Creating Field2Finish

If you use Carlson in the office, you don't really need separate begin or end notes, other than the +7 or B or whatever you setup, at the end of the code.

EP+7?ÿ EP?ÿ?ÿ EP?ÿ EP?ÿ?ÿ etc

If you want to shoot a MH or WG or whatever while doing your string, you can.?ÿ The software will only connect like codes

EP+7?ÿ EP?ÿ MH?ÿ EP?ÿ WG EP EP

You can even do cross sections if you like.?ÿ Just call everything on one side of the street the normal code, and everything on the other side add a 1. ?ÿ ?ÿ

BS?ÿ TS?ÿ TC?ÿ EP?ÿ CL?ÿ EP1?ÿ TC1?ÿ TS1?ÿ BS1

Carlson will connect polylines through the correct codes

A lot of people are reluctant to try, especially older guys who've been doing it one way their whole life.?ÿ And I can't count how many times I've heard complaints from field guys that this will slow them down.?ÿ They're wrong.

I dont really understand this. Whats the +7. More specifically how do you prepare this kind of workflow. Lets say you have defined the codes that you want to use. How do you start end segments on the field and hoe do you then work with these codes?

Essentially, I just download PNEZD comma delimited file to Carlson and run the field to finish part of the program.?ÿ It is the Descriptor portion of the CODES that runs the linework.

I do not use very many Carlson Codes at all.?ÿ?ÿ Really just:

B

PC

PT

/

JPN

CLO

For example:

102,1546408.9634,218434.2884,745.7236,SCM/ MNF

in CAD will draw the section corner monument triangle symbol and add a note at the end of the DESCRIPTOR in CAD that will say SCM MNF (which tells me that it is a mag nail found)

or:

141,1545130.3632,220924.0698,730.0167,XBLD

I use XBLD a lot with GPS to just eyeball the line of the edge of a building, then just hand draw connect from XBLD to XBLD to perpendicular or whatever to get the buildings drawn in since GPS wonƒ??t let us get right up to the buildings.

And:

160,1545259.8997,221923.5957,735.0925,EXB

Is just a generic symbol I call electric cross box

And:

179,1544993.7674,222125.5941,732.4099,RIN/ 1'DIA

RIN draws a round inlet where INLET draws a square one

And:

221,1545780.1126,221412.6327,734.5644,OEP B

222,1545833.9385,221496.6085,734.0787,OEP

223,1545823.7926,221495.8978,734.5212,OEP/ DO

224,1545847.8105,221515.4005,733.9943,GW

?ÿ

Draws a power pole symbol AND a line from 221 to 222 to 223 where DO just tells me to delete the PP symbol for 223 in CAD it is just a direction only shot

GW is a guy wire to the nearest PP, I rotate and stretch in CAD myself by hand

And:

225,1545889.1546,221503.5821,728.7393,FLO B

226,1545878.4930,221503.5224,727.4262,FLO XINV/ 60"CMP

Shows how you can double code a single shot, 225 begins a flowline, and continues it to 226 where there is also an invert of a 60ƒ? CMP

And:

228,1546041.3830,221808.6358,734.0796,X/ SFNF

This just tells me that I searched with the Schonstedt and found nothing (searched for not found)

And:

I use X/ NOTE BLAH BLAH BLAH too much as a general NOTE tool.?ÿ Instead I should be using NOTE/ NOTE BLAH BLAH BLAH because then those general NOTES would be on a NOTES layer rather then the X layer which is what I use for general ground shots.

Also, worth noting here is the code LINE.?ÿ This just draws a LINE on a MISC layer.?ÿ It is a catch all for lines I am not sure exactly how to code out in the field.

BRK is another one I use a lot on handicap ramps and other situations to draw 3D poly break lines to help with contouring.

And

233,1546272.8894,222172.1599,731.6265,PIPE B/ IN18CPP

234,1546315.6410,222215.7956,734.6392,PIPE/ DO

PIPE is for storm sewer, often shot at the inverts IN 18ƒ? CPP, or not i.e. ƒ??DOƒ? direction onlyƒ??

SNP is for sanitary sewer pipe, which is rare.

And:

235,1546105.7355,222171.8201,730.5938,X/ P-RW

236,1546230.6408,222172.2564,731.7508,X/ P-RW

237,1546230.8189,222116.9152,732.3435,X/ P-RW

238,1546223.9407,222106.8918,732.1311,X/ T-RW

239,1546215.6806,222162.1049,731.3544,X/ T-RW 395

I honestly do not remember what these shots are all about?

