Complete Surveys by One Person! Achieve Labor Reduction with RTK Devices

Table of Contents

• Introduction

• Single-person surveying needed in an era of labor shortages

• New technologies changing surveying conventions

• What is an RTK device?

• Benefits of single-person surveying using RTK devices

• The power of RTK devices at the site

• Ease of use even for beginners

• The future opened by single-person surveying

• Simple surveying with LRTK

• FAQ

Introduction

On construction and civil engineering survey sites, there has long been a convention that “surveying work is done by two or more people.” One person would operate the surveying instrument while another held the staff (rod) at the survey point — such scenes were commonplace. Recently, however, a new style called “single-person surveying” that overturns this convention is attracting attention. As the name implies, it is a method that allows one person to complete surveying tasks, and it is bringing innovation to the industry as a means to greatly contribute to labor reduction and efficiency on site.

Single-person surveying needed in an era of labor shortages

In recent years, the construction industry has faced serious issues such as labor shortages and the aging of skilled technicians. While veteran surveying technicians are retiring one after another, the number of young entrants is decreasing, making it difficult to secure personnel to handle surveying. Demand for public works and private development remains high, so creative ways to run sites with limited personnel are required. Under these circumstances, the importance of “surveying that can be done by one person” has increased significantly.

If single-person surveying becomes possible, necessary surveys can proceed smoothly even amid personnel shortages. This not only reduces labor costs but also allows surveying to be performed in parallel with other tasks, improving overall site productivity. For example, in cases where heavy equipment operators previously had to stop work while waiting for a surveying team to arrive, single-person surveying can greatly shorten wait times and reduce construction losses. If anyone can take measurements whenever needed, it also becomes easier to respond flexibly to bad weather or schedule changes. Creating an environment that does not rely on specific surveying personnel will contribute to improved risk management and sustainable operations across the site.

New technologies changing surveying conventions

Realizing single-person surveying requires approaches different from conventional ones and the use of new technologies. Traditional total station surveying required at least two people to operate the instrument and the prism. But as technology has advanced, surveying conventions have begun to change. For example, an automatic-tracking total station allows one person to carry a prism and observe survey points while walking. Photogrammetry using drones and point-cloud surveying with terrestrial laser scanners, which acquire terrain data without human intervention, have also become widespread. These latest technologies all reduce the number of personnel required and improve work efficiency, but they are not万能. Automatic-tracking total stations are expensive and require operator proficiency; drone surveying is constrained by weather and no-fly zones and cannot be freely used at every site.

Amid these developments, RTK surveying using satellite positioning technology has attracted particular attention for enabling single-person surveying. RTK (Real Time Kinematic) is a positioning method that combines positioning signals from GNSS satellites with correction information from a base station in real time to determine positions with centimeter-level accuracy (half-inch accuracy). Using RTK, a single person can immediately obtain highly accurate position coordinates. There is no need to set up optical surveying instruments, and it demonstrates strong mobility even when taking measurements while walking around a large site. In fact, the fixed idea that “surveying requires large equipment and multiple-person teams” is beginning to crumble, and a recent symbol of this shift is the emergence of pocket-sized RTK-GNSS positioning devices.

What is an RTK device?

An RTK device is a GNSS receiver (positioning instrument) that performs the RTK positioning described above. Typically, one base station and one rover are used in combination; by calculating correction values from the satellite data received simultaneously at both stations and sending them to the rover, real-time high-precision positioning is achieved. The base station uses a point whose accurate coordinates are known in advance, computes the difference between the satellite signals received at that point and the expected values to derive correction amounts, and continuously sends those corrections to the rover. The rover applies the correction information to its GNSS observation data to cancel out errors and determine its own position within a few centimeters of error.

While standard GPS surveying typically yields errors on the order of meters, surveying with RTK devices can achieve horizontal and vertical accuracies on the order of 1-2 cm (0.4-0.8 in) with proper operation. However, in conventional RTK the correction accuracy decreases as distance from the base station increases, so base stations are generally placed near the work area (ideally within a few km). To solve this issue, a method called “network RTK” has emerged. It uses a wide-area network of multiple base stations and provides correction information by creating a virtual base station near the user. In Japan, real-time correction services using the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan’s network of continuously operating reference stations (about 1,300 points) are offered nationwide. If the rover connects to the Internet and accesses distribution services such as Ntrip, it can receive correction data without placing its own base station on site. As a result, a single receiver can survey a wide area with high accuracy. The spread of network RTK has made single-person surveying using RTK devices far more accessible than before.

Benefits of single-person surveying using RTK devices

By using RTK devices on site, one person can perform tasks comparable to traditional team surveying. Specific benefits include:

• High-precision positioning: The RTK method enables high-precision positioning with errors on the order of a few centimeters. This level of accuracy is far superior to standalone GPS positioning and yields survey results sufficient for as-built management and comparison with design drawings.

• Portability and mobility: If the device is small and lightweight enough to fit in a pocket, it won’t be a burden to carry while walking around the site. In narrow or uneven civil engineering sites, there is no need to carry a heavy tripod, making it easy for one person to move and measure.

