Main Functions and Features of LRTK Cloud

LRTK Cloud is a service designed to centrally manage various types of survey data collected on-site and enable real-time sharing among team members through the cloud. Let's explore its key functions and features.

• Cloud Management of Positioning Data and Photos: LRTK Cloud allows storage of all types of surveying data on the cloud, including high-precision GNSS positioning coordinates, geo-tagged photos, and even 3D point cloud data captured by smartphones. On the cloud platform, survey points and photo locations are plotted directly on a map, providing easy access to detailed information such as coordinate values, elevations, and notes for each point. Photos captured on-site are also organized and previewed by their locations, enabling intuitive visualization of "which photo was taken at which location."

• Staff in the office can easily access the latest positioning information without installing any special software, simply by opening the LRTK Cloud webpage in their browser. This eliminates the need to exchange USB drives or wait for email transfers, enabling real-time data sharing between the field and office. Additionally, LRTK Cloud issues individual user accounts and allows setting project-specific access permissions (such as view-only or editing rights). This ensures that only authorized personnel can access specific data, preventing information leaks while enabling efficient data usage among the entire team. Sharing data securely with external partners or clients is also straightforward. LRTK Cloud provides URL-based sharing functionality, allowing you to generate a dedicated URL for selected data with just a single click. Security settings, such as password protection and viewing expiration dates, can also be configured, enabling safe external data sharing. Recipients of these shared URLs can view the data directly on the web without logging into LRTK Cloud, allowing clients or subcontractors to conveniently check site data. By simply providing the generated URL, stakeholders can access cloud-based survey data immediately—without login—and download it as CSV or other formats as needed.

• Integration with Other Software (BIM/GIS): Data managed in LRTK Cloud can be exported in various formats and integrated with other BIM or GIS software tools. For instance, surveyed coordinate lists can be downloaded in CSV format and imported directly into CAD or GIS software for plotting points onto drawings or maps. Additionally, 3D point cloud data can be exported in formats such as PLY or XYZ, making it compatible for reuse in software like Autodesk's ReCap and InfraWorks, Bentley's ContextCapture, or ArcGIS. Since photo data is stored as geo-tagged images, these can easily be positioned within BIM software or managed by placing pins on GIS maps. Moreover, LRTK Cloud is considering future feature expansions, including the ability to overlay BIM/CIM models or design drawings with field survey data, enabling seamless integration of design and construction data on the cloud. Even currently, it is possible to compare surveyed point clouds with design models to assess the real-time status on-site.

• Security and Data Protection: Because data handled in the construction and surveying industries often includes sensitive information, LRTK Cloud places great emphasis on security. Communications are encrypted, and cloud servers are hosted in highly reliable data centers equipped with comprehensive backup systems. User-specific access controls and password-protected sharing links prevent unauthorized users from accessing confidential information. Even in the event of device loss or data loss due to disasters, data remains safely stored in the cloud, enabling rapid recovery. Compared to operating on-premise servers, entrusting data management to a professionally secured cloud environment ensures both enhanced safety and operational stability.

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How to Set Up and Start Using LRTK Cloud

Next, we’ll outline the basic steps for implementing and beginning to use LRTK Cloud in practice. We’ll provide an easy-to-follow guide—from creating your account to uploading and organizing your survey data—making it simple even for beginners.

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Account Creation and Initial Setup

1. Account Registration: First, access the official LRTK Cloud website and create your user account. Fill in the required information (name, company name, email address, etc.) and submit the registration form. A confirmation email will be sent to your registered email address. Click the verification link provided in the email to complete the authentication process. Once verified, you’ll be able to log into your LRTK Cloud account.

2. Setting Up Organizations and Projects: If you plan to use LRTK Cloud as a team, after your first login, set up your organization name and specific projects. For example, you might create a project space like "XYZ Construction - Site A Project," within which you can manage your data. You can also invite team members to join your project. Permissions (such as view-only or editing rights) can be assigned individually, allowing customized access controls according to your organization's needs.

