How Digitalizing Construction Management Is Changing Sites: Explaining New Methods to Improve Quality and Efficiency in Civil Engineering and Construction

In recent years, the civil engineering and construction industry has rapidly adopted digital technologies in construction management tasks. Scenes where site supervisors and construction management engineers check drawings on tablets and share progress on the cloud are no longer uncommon. In response to labor shortages and calls for work-style reform, various new methods aimed at improving on-site efficiency and quality have emerged.

This article explains the latest digitalization methods in construction management for civil engineering and construction, including cloud-based progress management, digital sharing of drawings and forms, simplification of electronic site boards, daily reports and as-built (completion) records, integration with AR/BIM, and the use of smartphones and tablets. We will focus in particular on the new on-site management possibilities enabled by combining smartphones with high-precision GNSS receivers—so-called LRTK—and examine in detail how these technologies can improve quality and efficiency.

Challenges at Civil Engineering and Construction Sites and the Need for Digitalization

At civil engineering and construction sites, issues related to information sharing and operational efficiency have long been pointed out. Drawings and documents tend to be paper-based, and communications often rely on phone calls or verbal instructions, leading to delays in information transmission and rework due to mistakes. Additionally, many tasks depend on the tacit knowledge of experienced workers, making handovers difficult when personnel change.

More recently, the shortage and aging of skilled workers has deepened, increasing the workload on each individual. As a result, long working hours and weekend work have become commonplace, contributing to young workers leaving the industry and creating a negative cycle. With the 2024 overtime regulations (the so-called "2024 problem") looming, responding to work-style reform and improving productivity has become an urgent task for the entire industry.

Against this backdrop, expectations for on-site digitalization and DX (digital transformation) are rising. Initiatives such as the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism's "i-Construction" are also supporting these efforts, accelerating improvements in construction management using ICT. Introducing digital technologies can speed up information sharing to prevent mistakes, streamline operations to reduce overtime, and even enhance quality and safety management. The following sections examine concrete new digitalization methods item by item.

Progress Management and Information Sharing via the Cloud

Schedules and work plans for construction have traditionally been managed with Excel or paper charts and exchanged by fax or email. This causes time lags in sharing the latest information and delays in conveying plan changes to the site. Cloud-based progress and task management systems have emerged to address this.

If schedules are created and shared on the cloud, all stakeholders—site teams, head office, subcontractors, and clients—can always view the latest schedule. When construction details change, inputting change information from the site into the cloud system instantly notifies all relevant parties. As a result, other personnel can immediately start arranging materials or adjusting subsequent tasks, minimizing rework and waiting times.

Real-time progress sharing also reduces information transmission stress between the site and the office. Without relying on meetings or phone calls, anyone with an internet connection can access the same up-to-date information, lowering the risk that minor communication omissions become major mistakes. For site supervisors overseeing multiple projects, cloud-based systems offer the advantage of centrally monitoring the status of each site. Cloud-based progress management contributes to overall productivity improvements and smoother communication across civil engineering and construction sites.

Digital Sharing of Drawings and Forms and Paperless Workflows

Management of design drawings and various documents (forms) used on site has also been transformed by cloud adoption. Previously, the latest drawings had to be copied and kept in the site office and redistributed on paper to stakeholders whenever revisions occurred. Paper-based workflows carried the constant risk of outdated drawings being used due to missed updates or timing mismatches. Storing and transporting large volumes of paper materials was also a logistical burden.

By using drawing management systems and cloud storage, the latest drawing files and construction planning documents can be shared immediately with all stakeholders. For example, if a design change occurs, updating the drawing file on the cloud ensures everyone can view the most recent version. On site, tablets or PCs can quickly display the new drawings, eliminating the need to discard or replace old paper documents. This reduces construction errors arising from misreading or mismatching drawings and directly helps prevent quality defects and rework.

Forms are also being digitized, advancing paperless workflows. Inspection checklists, safety documents, and submission forms can be shared and filled out as digital forms, allowing required information to be submitted from the site in real time. For example, if an inspection report is completed on the cloud, supervisors and clients can remotely review and approve the contents. There is no need to wait for paper distribution and collection, accelerating decision-making. Digital sharing of drawings and forms contributes not only to efficiency gains from paperless work but also to reliable quality control through centralized information management.

Simplifying Electronic Site Boards, Daily Reports, and As-Built Records

Daily on-site tasks such as taking photos and creating reports can be dramatically streamlined through digitalization. A representative example is electronicizing the "chalkboard" that appears in construction photos. Traditionally, workers wrote the project name and date on a physical board for each photo, but with an electronic site-board-enabled camera app, you can simply enter the items on a smartphone and have the app automatically overlay the required information on the photo. This eliminates the need to carry a physical board and prevents handwriting errors or omissions. Since tags such as project name, location, and timestamp are applied to photos at capture, the effort needed to categorize and organize images later is greatly reduced. As a result, compiling a photo ledger becomes smoother and time spent on document organization decreases.

