How to use this manual

This manual explains every page of GeoCAD Bridge (https://www.geocadbridge.com) and how to work with it. Each chapter covers one page or one family of pages: what it is for, how to use it step by step, a worked example, and links to the templates you need.

The Workspace is described last, in Part 3, because it is the largest tool on the site and needs a full explanation of every tab, command and panel.

Conventions used in this manual

• Button and field names are written in bold exactly as they appear on screen, for example Run Adjustment.
• A path such as Survey › Surfaces › Point Groups means: open the Survey ribbon tab, find the Surfaces group, click Point Groups.
• Web addresses are given relative to the site, for example /traverse/ means https://www.geocadbridge.com/traverse/.
• Coordinates are written Easting, Northing (E, N) for projected systems and longitude, latitude for geographic systems unless stated otherwise.

Part 1 · Getting started

About GeoCAD Bridge

GeoCAD Bridge is a browser-based platform for surveyors, GIS analysts and CAD engineers. It takes data from Civil 3D, Trimble Business Center, ArcGIS Pro, QGIS, total stations and GNSS receivers, processes and corrects it, and exports it to any other program in the right coordinate system.

Your files stay on your device. Every calculation runs inside your browser. Files you open are read locally and are not uploaded to be processed. Projects are kept in your browser’s storage until you export them. The only things that leave your device are what you send on purpose (for example a support e-mail) and standard usage analytics.

What you need

• A current browser: Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge (desktop or Android) are tested. Firefox and Safari use the same web standards.
• An internet connection for the first visit and for basemap tiles. After the first visit the main tools can keep working with a weak connection.

Installing it as an app. The site can be installed like an app and then opens without the browser toolbar:

• Chrome / Edge on a computer: click the install icon at the right of the address bar, or the browser menu › Install GeoCAD Bridge.
• Android: browser menu › Add to Home screen.
• iPhone / iPad (Safari): Share › Add to Home Screen.

Accuracy statement. Projection mathematics follow the EPSG Dataset via PROJ 9.5.1. Datum changes use the published Helmert (towgs84) parameters of each coordinate reference system (CRS), so their accuracy is that of those parameters (from decimetres to several metres; it is shown for each CRS in the EPSG Library and CRS Toolkit). Grid-shift files (NTv2, NADCON, geoid models) are not applied, and heights are passed through unchanged unless a tool says otherwise. For legal or cadastral work, confirm parameters with your national mapping agency and check one known control point.

The navigation bar

Every content page has the same navigation bar at the top.

Pages that have an Arabic version show an العربية link that switches to the same page under /ar/ (see chapter Arabic pages). Full-screen application pages (Traverse, Coordinate Transformation, Field Visit Survey, the six file converters and the Workspace) replace this bar with their own compact header that still links back to the home page through the logo.

Home page /

The home page is the starting point for the four main tools and the six one-page file converters.

What is on the page

• Hero: the GeoCAD Bridge title with the rotating globe and four promises: Accurate Transformations, Multiple Coordinate Systems, Field Ready Workflows and Engineering Deliverables.
• File Converters panel (right): a search box Search file converters… and direct links to DXF to KMZ, KMZ to DXF, SHP to DXF, SHP to KMZ, CSV Point to KMZ and GeoJSON to KMZ. Type part of a name to filter the list.
• Four tool cards with an Open … link each:
  • Workspace – organise project files, manage data and reach all tools in one place → /workspace/.
  • Traverse Adjustment – process and adjust traverse data, view results and export → /traverse/.
  • Coordinate Transformation – transform coordinates between datums and systems → /coordinate-transformation/.
  • Field Visit Survey – record site visits, points, photos and reports → /field-visit-survey/.

How to use it. Click the card of the job you want to do. If you only need to change a file from one format to another, use the File Converters panel. Adding #sign-in or #help to the home page address (/#help) opens the login window or the quick Help window directly.

The quick Help window on the home page lists the recommended order of work, which applies to every tool on the site:

1. Choose the module from the navigation bar.
2. Select the project CRS before importing or processing data.
3. Use the correct template for points, traverse observations or batch coordinates.
4. Validate the data before exporting deliverables.

All Tools Hub /tools/

The Survey Tools Hub lists every tool as a card with its category, status and an Open Tool → button.

Filters (left column)

• Tool Categories: All Tools, Coordinates, Traverse, Field Survey, File Converters, Reports.
• Status: All, Available, Coming Soon, Phase B.
• Data Type: Points / Coordinates, Traverse / Control, Field Data, Vector Files, Reports / Documentation.

Sections and cards

The right column shows the Recommended Workflow (Import Data → Select CRS → Validate → Export) and Download Templates links:

• Field / point template (CSV): https://www.geocadbridge.com/downloads/Field_Visit_Points_Template.csv
• Traverse input template (Excel): https://www.geocadbridge.com/downloads/GeoCAD_Bridge_Traverse_Input_Template.xlsx
• All templates: /resources/

Part 2 · Site pages

The coordinate library

Every page that asks for a coordinate system uses the same picker: the coordinate library (مكتبة الإحداثيات). In place of a long list, the page shows a button with the chosen system, for example UTM84-38N · UTM-WGS 1984 datum, Zone 38 North, Meter. Click it to open the library. This applies to the source and target systems of Coordinate Transformation, the quick converters, the country pages, the file converters, Field Visit Survey and the Workspace (new project, project CRS, layer CRS and Reproject Layer).

1. Choose a Country / category on the left (for example Saudi Arabia, Egypt or UTM, WGS84 datum), or All coordinate systems (search).
2. Type in Search: a code (UTM84-38N), part of a description, a country or an EPSG number (32638).
3. Click a system in Available coordinate systems. The panel shows its Description, Projection, Datum, Unit, EPSG equivalent and the Datum shift used.
4. Click OK. The button now shows the chosen system.

The library holds about 8,800 coordinate systems, of which about 8,350 can be converted. Systems marked Shown for reference use a projection or datum transformation the site cannot apply yet. On a country page or a country converter, the library opens on that country.

Coordinate Transformation /coordinate-transformation/

The main coordinate tool. It converts a single point or a whole table between any two of the 138 bundled CRS definitions (geographic WGS 84, NAD83, ETRS89, Web Mercator, all WGS 84 UTM zones north and south, KSA-GRF17, Ain el Abd 1970, MTRF-2000, Egypt 1907 belts and more), shows the point on a map, and explains which operations were applied.

Page layout

• Header: a compact bar with the GeoCAD Bridge globe, the page title, links to Traverse, Coordinate Transformation and Field Visit Survey, the active project, the language switch and Help.
• Mode buttons across the top: Coordinate Converter, WGS84 to UTM, UTM to WGS84, EPSG Converter, Batch Converter. The same modes can be opened with ?mode=wgs84-to-utm, ?mode=utm-to-wgs84, ?mode=epsg, ?mode=batch.
• Quick Presets: Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Project CRS set typical source/target pairs in one click.
• Active project selector (top): results can be kept with a named project.
• Source Coordinate System (left) and Target Coordinate System (right). Each has a Coordinate library button (see The coordinate library), Detect CRS, Favorite, Favorites and Recent. The selected system’s card shows Type, Datum, Ellipsoid, Unit, Axis order, Area and Authority.
• Input Coordinates: Easting / X, Northing / Y, Elevation / Z (or longitude / latitude for geographic systems), with Paste, ⬆ CSV / Excel (many points at once, see below), a Geographic format choice (Decimal Degrees or DMS / hemisphere notation) and the ⇄ button that swaps source and target.
• Map: shows the source and transformed point (same physical location) with + / −, Fit point, Select on Map, Copy Point, Use map center, a Grid overlay and a basemap list (Streets, Satellite, Hybrid, Terrain, Light, Dark, None).
• Output Coordinates with output format (Plain text / DMS, GeoJSON, WKT, CSV row) and precision (8, 6, 4 or 2 decimals).
• Transformation Information tabs: Results, CRS Details, Transformation Pipeline, Validation, History.
• Batch Conversion panel and action buttons: Preview & Transform, Download Results, Clear, Save Preset, Copy Results, Export CSV, Export Excel, ▶ Transform Coordinates.

