Achieve Fast Solo Surveying | LRTK Is the Solution for One-Person Surveying

What if a single person could carry out surveying work on site quickly and efficiently—how much would on-site productivity improve? If you can reduce personnel while speeding up tasks, the productivity of the entire project should rise dramatically. Traditionally, the norm in construction sites and surveying has been that work requires “at least two people.” One person operates the surveying instrument while another stands at the survey point holding a staff (level rod)—that was the common scene. However, in recent years a new style that overturns this convention, known as "one-person surveying," has been attracting attention. As the name suggests, it is a method that enables a single person to complete surveying tasks, and it is becoming an innovative solution in an industry facing severe labor shortages. In this article, we will explain what one-person surveying is, its benefits, the technologies that make it possible, and the latest tool that enables it: LRTK.

What Is One-Person Surveying

One-person surveying refers to the collection of methods and technologies that allow surveying tasks traditionally performed by multiple people to be completed by a single operator. Conventionally, work was performed by two people: one operating the surveying instrument and another assistant holding the target staff (level rod). In one-person surveying, a single worker handles all the required equipment and carries out the entire process from measurement to recording alone. This method, which allows surveys to be completed on site without depending on additional personnel, has gained significant attention in recent years against a backdrop of labor shortages due to an aging population and the need to improve productivity.

Why One-Person Surveying Is in Demand

Japan’s construction industry faces severe labor shortages and an aging population of veteran technicians. Surveying personnel are no exception: experienced surveyors are reaching retirement age while fewer young people are entering the field, raising concerns about a future shortage of skilled workers 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, making it increasingly difficult to secure personnel going forward.

Moreover, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism’s i-Construction initiative advocates using ICT technologies to improve construction efficiency, and expectations are growing for labor-saving measures like one-person surveying to spread alongside drone surveying and machine guidance.

In this context, one-person surveying is attracting attention as an initiative to increase the efficiency of each individual worker. If surveying tasks can be completed by one person, sites can keep moving smoothly despite limited 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, having on-site workers perform measurements themselves can reduce waiting times, speeding up the entire construction process and cutting losses.

Furthermore, having a system where the necessary person can quickly perform measurements when needed allows for flexible responses to weather changes or schedule adjustments. A one-person surveying setup that is not constrained by staffing limitations can smooth site risk management and schedule control, making it a key to building a sustainable construction operation.

New Technologies That Change Surveying Conventions

Realizing one-person surveying requires approaches and technologies different from the past. Optical surveying using total stations and prisms was once mainstream, requiring at least two people to operate the instrument and set the target. However, technological advances in recent years are significantly changing how surveying is done.

For example, using an automatic-tracking robotic total station allows one operator to carry a prism and move around the site to take measurements. Methods such as aerial photogrammetry with drones and point-cloud measurement with laser scanners are also becoming more common. All of these technologies reduce the number of required personnel and dramatically improve work efficiency.

That said, robotic total stations are expensive and require operator proficiency, and drone surveying has limitations such as weather dependency and no-fly zones, so no single method is universally suitable for every site.

Against this background, RTK surveying using GNSS (satellite positioning) technology has attracted particular attention for enabling one-person surveying. RTK (Real-Time Kinematic) is a positioning method that combines positioning signals received from satellites with correction data from a base station to determine positions with centimeter-level accuracy. Using RTK, a single operator can obtain high-precision coordinates in real time. There is no need to set up optical surveying instruments, and RTK offers excellent mobility when surveying large sites while moving around.

With these latest technologies, the long-standing belief that "surveying requires large equipment and a team" is starting to break down. Symbolizing this shift is the pocket-sized RTK-GNSS surveying device called "LRTK." Next, let’s look at how LRTK makes solo surveying possible and is reshaping on-site practices.

One-Person Surveying with LRTK

LRTK brings RTK technology to the field in an easy-to-use form. Developed by a startup originating from the Tokyo Institute of Technology, LRTK is a palm-sized, lightweight RTK-GNSS receiver designed to be used in conjunction with a smartphone or tablet. It’s an all-in-one surveying terminal that allows anyone to perform centimeter-level positioning easily, and tasks that previously required expensive dedicated equipment and advanced knowledge can now be carried out with intuitive operation using LRTK. Because of its ease of use and practicality, it has been quietly garnering attention on sites as a "tool that lets you measure anytime, anywhere when needed."

A major feature of LRTK is its compact, lightweight design. It weighs about 125 g—comparable to a smartphone—and is slim at roughly 1–2 cm thick. It can be attached to a smartphone using a dedicated case, so you can pull it from your pocket and start surveying immediately. There’s no need to transport large tripods or heavy equipment, so moving around the site to take measurements is not burdensome.

The dedicated smartphone app, the LRTK app, lets users perform surveying without worrying about complex settings or calculations. For example, 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 for handwritten notes. The recorded coordinate values are automatically converted to Japan’s Plane Rectangular Coordinate System or the World Geodetic System (WGS84), and geoid height calculations are performed automatically as well, 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 of a few centimeters or less. It delivers accuracy far beyond standalone GPS, ensuring sufficient precision 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 Michibiki. This enables high-precision positioning even at sites in mountainous areas outside of internet coverage.

• Portability and mobility: Compact enough to fit in a pocket and weighing just 125 g, it’s comfortable to carry around the site and enables smooth solo surveying in narrow or rugged areas.

