The Future of Civil Engineering Surveying with RTK:
How High-Precision GPS is Changing the Field

This article takes an average of 2 minutes and 30 seconds to read
Published March 13, 2025

Surveying technology on construction sites is about to undergo a significant transformation. At the heart of this change is RTK, a high-precision GPS positioning technology. RTK is capable of reducing satellite positioning errors to within a few centimeters, enabling fast and highly accurate surveys that were previously difficult with traditional methods.
In this article, we will explain the overview and evolution of RTK technology, solutions to the challenges in civil engineering surveying, the latest trends in high-precision GPS technology, and the role RTK will play in the future of surveying. Additionally, we will introduce the new RTK solution "LRTK" and provide information on how to request free materials. Whether you're a general contractor, a small-to-medium-sized civil engineering company, a surveyor, or an infrastructure maintenance professional, discover how RTK surveying can help improve productivity on-site and shape the future of surveying.
1. Overview and Evolution of RTK Technology
RTK technology has been researched and implemented in the surveying field since the 1990s. Initially, the mainstream method was the single reference point approach, which involved wireless communication between a base station and a rover. In recent years, network RTK, which utilizes data from multiple reference stations like the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan's electronic reference point network, has become practical, allowing for stable high-precision positioning even over long distances. Additionally, the use of multi-GNSS has advanced, including satellites such as GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and Michibiki (QZSS), which increases the number of visible satellites and further improves the reliability and accuracy of RTK. As the technology has advanced, there has also been a trend toward smaller, more affordable equipment, making RTK-enabled devices more accessible than before. RTK has become a revolutionary method born from the evolution of surveying technology, and due to its high precision, it is now applied in various fields such as civil engineering surveying, drone surveying, autonomous farming, and construction machinery guidance.
2. Traditional Challenges in Civil Engineering Surveying and RTK Solutions
Several challenges have traditionally been faced in civil engineering surveying. For example, the following points have been highlighted:
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Numerous Reference Points and Manual Labor:
In traditional total station or photogrammetric surveying, multiple reference points (ground-based reference points) had to be established for high-precision surveying. Surveying teams often spent half a day setting up and measuring several reference points, which was time-consuming and labor-intensive. By introducing RTK positioning, this preliminary setup work can be significantly reduced. Once a base station is installed, the rover can immediately obtain coordinates anywhere, reducing the need for reference points at each survey location, thus improving the overall efficiency of the surveying process. -
Working with Multiple People:
Traditional total station surveying typically required two people—one for operating the machine and the other holding the prism. In contrast, with RTK positioning, a single worker can move and observe survey points while carrying the rover. As long as the base station is stationary, it can function without a crew, and with network RTK, which obtains correction information from regional electronic reference points, there is no need for a base station setup. This allows for solo surveying, contributing to the reduction of labor shortages and labor costs. -
Balancing Survey Time and Accuracy:
In large sites or environments with many obstacles, total station surveys required multiple setups and visibility checks, making the process time-consuming. RTK, however, can work in areas with poor visibility as long as the sky above is open. For example, in road and railway alignment surveys, an RTK rover can be mounted on a vehicle to conduct continuous measurements, enabling detailed line surveys in a short time. Moreover, because RTK can provide real-time, high-precision positioning, data can be reviewed on-site while work is being conducted, leading to reductions in rework and enabling immediate decision-making, thus balancing efficiency and quality. -
Direct Support for Global Coordinates:
Traditionally, surveying was done using local coordinate systems for each construction site, and later data had to be converted to public coordinate systems (global geodetic systems). With RTK surveying, global coordinates based on satellite standards (such as the World Geodetic System in Japan) can be obtained from the outset, simplifying the process of coordinate conversion or localization to known points. Point cloud data and as-built data collected on-site can be immediately handled in public coordinate systems, making it easier to compare with design data and share with other teams. In infrastructure maintenance, RTK allows for the accumulation of periodic survey data in global coordinates, enabling accurate tracking of changes over time.
