Store large point clouds in the cloud at once and share with stakeholders via URL! Achieve on-site DX with LRTK

Table of contents

• Introduction: The importance of point cloud data and the challenges of sharing

• What is point cloud data? Its role in surveying and construction management

• Traditional challenges in point cloud sharing: data size, formats, and software dependency

• The LRTK workflow from point cloud acquisition to cloud storage: smartphone → cloud → URL

• Benefits of URL sharing: simplicity, eliminating time lags, multi-device support

• Use cases: site ⇄ office, client briefings, remote construction management, interim inspections

• How sharing via URL changes team collaboration and speed

• Data security and access management mechanisms

• Case studies and feedback from sites (faster operations, improved verification accuracy, labor savings)

• Conclusion: LRTK’s strengths that change point cloud sharing conventions and recommendations for adoption

• FAQ: URL expiration, file size limits, viewing environments, whether others can edit, how to revoke sharing

Introduction: The importance of point cloud data and the challenges of sharing

In recent years, the use of point cloud data has rapidly expanded at construction and civil engineering sites. Point cloud data is an important digital asset that can record site conditions as high-precision 3D models and is useful across a wide range of activities from construction planning to as-built inspections. However, there remain challenges in sharing large volumes of point cloud data among stakeholders. Large file sizes prevent sending by email, specialized software is required so not everyone can view the data, and as a result, valuable 3D data often stays on site and cannot be used in a timely manner.

This article introduces LRTK as a new solution that addresses these challenges and promotes on-site DX (digital transformation). With LRTK, large amounts of point cloud data acquired on site can be saved to the cloud at once and shared with the entire team via a simple URL link. The cumbersome process of data sharing is completed with a single click, dramatically improving information flow between the site, office, and client. Below we look in detail at the mechanism and benefits.

What is point cloud data? Its role in surveying and construction management

First, a brief recap of point cloud data. Point cloud data is a dataset that records actual terrain and structures in three dimensions as a collection of innumerable survey points. Each point includes X, Y, and Z coordinate values (positional information), and laser scanners may add return intensity while photogrammetry may add color (RGB) information. While traditional 2D drawings omit height information, point clouds capture spatial information including height, so they can reproduce site shapes in three dimensions as they are.

For this reason, point cloud data is used in many surveying and construction management applications. For example, on construction sites, drone imaging or terrestrial laser scanning is used to convert pre- and post-construction terrain into point clouds to support accurate earthwork volume calculations at design stage and as-built management (the process of confirming whether completed structures match the design). By comparing pre-construction ground point clouds with post-construction embankment or excavation surfaces, differences such as fill and excavation volumes can be calculated with high accuracy. In bridge and road maintenance, periodic point cloud surveys are archived digitally to monitor displacement and inform future repair planning. Because point cloud data can record extensive site conditions in detail with a single survey, it contributes significantly to reducing the number of surveys and improving operational efficiency and labor savings through quality assurance.

Traditional challenges in point cloud sharing: data size, formats, and software dependency

Although point cloud data is extremely useful, there are many hurdles when sharing it using traditional methods. First is file size. Point clouds are collections of millions to hundreds of millions of points, and data size can range from hundreds of MB to, in some cases, several GB. Sending such large files as email attachments is practically impossible, so teams had to rely on analog methods like copying to USB drives or external HDDs and handing them over. Physical media handoffs are time-consuming, and if a media is lost, there is also a risk of confidential data leakage.

Second is the issue of data formats and software. Point cloud data uses specialized formats such as LAS or E57, which require dedicated point cloud viewers or high-performance CAD software to open. Some site staff or subcontractors may not have those programs or their PCs may lack the necessary specs, making it difficult to open and view the data easily. As a result, richly detailed 3D data is often reduced to static images or paper materials when shared. This software dependency narrows the scope of point cloud data utilization.

Furthermore, during exchanges among multiple personnel, it is common to lose track of which version is the latest. For example, while passing data back and forth on USBs between the site and design department, it may become unclear which point cloud is the most recent, or old versions may remain on individual PCs causing confusion. Because sharing is cumbersome, update frequency drops, creating a time lag between the field situation and office understanding. Traditional sharing methods that lack real-time capability made it difficult to leverage point cloud data for timely on-site decision-making.

