The new standard for solo surveying ― Why sites can operate with "one person" using LRTK

How much more efficient would site surveying be if a single person could do it alone?

For many years on construction and surveying sites, the prevailing assumption has been that surveying must be done by two or more people. One person operates the instrument while another holds a staff (rod) at the survey point ― such scenes have long been commonplace. However, a new style called solo surveying has recently been gaining attention. As the name implies, this method allows one person to complete surveying, and it is bringing innovation to the industry.

With labor shortages and workstyle reforms sweeping through, there is growing momentum to rethink and streamline traditional methods. The civil engineering and construction sectors are particularly affected by a shortage of skilled personnel due to aging. As veteran surveyors reach retirement age and fewer young people step in, personnel capable of handling surveying have become highly valuable on sites. In fact, the average age of surveying technicians has been steadily rising, and future shortages of successors are a concern. Meanwhile, public works and private development projects remain numerous, increasing the need to carry out work efficiently with limited staff.

Against this backdrop, tasks that can be done “by one person” have become extremely important. Surveying is no exception, and it is inevitable that solo surveying is attracting attention. Traditionally conducted by two-person teams, surveying performed solo increases flexibility in personnel allocation and allows staff to be redeployed to other tasks. This is especially advantageous in earthworks, where surveying for topography and as-built verification is frequent; being able to move nimbly alone is a major strength.

In an era of labor shortages, solo surveying is not merely a cost-cutting measure; it can be a key factor in lifting overall site productivity. Reducing construction stoppages that occur while waiting for surveying and creating a system that enables measurements whenever needed directly smooths project progress. For this to happen, survey technologies and instruments that anyone can use easily are essential.

Solo surveying needed in an era of labor shortages

In recent years, construction sites in Japan have been chronically short-staffed. As mentioned above, surveying personnel are no exception, and securing human resources is a major challenge. Relying solely on elderly veterans leaves future prospects uncertain. To operate sites with limited staff, measures to increase each person’s work efficiency are required.

One notable idea is solo surveying. If surveying tasks can be handled by one person, sites can function despite staff shortages. This does not only reduce labor costs but also enables parallel processing with other tasks, improving overall productivity. For example, if time spent waiting for the surveying team is reduced so that heavy machinery does not sit idle, construction losses can be greatly reduced.

Solo surveying also offers flexibility. If people needed for surveying can act immediately when required, the site can respond adaptively to weather and scheduling changes. Freed from constraints in personnel allocation, risk management across the site becomes easier. Solo surveying is becoming an important piece in building a sustainable operation system for construction sites in an aging society with a declining birthrate.

New technologies that change conventional surveying practices

Achieving solo surveying requires approaches and technologies different from the past. Conventional surveying using total stations required at least two people to operate and set up the instrument and prism. But recent technological advances are changing the conventional wisdom of surveying operations.

For example, an automatic-tracking total station makes it possible for one person to walk around holding a prism and perform measurements. Aerial photogrammetry with drones and point-cloud surveying using laser scanners—methods that collect terrain data without direct human intervention—have also become widespread. All of these approaches reduce required personnel and improve work efficiency. However, automatic-tracking total stations are expensive and require skilled operation, and drone surveys face constraints such as weather and no-fly zones, so they are not universally applicable.

Particularly noteworthy is solo surveying using GNSS (satellite positioning) technology with RTK surveying. RTK (Real-Time Kinematic) is a technique that combines satellite positioning signals with correction information from a base station to identify positions with centimeter-level accuracy (cm level accuracy (half-inch accuracy)). Using RTK, a single person can obtain highly accurate coordinates in real time. There is no need to set up optical surveying instruments, and RTK offers high mobility when measuring across wide sites.

With these new technologies, the fixed idea that “surveying requires large equipment and multiple-person teams” is beginning to break down. A symbol of this shift is the pocket-sized RTK-GNSS surveying device called LRTK. The next section examines how LRTK makes solo surveying possible and is poised to rewrite field conventions.

