Solving On-Site Issues with Construction DX: Methods for Improving Productivity and Eliminating Waste

Introduction

In recent years the construction industry has been facing many challenges, including a stagnation in productivity, labor shortages, and long working hours epitomized by the "2024 problem." On construction sites in particular, inefficient work processes persist—such as information transmission via paper drawings and fax, and work that depends on individual skills—which remain major obstacles to improving productivity. Other issues include skills transfer problems due to an aging workforce and difficulties coordinating complex multi-tier subcontracting structures involving many subcontractors. In this context, construction DX (digital transformation) has attracted attention.

Construction DX refers to initiatives that use digital technologies—such as ICT and IoT—to reform on-site operations, streamlining and automating traditionally analog tasks. Examples include cloud sharing of drawings and schedules, AI-based optimization of construction plans, and sensor-based safety management. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry are also promoting DX, and one survey reported that promoting DX increased labor productivity in the construction industry by an average of more than 20%. In other words, leveraging digital technologies is indispensable as a key to reducing waste and improving productivity on-site.

This article addresses major on-site issues—such as insufficient collaboration with subcontractors and inefficient surveying work—and explains concretely how construction DX can solve them. Each section sequentially examines the issues, DX-based solutions, implementation steps, and expected effects. Finally, as a first step toward advancing construction DX, we introduce the recommended solution "LRTK."

Eliminating Inefficiencies Caused by Poor Collaboration with Subcontractors

Construction projects involve many subcontractors on a single site, from the main contractor to specialist contractors. Traditionally, information sharing with these subcontractors has often relied on phone calls, emails, fax, and paper forms, making timely communication difficult. As a result, wastes such as "construction errors due to outdated drawing updates not reaching workers" and "workers waiting on-site because schedule change notices are delayed" frequently occur. Also, because each subcontractor differs in IT adoption, even if the main contractor advances digitization, the benefits can be limited if others remain on paper.

What is important to solve this issue is establishing an information-sharing infrastructure using the cloud. Specifically, drawings, schedules, and various documents should be centrally managed in the cloud so that the main contractor and subcontractors can view and edit them in real time. By building a common data environment (CDE), the latest information is shared automatically, greatly reducing the risk that work will be carried out based on outdated information. Introducing construction management apps for smartphones and tablets enables rapid communication to all stakeholders via chat and notification functions. For example, if instructions or changes given at the morning briefing are recorded and shared in the app on the spot, remote supervisors and subcontractor foremen can check them immediately. Digitalizing information sharing resolves communication losses that previously caused waiting times and rework, smoothing cooperation with subcontractors.

As implementation steps, consider the following points:

• Inventory the information to be shared: First, organize which information (drawings, schedules, daily reports, inspection records, etc.) is frequently exchanged on-site. Prioritize digitizing the most important items.

• Select easy-to-use tools: Choose cloud tools that anyone, including subcontractors, can use intuitively. Ideally, they require no specialist knowledge and are accessible from smartphones. Utilizing existing chat tools or cloud storage is also an option.

• Establish rules and provide training: After introducing digital tools, set operational rules such as "which information is posted to the app" and "responses must be made within X days." Hold briefing sessions for subcontractors to thoroughly explain operation methods and promote adoption.

These efforts yield two major expected effects. One is improved productivity through faster communication. With reduced time lags in information transmission, workers’ waiting time and rework decrease, leading to shorter construction periods and cost reductions. In fact, one site that shared construction drawings and schedules via the cloud reported about a 30% reduction in rework caused by drawing inconsistencies.

The second is strengthened trust with subcontractors. Transparent information sharing reduces troubles like "I wasn't told" or "I didn't know," making the site function better as a team. Sites where subcontractors can access the latest information anytime are attractive, which can positively impact workforce retention.

Improving Productivity by Eliminating Inefficiencies in Surveying Work through DX

Another major issue on construction sites is the inefficiency of surveying and as-built management work. Traditionally, surveyors worked in pairs operating transits and levels, recording data in paper field notebooks—processes that required significant effort and manpower. It also took time to reflect survey data in CAD drawings, delaying on-site decision-making. Consequently, work was sometimes halted while waiting for surveying, or construction proceeded without noticing measurement errors, resulting in later rework.

A DX-driven solution gaining attention is the introduction of the latest surveying technologies and equipment. For example, using devices that support high-precision GNSS positioning (RTK positioning) utilizing artificial satellites allows one person to acquire survey point coordinates in a short time. Combining an easy-to-operate GNSS receiver and a tablet makes one-person surveying fully feasible even without skilled operators. In addition, using drone surveying from the air or terrestrial 3D laser scanners enables rapid acquisition of wide-area terrain and as-built conditions as point cloud data. It is not uncommon for surveying tasks that used to take several days to be completed in about half a day. The obtained data can be displayed on a tablet on-site for confirmation, allowing immediate additional measurements if anything is missing.

Recently, AR technology that overlays design data onto tablet or smartphone camera images has also emerged. With this, positional information and design drawings obtained from surveying can be projected onto the real site view in real time, allowing intuitive verification of whether construction matches the design or whether pile positions are correct.

When introducing surveying DX, consider the following phased approach:

• Review current workflows: First, map out the current surveying and as-built management processes and identify time-consuming steps and manual tasks (e.g., "height checks require two people and take half a day each time").

• Choose appropriate technology: Select technologies to address specific issues. For example, choose a drone if wide-area terrain surveying is the bottleneck, or a one-person GNSS device if as-built inspections are frequent. It is also important to select models or services that do not require complex operations.