In this way, RTK solves the challenges of time, effort, personnel, and accuracy in traditional surveying. Many reports from on-site surveys using RTK show benefits such as "vertical and horizontal elevation surveys completed in half the time" or "achieving better accuracy with fewer people." As a result, RTK is increasingly transforming the workflow of civil engineering surveying by improving both quality and reducing the burden on field operations.
3. Latest Trends in High-Precision GPS Technology
The pace of technological innovation is fast, and new trends are emerging rapidly in the field of high-precision GPS/GNSS positioning, including RTK. Let’s take a look at some of the recent key trends:
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Network-based RTK and Cloud Services:
As mentioned earlier, network RTK, which integrates data from multiple reference stations in real time, has become widespread, enabling stable centimeter-level positioning over large areas. The foundation of this is the approximately 1,300 electronic reference points (GNSS continuous observation systems) installed across Japan. New services that obtain correction data via the internet using Ntrip communication have emerged, allowing RTK positioning through the cloud without the need for a private base station. This has made high-precision surveying more accessible, especially for small and medium-sized businesses. -
Utilizing Quasi-Zenith Satellites "Michibiki":
The use of Japan's unique satellite system, QZSS (Michibiki), for centimeter-level correction services (CLAS) is another new trend in high-precision positioning. With a CLAS-compatible receiver, correction data sent from satellites allows for almost RTK-level precision in standalone positioning. This eliminates the need for communication infrastructure, making it possible to achieve high-precision positioning even in areas with unstable communication environments, such as mountainous regions. However, RTK fixed solutions still provide slightly better precision (2–3 cm horizontally) than CLAS, so both should be used as needed. Nonetheless, government demonstrations have confirmed that "CLAS provides precision comparable to RTK in practical use," and it is expected that PPP-RTK technology combining RTK and satellite correction data will gain more attention in the future. -
Multi-GNSS and Receiver Evolution:
Recent satellite launches and the use of new frequencies have diversified the available satellite signals. In addition to GPS L1, there are now receivers supporting frequencies like L5, Galileo's high-precision service, and BeiDou (BDS) signals. This has improved positioning continuity in environments where some satellites are blocked, such as urban areas and forests, and has contributed to faster initialization times and more stable phase fixes. Additionally, hybrid positioning technologies integrating GNSS with IMU (inertial measurement units) have been put into practical use, allowing positioning to continue even when GNSS signals are interrupted, such as in tunnels or under bridges. These technologies are especially effective for continuous position recording in infrastructure inspections. -
Integration with Drones and Mobile Devices:
By equipping drones with RTK-GNSS for photogrammetry or LiDAR surveying, it is now possible to significantly reduce the number of reference points previously set up on the ground, while directly embedding high-precision position data into aerial photos or point cloud data. Using RTK-equipped drones, large-scale 3D surveying can now be performed quickly. Furthermore, solutions that combine smartphones or tablets with GNSS receivers have also emerged, allowing for easy 3D measurement on-site.
In this way, technologies that turn mobile devices into universal surveying tools are quietly becoming widespread. Compared to dedicated equipment, these solutions are more affordable and portable, making it possible that "one smartphone per person" surveying could become the standard on construction sites in the future.
4. The Role of RTK in the Future of Civil Engineering Surveying
In the future, RTK is expected to play a core role in civil engineering surveying, surpassing just being a positioning technology. Looking ahead, several changes are expected:
First, the widespread adoption of RTK will accelerate the digitalization and automation of surveying tasks. For example, in construction, machine guidance systems that control the height of blades and buckets on heavy machinery automatically, by equipping them with GNSS receivers, are already in practical use within ICT construction initiatives. These systems rely on RTK’s high-precision positioning to function. In the future, surveying data from surveyors will be immediately transmitted to heavy machinery for automated construction, followed by re-verifying the as-built data with RTK and recording it to the cloud, creating a seamless feedback loop. RTK will be indispensable for building real-time 3D models of the site, also known as "digital twins."