Daily reports can also be simplified with dedicated construction management apps. Previously, site supervisors would complete paper daily reports or Excel sheets in the office after work and submit them to their superiors. With digital daily reports, site personnel can input and send the day's events and progress directly from a smartphone or tablet. The app may automatically collect and aggregate standard items such as weather and labor counts, reducing the supervisor's burden. Reported information is shared on the cloud instantly, allowing supervisors and stakeholders to grasp the situation in real time. This helps prevent reporting omissions and enables speedy decision-making—for example, rapid responses to problems when they occur. Reducing the time spent preparing daily reports can also cut overtime and support work-style reform.

The digitalization of as-built records (measurement records of post-construction dimensions and quantities) is also progressing. Tasks that were once recorded by hand using surveying instruments or tape measures can now be auto-recorded by linking laser measuring devices or high-precision GNSS equipment with tablets. For example, when measuring pavement elevation or the dimensions of completed structures, the data can be saved to a cloud-based as-built management system and automatically reflected in forms. This eliminates calculation and transcription errors, improving the accuracy and speed of survey work. Storing as-built information as electronic data also facilitates later inspections and electronic delivery of project deliverables. Simplifying site-recording tasks such as photos, daily reports, and as-built records benefits both workload reduction for site staff and assurance of quality.

Visualizing and Improving Efficiency with AR and BIM

The use of 3D models (BIM/CIM) is bringing new value to site management. BIM (Building Information Modeling) refers to three-dimensional design data in the architectural field, while CIM (Civil Information Modeling) refers to 3D model use in civil engineering; their adoption on construction sites is expanding. For example, site personnel can view BIM models on tablets or use AR (augmented reality) to overlay models onto the actual site view. Because completed images and the spatial relationships of structures that were hard to grasp from drawings or photos can be intuitively understood on site, AR/BIM act as a bridge between the physical site and digital data, delivering significant benefits.

Combining AR and BIM offers many advantages. First, clients, designers, and contractors can share the same on-site vision of the finished product, reducing misunderstandings and facilitating consensus building. Spatial dimensions and finishes that are difficult to convey on drawings become clear when full-scale 3D models are displayed in the real environment, embodying the adage "seeing is believing." During construction, AR overlays can guide whether elements are being installed at the correct positions and heights according to the design, enabling immediate verification. Showing rebar or piping layouts via AR or providing navigational cues for component placement can prevent measurement errors and misalignments. There are cases where layout tasks that used to take half a day were completed quickly using AR, dramatically reducing mistakes. For as-built inspections, overlaying a BIM model on the completed structure allows visual comparison against the design; advanced techniques such as color-coded deviation displays between model and actual structure are emerging, improving the efficiency of inspection and recording tasks.

The evolution of smartphones and tablets is also key to supporting on-site AR/BIM usage. Modern mobile devices are equipped with high-performance cameras and LiDAR sensors, markedly improving AR accuracy. Moreover, when combined with the high-precision GNSS mentioned later, digital models can be overlaid outdoors with centimeter-level positional accuracy. This makes AR accessible to more workers on construction sites, significantly enhancing construction management quality and efficiency.

Expanding Use of Smartphones and Tablets on Site

The use of smartphones and tablets on construction sites is becoming commonplace. Not only site supervisors but also field workers are increasingly using one smartphone or tablet each for information sharing and record-keeping. With the widespread adoption and improved usability of mobile devices, apps that are intuitive even for veteran staff with limited IT literacy have become more available. Tasks that previously could only be done on office PCs (such as viewing drawings or checking email) can now be completed immediately on site, reducing wasted time traveling between the site and the office.

A smartphone is an "all-in-one tool" equipped with a high-performance camera, various sensors, and internet connectivity. It can handle photo and video capture, chat and web conferencing communication, and dedicated construction management apps. For example, if a defect is discovered on site, capturing it with a smartphone and immediately uploading the image to a cloud-shared folder allows design staff in the office to share the information in real time and discuss countermeasures. On a tablet, large-format PDFs of drawings can be zoomed and reviewed clearly, and markups can be shared on the spot. This speeds up communication between the site and the office and quickly resolves minor issues.

Smartphones and tablets also function as hubs that connect to other digital devices. Via Bluetooth or Wi‑Fi, they can link with laser distance meters, sensors, drone controllers, and other equipment to import data instantly. It is easy to expand functionality by attaching a high-precision GNSS receiver to a smartphone to improve positioning accuracy, as discussed later. As mobile usage expands, the site environment is evolving so that anyone can be an information sender and recorder. Site information that tended to be person-dependent is now stored on the cloud and shared by the entire team, ensuring that knowledge remains within the organization despite personnel changes or generational turnover. Smartphone and tablet use on site contributes not only to efficiency but also to organizational knowledge transfer and stronger teamwork.

