Stringer Topo: How to Import & Reduce Survey Raw Data? #surveydesign

Welcome to Present-Trade’s tutorial on how to import and reduce survey data using Stringer Topo software. Are you facing challenges when transferring data from your survey equipment into your design software? In this video, we’ll show you how to make that process easy and efficient using Stringer Topo—turning your raw field data into usable COGO points and linework in just a few steps. Let’s get started. Open your CAD software and make sure you’re in the Stringer Survey tab. To begin, go to the Import and Reduce list and click Import and Reduce, or simply launch Stringer Connect from the Toolspace. A window will open. Since we’re starting a new project, click on File then New Project, give your project a name for easy access later, and optionally fill in details like the surveyor’s name, date, and other notes. In this tutorial, we’ll skip that and move on. Under COGO Point Type, select Civil 3D COGO Points—since we’re working in Civil 3D. In the Data Storage tab, you can choose whether to store the project file in your working directory. You can also set your default styles like code sets and string sets. Once you're ready, click Create to start your project. Now it's time to bring in your data. Click on Add, name the dataset, and use the Browse button to select your survey file. At the bottom right, you’ll find a list of supported raw data formats—AutoDesk Fieldbook, GSI, Topcon, and more. In this example, we’ll use an SDR Sokkia file format. Click Add, and the raw survey data will appear in the window—complete with instrument height, orientation, and all shot records. You can edit any record by selecting it; the details will appear on the right for quick changes. Edits are highlighted in yellow for easy tracking. Need to undo something? Right-click the item and select Reset Item. You can also ignore individual records, which greys them out and crosses them off, or search and replace point data as needed. Want to add a new entry? Click Add Item and choose to insert a note, shot, coordinate, or other record types. Under the Control tab, open the Control Editor to manage control points. If your file already includes control points, they’ll be listed. Otherwise, click Import Control File or manually set a control point using various methods, including picking from CAD or choosing Civil 3D points. You can preview your data before reduction by clicking on the 2D Data Viewer, which displays all shots and radiations graphically. Click on any element to highlight and review its info. From the Home tab, control what details you want to show—point number, elevation, code, and more. You can even display an aerial image, if available. Need a report? Click the Report button to view tolerances or check for any backsight errors. Once everything is reviewed, go to Reduce Coordinates. A window will pop up showing your data, and Stringer will automatically detect duplicate points—highlighted in mint green. You can filter or exclude duplicates by selecting them and using Exclude Points from the Tools tab. Once your data is reduced, you can either place a point table in your drawing or export it to a file format. Now that we have reduced points, let’s generate the COGO Points. A prompt will ask if you'd like to create survey lines—click Yes. Another window opens for Survey Strings creation. Here, you can click Edit on the line set table to define breaklines, 2D or 3D linework, and assign them to layers. When done, click Apply and Close, then Create Survey Strings. Your COGO points are now created—and even better, Stringer will generate the surface automatically. You can later edit any connections from the Connect button in the Toolspace, and once ready, just click Create or Update COGO Points to finalize the updates. And there you have it—a complete process from raw survey data to surface-ready COGO points in just a few clicks. Need to simplify your field-to-finish process? Stringer Topo makes it easier than ever. Contact Present-Trade today to get started and claim your free trial. Let us help you bring accuracy and speed to your surveying workflow—effortlessly. Happy designing! Need to simplify your field-to-finish process? Stringer Topo makes it easier than ever. Contact Present-Trade today to get started and claim your free trial. Learn more here: https://present-trade.com/product/stringer-topo/ Connect with us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/presenttrade/ Present-Trade is your official reseller for Stringer Topo in Egypt. Let us help you bring accuracy and speed to your surveying workflow — effortlessly.