In the construction and civil engineering industries, the use of 3D point cloud data has been advancing in recent years. Behind this trend are the spread of easy measurement methods such as drones, 3D laser scanners, and smartphones with LiDAR functions. Digitalization initiatives such as i-Construction promoted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism have also supported this trend, and point cloud data is attracting attention as a trump card for on-site DX (digital transformation). However, there have been challenges in enabling all stakeholders—field engineers, clients, and designers—to easily view and share acquired point cloud data. Normally, viewing point clouds requires installing dedicated software or using a high-performance PC, so not everyone can easily open 3D data. This is where LRTK Cloud comes in. With LRTK Cloud, you can display point cloud data in a web browser without the hassle of installing software. By uploading data from the field to the cloud and sending a sharing link, team members in remote offices can immediately check the 3D site conditions. This article explains how LRTK Cloud can be used concretely on site, and outlines its conveniences and key points. If 3D data can be shared with the entire team, mistakes caused by differing site interpretations can be reduced, leading to smoother project execution overall.

Contents

• Current state and challenges of point cloud data utilization

• What is LRTK Cloud?

• Ease of viewing point cloud data without installation

• Real-time sharing that connects field and office

• Easy sharing with stakeholders via URL links

• Measuring distances, areas, and volumes in the cloud

• Rich features like drawing overlays and comments

• LRTK: a simple, fast, and high-precision surveying tool

• Frequently asked questions

Current state and challenges of point cloud data utilization

3D point cloud data is a powerful means of digitally recording the on-site situation in detail. Because even complex terrain and structures can be precisely captured as point clouds, they are useful for construction management and design review. However, challenges often arise when it comes time to share and view those point cloud data. Major challenges include the following:

• Data volumes are large: High-density point cloud files can reach hundreds of MB to several GB, making email attachments impractical and even cloud storage downloads time-consuming.

• Dedicated software and high-performance PCs are required: Displaying and manipulating point clouds requires specialized viewers or CAD software and a high-performance PC that can run them smoothly. There are also cases where installing software on company PCs is troublesome or permission is not granted.

• The value of 3D is hard to convey: If you try to share point clouds without software by converting them to static images or videos, recipients cannot freely navigate the 3D space or perform measurements. The intrinsic value of point cloud data is not fully conveyed.

Because of these issues, conventional methods often result in not being able to “show the people you want to show” the acquired point cloud data, and detailed on-site information sharing tends to stall. As a result, communication sometimes reverts to relying on 2D drawings and photos.

What is LRTK Cloud?

The key to solving these point cloud sharing challenges is the use of the cloud. LRTK Cloud is a cloud service provided by the LRTK series, a smartphone-based centimeter-level positioning and point cloud measurement solution (cm level accuracy, half-inch accuracy). You can upload positioning data, point cloud data, and site photos acquired in the field to the cloud via the Internet and centrally manage and share them.

A major feature is that you can view acquired point cloud data directly on the cloud. If you save data to LRTK Cloud, recipients can open an issued URL link in a browser and display the 3D point cloud without dedicated software. No cumbersome file transfers or viewer installations are necessary, and anyone from field staff to clients can intuitively check the data.

You can also set a password and expiration date on shared URLs as needed, so operation is secure. In addition to point cloud data, LRTK Cloud can display various types of information collected on site, such as positioned coordinates, trajectories, and geotagged photos. This makes it an advantage that related materials can be shared in a one-stop manner.

Ease of viewing point cloud data without installation

Previously, you needed to install expensive software on a PC or struggle to send large data to view point clouds. With LRTK Cloud, none of that is necessary. As long as you have a computer connected to the Internet, you can display point clouds in the browser without installation.

For example, when you want a client or a subcontractor to view on-site point clouds, you don’t need to ask them to “install a specific dedicated software.” Simply send a sharing link by email or other means, and the recipient can immediately open the 3D viewer on their own PC. This solves issues where company security policies prevent installing software, and because processing is handled on the cloud side, it runs smoothly even on machines that are not high-spec.

This ease dramatically lowers the barrier to using point cloud data. Even clients who have never handled 3D before can freely browse the site’s 3D model by opening a URL. The benefit of no installation is that anyone, across the boundary between field and office, can share the same 3D information.