• Simple operability: The smartphone app’s simple UI is intuitive, and recording survey points is completed with a single tap. There’s no need to learn the complex procedures typical of specialized surveying instruments.

• All-in-one functionality: One device supports everything from point surveying to area and volume measurement, and even layout/setting-out tasks. It also includes photogrammetry and AR (augmented reality) simulation features, allowing distance, area, and volume (earthwork) calculations to be performed on site from the measured data.

• Cloud integration: Measurement data can be uploaded to the cloud immediately, eliminating the need for manual entry back at the office. Because data can be shared in real time with colleagues at remote offices, rapid decision-making and consultation are possible. The cloud also visualizes measurement results on maps and offers analysis functions such as calculating distances or areas between arbitrary points, greatly streamlining data processing.

• Low cost, one device per person: Compared to traditional surveying instruments, the introduction cost is much lower, removing the constraint of "one expensive device per site." Each worker can have their own device, making it realistic for everyone to take measurements. With each person using their own device—from newcomers to veterans—the time spent waiting for surveying is reduced and the dependency on specific individuals is eliminated.

The developers say they aimed to create a compact, lightweight, one-device-per-person field tool that can be carried in a pocket at all times and used whenever needed. True to that intent, LRTK is an ideal tool that enables advanced surveying as part of everyday work without special qualifications or extensive experience. It realizes one-person surveying and has the potential to dramatically change future on-site operations.

The Power of LRTK in Earthworks Sites

One-person surveying with LRTK is particularly powerful in earthworks sites where surveying is frequently required. Civil engineering projects demand surveying at almost every stage—checking ground heights, measuring excavation and embankment volumes, and verifying as-built shapes after construction. Traditionally, this meant summoning surveying personnel to the site or stopping heavy machinery while waiting for the surveying crew. With LRTK, site workers or heavy equipment operators themselves can perform measurements on the spot when needed, acquiring data without interrupting workflow.

For example, a heavy equipment operator or site supervisor can take an LRTK device from their pocket, quickly measure ground heights at several points, and immediately calculate embankment or excavation volumes. Because there is no need for dedicated surveying staff to be present, personnel deployment becomes more efficient and costs are reduced. In addition, measurement data shared to the cloud in real time can be checked instantly from a remote headquarters or office, significantly accelerating decision-making for earthwork volume management and schedule control.

LRTK’s portability also makes it easy to use in steep or rough earthwork sites, allowing measurements to be taken safely even on dangerous slopes or unstable terrain. There’s no need to carry heavy tripods up and down slopes, and a single person can safely measure the required locations—contributing to improved on-site safety and reduced worker burden.

The benefits of one-person surveying grow where speed and flexibility are required, such as earthworks. With LRTK, you can quickly measure the previous day’s progress in the short time before the morning meeting and share it with stakeholders, or instantly compare design drawings with current conditions on site and take corrective action. LRTK’s AR feature lets you overlay design data on the smartphone screen with the current view to intuitively grasp discrepancies, helping to prevent rework.

A system in which you can "measure whenever you want" will undoubtedly elevate site productivity and quality control.

Easy Operation for Anyone

Hearing "the latest surveying equipment," some may hesitate, thinking "Doesn’t it require advanced knowledge and skills?" But LRTK is designed with ease of use thoroughly prioritized so that even beginners can start using it immediately. The key to this is the intuitive smartphone app and the device’s simple configuration.

Conventional surveying instruments often have specialized control panels and many settings that require time to master. LRTK runs on familiar smartphones, so there is no need to learn how to handle a special device from scratch. Measurements are completed by following on-screen prompts and pressing a button, and results are automatically saved and converted, allowing anyone to become an effective surveying resource quickly. In practice, there are cases where older workers who are not accustomed to IT were able to start using LRTK after brief instruction.

LRTK reduces the burden on skilled technicians and lowers the hurdle for surveying work. Because it can be operated without specialized expertise, anyone on site—not just veterans—can take responsibility for surveying. This helps eliminate the reliance on specific individuals, making it easier to cope with labor shortages. Of course, younger workers who are digital natives will be able to master LRTK even more smoothly. The psychological barrier to ICT adoption on site is lowered, providing a tailwind for company-wide digitalization.

Conclusion: For Fast Solo Surveying, LRTK Is the Answer

In an era of labor shortages in the construction and surveying industries, establishing a system that enables efficient solo surveying is becoming increasingly important. The new style of being able to survey alone is rapidly becoming the industry standard.

With LRTK making this a practical reality, one-person surveying is no longer a pipe dream. In fact, some sites that introduced LRTK reported a 30% reduction in surveying man-hours within just one week of deployment, underscoring its significant impact.

If your site is facing challenges in improving surveying efficiency or dealing with staff shortages, consider checking the details at the [LRTK Official Site](https://www.lrtk.lefixea.com) and exploring the introduction of one-person surveying with LRTK. By proactively adopting new technology, on-site productivity and operational efficiency should improve dramatically. You can also expect effects such as reduced overtime due to the elimination of waiting time for surveying, contributing to better working styles on site.

Towards next-generation site operations where people and technology harmonize, start fast one-person surveying with LRTK. Experience this new norm of solo surveying with LRTK—it will surely transform how work is done on site.