Written by Gwen Brittain

Surveying is one of the most crucial steps for 3D land forming solutions. Surveyors are the first people on a land forming job site, measuring and mapping the land. The elevation data collected is then used to understand the unique landscape when designing the project. Problem areas are detected in time and actions are based on facts and figures. Before data is collected, it is important to have T3RRA in the correct surveying mode to achieve the desired results. Options for surveying are Field, Drain, and Boundary.

Points that are collected in ‘Field Survey’ mode are shown on the map as circles. ‘Field Surveys’ are utilized for Full Field, Auto Drain, Pattern Drain, & Levee Designs.

‘Drain Survey’ mode data points are displayed as squares. In ‘Drain Survey’ mode, you must drive the length of the drain in order to collect the data. It doesn’t matter whether your drive from ‘source to outlet’ or ‘outlet to source’.

Combining a Field design and Drain design will balance the dirt within the project. Best practice while ‘Field Surveying’ is to pause when traveling over the Drain. Do not replicate points by collecting a ‘Drain Survey’ over a ‘Field Survey’.

If a Surface & Drain exist as one project, the Surface must be designed first and the Drain second. If you decide to go back and alter the Surface design, be sure and design the Drain again as well.
‘Boundary Surveying’ allows you to survey the outer perimeter of a field which can be used for Design purposes. We do not require you to collect a field boundary when surveying. Some do consider it best practice to drive the perimeter of a field regardless, collecting elevation points as they go.

After surveying and returning to the Wizard steps, you can choose ‘Export’ in the center section of the screen. Field and Drain Survey data will be exported as CSV files. Boundary Survey data will be exported as KML files.