The surveying field of land and house surveyors is evolving! The power of DX brought by LRTK

A wave of digital transformation (DX) has recently reached the world of land and house surveyors. In surveying tasks such as confirming land boundaries and measuring building positions, analog work—paper drawings and field books with handwritten notes, tape measures, and instruments like total stations—has traditionally dominated. However, chronic labor shortages and an aging workforce have led to serious declines in efficiency, making digitalization and streamlining of operations an unavoidable challenge. The government is also promoting online administrative procedures and business DX, and the sites where land and house surveyors work are being called on to change. Against this backdrop, the cutting-edge technology attracting attention as the trump card for surveying DX is LRTK. This article reviews the analog problems of the land and house surveyor industry and explains in detail the technological innovation, DX effects, and future prospects that LRTK brings.

Analog challenges faced by surveying work of land and house surveyors

First, let us organize the issues of traditional workflows that surveying sites for land and house surveyors have faced. The analog, people-dependent workflows had the following problems.

• Staff shortages and the burden of multi-person work: Surveying work was conventionally performed by two or more people, typically a surveyor and an assistant. One person operates the surveying instrument while another holds a staff (grade rod) at the survey point, requiring manpower. In small offices, maintaining this arrangement itself was a major burden amid chronic staff shortages.

• Inefficiency due to manual work: Survey results obtained on site have long been recorded by hand in notebooks called field books or on paper drawings, with photographs organized in paper form. This handwritten, paper-based management requires time to draw shapes or write dimensions on the spot, and it takes effort to read and interpret them later. There is also the double work of transcribing neatly back at the office, which lowered overall work efficiency.

• Duplicate entry and double work: In an analog workflow, duplicate tasks of recording the same surveying data on site and re-entering it at the office are unavoidable. For example, dimensions or coordinates written on site are later transcribed into CAD software or spreadsheets on a PC, requiring the same information to be entered multiple times. Such double work not only wastes time but also makes omissions in information sharing or delayed updates among staff more likely.

• Human errors such as transcription mistakes: Handwritten records and manual data entry are prone to human error. Mistakes in writing or reading numbers, or entering incorrect digits, can cause errors in survey results. If an error is noticed only after returning to the office, it may be necessary to revisit the site to re-measure, causing rework. Paper media also have poor searchability, making it difficult to quickly retrieve required information and leading to delays in decision-making.

As described above, traditional survey methods that depend on people were “time- and labor-intensive and carried high risk of mistakes.” The surveying DX using LRTK, introduced next, is expected to be the trump card to solve these problems and streamline fieldwork.

Overview of LRTK and the three technical elements supporting DX

So what is LRTK? LRTK is a next-generation surveying platform centered on high-precision positioning technology. It is a small GNSS receiver device used in combination with a smartphone or tablet that digitizes and smartens the surveying work of land and house surveyors. The main technical elements that support LRTK are the following three points.

• Centimeter-level (cm-level, ~0.4 in) high-precision positioning: LRTK’s greatest feature is achieving centimeter-level high precision through satellite positioning using the real-time kinematic (RTK) method. Using a high-performance GNSS antenna and receiver that support multiple frequencies and obtaining correction information from networks such as the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan’s active control point network and the QZSS CLAS (Centimeter-Level Augmentation Service), it becomes possible to perform extremely precise positioning in real time. GPS standalone positioning, which previously had errors of several meters (several ft), can be reduced to errors of a few centimeters or less (a few in or less) using RTK, providing sufficient accuracy for measuring boundary points and identifying building positions.

• Real-time sharing through cloud integration: Positioning data obtained with LRTK can be automatically saved and shared to the cloud on the spot. Coordinates, elevations, acquisition times, notes, etc., are uploaded to the cloud immediately, allowing office staff and collaborators to check them in real time. Since survey points are plotted on a dedicated web map, progress and results can be grasped without being on site. Data are securely centralized and can be downloaded in CSV or CAD formats as needed, eliminating information gaps between the office and the field.

