How to Easily Share Point Cloud Data via URL? Solve It with Just Your Smartphone Using LRTK!

Table of Contents

• What is point cloud data?

• Challenges in sharing point cloud data

• Benefits of sharing point cloud data via URL

• What is LRTK? A point cloud measurement tool that works entirely on a smartphone

• URL sharing of point cloud data enabled by LRTK

• Benefits and use cases of LRTK

• LRTK’s usefulness for simple on-site surveying

• Summary: Sharing point clouds via URL is this easy with a smartphone

• FAQ

What is point cloud data?

Point cloud data refers to data constructed as a collection of many points in three-dimensional space. Each point contains position coordinates (X, Y, Z) and often color information; together, these points can represent the shape of objects and terrain in detail. Point clouds are obtained by laser scanners, LiDAR, photogrammetry, and other methods, and they are increasingly used across fields from construction and civil engineering to surveying, manufacturing, and cultural heritage documentation.

For example, on construction sites you can scan terrain and structures as point clouds to create a current 3D model. Traditionally, situations could only be shared with 2D drawings or photos, but using point cloud data allows you to capture objects spatially and understand them intuitively. Because of their precision and visual clarity, point clouds are being used for site quality control, design verification, construction records, facility management, and more.

However, point cloud data is extremely detailed and thus tends to be very large in size. Densely scanned point clouds can contain millions to hundreds of millions of points, and file sizes often reach hundreds of MB to several GB. For large-scale point clouds covering entire cities, data volumes can reach the order of hundreds of GB. Handling such large point cloud datasets raises several challenges around storage and sharing.

Challenges in sharing point cloud data

When you try to share point cloud data with stakeholders, you encounter several difficulties. Major challenges include:

• Large file sizes: As noted above, point cloud files are often very large, making email attachments impractical and causing long upload/download times even with cloud storage. With slow network connections, transfers can take hours, which doesn't meet the need for quick on-site sharing.

• Specialized formats and viewers required: Point clouds are saved in specialized formats such as LAS, PLY, and E57. Recipients need compatible software or a point cloud viewer to inspect them. High-end point cloud processing software can be costly or complex to operate, so it’s not always easy to provide an environment that all stakeholders can use. Displaying and interacting with high-resolution point clouds may also require a high-performance PC.

• Time lag between field and office: Traditional workflows often require taking field-acquired point clouds back to the office for processing and visualization on a PC before distribution. This makes it difficult to share the latest on-site status immediately, causing a time lag between field staff and office personnel.

• Difficulty of use: Although point clouds are intuitive as a collection of points, raw data can still be hard to handle for recipients. If someone is simply handed a file but cannot properly view it in a 3D viewer or create cross-sections, they may not get the information they need. Therefore, sharing sometimes requires extra work like preparing section drawings or quantity tables tailored to the viewer.

Given these challenges, a method that enables everyone to easily handle and smoothly share point cloud data is in demand. One solution attracting attention is the approach of sharing point cloud data via URL.

Benefits of sharing point cloud data via URL

Sharing point cloud data via URL means uploading the data to the cloud, making it viewable in a web browser, and sending the link (URL) to the viewing page to others. Recipients can click the URL to view the 3D point cloud via their browser without needing specialized software. This method offers several benefits:

• No software required—anyone can view: Recipients only need to open the link, so no special viewer installation is necessary. Point clouds can be checked from PCs, tablets, or smartphones as long as they have a web browser. Because it doesn’t depend on the recipient’s environment, even non-technical clients or other departments can easily view 3D data.

• Simple data distribution: Sharing a single URL via email or chat is far easier than distributing huge files. If the cloud-hosted link always points to the latest data, there’s no need to send files to multiple people individually—centralized sharing of up-to-date information is possible. Concerns about version mismatches or forgetting to send files are reduced.

• No high-performance PC required: Rendering and analysis of point clouds are handled in the cloud, so recipients don’t need a high-spec machine to view data smoothly. Tasks that used to require a workstation for high-resolution point clouds can now be handled on a standard office laptop or tablet. Sending data from the field to the office via the cloud is also safer and faster than using internal servers or USB drives.

• Interactive use: Cloud-based point cloud viewers often include measurement and comment features. Recipients can measure dimensions directly in 3D or place markers and comments for feedback. This enables interactive information sharing rather than merely exchanging static documents.

As described above, sharing point clouds via URL is an effective way to “distribute heavy data easily and allow anyone to check 3D data anywhere.” Next, let’s consider how to implement such convenient sharing in practice.

What is LRTK? A point cloud measurement tool that works entirely on a smartphone

To make URL-based point cloud sharing practical, it’s important to be able to easily obtain high-quality point cloud data. This is where LRTK comes in. LRTK is an all-purpose surveying solution designed to allow anyone to perform high-accuracy point cloud measurements easily by combining a smartphone with a compact positioning device.

