a shovel, the machine can automatically stop when reaching the preset design elevation to prevent over-excavation. This enables consistent finishing accuracy even without a skilled operator and dramatically improves work efficiency.

• Cloud integration: ICT construction equipment can connect to the cloud via the Internet or wireless communications to exchange data. This includes distributing 3D design data for construction to machines via the cloud and aggregating construction history data (as-built data and operation logs) from each machine to a server in real time. Progress can be monitored on the cloud from the site office or a remote head office, and the movements of multiple machines can be managed integrally. If a design change occurs, the latest data can be pushed immediately to all machines via the cloud, helping prevent mistakes and rework.

• Remote operation (teleoperation): A technology that allows an operator to control machinery from a distant location using a communication network. The surrounding environment is confirmed via camera images or LiDAR sensors on a monitor or VR goggles, and the machine is operated using a dedicated control console or controller. With the deployment of low-latency communication environments such as 5G, remote operation from distant locations is becoming possible in near real time. This enables construction in hazardous sites (such as slopes at risk of collapse or disaster recovery sites) without people entering directly, dramatically improving safety. It also opens the possibility of efficient operation where a skilled operator at a single remote operation center sequentially controls machines at multiple sites.

• Automation and autonomous construction: Technologies that enable machines to operate semi-autonomously or autonomously using AI and advanced control algorithms are also developing. Demonstrations of fully unmanned construction, where machines perform excavation, filling, and grading without human intervention according to pre-set 3D construction plans and routes, are underway. Currently, human supervision is still required for tasks involving detection of surrounding obstacles and complex decision-making, but in the future, fully autonomous operation of construction equipment and AI-driven optimization of construction are gradually being realized.

• Integration with BIM/CIM: ICT construction equipment really shows its value when linked with higher-level digital models such as BIM and CIM. Detailed three-dimensional models created during design (BIM/CIM data) can be used directly for construction to guide and control machines, and as-built data collected from machinery after construction can be fed back into the model for inspection and maintenance. This bidirectional flow of digital data enables a digital-twin-like understanding and optimization of site conditions, connecting the entire construction process seamlessly.

Effects and evolution brought by site automation

By combining the technical elements described above, ICT construction equipment delivers various benefits to construction sites. Below are the main effects of introducing ICT construction equipment and how construction is evolving on-site.

• Significant reduction in surveying and stake-setting work: Position guidance using GNSS and design data simplifies the detailed stake-setting and line-marking work that was previously required. Because the monitor constantly shows the target shape and the current deviation, workers do not need to repeatedly perform surveys to confirm. As a result, downtime during construction is reduced, personnel can be cut, and the overall pace of work accelerates.

• Improved construction accuracy and quality: Using machine control enables automatic shaping to the intended heights and slopes, reducing variability and excess or deficiency. Areas that previously relied on veteran operators’ intuition can now be adjusted by machines to accuracy on the order of several centimeters (a few inches), keeping quality at a consistent level and reducing rework. As-built data can also be collected automatically, making objective quality verification easier.

• Increased productivity and labor savings: As described above, streamlined setup work and the ability for a single operator to handle tasks with MG/MC raise overall productivity. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has reported cases where earthworks productivity increased by an average of over 30% after introducing ICT construction. In some sites, tasks that previously required multiple workers can be handled by one ICT-capable machine and a single operator, resulting in conspicuous cost savings through labor reduction.

• Enhanced safety: In conventional labor-dependent construction, workers often had to be close to heavy machinery to check heights or guide operations, carrying a constant risk of collisions with machines. ICT construction equipment reduces such risks because the machine itself guides and automatically stops without people having to approach. Combining this with remote operation technology allows operators to avoid entering hazardous areas. This is particularly effective in high-risk environments such as slope works at risk of landslides, disaster recovery sites, and tunnel excavation.

• Data-driven construction management: By leveraging data aggregated from ICT construction equipment in the cloud, construction management can be advanced. Accumulated data such as each machine’s operating hours, moved soil volumes, and as-built 3D shape data allow supervisors to monitor progress in real time and optimize scheduling and machine operation based on data. Remote monitoring of multiple construction sites becomes easier, enabling management based on digital evidence rather than intuition.

• Challenge of advanced construction: Major general contractors are leading efforts to commercialize more advanced automated construction systems that combine ICT construction equipment with robotics. Examples include AI-coordinated control of multiple unmanned machines to fully automate earthfill operations for dams and reclamation sites, and demonstrations of operating machines remotely via 5G lines from 70 km (43.5 mi) away—styles of construction previously considered impossible are becoming reality. There are also solutions to retrofit older machines with add-on devices to support automation and remote operation, allowing site-wide ICT advancement without replacing all existing machinery.

