Centralize construction records with LRTK Cloud! How to make use of photos and point cloud data

Table of contents

• What is LRTK Cloud? Benefits of centralizing construction records

• How to effectively use photo data in the cloud

• How to effectively use point cloud data in the cloud

• Effects of adopting LRTK Cloud and the outlook for on-site DX

What is LRTK Cloud? Benefits of centralizing construction records

Construction records generated daily on site (survey data, photo records, etc.) have until now been managed in a dispersed manner—on individual PCs, USB drives, and paper ledgers. As a result, there is always the risk of not knowing where the latest data is located, or of files becoming scattered or lost. In addition, sharing data with colleagues or subcontractors has required email attachments or handing over physical media, making timely information sharing difficult.

A solution attracting attention for these issues is centralized management via cloud services. If data obtained on site is uploaded to the cloud, it can be shared immediately over the Internet and also serves as a backup. In other words, by aggregating construction records on the cloud, you create an environment in which the whole team can always refer to the latest information, greatly shortening information transmission lag. In fact, with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism promoting *i-Construction*, digital management and immediate sharing of site records has become an important theme in the construction industry.

Enter LRTK Cloud. LRTK Cloud is a cloud service integrated with the high-precision positioning system for construction and surveying, the “LRTK series,” enabling secure storage and sharing of coordinate data, photos, 3D point cloud data, and more obtained on site over the Internet. Position information and 3D data acquired with the high-precision GNSS device that attaches to a smartphone, “LRTK Phone,” or with the dedicated app can be synchronized to the cloud with a single button. By centrally managing on-site construction records with LRTK Cloud, the aforementioned issues of data dispersion and information sharing can be resolved, dramatically improving operational efficiency.

For example, in as-built verification (the process of confirming whether the constructed item matches the design), a surveyor traditionally had to bring back height and position information collected on site via USB and compare it with drawings on an office PC. After introducing LRTK Cloud, measured coordinates acquired on site can be sent to the cloud on the spot, allowing the office to check the numbers in real time. If a deviation from the specified height is found, instructions can be issued to the site immediately, preventing rework. Such immediate sharing via the cloud brings major benefits for quality assurance and work efficiency.

This article explains how to use LRTK Cloud and, in particular, provides an easy-to-understand guide for beginners on effective ways to use photo data and point cloud data. Please use this as a reference for understanding the benefits of centralizing construction records in the cloud and as a first step toward on-site DX (digital transformation).

How to effectively use photo data in the cloud

Many photo records accumulate on site for progress tracking and inspections. With LRTK Cloud, it is possible to automatically link and manage photo records on a map, which is a key feature. Photos taken with a smartphone can be uploaded to the cloud via the LRTK app along with coordinate information of the shooting location. Uploaded photos are plotted on the cloud map as icons marking the shooting locations, so you can immediately tell “where a photo was taken.” Because the shooting date and time are also recorded for each photo, it’s easy to review when and where a construction situation was photographed.

For example, if a site supervisor photographs rebar placement before concrete pouring or the state of buried pipes with a smartphone and immediately records them to the cloud, quality control personnel at headquarters can check those photos from the office and verify whether construction is proceeding properly. Each photo includes a memo field where comments like “Rebar inspection completed on MM/DD” or “Corrections required” can be added. Notes that were traditionally conveyed verbally or by phone are now visualized together with the photo on the cloud, so all stakeholders share the same information. This helps prevent human error and eliminate information transmission omissions, improving construction management accuracy.

LRTK Cloud also provides folder structures and tagging functions for organizing data. If you separate photo data into folders such as “inspection photos” and “as-built records,” it becomes easier to find needed images later. You can also add free-form tags like “bridge,” “tunnel,” or “pavement” to each photo and search or filter by tag. By organizing accumulated data systematically, you can quickly access the information you need even from a vast photo archive. Periodically cleaning up unnecessary old files also prevents wasteful use of storage.

Photo sharing via the cloud is also powerful for infrastructure inspection tasks. In routine inspections of bridges and roads, it is important that inspectors photograph cracks or abnormal areas and record their locations. With LRTK Cloud, each inspection photo is assigned position coordinates with cm level accuracy (half-inch accuracy), enabling accurate remote identification of “which part of which pier has what kind of damage.” If you record the crack width or damage assessment in the memo together with the photo, the office can display a list view and smoothly consider repair priority and material procurement. Cloud-stored photos are searchable by date and keywords, useful for finding past similar cases or tracking changes over time.

