Five Ways to Improve Field Efficiency by Sharing Overseas RTK Positioning Data in the Cloud

At construction and surveying sites abroad, opportunities to obtain centimeter-class (cm level; half-inch accuracy) high-precision position data using RTK (Real-Time Kinematic) positioning are increasing. Especially when Japanese companies carry out overseas projects, coordination between large field areas and headquarters or other domestic offices is required, making it a challenge to efficiently share RTK positioning data. This is where cloud-based data sharing becomes important. By aggregating position information and survey results obtained with RTK on the cloud, information can be shared in real time between distant locations, dramatically improving operational efficiency. This article introduces five ways to increase field productivity by sharing RTK positioning data in the cloud overseas. By using these methods, you can gain benefits in various areas—from strengthening collaboration between overseas sites and headquarters to emergency response. At the end of the article, we also touch on the simple high-precision surveying solution using smartphones combined with compact GNSS receivers, LRTK, exploring the potential for on-site DX (digital transformation) integrated with cloud collaboration.

1. Strengthening coordination with overseas headquarters

Information sharing between overseas project sites and Japanese headquarters (or regional offices) can be hindered by distance and time zone differences. Sharing field data obtained by RTK on the cloud can solve this issue. For example, if survey points or as-built data (post-construction geometry) collected on site are uploaded to the cloud immediately, staff at headquarters in Japan can view and verify that information in real time. This enables headquarters engineers to grasp the latest local conditions and promptly give instructions or advice. There is no need to exchange drawings or numbers via email or wait for daily reports, allowing the project to be advanced as an integrated effort with the site even from a remote location.

Specifically, headquarters can check RTK positioning data shared on the cloud and provide immediate feedback if there are discrepancies or issues with the design. For example, if they say, “The control point is 5 cm (2.0 in) off from the design—please correct it,” that instruction can be communicated to the field the same day, helping to detect mistakes early and prevent rework. Furthermore, since headquarters can continuously grasp on-site progress, decisions on schedule management and resource allocation can be made appropriately and in a timely manner. Cloud sharing of overseas RTK positioning data becomes a smooth communication platform that eliminates the sense of distance between headquarters and the site, realizing improved project-wide efficiency and quality.

2. Rapid response in disasters and emergencies

When a natural disaster or sudden accident occurs during overseas construction, it is essential to accurately grasp the local situation and take rapid countermeasures. Accumulating and sharing RTK positioning data on the cloud during normal times also strengthens emergency response capabilities. Even if the site server or PCs are damaged, if the data are backed up to the cloud, important survey information will not be lost. Headquarters and other offices can immediately access and use the data for situation analysis, enabling swift assessment of damage and planning for recovery.

Also, immediately after a disaster, new surveys on site are often required. For example, when topography changes due to an earthquake or flood, a responsible person can measure location data of the damaged areas using a portable RTK-GNSS receiver and a smartphone and upload the data to the cloud. Remote engineers and headquarters disaster response teams can share survey results in real time. As measured points and photos of damaged areas are plotted one after another on cloud maps, those far away can still understand local conditions in detail and promptly dispatch support. In recent years, surveying systems using smartphones and compact GNSS devices have been introduced by municipalities for disaster damage surveys, yielding faster initial responses and cost reductions. In overseas projects as well, building a cloud-linked RTK data sharing system enables resilient business continuity in emergencies.

3. Consistency checks by linking with design drawings

High-precision RTK positioning data can be used to verify construction quality by comparing it with design drawings or BIM models. If survey data and design data are linked and managed on the cloud, it becomes possible to check immediately whether the positions and elevations constructed on site match the design. Specifically, point cloud data or coordinate values from as-built measurements uploaded to the cloud platform can be overlaid with pre-uploaded design drawings or 3D models. Because discrepancies between design lines and measured points can be visually confirmed on the spot, millimeter- and centimeter-level (mm level and cm level; half-inch accuracy) errors are not overlooked.

For example, right after setting out a foundation with RTK, the data can be shared to the cloud and checked against CAD drawings in the office; if it is found that “the southwest corner column is 2 cm (0.8 in) north of the design,” feedback can be sent to field workers immediately so it can be corrected the same day. Previously, surveyors might have run around the site to check, and discrepancies might have been discovered days later, but real-time consistency checks via the cloud can greatly reduce rework and do-overs.

Moreover, when design changes occur, the advantages of cloud sharing become apparent. In overseas projects, instructions for design changes from headquarters can take time to reach the field, but if design data are centrally managed on the cloud, updates are synchronized with the site the moment they occur. Because the latest drawings can always be compared with positioning data, construction errors caused by missed design updates can be prevented. Cloud linkage between RTK positioning data and design drawings streamlines quality control and as-built inspections, significantly contributing to ensuring construction accuracy overseas.

4. Real-time synchronization across multiple sites

When a single company is running multiple construction or surveying projects abroad at the same time, or when teams are working in several site zones within a large project, cloud sharing is highly effective. If RTK positioning data collected at each site are aggregated on the cloud, real-time synchronization across multiple sites becomes possible, allowing the organization to make effective use of the data.

For example, suppose a company has two construction sites in Country A and Country B. If daily terrain survey data and as-built data from each site are accumulated on the same cloud platform, project managers at headquarters can monitor the status of both sites in a one-stop manner. Insights gained at the Country A site (such as ground characteristics or schedule cautions) can be instantly shared with the team in Country B, and conversely, data from Country A can be referenced to help solve problems that arise in Country B. Centralizing data via the cloud allows geographically separated sites to coordinate in real time, facilitating horizontal rollout of best practices and improving efficiency through shared information.