LRTK attaches a dedicated small GNSS receiver to a smartphone (iPhone) and combines it with the phone’s built-in LiDAR scanner. The GNSS receiver supports Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) positioning, achieving centimeter-level accuracy. This enables the point cloud captured by the smartphone to be assigned absolute (world) coordinates, allowing 3D information to be obtained with surveying-level accuracy. Tasks that previously required expensive laser scanners or professional surveying equipment can be completed with just a smartphone and a palm-sized device.

The actual usage procedure is simple. Attach the LRTK device to your smartphone, launch the dedicated app, and start scanning. Then just walk around the area you want to measure while the smartphone automatically acquires surrounding point cloud data. For example, scanning a medium-sized earthwork area can be completed with about a five-minute walk. No special operations are required—the interface is intuitive enough that field workers can use it without prior professional training. Acquirable point clouds reach up to about 60 m away, capturing terrain and structures in detail.

Point clouds obtained with LRTK can also be output in formats compliant with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism’s as-built management guidelines. In other words, it’s not just casual scanning—the data can meet the precision and formats required for submission as as-built measurement results in public works. The ability to obtain such high-resolution 3D data with only a smartphone is LRTK’s main feature.

URL sharing of point cloud data enabled by LRTK

So how do you share point cloud data obtained with LRTK via URL? The key is LRTK’s cloud integration feature. After completing a scan in the LRTK app, you can upload the data to the dedicated cloud with a single tap. On the cloud, uploaded point clouds are automatically processed and stored, and users can access their data from a browser.

Synchronized 3D data on the cloud can be viewed not only on a PC but also in a smartphone browser. Moreover, the cloud viewer enables advanced analysis and visualization—such as measuring distances and areas or displaying cross-sections—with button operations. If you upload point clouds from the field to the cloud the same day, colleagues in the office can immediately open the data, check the situation, and measure necessary dimensions.

LRTK Cloud also provides a feature to issue shareable links (URLs) for each point cloud dataset. Using this, you can show the same point clouds to external contractors or clients who do not have an LRTK license or app. Anyone with the shared link can click it to open a browser-based point cloud viewer that reproduces nearly the same 3D view as the sender. No special equipment or software is required on the recipient side.

With this sharing link feature, it becomes much easier to explain the latest construction status online to owners or clients, consult with engineers at distant branches, and more. Because the link lets you share the on-site “now” with anyone, communication speed improves dramatically. The data are also securely stored in the cloud, reducing worries about lost USB drives or mis-sent files.

Benefits and use cases of LRTK

Using LRTK streamlines the entire workflow from point cloud acquisition to sharing, which is a major attraction. Below are the main benefits of LRTK and the scenarios where it is especially effective.

Main benefits of introducing LRTK:

• Rapid information sharing: Processes that used to take days to weeks—from field surveying to drawing and sharing—can be completed the same day with LRTK. Syncing point clouds to the cloud and sharing via URL enables near-real-time information exchange between field and office.

• Cost and labor savings: Measurements can be completed with only a smartphone and the LRTK device, so there is no need to rent large equipment or outsource to surveying specialists. This reduces costs and the effort of transporting equipment and arranging personnel. Sharing results on the cloud also reduces the use of paper drawings and USB handovers, simplifying procedures.

• Easy operation for anyone: The intuitive app interface allows people without specialized knowledge to operate it, enabling field workers to perform point cloud measurement and immediate sharing. In fact, some sites that adopted LRTK reported workers using it without prior professional training. Ease of use is an important factor in promoting ICT on sites.

• High accuracy and quality: Combining GNSS and LiDAR provides centimeter-level positioning accuracy and high point density, yielding high-quality 3D data. Accuracy can be verified and adjusted using control points, making the data suitable for as-built management. Sharing high-quality data quickly allows all stakeholders to discuss based on reliable information.

• Versatile use: Acquired point clouds can be used in various ways on the cloud. For example, you can automatically generate mesh models (3D models) from point clouds and compare them to design data, or use AR to overlay virtual completed images on-site. Such data utilization can be performed within LRTK’s cloud platform, eliminating the need to transfer data to separate software.

Typical use cases:

• Sharing construction progress: Record changing terrain and structures as point clouds on the construction site and share URL links with clients or headquarters so they can check progress in 3D without visiting the site. Details that are hard to convey with photos or text become immediately clear with point clouds.

• As-built inspections and pass/fail judgments: Measurement results compliant with as-built management guidelines can be shared on the cloud instantly, allowing distant inspectors to perform checks almost in real time. Overlaying drawings and point clouds makes quality checks easy, and issues can be promptly fed back to the site.