How to convert one point

1. Under Source Coordinate System, click the Coordinate library button, find the system (for example UTM84-38N, 32638 or Ain el Abd) and click OK. Use Detect CRS if you are not sure: it suggests systems that fit the numbers you typed.
2. Choose the Target Coordinate System the same way, from the same library. ⇄ swaps the two. Mark systems you use often with Favorite.
3. Type the coordinates. For geographic input choose decimal degrees or DMS (for example 24° 30′ 00″ N). Y is latitude (north) and X is longitude (east). Z is optional and is kept unchanged unless a verified vertical operation exists.
4. Click ▶ Transform Coordinates (or press Enter). The result appears in Output Coordinates and on the map.
5. Open Transformation Pipeline to see the steps used (inverse projection, datum shift, forward projection) and Validation for range and area-of-use checks.
6. Copy Point / Copy Results put the result on the clipboard; Export CSV / Export Excel save it. Save Preset keeps the source/target pair for next time.

Worked example (WGS 84 to UTM zone 38N). Source EPSG:4326, target EPSG:32638. Enter longitude 46.5, latitude 24.0. Result: E = 652 578.355 m, N = 2 655 039.017 m. The point scale factor is 0.99988755 and the grid convergence +0.610223°. (These are the reference values published on the EPSG:32638 page of the site.) A direct link that pre-selects the pair is /coordinate-converter/?from=4326&to=32638. On this page, /coordinate-transformation/?source=EPSG:4326&target=EPSG:32638 does the same (library codes such as ADSK:UTM84-38N also work).

How to convert many points from a CSV file

1. Choose the source and target systems as above.
2. Click ⬆ CSV / Excel next to Paste and choose a CSV or Excel file with one point per row (Point ID, X / Easting / Longitude, Y / Northing / Latitude, optional Z). The template below has the right columns.
3. The page switches to batch mode and converts every row at once. The results table shows each point with its status.
4. Click the ⬇ CSV link under the results to download the converted file, or Excel for an .xlsx copy. The file has the columns point, sourceCRS, sourceX, sourceY, targetCRS, targetX, targetY, z, status and message.

How to convert a table (batch)

1. Click Batch Converter (or open /coordinate-transformation/?mode=batch).
2. Download a template: Excel template https://www.geocadbridge.com/downloads/Coordinate_Transformation_Batch_Template.xlsx or CSV template https://www.geocadbridge.com/downloads/Coordinate_Transformation_Batch_Template.csv. The columns are Point ID, Easting / Longitude / X, Northing / Latitude / Y, Elevation / Z.
3. Drop the file on Drop or choose Excel/CSV or click to choose it.
4. Check the column mapping: Point ID, X / Easting / Longitude, Y / Northing / Latitude, Z / Elevation.
5. Select source and target systems, then Preview & Transform.
6. Download Results (CSV or Excel).

Good to know. Datum shifts between old local datums and WGS 84 can be several metres; read Accuracy and datum limitations at the bottom of the page before survey-grade work. If a converted point appears in the sea, the axis order or the source CRS is usually wrong.

Quick coordinate converters

Nine single-purpose pages use the same converter engine with a simpler form. All have the same layout: From CRS and To CRS buttons that open the coordinate library, Input format (Decimal Degrees or DMS), the two coordinate boxes, Elevation Z (optional), Decimal places (0–9), and the buttons ☆ Save favorite, ⇄ Swap X / Y, Transform Coordinates, Copy Coordinates and Download Result. A Location Preview map confirms the point, and How coordinate transformation works explains the method.

Example (UTM to WGS 84). On /utm-to-wgs84/ choose From CRS EPSG:32638 · WGS 84 / UTM zone 38N, To CRS EPSG:4326, enter E 652578.355, N 2655039.017, click Transform Coordinates. The result is longitude 46.5°, latitude 24.0°. Use ⇄ Swap X / Y if your file lists Northing before Easting.

Batch Coordinate Converter /batch-coordinate-converter/

Converts a whole table in one go.

1. Paste data or choose a file (CSV, TXT or XLSX). The batch template above can be used.
2. Map the columns: Point ID column (optional), X / Longitude column, Y / Latitude column.
3. Choose From CRS and To CRS from the coordinate library.
4. Click Transform All and check the Preview table and the map.
5. Download CSV or Download GeoJSON (or Copy Coordinates).

Template: https://www.geocadbridge.com/downloads/Coordinate_Transformation_Batch_Template.csv (Excel version: …/Coordinate_Transformation_Batch_Template.xlsx).

Coordinate Systems hub /coordinate-systems/

A starting page for everything about coordinate reference systems.

• What is a Coordinate Reference System? – a short explanation: a CRS maps coordinates to real locations using a datum, an ellipsoid and a projection; the same place has different numbers in different systems.
• Global CRS Search – three cards: CRS Library (EPSG search), Transform Coordinates (live tool) and Batch Processing (CSV / Excel).
• Regional Coordinate Systems – cards for Saudi Arabia, Egypt, UAE, Qatar and the Gulf Region (see Country CRS pages).
• Common EPSG Codes – quick links for EPSG:4326 (WGS 84 geographic), EPSG:3857 (Web Mercator), EPSG:32637 and EPSG:32638 (UTM 37N/38N); each opens the converter in EPSG mode with that code.
• Recommended CRS Workflow – Identify Source CRS → Select Target CRS → Transform & Validate → Export Results.
• View CRS Templates → links to /resources/.

EPSG Library /epsg/ and the EPSG pages

The EPSG Library lists the coordinate reference systems bundled with this release (a practical subset, not the full EPSG Registry), grouped by region: Global and web, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait/Bahrain/Oman, Levant/Iraq/Turkey, North Africa, Europe, Americas and Asia-Pacific, and all WGS 84 UTM zones (north and south).

How to find a system. Type an EPSG code, a name (for example Egypt Red Belt), a country or a UTM zone in Search CRS / EPSG, or browse the regional lists. Click a code to open its page, or the converter link next to it.

What each EPSG page contains (227 pages, one per system, address /epsg/<code>/, for example /epsg/32638/):

Using the downloads. The .prj file is the projection file used by Shapefiles, ArcGIS and QGIS: save it next to a Shapefile with the same base name. Example: /epsg/32638/32638.prj. The WKT file contains the full WKT definition. Prefer the EPSG code or WKT2 over a PROJ string, which cannot carry every EPSG detail.

