LRTK Starter Kit Usage Guide: On-site Mounting Examples and Techniques to Speed Up Positioning

Table of Contents

1\. What is the LRTK Starter Kit? 2\. On-site mounting examples of the LRTK Starter Kit 3\. Techniques to speed up positioning using the LRTK Starter Kit 4\. Benefits of introducing the LRTK Starter Kit 5\. Summary: Simple surveying for anyone with LRTK 6\. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the LRTK Starter Kit?

The LRTK Starter Kit consists of the compact high-precision positioning device for smartphones called the LRTK Phone and a set of dedicated accessories to support fieldwork. With this single kit, your smartphone instantly turns into a versatile surveying instrument with centimeter-level accuracy (cm level accuracy (half-inch accuracy)), supporting a wide range of applications from coordinate measurement to point-cloud capture (3D scanning), layout staking, and AR-assisted construction support.

Traditionally, achieving centimeter-level surveying on-site required expensive specialized equipment and skilled personnel, resulting in high cost and effort. The LRTK Phone significantly lowers this barrier by providing a high-precision positioning solution that anyone can operate as long as they have a smartphone. It is designed to be easy to use not only for construction managers and surveyors but also for site novices, and it is quietly becoming popular among field practitioners. Adoption has already begun at construction companies and surveying businesses nationwide, and further spread is expected.

The LRTK Phone itself is pocket-sized and smartphone-sized, weighing approximately 125 g and therefore very lightweight. Its casing is about 1 cm (0.4 in) thick and houses a battery that enables up to about 6 hours of continuous positioning. It connects wirelessly to smartphones and supports network RTK corrections via the Internet. It also supports Japan’s Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (Michibiki) centimeter-level augmentation service (CLAS), enabling high-precision positioning even in mountainous areas without cellular coverage. The major appeal of LRTK is that centimeter-level positioning—previously requiring expensive GNSS survey instruments and specialist skills—can now be achieved with a smartphone for each person. In addition, the introduction cost is substantially lower than traditional surveying gear, making a one-device-per-person operation realistic. As the construction industry faces labor shortages, this easy-to-use tool is likely to garner increasing attention as a means to support on-site digital transformation.

The starter kit includes, in addition to the LRTK Phone unit, useful field tools: an adjustable dedicated monopod, a bubble spirit level that mounts to the monopod, a smartphone holder, and a shoulder bag to carry the equipment. Each accessory is designed with on-site usability in mind—for example, the level helps keep the pole perfectly vertical, and the smartphone holder stabilizes screen operations. These accessories make field surveying tasks much easier. In the next section, we’ll look at actual mounting examples using the starter kit.

On-site mounting examples of the LRTK Starter Kit

The LRTK Starter Kit is designed for flexible use depending on the situation. Here are some representative on-site mounting styles.

• Smart phone direct mounting: The LRTK Phone can be attached to a compatible dedicated smartphone case with one touch. This turns the smartphone itself into a high-precision GNSS terminal; holding it with both hands allows you to walk around while taking stable position measurements and logging data. For example, you can take photos at each point during a site survey and record them with coordinates, or log a track while walking. Being pocket-sized, it’s convenient to carry at all times so you can take measurements the moment you need them.

• Mounting on the dedicated monopod (pole): Using the monopod included in the starter kit makes single-point positioning much more stable. Usage is simple: attach the LRTK unit to the top of the monopod, place the spike plate at the foot at the point you want to measure, and press the button on the smartphone screen. Since the monopod has a bubble level, you only need to hold the pole vertical and the vertical offset is auto-corrected, allowing you to obtain accurate 3D coordinates of the ground marker. The smartphone can be fixed to the pole with the holder, so you can support the pole with one hand while operating the screen. There are reports that tasks that used to take two people 30 minutes can be completed by one person in about 10 minutes after introducing LRTK, demonstrating dramatic efficiency improvements. Tasks such as GNSS surveying and stake-driving, which previously required two people, can be done quickly and solo with LRTK.

• Mounting on a tablet device: The LRTK Phone is compatible with iPads as well as iPhones. When you need to view drawings or 3D models on-site, attaching it to a large-screen tablet is effective. Mount it to an iPad to display your current position in AR while overlaying design data, allowing a construction manager to review and share the view with others on-site. As with smartphones, high-precision positioning is possible, making tablets a dynamic on-site surveying tool.