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Survey Data Upload Procedure

While there are several methods for uploading on-site survey data to LRTK Cloud, the simplest is direct uploading via the LRTK app. Measurement and positioning data collected on-site using the LRTK Phone device and a smartphone are stored within the app. From the app interface, simply tap the "Upload to Cloud" button, and the data will be sent directly to your linked cloud account.

If you are in an area with network connectivity, the data will be uploaded immediately and instantly reflected on the office cloud dashboard. Even if real-time communication is not possible, such as in tunnels or remote locations, you can upload all collected data at once later when an internet connection becomes available. Once data is uploaded to the cloud, it becomes accessible to the entire team, enabling real-time sharing of survey data directly from the field.

If you already have existing survey data files (for example, coordinate lists or point cloud data obtained with other devices), you can upload them directly from your PC using a web browser. The LRTK Cloud web interface features a simple file upload functionality, allowing you to drag-and-drop data files (such as CSV, TXT, PLY, or JPEG images) directly onto the cloud platform.

When uploading, the system automatically recognizes the data type (coordinates, photos, etc.) and properly organizes them within the cloud. In the future, support for special data formats like GPS logs or traverse survey data is also expected to expand. Currently, the platform already supports major text-based coordinate formats, raster images, and point cloud data, enabling smooth migration from conventional files.

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Organizing and Managing Data (Folder Structure, Tagging, and Search Functions)

The data you upload to the cloud achieves its full potential through effective organization and management. LRTK Cloud enables you to create folder structures for each project, allowing systematic classification and management of your data.

For example, within a project you can create separate folders such as "Survey Results," "As-built Inspections," and "Inspection Photos," and place related files in each, making it easier to find specific data later on. Additionally, make use of the tagging feature. You can freely assign tags such as "Topographic Survey," "UAV Photos," or "Bridge Inspection" to your data, enabling filtering and searching based on these tags. Since multiple tags can be applied to a single file, it provides flexibility in expressing various attributes of your data.

Even as your data volume grows, the search functionality allows you to quickly locate specific information. You can search by survey point names, dates, or keywords from notes, with relevant data appearing immediately. You can also filter survey points by selecting a geographic area on the map, displaying only points within that area. For instance, searching for a combination like "October 2023 As-built Survey" will extract only the as-built measurement data captured in October 2023. For photo data, you can even search by photographer or subject name.

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As a key tip for effective data organization, regular maintenance is highly recommended. Archiving or deleting outdated versions of point cloud files and duplicate photos helps use your cloud storage efficiently. LRTK Cloud offers flexible storage plans tailored to various project scales, enabling you to choose the most suitable plan according to your needs. Regular backups are automatically performed on the cloud, but exporting important data locally when needed can provide an additional layer of reassurance.

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Real-world Applications on Site

Here, we introduce several examples of how LRTK Cloud is utilized in actual on-site operations. From construction projects to infrastructure maintenance, cloud-based data sharing proves highly effective across a wide range of fields.

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Sharing Positioning Data at Construction Sites (Construction and As-Built Management)

On civil engineering and construction sites, survey data is frequently utilized for "as-built management," which verifies if structures are being built according to design, and for construction management that tracks progress. Traditionally, site supervisors received coordinate data from surveying teams via USB drives, opened this data on office PCs, and compared it with design drawings. Introducing LRTK Cloud significantly streamlines this process. When field workers upload coordinate measurements obtained with an LRTK Phone directly to the cloud, these points instantly appear on the office PC map interface.

For example, by measuring multiple points at the top surface of a foundation and uploading them to the cloud, office staff can immediately review each point’s elevation in real time. If any measurement deviates significantly from the reference height, the office can quickly notify the site team and instruct corrective actions, minimizing rework and contributing to quality assurance.

