Table of Contents

• Challenges in Utilizing Point Cloud Data

• What Is an Installation-Free Point Cloud Viewer?

• Benefit 1: Anyone Can Easily View Without Dedicated Software

• Benefit 2: Comfortable Display of Large Point Clouds Without High-Performance PCs

• Benefit 3: Ideal for On-Site Use with Real-Time Sharing

• Simple Surveying and Cloud Point Cloud Viewing Realized by LRTK

• FAQ

In recent years, opportunities to use 3D point cloud data have increased in construction, civil engineering, and surveying sites. Point cloud data, which can record terrain and structures in detail by acquiring a large number of measurement points with laser scanners, drones, or smartphone LiDAR functions, has become an indispensable information resource for on-site digital transformation (DX). In fact, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism’s i-Construction initiative also encourages the use of digital data including 3D point clouds, which are expected to be used widely for as-built management, earthwork volume calculation, displacement monitoring, and other applications. The use of point cloud data is also beginning to advance in infrastructure maintenance and disaster recovery works.

However, there are many voices saying, “Even though we acquired point clouds, we can’t use them well,” or “We have the data, but we can’t check it on site and it’s a wasted asset.” Behind the current situation where valuable 3D information is not being fully utilized, there were several traditional barriers.

Challenges in Utilizing Point Cloud Data

Point cloud data provides extremely rich three-dimensional information, but handling it has traditionally required advanced specialist software and high-performance computers. For example, displaying and editing acquired point clouds has required dedicated point cloud processing software or CAD software, and mastering them requires specialized knowledge and experience. Much of this dedicated software is expensive, and gaining proficiency takes time and cost, so the introduction barrier is high for small and medium-sized enterprises and beginners. As a result, there have been cases where point cloud data was avoided because it “seems difficult.”

Also, because point cloud data can become very large—ranging from millions to hundreds of millions of points—it can run slowly or freeze on a typical PC. Concerns such as “You can’t handle it without an expensive workstation” persist because of the heavy load on CPU, GPU, and memory. In fact, investing in high-performance hardware has been unavoidable to use dedicated software.

In addition, sharing and managing acquired point cloud data was cumbersome. Traditionally, data collected on site would be brought back on USB memory or external HDD, opened and processed on a limited number of high-performance office PCs, and results compiled into drawings or reports. In this process, the valuable 3D information obtained on site would often suffer a time lag before being put to use, leaving on-site personnel unable to check the data there and then. Also, each time huge point cloud files were copied and distributed to stakeholders, the number of versions increased, leading to confusion about “which is the latest version?” This division between the field and the office hindered real-time collaboration and led to missed opportunities for point cloud utilization.

Furthermore, the processing workflow required to obtain useful deliverables from acquired point clouds also demanded time and effort. Aligning (merging) multiple point clouds, removing unnecessary noise, calculating earthwork volumes and producing drawings—such a series of tasks sometimes took days to weeks. With limited on-site schedules, time could not always be allocated for this work, and as a result, acquired point clouds sometimes ended up “a wasted treasure.”

What Is an Installation-Free Point Cloud Viewer?

As a new means to solve these issues, cloud-based point cloud viewers have appeared. This is a system that allows point cloud data to be displayed, shared, and analyzed via cloud servers on the Internet, and users can view 3D point clouds simply by accessing them from the web browser on a PC, tablet, or smartphone at hand. No dedicated software installation is required—only an internet connection and a supported browser. High-performance servers are provided on the cloud side to store and render (draw) huge point cloud data, allowing comfortable viewing regardless of the user’s device specifications.

In many cases, interactive 3D display is realized in the browser using technologies such as WebGL. By dragging or pinching on the screen, users can look at point clouds from any angle and zoom in and out to inspect details. There is no need to launch heavy software, and the convenience of clicking a URL link received by email to immediately display a 3D point cloud in the browser is another feature. Because cloud viewers do not depend on the user’s environment, point cloud data can be viewed the same way on Windows, Mac, or an iPad carried on site. In short, the strength of cloud-based viewers is that “as long as you have a browser, you can view point clouds anywhere.”

Thus, it has become possible to handle 3D point cloud data without the hassle of installing dedicated software or preparing high-performance PCs. What specific benefits can be obtained by introducing a cloud-based point cloud viewer? From here, we explain the main benefits in three parts.

