How the Role of Site Supervisors Changes Before and After RTK Adoption
RTK, short for “Real-Time Kinematic,” is a positioning technology that enables the real-time acquisition of centimeter-level high-precision location data using satellite signals. It is far more accurate than conventional GPS and is widely used in fields that require precise positioning, such as drone automation and autonomous construction machinery.

When RTK is introduced to a construction site, it brings about a major shift in how site supervisors carry out their tasks and how responsibilities are distributed on-site.

Traditionally, many processes on construction sites were analog and time-consuming, such as batter board installation by surveyors and manual record-keeping. As a result, site supervisors often had to passively wait for survey results before giving instructions.

However, after the introduction of RTK, positioning data is instantly recorded and shared digitally. This allows site supervisors to carry a tablet and check progress and quality in real time, making informed decisions on the spot. As a result, the role of the site supervisor is shifting—from “collecting and confirming on-site information” to “making swift, data-driven decisions and directing overall site optimization.”

In fact, a study by Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) reported that the introduction of ICT-based construction reduced the need for two on-site workers to just one, and overall labor hours were cut by approximately 50–60%.

For example, traditional batter board (layout marking) tasks using total stations typically required multiple workers. However, with RTK-GNSS, line-of-sight is no longer necessary, allowing a single person to conduct surveying. In one case, coordinates were obtained in as little as 10 seconds per point.

As shown, after the introduction of RTK, surveying and as-built verification can be conducted with fewer people and in less time. This frees site supervisors from the stress of securing additional manpower or waiting for survey results, allowing them to focus more on strategic site management.

Tasks such as detailed as-built checks, which were traditionally left to skilled workers, can now be performed directly by the supervisor using high-precision equipment. This enables them to take a more proactive and leading role in quality and progress management.

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Concrete Benefits of RTK in Site Management
With the introduction of RTK, the work style of site supervisors shifts to a more digital-focused approach, bringing a range of benefits to construction site management. In this section, we will take a closer look at three specific advantages: faster decision-making through real-time data sharing, reduction of rework through immediate verification of construction accuracy, and streamlining and digitization of record-keeping and reporting tasks.

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Faster Decision-Making Through Real-Time Sharing of Survey Results
With RTK, survey and as-built data can be shared in real time via the cloud, enabling seamless information flow between the construction site and the office, as illustrated above. For example, coordinate data measured on-site can be instantly plotted onto a cloud-based map, allowing supervisors and relevant departments in the office to view and verify the results immediately.

This real-time visibility enables all stakeholders—even those off-site—to stay aligned with on-site conditions, facilitating quicker consensus-building and more efficient decision-making.

Traditionally, there was a time lag in communication—survey teams would collect data on-site, pass it to the site supervisor, who would then create drawings or compile reports before finally reporting to the project manager or client. After implementing RTK, however, on-site conditions and progress can be shared in real time, dramatically accelerating the decision-making process.

For example, if there’s a need to confirm whether the height of a certain survey point matches the design, the RTK measurement results can be uploaded to the cloud and shared instantly. Office staff can then check the data in real time and provide instructions on the spot. This reduces downtime caused by waiting for decisions and helps keep the overall project schedule running smoothly.

Additionally, the positioning data shared in the cloud can be easily distributed to subcontractors and clients via a URL, ensuring that all stakeholders are working from the same up-to-date information. Real-time data sharing is a core benefit of construction site digital transformation (DX), and it significantly empowers site supervisors in their decision-making.

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Reducing Rework Through Immediate Verification of Construction Accuracy
Real-time positioning with RTK enables on-the-spot verification of construction accuracy and as-built conditions during the work itself. In the past, errors were often discovered only after construction was completed and re-surveyed, leading to costly and time-consuming rework.

With RTK, site supervisors can immediately perform positioning checks right after construction and detect any discrepancies on the spot, allowing for immediate corrections. This significantly reduces the occurrence of post-construction rework and prevents unnecessary costs and project delays.

In fact, the use of ICT construction methods has been shown to improve the accuracy of both design and execution, stabilize quality, and reduce the need for post-completion corrections.

If high-precision construction can be achieved from the beginning, there is no need for rework later, leading to improved overall productivity on-site and reduced costs.

As a concrete example, in a road construction project, RTK was used during the paving process to measure the thickness of the roadbed and immediately check for discrepancies against the design values. This allowed the team to adjust the amount of material being laid on the spot.

Previously, such issues might only have been discovered during post-completion inspections, leading to inefficient rework such as laying additional material afterward. With RTK, however, corrections can be made the same day.

Similarly, when heavy equipment operators carry out earthwork using ICT-enabled machinery, site supervisors can use RTK positioning in parallel to verify as-built conditions. This allows them to detect discrepancies early and instruct corrective work promptly. As a result, the wasteful cycle of “build and redo” is minimized, quality is ensured, and trust from clients and project owners is strengthened.

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Streamlining and Digitalizing Record-Keeping and Reporting Tasks
The introduction of digital surveying tools centered around RTK significantly reduces the burden of record-keeping and report preparation for site supervisors.

