As 3D surveying technologies advance, the use of point cloud data is becoming increasingly important in civil surveying and construction management. Point cloud data, which can record terrain undulations and the shapes of structures in detail, is useful in many situations such as cross-checking with design drawings, calculating quantities, and safety management. However, until now acquiring and sharing point cloud data required expensive equipment and specialized software, making it difficult to handle. In particular, exchanging large point cloud files among stakeholders was time-consuming, and there were cases where the valuable 3D information could not be fully shared.

Enter the install-free browser-based point cloud data sharing service “LRTK Cloud”. Composed of an easy-to-use surveying device that leverages a smartphone and a cloud-based 3D viewer, LRTK is an innovative solution that enables anyone to easily acquire high-accuracy 3D point clouds and immediately share that data via the cloud. This article organizes the traditional challenges faced by surveying professionals, explains how to use and the features of LRTK Cloud, and introduces the changes and benefits this tool brings to the field. A FAQ is included at the end of the article for reference.

Table of Contents

⒈ Challenges Faced by People Involved in Surveying Work ⒉ Install-Free! Point Cloud Data Sharing with LRTK Cloud (How to Use LRTK Cloud) ⒊ How LRTK Cloud Will Change Field Work and Its Benefits ⒋ Conclusion: Simple Surveying Anyone Can Do with LRTK ⒌ FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

Challenges Faced by People Involved in Surveying Work

Advanced surveying and construction management require accurate 3D information, but there have been several hurdles in acquiring and utilizing it. First, conventional 3D surveying required expensive specialized equipment and skilled technicians. For example, terrestrial laser scanners or drone photogrammetry can produce high-accuracy point clouds, but the equipment costs are very high, and operation and data processing require specialized skills. Large-scale equipment-based surveying often requires multiple-person teams and considerable time, creating burdens in terms of manpower shortages and work efficiency.

Moreover, the difficulty of processing and sharing acquired point cloud data cannot be ignored. Point cloud files often become enormous in size and cannot be handled smoothly without high-performance PCs and specialized software, so it was common to bring the measured data back to the office for processing and analysis. As a result, a time lag often occurred between site measurement and result sharing, hindering rapid decision-making. In addition, delivering point cloud data to stakeholders often involved handing over external hard drives or converting point clouds into still images or PDFs for reporting—methods that added extra work. Such approaches cannot fully share or utilize the intrinsic value of 3D data, so the data often went underused.

Against this backdrop, the industry-wide need for ICT utilization and on-site DX (digital transformation) has been called for by initiatives such as the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism’s *i-Construction*. Born amid rising expectations for new 3D technologies that anyone on site can easily use is the browser-capable point cloud system LRTK Cloud.

Install-Free! Point Cloud Data Sharing with LRTK Cloud (How to Use LRTK Cloud)

LRTK Cloud is a cloud service that displays and shares 3D point cloud data on a web browser without installing software. The system, developed by LRTK, a startup from Tokyo Institute of Technology, uses a pocket-sized high-precision GNSS device that attaches to a smartphone and a dedicated app to allow anyone to easily measure high-accuracy point clouds with position coordinates without special equipment. Acquired data is automatically synchronized to the cloud and can be checked and shared on a browser immediately on site. The biggest feature is that it enables real-time sharing of 3D information from the field to the office and to external stakeholders without having to worry about the cumbersome data processing traditionally required.

Below are the main features of LRTK Cloud.

• Ready to use without software installation: LRTK Cloud runs on any PC or tablet with internet access, so no dedicated software installation is required. From tablets on site to office PCs, as long as you have a browser you can immediately display 3D point cloud data. There is no stress from launching heavy software, and because point cloud rendering and analysis are performed on the cloud side, you can view smoothly even without a high-performance PC. Any device within the company can always access the latest data, making it easy to use regardless of environment.

• Anyone can easily measure point clouds with a smartphone: With the LRTK system, anyone on site can easily perform point cloud scans using a pocket-sized dedicated GNSS receiver (RTK-capable) that attaches to a smartphone and the LRTK app. If your smartphone has a LiDAR sensor, you can obtain high-quality point clouds in real time with one hand; even smartphones without LiDAR can generate point clouds via photogrammetry from multiple captured images, so a wide range of devices are supported. There's no need to set up a tripod or perform complicated operations—just walk around the site as if shooting video with your smartphone to complete the 3D survey. Because it is intuitive to operate even for non-specialist surveyors, surveying tasks that were previously outsourced can now be handled in-house.

