Least Squares Adjustment - AutoCAD Civil 3D

I never was able to get it to work.?ÿ Its been a couple of years since I even tried it.?ÿ I used to do the compass rule adjustment also but that hasn't worked. For me they always crashed Autocad.

"I long ago lost a hound, a bay horse, and a turtle-dove, and am still on their trail. Many are the travelers I have spoken concerning them, describing their tracks and what calls they answered to. I have met one or two who have heard the hound, and the tramp of the horse, and even seen the dove disappear behind a cloud, and they seemed as anxious to recover them as if they had lost them themselves."

H.D.T., Walden

So it is with adjustments in C3d (or DCA, AdCadd, Softdesk, LDD, & LDT). I've corresponded with a few who claimed to have done them, or seen them done, or heard of it done. But I've never actually done it, or even seen it, myself.?ÿ ?ÿ

The compass rule would work in LDD for me, but that's been several years ago that I used it.?ÿ Never got it to work on Civil 3D and I have tried.

We've done it at our firm, but prefer starnet. By creating a control network within your database, you can then navigate over to networks right click control network, LSA. Follow the prompts, it generates some type of report (don't remember exactly what kind or what level of data is shown), but again far less Superior to starnet. I wasn't able to figure out how to manipulate weights, add level data, GNSS vectors or anything else you can do in starnet. I guess if you're comfortable with its limitations and don't want to use/pay for starnet it's a viable option.?ÿ

I see what each of you are saying and it sounds like C3D's might just be a bust. I know there's been talk of STAR*NET & TBC at seminars I've attended in terms of properly performing a LSA. It looks like TBC probably costs more up front but maybe I'm wrong? I'm sure if you're running Trimble equipment/Trimble Access on the collector then TBC would probably be the way to go. I'm always curious what surveyors seem to think of software (CAD or otherwise) in terms of strengths & weaknesses. I've heard plenty complain about C3D for various reasons before but I personally don't have much experience with any other program?ÿ

@ncsudirtman

Well, as far as CAD I've used Civil 3D and Carlson and I prefer Civil 3D.  I don't know what Carlson costs but people tell me Civil 3D is expensive so I think their primary gripe is simply the price.

@bstrand  yea price-wise it is more expensive, especially updating annually. but I do enjoy working with the program for the most part (certain things were not well thought out granted but I've learned some work-around methods over time) 

@ncsudirtman

TBC is pretty much restricted to Trimble format data files, while StarNet will accept just about any format there has ever been. On the other hand, StarNet does adjustments and nothing else, while TBC has some other skills, and modules can be added for still others. The pricing for TBC is hard to nail down, it seems to me like they keep repackaging the features and repricing the base product.  

@bstrand

C3d is good modelling and drafting software, but it is lousy surveying software. Carlson is far better at surveying.?ÿ ?ÿYou can buy 3 seats of Carlson IntelliCAD for the price of a single seat of C3d (actually you can't even buy a perpetual license of C3d at any price anymore). So if you are a surveyor, and not also a modeller, Carlson is clearly a strong choice. Plus, Carlson is far from useless when it comes to modelling.?ÿ

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@ncsudirtman

I'vet been using StarNet for over a decade, very flexible and useful software. We just upgraded to v9.

But I've had good success with TBC lately (we are 100% Trimble except scanning). It has very nice data review and editing capabilities. I'm becoming a bigger fan.

And we upgraded our 3 Microsurvey dongles to the latest version, 2 premium and 1 ultimate (handles point clouds, can open a Leica IMP database). We have Civil3D for drafting but the latest Intellicad is looking pretty good. Going to try doing everything in Microsurvey then transfer into Civil3D for the engineers.?ÿ

It requires a very specific set of input parameters in the .fbk schema to work correctly (or at all), and it is cumbersome and clunky at best. It has seen literally ZERO development other that a tiny bit of I/O work in the toolspace. Every single bug and glitch that was in SoftDesk v8 is still there (No sideshots from your first setup they will not be adjusted, so for purposes of my fbk I "Occupy" my first backsight and "traverse" to my first actual setup. Must have 2 seed coordinates for 1st occupy and backsight. Closing Points must have same name as original points...blah blah blah.) Use StarNet and save yourself the headache and frustration.

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RRain

In our shop, we primarily use TBC for adjustments, control, RTK and conventional data BEFORE going to CAD because TBC offers those other options outside of adjusting the data. We also have StarNet in house but it's rarely used unless we do a project for USACE and they want to see the reporting.
To answer your question, Civil3d does not work well when trying to do adjustments (as others have said). My $0.02.

If it is true that no changes have been made to the software since Softdesk then I can be assured that in my installation of Land Desk Top I have what you have in 3D.

In all, I do not find this software that difficult to use. Plus, I have never been fond of spending additional money for a solution when I already have one available.?ÿ

The most difficulty people have with the FBK format is that they want to assign a different point number to the first occupation at the end of the loop.

Also Randy said you need two "seed" coordinate pairs, but that is not necessarily true. You can start with one point fixed (minimally constrained) and an azimuth to the back sight if you want. It works fine if you know the language of the commands available.

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