CRS Toolkit /crs-tools/

Three tools in tabs, all running in the browser on 227 systems from the EPSG Dataset (PROJ 9.5.1).

1. Inspect & validate. Enter a Coordinate reference system (code or name) and optionally a coordinate (X / Easting / Longitude, Y / Northing / Latitude), then Run. You get the definition (EPSG code, name, type, datum, ellipsoid, projection method, axes and units, area of use), the datum shift to WGS 84 with its EPSG accuracy, the Proj4js definition and the projection parameters. With a coordinate, the Coordinate check reports whether it is valid, its WGS 84 longitude/latitude, whether it is inside the area of use, and the point scale factor.

Example: CRS 22992 (Egypt 1907 / Red Belt), E 615000, N 810000 → valid, 30°00′00.60″ N 31°00′06.02″ E, inside the area of use, scale factor 1.00000001. The shift to WGS 84 is Egypt 1907 to WGS 84 (1) with an EPSG accuracy of 11 m.

2. Compare & accuracy. Enter CRS A and CRS B and an optional test point. The tool shows the Transformation path and accuracy (the steps and their combined accuracy) and, for the test point, how far it moves if the two systems are confused. Use it before mixing data from two systems.

3. Detect CRS. Paste coordinates of unknown origin, one per line as X, Y (Easting or Longitude, then Northing or Latitude), add an Approximate site location (optional): longitude, latitude, and Run. The result is a ranked list of systems that fit. The site location removes the ambiguity between UTM zones.

Example: paste 652578.355, 2655039.017 and the site 46.5, 24.0. 75 systems place the point inside their area of use; ranked by distance from the site, the first three are EPSG:20438 Ain el Abd / UTM 38N, EPSG:9358 KSA-GRF17 / UTM 38N and EPSG:32638 WGS 84 / UTM 38N. The Same projection, other datum column shows that these three share the projection, so only knowledge of the source datum can separate them.

Country CRS pages

Five reference pages explain the coordinate systems used in the region and give one-click conversion links.

Each page has a Coordinate library box with one button per country (the Gulf page has Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman). Click a country to open the library on that country, pick a system, and the page opens Coordinate Transformation with that system as the source. Each page also has Quick Transformations buttons (WGS84 → UTM, UTM → WGS84, Batch Transform and the main zone code), survey standards (coordinate format conventions, datum transformation notes), accuracy notes and related tools. Old addresses such as /saudi-arabia-crs.html redirect to these pages.

Traverse Adjustment /traverse/

Adjusts closed loop, open and link traverses with the Bowditch (compass) rule, the Transit rule or least squares, plots the traverse, and produces reports.

Screen layout

• Step bar: 1 Setup (Project & options) · 2 Observations (Enter or import data) · 3 Adjustment (Compute and review) · 4 Results (View adjusted coordinates) · 5 Report (Generate deliverables).
• Left – Project & Traverse Setup: Project Name, Traverse Name, Traverse Type (Closed Loop, Open Traverse, Link Traverse), Coordinate System (Local, or any of the 138 systems – with a real CRS the traverse is drawn on a basemap), Input Mode (Angle + Distance, Coordinates, Azimuth; the import list also offers RW5), Units (Meters, Feet), Angular Format (Decimal °, DMS as D.MMSS), Adjustment Method (Bowditch, Transit, Least squares, with σ angle in seconds and σ distance in mm + ppm for least squares), and Known Control Points (Start ID, Easting E, Northing N, Initial Bearing, Angle Direction counter-clockwise/clockwise, and for a link traverse Known End E and Known End N).
• Centre – Traverse View with Pan, Zoom, Select, Measure, Basemap and a legend (known control point, traverse station, adjusted traverse, measured before adjustment), and below it the tabs Observations, Results, Adjusted Coordinates, Residuals, Audit Log.
• Right – Closure & Accuracy: angular misclosure, linear misclosure, misclosure in Easting and Northing, relative precision, total length, adjustment method, a residuals chart and the coordinate corrections (Σ ΔE, Σ ΔN, max station correction).
• Bottom bar: Import Excel/CSV, Manual Entry, Validate Data, Traverse Report PDF, Download CSV, Export Excel, Save Project, Open Project, Run Adjustment, Export Report ▾.

Step by step

1. Setup. Enter the names, choose the traverse type, input mode, units, angular format and method.
2. Known control points. Enter the start station and its coordinates, the initial bearing and the angle direction. For a link traverse also enter the known end point.
3. Observations. Type or paste the rows (Point Name, Deg, Min, Sec, Measured Distance; the Decimal Angle column fills itself), or click Upload Excel / CSV / RW5. Load example fills a ready traverse to try the tool. Click Validate Data to catch missing or impossible values.
4. Run Adjustment. Read the closure panel: angular misclosure, linear misclosure and precision ratio (for example 1:25 000). Compare them with your specification before accepting.
5. Review. Adjusted Coordinates lists the final E/N; Residuals shows the correction at every station; Audit Log records every action. The map shows the measured (blue dashed) and adjusted (green) traverse.
6. Report and save. Traverse Report PDF, Download CSV, Export Excel or Export Report ▾. Save Project keeps the whole traverse to reopen later with Open Project.

Templates

• Full input workbook (sheets: Instructions, Project_Settings, Angle_Distance_Input, Coordinate_Input, Control_Points, Code_Lists, and three worked examples: closed loop, connected (link) and open): https://www.geocadbridge.com/downloads/GeoCAD_Bridge_Traverse_Input_Template.xlsx (also on the page: Download Excel Template).
• Angles and distances (CSV): https://www.geocadbridge.com/downloads/Traverse_Angles_Distances_Template.csv
• Observed coordinates (CSV): https://www.geocadbridge.com/downloads/Traverse_Coordinates_Template.csv
• Control points (CSV): https://www.geocadbridge.com/downloads/Traverse_Control_Points_Template.csv
• Simple observation sheet: https://www.geocadbridge.com/downloads/Traverse-Simple.xlsx
• Real-data example workbooks (a closed airport traverse in two parts): https://www.geocadbridge.com/downloads/Jazan-Part1.xlsx, https://www.geocadbridge.com/downloads/Jazan-Part2.xlsx

Worked example. Click Load example, keep Closed Loop, Angle + Distance, Decimal °, Bowditch, then Run Adjustment. The example is a 100 m square starting at START (E 5000, N 5000) with four 90° interior angles. Results: observed angle sum 360°, theoretical sum 360°, angular misclosure 0″, linear misclosure 0.000, precision exact, total length 400.000. Change one distance to 100.02 and run again to see a linear misclosure and how Bowditch distributes it in proportion to leg length.

Common mistakes. A wrong angle direction (clockwise vs counter-clockwise) is the most common cause of a huge misclosure. DMS is typed as D.MMSS: 45°30′15″ is 45.3015. An open traverse has no closing check, so it is computed but cannot be adjusted.

Survey Calculators /survey-calculators/

Seventeen calculators on one page. Above the tabs choose the Angle input format (Decimal degrees or DMS symbols such as 45°30'15", or Packed D.MMSS such as 45.3015) and the number of Decimals (2, 3 or 4). Each tab has a Calculate button; tables can be downloaded as CSV. The Formulas used section at the bottom lists every formula.