As described above, the LRTK Starter Kit lets you choose between the mobility of smartphone mounting and the stability of monopod mounting depending on the situation. The compact set fits in the shoulder bag, making it easy to carry even on days with a lot of movement between sites. The ability to quickly take it out and start surveying is a major advantage for busy sites.

Techniques to speed up positioning using the LRTK Starter Kit

Introducing the LRTK Starter Kit dramatically speeds up on-site positioning tasks. Here are the key points on how LRTK increases positioning speed and improves work efficiency.

• High-precision positioning starts within tens of seconds after power on: When you power on the LRTK and place it outdoors in an open area, positioning starts in about 40 seconds. Then, after acquiring correction data, an RTK Fix solution (transition from float to fix) is obtained in about another 20 seconds, reaching horizontal accuracy of approximately ±1–2 cm (±0.4–0.8 in). This greatly shortens the initial setup and wait time that used to be required with traditional GNSS equipment, allowing you to start full surveying immediately after powering on.

• Ease of solo immediate measurement: Because there is no need to arrange a specialized surveying team or transport and set up heavy equipment, the strength of LRTK is that you can measure it yourself as soon as needed. For example, if you suddenly need the elevation of a point or want to measure terrain changes before and after construction, you can quickly take measurements on the spot with LRTK. Positioning results are automatically recorded in the smartphone app, eliminating the need for manual notes and enabling data acquisition the same day. There are cases where tasks that used to take two people over 30 minutes were completed by one person in about 10 minutes after introducing LRTK.

• Area coverage by moving measurements: LRTK supports not only static point positioning but also measurements while walking. When you hold the smartphone and move, your movement track is plotted in real time on the cloud map (LRTK Cloud). For areas of about 1–2 hectares (2.5–4.9 acres), there are cases where point-cloud data were acquired in less time than it would take to fly a drone. It can also be used for as-built checks after heavy equipment work and for earthwork volume calculations—by simply walking the site you can obtain detailed terrain point clouds. For quick large-area surveying or as-built management, LRTK’s dynamic measurement function is powerful.

• Rapid staking work using AR: Traditionally, bringing coordinates from a drawing to the field required surveying instruments or setting out batter-boards. The LRTK smartphone app has an AR navigation feature that guides you to stake-out or installation points with arrows and markers on the screen. This intuitive AR guide dramatically speeds up staking work, allowing even inexperienced personnel to reach the target positions by following the on-screen directions.

• Instant sharing via cloud integration: Measured data can be synchronized to the cloud (LRTK Cloud) on the spot, enabling immediate sharing of on-site information with the office and other stakeholders. Measured points and photos are automatically plotted on a map and can be reviewed remotely. This eliminates the need to report progress manually throughout the day and streamlines subsequent data processing and drawing generation.

• Improved accuracy with averaging when needed: Single-shot measurements provide sufficient accuracy when speed is prioritized, but if greater precision is required, the LRTK app’s averaging function can further improve accuracy. For example, averaging several dozen measurements per point (over several seconds to tens of seconds) can reduce error to less than half of a single-shot measurement. Averaging is performed with a single button, so you can quickly achieve higher accuracy when necessary.

As described above, the LRTK Starter Kit embodies “measure quickly, finish fast.” By reducing on-site waiting times and speeding up measurement tasks themselves, overall work efficiency improves dramatically. This contributes to shorter construction schedules, reduced labor costs, and improved safety, providing significant benefits across the site.

Benefits of introducing the LRTK Starter Kit

Introducing the LRTK Starter Kit to your site offers various benefits beyond the speed improvements discussed above.

• Low-cost introduction: It is significantly more affordable than traditional high-precision surveying equipment, making it attractive for small sites and budget-limited projects. Reducing the frequency of renting specialized equipment or outsourcing surveying to external contractors leads to overall cost savings.

• High precision and reliability: Despite its simple appearance, the LRTK Phone’s actual positioning accuracy rivals that of Class 1 GNSS terminals. For example, when compared at the same point with a Class 1 GNSS survey instrument, the difference in results was reported to be less than 5 mm (0.20 in). In experiments where the LRTK unit was fixed and measured, the horizontal standard deviation for 10 points was about 12 mm (0.47 in) for single-shot measurements, and reduced to 8 mm (0.31 in) for 60-sample averaged measurements, achieving accuracy of less than 1 cm (less than 0.4 in). Such high reliability is a major advantage.

