Reasons LRTK Is Chosen｜The Era of One-Person Surveying

Introduction: The era of one-person surveying has arrived

In recent years, "one-person surveying" has been attracting significant attention in the surveying, civil engineering, and construction industries. The background includes a worsening labor shortage and the 2024 problem. Due to a declining workforce caused by a falling birthrate and aging population, there are fewer people to work on construction sites, and the retirement of veteran technicians is not being offset by younger replacements:contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}. As a result, the industry has fallen into a vicious cycle of covering staff shortages with long working hours, making the shortening of working hours and securing younger workers an urgent issue:contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}. However, the grace period for applying work-style reform-related laws has ended, and from April 2024 overtime limits for the construction industry were introduced:contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}. This has made it difficult to address issues by relying on overtime or manpower-intensive approaches as before, and there is strong demand for productivity improvements to operate with limited personnel.

In this context, attracting attention is the approach of using the latest technologies to complete surveying work by a single person—“one-person surveying.” If surveying, which traditionally required two or more people, can be reduced in manpower, labor costs and scheduling burdens can be greatly reduced while speeding up tasks:contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}. There is also a major efficiency advantage because there is no need to shout across noisy sites or signal over long distances:contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}. Moreover, as the number of veteran workers declines and it becomes difficult to continue “person-dependent surveying,” systems that allow anyone to perform highly accurate surveying through digital technology can become saviors for the industry:contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}:contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}. This article explains clearly and concretely, from the definition and importance of one-person surveying to differences from traditional methods, the technological innovations involved, and the features and implementation benefits of the notable smart surveying system “LRTK.” Let’s examine why LRTK is chosen as a solution in the era of labor shortages.

What one-person surveying is and why it matters

General surveying work is typically performed by two-person teams. For example, one person operates surveying equipment (total station or level), while the other holds the staff (rod or prism) at a remote observation point:contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}. To aim accurately, the person at the survey point adjusts their position while receiving voice cues or gestures such as “a little to the right” or “stop”:contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}. However, this method requires at least two people, and inefficiencies arise when signals cannot be heard in noisy environments, causing work to stall:contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}. It also places a large burden on scheduling and labor costs, and for wide-area surveys it was sometimes difficult to secure enough personnel.

On the other hand, one-person surveying refers to a method of completing surveying with only one operator and no assistant at the instrument:contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}. For example, using a total station equipped with automatic aiming and tracking (robotic total station), a surveyor can carry the prism to the survey point and the instrument will automatically track it, allowing one person to measure angles and distances alone:contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}. The basic idea of one-person surveying is to use equipment to replace the “other person’s hand.”

The importance of one-person surveying lies in its ability to directly solve the problems of labor shortages and work-style reform mentioned above. If the work can be done by one person, labor costs can be greatly reduced and the time required for scheduling compared with two-person operations is also significantly decreased:contentReference[oaicite:12]{index=12}. Because reliable-quality surveying can be done with limited staff, it is effective both for productivity improvement and as a countermeasure to labor shortages:contentReference[oaicite:13]{index=13}. In fact, there are reports that introducing one-person surveying has reduced costs by up to 30% compared with traditional team surveying:contentReference[oaicite:14]{index=14}. Furthermore, the flexibility to complete tasks alone improves on-site responsiveness, allowing surveying to start when needed and results to be obtained quickly:contentReference[oaicite:15]{index=15}. With overtime restricted by the 2024 problem, the advantages of one-person surveying—achieving results in a short time with fewer people—have become even more significant:contentReference[oaicite:16]{index=16}.

Challenges compared with traditional surveying work

That said, it is not easy to simply perform traditional surveying solo. First, there is the issue of time and physical effort. When taking on surveying that used to be done by two people, one person must handle everything from equipment setup to takedown; in large sites or when there are many survey points, it is not uncommon to spend an entire day or more:contentReference[oaicite:17]{index=17}. In particular, conventional equipment such as total stations and levels can weigh several kilograms, and including tripods and staffs the total weight becomes substantial. Transporting and setting them up while shuttling between survey points was a heavy physical burden for one person:contentReference[oaicite:18]{index=18}.

Next is the risk of human error. Traditionally, measurements were recorded and cross-checked with a partner, but in one-person surveying the operator must read and record everything themselves. Mistakes in reading or writing can require re-measurement later, which is highly inefficient:contentReference[oaicite:19]{index=19}. With no opportunity for double-checking, concerns about maintaining accuracy remain:contentReference[oaicite:20]{index=20}. The operator must constantly judge whether measurements are truly correct, and those with less experience will find this worrisome.