Worked examples. Every tab opens with example values, so you can press Calculate straight away and compare with these results:

Related articles: azimuths, quadrant bearings, differential leveling, distance reduction, traverse adjustment, UTM (links at the bottom of the page).

Field Visit Survey /field-visit-survey/

The one field page of the site (the former Field Survey Processing page now opens here). A complete site-visit recorder: projects, visits, mapped records, photos, voice notes, measurements, dashboards and reports. All data is stored in this browser until you export it.

Tabs: Visit Dashboard, New Site Visit, Map & Locations, Photos, Field Notes, Reports, Import Points, Export. Header buttons: Project, Settings, Help.

1. Create a project. Project › New project: Project name, Client and the Default CRS for imports and entered coordinates (chosen from the coordinate library), then Create project.

2. Start a visit. On New Site Visit fill Visit Details: Visit No., date and time, Inspector / Team, Visit Type (Progress Inspection, Existing Conditions Survey, Access Inspection, Issue Investigation, Handover Inspection, Quality Inspection, Safety Observation, Maintenance Inspection, Utility Inspection, General Site Visit, Custom Type), Area / Zone, Weather (Clear, Partly cloudy, Cloudy, Rain, Dust, Windy, Hot, Other), Purpose, Location method (Mobile GPS (Approximate), Manually selected on map, Manually entered coordinates) and Visit Status (Draft, Open, In Progress, Completed, Closed). More details adds Description, Attendees, Contractor, Consultant and Related request / document no. Click Save Visit.

3. Capture records. Use Use Current Mobile Location, Select Location on Map (then Confirm location) or Enter Coordinates. In Visit Record choose a category (Existing Feature, Issue, Progress, Access Point, Note, Photo Location, Safety Observation, Quality Observation, Utility, Temporary Works, Custom Category), a Title, Status (Open, In Progress, Resolved, Closed, For Review, Monitoring, Information Only), Description / Observations, Recommendation / required action, Responsible party, Due date, photos (Take Photo, Upload Photos), Add Voice Note, Include in Final Report, then Save Visit Record. New record / Delete record manage records.

4. Map tools. Search location or point ID, basemap (None, Streets, Satellite, Hybrid, Terrain, Light, Dark), Labels, Pan, Select, Identify, Fit, Show All Points, Measure Between Points, Clear Measurement, Zoom to Points. Table tabs: Visit Records, Uploaded Points, Photos, Notes, Measurements, Activity Log; row actions: Add Point, Remove Selected, Hide Selected, Copy Coordinates, Add to Visit, Add to Report, Export Selected.

5. Import points. On Import Points drop a file (Excel .xlsx/.xls, CSV, KML, KMZ, GeoJSON) and use Open import wizard… to map columns and choose the CRS; nothing is assumed. Templates: Download CSV template https://www.geocadbridge.com/downloads/Field_Visit_Points_Template.csv and Download Excel template https://www.geocadbridge.com/downloads/Field_Visit_Points_Template.xlsx (the Excel file has an Instructions sheet).

6. Dashboard. Visits by status, records by category, visits by area, recent visits and a map of visits.

7. Report. Reports builds the report for the current visit from records marked Include in Final Report: PDF report (print → Save as PDF) or Download report (HTML).

8. Export and back up. Export saves selected records as CSV, Excel, GeoJSON, KML or KMZ, and the complete visit package (.zip). Reopen an exported visit package with Choose a visit package (.zip). Export the package regularly: clearing browser data deletes the visits.

Accuracy. Mobile GPS locations are approximate and must not be used for setting-out, legal boundaries, construction control or survey control.

File converter pages

Six one-page converters change a file from one format to another in the browser. They share one interface: a compact header with the page title, a Coordinates button showing the current CRS (for example EPSG:4326), استيراد / Import and تصدير / Export buttons, a full-size map with a basemap list, and a guide below the map.

Workflow (same on every converter)

1. Click Coordinates and choose the source CRS. Shapefiles carry it in the PRJ; DXF and CSV usually do not, so you must choose it. KML/KMZ and GeoJSON are WGS 84.
2. Click Import and choose the file.
3. Inspect the features on the map and the attribute preview. If they land in the sea or near 0,0 the source CRS is wrong.
4. Click Export, choose the format (DXF, KML/KMZ, Shapefile ZIP, GeoJSON, CSV Points, Excel), the Scope (entire project, active layer or selected features) and the Output CRS, and download. KML/KMZ is always written in WGS 84; DXF is written in the projected CRS your drawing uses.

The converter pages run on the same engine as the Workspace and use the same import and export dialogs (Part 3). If the data needs editing before export (deleting features, changing attributes, reprojecting, merging layers), open it in the Workspace instead.

Example (CSV points in UTM to KMZ). On /csv-point-to-kmz/ set Coordinates to EPSG:32637, import a CSV with Point,Easting,Northing,Elevation, check the points on the map, then Export › KMZ. The KMZ is written in WGS 84 for Google Earth.

Common mistakes. Uploading only the .shp without .shx/.dbf/.prj; leaving the source CRS on WGS 84 when the CSV contains UTM values; exporting geographic degrees into a CAD drawing that expects metres (the data lands near 0,0); expecting raster image overlays inside a KMZ to become DXF. DWG is not read: save it as DXF in your CAD program.

Knowledge Center /knowledge/

Reference articles for surveyors, geodesists, GIS analysts and CAD engineers. Each full article has a summary, the theory, a worked example with real (computed) numbers, common mistakes, an FAQ and links to the tool that does the calculation.

How to use it. Type in Search articles or open a category: Coordinate Systems, Geodesy, Surveying, Total Station, GPS / GNSS, RTK, Leveling, Construction Survey, GIS, Mapping, CAD, File Conversion, Country Coordinate Systems, and the Glossary. Each article ends with Related tools and articles, References and Cite this page.

Full articles

Short reference pages. In addition, 531 short topic pages cover coordinate topics (405), country systems (40), CAD (30), GIS (30), survey (30) and converter formats (25, for example /knowledge/converters-dxf-to-kml/, /knowledge/converters-csv-to-shp/). They are reachable from the category lists and are kept out of search engines until a full article replaces them.

Resources & Templates /resources/

Downloads for every tool, with filters.

Filters: Resource Type (Templates, Checklists, Guides, Sample Files, Reports), File Format (XLSX, CSV, PDF, DOCX, KML/KMZ, DXF, GeoJSON), Topic (Coordinate Systems, Field Survey, Data Processing, CAD/GIS, Reporting) and Status. Category buttons: All Resources, Templates, Checklists, Guides, Sample Files, Reports, CAD/GIS.

Sections and what each button does

The Recommended Resource Pack shows the order: Start with Sample Template → Choose CRS Guide → Validate QA Checklist → Export Report Template. The complete list of downloadable files is in Appendix A.

Help Center /help/

Bilingual (English + Arabic) guides. Use the EN + ع / English / العربية switch at the top of each help page.

Writing to support. Say which tool and page you used, give the EPSG code and file format if the problem is about data, and attach a sample file or screenshot after your e-mail program opens.

Arabic pages /ar/

Fourteen tools have a full Arabic interface (right-to-left) under /ar/. Use the العربية link on the English page or open the address directly:

The Arabic pages work exactly like the English ones. Exported files keep English field names so they open the same way in every program. The Workspace switches language with its العربية button (Part 3).

