Trimble Business Center File Formats

[Nu Alessio]

HiI use civil 3d for design of various projects. For earthworks we often provide surfaces and control points to contractors for their machine control equipment. XML, DXF, txt. I also check and monitor their work.

Some contractors can take our files and convert them as required, and load up to Trimble or Topcon systems, set their base and perform site calibration. Some contractors get Sitech or other technicians to do this set up for them.

From there, I use Topcon specific software to import the 3D Faces (TIN) into a surface model only file that I save as a .TN3 file or a TIN file as we might call it. Then I do the same with all the linework & text (basic text only) where it??s imported then all exported to a .LN3 linework file that is essentially the underlay for the sites layout. This method works for all Topcon equipment from what I have seen thus far but the newer stuff can take everything combined in a simple .TP3 file. But if you??re working with older Topcon equipment they??ll also need a .GC3 for the sites control to calibrate/localize to the site on the machine??s actual GPS equipment

now Trimble stuff is a whole different animal all together. I wanted to build models for a client that had a fleet of Trimble equipped machinery. But I don??t have TBC nor any other software to convert it to their proprietary file types so in the end I had to let the work go unfortunately. I would eventually like to get TBC for my survey needs but it??s pricey

Yeap I tried a temporary license for TBC HCE some years ago, but lacked the modules I needed. None of the contractors seem to be able to confirm what format they need. And too expensive for occasional use.

The biggest difference is the fact that Trimble will take dxf and xml file directly. As stated by VA LS 2867, dxf for linework and and xml for the surface. A couple of other things if you are exporting data to Trimble buisness center is turn all the points of and put all of your lines on one layer that is labelled relevant to the job. This will make sense when you import later or revised versions of jobs or new jobs into the same project.

when we were running all leica gear it was easier to knock out a quick and dirty site transformation file that could be loaded to the machines directly. With the trimble set up we need to import the site obs in lat/long format into trimble bus center to do a site calibration. Once done this stays in the project. The project can be added to or ammended and only the updated files get exported to the machine. It is a bit trickier on the trimble machines to swap and change transformation files if you are swapping between say a site base or a smartfix type location. One project we are working on now has two jobs with the same design data but each one has a specific calibration file depending on the data source.

Trimble and Sitech have gone through great efforts in keeping information like this away from their clients. If they are not trying to hide this, then they are doing a great job of acting stupid. I have pissed off my local reps many times, and likely to do it again right here.

TBC, File Flipper and Trimble SiteWorks. One real big PITA about Trimble. There are completely different data files between Trimble Machines and data controllers. Also their older machines and controllers will not read new file formats. So you must ask your client to provide specific models of their Trimble hardware and software. Trimble will use DC format for Calibration or Projects, CSV files for points, DWG and DXF for linework, and TTM files for surfaces. Carlson software can create these formats. The Trimble controller requires these files to be in very specific folders. Then Machine files are converted from the above formats in files such as SVL, SVD, DSZ, VCL and RXL formats.

@wa-id-surveyor I do all my calibrations in the data collector with Survey Controller or Access and never leave the office. Even the TxDot SPC with a surface adjustment factor applied. The only ones I cannot calibrate are the ones someone sends me that are based on N10,000 E10,000 with no other explanation.

@leegreen just a heads up, the TP3 file is only useable by the newer Topcon equipment. Any of the really old System V setups require the individual files to be exported out from Pocket 3D or 3DOffice like the GC3, TN3 & LN3 files I mentioned earlier. those older units, while very finicky at time, can be swapped from any number of machines, unlike the newer ones which are locked to the machine I believe. Hence, it can be on a scraper one day, a dozer the next and a grader the day after all with individual machine & mast setups. A lot to be said for that sort of flexibility

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