Regulatory challenges: safety regulations and liability

While technology progresses, regulatory and rulemaking have not fully kept pace with the spread of ICT construction equipment. Particularly regarding the practical use of unmanned construction and remote operation, issues have emerged that are not fully covered by existing laws and standards.

• Lack of standards for unmanned operation: Many current construction standards and safety rules assume that an operator is onboard the machinery. For fully automated or remotely operated construction, procedures for quality control and safety verification need to be reconsidered because people do not perform direct checks or operations. However, specific standards—such as required levels of accuracy or safety redundancy—are still being established. An expert committee at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism is discussing new quality inspection standards and construction management methods for automated construction, but as of 2025 unified standardization has not yet been achieved. Questions remain, such as how to guarantee the density and finished elevation of embankments constructed by unmanned machines and how to define countermeasures for abnormal stops or sensor malfunctions.

• Creating rules to ensure safety: Risk assessment and countermeasures for runaway or malfunction during remote or autonomous operation are also critical. Currently, manufacturers and contractors implement and test safety measures (such as emergency-stop buttons, fail-safe mechanisms, and access restrictions to work areas) on a case-by-case basis, but industry-wide standard rules are still being explored. For practical operation, guidelines such as “assign a site monitor during remote operation” or “automatically stop if a person enters a defined area” will be necessary. The government is progressing on guideline formulation, but rulemaking must proceed alongside repeated on-site validation to keep up with technological evolution.

• Liability in accidents: When accidents occur involving autonomous or remotely operated machines, legal responsibility is ambiguous. Traditionally, the machine operator bore safety responsibility, but in accidents during unmanned operation, it is unclear “who is the operator.” If control is lost due to communication failure, responsibility could fall on the machine manufacturer, the communications carrier, or the site supervisor. Many scenarios are not envisaged by current labor safety laws or road traffic laws, so legal clarification is required. Overseas, discussions on unmanned operation of construction machinery are advancing as an extension of regulations for autonomous vehicles and drones, but in Japan clear rules have not yet been established. Going forward, referencing international standards (such as ISO) while building a domestic framework appropriate to local conditions for allocating responsibilities will be necessary.

Operational challenges after introducing ICT construction equipment: accuracy, communications, and personnel

Even with state-of-the-art ICT construction equipment, ideal unmanned construction is not instantly achieved; various operational challenges arise on site. From a practitioner’s perspective, here are the main issues that become apparent after introduction.

• Corrections and calibration for high-precision positioning: Although GNSS-based positioning can theoretically achieve centimeter-level accuracy, consistently obtaining that accuracy on actual sites requires careful preparation and management. Performing RTK positioning requires establishing a base station and maintaining a radio link with roving receivers, which can be difficult in mountainous areas with poor radio conditions. Calibration tasks are also essential, such as calibrating the offset between the antenna reference point and the bucket tip and zeroing tilt sensors. If such accuracy corrections are not properly performed, discrepancies between the monitor display and the actual terrain can occur, potentially compromising as-built accuracy. To fully realize the benefits of ICT construction equipment, it is important to involve surveying specialists during implementation to carefully set reference points and calibrate equipment, but for small- and medium-scale sites the extra effort and lack of know-how are challenging.

• Limitations of communication infrastructure: Cloud integration and remote operation require adequate communication infrastructure at the site. While 4G/5G coverage is often sufficient in urban construction sites, rural and mountainous sites frequently face out-of-coverage or unstable conditions. For real-time remote operation, even slight communication delay or disconnection can cause critical problems, so securing a stable network is vital. Temporary relay antennas or satellite communications can be used but pose cost and technical hurdles. Even if data are uploaded to the cloud, exchanging large volumes of 3D data can be time-consuming and drive up data charges. Such limitations of communication infrastructure mean that the functions of newly introduced ICT construction equipment cannot always be fully utilized on site.

• Operator training and the skills gap: For site workers unfamiliar with digital technologies, there is a learning curve to operating ICT construction equipment and using data. Operators who have long been accustomed to conventional heavy-equipment control may be confused by new control panels and the information shown on monitors. Some veterans may resist, feeling that relying on machines will dull their skills. Effective ICT use on site requires broad training not only for operators but also for surveying and design staff in handling 3D data and equipment settings. In reality, many companies lack sufficient time or capacity for personnel development, so equipment may be underutilized after purchase. National and industry organizations offer ICT construction training programs, and manufacturers run workshops, but diffusion into small companies and regional sites remains a challenge.