Geotagging Photos and Streamlining Survey Work

Many photos are taken on construction sites, and there is growing demand to attach location coordinates to these image files. In the past, the location where a photo was taken might have been recorded manually on a map or drawing, but now smartphone GPS functions and dedicated apps can automatically record latitude and longitude for each photo. With highly accurate location information, photos can be plotted on a map to visualize overall progress across the project area, and users can locate the shot site with one click from a photo ledger. For long road projects, mapping photo locations on a digital map makes it easy to understand which section a photo represents. Geotagging photos enables spatial visualization of site information and is useful for later investigations and explanations.

Survey and as-built measurement tasks have also been greatly streamlined by digital technologies. Previously, surveyors often worked in pairs using transits or levels, but recent advances in GPS/GNSS positioning and 3D scanners have enabled fast solo surveys. Drone photogrammetry (creating 3D terrain models from aerial photos) is powerful for large-scale earthwork calculations and terrain understanding, allowing wide-area as-built conditions to be captured quickly. Furthermore, by combining smartphones with high-precision GNSS devices—as described below—point surveys and layout tasks that used to require specialized instruments can be performed with centimeter-level accuracy by almost anyone. This reduces work stoppages awaiting survey teams and allows site personnel to measure and verify as needed. Simplifying survey work is essential for maintaining accuracy while progressing work quickly despite labor shortages.

Expanding Possibilities in Construction Management with Smartphone + High-Precision GNSS (LRTK)

Combining a smartphone with a high-precision GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) receiver further expands on-site management possibilities. A representative solution is known as "LRTK." LRTK involves attaching a compact RTK-GNSS receiver to a smartphone to achieve centimeter-level positioning accuracy. This enables site personnel to perform tasks that formerly required specialized surveying equipment and skilled technicians, using just a pocket-sized device and a smartphone. In effect, surveying instruments, drawings, cameras, and communication tools are integrated into a single "all-purpose site tool."

Using LRTK enables the following efficiencies and enhancements:

• Advanced as-built recording: High-precision positioning allows accurate measurement and recording of as-built conditions. For example, pavement thickness or excavation depth can be measured and digitized on the spot and linked directly to quality control.

• Geotagging photos with precise coordinates: Photos taken with a smartphone can automatically include centimeter-level position information. This makes it easy to plot images on maps for management or attach photos with precise location data to reports.

• Integration with progress quantity data: Measured dimensions, areas, and volumes can be linked to progress quantity management systems to automatically aggregate construction progress quantities. This enables precise and efficient daily progress reports and progress-based payments.

• AR-based position verification: Based on accurate coordinates, smartphone AR functions can overlay design models and installation positions on the site. You can check the locations of underground utilities in AR or guide the placement of structures with on-screen navigation for intuitive position verification.

• Cloud integration: Positioning data and captured images from LRTK can be uploaded to the cloud immediately for sharing. office supervisors and designers can review measurement results in real time and issue instructions or approvals quickly.

• More efficient field surveys: Pre-construction site walks and ground investigations before work starts can be conducted efficiently with fewer personnel using LRTK. Measurements of heights and positions across a wide site can be taken quickly, improving the accuracy and speed of surveys.

• Simplified surveying tasks: Site staff can perform required point surveys and layout tasks without specialized survey equipment. For example, a smartphone with LRTK mounted on a monopod can capture coordinates and elevations of arbitrary points with one touch, allowing a single person to mark positions on site.

• Sharing on-site location information: Points and photo locations obtained with LRTK can be plotted on maps and shared with the team. All stakeholders can visually grasp important site points and measurement results, improving overall situational awareness and coordination.

In this way, LRTK is an innovative tool that combines the versatility of smartphones with GNSS surveying technology, supporting a wide range of on-site activities from as-built management to progress tracking, inspection, and communication. Because it is inexpensive and highly portable, one-device-per-person use is realistic, making LRTK a true embodiment of on-site digitalization.

Conclusion: LRTK Adoption Improves Construction Management Quality, Speed, and On-Site Collaboration

As we have seen, digitalizing construction management brings substantial benefits to civil engineering and construction sites. Cloud-based information sharing reduces mistakes, paperless workflows eliminate wasteful tasks, AR/BIM improves on-site visualization and quality, and new technologies like smartphones and LRTK dramatically enhance the speed and accuracy of work. Using these methods comprehensively raises both the quality (safety and workmanship) and speed (shorter schedules and faster responses) of construction management, while greatly strengthening collaboration among site personnel, offices, and stakeholders.

In particular, adopting smartphone + high-precision GNSS technologies such as LRTK enables on-the-spot acquisition and immediate sharing of accurate data, greatly improving the speed and precision of on-site decision-making. With one LRTK device per person, high-quality information from every corner of the site can be aggregated in real time, allowing teams to proceed with construction while maintaining a shared situational awareness. This levels out tasks that were once dependent on a few specialists and raises the overall capability of the organization.

Digitally enabled construction management methods are a key measure for maintaining high quality with limited personnel. In an era of work-style reforms and labor shortages, leveraging these tools to improve productivity directly enhances corporate competitiveness. The civil engineering and construction industry is now undergoing a major transformation. By actively adopting new technologies and effectively utilizing advanced tools like LRTK, we can realize sustainable construction management that balances quality and efficiency.