• High accuracy with absolute coordinates for point cloud acquisition: LRTK devices use RTK-GNSS to maintain centimeter-level (cm level accuracy (half-inch accuracy)) positioning at all times, so all point cloud data acquired with a smartphone include precise position coordinates (absolute coordinates in a global geodetic system). This allows multiple scans to be aligned perfectly without post-processing, eliminating the headaches of aligning point clouds or matching them to design drawings. Data distortions and positional shifts that can occur with standalone smartphone LiDAR measurements are prevented, enabling immediate confirmation of point clouds on maps and easy simultaneous display and comparison with point clouds from other locations or 3D design models.

• Rich 3D viewer functions in the browser: The cloud-based 3D viewer offers excellent operability, allowing you to visualize and analyze acquired point cloud data as you wish. You can freely move the viewpoint with mouse or touch controls to get an overview of the whole site or zoom in to check details. The viewer also includes measurement tools for intuitive browser-based tasks such as measuring the distance between any two points, calculating area for polygons, and computing volumes for regions enclosed on the ground surface. In addition, you can place markers on point clouds and leave text comments, enabling the sharing of observations and instructions in 3D space. Without exporting to CAD, you can measure required dimensions on the spot or instantly calculate fill and excavation volumes, eliminating the need to wait for additional calculations. This is a point cloud viewer that provides analysis functions comparable to specialized tools in a form anyone can use.

• One-click sharing via the cloud: Point cloud data uploaded to LRTK Cloud can be viewed by recipients simply by issuing a shared URL and sending it. Recipients do not need special software or licenses; they only need to open the URL in a browser on their PC or smartphone to launch the 3D viewer and check the data. You can set passwords or expiration dates on shared links for added security. Moreover, LRTK Cloud can display multiple point cloud datasets and 3D models simultaneously, making it easy to overlay, for example, a “current point cloud” and a “design 3D model” for stakeholder review. Team members in different locations can view the same 3D data on the cloud and share situations or hold discussions in real time, which is a major strength.

The procedure to share point cloud data with LRTK Cloud is very simple:

• Acquire and upload point cloud data: When a field point cloud survey is completed using the smartphone LRTK app, the data is automatically synchronized to cloud storage (you can also upload point cloud files manually from a PC).

• Create a share link on the cloud: Log in to LRTK Cloud in a browser, select the point cloud data you want to share, and “Create Share URL.” You can optionally set a password or specify a link expiration date.

• Send the share link to recipients: Send the issued URL by email or chat to the people you want to view it. It can be shared with internal members as well as external clients or subcontractors who do not have LRTK licenses.

• Recipients view the point cloud in their browser: Recipients simply open the sent URL on an internet-connected PC or tablet. The install-free 3D viewer launches and they can freely view the shared point cloud data. They can move the viewpoint and use measurement tools in the viewer, so even without special software or expertise the recipients can accurately understand the 3D data.

As described above, LRTK Cloud dramatically lowers the barrier to sharing point cloud data. 3D data that previously required specialized software to open can now be viewed by clicking a URL in a browser. The era is approaching in which the latest point clouds measured on site can be shared instantly among all stakeholders and used for 3D communication and decision-making.

How LRTK Cloud Will Change Field Work and Its Benefits

With its innovative features, LRTK Cloud brings major changes to surveying and construction workflows. First and foremost is a dramatic improvement in work efficiency. Survey tasks that used to require several staff and a full day can, in many cases, be completed by one person in a short time using LRTK.

For example, when calculating the volume of a large embankment, traditional methods required measuring heights at many points and calculating volumes manually, but with LRTK you can obtain a high-density 3D terrain model simply by walking around the embankment with a smartphone and scanning, and the volume is automatically calculated in the cloud. Once the point cloud data is acquired, the time-consuming processes of drafting and calculation are greatly reduced, allowing that time to be allocated to subsequent tasks. Because of real-time sharing, communication between the field and the office becomes faster, reducing time loss while waiting for survey results and improving overall project productivity.