The LRTK workflow from point cloud acquisition to cloud storage: smartphone → cloud → URL

The solution to these problems is LRTK. LRTK is a system consisting of a small RTK-GNSS receiver that attaches to a smartphone or tablet and a dedicated app, enabling anyone to easily perform centimeter-level high-accuracy positioning and 3D point cloud measurement (cm level accuracy (half-inch accuracy)). When you perform surveying or scanning on site using the LRTK app, the acquired data is not only saved on the device but can also be synchronized to the cloud with one button. For example, after scanning terrain on site, you can send the data from your smartphone to the LRTK cloud on the spot. There is no need to return to the office to copy files to a PC or send them by email.

:contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}Example of the URL sharing link issuance screen on the LRTK cloud. You can select the acquired point cloud data, set a viewing password and expiration date, and issue a shared URL with a single click. Simply send this link to stakeholders and the site point cloud data can be shared immediately. Recipients can view the data in a web browser without logging into the LRTK cloud. Internal project members as well as external stakeholders such as clients and subcontractors can view the same 3D data in real time from their PCs or tablets. When necessary, users can also download measurement coordinate lists and point cloud files for additional analysis in their own CAD software. LRTK enables a smooth end-to-end flow of on-site measurement → cloud storage → URL sharing, dramatically lowering the barriers to point cloud data sharing.

Benefits of URL sharing: simplicity, eliminating time lags, multi-device support

The URL sharing function of LRTK cloud offers many advantages that traditional methods do not. The main benefits are as follows.

• Simple: Sharing is extremely straightforward. Even without specialized knowledge, you can select data in the cloud and press a button to share with stakeholders. Recipients can open the URL they receive and view the data with a single click, so anyone can use it intuitively.

• Instant sharing: Data uploaded to the cloud becomes viewable immediately, so the latest information acquired on site can be shared almost in real time. There is no need to wait for USB shipping or email transfers, eliminating information transmission time lags.

• Multi-device support: Shared URLs can be used in browsers on PCs, tablets, and smartphones. Whether in the field or the office, as long as there is an internet connection, data can be accessed from any device or location.

• No dedicated software required: No special application is required for viewing; the usual web browser is sufficient to handle large point clouds. Because processing occurs on the cloud side, you can smoothly display 3D data on a typical PC even without a high-performance machine.

Use cases: site ⇄ office, client briefings, remote construction management, interim inspections

URL sharing via LRTK is powerful in many practical construction and civil engineering scenarios. It is effective in cases such as:

• Site ⇄ office information sharing: If surveyors upload point cloud data from the site to the cloud immediately, designers and supervisors in the office can confirm current conditions on the spot. Discrepancies with drawings or the need for additional work can be identified immediately, enabling closer communication between site and office.

• Client briefings: For checking the completed state or reporting progress, site conditions that were difficult to convey with paper drawings or photos can be understood at a glance with 3D point cloud data. Sharing the data via URL allows the client to receive an immersive online explanation without visiting the site, deepening understanding and speeding up approval.

• Remote construction management: When site agents or construction managers are responsible for multiple sites, they can check each site’s point cloud data via the cloud to understand progress without travel time. For example, headquarters can check the position of buried objects or excavation status at distant sites and issue instructions as needed. Sharing expert knowledge remotely supports safe and reliable construction.

• Streamlining interim inspections and reports: Point cloud sharing is powerful for interim inspections and as-built inspections. If inspectors or supervisors receive the site’s 3D data in advance via URL, they can prepare and pre-check items, potentially replacing some on-site attendances with online inspections and reducing in-person inspection frequency. This leads to more efficient and flexible inspection work.

How sharing via URL changes team collaboration and speed

By enabling immediate sharing of point cloud data via URL, project team collaboration and work speed improve dramatically. With everyone always sharing the latest site information, common mistakes such as not knowing which file is the latest or rework caused by uncommunicated information are eliminated. Stakeholders—including site, office, subcontractors, and clients—can discuss and make decisions while viewing the same 3D data, eliminating misunderstandings and enabling smooth consensus building.

Faster information sharing directly boosts site productivity. For example, what previously took several days to compile and distribute survey data to complete drawing checks can, with LRTK, be reviewed by all stakeholders and have instructions issued on the same day. Decision-making time shortens and overall construction progress management becomes more efficient. Using rich point cloud data as a shared baseline also enables digital workflows unique to on-site DX. Elements that relied on paper drawings or verbal explanations become visualized in 3D, helping less experienced members intuitively understand site conditions and promoting organizational knowledge sharing.