• Train on-site staff: After introducing new surveying equipment, provide hands-on training to the on-site staff. Allow them to become proficient by using the equipment on actual sites, and set up initial vendor support channels for quick assistance.

• Integrate and utilize data: Do not just collect surveying data—integrate it with in-house CAD or BIM systems and make it usable. Sharing surveying data in the cloud allows remote design staff to align information immediately, enabling early detection and correction of discrepancies between design and site.

Expected effects include significant reductions in surveying time and manpower. One validation experiment reported that drone surveying reduced work time by more than 70% compared with conventional methods. Enabling one-person surveying also increases flexibility in workforce planning, helping to mitigate chronic labor shortages.

Additionally, utilizing digital surveying data is expected to improve quality. Compared to manual recording, errors and omissions decrease and variability in as-built outcomes is reduced. Because surveying results are shared instantly, stakeholders can discuss and respond in real time to issues discovered during construction. From a safety perspective, using drones or remote equipment for surveying in hazardous locations reduces risk to workers.

Eliminating Waste by Digitalizing On-Site Operations

Beyond coordination with subcontractors and surveying, various analog tasks on construction sites generate waste. For example, submitting daily work reports and quantity reports on paper and aggregating and retyping them in the office consumes much time and encourages human error. Workflows that require physical movement—such as stamping various application forms or on-site patrols for progress checks—also remain. When these person-dependent analog tasks accumulate, they lead to delayed information sharing, rework due to mistakes, and even long working hours.

To eliminate these wastes, it is effective to digitalize each on-site task. In addition to the information sharing and surveying described above, digitizing daily reports and forms dramatically improves efficiency. Specifically, introduce on-site daily report apps and electronic application systems so that data can be entered and sent directly from smartphones and tablets. For example, if work results and quantities are photographed and uploaded to the cloud on the spot, there is no need to re-enter them into a PC after returning to the office.

The use of sensors and IoT devices is also effective. Installing GPS or activity sensors on heavy machinery and vehicles allows engine on/off times and operating hours to be recorded automatically, eliminating the need to transcribe them into daily reports. Site managers can view machine operation status and workforce allocation at a glance on a cloud dashboard, removing the need to run around the site for checks. Furthermore, wearable devices can monitor workers’ health, and remote monitoring cameras can perform safety patrols across multiple sites—digital technologies can steadily reduce tasks that previously required physical presence on-site.

A staged implementation is the key to success. Trying to digitalize everything at once can cause site confusion. Start with areas that clearly show effects and have low implementation barriers. For example, beginning with photo management is an effective first step. If construction photos were previously printed and pasted or embedded in Excel ledgers, replacing that with a cloud shared album or photo management app alone reduces search time and makes sharing easier. Next, digitize daily reports and inspection checklists, and finally integrate more challenging areas such as schedule management and cost control.

Also effective is appointing relatively IT-literate young employees as DX leaders and having them support veteran employees. Designing digitalization from a site perspective helps reduce on-site complaints such as "I can’t use it" or "data entry is cumbersome."

The outcomes of digitalizing on-site operations are immeasurable when accumulation effects are included. Small daily time savings add up, and reducing overtime and promoting paid leave can lead to improved employee retention and an increase in new entrants. With real-time data aggregation, management and site managers can quickly grasp the overall situation and make prompt decisions. Reducing paper documents is not only an efficiency issue but also aligns with current priorities such as decarbonization (paperless) and compliance (reduced risk of document loss). Thoroughly eliminating on-site waste and reallocating personnel to higher-value tasks requires steady accumulation of DX initiatives.

A First Step in Construction DX with LRTK

So far we have examined concrete ways DX can solve on-site problems. However, many people may feel uncertain about where to start or see large system implementations as a high hurdle. Finally, we introduce "LRTK" as an easy-to-implement solution that makes a clear impact as a first step in construction DX.

LRTK is an all-in-one digital tool that dramatically improves efficiency in on-site surveying and measurement tasks. By combining a dedicated compact positioning device with a smartphone, it is designed to enable surveying that traditionally required two or more people to be performed by one person. Below are the main features and benefits of LRTK.

• One-person surveying: By utilizing high-precision GNSS, centimeter-level positioning (half-inch accuracy) is possible with a smartphone in one hand. Without the need for heavy tripods or multiple personnel, surveying can be performed quickly and safely even in confined sites or at height.

• Point cloud data acquisition: Using smartphone-built-in LiDAR sensors and cameras, site conditions can be recorded as 3D point cloud data. Because terrain and structures can be digitized in their entirety in a short time, the accuracy of as-built management and quantity measurement improves.

• Intuitive verification via AR display: On the dedicated app, design drawings and survey results can be displayed as AR overlays on site imagery. For example, planned excavation lines or the positions of buried pipes can be visualized on camera images, enabling intuitive checks for misalignment before construction. This helps prevent construction errors and standardize tasks that previously relied on veteran intuition.

• Cloud sharing: Measurement data, point cloud models, and photos and notes taken on-site can be uploaded to the cloud with one tap. Office engineers and staff at other sites can immediately share data, enabling remote site understanding and instruction.

By introducing LRTK, wastes related to surveying and information sharing can be eliminated at once, allowing you to experience DX benefits in a short period. Because on-site staff without special skills can operate it with smartphone-like ease, training costs are minimal. Start by introducing LRTK to a small part of a site to directly feel the benefits of digitalization. This can become a catalyst for company-wide DX promotion, eventually leading to broader transformation of business processes. Take the first step in construction DX and realize improved on-site productivity and waste reduction.