Solo surveying made possible by LRTK

LRTK is a palm-sized, compact, lightweight RTK-GNSS receiver developed by a startup spun out of Tokyo Institute of Technology. Paired with a smartphone or tablet, it becomes a versatile surveying terminal that enables anyone to perform centimeter-level positioning (cm level accuracy (half-inch accuracy)) easily. Tasks that previously required specialized surveying equipment and advanced knowledge can be executed with intuitive operation using LRTK. Its ease of use and practicality are quietly creating a buzz on sites as a “tool that lets you measure anytime, anywhere.”

A major characteristic of LRTK is its portability and simplicity. It weighs only about 125 g and is thin at approximately 1-2 cm (0.4-0.8 in). It is designed to fit into a dedicated smartphone case, making it a pocket-sized surveying device that can be quickly taken out and used when needed. Because there is no need to carry large tripods or heavy equipment, surveying while moving around the site is not a burden.

Using the dedicated smartphone app, the “LRTK app,” surveying can be done without worrying about complex settings or calculations. For example, simply placing the receiver at the desired point and pressing a button on the smartphone screen instantly records positioning data including latitude, longitude, and height. Point names, timestamps, and GNSS reception status are automatically saved, eliminating the need for handwritten notes. The obtained coordinate values are automatically converted to Japan’s plane rectangular coordinate system or the World Geodetic System (WGS84), and geoid height calculations are also performed automatically, so accurate surveying results can be obtained even without specialized knowledge.

The benefits that LRTK brings to solo surveying include:

• High-precision positioning: The RTK method can determine positions within an error range of a few centimeters (a few inches). This precision is a clear step above standalone GPS and is accurate enough for drawing survey maps and construction management.

• Portability and mobility: Pocket-sized and lightweight at 125 g. It is easy to carry while walking around the site and can be handled by one person even in confined spaces or uneven earthwork sites.

• Ease of operation: Intuitive operation with a simple smartphone app UI. Recording points is completed with a single tap, eliminating the need to learn complicated procedures unique to specialized devices.

• All-in-one functionality: One unit covers everything from point surveying to area surveying and staking out. It also includes photogrammetry and augmented reality (AR) simulation features, and can calculate distance, area, and volume (earthwork) on the spot from the measured data.

• Cloud integration: Measured data can be uploaded to the cloud immediately. No manual data entry back at the office is required, and information can be shared in real time with colleagues at remote offices.

• Low cost for one-per-person: The dedicated equipment is priced affordably, so instead of “one expensive unit per site,” it is realistic for each worker to carry their own device. From newcomers to veterans, everyone can perform surveys with their own terminal, reducing waiting time and eliminating task dependency on specific individuals.

In fact, the developers of LRTK said they designed it “to be small and lightweight so it can be carried in a pocket and used whenever needed, aiming for a one-per-person site tool.” True to that statement, LRTK enables advanced surveying as an extension of daily work even for people without special qualifications or experience, making solo surveying a realistic possibility. It has the potential to significantly change how surveying is operated on sites going forward.

LRTK’s strengths in earthwork sites

Earthwork (dokou) sites are where the power of LRTK-enabled solo surveying is particularly evident. In earthworks, surveying is frequently needed for ground elevation checks, excavation/fill volume measurements, and as-built inspections. Traditionally, surveying personnel might have been called to the site or heavy machinery might have been paused while waiting for measurements. However, with LRTK, site workers themselves can take measurements on the spot, acquiring necessary data without stopping work flow.

For example, a heavy equipment operator or site supervisor can take an LRTK device from their pocket, quickly measure a few ground elevations, and immediately calculate fill or excavation volumes. Even without dedicated surveying staff on site, one person can handle the task, contributing to more efficient personnel allocation and cost savings. Moreover, because measured data are shared in real time via the cloud, head office or remote staff can immediately check the data, enabling rapid PDCA cycles for earth volume management and schedule control.

Additionally, LRTK’s portability makes it easy to carry around uneven earthwork sites, enabling measurements in hazardous slopes or areas with poor footing. The traditional burden of lugging a large tripod up and down slopes is eliminated, allowing a single person to safely measure required locations. This contributes to improved site safety and reduced workload.

