Table of contents

• What is point cloud data? Background for its prominence

• Challenges of sharing and collaborating on point cloud data

• Point cloud collaboration expanded by the cloud

• Benefits of introducing point cloud cloud collaboration

• Practical uses of point cloud cloud collaboration

• On-site DX starting with simple surveying using LRTK

• FAQ

What is point cloud data? Background for its prominence

In recent years, the term point cloud data has become increasingly common. Point cloud data is a collection of countless three-dimensional coordinate points obtained by laser scanners or photogrammetry, digitally recording the shape of objects and terrain in detail. Each point includes X, Y, and Z coordinate values and color information; plotting these points can recreate a lifelike 3D model (digital twin) on a computer. Point cloud technology is extremely powerful because it can record the real site as-is, including subtle surface irregularities that cannot be fully captured in plans or photos.

For example, whereas traditional manual surveying records key points of terrain, point cloud measurement captures surfaces in one pass, reducing omissions and enabling rapid recording of wide areas. There is also the advantage of safely measuring high or hazardous locations from a distance, offering both efficiency and safety.

Point cloud data is attracting attention across many fields, especially civil engineering and construction. The spread of drones and 3D laser scanners, and the recent integration of LiDAR sensors into smartphones and tablets, have made 3D measurement easily accessible to anyone. The construction industry’s push for digital transformation (DX), represented by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism–led initiative *“i-Construction”*, has further supported this trend, turning point cloud technology from the domain of specialists into a new on-site tool. Use cases for 3D point clouds are rapidly expanding—from wide-area terrain surveys to building interior scans, plant equipment maintenance, cultural heritage preservation, and disaster site records. In construction, 3D point clouds are expected to contribute to DX as a solution to labor shortages, long working hours, and stagnant productivity.

Challenges of sharing and collaborating on point cloud data

While ways to acquire point cloud data have become more accessible and on-site use has increased, there are still challenges to sharing that data among multiple people for collaboration. The first hurdle is the large data size. Dense point cloud files can contain millions to hundreds of millions of points, and file sizes often range from hundreds of MB to several GB. Email attachments are impractical, and even carrying files on USB drives or uploading to cloud storage can require long download times, making instant sharing difficult.

The second challenge is that viewing requires specialized software or high-performance PC environments. Displaying and manipulating point cloud data in 3D requires CAD software or dedicated viewers, which are often paid and may require time-consuming installation and configuration. Smoothly handling point clouds on the scale of tens of millions of points requires a PC with high graphics performance, and not all stakeholders on site have such environments. As a result, detailed point cloud data often stays with the person in charge and cannot be shared with clients or remote team members. Converting the data to static images or videos for distribution prevents recipients from freely viewing and measuring the 3D space, so the intrinsic value of point clouds does not come across fully. That undermines the potential of collaborative work using point clouds.

Thus, conventional methods imposed many constraints on sharing and collaboration with point cloud data. Next, let’s look in detail at what changes with “point cloud cloud collaboration.”

Point cloud collaboration expanded by the cloud

The key to solving the above challenges is cloud utilization. If point cloud data acquired on site is uploaded to and centrally managed in the cloud, you can build an environment where multiple stakeholders can share data regardless of location and carry out collaborative work. New types of point cloud collaboration enabled in the cloud include, for example, the following features:

• Accessible and operable from anywhere: Even very large point cloud datasets placed in the cloud can be accessed from anywhere via the internet. You only need a web browser—no specialized software installation is required—so 3D point clouds can be displayed and inspected from office PCs as well as tablets and smartphones. Supervisors or clients in remote offices can understand detailed on-site conditions from their own devices in real time.

• Multiple people share the latest data simultaneously: By centralizing point cloud data in the cloud, the whole team can always refer to the same up-to-date data. When someone uploads new measurement data, it is immediately reflected in everyone’s environment, reducing errors based on outdated versions. There is no need to repeatedly resend files by email, and centralized project management prevents confusion about which file is the latest. This enables truly real-time collaboration.

