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Civil 3D and Trimble vs Carlson

11 REPLIES 11
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Message 1 of 12
sfore
3929 Views, 11 Replies

Civil 3D and Trimble vs Carlson

Before I ask my questions, let me paint a picture. 

 

Our office uses Civil 3D from Survey to Design.  We have a Template that's filled with styles from Survey to Design.  We have a Survey Database, Figure Prefix Database and Line Code Sets.  Our Surveyors use a code card that's based on numeric codes.  We don't use Equipment Databases inside Civil 3D.  Our office Surveyors use Trimble Equipment and Trimble Office to process their .JOB files.  They export a .CSV out of Trimble Office to then dump into Civil 3D Survey Database.  The Description Keys, Point Styles, Figure Style, Line Code Sets basically draws up our base maps with very little cleanup needed in most cases.  Then I get a base map to start the design process.  We also use a lot of RTK and GPS which Trimble Office is utilized to process.

 

Our Surveyor came to me this morning and said the Office manager came to him and asked him to come up with a plan to possibly steer away from Trimble to go to Carlson equipment/data collection software only if its feasible, so that we're in uniformity with our other offices and to save on expenses.  Our other offices use Civil 3D for design and some Survey.  My understanding is they use Carlson software for data collection and processing and then export a point file out to then dump into Civil 3D.  They have some automation with description keys, but they don't use survey figures or the survey database the way our office does.  They don't use a lot of RTK or GPS.  Our office Surveyor is reluctant to make the move and so am I.  I don't know anything about Carlson software for data collection or cadd usage other than it seems to me a lot of surveyors use it and a lot of coal operations use it. 

 

Questions:

 

1. Can Carlson produce a file format (.csv, .txt etc...) to enable our Surveyors and/or me to still utilize Civil 3D and the Survey Database to produce base maps.

 

2. Would our Office be taking a step back if our Surveyors switched from Trimble data collection software to Carlson software?

 

3. If our Surveyors made the switch to Carlson equipment and software, would we have to change our codes from numeric to alpha codes?  If so, that means we would have to change our template description keys, figure prefix database and line code sets.

 

4. Can Carlson software process RTK/GPS data?

 

Any feedback is appreciated.

 

Thanks, Shawn

11 REPLIES 11
Message 2 of 12
sboon
in reply to: sfore

You may want to ask this question at SurveyorConnect.com  There is a larger community of Carlson users over there who should be able to answer your questions.

 

Steve
Please use the Accept as Solution or Kudo buttons when appropriate

Steve
Expert Elite Alumnus
Message 3 of 12
deltacoolguy
in reply to: sfore

I do not have any experience with Carlson survey, though it has a very good reputation as a solid program.

 

I do have some experience with Carlson design.  I used it for about six months about a year ago.  It is very Land Desktop-like in its approach and functionality.  It has a relative simplicity compared to Civil 3D that is refreshing at times.  It was nice to have some functionality that was just "here do this" instead of "do this and that and set up this and that, THEN you can do this... maybe".  (Hope that makes sense)

 

On the flip side, it simply cannot do as much as Civil 3D.  I have grown very fond of C3D's dynamic capability.  To be honest, now that I am back using C3D on a daily basis, I'm glad I'm back.  Carlson has its high points, but C3D is better.

 

Also, to do it right, there's virtually no cost savings, which would be the only reason to deviate from the industry standard.  Carlson comes with IntelliCAD as a base engine.  Carlson is fine, but IntelliCAD is extremely unstable, IMO.  IntelliCAD is the weak link in the Carlson set-up.  You can piggy-back Carlson with basic no-frills AutoCAD, and you would regain stability, but then you have to buy both programs, at which point you've spent roughly the same as if you had just bought Civil 3D, so... why bother?

Windows 10-64 Pro
8GB RAM (Home)
12GB RAM (Work)
AutoCAD Civil 3D 2019
Message 4 of 12
Neilw_05
in reply to: sfore

I do not know the details but I'm sure Carlson supports .csv exports and I'm sure it supports GPS and RTK processing. You can always call them and get direct answers to your questions.

 

Since all you need is software to produce .csv files, you should be able to use either product.

