Have you ever used conventional surveying equipment on site and thought, "Couldn't this be easier?" For example, situations where one person can't perform surveying tasks and always needs a partner, struggling to carry heavy equipment between locations, or the delay from taking data on site to returning, drafting, and sharing it. Anyone involved in surveying work has likely experienced these kinds of burdens and inefficiencies at least once. For instance, it's not uncommon for work to be temporarily halted because no surveying specialist can be reached when you urgently need to check an elevation at a site.

These problems are not merely individual issues but major challenges pointed out across the surveying industry. In particular, workforce shortages, costs, and delays in data sharing and digitalization are said to be the three major challenges in on-site surveying. It has become increasingly difficult to resolve these problems using only conventional surveying instruments and traditional methods. These challenges cause unnecessary waiting times and work interruptions on site, which can affect overall schedules and costs.

Now attracting attention is a new approach to surveying equipment called "LRTK." Developed by a startup spun out of the Tokyo Institute of Technology, LRTK is a pocket-sized all-purpose surveying tool that attaches a compact high-precision GNSS receiver to a smartphone. It achieves centimeter-level positioning accuracy while holding the potential to simultaneously solve the three major on-site challenges. This article organizes the main challenges faced by surveying sites and clearly explains how LRTK can provide solutions, including concrete use-case scenarios.

Three Challenges Facing the Surveying Industry

First, let's confirm the three representative challenges many people feel in current surveying operations.

Challenge 1. Workforce shortages and aging skilled technicians The construction and surveying industries face severe labor shortages. Veteran surveying technicians are aging while younger successors are decreasing, making it difficult to secure experienced personnel on site. As a result, individual workloads increase, and operations are often disrupted. Tasks that should ideally be performed by two people are increasingly being handled by a single person due to lack of staff. However, conventional surveying instruments impose limits on one-person operations, raising concerns about efficiency and safety. Much work still depends on the intuition and skills of experienced craftsmen, so maintaining quality as skilled workers decline is also a challenge.

Challenge 2. Equipment costs and work efficiency issues High-precision surveying used to require expensive, specialized instruments. Total stations, high-precision GNSS receivers, 3D laser scanners—preparing multiple instruments for different purposes can easily mean initial investments of several million yen. Transporting, setting up, operating, and measuring with each device takes time and effort. When a limited workforce must cover many sites, the burden of equipment costs and low work efficiency becomes a major problem. If cost constraints prevent the adoption of the latest technologies, inefficient practices persist and hinder productivity improvements.

Challenge 3. Delays in data sharing and digitalization To make the most of survey data, post-processing such as drawing creation and quantity calculations is essential. Traditionally, data were recorded in paper field notebooks and then manually entered back at the office—analog processes that are prone to error and time-consuming. Consolidating data when multiple people work on a job is also a hassle. As a result, there are time lags in sharing site conditions, and manual input errors can occur. If surveyed data are not reflected promptly, on-site decision-making can be delayed and rework can result. Amid industry-wide calls for DX (digital transformation), the lack of real-time information sharing and effective data utilization remains a major issue.

How LRTK Solves On-site Challenges

Next, let’s see how LRTK offers solutions to the three challenges mentioned above.

Solution to workforce shortages: surveying completed by one person, one device per person LRTK’s greatest feature is that tasks previously requiring multiple people can be completed by a single person. A compact GNSS receiver attached to a smartphone and a dedicated app enable accurate surveying even when working alone. For example, total stations required an assistant to hold a prism, but with LRTK you can measure points and guide stake placement (layout marking) by watching the smartphone screen and working solo. The device itself weighs about 125 g, is compact enough to fit in a pocket, and eliminates the need to carry heavy tripods or surveying equipment. This reduces on-site burdens and allows safe, efficient surveying with fewer people.

Because LRTK is operated via intuitive smartphone controls, people without specialized training can quickly learn to use it. Tasks that once relied heavily on veteran experience can now be performed easily with device assistance, strongly supporting sites suffering from labor shortages. Compared with traditional surveying that required flagging on dangerous roads, more measurements can now be taken from safer positions by a single person, improving both safety and work efficiency.