Improved safety is another important benefit. Tasks that required measurement in hazardous locations or at night can be completed quickly from relatively safe positions using LRTK. For example, clearance measurements inside railway tunnels, which traditionally had to be done at night after the last train, can be obtained by walking through the tunnel and scanning during the day with LRTK. For tall structures or steep slopes, workers can simply scan from below holding a smartphone, greatly reducing the risk of erecting scaffolding or climbing to high places. Measurements that were conducted at night on tracks may be replaced by safe, short daytime scans. From the perspective of reducing on-site burden and ensuring safety, LRTK has significant effects.

LRTK also helps address labor shortages. Advanced 3D surveying previously relied on experienced technicians, but LRTK allows many on-site staff to perform necessary tasks. Intuitive smartphone operation and automatic cloud analysis enable new employees or staff outside surveying specialties to obtain and share adequate data themselves, preventing work from concentrating only on specific experts. This not only improves overall organizational productivity but also serves as an effective countermeasure against future technician shortages.

Another key point is that detailed 3D point cloud data can be stored in the cloud as records. Construction records previously kept on paper drawings or photos can now be preserved as precise point cloud data. For example, you can later verify terrain changes before and after construction in 3D, or virtually recreate site conditions at the time of an incident to analyze causes. Centralized management of point cloud data and related materials in the cloud reduces the effort of searching past records and smooths internal and external information sharing.

Additionally, LRTK can be integrated with drone photogrammetry data. By adding the highly accurate positioning from LRTK devices to point cloud models generated from many aerial images (ortho-rectified 3D models), you can efficiently and accurately survey large site topography. Combining ground smartphone survey data with aerial drone point clouds on the cloud makes it possible to quickly build a more comprehensive 3D map. Such usage contributes to realizing on-site digital twins and advancing construction management.

Conclusion: Simple Surveying Anyone Can Do with LRTK

LRTK Cloud is a key solution that strongly supports digitalization (DX) of surveying sites. While it uses cutting-edge technology, the operation is simple and realizes simple surveying that can be handled by people without specialist qualifications. The greatest advantage of simple surveying is the balance of “speed,” “ease,” and “accuracy.” With LRTK, you can perform surveys yourself when needed, immediately share the data via the cloud, and move on to the next action. This speed dramatically increases site productivity and becomes the driving force that enables consistently high-quality results even under manpower shortages.

If you feel that your current surveying operations are facing time or cost challenges, consider trying LRTK. LRTK can be a reliable ally that greatly expands the possibilities of surveying, enabling efficiency improvements and the adoption of new technologies that were previously difficult.

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

Q: What equipment or environment is required to use LRTK Cloud? A: If you plan to measure point clouds yourself, you need a small LRTK device (high-precision GNSS receiver) that attaches to a smartphone and the LRTK app. On the other hand, if you only need to view point cloud data shared by someone else, no special equipment or app is required. Just open the shared URL in a browser on a computer or tablet with internet access, and the 3D viewer will automatically launch to display the data. In other words, viewers do not need an LRTK license. The LRTK device itself attaches to a dedicated smartphone case with one touch, and optionally attaching a monopod (pole) allows it to be used for precise ground point measurements similar to conventional GNSS surveying instruments.

Q: Can large point cloud datasets be displayed and operated in the browser? A: Yes, LRTK Cloud supports large-scale point clouds on the order of tens of millions of points. Because the server side efficiently processes and distributes the data, smooth 3D viewing in the browser is possible. High GPU performance is not required on the user’s device, and measures such as decimating point clouds for display are employed as needed, so standard PCs can operate them smoothly. In practice, very large measurement datasets can be handled in the browser, although loading may take some time.

Q: Is there compatibility with other software and systems? A: Yes, point cloud data and measurement results obtained with LRTK can be exported in common file formats. For example, point clouds can be output in general formats like LAS or PLY for detailed analysis with other point cloud processing software, and cross-section data can be exported in DXF format for import into CAD drawings. Because LRTK point cloud data carries coordinates in a global geodetic system, it is easier to align with control point coordinates from the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan or with other surveying data. This compatibility allows data shared via LRTK Cloud to be smoothly integrated into internal systems and existing workflows.