I am looking for surveying software for civil engineering use, particularly for feasibility layout of roads and tunnels.
My work is mostly on large engineering projects such as hydropower and transportation projects. Many design groups today are using CAD (mostly AutoCAD) for reconnaissance and feasibility level layout, for example roads, tunnels and other site features. Generating plans and profiles of several different alignments and layouts, while also dealing with ongoing revision of topographic and other mapping data, requires significant effort. Alignment checking from CAD data poses additional challenges.
Many years ago, I used a COGO program (from Traverse-PC) for initial alignment definition. Even then it was possible to get useful plan and profile views of alignments. It seems though, that most engineers are still (stuck) doing this kind of work exclusively in CAD. It seems a good time to look again at alternatives.
I envision a workwise using COGO (or similar) surveying software for feasibility layout. The software should be intuitive and run well on a laptop in the field, as standalone software (not running inside CAD). It is important the the software can handle large topographic areas (on the order of 50 - 100 square km). The software should be able to import topographic and mapping data from GIS as shapefiles. After initial layout and alignment work, the software must be able to export the data to CAD, where further design work is carried out.
Can the community give me advice on suitable software, especially strengths and weakness of the different softwares available? Initial Internet research led me to the Softree Terrain Tool, Foresoft and Travers-PC. Other suggestions would be very welcome. Please share your experience and opinions.
I'd suggest having a look at 12d.
May not be very widely used in the USA, although is quite robust and can handle large amounts of data.