Neil Wilson (a.k.a. neilw)
AEC Collection/C3D 2024, LDT 2004, Power Civil v8i SS1
WIN 10 64 PRO

http://www.sec-landmgt.com
Message 5 of 12
rl_jackson
in reply to: sfore

When you say Carlson for the Field Equipment, I would assume your talking about there data collection software and hardware. Which is really no different that Trimble data collection. They both create a raw file, and can export any number of formats from csv txt cr5 rw5 you name it.

 

So yes it will work with C3D. Infact Carlson, developed the Description Coding methods (i.e. linework code in the description) that most people use in C3D today, Adesk just hopped on the bandwagon so to speak. And mostlikely have you have things set up now.

 

Regarding the ALPHA vs Numeric, I dont have an answer for that but my gut instict is YES

 

Can Carlson process GPS RTK - I dont think so. You'll still need 3rd party. I could be wrong on that.


Rick Jackson
Survey CAD Technician VI

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Message 6 of 12
rl_jackson
in reply to: rl_jackson

To the best of my knowledge Carlson DOES NOT make any field equipment such as GPS Recievers,RTK or Total Stations etc.... So you would still be buying that hardware from Trimble or someone else. So you'll still need there stuff. But Carlson Data Collectors will work with Trimble Equipment, not sure there would be a whole lot of money saved from that tough.

Rick Jackson
Survey CAD Technician VI

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Message 7 of 12
sboon
in reply to: rl_jackson

Carlson and MicroSurvey are about the only two survey software companies I can think of that are not owned by one of the hardware suppliers.  Tripod Data systems used to be the other one but Trimble bought them a few years ago.

 

Generally the field software and data collectors sold by Carlson or MicroSurvey will work with most survey equipment, but they're usually a step behind the latest features included in the integrated software supplied by Trimble, Leica etc.

 

Steve
Please use the Accept as Solution or Kudo buttons when appropriate

Steve
Expert Elite Alumnus
Message 8 of 12
_Hathaway
in reply to: sboon

Keep your trimble software running the RTK GPS and such.  If you want to use Carlson Software with Trimble equipment you will run into a multitude of current and future issues.  We use Trimble collectors and GPS equipment together and use Carslon software with Sokkia equipment for our conventional survey work.  you mentioned your other office doesn't do much RTK GPS which may be why they stick with Carlson Software.  What type of conventional field equipment do they have...and you?

 

Either way, in the end all you need to input into Civil3d is a .csv filed and that can come from anywhere it's just a matter of how you get there that works with your equipment.

Message 9 of 12
AllenJessup
in reply to: sfore

Our Leica Data Collector used Carlson. We never had any problem importing points. For the GPS/RTK you're probably better off staying with their office software and exporting a point file from there. We use Leica equipment inc. GPS so we've standardized on that.

 

Allen



Allen Jessup
Engineering Specialist / CAD Manager

Message 10 of 12
sfore
in reply to: _Hathaway

We use Trimble (all).  We have S-6 Robotic Total Station, R-8 GPS Receivers, TSC 3 w/ Access field software (data collector), TBC in the office for field data reduction.

 

I understand other offices have a mix of Topcon gear and Carlson field software.  They may have other brands of field equipment.

Message 11 of 12
sfore
in reply to: _Hathaway

The following reply is from 1 of our other office Surveyors:

 

The following is a list of our primary and secondary equipment and such.

 

Topcon GR-3 GPS receivers with internal VHF radios and external CDMA modem, capability to connect to Caron East’s and WVDOH’s GNSS network

Sokia SRX3 robotic total station

Topcon GTP 3002W reflectorless manual total station

Nikon DTM 522 manual total station

 

Allegro GX, Explorer 600 and Explorer II data collectors (a.k.a. controller) with Surv CE 2.0 to 2.62 software

There’s no need for post processing the RTK GPS data.  Coordinates are dumped directly from the collector.  We do not perform static GPS to a level that requires post process.  The only post processing we use on occasion is OPUS.

Message 12 of 12
whit.mccormack
in reply to: sfore

It has been several years since I had to deal with Carlson and Civil 3D, but at one time there was an add-on called Carlson Connect that would at least convert the Carlson points in a drawing to Civil 3D point objects.  If I recall correctly, it also had the option to convert the Carlson RAW files into electronic fieldbook files for use in Civil 3D.  Like I said, it has been a while and I am pulling this all from memory.......

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