Real-time sharing that connects field and office

LRTK Cloud is also powerful for real-time sharing of data obtained on site with the office. When field technicians perform surveying or scanning with the LRTK app, they can sync data to the cloud with one tap on the spot. Once the upload is complete, designers and clients in the office can immediately view the latest point cloud and coordinate data on the web LRTK Cloud screen.

For example, if you scan backfill quantities at a construction site and share that point cloud in the cloud, office staff can immediately check the volume and incorporate it into reports. If an issue is discovered on site, uploading photos and point clouds allows the office side to grasp the situation in 3D and quickly provide instructions or take action.

Using LRTK Cloud, field and office can operate like a single team across geographic distances. Immediate sharing of the latest on-site situation speeds up decision-making and prevents rework, greatly improving operational efficiency and quality.

Additionally, you can display point clouds from LRTK Cloud on a tablet during site walkthroughs, or use remote meetings where everyone looks at the same 3D screen. It can be used anywhere with the feeling of “carrying the site with you” in real time. For example, during inspections with a client, pre-shared point clouds can be used to check site conditions in detail, shortening the time spent on on-site confirmation or, in some cases, replacing it with remote attendance. It also becomes realistic for specialists at headquarters in urban areas to check site point clouds via the cloud and give advice, or to centrally manage multiple site datasets at headquarters. The ability for the necessary people to access 3D information at the needed time regardless of distance or location is a major advantage.

Easy sharing with stakeholders via URL links

LRTK Cloud has a convenient feature to share data via URL links. Select the items you want to share, such as point cloud data, on the cloud and press the “Share” button to issue a dedicated sharing URL. At this time, you can set a viewing password or specify the link’s expiration date as needed.

If you send the issued URL by email or chat, the recipient can view the data from a browser without logging in. For example, clients and cooperating contractors do not need to register as LRTK users. Clicking the link immediately opens the 3D point cloud viewer.

This system is also a major benefit for recipients. There is no need to install a special app, and data can be viewed from a PC as well as from a smartphone or tablet browser. It’s possible to send a sharing link to a smartphone at the site and have responsible persons check it on the spot. In the shared link screen, you can measure distances and, if necessary, download the point cloud data itself (viewers cannot modify the data, so there is no worry about the original data being overwritten).

With this URL sharing feature, distribution of point cloud data is completed in a few clicks. There is no need to worry about how to distribute large files or to prepare environments for each recipient. All stakeholders can easily access the latest data, dramatically raising the level of on-site information sharing.

Measuring distances, areas, and volumes in the cloud

LRTK Cloud is not just a viewer; it also includes measurement and analysis tools. In the cloud’s 3D point cloud screen, you can measure the distance between two points or calculate the area of an arbitrary region. Even without surveying expertise, you can select points on the screen to immediately check horizontal distances and elevation differences.

A particularly powerful feature is volume calculation. You can compute the volume of embankments or excavated soil with one click from acquired point cloud data. For example, as long as you have the point cloud of a piled-up stock of soil, you can instantly determine its volume in the cloud. Conventional earthwork quantity calculations, which required drawing cross sections or manual calculations, can be done instantly on site with LRTK Cloud.

Point cloud data is also effective for estimating measurements in areas that are difficult to access. Lengths of the top edges of slopes where people cannot enter directly, or clearances at high elevations, can be measured on the point cloud safely and accurately. These functions allow on-site acquired data to be used directly for analysis and decision-making.

Additionally, LRTK Cloud supports simple editing such as noise removal to delete unnecessary parts of point cloud data. You can shape data within the cloud and share it without other software. It also supports advanced usage such as displaying multiple point clouds or 3D design models simultaneously to compare current conditions and plans. Furthermore, comparing accumulated point cloud data in the cloud over time helps monitor construction progress and long-term changes.

Rich features like drawing overlays and comments

LRTK Cloud offers various other useful functions to support data utilization. The drawing overlay feature allows you to load and display design CAD drawings or 3D models over point cloud data to intuitively check discrepancies with current conditions. Heatmap display, which automatically colors point clouds according to height or density, lets you grasp terrain undulations at a glance. You can also place pins at arbitrary points and leave comments (notes) to facilitate information sharing among stakeholders. Using these extended features deepens the insights gained from 3D data and further smooths team communication.