Admin page

/admin.html is the owner’s administration page for the file library (sign-in with the owner account). It is not linked from the site and is not needed by users.

Part 3 · The Workspace /workspace/

The Workspace is a complete CAD · GIS · survey program that runs in the browser. You open it from the Workspace link in the navigation bar or at https://www.geocadbridge.com/workspace/. Nothing is installed and no account is needed. Your data stays in your browser until you save a project file or export results.

This part explains the Workspace from the first screen to the last command:

1. The screen layout and every area on it.
2. Projects: create, open, save, recover.
3. Coordinate systems: project CRS, layer CRS, the coordinate library, Reproject Layer.
4. Importing data and exporting results.
5. Layers, the Inspector, selection and editing.
6. The CAD command line.
7. A tab-by-tab reference of the ribbon tabs and every command.
8. The survey panels in depth (Total Station, Static GNSS, Area & Volume, Surfaces, Grading, Traverse Correction, Bridge, reports).
9. Worked examples from start to finish.

The screen layout

Header buttons

• Menus switches the ribbon to a classic menu bar (Project, Map, Insert, Analysis, Imagery, Share, Edit, View, Layer, Data, CAD, KMZ/KML, Survey, Coordinates, Vector, Raster, Database, Web, Mesh, Processing, 3D, Settings, Plugins, Help…). Each menu drops down the same commands as the ribbon tab of the same name. The button then reads Ribbon; click it to return.
• العربية switches the whole Workspace interface to Arabic (right-to-left). Click English to switch back. Data and file contents are not changed.
• Import opens the Import Data dialog (see Importing data).
• Export Results opens the Export dialog (see Exporting results).
• Library opens the File Library: ready-to-use survey, GIS and CAD resources, filtered by All categories, Survey, GIS, CAD, Guides. Visitors can download files; uploading is reserved for the site owner.

The Layers panel

The Layers tab lists the project’s map layers, top layer first. The number next to MAP LAYERS is the layer count.

• ↑ / ↓ move the selected layer up or down in the drawing order (you can also drag a row).
• Rename renames the selected layer (or double-click its name, or press F2).
• Copy duplicates the layer. Zoom zooms to the layer. Color changes the layer colour.
• New layer creates an empty layer to draw in or paste into.
• Each row has: a visibility checkbox, a colour swatch, ▸ to expand details (geometry types, opacity, labels on/off, locked/editable), the layer name with its feature count, source format and source CRS, a lock button □ (Lock geometry and attributes; locked layers show ▣ and cannot be edited), and ⋯ for layer actions.
• ⋯ / right-click menu: Zoom to Layer, Rename, Duplicate, Style / Properties, Labels, Export Layer, Bridge to AutoCAD / Civil 3D / QGIS / Trimble…, Delete.
• Opacity slider sets the transparency of the selected layer. Remove Selected deletes the selected layer (you are asked to confirm).

Clicking a row makes it the active layer. New features are drawn into the active layer, and many commands work on it.

The Bookmarks tab lists saved map views (create them with View › Locations › Add Bookmark). The History tab lists the actions done in the session.

The Inspector

The Inspector shows details of the selected feature or, when nothing is selected, of the active layer.

Good to know. All geometry is stored internally as WGS 84 longitude/latitude. The project CRS controls how coordinates are displayed, entered, measured on the grid and exported. Changing the project CRS never moves your data.

The status bar

From left to right: the last message (for example Imported Ground points · 25 features), cursor Lon / Lat / X / Y, the approximate map scale (for example 1:8,217*, at 96 pixels per inch), zoom level, N selected, the active layer, Snap ON/OFF, report units, the current tool, and the project EPSG code. Click the EPSG box to open the coordinate library.

Projects

The start screen (Project Manager)

When no project is open, the Workspace shows the Project Manager.

The note at the bottom lists the main formats you can bring in: KML / KMZ · GeoJSON · CSV / Excel · DXF.

Working without an account

The Work without an account message explains the rule that matters most: the browser only keeps a temporary recovery copy. To keep your work, use Save Project to File and download the .gcbproject file. To continue later or on another computer, use Open Project from File. Files made with Export Results (Excel, KML…) are for sharing data and are not a complete project backup.

What the project file contains

Save Project to File downloads a versioned, integrity-checked .gcbproject file with: project metadata, layer order, visibility and style, feature geometry and attributes, CRS definitions, map view, units, bookmarks and the last QA/QC report summary (from Share › Reports › Supported Formats).

Project commands

• Save / Save Project to File (Ctrl+S): downloads the complete project file.
• Save As / Save Copy (Ctrl+Shift+S): asks for a new project name and downloads a copy under that name.
• Open Project (Ctrl+O): choose a .gcbproject file.
• Recover Autosave: restores the temporary copy this browser keeps of the last project.
• Close Project: returns to the Project Manager. If there are unsaved changes you are asked first (Download a saved copy first if you need these changes).
• Project Properties: Name, Location, Description, Report units.
• Project Units: meters or feet for the survey measurement report. Grid calculations stay in metres; coordinate units follow the CRS.
• Project Statistics: a table of every layer with its feature count and CRS.

Coordinate systems in the Workspace

There are two kinds of CRS:

• The project CRS is the grid you work in. Coordinates you type, measurements on the grid, the status-bar X/Y, the Inspector E/N and most exports use it. It is shown in the status bar (for example EPSG:32637).
• Each layer has a source CRS: the system its file came in. It is detected on import and shown in the layer row and the Inspector’s CRS tab.

Choosing a coordinate system (the coordinate library)

Open the coordinate library with Project › Configuration › Project CRS, Coordinates › CRS library › Set Project CRS, the Coordinate library… button in the ribbon, the system shown in the status bar, or Choose project CRS in the Inspector. The New project window has the same button, so the project starts in the right grid.

1. Choose a Country / category, or search by code, description, country or EPSG number.
2. Click a system to see its projection, datum, unit, EPSG equivalent and datum shift.
3. Click OK. The project CRS changes and the button shows the new system.

The chapter The coordinate library in Part 2 describes the window in full.

Reproject Layer (convert a layer to another system)

Analysis › Data management › Reproject Layer (also Raster › Projections › Warp Reproject) converts a whole layer, the way desktop GIS programs do.

1. Choose the Layer.
2. Choose the Output coordinate system from the coordinate library.
3. Click OK. A copy of the layer is added in the chosen system, named for example Points · UTM84-38N. The original layer stays as it is.

Related CRS commands

• Set Layer CRS (Layer tab) tells the Workspace which system a layer’s coordinates are really in, when detection was wrong.
• Set Project CRS from Layer uses the selected layer’s source CRS as the project CRS.
• Validate CRS confirms the project CRS, for example CRS valid: EPSG:32637 · WGS 84 / UTM zone 37N · Madinah.
• Extract Projection shows the projection parameters of the project CRS in a table (CSV download).
• Axis Order Check lists each layer with its source CRS, vertex count and extent (west, south, east, north) and a Result. Use it when points land in the wrong country: it reveals swapped latitude/longitude or Easting/Northing.
• Custom Projections (Settings) opens the coordinate library.

Importing data

Open the import dialog with Import in the header, Home › Import, Project › Import Data, Data › Import Dataset, Layer › Add Layer, Map › Add Data or Insert › Import GIS / CAD.