Also, when multiple surveyors conduct RTK surveys concurrently across several construction areas in the same project, new control points or survey results installed by one person can be immediately checked by others via the cloud. This helps prevent duplicate measurements and resolve data inconsistencies. Because the whole site can share the “single source of truth” (the latest verified data), all stakeholders can act on unified information, reducing unnecessary idle time and reporting errors. Even for widely dispersed work locations like those often found overseas, synchronizing RTK positioning data on the cloud can produce a smoothness akin to working together on a single site.

5. Simplified sharing and permissions management

When operating overseas, data must be shared with a variety of stakeholders such as local staff, external subcontractors, and clients. Traditionally, sharing survey data involved time-consuming steps such as email attachments, USB handovers, and installing dedicated software. By implementing a cloud platform, data sharing and access rights management can be simplified and centralized.

If positioning data are uploaded to the cloud and viewing/editing permissions are set for each project stakeholder, everyone can simply access the necessary information via a browser. For example, headquarters staff in Japan can be given full access to see detailed data, while local subcontractors can be restricted to viewing only the relevant portions of survey results. This enables secure yet sufficient information sharing.

Some cloud services also allow you to issue share links with one click, so you can simply send the link to grant someone access. The recipient can then view point clouds or survey results on a map in 3D via a web browser without specialized software. This makes it easy to show data to subcontractors without licenses or overseas clients, avoiding troubles like “I can’t open the file” or “the format doesn’t match.” Services that let you set link expiration or passwords also allow safe temporary data publication.

By leveraging cloud-based sharing and permission management in this way, controlling “who sees what” becomes easier, speeding up information transfer and reducing the risk of data leakage. As a result, complicated coordination tasks associated with overseas projects are reduced, enabling a focus on core work.

Preconditions for cloud use and responses to overseas-specific challenges

While sharing RTK positioning data via the cloud brings many advantages, it is essential to prepare for challenges unique to overseas operations. Below are preconditions and practical response points to succeed in cloud utilization.

• Establishing communication environments: Internet connectivity is indispensable for cloud sharing. When working in mountainous areas, remote regions of developing countries, or other locations with unstable infrastructure, consider introducing mobile routers or satellite communication systems in advance. During actual surveys, it is also effective to use apps and equipment that save data locally in offline environments and synchronize to the cloud as soon as the connection is restored. Securing stable communication is the foundation for real-time sharing.

• Security measures: Data exchange with overseas locations requires careful attention to information security. Choose a reliable cloud service provider and configure measures such as data encryption and multi-factor authentication for access control. Survey data may include sensitive location information about infrastructure and plants, so protecting against unauthorized access and cyberattacks is crucial. Also, educate project stakeholders about security policies to prevent casual data exfiltration or forwarding of share links.

• Compliance with data export restrictions: Some countries have regulations regarding the export or cloud storage of survey data and map information. Before using the cloud at an overseas site, check local laws and, if necessary, place data servers locally or choose a cloud service with regions dedicated to that country. For example, in countries where uploading survey data to foreign servers is prohibited, you might keep data in a local sub-cloud environment and allow headquarters to view it via VPN. Compliance with laws and respect for data sovereignty are prerequisites for using the cloud securely in overseas projects.

By addressing these points on communication, security, and legal restrictions, you can maximize the benefits of cloud sharing for RTK data. Overcoming overseas-specific hurdles and building a secure, reliable data collaboration platform will realize improved operational efficiency and reduced risks for global site management.

Simple RTK surveying with smartphone + GNSS: Promoting on-site DX using LRTK

Finally, as a new RTK surveying method that can promote on-site DX in combination with cloud sharing, we introduce an example of using LRTK (cloud RTK service). LRTK is a solution that combines a smartphone with an ultra-compact RTK-GNSS receiver, enabling centimeter-level accuracy (cm level accuracy; half-inch accuracy) positioning with a pocket-sized device and just a smartphone app. High-precision surveying that previously required heavy dedicated equipment and expert knowledge can now be performed easily by anyone thanks to LRTK.

A major feature of LRTK is that the hardware and cloud service are integrated. Data observed by the small GNSS receiver attached to the smartphone are sent to the smartphone app via Bluetooth, and positioning computation and corrections are processed automatically in the cloud. In other words, you can obtain correction information via the internet without installing a base station on site, enabling immediate high-precision positioning. Coordinates, photos, and point cloud data obtained on site are uploaded to the cloud platform at the time of measurement, and data are shared in real time between the field and the office.

For example, with LRTK a site supervisor can perform as-built check surveys with a smartphone and immediately report the results to headquarters via the cloud. If every team member carries a smartphone surveying device, they can measure and share on demand, eliminating waiting time for surveys and dramatically improving productivity. LRTK also makes it easy to visualize and analyze collected data on the cloud. Uploaded 3D point clouds can be overlaid with design models, and photos can be plotted on maps and shared with stakeholders—cloud integration features strongly support on-site verification and decision-making.

By adopting solutions like LRTK, which combine simple equipment (smartphone + compact GNSS) with cloud services, high-precision positioning and data sharing can be vastly streamlined even at overseas sites. An environment where anyone on site can measure and share when needed—without relying solely on specialist surveyors—is the key to true on-site DX. Consider proactively incorporating the five cloud-sharing efficiency measures and cutting-edge surveying technologies to improve productivity, safety, and quality management in your overseas projects.