In this way, using LRTK Cloud allows you to treat photo data not just as records but as valuable information assets. Map-linked photo management enables intuitive sharing of site conditions and strengthens coordination between the office and the field.

How to effectively use point cloud data in the cloud

Recently, there has been an increase in opportunities to acquire 3D point cloud data on site using laser scanners, drones, or the LiDAR functionality of smartphones. Point cloud data represent structures or terrain as a set (cloud) of innumerable measurement points in 3D. Traditionally, point clouds have had large file sizes and required specialized software for processing, making internal sharing and analysis cumbersome. However, with LRTK Cloud, such large-capacity point cloud data can also be centrally managed and shared on the cloud.

Point clouds acquired with features like the LRTK app’s smartphone scan can be uploaded to the cloud on site. After uploading, you can view 3D point clouds in a browser from an office PC. There is no need to install a dedicated viewer; you can freely rotate and zoom point cloud data 360 degrees via a web browser. Moreover, LRTK Cloud provides analysis tools to measure distances and areas and calculate volumes from point cloud data. For example, automatically measuring the volume of displaced soil from a point cloud of a collapsed slope helps initial disaster response decisions. Even personnel with limited surveying knowledge can calculate required values with easy cloud operations, so there are increasing situations where analysis can be completed on site without handing data to a specialized department.

Additionally, LRTK Cloud can connect sequentially acquired coordinate point clouds on the cloud as lines to generate longitudinal profiles of road surfaces and cross-sections of structures. This allows visual understanding of displacements such as road subsidence or bridge deflection and streamlines the preparation of inspection reports.

LRTK Cloud also allows simultaneous overlay display of multiple point cloud datasets and 3D models. For example, on a large-scale earthwork site where multiple crews collect point clouds by area and upload them to the cloud, you can view the integrated data for the entire area within the same day. This eliminates the need to manually merge data brought back by each person later and allows grasping the overall picture at the end of the day’s work. The whole team can check data quality and missing areas on the same day, and if gaps are found they can immediately be reflected in the next day’s additional survey plan, improving overall project efficiency.

Of course, point cloud data on the cloud can also be exported in common file formats when needed. For example, survey coordinate data can be downloaded as CSV, and point cloud data as LAS or XYZ files to be imported into existing CAD or BIM software. Conversely, uploading design drawings or 3D models to LRTK Cloud and overlaying them with point clouds for comparison is also expected to become more common. LRTK Cloud already supports overlay display with BIM/CIM models and drawing data, promoting integrated use of site and design data.

Furthermore, in the cloud you can easily perform editing operations such as noise removal or cutting out unnecessary parts of point clouds. Because simple editing can be done on the web without expensive third-party point cloud processing software, even a small notebook PC in a site office is sufficient. With data stored securely in the cloud, you can use the latest 3D data anywhere without a high-spec PC, which is another major advantage.

Effects of adopting LRTK Cloud and the outlook for on-site DX

As seen above, centralizing construction records (survey coordinates, photos, point cloud data) with LRTK Cloud makes data sharing between the site and the office significantly smoother. The effects can be summarized as follows.

• Faster decision-making through real-time sharing: Because data obtained on site can be shared immediately via the cloud, office-side checks and decisions become speedy. If problems arise, they can be detected and instructions issued the same day, contributing to minimizing rework.

• Reduced risk of data loss and reliable backups: Important records are constantly stored in the cloud, so even if a device is lost or fails, the risk of data loss is greatly reduced. Compared to the days of local-only storage, the peace of mind from always having automatic backups is a major benefit.

• Improved productivity through cross-departmental information sharing: Not only surveyors but also design, construction management, and maintenance personnel can view the same data, smoothing information linkage inside and outside the company. Access to the latest version at all times eliminates the wasted time of “who has the latest data?” As a result, overall team productivity improves.

• Data utilization without specialized software: Because map displays and 3D viewer functions are available in the browser, there is no need to install special CAD software or viewers on every PC. For example, even from a field notebook PC or tablet you can compare drawings and point clouds or check photos on the spot. This creates an environment where you can access site data from anywhere while reducing software license costs.