LRTK Cloud is also highly convenient for recording construction photos. Images of construction areas captured using smartphones are automatically linked to their respective locations and saved in the cloud, enabling easy sharing of construction progress organized by date and location. For example, photos documenting rebar placement or pipe installations can be uploaded directly from the site, allowing quality-control staff at headquarters to immediately review them. Additionally, notes such as inspection details or comments (e.g., "Inspected on MM/DD," "Area requiring rework") can be added directly to each photo, greatly enhancing communication efficiency. This cloud-based approach replaces traditional paper checklists and phone communications, making critical information visually accessible and standardized across the entire team, thus significantly improving the accuracy and efficiency of construction management.

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Infrastructure Management (Use in Road and Bridge Inspections)

For infrastructure maintenance such as roads and bridges, detailed inspections and accurate information on local conditions are essential for regular monitoring and repair planning. LRTK Cloud is highly effective in this infrastructure inspection field. Inspectors can photograph bridge cracks or road defects using an LRTK Phone and upload images to the cloud, each automatically tagged with centimeter-level positional accuracy. On the cloud platform, photo icons are plotted on maps, allowing precise identification—from remote locations—of exactly where and what type of damage has occurred. By adding notes about crack widths or damage evaluations alongside the images, engineers can easily prioritize repairs and assess necessary materials directly from the cloud-based data overview.

Furthermore, LRTK Cloud allows for sharing of 3D point cloud data, providing valuable spatial information for infrastructure maintenance. For instance, inspectors can scan areas such as road embankment collapses using smartphone scanning functionality and upload point cloud data to the cloud. Office-based engineers can view these point clouds online, quickly calculate the volume of collapsed soil using built-in tools, or download the data for detailed 3D analysis.

Traditionally, point cloud data captured by laser scanners needed manual transfer via USB devices to be imported into analysis software. However, being able to instantly share captured 3D data significantly accelerates initial response times. For road alignments or bridge displacement measurements, numerous coordinate points captured using continuous positioning can be plotted on cloud-based maps and viewed as horizontal or longitudinal profiles. This makes displacement changes easy to visualize, improving the efficiency of inspection report preparation.

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Team-Based Data Review and Issue Resolution

Data consolidated within LRTK Cloud can also serve as a collaborative space where the entire team can review and share feedback. For example, the design team can review terrain survey data obtained by the surveying team directly on the cloud, noting any discrepancies from planned routes or indicating areas requiring additional surveying. (Currently, comments are shared through the memo field, but a direct commenting feature is planned for future updates.)

Review outcomes or important notes added to the remarks section of each survey point can be centrally managed on the cloud. Field staff can immediately access feedback from the office, enabling quick action for re-measurement or corrections, thus eliminating unnecessary waiting time.

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Even when multiple team members conduct simultaneous field surveys, LRTK Cloud demonstrates its true value. For example, during surveys of large-scale development areas where team members handle separate sections, each person can upload their collected point cloud data to LRTK Cloud, allowing immediate integration and a comprehensive overview of the entire area on the same day. This eliminates the need for manually merging individual datasets at a later time, as the complete dataset is available in the cloud by the end of each workday. Teams can promptly perform quality checks, identify any missing data, and plan additional measurements for the next day if necessary. Ultimately, this leads to shortened project timelines and improved overall data quality.

Additionally, sharing data on the cloud greatly facilitates internal training and knowledge sharing. Junior engineers can learn valuable insights and practical know-how by reviewing senior team members' survey data and inspection notes. Information that traditionally remained limited to individual experiences is systematically accumulated and shared, enabling the organization to effectively build and retain collective expertise.

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Advantages of LRTK Cloud and Differences from Other Cloud Services

While numerous cloud services are available, LRTK Cloud stands out distinctly from general-purpose cloud storage or other industry-specific cloud solutions because it is specifically tailored for surveying and construction operations. Let’s examine the advantages of LRTK Cloud by comparing it with typical cloud services.

