Five Reasons to Start Construction DX Now: Improving On-site Efficiency and Reducing Workload

Introduction

The civil engineering and construction industry is facing serious challenges such as labor shortages, an aging skilled workforce, and ensuring safety. On-site productivity is struggling to improve, and long working hours have become the norm for many companies. One promising solution to break this stalemate is "construction DX (digital transformation)." Construction DX refers to initiatives that fundamentally transform and advance construction site workflows by leveraging cutting-edge digital technologies such as drones, IoT, AI, 3D scanners, and AR (augmented reality) to improve efficiency and sophistication.

While general DX tends to focus on customer experience and business model transformation, construction DX is characterized by its specialization in solving on-site issues such as safety management and construction management efficiency. For example, construction DX aims to solve on-site problems with technology—automating surveying tasks to reduce labor or monitoring sites with sensors to lower accident risks. Since 2016, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has been promoting a policy called *i-Construction* to support efficiency and safety improvements in construction through the use of ICT. In recent years, the spread of smartphones and cloud services, along with dramatic improvements in GNSS positioning accuracy (centimeter-level positioning (half-inch-level positioning) enabled by the operation of the Quasi-Zenith Satellite System "Michibiki"), have made it easier for small and medium-sized companies and local governments to adopt these technologies.

This article explains five reasons why the construction industry should undertake construction DX now, taking into account the challenges the industry faces. We focus particularly on time- and labor-intensive surveying tasks and safety management areas where human error is not acceptable, and introduce concrete examples of how digital technologies can improve on-site efficiency and reduce workload. Now, let’s go through the "Five Reasons to Start Construction DX."

1. On-site Work Efficiency (Productivity Improvement)

First, construction DX initiatives lead to a significant improvement in on-site work efficiency. In traditional construction sites, many tasks such as surveying, as-built management, and progress checks have relied on manual measurements and visual inspections, requiring a lot of time and manpower. For example, in road construction surveying, it was not uncommon for staff to use leveling rods and tapes, working in pairs to measure hundreds of meters of sections over half a day.

However, by introducing aerial photogrammetry with drones or 3D scanning technology using smartphones, these tasks can be dramatically sped up. There is no need to set up specialized equipment or signal distant staff; one worker can operate the device and measure a wide area in a short time. For example, if a road section of several hundred meters is scanned in 3D by a drone or smartphone LiDAR, measurements of the road surface and slopes that previously required several people and half a day can be completed in just tens of minutes. A single scan can acquire detailed point cloud data for the entire site, eliminating "missed measurements" and reducing the need for additional re-surveys afterward.

Such reductions in work time directly translate to lower labor and equipment operation costs. In fact, there are reports that introducing one-person surveying reduced surveying costs by about 30% compared to traditional methods. By increasing efficiency, limited resources can accomplish more work, helping to resolve chronic project delays and enabling construction schedules with more slack. Completing work in a shorter time also helps reduce overtime, yielding positive effects from the standpoint of work-style reform. The ability to raise productivity while controlling costs is a major motivation for undertaking construction DX.

2. Reducing Workload and Addressing Labor Shortages

Next, using digital technologies reduces the workload for each on-site staff member and helps address severe labor shortages. In Japan's construction industry, aging is advancing: engineers aged 55 and over account for more than 30% of the workforce, while those under 29 make up only about 10%. As experienced veterans retire each year and younger replacements fail to keep pace, the shortage of on-site personnel becomes evident. Furthermore, from April 2024, overtime caps apply to the construction industry (the so-called "2024 problem"), making it difficult to rely on overtime and manpower-intensive tactics as before. To operate with limited staff, raising productivity per person is indispensable.

Construction DX can be a trump card for this challenge. As mentioned earlier, if surveying tasks can be completed by a single person, the burden of arranging personnel and coordinating schedules is greatly reduced. You can avoid the hassle of calling support from other busy sites, and smoothly proceed with work even with a small crew. Also, apps that can be operated intuitively on smartphones or tablets enable younger, unlicensed, or less experienced workers to perform on-site tasks. For example, precision as-built verification that previously only experienced surveyors could perform can now be done by younger staff using point cloud data and comparison software. Rather than relying on the skills and judgment of individual veterans, establishing systems with digital tools that allow "anyone to deliver a certain level of quality" is a great help in an era of labor shortages.