These extended features are being updated sequentially, and usability continues to improve by reflecting user feedback.

LRTK: a simple, fast, and high-precision surveying tool

As described above, using LRTK Cloud makes sharing and utilizing point cloud data dramatically easier. Supporting this is LRTK itself, a new surveying tool that combines simplicity, speed, and high accuracy. With a small device that attaches to a smartphone (LRTK Phone) and a dedicated app, anyone can easily perform centimeter-level positioning and 3D point cloud measurements (cm level accuracy, half-inch accuracy). The era has arrived in which high-precision surveying that formerly required specialized equipment and skills can be realized with a smartphone per person.

The benefits of introducing LRTK can be divided into three major points. “Simple” — intuitive operation and cloud integration make it easy for anyone on site to use. “Fast” — measured data can be uploaded to the cloud immediately and shared, speeding up decision-making. “High precision” — RTK-GNSS and smartphone LiDAR enable unprecedented accuracy with positioning errors on the order of several centimeters (cm-level accuracy, half-inch accuracy) when recording the site.

For example, using LRTK you can walk across a large site and quickly acquire detailed point clouds, then share them via the cloud to begin review immediately. Because surveying results are highly reliable, they directly support checks of discrepancies between design drawings and as-built conditions and control of finished shapes.

If you feel challenges in sharing point cloud data, consider using LRTK. Its ease overturns conventional wisdom and enables effective use of 3D data as a first step in on-site DX. LRTK is truly a simple, fast, and high-precision surveying solution that seamlessly connects field and office. As 3D technology advances, the role of such cloud services will only grow. As a means to further advance DX in field operations, please consider utilizing LRTK Cloud.

Frequently asked questions

Q: Do I need dedicated software or an LRTK account to view point cloud data? A: No, you do not. Simply open the shared link issued by LRTK Cloud and you can view 3D point clouds in common web browsers such as Chrome or Safari. There is no need to install a dedicated app on PC or smartphone, and you do not need to go through the hassle of obtaining permission to install software on company PCs. No special software or app installation is required for viewing, and you do not need to register as an LRTK user just to view links.

Q: Can I display 3D point clouds on smartphones or tablets? A: Yes. The LRTK Cloud viewer supports mobile devices, and it is actually used on site to check point cloud data with iPhones and iPads. Even without a PC on hand, you can check the site’s 3D situation from a smartphone browser.

Q: Can I measure distances, areas, and volumes from the viewed screen? A: Yes. The 3D viewer at the shared link includes measurement tools to measure distances between two points and elevation differences, and to calculate areas and volumes of arbitrary regions. You can also download point cloud data as a file if needed (viewers cannot edit the data, so there is no risk of the original data being overwritten).

Q: Is the security of shared data okay? A: LRTK Cloud takes security into account. Communications are encrypted and data is stored securely in the cloud. You can optionally set passwords and expiration dates for shared URLs, so even if a URL is leaked, you do not need to worry about unauthorized viewing. You can also disable a link yourself if you want to stop sharing.

Q: Can I share other data besides point clouds on LRTK Cloud? A: Yes. In addition to point cloud data, LRTK Cloud can manage and view GNSS-positioned coordinate points and geotagged site photos. Because these can be displayed together on a map screen with point clouds, you can grasp site conditions including related materials in one place.

Q: Can point cloud data obtained with other equipment be imported into LRTK Cloud? A: Yes. LRTK Cloud supports uploading standard point cloud formats (for example LAS or XYZ), so point clouds acquired with other 3D laser scanners or drones can be viewed and shared in the cloud. Centralizing various point cloud datasets generated in a project in LRTK Cloud further expands data utilization.

Q: What is required to introduce LRTK? A: LRTK consists of a small high-precision GNSS receiver (LRTK Phone) that attaches to an iPhone and a dedicated smartphone app. Prepare a compatible iPhone (LiDAR-equipped models improve measurement accuracy), install the app, and you can immediately start high-precision surveying and point cloud scanning. The device itself is palm-sized with a built-in battery and antenna, making it easy to carry. Cloud services for backing up acquired data and issuing sharing links are included, enabling end-to-end use from the field to the cloud.