Learning Center

Dig to a LandXML civil design

Load an engineer's LandXML finished-grade surface (and, optionally, the existing ground), set the completion-grid cell size, tap Apply, calibrate on a control point and dig: the target is the finished grade under the bucket, wherever you are. What the map shows, and what we couldn't confirm in v1.5.4.

  • DIG™ Kit
  • Ditch Assist Lite

In the app Home › Excavation › Import Civil Design (LandXML)

When an engineer sends a LandXML file (an .xml export of a TIN surface from Civil 3D, Trimble Business Center or similar), Excavation can dig to it directly. The target is the finished-grade elevation under the bucket wherever you are on the design, so you can work a pond, basin or pad in any direction. There's no survey and no design step in between.

Before you start

  • The LandXML file on the tablet (Downloads is easiest: Transfer files). LandXML 1.2 with TIN surfaces, in UTM or State Plane coordinates.
  • Know which surface in the file is the finished grade. The names come from whoever made the file; if you're not sure, ask the engineer. Digging to the wrong surface is on you, not the app.
  • A control point with a known elevation on the job, to calibrate on
  • Connected to the DIG™ module, RTK Fixed (Open Excavation)

Time: about 5 minutes to load the design and calibrate, then the digging.

Tap Import Civil Design (LandXML)

Under How would you like to grade?, Import Civil Design (LandXML) is the last wide button, at the bottom. Tap it. A window called Import LandXML Surface opens.

How would you like to grade? window with six wide buttons; the last reads Import Civil Design (LandXML)
  1. Import Civil Design (LandXML). Last button.

Tap Select Design XML

The window has two pickers. The first, Select Design XML, is for the finished-grade surface (required). Tap it, then pick the file in the tablet's file picker. If the file holds more than one surface, pick the finished grade.

Import LandXML Surface: 1. Finished Grade (FG) required, Select Design XML; 2. Existing Ground (EG) OPTIONAL, Select Existing Ground XML (Optional); Supports LandXML 1.2 with TIN surfaces, State Plane and UTM coordinate systems 2
  1. Select Design XML. Finished Grade (FG): the surface you dig to.
  2. Existing Ground (EG). Optional: the ground before digging.

Check the preview

The file name shows with a green tick. Under it the app draws a 3-D preview (drag to turn it, pinch to zoom) and lists the points, triangles, coordinate system (CRS) and elevation range. Check the elevations look like the job.

Finished Grade loaded: Pond-FG.xml with a green tick, hint Add Existing Ground to enable a cut/fill depth map, 3-D TIN preview of a pond, stats 169 points, 288 triangles, CRS EPSG:32614, Min Elev 808.4 ft, Max Elev 812.9 ft, Elev Range 4.5 ft
  1. Pond-FG.xml. Green tick when it's read.
  2. CRS. The coordinate system, here EPSG:32614. Min and max elevation are beside it.

A CRS that reads Unknown means the file's coordinate system wasn't recognised: get the file again in UTM or State Plane before you dig to it.

If you have it, tap Select Existing Ground XML

The second picker, Select Existing Ground XML (Optional), is for the ground before digging. Tap it and pick the existing-ground surface (it can be the same file). Its file name shows in the picker, and its points and triangles are added to the stats.

Both surfaces loaded: Pond-FG.xml and Pond-EG.xml, 3-D preview and stats with Terrain Pts and Terrain Tris added
  1. Pond-EG.xml. The existing ground. Optional.

Set the grid cell size

Scroll down the window (scrolling). Completion grid cell size is the size of the squares you'll tap to mark finished: drag the slider, 3–30 m, starting at the Excavator Grid Cell setting (11 m). It's Locked into this job when you apply the design.

Bottom of the LandXML window: stats, Completion grid cell size with an 11 m slider, Locked into this job when you apply the design., and a wide Apply Design + Terrain button
  1. Completion grid cell size. Smaller squares, finer marking.
  2. 11 m. The size now.

More on the grid: Mark finished areas.

Tap Apply Design

The wide button at the bottom reads Apply Design, or Apply Design + Terrain with an existing-ground file. Tap it.

The wide Apply Design + Terrain button at the bottom of the LandXML window
  1. Apply Design + Terrain. Loads the design.

The app asks Calibrate GPS? over the map.

Put the cutting edge on the control point and tap Calibrate

The window's tip talks about a zero-cut/fill spot; on a civil job use the job's control point instead. Put the cutting edge on it and tap the orange Calibrate, bottom right.

Calibrate GPS? If your RTK base station location has changed since this design file was created, you should calibrate. Drive to a point where the design elevation matches the original ground (a zero-cut/fill location), lower your implement, then calibrate. Skip and Calibrate
  1. Calibrate. On the control point, cutting edge down.

The Calibrate Elevation window opens. If you've already saved a benchmark on this job, tap its row in the list instead and follow Benchmarks and calibration.

Tap Advanced

Advanced is at the bottom left of the Calibrate Elevation window, with a small down arrow in front of it. Tap it. A box for a typed elevation opens under it.

Bottom of the Calibrate Elevation window: Advanced with a down arrow on the left, Manage benchmarks on the right, a tip line and Close
  1. Advanced. Bottom left of the window.

Type the control point's elevation

Tap the box under Enter the known survey elevation at your current position: and type the control point's elevation from the plan (typing on the tablet).

Enter the known survey elevation at your current position: a box reading 812.50 ft, and an orange Set BM button on the right 1
  1. Known elevation. 812.50 ft here; type yours.

Tap Set BM

Set BM is the orange button on the right of the box. Tap it. A small window asks you to confirm.

The typed elevation box and the orange Set BM button on its right
  1. Set BM. Right of the box.

Tap Set BM again to confirm

The window reads Set your current position to 812.50 ft? This replaces the current calibration. Check the number, then tap Set BM, the white button at the bottom right. The elevations now match the design. Tap Close on the Calibrate Elevation window.

Set BM window: Set your current position to 812.50 ft? This replaces the current calibration. Cancel and Set BM
  1. Set BM. Confirms the elevation.

Tap Start

The design is drawn over the map with the grid on top. The square you're in has an amber outline, and a small label at the top right of the map reads Tap a grid cell to mark complete. Tap Start, the big green button at the top of the right-hand column, and dig to the chevrons and gauge as in any excavator job.

LandXML job on the dig screen: pond design coloured yellow and red on the rim to blue on the floor, white grid squares over it, the current square outlined amber around the position dot, chip Tap a grid cell to mark complete, green Start in the right-hand column
  1. Start. Top of the right-hand column.
  2. Tap a grid cell to mark complete. Turns into a count once you mark squares.

No profile chart here: a surface has no single line to draw along. The numbers at the top left of the screen show Current, Target and Cut/Fill.

Dig to the chevrons

Below the finished grade the chevrons point up in blue with a FILL label; above it they point down with CUT. Your marks stay on the grid while you dig.

Digging the LandXML design: blue up chevrons, a big 1.7 inch FILL label, gauge reading −1.7 FILL, green marked squares kept on the grid
  1. FILL. Bucket below the finished grade.
  2. Readout. −1.7″: 1.7″ over-dug.

The job saves itself; Resume Job brings back the design, the grid and every mark. Calibrate again when you come back.

If something goes wrong

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