Moreover, replacing heavy or dangerous tasks with technology reduces physical burden. Older engineers can continue working without undue strain by utilizing machines and sensors, and younger workers will find a workplace attractive where they can engage with advanced technologies. In companies that have advanced IT adoption, feedback such as "on-site work has become easier" and "using digital devices has increased young employees' motivation" is often heard. Improving on-site workability through DX promotes better staff retention and facilitates new hires. To create sites that can operate with few people and build a foundation for sustainable growth of both people and companies, construction DX is an indispensable initiative.

3. Improved Survey Accuracy and Quality Control

The third reason to pursue construction DX is quality improvement. Digital technologies dramatically enhance surveying accuracy, allowing more reliable as-built management and quality inspections. Traditionally, on-site measurements taken point by point with tapes and staffs inevitably overlooked subtle undulations and slight height differences between measurement points. Handwritten records and visual checks carry the risk of human error, and measurement mistakes or missing records have led to quality problems.

DX technologies can solve these issues. For example, 3D point cloud data obtained by laser scanners or photogrammetry records the shape of the ground and structures as a dense collection of points. Point clouds containing millions of measurement points enable three-dimensional understanding of subtle surface irregularities and structural tilts. This allows detection of previously overlooked errors or deformations on the order of centimeters. In as-built inspections, overlaying acquired point clouds with design data (CAD or BIM models) in 3D makes discrepancies that were hard to see on drawings immediately apparent. Because a wide area is scanned all at once, there is no worry about missing inspection targets.

Furthermore, recent advances in positioning technologies make it easy to directly assign public coordinate system latitude, longitude, and elevation to data obtained on site. Using high-precision GNSS (RTK), each point's position can be measured to centimeter level (half-inch level), allowing surveying results that once varied by site to be managed in a unified coordinate system. This enables strict comparison with survey maps and design drawings, greatly increasing data reliability. Once acquired, digital data stored in the cloud can be revisited for additional checks without returning to the site when someone later decides "I want to confirm that area after all." The ability to always use high-precision, consistent data enables early detection and correction of construction errors, reducing rework and preventing quality defects.

In this way, construction DX simultaneously raises the accuracy and efficiency of surveying and inspection, improving the level of quality control. Moving away from management based on experience and intuition to objective, data-driven evaluation allows clients and managers to proceed with projects with confidence. The digital records accumulated on site also serve future maintenance and post-incident investigations, forming a foundation for long-term quality assurance.

4. Improved Safety and Risk Reduction

Fourth, construction DX enhances on-site safety and reduces risks. Construction sites contain a wide range of hazards, such as working at height, collisions with heavy equipment, falling objects, and heatstroke. Traditionally, safety officers patrolled and issued warnings or workers relied on experience and intuition to avoid danger. By utilizing digital technologies, however, it is possible to detect and avoid risks that humans might overlook and prevent accidents in advance.

Examples of DX-based safety management include:

• Risk avoidance through non-contact measurement: Use drones, high-zoom cameras, and smartphone 3D scans to conduct surveying and inspections of high or poorly accessible areas remotely. Because people do not have to enter hazardous areas directly, the risk of falls and tumble accidents is greatly reduced.

• Abnormality detection by AI video analysis: AI analyzes camera footage installed at the site in real time and automatically issues alarms when workers enter prohibited areas. Systems that detect missing helmets, inadequate protective equipment, or dangerous actions and notify managers are already in practical use.

• Environmental and human monitoring with IoT sensors: Equip workers' safety vests or helmets with IoT sensors to continuously monitor location, body temperature, and heart rate. If a worker shows signs of heat-related illness, an alert is issued. Sensors for tilt and vibration on heavy machinery and structures are also used to detect anomalies.

• Visualizing hazards with AR technology: Display the positions of underground utilities or no-entry areas based on design drawings in AR on tablets or smart glasses, intuitively visualizing unseen dangers on site. Remote safety managers can also give instructions and support to on-site workers through AR, enabling accurate task guidance and safety confirmation simultaneously.