Solution to cost and efficiency: increased productivity with an all-purpose surveying tool As its name "all-purpose surveying tool" suggests, LRTK can serve many roles in one device. Where previously you might have needed separate GNSS equipment for stake-out, a 3D scanner for point clouds, and other devices for staking, LRTK and a smartphone can replace them. This can greatly reduce equipment purchase expenses and significantly lower introduction costs. While specific pricing is not discussed here, it is certainly more accessible than conventional expensive surveying equipment. The LRTK device also includes built-in battery and antenna, eliminating the need for additional peripherals.

Because one device per person is feasible, wasted waiting time and the need to coordinate personnel and equipment schedules are reduced. Acquiring and sharing survey data can be done quickly and continuously, dramatically improving overall on-site productivity. For example, if point-cloud surveying that used to be outsourced can be performed in-house with ease, outsourcing costs and scheduling burdens decrease. When multiple sites are handled in parallel, each person can perform surveys simultaneously with their own LRTK, improving efficiency. In this way, LRTK reduces waste in both time and cost, enabling more output from limited resources. Its low cost of adoption also makes LRTK an attractive tool for small contractors and municipalities that had been hesitant to adopt new technologies, supporting field DX.

Solution to data sharing and digitalization: cloud integration and real-time sharing LRTK dramatically simplifies the digitization and sharing of survey data. Location information and point cloud data acquired with the dedicated app can be uploaded to a cloud map with a single tap. This enables real-time sharing of site conditions with colleagues at the office or clients from the field. There is no need to rely on paper field notebooks, and errors from handwritten notes or manual input are eliminated. The traditional hassle of transferring data between site and office is reduced, improving team communication and reducing information loss.

Cloud data can be accessed and used easily by authorized stakeholders. Surveyed point coordinates are instantly plotted on web maps, allowing remote confirmation of the latest measurements. Data can also be downloaded in CSV or drawing formats for easy import into CAD and other software. Accumulated digital data integrates smoothly with other systems such as BIM and GIS, expanding future applications for asset management and analysis. This structure enables unified management of survey data and smooth information sharing, dramatically streamlining the once cumbersome handover between site and office. Introducing LRTK accelerates on-site digitalization and transforms workflows that were once paper- and manual-centric.

LRTK Use Cases: How Sites Change

Now let’s look at some typical scenarios to see how work actually changes on site when using LRTK.

Case 1: Easy solo operation! Surveying and staking at small sites At one civil engineering site, tasks previously outsourced to surveyors—such as setting out and as-built checks—are now handled by the site supervisor using LRTK. Holding a smartphone with the LRTK device attached, the supervisor can record latitude, longitude, and elevation with high precision simply by pressing a button at the desired point. The app automatically converts to planar rectangular coordinates and calculates geoid heights, so accurate positional coordinates can be obtained without specialized knowledge. Each measured point is automatically assigned a sequential number and title, and notes can be added. With all recording completed on a single device, paper field notebooks are no longer required. Measurement results are uploaded to the cloud immediately, enabling real-time as-built checks and instructions for additional measurements from the office.

For stake placement based on design drawings, LRTK also excels. Using the AR guidance displayed on the smartphone screen, arrows and guides appear as you approach a planned stake location, allowing anyone to identify stake positions without confusion. Even where markers are obscured by vegetation or during dim early-morning or nighttime work, following the on-screen guidance yields accurate point identification. Tasks that once required two people are now smoothly executed by one, dramatically improving site productivity and in-house construction capabilities.

LRTK also offers photo-based positioning, enabling coordinates of inaccessible locations—such as cliff tops or high bridges—to be obtained from a distance. This eliminates the need to arrange for aerial work platforms or risk sending people into hazardous areas, providing a significant safety advantage.

Case 2: Smart as-built and buried asset management with point-cloud scanning In another case, LRTK’s point-cloud measurement was used for as-built management in road construction. Using a smartphone’s built-in LiDAR sensor together with LRTK, a worker walked around and recorded surrounding structures and terrain as high-precision 3D point cloud data. For example, scanning newly installed sidewalks and gutters and overlaying that data on the design model with color-coded differences makes it easy to see finish discrepancies at a glance. Volumes of fills or excavations can be calculated instantly as needed. Scanning a typical road segment can take only a few minutes, and the acquired point cloud is immediately uploaded to the cloud for quality checks. Tasks that used to require a specialized measurement team and an expensive 3D scanner can now be completed quickly in-house, and because no special equipment operation training is needed, even staff unfamiliar with ICT-based surveying methods can adopt it easily.