• Ease of smartphone compatibility and intuitive operation: LRTK can be attached to and used with smartphones and tablets, so there is no need to prepare special proprietary equipment. Its compact size fits in a pocket and can be carried to the site at all times, allowing survey work to be started quickly when needed. The dedicated app, operated via the smartphone’s touch screen, is intuitively designed so that recording survey points, taking photos, and performing various calculations can be done with a single tap. Staff without specialized surveying knowledge can use it easily, and setup and operation are greatly simplified compared to conventional equipment. Utilizing the familiar smartphone makes it easy for LRTK to penetrate the field as a “one-per-person” surveying tool.

How surveying work changes with LRTK introduction

With the introduction of the latest technology LRTK, what concrete changes occur in the surveying work of land and house surveyors? Here are four main effects that show its power.

• Realization of one-person surveying: LRTK allows surveying that previously required multiple people to be performed by a single person. By holding a pole with a GNSS receiver attached at a survey point and pressing a button on a smartphone, position information can be recorded without an assistant. As the rover (mobile station) and base station communicate to automatically establish measurement references, preparations that were previously required—such as setting up a backsight or ensuring line-of-sight—are simplified. A single person can efficiently cover sites, directly addressing labor shortages and enabling small offices to handle work without strain.

• Automation of report and form creation: Previously, data obtained on site were used to create survey drawings and coordinate tables at the office. With LRTK, survey point coordinates are automatically recorded on site, and the system instantly performs transformations to plane rectangular coordinates and calculates geoid heights. Allocation of survey point numbers and entry of annotations are completed digitally, eliminating the need for manual transcription later. From cloud-stored data, prescribed CSV or PDF forms can be output with one click, significantly reducing the labor required to compile survey results. Clean, error-free survey drawings and investigation reports can be produced in a short time, making preparation for submission to clients or the Legal Affairs Bureau smooth.

• Reduction in site revisits: In analog workflows, omissions or recording errors were sometimes discovered later, necessitating another trip to the site. After introducing LRTK, data can be checked and shared via the cloud on the spot, allowing immediate detection of missed measurements and additional measurement as needed. Necessary points can be obtained in a single visit, reducing unnecessary redeployments. Also, the high precision of RTK positioning provides reliable values on the first attempt, making “just to be safe, let’s measure again” rework less likely. Rapid and accurate data acquisition minimizes rework in site verification.

• Stabilization of surveying accuracy: LRTK’s ability to deliver consistently stable accuracy is another major advantage. High-performance GNSS continuously receives satellite signals and automatically corrects errors, reducing the parts of the process that rely on the operator’s experience or intuition. The same level of accuracy can be achieved regardless of who performs the measurement, making it easier to standardize surveying quality within an organization. Moreover, data record acquisition time and satellite reception conditions, enabling later accuracy verification and traceability. Detailed evidence that was difficult to keep with paper records is retained digitally, dramatically increasing the reliability of survey results.

The DX impact LRTK brings

Surveying DX enabled by LRTK brings various impacts not only on field efficiency but also on working styles and service quality. Here are the main benefits of DX.

• Dramatic improvement in operational efficiency and productivity: One-person surveying and automated data processing allow the same work to be completed with fewer people and in less time than before. Waiting and transit times on site are reduced, freeing up resources for other tasks. Shorter lead times from surveying to drawing creation accelerate the cycle from order to delivery of deliverables, speeding up service provision to clients. Time saved through efficiency can be used to acquire new projects or deepen specialized knowledge, improving productivity and competitiveness.

• Strengthening of team collaboration: With immediate data sharing in the cloud, field staff, office personnel, and other surveyors collaborating on a project can share information in real time. For example, a colleague at the office can immediately check coordinates measured on site and instruct additional measurements on the spot. As everyone can access the latest data, discrepancies in understanding and communication errors decrease, allowing the team to proceed smoothly. Centralized data management also makes past survey results easy to reference, enabling quick handovers even when staff change.