RTK will also play a crucial role in infrastructure maintenance. Roads, railways, and bridges require regular displacement measurements and monitoring. What was previously reliant on leveling surveys and fixed-point observations is gradually transitioning to real-time monitoring systems using RTK. For example, installing GNSS receivers on the roadside to monitor highway subsidence in real-time with centimeter-level accuracy is now technically possible. Immediate detection and reporting of anomalies will revolutionize disaster prevention and maintenance planning.
RTK will also change the workforce in surveying. With the aging population and labor shortages in the construction industry, RTK’s labor-saving and skill-reducing capabilities offer a significant solution. In advanced sites, simpler RTK devices that even novice workers can use are being introduced, reducing the burden on veteran engineers. A future where construction management technicians can easily conduct surveying as needed, without having specialized surveying teams on-site, is emerging. This will lead to faster decision-making on-site and reduce delays in construction caused by waiting for survey results.
Moreover, the cost structure is also changing. The decreasing cost and miniaturization of RTK equipment are beginning to break the assumption that "surveying instruments are expensive and used only by a few people." In particular, RTK using smartphones is making "one device per person" a realistic possibility. According to research by a major general contractor, procuring affordable single-frequency RTK equipment for field offices and making it accessible to non-surveying professionals will greatly transform the entire site. Thus, RTK is expected to become the standard infrastructure for future civil engineering surveying, making it common for everyone to use.
5. The Spread and Future Outlook of RTK Surveying
Currently, RTK surveying is steadily spreading from large enterprises to small and medium-sized construction sites. The promotion of i-Construction by the government and the affordability and user-friendliness of equipment have played a significant role in this. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) encourages ICT construction and supports the digitalization of the entire construction process. RTK-GNSS is positioned as the core technology, and the use of RTK drones and RTK mobile surveying is being explicitly mentioned in the guidelines for managing as-built data. In the near future, it is possible that delivering 3D as-built survey data using RTK will become a standard requirement for public projects.
Looking at the private sector, the expansion of implementation cases is helping to further spread RTK usage. For example, major general contractors have demonstrated the use of RTK and satellite correction data for precise positioning in dam and tunnel construction, realizing significant efficiency gains and quality improvements. These cases are being shared in industry journals and academic conferences, spreading to small and medium-sized civil engineering contractors and surveying companies. Concerns such as "Can we use RTK with our scale?" and "Can we achieve accuracy without experienced staff?" are gradually being alleviated as success stories are seen. Now, more companies are starting to use RTK equipment by renting it for short periods or outsourcing RTK operations to surveying companies.
The technological outlook for the future is also bright. Satellite positioning is expected to continue advancing, and in the coming years, more Michibiki satellites will be operational. Additionally, similar PPP-RTK services to Japan's CLAS are being developed in Europe and the U.S., and in the future, centimeter positioning with common equipment will be possible for overseas construction projects. With the modularization of GNSS chips, it has also become easier to integrate RTK positioning into self-developed systems.
For example, adding RTK integration to proprietary construction management apps will allow real-time position verification on drawings. Depending on the creativity of the site, the scope of RTK utilization will continue to expand.
Finally, education and system development are also crucial. Knowledge of GNSS surveying is becoming essential in surveying education programs and certification exams. To foster personnel capable of using RTK on-site, training programs by manufacturers and educational institutions have become more comprehensive. Systemically, GNSS surveying regulations are being incorporated into the work rules for public surveying, and the accuracy management methods for RTK-based observations are being standardized. This institutional development is helping further the spread of RTK, and the era of "RTK surveying as standard" is rapidly approaching.
Dramatically Improve Surveying Accuracy and Work Efficiency on Site with LRTK
The LRTK series enables high-precision GNSS positioning in the fields of construction, civil engineering, and surveying, making it possible to reduce work time and significantly improve productivity. It is also compatible with i-Construction, a program promoted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, making it the ideal solution for advancing digitalization in the construction industry.
For more details on LRTK, please visit the following links:
For any inquiries about the product, quotes, or consultations regarding implementation, feel free to contact us through the inquiry form below. Let LRTK help take your site to the next level.