Benefit 1: Anyone Can Easily View Without Dedicated Software

The greatest advantage of an installation-free cloud point cloud viewer is the ease with which anyone can view 3D point clouds immediately using only their device. Complicated software setup and license management are no longer necessary—if you have an internet connection and a browser, you can check point cloud data immediately from the field or the office. Whether on Windows, Mac, or a tablet, any device that runs a supported browser can be used regardless of the environment. For example, it becomes easy to display point clouds on a tablet at the site right after scanning, or to open the latest data on an office PC for immediate review. Also, because there is no need to purchase dedicated software per device, software costs can be reduced.

Recipients also don’t need special software. Simply sharing a URL link with the desired recipients means clients, designers, or contractors can view 3D point clouds via a browser. In some cases, no dedicated software installation or login is even required, enabling all stakeholders to easily check 3D data from their own devices and greatly smoothing information sharing.

Furthermore, many browser viewers feature intuitive UIs—mouse dragging to move the viewpoint, pinch gestures to zoom—so even those unfamiliar with specialist software can interact with 3D space in a way similar to games or map apps. Because difficult commands do not need to be learned, beginners can handle the data easily, and being able to build an environment where “anyone can handle 3D point clouds” internally and externally is a major benefit.

Benefit 2: Comfortable Display of Large Point Clouds Without High-Performance PCs

Another advantage of cloud-based point cloud viewers is that large datasets can be handled comfortably without preparing high-spec PCs. Storage and rendering of point cloud data are executed on cloud servers, so the user’s device does not incur a heavy load. In the past, handling point clouds that could be tens of GB required workstations with GPUs, but with cloud viewers a typical laptop or tablet can display and operate them without problem.

For example, even large-scale site point clouds on the order of tens of millions of points can be uploaded to the cloud once and then smoothly viewed and measured in the browser. Because the server appropriately reduces data weight and streams it, the user only needs to receive the results, and large point clouds can be handled “over a normal internet connection without noticeable delay.” In fact, some services can fluidly display point clouds on the scale of an entire city—on the order of hundreds of billions of points—using LOD (level of detail) techniques, so very large projects can still support 3D viewing. The inefficiency of “other work stopping while processing waits” that occurs when handling heavy data can be expected to be resolved by cloud usage. An environment where everyone in the company can handle the same data regardless of their PC performance greatly improves productivity and convenience.

Benefit 3: Ideal for On-Site Use with Real-Time Sharing

By centrally managing point cloud data in the cloud, a major advantage is that “the latest data can always be shared among multiple members.” When someone uploads new point cloud data, it is immediately integrated and all stakeholders can access the same latest version. You are freed from cumbersome file handovers and version control, eliminating confusion about “which file is the latest.” Sharing a link allows members at distant locations to view and discuss the same 3D data, creating an environment where they can participate in projects across geographic distances.

This real-time capability is also powerful for collaboration between the field and the office. For example, if the latest point cloud scanned by a laser scanner on site is uploaded to the cloud on the spot, engineers at headquarters can check it immediately in the browser. Remote support, such as instructing where additional measurements are needed, becomes possible, enabling an efficient workflow that unites the field and the office. Inspections can be completed online, leading to faster decision-making.

Moreover, being able to “check point cloud data on the spot via the browser” helps improve on-site feedback. Because you can display the point cloud immediately on a tablet without launching dedicated software, quality checks can be performed right after data acquisition. In the past, people often discovered back at the office that “that part was missed” and had to return to the site, but with a cloud viewer missing areas can be found on the same day and immediately re-scanned to prevent rework. Such a rapid PDCA cycle enables point cloud data to be used as “an immediate asset on site.”

Simple Surveying and Cloud Point Cloud Viewing Realized by LRTK

As described, installation-free cloud point cloud viewers greatly lower the barriers to using point cloud data, but their benefits can be maximized by further improving efficiency from the data acquisition stage. One solution to focus on here is LRTK, a new simple surveying solution that uses a smartphone. LRTK consists of a small GNSS receiver attached to a smartphone and a dedicated app, enabling anyone to easily perform high-accuracy point cloud measurements and cloud sharing. Its operation is simple and so intuitive that, after about 5 minutes of explanation, you can start measurements on site.