What happens on import

1. You choose the file. Each dataset becomes its own layer.
2. The coordinate system is detected automatically: from a stated code, from the .prj, or by a fit test for WGS 84, UTM and the Egyptian 1907 belts. It is shown for confirmation; change it if it is wrong.
3. The layer is added, drawn and zoomed to. The status bar reports, for example, Imported Ground points · 25 features · EPSG:4326.

CSV templates. Help › Reference › Import Templates shows the column names for each workflow and downloads four ready CSV files: survey-points.csv (Point, Easting, Northing, Elevation, Description, Code, Layer, CRS), traverse-coordinates.csv (Point, Easting, Northing, Elevation), traverse-observations.csv (Point, Azimuth, Distance, DeltaElevation) and geographic-points.csv (Name, Longitude, Latitude, Elevation, Description). The first row is the header, use a decimal point, and save CSV as UTF-8 so Arabic text survives.

Example survey-points.csv:

Point,Easting,Northing,Elevation,Description,Code,Layer,CRS
P-101,562599.000,2703054.000,619.250,Control point,CP,Survey Points,EPSG:32637

Import Excel (Data, Insert tabs) opens the file chooser for an .xlsx workbook directly.

Opening a field book (.fbk)

A field book is the text file a total station job is exported to. Open it with Import › Field book (.fbk), Survey › Field data › Field Book (.fbk) or the Menus list.

1. Choose the .fbk file.
2. Confirm the coordinate system. It is detected from the coordinates and can be changed with the coordinate library.
3. Two layers are added, grouped under the file name:
   • Points: each point with its number, code (the first word of the description), description, elevation and type (control, station or shot).
   • Figures: the lines recorded between BEG and END. A figure ended with CLOSE becomes a polygon.
4. The status bar reports the count, for example Field book site.fbk: 11 points, 2 figures, 1 setups. Lines that could not be read are listed in a notice; the rest of the file is still imported.

The reader understands known points (NE, NEZ, NE SS, LAT LONG), setups (STN with instrument height, BS with circle reading, AZ, B), shots (AD, DD, ZD, BD, F1, F2, each with VA or VD), PRISM, SF, UNITS (metre or foot; DMS, decimal degrees, grads, mils, radians), ANGLES and VERT ANGLE. Angles are read as DDD.MMSS, and vertical angles as zenith angles, unless the file says otherwise. Curves in figures are drawn as straight segments.

Example:

NEZ 1 2700000.000 500000.000 600.000 "CP1 control"
NE 2 2700100.000 500000.000 "CP2"
PRISM 1.500
STN 1 1.500
BS 2
BEG EP
AD VA 3 90.0000 50.000 90.0000 "EP edge"
AD VA 4 180.0000 50.000 84.1720 "EP edge"
END

Point 3 lands 50 m east of point 1 and point 4 about 49.75 m south of it, both on the line EP.

Exporting results

Open the export dialog with Export Results in the header or any Export command (Export Data, Export Dataset, Export Layer, Export Points, Export DXF, Export KML/KMZ, Export Map…).

1. Scope: Entire project (including hidden layers), Active layer or Selected features.
2. Output CRS: for example EPSG:4326 · WGS 84, EPSG:32637 · WGS 84 / UTM zone 37N, EPSG:9358 · KSA-GRF17 / UTM zone 38N. The line under it tells you what will happen, for example Same coordinate system: coordinates are written unchanged, or that a transformation will be applied.
3. Click a format:

DBF limits may shorten Shapefile field names or long text. Export Excel writes GCB_* columns that keep style values; spreadsheets do not draw map styles.

Selecting, drawing and editing

• Select (Home, Map or Edit tab): click a feature; Shift-click adds more. Clear Selection empties it. F zooms to the selection.
• Draw a feature with Point, Polyline, Polygon, Rectangle, Circle, 3-Point Arc, Ellipse, Freehand or Construction Line (CAD tab, Insert › Create features, or Edit › Add Polygon Feature). The status bar guides you, for example Polyline · click or enter coordinates · Enter finishes · Esc cancels.
• Finish (Enter) completes the feature; Cancel (Esc) abandons it. A line needs at least 2 vertices, a polygon at least 3.
• Edit Vertices (V): select exactly one feature, then drag its vertices.
• Edit Attributes: select exactly one feature, then change its fields.
• Delete / Delete Selected (Delete key or E): removes the selected features.
• Cut, Copy, Paste Features (Edit › Clipboard) move or copy features between layers.
• Transform (CAD › Modify; command M, CO, RO, SC or MI) opens Transform selection · grid coordinates with Operation (Move, Copy, Rotate, Scale, Mirror Easting, Mirror Northing), ΔE / ΔN in metres, Rotation in degrees counter-clockwise, Scale multiplier, and the origin (Selection center or Grid origin). It works in the project grid; Z values and attributes are kept and every change can be undone.
• Undo (Ctrl+Z, U) and Redo (Ctrl+Y).
• Snap (F3) snaps clicks and dragged vertices to visible features. Settings › Editing › Snapping sets the target (Vertex, Endpoint, Midpoint, Segment) and the screen tolerance in pixels (12 by default). Intersection snapping is not supported.
• Ortho (F8) forces horizontal/vertical segments.

The CAD command line

The bar under the map (COMMAND: / SELECT:) works like AutoCAD’s command line. Type a command or a coordinate and press Enter or Execute. Press Esc to cancel. An empty Enter finishes the current drawing.

Coordinate input while a drawing tool is active (values in the project CRS, metres):

• E,N – absolute point, for example 562600,2703050.
• @ΔE,ΔN – relative to the last point, for example @25,0.
• @distance<angle – polar, for example @30<90 (30 m at 90°).

Example – draw a 25 m × 15 m building outline by coordinates (project in a UTM CRS):

1. Type POL and press Enter.
2. Type 562600,2703050 Enter, then @25,0 Enter, @0,15 Enter, @-25,0 Enter.
3. Press Enter on the empty line to finish. Select it: the Inspector shows a perimeter of about 80 m and an area of about 375 m² (the Inspector values are spherical, so they differ very slightly from the grid values).

Part 3 (continued) · Ribbon reference, tab by tab

Every tab is listed in the order it appears on the ribbon. For each group, every command is described with what it opens or does. Commands marked (not available in this version) are shown greyed out.

Project tab

Home tab

Map tab

The basemap (streets, satellite, none) is chosen with the basemap control on the map. If a basemap provider cannot be reached, the Workspace switches to another one and tells you.

Insert tab

Edit tab

View tab

Layer tab

Example – filter. Layer Ground points, Attribute code, Condition =, Value GS → a new layer with all 25 points coded GS.

Data tab

Field Calculator (Field tools / safe calculator) applies to every feature of the active layer. Choose the Operation: Set constant, Copy field, Add numeric constant, Classify threshold, Concatenate, Area (m²), Length (m), Delete field, Rename field; then the Target field name, the Source field and the Value / suffix / numeric increment / threshold. Numeric operations validate all rows before anything is written. No JavaScript expressions are evaluated.

Example: Operation Add numeric constant, Target level_new, Source Z, Value 0.150 → every point gets its level raised by 15 cm in a new field.

Spot level examples.

• Elevation Difference: from 615.200 to 618.950 → +3.750 m.
• Slope / Grade: elevation difference 1.5, horizontal distance 60 → 2.5 % (1 : 40).
• Interpolate Level: start 100.000, end 102.000, station 25, length 100 → 100.500 m.

