I'm employed but I'm a nerd so i got myself my own setup.
Purchased Emlid RS2, Surpad, android phone and a pole that works great.
Got QGis, WebODM and Cloudcompare for part of whats needed.
Bu
But I havent found any alternative for the pricy CAD software out there.
I use Topocad at work thats great but it comes with a big pricetag.
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Recently found GeoEasy thats free and can calculate traverse, nets and surfaces.
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For proper cad https://www.bricsys.com/store/bricscad seems to be the cheaper option here now that you can't get the free version of https://www.draftsight.com/
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My old boss used https://pcsurvey.com/ (likely the only one in this country that did!!) which is cheap and I didn't find super easy to use but if your just playing around may be ok.
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A little while back someone had a cogo freeware option on here, look back a few pages.
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Also how does the Emlid RS2 compare to what you are using in your day job?
@lukenz?ÿ
I compared it to my Trimble R12i at work and i get the same accuracy.
The RS2 doesnt have tilt though.
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PC Survey seems to be a dead project. Its a bit sad.
Check out TraversePC.
I have been using this for years. I prepare boundary, topographic, ALTA , etc. Successfully export dwg files for engineers without issues as well as import from engineers for stakeout.?ÿ
Best technical support and training I have ever experienced.?ÿ
Is is built by surveyors for surveyors.?ÿ
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Been using PC Survey for many years. Does all I want it to and works great.
generalcadd.com
I haven??t necessarily tried but I would think you could make a boundary and/or topo map with Qgis. There??s gotta be some ??plug-ins? that would do cogo or other more particular tasks.
@apos80 Have them do a demo. John Balcom is the owner and should be able to give you a good overview. Give me a mention when you touch base with him.
Or, start to watch some of the videos on YouTube. There are numerous Playlist of videos by topic.
Attached is a plot plan for a new house. The existing and proposed contours you see are controlled by a TIN and I computed cuts and fills for volumes.
@gary_g ?ÿ I have been looking for references and such myself about Traverse PC. I help a solo surveyor out a little once in a while and he uses Traverse PC. He said he likes it as well. But he never used cad or civil3d a lot before going out on his own. So he didn??t have much to compare it to. ?ÿI assume you have used a variety of software over the years. The way he explains Traverse PC to me is he sais its not cad and doesn??t approach it that way and is fine. Loved to hear more of your perspective of the software. He does some nice plats and such so I reckon it is a nice package one would just need to approach it more from a cogo and survey type mindset than a cad drafting mind set. I signed up for their email list and will be downloading a trial version soon when I get me a new computer for the house. But between the farm and working for someone I have not pulled the trigger yet.?ÿ
@olemanriver It reminded me of the old Pacsoft software on serious steroids. So, yo have a four corner lot and the coordinates are in the system, you create a "traverse" of the points. The file looks like a spreadsheet. Then you can control how that traverse in that drawing is drafted.?ÿ
I am not a card guy, I used Microstation for a little while at a old job. Then bought Carlson when I started a business. I struggled getting my first boundary survey out the door until I downloaded TraversePC. I have won a few plat compitions on Traverse PC, done a few testimonials etc. Give me a mention when you contact them.
@gary_g ?ÿ ?ÿWill do. I am doing my research now. As when I get my license I want to go out on my own. I still have a lot of learning to do but I will do rural boundaries and maybe some ALTA surveys. Not looking at undercutting the local business nor looking to get rich. Just want to have fun and do quality work. ?ÿI have done all the cool jobs that a lot of good surveyors look to have in their quiver at some point. Most of the surveyors i have met around me want all the big headline jobs. I don??t blame them I use to get a thrill both on the private sector side and on deployments when in The USMC. One of my old mentors has been surveying for 50 years. I hope I can learn enough true boundary surveying to be like him one day. ?ÿThats is the thing I missed more than any other aspect of Surveying was Boundary. All the geodetic work all the huge large projects were all fun and I learned a lot. But being with a homeowner and dealing with them for a family subdivide for their kids etc. is the trouble I am asking for. Thank you for the info. ?ÿ