Moving-object analysis is changing! High-precision trajectory data through real-time 10 Hz logging

Table of contents

• Introduction

• What real-time 10 Hz logging is

• What changes with logging frequency

• Benefits of high-precision trajectory data

• What real-time analysis enables

• Applications in construction and surveying

• Simple surveying with LRTK

• Conclusion

• FAQ

Introduction

In recent years, technology for acquiring and analyzing trajectory data of moving objects (people, vehicles, machines, etc.) has advanced dramatically. Of particular interest is the high-precision trajectory data obtained through real-time 10 Hz logging. By recording and sharing location information at a high frequency of 10 times per second, it has become possible to capture the movement of mobile objects in unprecedented detail. In the field of moving-object analysis, this technological innovation is beginning to significantly change analytical methods and application scopes.

This article explains what real-time 10 Hz logging is, how it differs from conventional methods, and the benefits that high-precision data brings. We also introduce concrete use cases in fields such as construction and surveying, and at the end of the article we touch on simple surveying using the cutting-edge tool LRTK. We hope this helps you understand the latest trends in moving-object analysis and supports DX (digital transformation) efforts on site.

What real-time 10 Hz logging is

First, let’s clarify the term real-time 10 Hz logging. Logging refers to recording time-series data obtained from sensors or devices. For example, with a GPS receiver, logging is the process of saving position coordinates to a file or the cloud at regular intervals. 10 Hz means a frequency of 10 times per second, which is very high compared to conventional GPS loggers that operated at around 1 Hz (once per second). Real-time means not only recording the data but also being able to use and display that data simultaneously.

In other words, real-time 10 Hz logging is a system that records location information and other data at a high frequency of 10 times per second and makes that data immediately usable. Imagine a dedicated device obtaining ten trajectory points per second while a person is moving and plotting them on a smartphone screen in real time. With conventional logging, the recorded data would need to be imported into a computer later for analysis, but with real-time logging you can understand the situation on site while moving. In this way, technology that acquires and shares data at high frequency and in real time is becoming a new standard in mobile data analysis.

What changes with logging frequency

What concrete changes arise when the data recording frequency (logging frequency) increases? The key is the “fineness of movement that can be captured.” The shorter the recording interval, the more minute movements of the mobile object can be preserved as data.

For example, a car traveling at 60 km/h moves about 16.7 m (54.8 ft) in one second. With conventional 1 Hz logging, positions are recorded once per second, that is, only about every 16 m (52.5 ft). In that case, the smooth trajectory when taking a curve may be represented as jagged straight segments in the data. If recorded at 10 Hz (0.1 second intervals), positions can be captured roughly every 1.7 m (5.6 ft), allowing curvature and small swerves to be faithfully recorded. The image is that high-frequency logging dramatically improves the “resolution” of movement trajectories.

Also, as logging frequency increases, the accuracy of computed speed and acceleration from the data improves. With coarse intervals, you may miss precise speed changes or instantaneous stops and accelerations, but at 10 Hz you can detect changes at 0.1-second granularity. For example, even in human walking data, you can identify the rhythm of steps and subtle direction changes in the data. In other words, increasing the logging frequency is not only about increasing data points but is an important factor that enables more accurate and detailed analysis of moving-object behavior.

Benefits of high-precision trajectory data

Next, let’s look at the benefits of trajectory data from the perspective of position accuracy. Real-time 10 Hz logging improves not only frequency but also the measurement accuracy of positions compared to conventional methods. By utilizing GNSS technologies such as RTK (Real Time Kinematic), positions can now be recorded with high accuracy on the order of several centimeters (cm level accuracy (half-inch accuracy)). The main benefits of high-frequency × high-accuracy trajectory data are as follows.

• Detailed route reproduction: Because trajectories can be recorded as an extremely fine collection of points, you can faithfully reproduce the route taken by a moving object. When checking the trajectory on a map later, there will be almost no unnatural shifts due to errors or omissions.

• Detection of minute changes: With centimeter-level accuracy, you can detect minute position changes that were previously invisible. For example, in surveying you could measure slight ground subsidence while moving, or estimate subtle undulations in a field from the path of agricultural machinery.

