GPS data prep is what makes a rover useful on the first morning instead of the third. The receiver finds its position on its own; what it needs from you is the control, the coordinate system, the points and lines to stake, and a localization that ties the design to the ground. We prepare all of that for the Spherefix SP30 and SP Nano we sell, load it on the controller, and test it before you get it. We also build the same files, as DXF, LandXML and CSV, for crews running other equipment.
What you get
- Control and localization. Your control points in the job’s coordinate system, and a site calibration from them so the rover reads the same numbers as the drawings. MTM or UTM zone, NAD83 (CSRS) realization, and the vertical datum, all stated in the file.
- Stakeout points. Lot corners, curb returns, catch basins, pipe inverts, column lines, with codes the crew will recognize.
- Stakeout lines and alignments. Centrelines, curb lines and offsets so station and offset come straight off the screen.
- Surfaces for grade checks. A design surface on the rover so cut and fill to finished grade reads live, the same model the excavator runs. See machine control data prep.
- A code list and a job template so every crew member’s as-built comes back in the same shape.
- Corrections configured. Can-Net or another NTRIP mountpoint set up on the receiver’s modem, or your own base on the radio. See what RTK corrections cost in Ontario.
What to send
| Item | Format | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Control | CSV: number, northing, easting, elevation, code; plus the coordinate system and datum | The most common cause of a job that lands metres off is an unstated zone or datum. |
| Design | DWG or DXF; LandXML for surfaces and alignments | Points and lines are taken from the drawing, not retyped. |
| What you want staked | A marked-up sheet or a list | So the point file has what the crew needs and nothing else. |
The full list of software and formats is on the works-with page.
Price and turnaround
Quoted per job from what you send. A control file and a point list for one site is a small job; a subdivision with alignments, surfaces and a code list is a larger one. Send it to contact@stratuspositioning.ca or use the form, say which receiver and controller, and we reply with a price and a date. For a Spherefix kit bought from us, the first job’s setup is part of the setup packages.
The files are prepared by the people who run the SP30 on our own layout and control jobs, in the CAD environment we use every day.