Achieve Fast Solo Surveying｜One-man Surveying Is the Choice with LRTK

If a single person could carry out surveying tasks on site quickly, how much would onsite productivity improve? If work can be sped up while reducing staff, overall project productivity should rise dramatically. Traditionally, there has been a common assumption in construction and surveying that work must be done “by at least two people.” One person operates the surveying instrument while another holds the staff (rod) at the survey point — such scenes were commonplace. However in recent years, a new style that overturns this assumption, “one-man surveying” (one-person surveying), has been attracting attention. As the name implies, this is a method that enables surveying tasks to be completed by a single person, and it is becoming an innovative solution in an industry facing serious labor shortages. In this article, we explain in detail what one-man surveying is, its benefits and enabling technologies, and the latest tool that makes it possible: “LRTK.”

What is one-man surveying

One-man surveying (one-person surveying) is a collective term for methods and technologies that allow surveying tasks, which used to require multiple people, to be completed by a single person. Traditionally, operations were performed by teams of two: an operator of the surveying instrument and an assistant holding the staff (rod) as the target. In one-man surveying, a single worker handles all the necessary equipment and carries out the entire process from measurement to recording alone. This method, which enables onsite surveying without relying on extra personnel, has drawn significant attention recently against the backdrop of labor shortages due to an aging population and the need to improve productivity.

Background driving demand for one-man surveying

Japan’s construction industry faces serious labor shortages and an aging of veteran technicians. Surveying personnel are no exception: experienced surveyors are reaching retirement age while fewer young people are entering the field, creating concerns about future workforce shortages across the industry. In fact, the average age of those engaged in surveying is said to be rising year by year and approaching around 50 years old, making future staffing increasingly difficult.

Furthermore, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism’s i-Construction initiative promotes improving construction efficiency through ICT, and alongside drone surveying and machine guidance, there is growing expectation for the spread of labor-saving measures such as one-man surveying.

In this situation, one-man surveying is gaining attention as an effort to improve the efficiency of each worker. If surveying tasks can be completed by one person, sites can continue to operate smoothly despite fewer personnel. This not only reduces labor costs, but also contributes to overall productivity because surveying can be performed in parallel with other tasks. For example, in situations where heavy machinery previously had to wait for the surveying crew, the machine operator could perform measurements themselves to reduce waiting time, speeding up the entire construction process and reducing losses.

Moreover, if a system is in place where the person who is needed can measure immediately, it becomes possible to respond flexibly to weather or schedule changes. A one-man surveying system that is not constrained by personnel placement can smooth overall site risk and schedule management, and is expected to be a key to building a sustainable construction operation.

New technologies changing surveying conventions

Realizing one-man surveying requires different approaches and the adoption of new technologies. Optical surveying using a total station and prism was once the mainstream, requiring at least two people for instrument operation and target placement. But recent advances in technology are significantly changing how surveying is performed.

For example, using an auto-tracking robotic total station allows a single worker to move around the site carrying a prism and measure survey points alone. Drone photogrammetry and LiDAR scanning for point cloud measurement are also becoming more common. These technologies all reduce required personnel and dramatically improve work efficiency.

That said, auto-tracking total stations are expensive and require operator skill, and drone surveying has constraints such as weather and no-fly zones, so none of these solutions are universally applicable to every site.

Among these options, RTK surveying using GNSS (satellite positioning) technology is attracting particular attention for enabling one-man surveying. RTK (Real-Time Kinematic) is a positioning method that combines satellite positioning signals with correction information from a base station to determine 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 surveying wide areas while moving around the site.

With the advent of these latest technologies, the conventional fixed idea that “surveying requires large equipment and a multi-person team” is beginning to break down. A representative of this shift is the pocket-sized RTK-GNSS surveying device “LRTK.” Next, let’s see how LRTK makes one-person surveying possible and is reshaping onsite conventions.

One-man surveying realized with LRTK

LRTK brings RTK technology to the field in an easy-to-use form. Developed by a startup originating from Tokyo Institute of Technology, LRTK is a palm-sized, lightweight RTK-GNSS receiver used in conjunction with a smartphone or tablet. It is an all-in-one surveying terminal that allows anyone to perform centimeter-level positioning (cm level accuracy (half-inch accuracy)) easily; tasks that used to require expensive dedicated equipment and advanced knowledge can be performed intuitively with LRTK. Because of its simplicity and practicality, it is quietly gaining attention on sites as “a tool that lets you measure anytime, anywhere when needed.”

LRTK’s small size and light weight are major features. It weighs approximately 125 g and is as light as a smartphone, and its thickness is a slim design of about 1-2 cm (0.4-0.8 in). It can be attached to a smartphone using a dedicated case, so you can quickly take it out of your pocket and start surveying whenever needed. There’s no need to carry large tripods or heavy equipment, so measuring while moving around the site is not burdensome.

Furthermore, the dedicated smartphone “LRTK app” allows surveying without worrying about complex settings or calculations. For example, you can simply hold the receiver at the point you want to measure and tap a button on the smartphone screen to record positioning data including latitude, longitude, and height on the spot. Point names, measurement times, and GNSS reception status are saved automatically, eliminating the need to take handwritten notes. The obtained coordinates 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 without specialized knowledge.

Using LRTK for one-person surveying offers the following concrete benefits:

• High-precision positioning: The RTK method allows position measurement with errors within a few centimeters (within a few inches). It provides accuracy far superior to standalone GPS and is sufficiently accurate for as-built management and drawing creation.