Furthermore, safety issues cannot be ignored. Traditionally, a partner could monitor surroundings while work proceeded, but in one-person surveying the operator must both perform surveying operations and oversee safety:contentReference[oaicite:21]{index=21}. Carrying a surveying pole alone toward a survey point on a construction site with moving heavy machinery or on a busy road poses risks. Since there is no partner, greater safety measures than before are required to ensure attention to the surroundings is not neglected:contentReference[oaicite:22]{index=22}.

Unless these problems of accuracy, safety, and workload are resolved, practical implementation of one-person surveying is difficult:contentReference[oaicite:23]{index=23}. Fortunately, recent technological innovations have produced solutions that overcome these challenges. The next section looks at the technological advances that have made one-person surveying possible.

Technological innovations that enabled one-person surveying

Since the start of the 21st century, surveying instruments and positioning technologies have advanced dramatically. Among them, the development of high-precision positioning technology using GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite Systems) has greatly contributed to one-person surveying. GPS positioning familiar from car navigation and smartphone maps has errors on the order of meters, but civil engineering surveying and boundary determination require accuracy on the order of centimeters:contentReference[oaicite:24]{index=24}. What spread after the 1990s was the correction technique called Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) positioning. This method corrects errors in real time to achieve centimeter-level positioning by using the difference in satellite signals captured simultaneously by two receivers—a base station and a rover:contentReference[oaicite:25]{index=25}. Today, environments that allow RTK positioning nationwide are being established, such as network RTK (Ntrip) using the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan’s reference station network and augmentation services from the Quasi-Zenith Satellite System “Michibiki” (CLAS).

Another innovation is the miniaturization and automation of surveying instruments. With automatic aiming and tracking functions in total stations and the advent of high-performance sensors, machines can automatically capture targets:contentReference[oaicite:26]{index=26}. Precision surveys that used to require multiple operators can now be performed by one person using robotic surveying instruments. However, these advanced surveying instruments have traditionally been very expensive, heavy, and required specialized training:contentReference[oaicite:27]{index=27}. While they were adopted in a limited way by large general contractors, they were not accessible for small and medium-sized companies or individual field workers:contentReference[oaicite:28]{index=28}.

Recently, attention has focused on new surveying solutions that combine smartphones and the latest sensors. For example, in 2020 the pioneer one-person surveying app using smartphones, “OPTiM Geo Scan,” appeared, making high-precision smartphone surveying that anyone can use a realistic possibility:contentReference[oaicite:29]{index=29}. By combining a smartphone’s built-in camera or LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) with GNSS, the ease of being able to check results on-site without complex post-processing has been realized:contentReference[oaicite:30]{index=30}:contentReference[oaicite:31]{index=31}. Furthermore, attempts have begun to use AR (augmented reality) technology to overlay design data onto real scenes for stakeout and as-built management:contentReference[oaicite:32]{index=32}:contentReference[oaicite:33]{index=33}. In this way, ICT-driven new technologies are being deployed on sites one after another, overcoming the former barriers of accuracy, safety, and operability.

Emergence of smartphone RTK “LRTK”

Among the many technological innovations, the smartphone-mountable RTK-GNSS device “LRTK” is attracting attention as a trump card for one-person surveying. LRTK is an ultra-compact surveying device developed by Reflexia, a startup spun out from Tokyo Institute of Technology, and it transforms an iPhone or iPad into a centimeter-level surveying device by integrating a dedicated receiver with the smartphone:contentReference[oaicite:34]{index=34}. Weighing approximately 125 g and just 13 mm (0.51 in) thin, it fits in a pocket while housing a battery and antenna, and this single unit can perform functions equivalent to conventional fixed surveying instruments:contentReference[oaicite:35]{index=35}. Simply attaching it to an iPhone turns the smartphone into a versatile surveying device through the high-precision GNSS receiver and dedicated app:contentReference[oaicite:36]{index=36}:contentReference[oaicite:37]{index=37}. Even in situations that used to require carrying a total station weighing about 4 kg, with LRTK there is no need to lug heavy equipment:contentReference[oaicite:38]{index=38}.