QA/QC. The settings dialog asks for the Duplicate-point tolerance in metres (0 disables) and an optional project extent (west, south, east, north in WGS 84). Run project check lists duplicates, empty or invalid geometry, missing CRS and features outside the extent. The check never changes features. The summary is stored in the project file.

CAD tab

KMZ/KML tab

Example – DXF to Google Earth. DXF to KML → choose the DXF → confirm its CRS (for example EPSG:32637) → Export KML → Scope Entire project → Google Earth · KMZ. Open the KMZ in Google Earth; the lines appear in the right place because the DXF grid coordinates were transformed to WGS 84.

Survey tab

Example – Traverse Adjustment (forward traverse). Start E 500000, N 2700000, legs:

45, 100
135, 100
225, 100
315, 100

The result is a square of 100 m sides that closes on the start point.

Coordinates tab

Examples. Decimal to DMS: 24.713611 with 2 decimals → 24°42′49.00″. Transform: Source EPSG:4326, Target EPSG:32638, X 46.5, Y 24.0 → E 652578.355, N 2655039.017.

Vector tab

Raster tab

Analysis tab

Example – Thiessen polygons. With the 25-point Ground points layer, Thiessen Polygons → Point layer Ground points → Apply: a new layer of 25 cells, each with the point’s name, code and its grid area in m².

Imagery tab

Mesh tab

Example – contours. TIN Surface on Ground points using Z, then Contours with interval 1 and base 615 → contour lines at 615, 616, 617 … m, with every fifth line drawn heavier as an index contour.

Database tab

Web tab

Processing tab

3D tab

Share tab

Settings tab

Plugins tab

Help tab

Part 3 (continued) · Survey panels in depth

Survey Data Processor (Total Station Data)

Open: Survey › Field data › Total Station Data (also Analysis and Processing tabs).

Reads total-station raw files: Sokkia SDR33 / SDR2x (.sdr), Leica GSI-8 / GSI-16 (.gsi, and .job exported as GSI), Nikon / Trimble / Spectra RAW (.raw) and Carlson RW5 (.rw5). The traverse is found from setup to setup; side shots are reduced from their setups.

Fields

• Raw data file – choose the file.
• Grid CRS – the system of the output coordinates (usually the project CRS).
• Linear adjustment – Bowditch or Transit.
• Distance scale factor – combined grid × elevation factor applied to distances (1 for none).
• Angular tolerance K – the allowed angular misclosure is K″ × √n (n = number of angles).
• Required precision 1: – for example 10000; the report says whether the traverse passes.
• Start E / N / Z and Backsight azimuth – needed only if the file does not contain them.

Buttons: Process → results (angular misclosure, linear misclosure, precision, adjusted stations and side shots) · Add to map · DXF · LandXML · PNEZD · Report CSV · PDF report.

Workflow. Choose the raw file → set the CRS and tolerances → Process → check the closure lines against your specification → Add to map → deliver DXF / LandXML / PNEZD for CAD and the PDF report for the client.

Static GNSS Processing

Open: Survey › Field data › Static GNSS.

Inputs: base and rover RINEX 2.10 / 2.11 or 3.02–3.05 observation files (.obs, .rnx, .26o …) and a broadcast navigation file (.nav, .rnx, .26n, .26p …) for GPS and Galileo. The baseline is computed from double-differenced L1 / E1 carrier phase; ambiguities are fixed with LAMBDA when the ratio test passes.

Settings: base coordinates (from the RINEX header, or known WGS 84 latitude, longitude and ellipsoidal height), base and rover antenna heights, elevation mask (degrees), interval (Auto, All, 5–60 s), systems (GPS + Galileo, GPS only, Galileo only) and the ratio threshold for fixing.

Buttons: Process → the baseline (rover minus base) vector with its length and azimuth, the rover coordinates, the solution (Fixed, Float or Code only), the ratio test, RMS code (m) and RMS phase (mm), and the number of double-difference epochs · Add to map (GNSS points and the baseline line) · Report CSV · PDF report (static GNSS baseline report).

Limits. L1/E1 only; GLONASS and BeiDou are skipped; antenna phase-centre (ANTEX) models are not applied. Use it for short static baselines.

Area & Volume

Open: Survey › Measurements › Area & Volume.

It works on the polygons of the selection, or of the active layer when nothing is selected. Areas are plane areas on the project grid, as used on plans and title deeds; the geodesic area is shown as a check.

• Area tab → Calculate: table of Area m², Hectares, Feddan · Qirat · Sahm (Egyptian units), Dunum and Perimeter for every polygon, with totals.
• Volume tab: choose the method – a prism (area × height), a TIN against a reference level, or cut/fill between two surfaces – then Calculate.
• CSV, PDF report, Report branding….

Example: a 100 m × 100 m plot = 10 000 m² = 1.0000 ha = 10.000 dunum = 2 feddan 9 qirat 3.2 sahm (1 feddan = 24 qirat = 576 sahm = 4 200.833 m²; 1 dunum = 1 000 m²).

Surfaces & quantities

Open: Survey › Surfaces › Point Groups / Surfaces / Earthwork Volumes.

Point groups tab. A group selects points by layer, raw description (wildcards * and ?, comma separated, include or exclude), point number range and elevation range. Example: Name Ground, description GS*, elevation 600–700.

Surfaces tab. Create a TIN from point groups (all survey points when none is chosen) or a level plane. Options: outer boundary polygon, maximum triangle edge length, and breaklines (kept as triangle edges). Example: Name EG, Type TIN, group Ground, max edge 50 m.

Volumes tab. Needs two surfaces (for example existing ground EG and a design surface or a level plane). Methods: TIN to TIN (prismoidal, exact) or average end area from cross-sections along an alignment line with left/right widths and an interval. Results: cut, fill, net, a quantity table and contours. Create two surfaces first appears until both exist.

Grading & leveling

Open: Survey › Surfaces › Grading & Leveling.

Levels the site to one horizontal design level. Points on a regular E/N grid are levelled cell by cell (the textbook grid method); scattered spot heights are triangulated (TIN). Depth = surface − design level: positive is cut, negative is fill.

1. Points: All survey points in the project, or Paste or load a CSV / TXT list with a column order of E,N,Z, Point,E,N,Z, Point,N,E,Z, N,E,Z or Point,E,N,Z,Description.
2. For scattered points set the Max triangle edge and the Cell size (empty = automatic).
3. Analyse site → the site area, minimum, maximum and mean level.
4. Choose the design level: balanced (cut = fill), minimum earthwork, or a custom level.
5. Compute → cut and fill volumes per cell and in total, the zero (daylight) line, and a coloured overlay on the map. Export the table or the PDF report.

Traverse Correction

Open: Analysis › Survey calculations › Traverse Correction.

Two input modes:

• Coordinates: field coordinates in traverse order, one per line: Point ID, Northing, Easting[, Elevation]. The last line is the observed position of the closing point (the start again for a closed loop). Coordinates carry no observed angles, so only the linear closure is checked.
• Angles & distances: observed angles and distances, which gives both angular and linear closure.

Settings: Closes on The first point (closed loop) or A known control point (then type the known closing northing / easting), Correction method Bowditch (compass) rule, Transit rule or Least squares, and Minimum precision 1:.