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Comparison with General Cloud Storage (e.g., Google Drive or Dropbox)

General cloud storage services such as Google Drive or Dropbox are convenient for file sharing, but they fall short in several aspects when it comes to managing survey data. First, there is the issue of map and 3D visualization features. General cloud storage services typically only display uploaded files as a simple list, lacking specialized functionality such as plotting coordinate data directly onto maps or visualizing point clouds in 3D. As a result, recipients must use separate GIS software to interpret shared CSV coordinate files. With LRTK Cloud, however, data can be visualized directly on integrated maps, enabling users to immediately grasp the content of the data without additional tools.

Second is compatibility with specialized data formats. Surveying tasks often use unique data formats, such as Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism’s SIMA format, CAD-compatible DXF files, and point cloud data formats like LAS or PLY. General cloud storage treats these files merely as binary data without interpreting their contents. In contrast, LRTK Cloud can interpret these specialized formats, managing associated metadata such as coordinate systems and measurement units. For example, uploading a SIMA file to LRTK Cloud allows users to directly view its content as a coordinate list. Additionally, LRTK Cloud incorporates built-in real-time and link-sharing capabilities, including generating password-protected URLs designed specifically for easy use on-site.

On the other hand, while services like Google Drive do offer link-sharing capabilities, these typically provide only basic view-only links with limited options for fine-tuning, such as setting passwords or expiration dates. When securely sharing data externally with robust security controls, LRTK Cloud offers greater flexibility.

Moreover, general cloud storage services are designed to be broadly applicable across various industries, and thus typically lack features specifically tailored to on-site usability. For instance, even if folders are organized and labeled by survey site names, the actual locations must still be manually identified when viewing them on a map. In contrast, LRTK Cloud manages data according to precise geographic coordinates (latitude and longitude), enabling intuitive and comprehensive visualization directly on a map. Additionally, it is designed with mobile use in mind, supporting direct smartphone uploads and offering robust features like upload retries in unstable network environments.

Overall, compared to generic cloud storage, LRTK Cloud serves as a specialized tool explicitly created to effectively manage and utilize survey data in field operations.

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Benefits of Implementing LRTK Cloud and Information Request

As demonstrated above, utilizing LRTK Cloud significantly streamlines the management and sharing of on-site survey data. In summary, here are the key advantages of adopting LRTK Cloud:

• Faster Decision-Making through Real-Time Information Sharing: By instantly sharing on-site data through the cloud, office teams can rapidly make decisions and issue instructions. Survey results can be reviewed, and issues identified on the same day, significantly reducing delays and minimizing the need for rework.

• Reduced Data Loss Risk and Reliable Backup: Since data is continuously stored in the cloud, risks associated with losing data due to device loss or damage are greatly reduced. Even if field equipment is damaged, crucial survey data remains securely stored on the cloud. Automatic backups provide additional peace of mind, ensuring your valuable data is always protected.

• Enhanced Productivity through Team-wide Information Sharing: Allowing the entire team to access survey data, photos, and point clouds ensures smoother collaboration across different departments and job roles. Eliminating the need to search for "who holds the latest data," internal and external stakeholders can operate on a shared information platform. This streamlines workflows, optimizing overall processes and significantly boosting productivity.

• Utilize Field Data Without Specialized Software: Because data can be accessed and utilized directly via maps and point cloud viewers through a simple browser, there’s no need for specialized software licenses or high-performance PCs at the field site. Even remote site offices with only internet access and standard laptops can easily review data at the same quality level as the main office.

• Seamless Workflow Integration with the LRTK Series: For users already utilizing the LRTK Phone or LRTK app, integration with LRTK Cloud unlocks their full potential. The entire workflow—from positioning, recording, sharing, to analysis—is seamlessly combined into a single, streamlined process. Tasks that previously required separate procedures can now be efficiently consolidated. For example, coordinates and notes recorded in the LRTK app can be automatically converted into reports on the cloud, immediately generating shareable PDFs, greatly enhancing productivity.

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LRTK Cloud is also a powerful tool for promoting digital transformation (DX) and advancing i-Construction initiatives at construction sites. By establishing a cloud-based information-sharing platform, it supports next-generation work practices such as remote site monitoring, remote consultations, and data-driven construction management.