Okay, so I know what "field to finish" is. You can have point data moved to certain layers on import, attach symbols, etc. I even tried once to make an entire map using only the data import process. It was fun.
However, I don't think that process is going to create break lines in a three-dimensional model, especially wall break lines. Is that a correct assumption?
Historic boundaries and conservation efforts.
Field to finish will draw breaklines if you code them correctly. You need a good code table and consistent use of codes/descriptions to get much out of it. As an example, my code table is set to draw a 3D breakline along back of curb for use with the surface and a 2D polyline in the curbing layer. Banks, ditches, swales have breaklines. In the attached picture, somebody wasn't paying attention and got the PC and PT backwards. Easy to spot and easy to fix.
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Me. "What's the difference?"
T.C. Carroll "It's the difference between right and wrong!"
At least with Carlson Survey, creating 3D breaklines for walls is exactly what it does.?ÿ Also for curbs, tops and bottoms of slopes, edges of pavement, gravel, etc
As far as excluding BMs and other points, you can either do that by their descriptions, or use a different point number range for those types of features?ÿ
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I don't think that process is going to create break lines in a three-dimensional model, especially wall break lines. Is that a correct assumption?
It is not. F2f will create 3d breaklines suitable to be used as DTM data.
I can have a day of topo survey drawn and DTM'd in maybe 15 minutes, and that time allows for a few fixes of bad descriptor coding.
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I can have a day of topo survey drawn and DTM'd in maybe 15 minutes
And the beauty of F2F; it can be a day or a week, and will still take 15 minutes (well, maybe 20...)
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I have a feature code library setup. Getting the other surveyors to use it is another problem. It helps to think like a draftsman. I even code points on a point cloud instead of just drawing lines.
I have Microsurvey setup to draw lines and symbols. I have TBC setup to draw lines which I think it does better with fewer shots. The Microsurvey system is every code starts with X Y or Z. X is curve, Y is sideshot and Z is line. The curve thing doesn??t work quite right, it tends to end or begin with an uncommanded s turn in there. And trying to make a circle is futile, like following a circular planter.
TBC has this figured out, there are codes and line codes, start, end, smooth curve, etc. They look right. But I haven??t tried to figure out the symbol thing yet.
None of my mentors ever used F2F, most never used data collectors.
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My early mentors never used laser scanners, GIS, LDPs, UAS, integrated surveying, digital databases, total stations with cameras in them, PPK, least squares, custom projections, virtual surveying, real-time networks, cloud services, electronic timecards, laser printers and smartphones, to name a few. I use them all and don't feel particularly bad about it.
I'm not going to knock them for picking a path. I hope they don't knock me for keeping up with the times and brushing out new paths as they appear.
Yep, lots of them of different types and scales.?ÿ
Even huge ones where we set out control for aerial mapping.?ÿ
Much of our boundary work will have some topo connected to it, can't even do a subdivision without a topo.?ÿ
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I find Topo work enjoyable, but I hate when I get "the curse".?ÿ That is topoing say a rough a 10m by 10 m grid pattern, and counting my steps while I do it to get it close.?ÿ I can not turn that off.
Few years ago, met a buddy after work, and he asked me how many steps was it from my truck to the bar seat.?ÿ "53" I answered with no hesitation.
I have done lots of topos. I used wildsoft F2F in the 80 but haven't used it since. I'm sure it's better now, but I think it would slow me down too much in the field to be worth it. When I'm taking the shots and also drafting, I'm pretty fast.?ÿ
It's a lot different from 2D work. Field work (with a TS) and drafting even more so takes some different skill sets.
One caution - don't think you're liability is less on a topo than anything else. My biggest liability problem was when I missed a simple breakline on a topo. And it's all too easy to miss a changed pole height.?ÿ
And it's all too easy to miss a changed pole height.?ÿ
I'll second that - by far the single biggest cause of error