Tech Chat | A Convenient Function for GIS – SingularPad Zigzag

Geographic location attributes are the basic attributes of all things in the real world, so geographic information services (GIS) are important applications closely related to our lives, such as urban planning, natural resource management, urban pipeline management, architectural design, logistics, autonomous driving and other maps data-related scenarios.

With the development of the GNSS industry, RTK has also become the basic tool for GIS data collection. Our RTK field software is also designed with functions such as coordinate collection, coding, automatic mapping, and result export.

In this blog, we will introduce ZigZag, a useful function for feature collection. It can automatically switch feature codes during work and allow surveyors to focus more on the environment, which is often used for linear acquisition tasks. Let us follow the example below to understand its application scenarios and usage methods.

Working scenarios

For example, when working near the road as in the figure shown below, GISers normally need to collect feature points on the road for drawing, such as footpath, kerb, road centerlines and so on.

For such a long line measurement task, surveyors often need to measure these features alternately. With the Zigzag function, the feature code will be automatically switched, so that surveyors can keep an eye on passing cars, rather than paying attention to the software to switch codes, which can protect their own safety and work efficiently.

So how are we going to collect this road？

Firstly, we need to set an interval, such as collecting every 10 meters, starting from one side of the road and collecting feature points on the road in turn. It's on the other side of the road when it's done. When this row is finished, walk 10 meters, then collect the next row, and then start on the other side. Then collect in turn.

The sequence is left → right → 10 meters forward → right → left → 10 meters forward → left → right... , as shown below:

How to conduct Zigzag with SingularPad in such a situation?

First, SingularPad is used to connect the receiver via Bluetooth, and make it fixed. Then go to the Point Survey, open Settings, and enable zigzag at the bottom.

Then click the list of Code to add codes.

Note: Kerb, footpath, and center line of the road are all linear elements. So you need to select the type as a polyline at creation time, and then create the three codes.

Then go back to the survey interface, select the one of these codes, then set the line name, and measurement.

1. For example, the first code is footpath and the line name is set to 1. Then click the Measure button to collect the first point P1, which is the starting point of the first footpath.
2. Then select kerb, set the line name to 1, and click the Measure button to capture the first point P2, which is the starting point of the first kerb.
3. Then select center line, set the line name to 1, and click the Measure button to capture the first point, P3, which is the starting point of the first center line.
4. Then select kerb, set the line name to 2, and click the Measure button to capture the first point P4, which is the starting point of the second kerb.
5. Finally, select footpath, set the line name to 2, and click the Measure button to capture the first point P5, which is the starting point of the second footpath.

After the first round of collection is completed, the software interface displays the starting points of five lines, namely footpath (1)→ kerb (1)→center line (1)→ kerb (2) → footpath (2), and it will be saved in Favorite.

And then all you have to do is measure, you don't have to switch codes anymore. The software will automatically switch in a Z-shaped order,the feature code until the job is done, as follows:

footpath (1) → kerb (1) → center line (1) → kerb (2) → footpath (2)
footpath (2) → kerb (2) → center line (1) → kerb (1) → footpath (1)
footpath (1) → kerb (1) → center line (1) → kerb (2) → footpath (2)
......

Of course, if you choose the same direction, then they will loop in the normal order.
footpath (1) → kerb (1) → center line (1) → kerb (2) → footpath (2)
footpath (1) → kerb (1) → center line (1) → kerb (2) → footpath (2)
footpath (1) → kerb (1) → center line (1) → kerb (2) → footpath (2)
......

If the object type is point, it will not participate in this cycle.

Learn more about SingularPad field software
https://www.singularxyz.com/SingularPad.html

Learn more about SingularXYZ products for GIS data collection
https://www.singularxyz.com/Y1.html
https://www.singularxyz.com/P1.html
https://www.singularxyz.com/T8Pro.html