LRTK realizes real-time high-precision positioning using RTK, and the errors in latitude, longitude, and height obtained are limited to only a few centimeters:contentReference[oaicite:39]{index=39}. A major feature is that it supports both network RTK and satellite-delivered RTK (CLAS) in Japan. In areas with cellular coverage, it receives correction data via the Geospatial Information Authority’s reference station network, and in mountainous areas without communication coverage it can directly receive centimeter-level augmentation signals (CLAS) provided free by the Michibiki satellites:contentReference[oaicite:40]{index=40}:contentReference[oaicite:41]{index=41}. This allows real-time correction of positioning errors to within a few centimeters anywhere in Japan, making it a revolutionary portable device:contentReference[oaicite:42]{index=42}.

In terms of usability, LRTK is designed to be extremely simple. Just attach the receiver to your smartphone and launch the dedicated app to start high-precision positioning immediately:contentReference[oaicite:43]{index=43}. There is no need for complicated settings or specialized knowledge as with traditional RTK equipment, and its intuitive interface makes it usable by anyone:contentReference[oaicite:44]{index=44}. Moreover, the price is set surprisingly affordably, so equipping “one per person” does not become a burden for companies; this makes it possible for all field staff to carry one and use it whenever needed:contentReference[oaicite:45]{index=45}. Developed with the aim of enabling everyone to carry their own surveying instrument, LRTK is a solution that epitomizes on-site digital transformation.

:contentReference[oaicite:46]{index=46} *The ultra-compact GNSS receiver “LRTK Phone” that can be attached to a smartphone. Weighing approximately 125 g and compact enough to fit in a pocket, it houses a battery and antenna:contentReference[oaicite:47]{index=47}. It turns a smartphone into a high-precision positioning terminal, and its portability for on-demand surveying is supported on sites.*

Features and implementation benefits of LRTK

Now, let’s organize the specific benefits LRTK brings together with its main features.

• Lightweight and portable: LRTK’s compact, lightweight design fits in a pocket, making it easy to perform surveying while moving around the site:contentReference[oaicite:48]{index=48}. Because you can carry the receiver and smartphone in one hand, there is no need to carry heavy tripods or fixed equipment, enabling high mobility even for one person:contentReference[oaicite:49]{index=49}. It can be brought into narrow sites or high places with ease, allowing measurements in locations that were difficult with conventional equipment.

• Smartphone integration and easy operation: Simply attach the dedicated receiver to your smartphone and launch the app to start centimeter-level positioning that anyone can use:contentReference[oaicite:50]{index=50}. The user interface is intuitive, and recording survey points or conducting various measurements is done with the push of a button. Complicated settings and difficult procedures are not required, making it suitable even for beginners without specialized knowledge. On-site staff can measure the points they want immediately, eliminating the need to request measurements from a specialized surveying department and wait.

• Real-time high-precision positioning: RTK correction technology for GNSS enables real-time high-precision positioning with errors always within a few centimeters:contentReference[oaicite:51]{index=51}. Positioning is displayed step-by-step on the smartphone screen, allowing verification of accuracy on-site while working. LRTK supports both network RTK (Ntrip) and Japan’s Quasi-Zenith Satellite CLAS augmentation signals, so correction information can be obtained via satellite even at sites without cellular coverage:contentReference[oaicite:52]{index=52}:contentReference[oaicite:53]{index=53}. Therefore, centimeter-level positioning can be maintained even in mountainous areas or near tunnel portals where radio signals are unstable, enabling stable accuracy nationwide.

• Cloud sharing: Survey data obtained with LRTK can be saved and shared to the cloud immediately. If you upload the on-site measurements to the LRTK cloud, managers and design staff in the office can instantly check results from a web browser:contentReference[oaicite:54]{index=54}. For example, a remote headquarters technician can check coordinates in real time and instruct the field to “measure two more points,” and the surveyor can respond immediately:contentReference[oaicite:55]{index=55}. This allows site and office to work together seamlessly. Measured points are plotted on cloud maps with titles, dates, and notes shared, eliminating the need to transcribe field notebooks later and reducing record errors:contentReference[oaicite:56]{index=56}.

• AR functionality: A unique feature of LRTK is AR display of measured points and design coordinates through the smartphone camera. For example, a virtual stake (AR stake) can be displayed on the screen at the position specified in the plans, allowing the operator to mark the exact location on-site:contentReference[oaicite:57]{index=57}. Traditionally, placing markers at distant points required multiple people, but by following AR arrows alone the operator can be guided to the target location with centimeter-level precision:contentReference[oaicite:58]{index=58}. Dangerous areas such as slopes or cliffs that are difficult to approach can be located remotely by projecting virtual stakes, improving safety:contentReference[oaicite:59]{index=59}. It is also possible to AR-composite planned 3D models onto the existing terrain to check as-built conditions with clients and other workers on-site:contentReference[oaicite:60]{index=60}. AR enables intuitive stakeout and inspection, dramatically improving efficiency and safety.

