Look back … way back …

To understand the benefits we need to visit the past – say ten years or so. Back then the good old SDR and HP-48 data collectors, and even onboard collection was used by most survey companies.

Companies that did linework in the field usually adopted the linework codes that their desktop software supported. The person operating the data collector or instrument embedded linework codes into their descriptions. When the raw file was processed in the office, the desktop program could use the linework codes to determine how to “connect the dots”.

Furthermore, you usually uniquely identified each line. For example if you were picking up the edges of a road, you might use a description such as EG for edge of gravel. To make sure you generated the linework properly you would code one side as EG1 and the other side as EG2.