• Improved evidentiary value: In digital surveying, acquired data are linked with timestamps, coordinates, photos, and other supporting information. This makes it easier to explain to third parties “when, where, and how something was measured,” increasing confidence in the results. In the work of land and house surveyors, evidence for boundary meetings and proof for registrations is important; detailed data logs obtained by LRTK can objectively demonstrate surveying procedures and results. Storing vast records in the cloud—difficult to do on paper—efficiently preserves evidence over the long term and enables presentation when needed.

• Expanded possibilities for remote operations: DX makes remote technologies in surveying more feasible. Because site conditions can be grasped via the cloud, veteran technicians can guide younger staff at the site from the office, or explain survey results online to clients located far away. Combining video calls or AR technologies as needed can allow parties to “participate” in the field despite physical distance. Accurate remote instructions and confirmations reduce travel time and costs, enabling more flexible working styles and service delivery models.

Future prospects expanding in land and house surveyor work

Surveying DX brought by LRTK will further expand and evolve the scope of land and house surveyor work. Finally, here are some future prospects opened up by this technology.

• Advanced utilization of survey data: Digitized survey data can be used for far more than just creating registration drawings. Accumulated coordinate data and terrain information can be analyzed with GIS (Geographic Information System) to help improve boundary determination and the accuracy of land surveys. Sharing data with other surveyors and administrations to integrate regional survey results can enable unified boundary management and prevent redundant surveys. In the future, AI-driven data analysis could predict land use patterns or automatically generate optimal proposals from survey results, creating new services.

• Integration with drones and 3D measurement: Combining LRTK with drones (UAVs) and 3D laser scanner technology can further improve surveying efficiency and accuracy. For example, in topographic surveys of large areas, aerial photogrammetry by drone can perform bulk imaging, and ground control points obtained with LRTK can be combined to produce precise orthoimages and point cloud data. Integrating airborne and ground data enables detailed maps to be produced in a short time, speeding up land surveys and design planning for earthworks. The scope of surveyor work will expand beyond traditional tasks—to deformation measurements of buildings and three-dimensional modeling of sites—enabling provision of higher value-added services.

• Remote attendance and remote supervision: In the future, attendance at surveys and inspections at sites may be possible remotely. Using LRTK and AR technologies, stakeholders not on site can confirm the installation status of boundary markers and measurement results in real time via their smartphones. Even if adjacent owners or clients are far away, if explanations and consensus building equivalent to on-site attendance can be achieved online, the burden of scheduling will be reduced and operational speed improved. If inspections by supervisory authorities can be conducted remotely by combining site video and positioning data, the activity range of surveyors will expand beyond geographic constraints.

• Spread of electronic deliverables: DX promotion is moving deliverables of surveyor work toward full digitalization. While paper survey drawings and documents were often bound and submitted in the past, cases of delivering and applying with electronic survey results (PDF, SIMA data, etc.) will increase. In fact, online applications for real estate registration are becoming more common, and a system is being developed in which submission of drawings and reports with electronic signatures can eliminate the need to submit originals. If electronic deliverables become mainstream, the effort of binding and mailing will be saved, increasing convenience for both surveyors and clients. Digital data also make backup and reissue easy and eliminate concerns about deterioration from long-term storage.

Conclusion

The surveying field of land and house surveyors, long dominated by analog work, is now undergoing a major evolution through the realization of simple surveying and DX using LRTK. The complex process from field measurement to drawing creation is being simplified by digital technology, and an era has arrived in which small teams can perform tasks quickly and accurately. This enables land and house surveyors to provide more efficient and reliable services than before, improving client satisfaction and raising the value of the industry as a whole.

The flow of surveying DX backed by the latest LRTK technology is fundamentally transforming the way certified surveyors work. Riding this bold shift from analog to digital, land and house surveyors will surely deepen their expertise and expand the range of services they offer. Feeling the power of DX to transform painstaking fieldwork, our surveying sites will continue to evolve.