Carlson Layout Android Construction Stakeout and Field Layout Software

Carlson Layout for construction stakeout and field positioning

Carlson Layout is Android-based field software developed for construction professionals who need to transfer design information from the office to the ground using GNSS or total station equipment. It combines practical construction stakeout routines with CAD drawing support, coordinate geometry and broad instrument compatibility in a workflow intended for everyday site use.

The software is well suited to construction crews, site engineers, surveyors, groundworkers and contractors who regularly need to mark foundations, utilities, kerbs, roads, earthworks, structural points or other design positions. Instead of relying on printed drawings and manual measurements, crews can work directly with digital project information and navigate to the required position using connected surveying equipment.

Stake points lines and surfaces in the field

Carlson Layout supports the core tasks required for construction setting out. Users can stake individual points, follow lines and work from design surfaces, making the software useful across building construction, civil engineering, utilities and earthworks projects.

Layout can work with fixed design elevations or elevations taken from a surface model. This allows a crew to check whether the current ground or constructed level is above or below design without first creating a dedicated stake point for every location. On grading and excavation projects, this provides a quick way to check levels while moving around the site.

Line-based layout also allows positions to be set out by distance and offset from a reference line. This is useful when placing features parallel to kerbs, walls, utilities, road edges or other construction lines where the required working position is offset from the actual design element.

Bring DWG and DXF drawings directly to site

Construction information often arrives as CAD drawings rather than simple point lists. Carlson Layout supports DWG and DXF files through its mobile IntelliCAD engine, allowing drawing information to be viewed directly on the Android field device.

This gives the field crew visual context around the stakeout data. Instead of navigating only by point numbers, the operator can see nearby linework and other design features while working. That can make it easier to identify the correct foundation corner, utility line, kerb or structural element when a project contains large numbers of set-out points.

Carlson CRD and CRDB coordinate files are also supported, making it easier to exchange coordinate information with other Carlson software used in the office or by survey teams.

Work with RTK GNSS and total stations

Carlson Layout uses Carlson’s extensive instrument driver library and is designed to work with a wide range of GNSS receivers, conventional total stations and robotic total stations. This makes it suitable for companies that use equipment from different manufacturers or want field software that is not tied to one specific hardware platform.

With RTK GNSS, corrections can be received through workflows using a cellular connection, internal modem, internal radio or external radio, depending on the connected receiver and site setup. For contractors using an NTRIP correction service, this provides a straightforward route to centimetre-level positioning when suitable correction data and GNSS conditions are available.

Total station support is useful where satellite reception is limited or where the project requires measurements relative to established site control. Robotic total stations can also be used for one-person construction layout where the instrument and controller configuration supports that workflow.

Designed for construction crews as well as surveyors

Carlson Layout is deliberately focused on field layout rather than trying to reproduce every function of a complete surveying package. That makes it relevant to construction professionals who need reliable stakeout functions but do not necessarily require advanced boundary surveying, adjustment or specialist survey calculations.

A site engineer can use it to set foundation and structural positions, a groundworks crew can work with kerbs and drainage lines, and a surveyor can prepare coordinates and drawings in the office before handing the project to a construction team. The same project data can therefore move between office preparation and field layout without being recreated from scratch.

Coordinate systems and project positioning

Carlson Layout supports Carlson’s projection library, allowing project coordinates to be handled within established coordinate-system workflows. This is particularly important when GNSS is being used on projects designed in grid coordinates rather than arbitrary local values.

For local construction sites, project data can also be prepared around established site control. Using consistent coordinates between the drawing, field controller and survey equipment helps prevent the common problem of crews working from different versions or coordinate references.

Cloud based file handling

Project files can be handled through Google Drive and other cloud-storage workflows supported by the Android device. In practical terms, this can make it easier for an office technician to send an updated drawing or coordinate file to the field without physically connecting the controller to a computer.

This is especially useful on projects where drawings change during construction. Crews can receive updated files, while normal project-management procedures can still be used to make sure the correct revision is being set out.

Optional Survey Module

For users who need more than basic construction layout, Carlson offers an optional Survey Module. It expands Layout with functions including automatic point collection by interval, static data logging, advanced graphical averaging, SHP file import and export and Quick Codes for frequently used feature codes.

These additions are useful for surveyors, GIS-related fieldwork and construction teams that also need to collect as-built information. Quick Codes can speed up repetitive data collection by keeping commonly used feature codes directly available during measurement and stakeout.

Optional Roading Module

The optional Roading Module is aimed at contractors and survey teams working on roads, kerbs and linear infrastructure. It adds the ability to load centre lines and profiles, create a road definition from a polyline and stake an alignment.

Multiple road definitions can be created and switched between as work progresses, and road definitions can be shared between jobs on the same site. This makes the module useful on larger civil projects where several alignments or construction stages need to be handled within one project area.

Useful for construction verification and as built work

Carlson Layout is not limited to placing new points. Measurements and elevation checks can also help crews confirm completed work against the design. A user can check a surface or fixed elevation at the current position and identify whether excavation, fill or installed construction is at the required level.

This can be valuable for checking formation levels, concrete works, earthworks, kerbs and other construction elements before the next stage of a project begins. Where more detailed data collection is required, the optional Survey Module extends the available measurement tools.

Android field workflow

Because Carlson Layout runs on Android, it can be used on compatible Android phones, tablets and rugged field controllers. Carlson’s documentation confirms Android as the operating platform, while current product information focuses on modern Android field hardware for professional use.

For construction sites, a rugged Android controller or tablet is normally the practical choice because it provides a larger drawing view, physical protection and suitable connectivity for GNSS receivers or total stations.

Who is Carlson Layout for?

Carlson Layout is intended for construction layout professionals, surveyors, site engineers, civil contractors, groundworkers, utility contractors, road builders and other field crews that need to transfer digital design positions onto the ground. It is particularly useful for organisations that want a straightforward construction-focused interface while retaining access to professional GNSS and total station equipment.

It can also suit companies with mixed surveying hardware because Carlson provides drivers for a broad range of instruments. This can help businesses continue using existing GNSS receivers or total stations instead of selecting field software around a single hardware manufacturer.

Carlson Layout from Global GPS Systems

Global GPS Systems can help configure Carlson Layout for the GNSS receiver, total station, Android controller and RTK correction method used on your projects. This is useful when selecting a complete construction layout setup because software compatibility, communication method and field hardware all need to work together.

For customers who need additional surveying or road-construction functions, Global GPS Systems can also help determine whether the standard Layout configuration is sufficient or whether the optional Survey or Roading module better matches the required field workflow.