These technologies can reduce situations in which workers are exposed to danger. For example, by adopting non-contact measurement with laser scanners or photogrammetry, surveying along elevated areas or highways can be performed safely from the ground, and because tasks can be completed more quickly than before, the time spent in hazardous zones is shortened. Acquired 3D data can also be used for safety training; for instance, simulating heavy machinery operation on scanned real terrain to confirm potential contact zones in advance. Additionally, AR-guided visual work procedures allow newcomers to perform tasks safely even without veteran supervision.

Thus, construction DX contributes to preventing occupational accidents by "detecting and avoiding hazards beforehand" and "keeping people away from danger." Transitioning from an era of safety management based on experience and grit to a preventive safety management supported by data and technology is expected to reduce the incidence of serious accidents. Creating an environment where on-site workers can concentrate on their tasks with peace of mind is also a key objective of promoting DX.

5. Preparing for the Future and Strengthening Competitiveness

Finally, undertaking construction DX prepares companies for the future and strengthens competitiveness. The wave of digitalization is surely coming to the construction industry, and governmental and client expectations are becoming more advanced each year. As part of promoting on-site DX, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has drafted "Guidelines for As-built Management Using 3D Measurement Technology (tentative)", accelerating the shift from traditional 2D drawings to delivering results as 3D data such as point clouds. Administrative initiatives like the principle-based application of BIM/CIM are also standardizing the use of digital technologies. To respond to these changes, it is important to start on-site DX early and accumulate know-how. Falling behind in DX risks being unable to meet future bidding requirements or becoming less likely to be selected by clients.

On the other hand, companies that proactively push DX reap significant benefits. Contractors that actively adopt the latest technologies win clients' trust through shorter schedules and improved quality, leading to new contracts. Visualizing projects with on-site digital data smooths communication with clients and designers, speeding up consensus building. If progress and as-built status can be shared in real time via the cloud, stakeholders in different locations can discuss the same information and shorten decision-making time. This kind of fast and transparent project management can be a differentiator from competitors.

Moreover, the data assets cultivated through DX are valuable for future management. By accumulating and analyzing construction data and point cloud models from each site, productivity indicators and risk factors can be quantified. This enables management decisions that do not rely on experience and intuition, leading to more accurate cost estimation, appropriate scheduling, and effective risk management. Insights derived from accumulated data can be fed back into subsequent projects, creating a continuous cycle of process improvement.

Additionally, with the barriers of adoption cost and technical difficulty lowering, now is an excellent time to start DX. For example, high-performance surveying equipment that once cost several million yen can now be replaced by a smartphone combined with a receiver or sensor costing a few hundred thousand yen. Cloud services and subscription-based software are abundant, allowing access to needed functions without large capital investments. Increasingly intuitive apps mean on-site staff can operate tools without relying on specialist operators. Against this favorable backdrop, it is sensible to begin digitalization even at small sites. By starting DX early and gaining experience, you can build a foundation that flexibly adapts to major technological innovations and market changes in the future.

As outlined above, construction DX contributes not only to immediate efficiency gains but also to medium- and long-term corporate strength. As the industry as a whole shifts digitally, it is worthwhile to engage in DX now so your company does not fall behind the wave and can lead the next-generation standard.

Conclusion

So far, we have explained five reasons to start construction DX. You should now understand that leveraging digital technologies can improve on-site efficiency and labor savings, enhance quality, and strengthen your company for the future in response to urgent industry challenges such as labor shortages and safety assurance. Now is indeed an opportune moment for the construction industry to reassess traditional practices and step onto the next stage.

Of course, promoting DX requires concrete tools and measures. One such example is the solution “LRTK”, which strongly supports both surveying and safety management. By using LRTK, a single smartphone equipped with dedicated devices enables one-person surveying, and RTK-based centimeter-level high-precision positioning (cm level accuracy (half-inch accuracy)) makes it easy to acquire on-site 3D point cloud data. Acquired survey data is linked to the cloud in real time and can be shared instantly with the office or stakeholders in remote locations. In addition, design models and measurement data can be displayed on the smartphone screen as AR, allowing as-built checks on the spot and visually guiding work procedures. Surveying and safety management tasks that once relied on experienced technicians can be performed accurately, quickly, and safely by anyone using LRTK.

Construction DX is not completed overnight, but by skillfully adopting modern tools like LRTK, you can take the first step without undue strain. Please consider utilizing such solutions as you move toward on-site DX. Harness digital power to improve on-site productivity, reduce workload, and build safer, stronger construction sites.