• Versatility and multipurpose use: One LRTK unit can handle point surveying, wide-area scans, photogrammetry, stake driving guidance, and as-built management. The system also calculates distances, areas, and volumes from acquired coordinates, allowing immediate multi-faceted use of measurement results. Tasks that would normally require multiple instruments or software can be performed all-in-one, reducing equipment management overhead and promoting on-site digital transformation.

• Intuitive and easy operation: The smartphone app’s refined UI lets users operate it intuitively without specialized knowledge. Complex settings and calculations are automated, the app supports Japanese language, and support is robust—making it accessible even to those not comfortable with machines. Little training cost is needed, and it can be an effective tool from day one.

• Improved safety and efficiency: The lightweight, compact equipment is easy to handle for measurements at heights or on scaffolding, increasing safety. Using subject-positioning features available on iPhone Pro series, hard-to-reach locations can be measured safely from a distance. Avoiding entrance into hazardous areas improves safety management. Real-time sharing functionality also reduces rework and contributes to both safety and efficiency.

Summary: Simple surveying for anyone with LRTK

Surveying has traditionally been a specialized field requiring special equipment and advanced know-how. However, the LRTK Starter Kit has significantly lowered that barrier. Whether experienced construction managers or surveyors, or on-site novices, the era has arrived in which necessary on-site surveying can be handled independently with just a smartphone and LRTK. In other words, the LRTK Starter Kit is a reliable partner that makes “simple surveying anyone can do” possible.

By using this kit, you can instantly measure and record points noticed during routine site rounds, verify as-built conditions yourself, and easily perform tasks that previously required outsourcing or specialized departments. As a result, site responsiveness and information sharing speed up, leading to improved quality and productivity. Its compactness and portability also make it powerful for emergency uses such as rapid damage assessment after disasters. In fact, a municipality in the Hokuriku region used the LRTK Phone for post-disaster site surveying, achieving rapid situation assessment and cost savings. Such cases are emerging, and simple surveying with LRTK may become a new standard for construction and civil engineering site operations. If your site has not yet adopted it, once you experience the ease and accuracy, you will understand its usefulness. Please consider using the LRTK Starter Kit to bring innovative speed and efficiency to your site operations.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1. What is included in the LRTK Starter Kit? A1. The kit includes the LRTK Phone unit (high-precision GNSS receiver), a dedicated smartphone mounting case, a monopod (pole), a level, a smartphone holder, and a spike plate. A shoulder bag for storage is also included to make it easy to carry the equipment to the site.

Q2. Can it position in areas without cellular coverage? A2. Yes. The LRTK series supports not only network-based correction services (such as Ntrip) but also Michibiki’s CLAS signal broadcast from satellites. With an optional out-of-coverage antenna, you can receive correction information via satellite even in areas without cellular coverage and maintain centimeter-level positioning.

Q3. What is the positioning accuracy? A3. Under good conditions with an RTK-Fix solution, horizontal accuracy of approximately ±1–2 cm (±0.4–0.8 in) and vertical accuracy of about ±3 cm (±1.2 in) can be expected. Compared to typical smartphone GPS errors of about 5–10 m, LRTK is orders of magnitude more accurate. If greater precision is required, averaging functions can be used to further improve accuracy.

Q4. How long does the battery last? A4. The LRTK Phone unit runs continuously for about 6 hours on a full charge. For long-duration surveys, bringing a spare battery is recommended. Charging and power delivery are via a USB Type-C port, and the unit supports power from external mobile batteries.

Q5. Which smartphones and tablets are supported? A5. Currently, the system supports iOS devices, iPhone and iPad. Basic positioning features work on standard models, but certain functions such as 3D scanning (point-cloud capture) and subject positioning (measuring from a short distance using the smartphone camera) are available on iPhone Pro series (LiDAR-equipped models). Using the latest iPhone 15 Pro provides the most comfortable experience for all features.

Q6. Are professional surveyors or special qualifications required? A6. No special qualifications are required. The LRTK Starter Kit is designed to be usable by those without surveying expertise, so with basic operation knowledge you can obtain high-precision surveying results. However, for official public surveying work, specific qualifications or instrument certification registration may still be required.

Q7. What coordinate systems and data formats are supported? A7. Coordinates acquired in the LRTK app can be displayed and saved as latitude/longitude in the Japanese Geodetic Datum (JGD2011) or the World Geodetic System (WGS84), and also in plane rectangular coordinates (X, Y). Elevations, including geoid heights, are automatically calculated so you can check elevations directly on-site. Acquired data can be exported from the cloud in CSV or SIMA formats and handled like ordinary survey deliverables.