Reform the Field with Construction DX! Specific Methods to Improve Work Efficiency and Reduce Costs

In recent years, the construction industry has been paying close attention to Construction DX (digital transformation). As labor shortages and work-style reforms demand responses, the use of DX is rapidly advancing as a means to improve on-site work efficiency and reduce costs. By rethinking traditional methods that relied on paper drawings and manual management and introducing digital technologies, it is possible to dramatically boost on-site productivity.

This article explains concrete methods by which Construction DX can achieve improved work efficiency and cost reduction for a wide range of audiences, including general contractors, civil engineering firms, municipalities, and surveying companies. We will look at the key points for introduction and the expected effects for topics such as paperless operations, survey automation, 3D scanning, AR utilization, BIM/CIM, cloud sharing, safety management, and progress management.

Streamlining Document Management through Paperless Operations

At construction sites, a huge volume of paper documents—drawings, construction plans, daily reports, safety documents—circulate. Relying on paper introduces various wastes, such as time spent searching for the latest drawings on-site, the risk of document loss, and printing and storage costs. Paperless operations involve replacing these paper documents with digital data to greatly streamline information management.

Specifically, drawings and various documents are shared as electronic files such as PDFs, and viewed on-site with tablets or smartphones. Even without carrying paper drawings, workers can quickly access the information they need. Application forms and checklists are also converted into electronic forms so they can be submitted and approved online from the field. For example, managing safety documents in the cloud eliminates the need to return to the office for filing, and all stakeholders can reference the latest version in real time.

As a point for promoting paperless operations, it is effective to start by digitizing frequently used documents, such as daily reports and safety checklists. Distribute tablets to the site and provide training for staff unfamiliar with the devices to ensure a smooth transition. Do not forget to improve connectivity (Wi-Fi and mobile networks).

Effects of paperless operations:

• Work time reduction: Time spent searching documents and commuting between the office and site is reduced, contributing to less overtime. In some cases, reducing paper documents has saved dozens of hours per person per month.

• Cost reduction: The costs of mass printing drawings—printing and paper—are eliminated, and storage space is saved.

• Faster information sharing: When drawings and reports are shared in the cloud, all stakeholders can always access the latest information, preventing miscommunication and rework.

Automation of Surveying Work: Labor Saving with Drones and GPS

Surveying work, indispensable at civil engineering and earthwork sites, is also being transformed by DX. Surveys that used to require multiple people using transits and staffs can be automated and labor-saving by utilizing drones and high-precision GPS.

For example, photogrammetry with drones can capture the entire site from above and create 3D models of terrain and structures. Drones can acquire data quickly even for wide survey areas that would take several days by manual methods. The acquired image data is analyzed by software to automatically generate topographic maps and point cloud data. Meanwhile, GPS surveying using GNSS receivers with the RTK (Real-Time Kinematic) method can obtain coordinates with centimeter accuracy (cm level accuracy (half-inch accuracy)). Using the latest RTK-GNSS equipment or robotic total stations enables efficient surveying by a single person, reducing the auxiliary personnel traditionally required.

The key to introduction is selecting the appropriate technology based on site scale and purpose. Use drones for measuring wide areas at once, and RTK-GPS for point measurements requiring high precision. Note that drone flights require compliance with aviation laws and operator skill acquisition, so prior training and trial operation are recommended. Also consider the PC software or cloud services for processing survey data.

Effects of surveying DX:

• Significant time reduction: In some cases, drone surveying has cut survey time to less than half. If surveys that used to take days are completed in hours, labor cost reductions and schedule shortening follow directly.

• Improved safety: Remote surveying of steep slopes or hazardous areas where people cannot enter contributes to ensuring surveyor safety.

• High-frequency site condition monitoring: Efficiency gains make regular site measurement feasible, enabling detailed progress management and as-built verification to prevent rework.

Utilizing 3D Scanning and Point Cloud Data: Digitize the Entire Site

Point cloud data obtained by 3D scanning the site is one of the most notable technologies in Construction DX. Point cloud data consists of a large number of measured points acquired by laser scanners, depth sensors, or photogrammetry, providing digital information that reproduces the site’s terrain and structures with high precision.