And:

240,1546291.9327,222187.9773,734.8125,GAS B

241,1546281.4944,222188.3105,734.4306,GAS PC

242,1546279.0803,222186.1355,734.0648,GAS PT

243,1546271.6425,222174.7794,732.8492,GAS GLMKR

Draws a straight gas line from 240 to 241 then a tangent curve to 242 then straight line to 243 and adds a gas line marker symbol at 243.

That is ONE way to draw a short curve.

Another way is GAS PC which starts a curve, then if the next several codes are just GAS GAS GAS GAS etc the program assumes a tangent curve from the first PC code through the next two GAS codes assuming three GAS codes on a curve (i.e. it assumes the THIRD GAS code is the PT).

OR you can start a curve with GAS PC then shoot a bunch of GAS shots then force the last one to be GAS PT.

And:

253,1545910.3064,222167.1283,730.3368,SGN B

254,1545910.2434,222158.4218,730.3522,SGN

Draws a line on a SIGN layer, where the code SIGN just draws a SIGN symbol

And:

255,1545853.9968,222184.9970,732.1057,GAS GAS1 B

256,1545848.5769,222235.2700,733.4469,GAS1 GV

257,1545604.3707,222185.2138,734.5403,GAS

NOTE THE USE OF MULTIPLE gas gas1 gas2 gas3 LINES.?ÿ This approach applies to any of the line codes.

And:

258,1545588.2727,222220.5842,733.7052,WM WTR B

259,1545588.3049,222207.9536,734.3945,WTR

260,1545597.0544,222212.1651,733.3256,MB/ 1015

Water Meter symbol WM

Water line WTR

Mailbox symbol with actual address added to the CAD descriptor.

And:

DMH is storm drainage manhole

SMH is sanitary manhole

MH is unknown type of manhole

I like to do measure downs BEFORE taking topo shots; 1 it helps later identifying these when taking topo shots, and B it helps make sure I go far enough upstream or downstream.?ÿ Plus, C this gets the nasty part of the job over early and right away.

And:

300,1545239.6904,221920.0992,735.9003,CLF1/ 6'BW

6 feet tall chain link fence with barbed wire line number 1 I must have already had another CLF line runningƒ??

And:

332,1545117.2557,221773.3815,736.1097,X

Basic ground shot

And:

340,1545241.0459,221671.7303,735.4865,CLF CLF1/ 6'BW NO Z

No Z means DO NOT USE with CONTOURING

This is a BAD way to do this.?ÿ It would have been better to use the NOTE code.

And:

346,1545230.6091,221727.8296,735.1173,TOB B PC

347,1545227.7459,221729.0614,734.8879,TOB

348,1545223.8069,221725.6770,734.7308,TOB

349,1545224.0274,221713.6223,734.8079,TOB PC

350,1545227.9579,221710.5272,734.7817,TOB

351,1545232.0011,221714.8167,735.0382,TOB CLO

346-347-348 is a curve with straight line from 348-349 with a curve 349-350-351 with a straight line 351-closing to 346

And:

FLD is a field division between grass and cultivated field, a common code for me

And:

356,1545227.5113,221748.1925,734.2106,X/ LOW

Low spot

And:

381,1545133.0823,221578.5734,734.5904,GP

Round guard post or bollard.?ÿ Draws a solid dot in CAD.?ÿ I sometimes specify GP/ CNC or GP/ WOODƒ??

And:

393,1545140.2644,221486.3404,734.3645,HP

Square head post.?ÿ Draws a solid square in CAD.?ÿ I sometimes specify HP/ CNC or HP/ WOODƒ??

And:

395,1545173.5015,221491.3417,734.2969,T/ 12"

12ƒ? diameter deciduous tree

P/ 12ƒ??

12ƒ?? diameter pine tree

And:

464,1545445.5197,221467.6124,731.1094,LST B

Landscaping timber (usually railroad ties)

LSR is landscaping rocks

And:

832,1546176.3519,222198.1096,733.3774,PGS

Parking stripe

XPGS is usually the tip of a directional painted arrow

And:

I realize this is a bit confusing.?ÿ It does take a day or two to get everything setup in the office the way you want it.?ÿ Then you are good to go for many years to come.