• Rich ancillary information can also be shared: On cloud 3D viewers, you can not only share point cloud data itself but also overlay drawings and BIM models, view 360-degree on-site photos linked to individual points, and recreate all site information in a virtual space. Stakeholders can experience the 3D space as if they were walking the site from the office, which makes it easier to share situational awareness and reduces communication loss. Some services also allow measuring distances and areas or leaving comments on points within the viewer, enabling efficient remote discussions about the site.

• No need for high-performance PCs or software: Because display and processing of point cloud data are handled on the cloud side, users’ devices do not require high specifications. Data on the order of tens of millions of points can be rendered on servers and streamed, allowing on-site office laptops or tablets to handle 3D point clouds without stress. This eliminates the need to buy expensive workstations or numerous specialized software licenses, significantly reducing both cost and setup effort.

Many services also allow you to set passwords or expiration dates for shared URLs, enabling secure handling of sensitive data.

By leveraging the cloud in this way, point cloud data transforms from a mere large file into a “living information” resource that can be shared in real time. When on-site personnel and remote engineers can discuss while viewing the same 3D model, decision-making becomes much faster and helps prevent mistakes and rework. The cloud is no longer just storage; it is beginning to function as an information hub connecting sites, offices, clients, and subcontractors.

Benefits of introducing point cloud cloud collaboration

So what concrete benefits come from sharing point cloud data in the cloud and enabling collaborative work? Here are the main advantages of cloud utilization:

• Faster information sharing: Because the latest on-site conditions can be shared instantly via the cloud, the time lag between the site and the office is greatly reduced. As a result, a point cloud measured in the morning can be reviewed by the design team in the afternoon, enabling same-day planning and responses. Faster decision-making directly contributes to shorter schedules and cost savings.

• Smoother communication: Visual, intuitive sharing via 3D point clouds allows remote stakeholders to be in a state of “seeing the same thing” during discussions. Details that are hard to convey with drawings or photos can be shared accurately, reducing misunderstandings and improving communication among stakeholders.

• Improved productivity and quality: Real-time collaboration based on up-to-date on-site data enables early detection and correction of issues. This prevents rework and construction errors, raising overall project productivity. Working from the latest data also improves the accuracy of quality control and acceptance inspections.

• Cost reduction: Cloud collaboration brings various cost-saving effects. Reducing the need for travel to remote meetings saves travel expenses and time. Centralized data management reduces mistakes and rework, cutting material and labor waste. Eliminating the need to equip many personnel with expensive PCs or specialized software reduces IT investment costs.

• Enhanced safety: While point cloud measurement itself allows non-contact data collection in hazardous areas, sharing that data via the cloud means you can check dangerous locations without sending people to the site. Remote inspection and analysis of high locations or disaster sites contribute to worker safety.

As described above, introducing cloud-based point cloud collaboration not only streamlines data sharing but brings multifaceted benefits—speed, quality, and safety improvements in project management. This approach supports the productivity revolution and on-site DX advocated by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.

Practical uses of point cloud cloud collaboration

Once point cloud data can be shared in the cloud, on-site workflows undergo various innovative changes. The following are practical uses where cloud point clouds can be valuable:

• Remote attendance and remote meetings: Progress and workmanship can be checked from the office without going to the site. Using cloud point clouds, all stakeholders, including clients and subcontractors, can participate in meetings from their locations while viewing the same 3D conditions. When on-site attendance is difficult, sharing the site virtually enables smooth exchanges and consensus building.

• Feedback into design and construction planning: By overlaying acquired point clouds with design drawings or CIM models for comparison, you can quickly detect discrepancies between design and site. For example, you can check as-built conditions by comparing the point cloud of excavated terrain with the design model, or overlay point clouds of existing structures with new designs to verify no interference. Sharing 3D information in the cloud while stakeholders exchange opinions makes plan revisions fast and accurate.

• Monitoring construction progress: By periodically scanning the site and accumulating point cloud data, you can manage construction progress as a 3D timeline. Comparing past and latest point clouds on the cloud makes it easy to grasp the degree of completion at a glance. Project managers can track the latest conditions remotely and adjust resource allocation or schedules as needed. If a section is behind schedule, managers can promptly decide to add personnel or revise the plan, helping to prevent delays.