By using 3D scanning, complex shapes that were previously difficult to measure manually can be measured to the millimeter level (mm (in)). For example, complex geometries such as tunnel interiors or plant piping can be recorded directly as three-dimensional models with a laser scanner. In building renovation projects, existing buildings are scanned to create precise as-built drawings that are then reflected in designs, reducing construction errors.

Point cloud data obtained on-site can be viewed and measured with dedicated software or cloud platforms. Stakeholders can freely inspect the entire 3D model on a PC, measure dimensions, and check for collisions. This makes it possible to understand the site without visiting it in person, reducing travel time and preventing communication loss.

For introduction, you will need to procure laser scanner equipment and acquire operational skills, but recently, easy scanning using smartphones or tablets with built-in LiDAR sensors has emerged. Select equipment according to required precision and scope, and consider starting with small sites.

Effects of point cloud utilization:

• High-precision construction management: Overlaying scan data with the design model enables early detection of construction deviations. This reduces rework and material waste, leading to cost savings.

• Efficient document creation: Tools that automatically generate cross-sections and quantity calculations from point clouds can shorten the time to create as-built documents.

• Knowledge accumulation: As-built structures can be preserved as digital archives, useful for future renovation work and maintenance planning.

Utilizing AR (Augmented Reality): Overlay Digital Information on the Real World

As a leading example of Construction DX, the on-site use of AR (Augmented Reality) technology should not be overlooked. AR allows virtual models and information to be overlaid on live site images, enabling visual confirmation as if the completed building were already standing there.

For example, simply pointing a tablet or smartphone can display a 3D model of the planned building or infrastructure at the construction site. This enables intuitive understanding of the finished form, which is difficult to grasp from plans and sections alone, making sharing design intent and explaining to clients much easier. Another application is displaying the positions of underground utilities in AR to prevent accidental damage during excavation. If the routes of underground pipes and cables are visualized on-site by pointing a tablet or smartphone, excavation safety and accuracy improve.

To utilize AR on-site, technology that corrects device position and orientation with high precision is important. Install reference markers, or reinforce device positioning with GPS and sensors to correctly align the virtual model with the real world. Recently, techniques combining smartphones with high-precision GPS to achieve AR displays with errors of several centimeters (cm level accuracy (half-inch accuracy)) have appeared.

Effects of AR utilization:

• Smoother communication: Sharing a finished image that is hard to convey with drawings facilitates consensus-building with clients and local residents and makes work instructions to craftsmen smoother.

• Improved construction accuracy: Placing materials according to guides displayed in AR can streamline layout work and reduce human errors.

• Safety and educational effects: Visualizing hazardous areas in AR to warn workers and displaying construction procedures in AR manuals for training new workers both contribute to safety awareness and skill improvement.

Introducing BIM/CIM: Project Optimization with 3D Models

BIM (Building Information Modeling) in building sectors and CIM (Construction Information Modeling) in civil engineering are foundational digital technologies in the DX era. They create 3D models that encompass all information about a building or infrastructure, to be used from design through construction and maintenance.

Introducing BIM/CIM integrates information that used to be managed separately—drawings, specifications, schedules—realizing the “consolidation of digital construction projects.” Specifically, the structure, finishes, and equipment of a building are reproduced in one 3D model, with attribute information such as component dimensions, quantities, materials, construction procedures, and costs linked. Stakeholders can reference that model to detect clashes (for example, collisions between pipes and beams) that are hard to spot on plans alone, reducing rework due to design errors. Automatic quantity takeoff and cost estimation from the model improve estimate accuracy and reduce material waste.

BIM/CIM is also powerful in the construction phase. With 4D construction simulation (models with a time axis), you can reproduce construction progress in virtual space, making it easy to plan crane and heavy equipment placement and consider schedule shortening. If design changes occur during construction, updating the model allows everyone to immediately share the new information, reducing information transmission loss between site and designers. After completion, the finished structure’s information can be preserved as a digital archive to support maintenance and future renovations.

