Benefits of AR Civil Engineering with RTK

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1. Improved Construction Management Accuracy

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AR technology overlays 3D design models onto the construction site, allowing for real-time comparison with actual structures, which helps in the early detection of construction errors. With RTK’s centimeter-level high-precision positioning correction, the model can be placed with minimal deviation, ensuring that components are accurately installed according to the design. For example, in bridge construction, checking the position of supports or bolts by comparing the actual location with the 3D model allows for the detection and correction of even slight misalignments. Since discrepancies between the site and the design can be detected and corrected on the spot, this ultimately improves construction accuracy and reduces rework.

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2. Streamlining Surveying Operations

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Traditional surveying involved the use of total stations or GPS to measure points, followed by checking positions on the drawings—an often time-consuming process. With an RTK-enabled AR system, the position of surveyed points can be displayed on-site in real-time on camera footage, allowing for "visual surveying." For example, by simply walking with a smartphone or tablet, the system can guide you to the designated survey points or display the measurement results as AR markers on the ground. This eliminates the need for surveyors to constantly refer back to the drawings, significantly reducing work time. In practice, by using AR for pile-driving position navigation, the identification and marking of points is made more efficient, reducing human error.

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The image shows a smartphone equipped with a high-precision GNSS receiver, mounted on a monopod for surveying. Thanks to RTK, the position is always tracked with centimeter-level accuracy, enabling efficient surveying and staking operations even when working alone.

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3. Application in Infrastructure Maintenance

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High-precision AR is highly effective in maintaining aging infrastructure and underground utilities. By enhancing positioning accuracy with RTK, AR enables the "visualization" of underground pipes and cables, allowing precise identification of buried locations without the need for excavation. For example, by simply pointing a tablet's camera at the ground, underground gas and water pipes appear as if they are transparent, significantly reducing the risk of accidentally damaging the pipes.

In bridge and tunnel inspections, past design data and records of deteriorated areas can be overlaid onto the current site conditions using AR, allowing for the accurate identification of areas that require repair. This can improve the accuracy of maintenance plans and reduce unnecessary work.

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The image shows an example of underground utilities (blue and green pipes) and overhead wiring (red lines) displayed in AR on a tablet screen. The infrastructure equipment is visualized at its correct location, overlaid onto the real-world environment, allowing workers to quickly understand what is buried underground.

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Latest Initiatives Using RTK × AR Technology

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The high-precision RTK × AR technology is being increasingly implemented both domestically and internationally. In Japan, Lefixea has developed a system that combines tablets with RTK positioning to display underground utilities in AR on-site. By enabling the 3D visualization of buried pipes without the need for drawings or trial excavation, this system has contributed to improved safety and work efficiency.

Meanwhile, internationally, it is gaining attention as the world's first outdoor high-precision AR system. By combining high-performance GNSS receivers with AR technology, this system overlays 3D design models with real-world visuals on smartphones at centimeter-level accuracy, making it possible to intuitively share and verify complex design data on-site.

As seen both in Japan and abroad, the implementation of RTK × AR is accelerating digital transformation (DX) in construction, with adoption expanding across a wide range of projects, from bridge construction to urban infrastructure management.

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Advantages and Benefits of Implementing LRTK

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Many of the AR surveying tools currently available on the market require pre-installing markers or manually performing coordinate calibration. In contrast, LRTK is the only tool that eliminates the need for on-site coordinate alignment by attaching an RTK receiver to the back of a smartphone. This allows for the immediate use of high-precision AR without the need for complicated initial adjustments. Design and survey data are instantly reflected on the device via the cloud, making it intuitive and easy to use even for those without specialized technical skills.

The ability to display centimeter-level AR easily on-site directly leads to reduced construction errors and faster surveying tasks. Moreover, because you can share the completed design image in AR while walking the site with clients and stakeholders, consensus-building becomes smoother. In fact, reports show that with LRTK, surveyors, contractors, and inspectors can perform surveying, staking, inspections, photo recording, and AR simulations using a single smartphone, greatly enhancing site productivity.

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The LRTK Phone, a compact RTK-GNSS receiver that attaches to a smartphone, weighs only 125g and is 13mm thick. It also comes with a built-in battery, and by simply attaching it to the smartphone cover, the phone quickly transforms into a high-precision positioning device.

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Conclusion

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The combination of RTK and AR technology brings significant benefits to civil engineering sites, contributing to the efficiency and advancement of various tasks such as construction management, surveying, and infrastructure maintenance. By overlaying digital data onto the site with centimeter-level positioning accuracy, traditional tasks that relied on "intuition and experience" are being transformed into smart, data-driven construction practices. In the future, the use of simple yet high-precision tools like LRTK will increase, and these technologies are likely to become the new standard on construction sites. A future where everyone on-site routinely uses AR to check designs and underground utilities is just around the corner.