Survey calculations

The last few years at a former job, I used AutoCad Civil 3d (before that, LDD) to perform all of my survey calculations to create points and draw figures.  It was a "batch file" process where a survey network was created which could be linked to a .txt file to write a series of commands which created points and draw figures.  The commands were simple such as traversing, line/line intersect, etc. The beauty of using the batch file system  was 1) I could know even years later how a particular point was created as long as I could find the .txt file, 2) It was easy to edit how a point was calculated if I keyed something in incorrectly or wanted to try something different and 3) It was point driven instead of line driven.  I would simply write my calculations in the .txt file and then run the batch file:  all points would be calculated and figures within the network drawn. Does MicroStation/InRoads have such a system to create/calculate points similar to Civil3d?

  • In Microstation I use GeoPak. GeoPak handles the cogo operations within Microstation. GeoPak uses input files as batch files to create or recreate cogo geometry. GeoPak input files are text based files as well. this is very similar to the LDD process. InRoads has a process using fbk files. Not familiar with the process.

    The issue is going forward there is no more cogo tool. Beyond SS4 survey calcs are going to be very different. I look forward to seeing what Bentley does with the survey tools.

  • I have used InRoads using both it’s Cogo - ICS and its survey application to plot 3D survey data. I have even used it to create PNEZD files for both LDD & Civil 3D.

    The last version of InRoads is the Ss4 version which still has these tools but also has the first release of Bentley’s ‘next generation” Civil product - Open Roads. As Cliff mentioned, the Cogo packages are going away. But the have been working on a module to address the batch input needs that property work requireds. But there is a Survey tool in Open Roads that is very similar to Civil 3D’s Survey tools and many of its codes are identical. A crew could easily be trained to use only the codes that are common to both and be productive.

    if you selected an easily read data collector file format, like TDS RAW, you could easily use it like a Cogo batch.


    Charles (Chuck) Rheault
    CADD Manager

    MDOT State Highway Administration

    • MicroStation user since IGDS, InRoads user since TDP.
    • AutoCAD, Land Desktop and Civil 3D, off and on since 1996