Technical information

218 | Chapter 16 Introduction to the Survey Tools
The Survey Tools
You can use the survey functionality to download, create, and analyze sur-
vey data. The survey features extend the base functionality of the AutoCAD
Land Desktop by streamlining the process of transferring field-captured
survey data to and from the office.
The survey features provide a complete set of tools to collect survey data, per-
form surveying calculations, and automate symbol placement and line work.
You can communicate with over 60 different types of instruments including
data collectors, total stations, and digital lasers. You have the ability to
convert ASCII and coordinate data to and from a wide range of data formats.
Using the survey standard traverse balance routines and the 2D and 3D Least
Squares adjustments, you can reduce field data for analysis. In addition, you
can draw and control field-located line work by using either point descrip-
tions or the figure commands.
Coding point data in the field, within a data collector, makes the mapping
process much more efficient. You can add points and set up description keys
to automatically add detailed descriptions and symbols. You can use figure
commands to automatically draw lines and curves, which you can later
define as breakline data for a surface. Then, when the design project is done,
the field crew can upload proposed grade points back to the data collector for
stakeout.