• Ease of operation: Intuitive interfaces such as dedicated smartphone apps allow surveying without memorizing complicated procedures. Recording survey points can be completed with a single tap, and you don’t need to worry about complex settings or calculations. Data management is automated, preventing recording errors from handwritten notes.

• All-in-one functionality: A single unit can handle point surveying, area and volume calculations, and even layout (staking out). Some products let you record survey points in photographs or overlay design models on current conditions using AR technology, enabling various analyses and checks directly at the site.

• Cloud integration: Measured data can be uploaded to the cloud immediately. This eliminates the need to bring site information back to the office for manual entry and allows remote office staff to share results in real time. This makes communication between the site and the office seamless and enables faster decision-making.

• Low cost for one-per-person: Many recent RTK devices have become much more affordable, changing the era in which only one expensive device was available on site. Relatively low-cost devices allow each site worker to carry a surveying terminal, eliminating wait times and removing person-dependence. An environment where everyone from newcomers to veterans can measure with their own terminal boosts productivity and improves team-wide skills.

The power of RTK devices at the site

Single-person surveying with RTK devices is particularly powerful on civil engineering sites. At earthwork and land development sites, surveying is frequently needed for checking ground elevations, calculating excavation and fill volumes, and performing post-construction as-built checks. Traditionally, this required calling in surveying staff or temporarily stopping machinery to wait for the surveying team. With RTK devices, site workers themselves can take measurements on the spot, obtaining necessary data without interrupting workflow.

For example, a heavy equipment operator or site foreman can take a small RTK receiver from their pocket, measure ground elevations at several locations in a short time, and instantly calculate fill or excavation volumes. Even if surveying specialists are not permanently stationed on site, one person can handle the task, improving personnel efficiency and reducing costs. Measured data can be shared immediately via the cloud, allowing headquarters or remote staff to grasp the situation in real time and rapidly execute PDCA cycles for earthwork and schedule management.

Also, on steep or rugged sites, small devices are easy to carry, making surveying on dangerous slopes or poor footing locations simpler. There is no need to lug heavy equipment up and down slopes, so one person can safely measure necessary points, contributing to improved site safety and reduced physical burden. In civil engineering sites where speed and flexibility are required, a system that allows “measuring whenever you want” will greatly contribute to productivity and quality control.

Ease of use even for beginners

Hearing “latest surveying equipment” may make you worry that advanced knowledge is required. However, RTK devices are designed with ease of use in mind so that even beginners without surveying expertise can quickly operate them. The key is intuitive smartphone apps and simple device design.

Many small RTK receivers are designed to work in conjunction with smartphones or tablets so that surveying operations can be completed on a familiar phone screen. There is no need to launch dedicated surveying software on a PC; by following on-screen prompts and tapping buttons you can measure positions and save data. Menus are designed to be easy to understand, so you can intuitively grasp them without learning obscure technical terms.

Device setup itself is extremely simple. Attach the receiver to a smartphone holder with one touch and connect via Bluetooth to the app — preparation is complete. Complicated initial settings or instrument calibration are unnecessary. With a built-in battery charged in advance, the device is ready for immediate use on site. Thanks to this simplicity, new employees can participate in surveying work as immediate assets from the day they first handle the device. For example, even a newly hired worker can be entrusted with on-site surveying using an RTK device after learning the basic operation steps. Because it can be used much like taking a photo with a smartphone, users can grasp the essentials after a short lecture. The need for long one-on-one coaching by seasoned professionals is reduced, easing the burden of personnel training.

RTK devices are developed with the concept of “making surveying an accessible task anyone can perform.” Therefore, even older workers unfamiliar with IT can become comfortable using them if they are not averse to basic smartphone operations. Creating an environment where everyone on site can be a surveying contributor raises the baseline of the whole team. Overturning the conventional belief that “only specialist personnel can do surveying” brings great flexibility to site workflows and reduces the risk of operational stagnation.

The future opened by single-person surveying

The spread of single-person surveying has the potential to significantly change the future of construction and civil engineering sites. First, by dramatically increasing flexibility in personnel allocation, it is expected to ease labor shortages. With limited personnel, multiple tasks can be progressed in parallel, contributing to shorter construction periods and reduced costs.

Moreover, in the momentum toward smart construction using digital technologies and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism’s promotion of i-Construction, single-person surveying is an important piece. Accurate construction data obtained on site can be accumulated in the cloud in real time and used in AI analysis or linked with other software for construction and quality management. When site workers collect data themselves, information sharing between the site and office that once suffered time lags becomes seamless, enabling rapid decision-making.

In fact, some local governments have begun introducing small RTK devices for disaster recovery site surveys, enabling rapid damage assessment with small teams. Technologies that allow accurate data to be acquired and shared immediately with limited manpower are useful not only for routine construction sites but also for emergency response.