• Site support and operational know-how: As with any new technology, troubleshooting and accumulation of operational know-how are issues. ICT construction equipment uses many sensors and software modules, so errors and failures unfamiliar to conventional machines may occur (e.g., GNSS reception problems, software bugs causing system halts). If there is no one on-site who can promptly handle such situations, work can be interrupted. Even if one contacts the manufacturer’s support, response times to remote sites can be long. It is necessary to cultivate on-site ICT device managers who can perform troubleshooting and prepare contingency plans (for example, switching to a total station when GNSS is unavailable). Additionally, operational know-how on how to utilize cloud-stored data to improve site operations or how to feed AI analysis results back into construction plans must be refined through accumulated practical experience.

LRTK (smartphone × compact GNSS) for quick surveying: an easy entry to high-precision ICT

Introducing advanced ICT construction equipment requires significant investment and preparation, but there are accessible ways for field engineers to experience digital construction. One such approach is simple surveying using LRTK (smartphone × compact GNSS). LRTK combines a smartphone or tablet with a pocket-sized high-precision GNSS receiver, enabling one person to perform centimeter-class surveying and stake-out.

Specifically, by attaching a small RTK-GNSS receiver made for smartphones to the device and launching an app, high-precision positioning becomes possible. Tasks such as topographic surveying and stake installation, which traditionally required surveying equipment costing millions to tens of millions of yen and multiple personnel, can be completed with a single smartphone and a compact device. For example, standing at a point and pressing a button on the smartphone screen instantly measures and records the point’s latitude, longitude, and elevation. Under good conditions, errors can be reduced to the order of several centimeters to about 1 centimeter (0.4 in), providing accuracy comparable to surveys using electronic distance meters or auto levels. The collected point coordinates are automatically plotted on a cloud map and can be shared in real time with the office or other team members.

Using LRTK, a “one-person, one-smartphone surveying” approach allows personnel to quickly collect coordinates of necessary points across the site. It can be applied widely depending on the idea: ground elevation checks, as-built confirmation of excavation areas, recording the positions of buried objects, and even acquiring point-cloud data of the terrain before and after construction. For stake-out, guiding to the designated point shown on the smartphone screen allows accurate marking. AR-capable apps can overlay the design model on the actual scenery through the phone’s camera, enabling marking while confirming the completed image.

The main advantage of LRTK-based simple surveying is its low cost and ease of use. Upgrading heavy machinery to ICT-capable machines requires large investments, but a smartphone GNSS receiver can be introduced from around several hundred thousand yen, and existing smartphones can be used, lowering the initial investment barrier. The operation is designed to be as intuitive as a smartphone app, so both younger and veteran workers can start using it without resistance. The small, pocketable size also reduces the burden of carrying equipment, allowing quick measurements whenever needed.

As a first step in on-site ICT adoption, starting with digital surveying using LRTK is highly effective. Gaining experience in recording and sharing construction sites in three dimensions makes it easier to realize the benefits of digital construction. It is acceptable to start with partial applications such as as-built management for small reclamation sites or sewer construction. As site staff use their own smartphones to perform positioning and as-built checks, a habit of “thinking with data” will germinate and resistance to ICT use will gradually fade. Once the value of using survey data to discuss construction improvements or auto-generate reports on the cloud becomes visible, transitioning smoothly to full-scale ICT construction equipment and cloud-based construction management systems will be more feasible.

Conclusion

ICT construction equipment, which is driving automation on construction sites, is bringing major changes to technology and construction practices. Precise machine control using GPS and sensors, coupled with new construction methods enabled by cloud and remote operation, offer powerful solutions to the construction industry’s urgent challenges of improving productivity and ensuring safety. At the same time, issues such as regulatory development and accumulation of on-site operational know-how have surfaced, and it is necessary to align technological advancement with social acceptance.

In this context, it is essential to take the first step toward site digitization. By starting with accessible technologies such as LRTK and accumulating experience, and by gradually expanding the scope of ICT construction while feeling the benefits of data utilization, sites can promote DX (digital transformation) without undue strain. In the construction sites of the future, work that once relied on skill and intuition will be supported by digital technologies and automation, transforming workplaces into safer, more efficient, and more attractive environments. To realize that future, each field engineer is required to master ICT construction equipment and digital tools and help build new construction standards.