A point for BIM/CIM introduction is to adopt it gradually. Rather than trying full utilization from the start, begin with small wins such as 3D-izing design documents or using it for clash detection in construction drawings, so the site can accept it without resistance. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism is promoting BIM/CIM use as part of *i-Construction*, and BIM/CIM is expected to become a prerequisite for large projects going forward.

Effects of BIM/CIM utilization:

• Improved design and construction quality: As mentioned, detecting clashes and errors in advance greatly reduces rework. In fact, there are reports of projects where BIM introduction reduced rework during construction to zero, achieving cost savings on the order of tens of millions of yen.

• Shortened construction periods: Sharing models among stakeholders and optimizing construction procedures eliminates unnecessary waiting times and shortens overall schedules. Visualization of plans improves craftsmen’s preparation, enhancing productivity.

• Information sharing and accumulation: Consistent data from design through construction and maintenance remains as long-term information assets, which can be referenced for new planning and shared as knowledge.

Cloud-Based Information Sharing: Connecting Site and Office in Real Time

Maximizing the effects of DX requires information sharing using cloud services. Traditionally, site information was communicated to the office via paper reports or phone calls and manually entered into spreadsheets to create shared documents—an inefficient process. The cloud removes the information gap between site and office and enables real-time data sharing.

For example, if photos taken on-site or drone-acquired drawing data are uploaded to the cloud, office staff and clients can view them immediately. By using construction management software or apps to report and confirm schedule progress and work volumes in the cloud, the need to travel for daily progress meetings is reduced. When drawings are revised, sharing the latest version in the cloud notifies workers faster than redistributing paper to each worker.

Cloud services that are easy for small and medium-sized companies to adopt are increasing, enabling trial introduction with low initial cost. The key points are to choose the appropriate cloud environment (on-premises cloud or commercial service) based on the confidentiality of the information handled and to cultivate the habit of cloud input on the site. If site input is perceived as cumbersome, the system will become hollow, so prepare forms that are easy to input and send from a tablet.

Effects of cloud sharing:

• Faster decision-making: With data shared in real time, stakeholders can immediately share information and discuss rapid countermeasures when problems occur, reducing downtime due to pending decisions.

• Information consolidation: Since drawings, contracts, photos, and reports are managed together, confusion over “which is the latest version” or missing emails from responsible persons disappears. Consolidation also makes it easier to trace past records and reliably understand the history of contract or design changes.

• Promotion of remote work: Cloud adoption makes some tasks possible without being on-site. If site supervisors can telework and approvals and document preparation can be done from home, this contributes to work-style reform.

Safety Management DX: Preventing Occupational Accidents with IoT and AI

DX is also making inroads into safety management at construction sites. By leveraging IoT sensors and AI cameras, efforts are underway to visualize dangers and prevent accidents.

One example is wearable sensors attached to workers’ helmets or vests. These can detect falls, drops, or sudden health abnormalities and immediately notify managers. Systems that install proximity sensors on heavy machinery or cranes to alarm when people get too close are also in practical use, reducing collision risks around heavy equipment.

Furthermore, analyzing site surveillance camera footage with AI to automatically detect “near-miss” cases—such as “no helmet” or “entry into restricted areas”—is gaining attention. If an alert is issued at the moment a dangerous situation occurs and the site supervisor can respond immediately, serious accidents can be prevented. Also, if daily safety inspection checks are recorded on a tablet checklist with photos, you can reliably retain implementation records compared to paper management.

When introducing safety management DX, it is effective to identify site issues first and start with high-priority areas. For example, for sites with many high-elevation tasks, introduce fall detection systems; for sites with heavy vehicle traffic, deploy proximity alarm systems. In addition to technology introduction, it is important to implement operational measures such as conducting safety training based on collected data and sharing near-miss cases company-wide.

Effects of safety management DX:

• Reduced accident risk: Because dangers can be detected and warned in advance, a reduction in occupational accidents is expected. Sites that have maintained zero serious accidents have combined IoT sensors with traditional safety activities to improve outcomes.

• Accumulation and analysis of near-misses: Digital records ensure that “close call” cases are comprehensively collected. Data analysis helps identify common causes and facilitates a PDCA cycle for safety measures.