If single-person surveying becomes established as the new norm, “waiting for surveying” will become a thing of the past, and a sense of security that “anyone can measure when needed” will take root at sites. This improves not only quality control but also has significance from the perspective of work-style reform. Reducing situations where personnel are detained for long periods just for surveying or forced into heavy labor will lessen on-site burdens, enhance safety, and ultimately improve workplace conditions.

Simple surveying with LRTK

As a concrete means to realize single-person surveying, LRTK is a very attractive solution. With no difficult preparations or special skills required, you can start simple surveying on site immediately with just a smartphone and an LRTK device. Users who try it will be surprised to find that surveying work they formerly had to ask specialists to perform can now be done freely by themselves.

LRTK is a “pocket-sized RTK surveying instrument anyone can use in the field” developed by a venture company originating from Tokyo Institute of Technology. The receiver weighs about 125g, and the thickness is just 13 mm (0.51 in); it integrates a GNSS antenna, high-performance chip, battery, and communication module, and by attaching it to a smartphone and launching the app, centimeter-level positioning (half-inch accuracy) starts. Compared with conventional RTK equipment, cable connections and complicated settings are unnecessary, and even those without surveying expertise can handle it intuitively. The device links with the smartphone via Bluetooth or Wi‑Fi, and processes from receiving correction information to sending data to the cloud are automated, greatly improving efficiency for solo field work.

In addition, higher-end models in the LRTK series support the centimeter-class augmentation service (CLAS) provided by Japan’s quasi-zenith satellite system “Michibiki.” This allows high-precision positioning using satellite augmentation signals alone even at mountain or remote island sites outside mobile communication coverage. LRTK series models also meet the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism’s i-Construction standards, drawing attention as a solution that promotes DX (digital transformation) in the construction industry from the field.

By using LRTK, you can realize the convenience of network RTK and the latest GNSS technology in the palm of your hand, and the era in which “RTK surveying can be safely performed by anyone alone” is at hand. Even in surveying and construction sites that demand high precision, LRTK enables tasks that previously required multiple people to be handled quickly by one person. As a reliable tool that broadens the possibilities of single-person surveying, consider trying simple surveying with LRTK. For details, please also visit the [LRTK official site](https://www.lrtk.lefixea.com/) and consider introducing it to your site.

FAQ

Q1. What is an RTK device? A1. It is a GNSS surveying instrument capable of high-precision positioning using the RTK method. By receiving correction information sent from a base station while performing positioning calculations with satellite signals, it can measure positions in real time with centimeter-level accuracy (half-inch accuracy). Since errors are much smaller than with normal GPS surveying, RTK devices are widely used at sites that require as-built management in civil engineering and high-precision layout.

Q2. What is needed to perform RTK surveying alone? A2. Basically, one RTK-capable GNSS receiver (the rover) and a communication environment to receive correction information are sufficient to conduct surveying alone. You can set up your own base station, but in Japan network-type RTK (VRS) services using the continuously operating reference station network are widespread, allowing correction information to be received via the Internet. Therefore, as long as you have a compatible device and a communication line, you can complete centimeter-level surveying without placing a base station on site.

Q3. What should be noted when surveying alone? A3. Safety is paramount: avoid working in dangerous locations as much as possible, and take safety measures such as asking a third party to watch when necessary. It can be difficult to grasp the surroundings while working alone, so wearing a helmet and safety harness and, if necessary, partitioning the work area to ensure safety are important. Also, plan the order of movement by identifying measurement points in advance to improve efficiency. Secure communication means and regularly report status to the outside. It is important to maintain a system where you can contact someone immediately in case of emergency. To prevent forgetting to record data or making recording mistakes, check results after each measurement and take backups when necessary. Additionally, be sure to receive sufficient training and become proficient in operation before using new equipment.

Q4. What is LRTK? A4. LRTK is a new RTK positioning solution that excels in portability and simplicity. It combines a pocket-sized device and a smartphone app so that centimeter-level surveying can be performed easily without specialized knowledge. Compared with conventional equipment, preparation and operation are dramatically simpler, and it is an innovative tool that strongly supports single-person surveying. Higher-end models can use the CLAS signal from Japan’s quasi-zenith satellite “Michibiki” to achieve high-precision positioning even in mountain areas outside communication coverage, enabling stable positioning in a variety of sites.

Q5. In what environments can RTK devices be used? A5. RTK surveying requires receiving signals from GNSS satellites, so it is basically intended for outdoor use with an open view of the sky. In places where satellite signals are difficult to reach — such as inside forests, tunnels, or urban canyons between buildings — accuracy may deteriorate or positioning may be impossible. Using network RTK requires that the rover have mobile communication capability. However, by utilizing satellite augmentation signals such as CLAS from Japan’s quasi-zenith satellite system (Michibiki) or by setting up your own base station and sending correction information via radio, RTK positioning is possible even in mountain areas or remote islands outside mobile coverage. In short, RTK devices can deliver their greatest benefits for single-person surveying in outdoor sites with a clear view of the sky and an adequate communication environment.