The benefits of solo surveying are greatest on sites that require speed and flexibility, like earthworks. With LRTK, you can, for example, measure progress from the previous day in a short time before the morning meeting and share it with stakeholders, or immediately confirm discrepancies between design drawings and actual conditions and take corrective actions. A setup that allows you to “measure whenever you want” raises productivity and quality control on earthwork sites to a higher level.

Ease of use even for beginners

When hearing “the latest surveying device,” some may hesitate, thinking “isn’t it difficult to use?” But LRTK has been designed for ease of use so that beginners without surveying expertise can quickly get the hang of it. The key is the intuitive smartphone app and simple device configuration.

As mentioned, LRTK is designed to be attached to a smartphone and operated on screens we are already familiar with. There is no need to launch specialized surveying software on a PC; by following the on-screen prompts and pressing buttons, measurements are completed. Menus and button displays are clear, and the interface is designed so users can intuitively understand it without memorizing difficult technical terms.

Device setup itself is also simple. Just snap the LRTK receiver into the smartphone case and connect the app via Bluetooth to be ready. There are no cumbersome initial settings or calibration procedures. The battery is built-in, so as long as it is charged, the device will operate immediately on site. Because of this simplicity, new employees can participate in site surveying from their first day using LRTK. For example, even a newcomer right after joining the company can be entrusted with basic surveying tasks using LRTK. Because operation feels like taking a photo with a smartphone, they can grasp the essentials with only brief instruction. The need for veteran technicians to spend long hours teaching one-on-one is reduced, delivering advantages in training cost.

LRTK is designed with the concept of “making surveying a familiar task anyone can do.” Therefore, even older workers who are not tech-savvy will quickly adapt if they are comfortable with smartphone operations. Enabling everyone on site to be capable of surveying raises the baseline of the entire team. Overturning the long-held belief that “only specialist personnel can do surveying” brings great flexibility to site workflows and reduces the risk of work stagnation.

Future prospects that solo surveying brings to sites

The spread of solo surveying has the potential to significantly change how construction and civil engineering sites operate. First, dramatically increased flexibility in personnel allocation is expected to alleviate labor shortages. With fewer staff, multiple tasks can be carried out in parallel, leading to shorter schedules and cost reductions.

In the trend toward digital technologies such as smart construction and i-Construction (a productivity improvement initiative for construction sites promoted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism), solo surveying is also an important piece. Accurate real-time site data accumulated in the cloud could be integrated with AI and other software to support construction and quality control. When workers on site collect data themselves, the lag in information sharing between site and office disappears, enabling faster decision-making.

In fact, some local governments have started introducing LRTK for surveying disaster sites, enabling small teams to quickly assess damage. Technologies that allow accurate data to be acquired and shared immediately with limited manpower are useful not only for routine construction management but also for emergency response.

If technologies like LRTK become the new standard for solo surveying, “waiting for surveying” will be a thing of the past, and the reassurance that anyone can measure when needed will take root on sites. This will improve quality control and has significance from the perspective of workstyle reform. It will reduce the need to bind personnel to surveying tasks or force heavy labor, contributing to reduced workload, improved safety, and ultimately better workplace conditions.

Easy surveying to start with LRTK

As a concrete means of achieving solo surveying, LRTK is a very attractive option. With no difficult preparations or special skills, as long as you have a smartphone and an LRTK device, you can start performing simple surveying on site from that day. Once you try it, you may be surprised to find that surveying tasks you previously left to specialists can be done by your own hands.

LRTK is a tool that opens an era in which anyone on site can perform like a surveyor. Befitting the title “the new standard for solo surveying,” it may soon become common to see people conducting surveys with an LRTK in hand at worksites. If your workplace faces challenges in improving surveying efficiency or resolving labor shortages, consider checking the LRTK official website for details and exploring the introduction of LRTK for solo surveying. By proactively adopting new technologies, the future of your sites is sure to move in a brighter direction. Toward a new era of site management where people and technology harmonize, consider adding solo surveying as an option.