• Disaster site documentation and coordination: In emergencies like landslides or accidents, LRTK can rapidly record the site in 3D and share it with headquarters. Stakeholders can gather and assess damage based on the shared point cloud, speeding initial response.

• Facility management and maintenance: During inspections of plants or infrastructure, scanning point clouds and sharing them with relevant departments allows experts to assess conditions remotely. Comparing with past point clouds makes it easy to discuss deterioration and plan countermeasures.

LRTK’s usefulness for simple on-site surveying

So far we’ve covered point cloud acquisition and cloud sharing with LRTK. But LRTK’s advantages on site go beyond that. LRTK is also powerful for “simple surveying,” meaning quick measurement tasks on site.

For example, imagine you suddenly need a certain dimension on site. Traditionally you might need to fetch a tape measure or measurement device or call a surveying team, which is time-consuming. With LRTK, just scan the surroundings with your smartphone to capture 3D data. Uploading it to the cloud and measuring distances or areas there lets you immediately obtain the dimensions you need. Volume calculations for embankments or spoil can also be performed quickly on-site, allowing prompt updates to earthwork quantities and estimates.

LRTK also includes AR display functions using acquired point clouds. For example, you can record buried pipes in a point cloud and later use smartphone AR to visualize them through the pavement, accurately locating underground pipes. This helps plan safe excavation work that avoids buried objects. In this way, LRTK supports a wide range of on-site tasks—from quick everyday measurements to advanced AR applications.

Summary: Sharing point clouds via URL is this easy with a smartphone

This article explained the solution of sharing point cloud data via URL and the tool LRTK that makes it possible. Even very large and specialized point cloud datasets can be captured with just a smartphone and uploaded to the cloud using LRTK, after which you simply send a URL link to share smoothly with stakeholders. Recipients can view 3D data without installing software, greatly improving information-sharing efficiency both inside and outside the organization.

LRTK significantly transforms the previously time-consuming processes of surveying, measurement, and data sharing. The ability to quickly convert on-site information into 3D and share it facilitates not only faster operations but also quicker consensus-building and decision-making among stakeholders. As an answer to “How can I easily share point cloud data via URL?”, LRTK is certainly one of the best solutions. If you’re interested, consider trying this new smartphone-based surveying workflow.

FAQ

Q: Is the cloud always required to share point cloud data? A: Traditionally, data could be transferred via USB drives or external hard disks, but cloud use is recommended for smooth sharing. LRTK provides cloud sync and URL sharing features as standard, enabling data upload and link generation without extra steps. Using the cloud avoids repeatedly copying huge files for each transfer and allows everyone to refer to the latest data online.

Q: How do people who receive a shared link view the point cloud data? A: It’s very simple. Clicking the sent URL automatically launches a point cloud viewer in the web browser. Recipients don’t need to install any special software. They can rotate, zoom, and move the viewpoint with mouse or touch controls to examine the 3D data from various angles. Compatible browsers allow viewing from PCs as well as smartphones.

Q: Can LRTK’s point cloud measurements be trusted for accuracy and quality? A: Yes. LRTK combines high-precision GNSS (RTK) positioning with the smartphone’s LiDAR scanner to ensure centimeter-level positional accuracy in the acquired point clouds. Density is high and shape detail is well captured. When necessary, corrections using known control points can achieve quality comparable to terrestrial laser scanner surveys. LRTK data have been used in public works as-built measurements, demonstrating reliability.

Q: Can you really do point cloud measurements with only a smartphone? Are no additional devices required? A: LRTK is a solution composed of a smartphone and a dedicated GNSS receiver (and an app). The GNSS receiver is palm-sized and attaches to the smartphone, so it feels as if you’re measuring with just the phone. Strictly speaking, a small device that mounts to the phone is used, but no large tripods or PCs are required. All devices are battery-powered and operate cable-free in the field. High mobility makes it easy to measure point clouds even in mountainous or high-altitude locations where bringing conventional equipment would be difficult.

Q: Can it be used offline? Can you acquire and share point clouds in areas without cellular coverage? A: LRTK supports Japan’s satellite positioning services (the QZSS/“Michibiki” CLAS signal), enabling high-precision positioning even where cellular signals are unavailable. Acquiring point clouds offline in the field is possible. Data collected offline can be uploaded to the cloud and shared later once you move to a location with reception. In other words, you can measure in remote areas and share with stakeholders after returning to the office.

Q: How do I introduce LRTK? A: LRTK is currently offered as a product for the surveying and construction industries. If you’re interested, contact LRTK’s official website or an authorized dealer for details on implementation, pricing, or to request a demo. You can experience efficiency gains from this new smartphone-based surveying method—feel free to inquire.