Traditionally, survey results were manually recorded in the field and then recompiled into drawings or tables back at the office—resulting in redundant work. Tasks such as calculating as-built quantities from paper field notes or photo logs, and manually transferring construction records into Excel, have long been a major workload for site supervisors.

However, by using cloud services compatible with RTK, records such as positioning data and photos are automatically saved digitally, reducing the need for manual transcription.

For example, with a smartphone-integrated RTK surveying device, coordinate values of survey points are instantly uploaded to the cloud and automatically plotted along with the date, time, and point name.

Furthermore, photos taken during surveying are automatically tagged with location and orientation data, eliminating the need to manually note where the photo was taken and in which direction. As a result, both on-site note-taking and office-based documentation tasks are significantly reduced, and errors in recording photo locations are virtually eliminated.

Digitally measured and recorded data can be exported with a single click in CSV or PDF format and used directly as attachments for as-built management diagrams or reports.

As record-keeping becomes increasingly digitalized, site supervisors spend less time on daily report writing and can instead dedicate that time to important tasks such as safety inspections or meetings with subcontractors. Additionally, reports based on objective data eliminate the risk of omissions or subjective errors, making it easier to explain project status to clients.

The automatic recording features enabled by RTK represent a key symbol of paperless workflows and greater efficiency in construction management DX.

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The Future of Construction Site DX Transformed by RTK
The maturity of digital transformation (DX) is classified into five levels.
Level 1 involves the visualization, online integration, and conversion to big data of traditionally analog operations.
Level 2 focuses on improving operational efficiency through automated processing using software.
At Level 3, new value is created through data integration with other applications and ICT construction machinery.
Level 4 represents the realization of a data-driven construction site, where productivity and safety are dramatically enhanced.
Finally, Level 5 signifies a fundamental transformation of business models, in which construction processes and work styles become more flexible and advanced.

Real-time high-precision positioning technology like RTK serves as a driving force to advance each level of DX.

At Level 1, where field information is digitized, the accurate location data obtained through RTK positioning becomes the key to replacing paper-based site information with digital data.

At Level 2, focused on process automation, RTK-integrated construction machinery and automated measurement systems begin to replace manual labor. For example, autonomous construction systems—such as automated compaction equipment—can operate independently and stop when a specified density is reached.

Moving to Level 3, as-built data obtained via RTK is integrated with design BIM/CIM data and other cloud services through API connections, allowing seamless data utilization across various applications.

For example, point cloud data obtained by an RTK drone can be instantly linked to earthwork volume calculation software and reflected in progress management.

By the time Level 4 is reached, construction sites become fully digital, data-driven environments where all operations and quality control are conducted based on real-time data. Site supervisors will use dashboard tablets to monitor the location and progress of all machinery, and smart construction management—such as prioritizing patrols to areas where AI has detected anomalies—will become routine. This will lead to dramatic improvements in productivity and safety, creating highly efficient job sites with zero workplace accidents.

Ultimately, at Level 5, entirely new construction processes and contract schemes supported by data will emerge. This includes remote construction management and the provision of maintenance services based on construction data, fundamentally transforming the construction business model itself.

In this vision of the future, RTK is an essential part of the foundational infrastructure for construction site DX. In the i-Construction initiative promoted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, RTK-GNSS is positioned as a key technology alongside ICT construction machinery and drone surveying, and its adoption in public works projects is steadily expanding.

In the future, the integration of RTK with 5G and local 5G networks is expected to enable more stable delivery of correction data and support seamless indoor-outdoor positioning for the use of construction robots. The role of site supervisors will also evolve toward "remote construction management," where data is monitored remotely and instructions are issued from a distance—allowing for more flexible work styles unconstrained by location or time.

The future of construction site DX, with RTK at its core, holds the potential not only to improve operational efficiency but also to fundamentally transform the nature of construction projects themselves.

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The Optimal Solution for Construction Management DX with LRTK
As mentioned above, RTK technology plays a critical role in driving construction site digital transformation (DX). However, there are still concerns—such as the perception that expensive, specialized equipment can only be operated by experts. Addressing this concern is the revolutionary RTK solution LRTK, which leverages smartphones for accessibility.

LRTK is a compact RTK-GNSS receiver that can be attached to an iPhone or iPad, allowing anyone to easily perform centimeter-level positioning. It is a device and cloud service designed to make high-precision surveying accessible to all.

By utilizing LRTK, construction teams can establish an environment where everyone on-site can routinely benefit from the advantages discussed in this article—faster decision-making through real-time data sharing, reduced rework through immediate accuracy verification, and streamlined record-keeping.

Traditionally, expensive and limited surveying equipment was operated only by dedicated surveyors, but LRTK is affordable enough to be widely deployed, making it possible for not only site supervisors but all workers to carry high-precision positioning devices.

Including its high reliability, LRTK can be considered the optimal solution for construction managers aiming to drive digital transformation on-site.

Update your site management practices with the latest RTK technology and take the first step toward embracing the wave of construction site DX. For brochures or inquiries, please use the dedicated form available on our website. The future of site DX is just around the corner. Don’t miss this opportunity to experience LRTK—the optimal solution for construction management through high-precision positioning.