What used to be entrusted to expensive 3D laser scanners or surveying specialists can be performed by the field personnel themselves using LRTK—easily, with one hand. By scanning the surroundings with the smartphone’s LiDAR while the GNSS receiver provides real-time centimeter-level (cm level accuracy, half-inch accuracy) positioning corrections, every acquired point in the point cloud is tagged with high-accuracy absolute coordinates (latitude, longitude, elevation). Without specialist knowledge, simply walking around as if shooting a video can produce a complete point cloud of, for example, a slope on the order of 100 m (328.1 ft) in a matter of minutes.

For instance, even slope tops or large embankments that are normally difficult to measure can be point-clouded in a short time with LRTK, and volumes can be automatically calculated on site. The app also allows direct measurement of distances, heights, and areas, so necessary quantities can be grasped immediately on site, expanding situations where simple surveying previously outsourced to specialists can now be completed in-house.

Point cloud data acquired on site is automatically lightweighted and displayed in the browser as soon as it is uploaded to the LRTK cloud. If you share a URL with stakeholders, the recipient can view and measure the point cloud from the browser without software, enabling a seamless flow of “acquired with LRTK → immediately shared via the cloud” between the field and the office. On the LRTK cloud viewer, checking coordinate values and measuring distance, area, and volume of acquired point clouds can all be done in the browser, so without specialized CAD software you can immediately analyze on-site data. LRTK is not simply a provider of a cloud viewer; it is a platform that enables a one-stop process from smartphone point cloud acquisition to cloud usage.

Point cloud data is no longer only for a subset of specialists; it is becoming increasingly accessible to anyone on site. Combining installation-free cloud viewers with solutions like LRTK makes it realistic for heavy equipment operators to check as-built conditions in 3D on a tablet, or for site managers to routinely record progress with point cloud data. Lowering the barriers to data acquisition and sharing accelerates on-site DX and can dramatically improve operational efficiency and accuracy. If you are considering introducing a cloud-based point cloud viewer, be sure to look at the “new possibilities” LRTK offers. It can bring 3D data utilization on site closer at hand, propelling projects forward with unprecedented speed and flexibility. The use of 3D point cloud data is expected to become increasingly important, and the combination of installation-free viewers and LRTK will likely become a new standard in field operations for this era.

FAQ

Q: Can it be used even if there is no internet environment on site? A: Internet connection is basically required to use cloud-based viewers. You need to prepare connectivity at the site, such as a mobile router or smartphone tethering, as well as in the office. However, because what is displayed is an optimized portion of the data, in most cases large point clouds can be displayed without stress over typical 4G/5G networks. If the site’s communication environment is unreliable, consider a mobile app viewer that can work offline or a function to temporarily save data on the device.

Q: Can large point cloud data really be displayed on ordinary PCs or tablets? A: Yes. Because the cloud compresses and tiles data for efficient display, large point clouds can be viewed smoothly regardless of the device’s performance. For example, even point clouds on the order of tens of millions of points can be streamed as needed by the cloud using LOD (level of detail) control and tiling, allowing normal laptops and tablets to operate them without issue. However, some services may have limits on the supported data size, so choose a platform that fits your use case.

Q: I’m concerned about entrusting confidential data to the cloud. Is security ensured? A: Cloud service providers take data security seriously. Communications are encrypted, and servers are typically protected in robust data centers. Users can also set access permissions—restricting viewing to internal staff or sharing with a password, for example. Although placing data in the cloud may be a concern, choosing a reliable service can offer security equal to or greater than storing data on internal PCs.

Q: Can distance and volume be measured in the browser? A: Depending on the cloud viewer, many allow measurement of distance, area, and volume in the browser. Basic measurements such as measuring the distance between two points on a point cloud or specifying a range to calculate earthwork volume can often be performed without dedicated software. Some services also include simple editing features such as showing cross-sections or trimming unnecessary parts of a point cloud. For routine as-built checks and rough quantity estimates, browser-based viewers are often sufficient, enabling simple surveying workflows without special CAD software.

Q: Are there free point cloud viewers available? A: Some simple point cloud viewers are available for free. If you only need to load and display local point cloud files (LAS, PLY, etc.) in a web browser, there are free online tools and open-source software options. However, free services often limit upload capacity and have restricted measurement/analysis features, so they may be unsatisfactory for full professional use. For stable business use, consider introducing a reliable platform with proper support.