• High-precision positioning anytime: LRTK supports triple-frequency GNSS and can receive the centimeter-level augmentation service (CLAS) provided by Japan’s Quasi-Zenith Satellite System “Michibiki,” enabling high-precision positioning even at mountain sites outside internet coverage.

• Portability and mobility: Compact enough to fit in a pocket and weighing only about 125 g. It is easy to carry around the site and allows one person to survey smoothly even in narrow or rugged areas.

• Easy operation: The smartphone app’s simple UI enables intuitive handling and one-tap recording of survey points. There is no need to learn the complicated procedures typical of specialized surveying instruments.

• All-in-one functionality: One device can handle point surveys, area and volume measurements, and even stakeout (layout) tasks. It also includes photogrammetry and AR (augmented reality) simulation functions, and can calculate distance, area, and volume (earthwork quantity) from measured data on the spot.

• Cloud integration: Measurement data can be uploaded to the cloud instantly, eliminating the need for manual input back at the office. Since data can be shared in real time with team members at remote offices, immediate decisions and consultations are possible. In addition, cloud-based visualization of measurement results on maps and analysis functions such as calculating distances or areas between arbitrary two points are well developed, further streamlining data processing tasks.

• Low cost for one device per person: Compared with conventional surveying equipment, the introduction cost is lower, removing the constraint of “one expensive device per site.” Each worker can have their own device, making a one-device-per-person era a reality. From newcomers to veterans, everyone can measure with their own dedicated device, reducing waiting time for surveying and eliminating work being dependent on specific individuals.

The developers say they aimed for “a small, lightweight tool that can be carried in a pocket at all times and used by each person whenever needed, a one-device-per-person onsite tool.” True to that statement, LRTK is an ideal tool that enables sophisticated surveying as part of everyday work even without special qualifications or extensive experience. LRTK makes one-person surveying a reality and has the potential to significantly change future onsite operations.

LRTK’s power demonstrated at earthwork sites

One-person surveying with LRTK is especially powerful at earthwork sites where surveying is frequently required. Civil engineering works demand surveying at every stage: checking ground elevation, measuring excavation and fill volumes, and checking as-built conditions. Traditionally, that meant calling in survey staff to the site or stopping heavy machinery to wait for the surveying crew. With LRTK, site workers and heavy equipment operators themselves can take measurements on the spot whenever needed, obtaining data without interrupting workflow.

For example, a machine operator or site supervisor can take an LRTK device from their pocket, quickly measure ground elevations at several points, and immediately calculate fill and excavation volumes. Even without a surveying specialist on site, one person can handle the task, improving personnel allocation efficiency and reducing costs. Moreover, survey data shared in real time to the cloud can be checked immediately from headquarters or offices, dramatically increasing decision-making speed for earthwork quantity management and schedule control.

Additionally, because LRTK is easy to carry even across rough terrain, it is advantageous for measuring on steep slopes or in areas with poor footing. There is no need to carry heavy tripods up and down slopes, and one person can safely perform necessary measurements, contributing to improved site safety and reduced worker burden.

The benefits of one-person surveying are greatest in earthwork sites where speed and flexibility are required. With LRTK, you can measure yesterday’s progress in a few minutes before the morning meeting and share the results with stakeholders, or immediately check discrepancies between design drawings and current conditions and take countermeasures on the spot. Furthermore, LRTK’s AR function allows design data to be overlaid on the smartphone screen with existing conditions so discrepancies can be intuitively grasped, helping prevent rework.

A system that allows “measuring whenever you want” will surely raise site productivity and quality control to the next level.

Easy operation anyone can use

When it comes to the latest surveying equipment, some may hesitate, thinking “Doesn’t this require advanced knowledge or skills?” However LRTK pursues usability so that even beginners can quickly master it. The key is an intuitive smartphone app and a simple device configuration.

Conventional surveying equipment often had specialized control panels and many settings that took time to master. LRTK, on the other hand, runs on a familiar smartphone, so there is no need to learn how to use a special terminal from scratch. Just follow the on-screen prompts and press buttons to complete measurements; results are saved and converted automatically, enabling anyone to become an immediate asset for onsite surveying. In practice, there are cases where older workers who are not accustomed to IT were able to start using LRTK after a short briefing.

In this way, LRTK reduces the burden on skilled technicians and lowers the bar for surveying tasks. Because it can be operated without advanced expertise, anyone on site can take responsibility for surveying instead of relying on specific veterans. As a result, work dependence on individuals is resolved and it becomes easier to address labor shortages. Of course, younger digital-native workers should find LRTK even easier to use. Psychological barriers to ICT introduction on sites are lowered, becoming a tailwind for company-wide digitalization.

Conclusion: For fast solo surveying, LRTK is the answer

In an era of labor shortages, establishing a system that enables one person to survey efficiently is becoming increasingly important in the construction and surveying industries. Indeed, a new style that allows one person to perform surveying is becoming the industry standard.

With LRTK making that vision accessible, one-man surveying is no longer a pipe dream. In fact, sites that introduced LRTK reported a 30% reduction in surveying man-hours within just one week of operation, indicating the considerable impact it can have.

If your site also faces challenges in improving surveying efficiency or staffing shortages, consider checking details on the [LRTK official site](https://www.lrtk.lefixea.com) and exploring the introduction of LRTK for one-person surveying. By actively adopting new technologies, onsite productivity and operational efficiency are sure to improve dramatically. It can also help reform working styles on site by reducing overtime due to waiting for surveying.

Toward next-generation site management where people and technology harmonize, start fast one-person surveying with LRTK. Experience the new norm of being able to survey alone with LRTK — it will surely transform how work is done on site.