• Versatile surveying functions: LRTK is a truly versatile surveying device with many functions in one unit:contentReference[oaicite:61]{index=61}. Beyond simple coordinate measurement, it can work with the iPhone/iPad’s built-in LiDAR scanner to capture 3D point clouds while walking:contentReference[oaicite:62]{index=62}. High-density point cloud data automatically receives global coordinates (World Geodetic System), making it easy to compare with drawings or BIM models later and to calculate volumes for embankments or excavations:contentReference[oaicite:63]{index=63}. 3D surveys that used to require dedicated laser scanners and multiple personnel can be handled by one person with LRTK:contentReference[oaicite:64]{index=64}. Other convenient features include geo-tagging photos for cloud management and instant measurement of distances and areas for multiple points, addressing many on-site needs:contentReference[oaicite:65]{index=65}:contentReference[oaicite:66]{index=66}. LRTK also incorporates measures for positioning in environments where RTK signals are difficult to receive, such as indoors or under tree cover, and achieves cm level accuracy (cm level accuracy (half-inch accuracy)) even in locations where a fix solution is normally hard to obtain:contentReference[oaicite:67]{index=67}. With LRTK alone you can streamline surveying, as-built confirmation, and inspection records, making it possible to efficiently manage tasks that previously required separate equipment and personnel:contentReference[oaicite:68]{index=68}.

As described above, LRTK is an innovative tool that provides all the functions needed to support one-person surveying. Introducing this single device enables a person to carry out various surveying tasks, directly contributing to on-site labor savings and productivity improvement.

:contentReference[oaicite:69]{index=69} *An operator conducting one-person surveying using a smartphone equipped with LRTK and a monopod. High-precision surveys that previously required multiple operators can now be performed by one person, greatly assisting sites struggling with labor shortages:contentReference[oaicite:70]{index=70}.* Even without a large total station, precise point measurements and layout can be carried out with just a smartphone in hand.

On-site use cases and feedback

How does a site actually change when LRTK is introduced? Here are some expected use cases and comments from the field.

• Case 1: Site surveying by a small-to-medium construction company – At a regional civil engineering site struggling with labor shortages, a surveying task that used to require two people and a full day for establishing control points was completed in half a day by a single site supervisor using LRTK. The survey results were shared to the cloud on-site, and office technicians immediately checked the data and reflected it in drawings, significantly shortening the overall schedule including subsequent processes. The site supervisor commented, “It saved the time spent jotting points on paper and the effort of redrafting in the office, and record mistakes disappeared, which is a big help”:contentReference[oaicite:71]{index=71}. Clients also reported that “the survey was completed quickly and was cost-effective”:contentReference[oaicite:72]{index=72}. In fact, there are reports that implementing one-person surveying reduced surveying costs by up to 30% compared with traditional methods:contentReference[oaicite:73]{index=73}, making it a method that provides both speed and cost reduction benefits to owners and contractors alike.

• Case 2: Rapid situation assessment at disaster sites – LRTK is powerful even at disaster sites where communications infrastructure has been disrupted. For example, during the 2023 Noto Peninsula offshore earthquake, carrying large surveying equipment into the affected areas was not feasible and cellular networks were out of range, but the portable LRTK with offline capabilities was extremely helpful for high-precision situation recording and sharing:contentReference[oaicite:74]{index=74}. Because it supports Michibiki (CLAS), correction information can be received directly from satellites, enabling precise positioning by a single person. Measurements were uploaded later from locations with connectivity and quickly shared with relevant parties. Where previously one would have to wait for surveying crews to arrive, LRTK enabled immediate grasping and communication of site conditions after an event, contributing to initial response.

In this way, LRTK is making “one-person surveying” a practical reality. Users such as site managers and survey technicians who have started using it report that site productivity has dramatically improved and that they no longer have to carry heavy total stations:contentReference[oaicite:75]{index=75}. LRTK is quietly becoming popular among field workers:contentReference[oaicite:76]{index=76}, and there are users who say they “cannot work without it.” The new method of one-person surveying is proving to be a powerful solution for the labor-short construction and civil engineering industry, with demonstrations already underway in various places:contentReference[oaicite:77]{index=77}.