• Rapid situational assessment during disasters or accidents: If a collapse or natural disaster occurs on site, you can quickly measure the site with drones or handheld scanners and share the point cloud in the cloud so all stakeholders immediately understand the situation. Even if entry to the damaged area is difficult, point cloud data enables detailed analysis from a safe location. For example, comparing pre- and post-collapse terrain point clouds lets you instantly calculate lost soil volume and quickly prepare a recovery plan.

Cloud-shared point cloud data can thus be used in virtually all aspects of site management, enabling flexible and efficient collaboration not previously possible. It provides a sense of “relaying the site into a virtual space” in real time, overcoming distance and time barriers and enabling new workflows. It is certain that cloud point cloud collaboration will become the new norm on sites going forward.

On-site DX starting with simple surveying using LRTK

To reap the benefits of cloud point cloud utilization, it is important to first establish a system to smoothly acquire high-accuracy 3D data and upload it to the cloud. Hearing “high-accuracy point cloud measurement” may make some people think specialized expensive equipment or expertise are needed. One solution to watch is LRTK, which combines smartphones and the cloud to allow anyone to perform high-accuracy surveying easily.

Simple surveying with LRTK is a new surveying style that achieves centimeter-level positioning and point cloud acquisition using a small high-precision GNSS receiver attached to a smartphone and a dedicated app. It enables precise 3D site recording with just a smartphone—without the need for expensive dedicated equipment—and can complete real-time cloud sharing of that data. Survey tasks that once required multiple specialist operators can be performed safely and efficiently by one person using this system, offering dramatic efficiency gains over traditional notebook-and-manual methods.

By leveraging an LRTK solution that balances ease of use and high accuracy, you can quickly handle everything from acquiring to sharing and using point cloud data. It is a powerful helper for on-site DX and a practical introduction for sites taking their first steps into point cloud utilization. Consider starting with simple surveying using LRTK.

(Note: When referring to cm accuracy in Japanese contexts, please note the equivalent notation: cm level accuracy (half-inch accuracy).)

FAQ

Q. What is point cloud data? A. Point cloud data is a collection of many three-dimensional coordinate points obtained by laser measurement or photogrammetry. It is digital data that represents the shape of an object with countless points and can be visualized as a lifelike 3D model using dedicated software.

Q. What are the benefits of sharing and collaborating on point cloud data in the cloud? A. Large point cloud files can be placed in the cloud and viewed via the internet from anywhere. Multiple people can simultaneously check the latest data, and a browser can display and measure without specialized software. Centralized management reduces information mismatches and enables smooth collaboration with remote parties.

Q. How can on-site point clouds be shared in real time? A. The key is to set up an environment where on-site point cloud data can be uploaded to the cloud as quickly as possible. For example, using a point cloud measurement app on a smartphone or tablet to send data directly to the cloud allows the office to view it immediately. If the network is unstable, uploading quickly afterward via portable Wi‑Fi can minimize time lag.

Q. Does introducing point cloud technology require high costs or specialized knowledge? A. The barriers to point cloud adoption have lowered compared to the past. Measurement equipment has become more affordable, and inexpensive smartphone-compatible 3D scanners and GNSS devices are available. Cloud services have also made software more intuitive. Vendors and local governments offer training and support, so you can learn progressively without specialist knowledge. Start with a small-scale pilot and expand as you see results.

Q. Can people who are not good with ICT or veteran workers use these tools? A. Yes—modern point cloud tools are designed for ease of use by on-site personnel. Following on-screen prompts is usually sufficient, so advanced computer skills are not required. While there may be initial hesitation, training and support can help users become proficient quickly. Combining experienced workers’ field knowledge with digital tools often enhances their effectiveness, so veterans may particularly appreciate the benefits.

Q. What is simple surveying using LRTK? A. Simple surveying with LRTK involves attaching a small high-precision GNSS device to a smartphone. It enables centimeter-level positioning (cm level accuracy, half-inch accuracy) without dedicated equipment, and the positioning data and acquired point clouds can be shared to the cloud in real time. Because one person can perform accurate surveying and recording in a short time, this approach greatly improves efficiency over traditional notebook- and manpower-centered surveying.