• Accurate distance and area calculation: When integrating travel distance from trajectory data or calculating the area of an enclosed region, high accuracy yields highly reliable results. In particular, in area measurement a meter-scale offset in the trajectory can cause large errors in area calculation, but with centimeter-accuracy trajectories you can be confident in the results.

• Data sharing and reuse: High-precision trajectory data can be smoothly integrated with other systems and analysis tools. For example, you can import it into construction management software to compare actual working routes with as-built plans, or overlay multiple measurement results to monitor changes. Because data can be shared to the cloud in real time, remote offices can also issue instructions while viewing on-site trajectories.

Thus, high-precision trajectory data is highly valuable not only for “drawing the trajectory correctly” but also as a reliable record that can be reused for various analyses and decisions. In other words, high-accuracy trajectory data itself becomes an asset, a highly reliable record that can be verified and utilized repeatedly.

What real-time analysis enables

The ability to utilize data in real time is also a major strength. Previously, data logged on site had to be taken back for analysis, making it difficult to confirm trajectories or use them for immediate decision-making on the spot. With real-time logging, because acquisition, analysis, and sharing are possible simultaneously, flexible on-site responses become feasible.

For example, in surveying you can display the path you have walked on a map while working and immediately confirm whether there are any uncovered areas. If anything is missing, you can conduct additional measurements on the spot, reducing the need for revisit trips. It is also conceivable to apply this to safety management: supervisors can remotely monitor workers’ movement paths in real time and issue alerts if they approach hazardous zones. In dynamic management of construction machinery or drones, having high-precision real-time trajectories makes instant instructions and control possible, improving both efficiency and safety.

Furthermore, real-time analysis reduces the boundary between the field and the office. If on-site trajectory data is shared instantly via the cloud, engineers in the office can give advice or prepare the next work process while watching real-time movement. This minimizes waiting time for on-site data and dramatically speeds up decision-making. With DX being emphasized today, real-time data utilization is an indispensable element for improving and sophisticating field operations.

Applications in construction and surveying

High-precision data from real-time 10 Hz logging is particularly effective in construction sites and surveying. In these fields, positional accuracy and work efficiency determine outcomes, so the benefits of using high-precision trajectory data appear directly.

In construction, for example, logging the exact paths taken by heavy machinery (earthmoving equipment) allows you to grasp the extent of work and the shape of excavation or embankment from the data. Later, you can easily compare the as-built plans with actual trajectories to verify construction accuracy or check for missed work. Monitoring the movements of multiple machines and workers in real time can also reduce duplicated work and prevent dangerous proximity incidents.

In surveying, high-precision trajectory logs are revolutionary. Traditionally, surveyors measured points one by one to create maps, but with real-time logging a person can simply walk around a site and the path will be drawn on the map. If you walk along property boundaries or road centerlines, you can obtain the base data for detailed survey maps. This is a dynamic surveying style of “measuring while moving,” allowing comprehensive data collection for large sites in a short time.

Moreover, Japan’s i-Construction initiative promotes efficiency in construction and surveying using ICT. Real-time 10 Hz logging is precisely the technology that supports this initiative, contributing to site digitization and labor saving. With high-precision trajectory data, as-built management (inspection of final shapes and dimensions) can be performed digitally, reducing the need to compare paper plans with the site. As a result, you gain both improved quality control and reduced working time.

Simple surveying with LRTK

A tool that has attracted attention recently for easily realizing high-precision real-time logging is LRTK. LRTK is a solution that combines a compact RTK-GNSS receiver with a smartphone, achieving centimeter-level positioning accuracy (cm level accuracy (half-inch accuracy)) in a portable form. By attaching the GNSS module housed in a dedicated smartphone attachment to your phone and launching the app, you can immediately start acquiring high-precision position information. Because it does not require complicated equipment setup or specialized operation, it is designed to be easy to use even for those without surveying expertise.

Using LRTK enables truly “walk-and-measure” simple surveying. For example, by simply walking around a point of interest with a smartphone in hand, the path is plotted on a map in real time and the area enclosed or elevation differences can be calculated on the spot. Tasks that formerly required setting up surveying equipment and measuring many points can be greatly streamlined. The device itself is very lightweight and compact, making it easy to bring to sites and highly mobile for “let’s just measure this area for a moment” scenarios.