Simple step guide to start one-person surveying with LRTK

Finally, here is a step-by-step workflow for basic one-person surveying using LRTK, to help you visualize completing surveying and data sharing solo.

• Attach the receiver to your smartphone: Before heading to the site, attach the LRTK receiver to your smartphone. If necessary, secure the smartphone and receiver to a monopod or surveying pole so it can be held stably. Upon arriving at a survey point, launch the dedicated app and begin receiving GNSS satellites. After waiting a few tens of seconds, you will obtain centimeter-level positioning via RTK and the solution will stabilize to a “FIX” (high-precision solution):contentReference[oaicite:78]{index=78}. Once FIX is confirmed, you are ready.

• Record the point you want to measure: Move to the desired point with the smartphone, place the receiver at the target location, and tap the “Measure” button on the screen to record the coordinates (latitude, longitude, height) immediately:contentReference[oaicite:79]{index=79}. The date/time, positioning mode, and satellite acquisition status are automatically saved, and you can add notes if needed. That completes one point measurement. To measure another point, simply move and tap the button again to accumulate data:contentReference[oaicite:80]{index=80}. There is no longer any need to have someone else hold a staff for you:contentReference[oaicite:81]{index=81}.

• Automatic cloud saving: Recorded survey points accumulate in the app and can be uploaded to the cloud with one tap. If you send them to the LRTK cloud on-site, colleagues in the office can immediately view the points via web browser:contentReference[oaicite:82]{index=82}. For example, a senior surveyor in the office can check the data and advise, “Let’s add two more points around here,” and you can follow that real-time instruction on-site:contentReference[oaicite:83]{index=83}. With added instructions, you respond immediately and upload again—creating a seamless site-office workflow.

• AR for stakeout and layout: Next, perform stakeout tasks (staking or layout) alone. Pre-register stake coordinates and boundary point data derived from the design on the cloud. On-site, call up the target coordinates from the LRTK app and switch to AR navigation mode. The smartphone screen will then display arrows and distances to the target and a virtual stake (AR stake) at the target location:contentReference[oaicite:84]{index=84}. The operator simply follows the on-screen guidance to the target location, and when reaching it a virtual stake overlays the ground so you can mark it and drive an actual stake. Even remote slopes that normally cannot be occupied can be safely located using AR guidance:contentReference[oaicite:85]{index=85}. This enables accurate surveying and staking by one person.

• Data utilization and sharing: Once all surveying and stakeout work is complete, utilize the cloud-stored data. The LRTK cloud’s web interface allows viewing lists and layouts of measured points and downloading data as CSV or PDF:contentReference[oaicite:86]{index=86}. Use this to plot points in CAD or prepare reports and smoothly transition to office tasks. The cloud also manages time-series data, allowing you to overlay measurements taken at the same point on different dates with photos and notes:contentReference[oaicite:87]{index=87}. For example, during infrastructure inspections it is easy to compare past measurement notes with the current condition to check deterioration. There is no need to hunt through paper notebooks or photo logs. All data are shared in real time among stakeholders, so reporting from the field is completed with one touch.

With these steps, surveying and stakeout that used to require multiple people and long time can be completed quickly with just LRTK and a smartphone. For instance, you can go to a site alone first thing in the morning, complete measurements, share the data immediately, and finish drawing creation by early afternoon. Because you can measure and submit data immediately by yourself, wasted waiting time and rework disappear and overall project efficiency is dramatically improved.

Conclusion: Toward the era of one-person surveying

In the surveying and construction industries facing labor shortages and work-style reform, one-person surveying using LRTK significantly contributes to on-site manpower reduction and efficiency. By ensuring stable surveying accuracy with minimal personnel while improving operational efficiency, LRTK offers a lifeline to an industry grappling with an aging workforce and labor shortages:contentReference[oaicite:88]{index=88}. This method, which achieves maximum results with minimal effort, raises productivity across sites and enables flexible, waste-free operations (overall optimization). The digital transformation of surveying work not only shortens working hours but also enhances safety. With these advantages, LRTK is set to become an indispensable and reliable partner for future one-person surveying. As a one-per-person surveying tool, consider actively introducing LRTK to drive on-site DX and strongly support productivity improvements and work-style reform. The era of one-person surveying has already begun. Why not take a step into next-generation smart surveying with LRTK? :contentReference[oaicite:89]{index=89}