LRTK is also powerful for recording and managing buried utilities. Traditionally, pipe-laying work relied on craftsmen’s memory and visual estimates to record positions before backfilling, later converting them into drawings. With LRTK, simply scanning the trench, the pipe, and surrounding conditions with a smartphone just before backfilling stores a 3D model in the cloud that includes shape, slope, and depth. When the same location is excavated later, the recorded point cloud can be displayed as AR and overlaid on the real ground. In other words, the positions of pipes beneath the road can be visualized through the smartphone. This greatly reduces the risk of accidentally damaging existing pipes and enables safer, smarter buried asset management.

Case 3: Powerful in disaster sites—rapid situation sharing LRTK’s portability and cloud integration are highly useful in emergencies. In the 2023 Noto Peninsula earthquake, recovery teams used LRTK to survey and record damage where communications infrastructure was cut and large equipment could not be brought in. Because LRTK can receive centimeter-level augmentation signals (CLAS) from Japan’s quasi-zenith satellite system "Michibiki" even when internet connectivity is unavailable, high-precision positioning is possible in areas without cellular coverage. On site, teams measured positions of collapsed structures and wide-area terrain changes using only a small LRTK device and a smartphone, and the data were immediately confirmed and shared at evacuation bases and government offices. This agile data collection, which was difficult with traditional surveying equipment, greatly contributed to rapid situational awareness and coordination among stakeholders immediately after the disaster.

Case 4: Projected completion images on site with AR LRTK’s capabilities extend beyond surveying. Its AR function allows stakeholders to share the completed image on site by overlaying a design-stage 3D model on the actual location. For example, in a road widening project, loading a pre-created design model into the LRTK app and aligning it to the site coordinate system lets you confirm the new road’s width and spatial relationships on the spot. Completion images that were hard to convey with drawings alone can be visualized at actual scale through a smartphone, aiding agreement-building with clients and nearby residents. Because the AR display is supported by GNSS positioning, there is no worry about misalignment, and you can walk around the site to check from various angles. LRTK makes it possible to seamlessly overlay plans and reality and share them intuitively, creating a new method of communication.

In Closing: A New Era of Surveying Opened by LRTK

For sites beginning to feel the limits of conventional surveying instruments, LRTK is truly a savior. Addressing the three major challenges of labor shortages, cost reduction, and data utilization promotion, LRTK offers smart, field-oriented solutions. An era has arrived in which a small device that fits in your pocket can substitute for surveying tasks that once required specialized technicians and expensive equipment. As the construction industry pursues productivity improvements through ICT and DX initiatives such as the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism’s i-Construction, tools like LRTK can support such transformations from the field.

Of course, the optimal method varies depending on site conditions and needs, but it's clear that the advent of LRTK is greatly changing how surveying is done. By leveraging this new instrument that combines ease of use with high precision, on-site DX and operational efficiency will accelerate. LRTK, which balances reduced workload with accuracy and speed, will be a reliable partner for everyone involved in surveying.

If you often find yourself thinking, "Could this be done more easily and accurately?" consider trying LRTK. This unconventional, innovative tool may bring major changes to your site. Why not start the future of surveying today?

Main benefits of introducing LRTK

• Labor reduction: Ease of one-person operation resolves surveying workforce shortages

• Cost savings: An all-in-one device reduces capital investment and outsourcing costs

• Promotion of digitalization: Immediate cloud sharing of survey data enables real-time use

• Improved safety: Lightweight, compact device and non-contact measurement reduce workload and risks

• Enhanced communication: AR features share completion images and eliminate gaps in stakeholder understanding

By incorporating such advanced tools on site, the way surveying is done will change dramatically. With LRTK, you can carry out surveying tasks with unprecedented speed and efficiency, enabling smart work styles suited to the DX era. LRTK is sure to become a reliable partner.

If you are involved in surveying and often feel, "There must be an easier and more accurate way," why not consider introducing LRTK? This new-concept tool, unconstrained by conventional thinking, may bring significant transformation to your site. Start the future surveying style today!