LRTK also supports multi-band GNSS and can directly receive the centimeter-class augmentation service provided by Japan’s quasi-zenith satellite system “Michibiki” (CLAS). Therefore, high-precision real-time positioning can be maintained even in mountainous areas or locations with poor internet connectivity. The smartphone app can automatically back up acquired position data to the cloud and link photos and notes to records, enabling on-site data to be shared and utilized immediately.

In this way, LRTK is designed as a simple surveying tool that anyone can use while maximizing the benefits of real-time 10 Hz logging. It shines in situations where full-scale surveying is unnecessary but accurate position data is desired, dramatically lowering the barrier to surveying work. In many scenarios that require high-precision trajectory data, LRTK will be a reliable partner combining ease of use and accuracy.

Conclusion

High-precision trajectory data obtained through real-time 10 Hz logging is greatly expanding the possibilities of moving-object analysis. High-frequency data acquisition records fine movements, and the use of RTK technology and the like has dramatically improved positional accuracy, making detailed analysis and immediate response that were previously difficult now commonplace. The benefits in construction and surveying are especially significant. An environment is being established in which not only experts but anyone on site can handle high-precision data and work efficiently.

As sensor technology and communication infrastructure advance further, the accuracy and update frequency of real-time logging will continue to improve. In the future, higher-than-10 Hz high-frequency data and real-time trajectory data from autonomous mobile robots and vehicles may become an important information infrastructure supporting our society. Actively leveraging high-precision moving-object data in this trend will likely lead not only to operational efficiency but also to new value creation. Consider investigating the use of real-time 10 Hz logging technologies and tools (for example, LRTK). We expect this new step of capturing moving-object movement in real time to bring significant innovation to field operations.

FAQ

Q: What is real-time 10 Hz logging?

A: It is a system that records moving-object data (mainly position information) at a high frequency of 10 times per second and allows simultaneous use of that data. Compared to conventional logging (about 1 Hz), it acquires data at much finer intervals, reproducing movement trajectories at high resolution. The real-time aspect also enables monitoring and analysis while acquiring data.

Q: What is RTK?

A: RTK stands for Real Time Kinematic, a technique to improve satellite positioning accuracy. By using two GNSS receivers (a base station and a rover), the base station calculates correction information and transmits it to the rover in real time, reducing errors that would be several meters in standalone positioning to a few centimeters. The base station is placed at a point with a known precise position and computes error quantities from the satellite signals it receives. The rover (the moving receiver) applies those corrections to obtain high-precision positions. Simply put, RTK positioning is a method of correcting the moving receiver’s deviation using a “stationary receiver” as the reference.

Q: What equipment is needed for high-precision logging?

A: Typical GPS receivers alone are insufficient to record positions with centimeter-level accuracy. You need an RTK-compatible GNSS receiver (rover), and in many cases a base station or satellite communication service that provides correction information. A simple way to get started is to use a small RTK-GNSS device that can be paired with a smartphone. For example, products like LRTK allow easy setup of a high-precision logging environment by combining a dedicated device with a smartphone app.

Q: Can you get high-precision trajectory data with only a smartphone?

A: Built-in smartphone GPS typically has errors on the order of meters, so obtaining centimeter-level trajectory data with the phone alone is difficult. However, attaching an external high-precision GNSS receiver to the phone or using positioning augmentation services via the internet can improve accuracy. Using an RTK device that integrates with a smartphone, such as LRTK, turns the phone into a high-precision surveying tool.

Q: Is internet connectivity required for real-time logging?

A: It depends on the case. If you need to receive correction information from a base station service (such as NTRIP) in urban areas, a mobile data connection is required. On the other hand, in Japan there are mechanisms like Michibiki’s CLAS that provide correction signals directly from satellites without using the internet. Because LRTK supports CLAS, it can maintain high-precision positioning even outside communication coverage. Depending on the use case, you can also operate a logger in standalone mode without network connectivity and retrieve the data later.

Q: Do you always need to record at 10 Hz?

A: It depends on the movement and required accuracy. For fast-moving objects or cases needing fine analysis, 10 Hz is desirable, but for slow movements 1 Hz may be sufficient. Higher recording frequency increases data volume, so adjust settings as needed. Many devices allow choosing the logging frequency (for example, 1 Hz, 5 Hz, 10 Hz), so select an appropriate value based on the balance between desired accuracy and data volume.