Carlson Tech Support ~ R O C K S !

GIve them a ring.

Posted by: @therock003

I dont really understand this. Whats the +7. More specifically how do you prepare this kind of workflow. Lets say you have defined the codes that you want to use. How do you start end segments on the field and hoe do you then work with these codes?

Like the rest of the topo codes, you define the control codes as well. The +7 is a Carlson-specific code for "begin line", but you can make it whatever you want. I had some Carlson guys working for for me that wanted to keep that, so I added the +7 to our Trimble Access control codes so they could use it as well as our standard "BEG" code.

There are other control codes as well, such as "begin a tangent curve" and "close the current linestring". It depends on your topo codes as far as what you are able to use. For instance, you would not want to use "CL" for "close the linestring" if you are already using it for "centerline of road".

As @JPH pointed out, you don't have to run out every line to the end before beginning another one. (I still fight with crews who insist that it's the only possible workflow.) The only downside is that you have to keep track of which linestring is which (i.e. TBC1 for top back of curb string 1). But cross-sectioning is far faster and (at least in my experience) greatly decreases the chance of me missing something in the field.

Also keep in mind that if you make a mistake in the field, it's pretty easy to fix with most software packages. And since you are the one out in the field, it's going to be pretty obvious what needs to be fixed.

F2F always takes some time to dial in, but there's a fair amount of customizability there.

?ÿ

Holy crap. My head hurts.

?ÿ

But that is awesome

Posted by: @therock003

I dont really understand this. Whats the +7.

Rover83's description is a good one. I'd just like to add that Carlson comes out of the box with '"+7" as the begin line code instead of something more intuitive like "B" (or BEGIN) because it is a legacy of long ago days when the HP48, and its non-alpha keyboard,?ÿ was the data collector of the day.?ÿ ?ÿ

Ok and as for general practice how does it go? So lets say i need to complete a line that consists of 4 points i go with code +7 and then the code for the rest 3 points and thats it? And then for a new line on the next point i give a new "+7"? Isnt there an end code (The new beinning signifies the end of previous segment)? And as for the points i need to be joined i have to log the min succesion to be connected succesfully

Sorry for the nonsense but this is a new world to me. i understand nothing

I use EL to end the line on the last point of that feature or feature segment. I find that if I donƒ??t I will wind up with a line connecting the end of that segment to the beginning of the next. That still happens sometimes even though SurvCE will remind me that I didnƒ??t end the last segment with the same code and ask if I want to continue or end it. Itƒ??s not a big deal if that happens as it is usually very obvious and can be corrected by breaking the line and deleting the unwanted portion. Itƒ??s just the CAD time it takes to do that if you have a lot of those.?ÿ

It does take some work to set it up, but it is well worth it.?ÿ

@bushaxe

If you always begin a new line, you don't need to end.?ÿ A Carlson guy told me that he uses the -7 instead, which ends a line.?ÿ So, you could use both or just use whichever one you like - always begin a line, or always end a line.

Some use a bunch of codes.?ÿ I just stick with the +7 and PC (3 point curve)

?ÿ

You'll figure out which ones you like after a while.?ÿ But by all means, try it.?ÿ Those of us who've been doing linework since the 90's can't even imagine not doing it.

Posted by: @jph

@bushaxe

Those of us who've been doing linework since the 90's can't even imagine not doing it.

This.?ÿ The amount of carpal it will save your drafters is astounding.

Hey Brad,

Is it possible to get a little more detail?

Your vague post is leaving me wanting more......

???? ???? ???? ???? ?????ÿ

?ÿ

That's an awesome insight to the Carlson way

I still struggle with trimbles auto insert type what it wants crap.....

@jitterboogie I just copied, pasted, and slightly edited a recent email to someone who will be helping me with a topo soon.

Sorry fir the firehose approach.

The OPƒ??s questions about B beginning lines are right on, I only use B for begin lines, I do not ƒ??endƒ? them with any code. ?ÿThey just end.

@brad-ott There are several advantages of requiring an E (end) or BE (end at the beginning) in the descriptors, allowing the program to flag lines left open, lines closed without being opened, curves left open, and curves used without being opened.

@jph

I hear ya brother. I do all my own fieldwork and all my own drafting. The easier I make it on myself on both ends the more money I can make.?ÿ