Buttons: Use selected map points (fills the list from selected points), Calculate (step-by-step solution: misclosure ΔN, ΔE, linear misclosure, precision, corrections per leg, adjusted coordinates), Show on map, Add to project, CSV, PDF report, Report branding…, Clear map.

Least squares and error ellipses. In Angles & distances mode, choosing Least squares as the correction method runs a full network adjustment instead of distributing the misclosure leg by leg: enter the standard deviations you trust your angles and distances to (σ angle, default 5″, and σ distance, default 3 mm + 2 ppm), and the adjustment gives each point its most probable position together with its standard deviations in northing and easting, a 95 % error ellipse, and the network’s overall χ² (chi-square) goodness-of-fit test. Add to project adds the adjusted points with their σ values as attributes and an Error ellipses (95 %) polygon layer so the uncertainty is visible on the map; the PDF report lists every ellipse’s semi-axes and orientation. Least squares needs more redundancy than Bowditch (more observations than the minimum to fix the network) and is the method surveying authorities expect for boundary and control work.

Example (closed loop, coordinates mode):

A,2700000.000,500000.000
B,2700000.020,500100.010
C,2700100.030,500100.000
D,2700100.000,499999.980
A,2700000.040,500000.030

The closing point A is observed 0.040 m north and 0.030 m east of its start, a linear misclosure of 0.050 m over 400 m (precision 1:8 000). Bowditch distributes −0.040 m N and −0.030 m E in proportion to the cumulative leg length. With the default minimum precision of 1:5 000 the traverse passes. Adjusted coordinates (N, E): B 2700000.010, 500100.002 · C 2700100.010, 500099.985 · D 2700099.970, 499999.957, and A closes exactly on 2700000.000, 500000.000.

Bridge panel

Open: Survey › Deliverables › Bridge Panel, Layer › Data source › Bridge Panel, Share › Export › Bridge Panel, or a layer’s ⋯ › Bridge to AutoCAD / Civil 3D / QGIS / Trimble….

It shows, for each layer (name · feature count · CRS), what each target program will receive – Civil 3D, Trimble, QGIS / ArcGIS and Google Earth – and warns about anything that will be lost. Choose the Output coordinate system and click Convert to DXF, LandXML, PNEZD, Shapefile, GEOJSON, CSV or KMZ. An accuracy note travels with the file.

Geoid Heights

Open: Survey › Field data › Geoid Heights or Coordinates › Transform › Geoid Heights.

Converts between the GNSS ellipsoidal height h (WGS 84) and the orthometric height H (above mean sea level): H = h − N, where N is the geoid undulation of the chosen model at that point. Geoid model: EGM96 (15′ grid) and EGM2008 (5′ grid, generally more accurate) are built in; a GeographicLib geoid file (.pgm, up to 120 MB — for example a finer EGM2008 grid) can also be loaded from disk.

Two tabs:

• Point: enter a Latitude and Longitude (decimal degrees or D M S) and a Height, choose the direction (h → H or H → h), and Calculate shows the geoid undulation N and the converted height, with the formula used.
• Layer: choose a layer with 3D points and a direction; Calculate converts the Z of every point and vertex and adds a copy layer (the original is left untouched) with geoid_N, h_ellipsoid and H_orthometric attributes.

Both tabs can export the results as CSV. A global model gives heights to a few centimetres to decimetres (more in mountainous areas); check one benchmark of the national levelling network before survey-grade work.

Survey Plan

Open: Survey › Deliverables › Survey Plan.

Builds an official-style parcel plan sheet automatically from a closed Boundary layer already in the project — a closed field-book figure, or an imported parcel polygon. Fill in the title block (Project / plot name, Owner, Locality, Surveyor, Date, Scale — leave blank for an automatic round scale that fits the sheet — and Paper size A4 or A3 landscape), then Build plan to compute every side’s bearing, azimuth and distance, the perimeter, and the area (m², hectares, feddan/qirat and acres).

PDF downloads a two-page sheet: page 1 is the plan itself (frame, title block, north arrow, the boundary drawn to scale with point labels and side distances, a scale bar, and the area/perimeter), page 2 lists every vertex’s coordinates and every side’s bearing, azimuth and distance. CSV exports the same coordinate and bearing/distance tables.

PDF report and Report branding

PDF Report (Survey › Deliverables, Share › Reports) downloads a PDF of the project’s survey results. Report Branding sets what appears on every PDF report: Company / office, Engineer, Licence / syndicate no., Phone / e-mail and up to two logo images (PNG or JPEG, ≤ 400 KB). Branding images stay in your browser only. Remove clears it.

Part 3 (continued) · Worked examples

Example 1 · From a CSV of survey points to Civil 3D and Google Earth

1. Open the Workspace → New Project → name Site A, CRS EPSG:32637.
2. Download survey-points.csv from Help › Import Templates, fill it with your points (Point, Easting, Northing, Elevation, Description…) and save as CSV UTF-8.
3. Import → Survey · CSV Points → choose the file → confirm EPSG:32637.
4. Check the points: Survey › Coordinate List; turn on labels in the Inspector’s Labels tab.
5. Survey › Deliverables › Export Points → Scope Entire project, Output CRS EPSG:32637 → Civil 3D · TBC · PNEZD points. Import this file in Civil 3D with Import Points (PNEZD comma delimited).
6. Export Results → Google Earth · KMZ for the client.
7. Save Project to File to keep the work.

Example 2 · Convert a DXF from local grid to KSA-GRF17

1. New project, CRS EPSG:9357 · KSA-GRF17 / UTM zone 37N.
2. CAD › Import DXF, choose the drawing. Confirm the detected CRS; if the drawing is in WGS 84 / UTM 37N choose EPSG:32637.
3. Look at the result on the basemap. Use Coordinates › Quality › Axis Order Check if it lands in the wrong place.
4. Export Results → Output CRS EPSG:9357 → CAD · DXF.

Example 3 · Surface, contours and earthwork

1. Import the levelling points (CSV with Z).
2. Mesh › TIN Surface → point layer, Z → Apply.
3. Mesh › Contours → interval 0.5, base 0 → contour layer.
4. Survey › Surfaces › Grading & Leveling → Analyse site → Balanced → Compute → cut = fill volumes and the zero line.
5. Share › Reports › PDF Report for the deliverable.

Example 4 · Close a traverse and deliver the report

1. Survey the traverse; type the observed coordinates (or select the points on the map and use Use selected map points).
2. Analysis › Survey calculations › Traverse Correction → Closes on: the first point, Bowditch, minimum precision 1:10000.
3. Calculate → read the misclosure and precision → Add to project.
4. Report branding… with your office name and licence number → PDF report.

Example 5 · Process a total-station job

1. Survey › Field data › Total Station Data → choose the .sdr, .gsi, .raw or .rw5 file.
2. Grid CRS = project CRS, Bowditch, scale factor (for example 0.9996), K = 30, precision 1:10000.
3. Process → check the closure → Add to map → DXF and PDF report.

Appendices

Appendix A · Template downloads

Appendix B · Keyboard shortcuts (Workspace)

Shortcuts are ignored while you are typing in an input field. The CAD command aliases are listed in The CAD command line.

Appendix C · Troubleshooting

↑ Back to top