Data security and access management mechanisms

When uploading data to the cloud and sharing it, security and access control are important concerns. LRTK cloud addresses these points thoroughly. All communications are encrypted, and cloud servers are operated in highly secure data centers. Even if a field device fails or is lost, data backed up in the cloud can be restored quickly. Entrusting important survey data to professionally managed cloud storage is generally more secure and reliable than scattering data across individual PCs and USB drives.

Data published via shared links can also be password-protected and have expiration dates set as needed. Highly confidential data can be shared as a password-protected URL so only authorized people can access it, and time-limited shares (e.g., viewable for a specified number of days) can be configured. Once the period expires, access is automatically disabled, preventing accidental long-term exposure. Additionally, administrators can disable sharing at any time from the LRTK cloud management console to invalidate issued URLs.

For internal teams, access rights can be configured in detail per user. For each project’s data, you can grant “edit permissions” or “view-only permissions,” preventing accidental overwrites while enabling smooth collaboration. By providing view-only links to third parties and edit permissions to internal members, LRTK balances secure and open information sharing.

Case studies and feedback from sites (faster operations, improved verification accuracy, labor savings)

Sites that have implemented LRTK and cloud sharing report numerous benefits. Representative feedback includes:

• Dramatically faster operations: On one site, what used to take several days to send survey data to headquarters for drafting and checking can now be reviewed by all stakeholders and have instructions issued within the same day after introducing LRTK. Eliminating waiting time for data exchange has sped up the entire process.

• Improved verification accuracy: Sharing point cloud data has enabled earlier discovery of construction errors and discrepancies with designs that were previously overlooked. Details that were not apparent in paper reports can be confirmed on 3D data, reducing rework and ensuring quality. Clients have also reported smoother briefings and deeper trust.

• Labor savings and remote capabilities: Because distant sites can be checked and instructed without frequent business trips, staff can be deployed more efficiently. Headquarters can monitor multiple sites without a local manager present, enabling small teams to manage construction. Tasks that previously required two-person teams can be performed by one person with LRTK and shared immediately, helping address labor shortages.

Conclusion: LRTK's strengths that change point cloud sharing norms and why you should adopt it

Cloud sharing enabled by LRTK is a game-changer that significantly alters conventional point cloud data operations. Even very large point clouds can be uploaded directly from the site to the cloud and shared with a single URL, greatly expanding the speed and scope of data utilization. This goes beyond mere efficiency improvements; it is a powerful tool for shifting on-site workstyles toward digital-centric workflows.

Where point cloud data once had the reputation of being difficult to handle, LRTK makes point clouds a shared language that anyone on site can use. For companies and organizations aiming to accelerate on-site DX, LRTK is a highly reliable partner. Take this opportunity to experience the benefits of point cloud data sharing with LRTK. Adopt cutting-edge tools to elevate site productivity and communication to the next level.

FAQ: URL expiration, file size limits, viewing environments, whether others can edit, how to revoke sharing

Q. Can an expiration date be set for shared URLs? A. Yes. You can set an expiration date when issuing a URL. You can share data with a time limit such as “link invalid after ◯ days.” Once the period passes, the URL automatically becomes inaccessible, so you can safely share data that you do not want to remain public long-term (you can also choose to share indefinitely by not setting an expiration).

Q. Are there limits to the size of point cloud data that can be uploaded and shared? A. While typical email attachments are limited to several tens of MB, LRTK cloud is designed to handle large data, so point cloud datasets on the scale of hundreds of MB to several GB can be uploaded and shared. Actual size limits depend on the plan, but point clouds obtained in normal construction sites can generally be stored at once without issue.

Q. Can recipients view shared links on any environment such as PC or smartphone? A. Yes. As long as a major web browser is available, shared links can be viewed on PCs, tablets, and smartphones. Whether checking on a tablet at the site, a smartphone on the move, or a large PC screen at the office, data can be viewed regardless of device. No dedicated viewer installation is required.

Q. Can others edit data via the shared link? A. No. Data shared via URL is basically view-only. Recipients can display and check the data and, if permitted, download it, but they cannot overwrite the original data in the cloud. Editing or adding data can only be done by users with the appropriate permissions on the LRTK cloud.

Q. How do I revoke (invalidate) a link that has already been shared? A. From the LRTK cloud management console, you can delete the link for the data you want to stop sharing. Once the link is deleted, the previously issued URL will no longer display the data even if accessed. If you set an expiration date when sharing, access will also be automatically disabled when the period elapses. Administrators can control sharing status at any time, so you can rest assured.