• Improved sense of security on-site: Technology-driven safety measures give workers a sense of security. The trust that “if something happens it will be detected” also boosts willingness to work and ultimately becomes a foundation for productivity improvements.

Digitalizing Progress Management: Real-Time Grasp to Prevent Schedule Delays

In construction projects where multiple trades intertwine, visualizing construction progress is important. By using DX to digitalize progress management, you can grasp site status in real time and detect signs of schedule delays early.

Traditionally, site supervisors monitored progress via daily or weekly reports and updated schedules, which introduced time lags before problems surfaced. With digitalization, for example, inputting the completion status of each task from a smartphone or tablet into a cloud-based schedule management system allows all stakeholders to share the latest progress rates and remaining work. If foremen and subcontractors also report work via an app, information will not be concentrated on a single site supervisor, and the entire site can be more aware of schedule management.

There are also attempts to automatically calculate work accomplished by AI-analyzing photos taken by drones or fixed cameras. For example, daily aerial photos can be used to calculate changes in earthwork volume to quantify progress, or image comparison can check building construction status. A digital twin–style use that compares with the BIM model to visualize discrepancies—such as “the plan assumes completion up to the 3rd floor, but in reality only the 2nd floor is done”—is becoming feasible.

A key point for progress management DX is to avoid increasing on-site workload. If on-site input is complicated, operations will not be sustained, so collect automatically acquirable data via sensors and AI and keep human input to simple check items. DX promotion driven from the top, such as enabling management to monitor multiple projects via a consolidated dashboard, can also be helpful.

Effects of progress management DX:

• Early detection and countermeasures for delays: Daily-updated data lets you quickly notice signs that “this will fall behind schedule.” Early actions can prevent fatal delivery delays and suppress additional extension costs.

• Efficiency of reporting tasks: Automatically aggregated progress data can be used to prepare meeting materials and client reports, reducing time site supervisors spend on report creation. They can then focus on site patrols and problem solving.

• Remote management of multiple sites: With site conditions accessible in the cloud, experienced managers can support multiple sites remotely. This facilitates optimal personnel allocation and smooth sharing of know-how among sites.

LRTK: Enabling Surveying, Point Cloud Acquisition, AR Display, and Cloud Integration

Finally, as an all-in-one solution that brings together the DX technologies introduced so far, we present LRTK. LRTK integrates centimeter-level high-precision surveying (cm level accuracy (half-inch accuracy)), point cloud data acquisition, AR visualization, and cloud sharing into a single advanced tool.

By leveraging LRTK, tasks that used to be done with separate devices and software can be completed on one platform. For example, attaching a dedicated device to a smartphone and scanning the site enables on-the-spot acquisition of high-precision 3D point clouds. The acquired data is georeferenced, and it is possible to immediately confirm them with AR displays on-site. In other words, surveying, as-built measurement, and AR composite display can be realized in real time.

Furthermore, LRTK automatically uploads positioning and point cloud data collected on-site to the cloud and shares them with stakeholders. Office personnel can check 3D models and measurement results in the cloud from a remote location, significantly speeding up decision-making.

Advantages of introducing LRTK:

• Dramatic efficiency improvement: One operator can complete tasks from surveying to mapping and sharing, enabling considerable labor savings. Even less experienced technicians can operate intuitively, allowing DX to advance in sites lacking seasoned staff.

• Cost reduction: Many measurement tasks can be substituted with LRTK and a smartphone without expensive survey equipment or large crews, reducing equipment purchase and outsourcing costs.

• Improved accuracy and reliability: Accurate positioning via GNSS and high-quality point clouds provide reliable, low-error data. This minimizes gaps between plans and actuals, preventing rework and over-construction waste.

• Real-time site transformation: Immediate cloud sharing and AR-based on-site verification create an environment where “necessary information is instantly visible.” Communication loss among site supervisors, designers, and clients is reduced, enabling rapid decision-making.

By adopting advanced tools like LRTK, field reforms driven by Construction DX can accelerate further. LRTK, which simultaneously achieves dramatic efficiency gains and cost reductions, will be a powerful ally for construction sites in the future. Consider introducing these kinds of digital technologies to your sites and take a step toward next-generation construction management.