Frequently Asked Questions

CivDot can connect to any base station (Trimble, Leica, Topcon, etc.) and to your choice of NTRIP / VRS network.

We recommend Rust-Oleum Inverted Marking Paint, however any inverted marking spray paint can be used on the CivDot available at your local hardware store.

CivDot is a robotic layout machine designed for automated topographic surveying and mapping. It can mark up to 3,000 points per day on jobsites like solar farms, grading projects, and land surveys, using GNSS survey equipment for accuracy down to 1/10’ (30 mm).

CivDot+ offers laser-guided precision with accuracy down to 3/100’ (8 mm). It’s ideal for pile driving, road markings, and projects that demand a GPS layout tool with high-precision layout capabilities.

CivDot Mini is built for parking lot striping, roadway layout, and airport runway markings. It delivers sub-inch (2 cm) accuracy using spray paint, automating up to 17 miles of solid or dashed line markings per day.

CivNav is best suited for solar EPCs looking to simplify material distribution across large construction sites. It guides operators where to place piles and PV modules directly from the blueprint, and can eliminate construction staking when used alongside GPS-enabled pile drivers.

CivDot+ is a robotic layout system that marks points on the ground, while CivNav guides operators to place materials without performing layout. In solar projects with GPS pile drivers, CivNav can eliminate the need for layout by directing material placement from the design. CivDot+ is still preferred when layout is required, such as on sites without GPS-enabled installation equipment. This also means no physical markers such as whiskers or flags are needed.

The CivDot can be operated by anyone - no special license or skill set is required. A field application engineer will visit your site and train your field team how to operate the machine safely and efficiently. The on-site training takes a day, and then you'll be ready to go!

CivPlan supports CSV files for marking points, and DXF files for line work. The template will be provided to the field team during on-site training and meet industry standards (name, northing, easting, elevation, annotation).

CivPlan supports local coordinate systems and will require the state plane coordinate name and site calibration file. You could also perform a site calibration process through CivPlan.

Civ Robotics construction layout robots work with Trimble R780, Topcon, Leica, and NTRIP-based GNSS correction networks. This ensures reliable RTK precision across construction layouts, even in challenging site conditions.

CivDot is built for solar energy construction, topographic surveying and mapping and construction staking. Its rugged design and GNSS integration make it ideal for high-output layout in remote or uneven field conditions.

Solar design files are uploaded into CivNav through the planning interface using industry-standard CSV files. The planning interface is used to define missions, and these missions are then executed on the operator’s device during field operations. CivNav supports different pile colors and length with many features to fit your workflow

The operator follows CivNav guidance on a tablet device. The interface shows the operator’s location and the next goal on a top-down map. The operator uses this guidance to place materials as instructed with pin point accuracy.

The CivDot is weather resistant, has IP65 rating, and operates in harsh climates. We like to remind our customers that since we use GPS/ GLONASS/ Galileo/ BeiDou/ IRNSS/ OZSS/ SBAS constellation support, the precision of the GPS tracking antenna may suffer if it is covered in thick ice or snow.

CivDots are equipped with obstacle detection and an emergency stop button. The operator has the ability to drive in manual mode at any point in time. CivDots will not move nor mark when RTK fix is lost. Additionally, for vertical accuracy, CivDot can shoot the point for your desired duration of time based on the level of accuracy you’re looking for.