• Accumulation of organizational knowledge and human resource development: Past survey data, photos, and memos accumulated in the cloud can be used as shared knowledge within the company. Know-how that used to rely on individual experience is retained as records, allowing young engineers to learn from veteran records. Information assets are distributed across the organization, contributing to long-term skill development.

• Seamless workflow with the LRTK series: Especially when using LRTK Phone devices and the LRTK app, cloud integration connects positioning → recording → sharing → analysis in a one-stop workflow. Fragmented tasks are unified, reducing data entry and transcription work. For example, coordinates, photos, and memos measured in the LRTK app can be reflected automatically in the cloud and even output in reports, dramatically speeding up the creation of on-site records.

These effects accelerate on-site DX (digital transformation). By building an information platform in the cloud, new working styles such as remote attendance and data-driven construction management become easier to realize. In practice, LRTK Cloud can become a powerful tool supporting “smart construction” in the i-Construction era.

Finally, it is worth noting that LRTK Cloud not only manages data but also simplifies the surveying work itself on site. Using the LRTK series’ GNSS device and the smartphone app, one person can easily perform high-precision surveying and immediately share that data to the cloud. Survey work that previously required transits or large GPS equipment can now be completed with a single smartphone as “simple surveying,” greatly reducing the burden on site. The LRTK app also includes navigation (coordinate guidance) to measured points, guiding the user on screen to target coordinates specified on the cloud. This makes it possible for a single person to accurately perform stakeout and installation tasks, helping to streamline as-built measurement and batterboard confirmation. In other words, the strength of LRTK is that it enables one-stop handling from data acquisition to management. By leveraging such cloud-integrated solutions, you can break away from traditionally inefficient work practices and achieve true construction DX.

FAQ

Q1. What do I need to use LRTK Cloud? A. To use LRTK Cloud, you need to register a user account. For new data collection on site, an iPhone/iPad, the high-precision GNSS receiver “LRTK Phone,” and the dedicated LRTK app are ideal. Using these enables a seamless flow from measurement to cloud sharing. However, if you already have survey coordinate lists or point cloud data obtained with other devices, you can also upload and manage/view files directly from a PC browser to LRTK Cloud.

Q2. How can photos and point cloud data be uploaded to the cloud? A. The easiest method is to upload directly from the LRTK app on site. After performing positioning or scanning with a smartphone equipped with LRTK Phone, press the “Sync to cloud” button in the app and the data will be sent to your cloud account. Don’t worry if you are in an area without coverage—the data will be synced later when you move to a location with Internet access. You can also access the LRTK Cloud web interface from your PC and upload photo images or point cloud files (LAS/XYZ, etc.) by drag & drop.

Q3. What can I do on LRTK Cloud? A. On the LRTK Cloud web interface, you can use various functions such as map display and 3D display of uploaded data. Measured coordinates and tracks are plotted on the map, and you can view coordinate values, elevations, and memos for each point. Photo data can be viewed from map icons or thumbnail lists and expanded with shooting direction when clicked. Point cloud data can be displayed in a 3D viewer to measure distances and areas and calculate volumes. In addition, tools for measuring distances between arbitrary points, creating cross-sections, and removing unnecessary points from point clouds are provided—tools for analyzing and utilizing site data are available on the cloud. Even without specialized CAD software, you can use these functions as long as you have a browser.

Q4. Is data sharing and security safe? A. Yes. LRTK Cloud has a function to issue limited-access links for data sharing; you can share viewing rights simply by providing the URL to stakeholders (links can be protected with passwords and expiration settings). Recipients can view and download the data in a browser without logging into LRTK Cloud. From a security standpoint, communications to the cloud are encrypted and data centers are strictly managed. If a site device fails or is lost, data remains in the cloud, providing peace of mind. An automatic backup system is also in place to safely store important construction records for long periods.

Q5. Can it be used at construction sites without Internet? A. Immediate cloud sync is not possible, but you can perform positioning and photography with the LRTK app in an offline environment and save the data on the device. Then, sync in bulk later when you move to a place with network connection, and the data recorded on site will be reflected in the cloud. In other words, data collection is possible even in communication-free sites such as mountainous areas or inside tunnels, and once uploaded to the cloud after returning, you can share the information with the office promptly.