COMPARATIVE CHART of LAND SURVEYING and CIVIL ENGINEERING SOFTWARE
Manufacturer	Geo-Plus	Autodesk	Bentley Systems Inc.	Carlson Software	MicroSurvey Software Inc.
Software	VisionCivil	Autodesk Civil 3D	InRoads Suite	Carlson	MicroSurvey inCAD Premium
WEB	www.geo-plus.com	www.autodesk.com	www.bentley.com	www.carlsonsw.com	www.microsurvey.com
Discounts for multiple copies?	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes
List types of documentation included with software.	Installation guide, user manual, online tutorials	Electronic & printed	Electronic & printed	PDF, CHM	Getting started guide, training movies, comprehensive help system.
Can the software installation and data be server based?	Yes	No	Yes No	Yes	No
Project setup assistance or wizard?	Yes	Yes	N/A	N/A	N/A
Multi standard supported	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
Can Settings be established for network computers?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Map projections?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Datum transformations?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Geoid models?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Combined scale factor applied to distance and surface	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes
Multi-user and multi-task solution	Yes	No	No	No	No
Open access to databases?	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
Do the point objects have intelligence?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Can points be chosen with selectable snap options?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Is there an external point database?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Are user-definable point groups supported?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Are multiple, persistent groups supported?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Is point sharing between groups supported?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Can point ranges be locked to prevent access by others?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Do point data, blocks and text rescale when scale changes?	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
COGO operations and data editing supported via command line?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Building siting capability	Yes	No	No	No	No
Does the software have batch file capabilities?	yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
TRAVERSE ANALYSIS	Yes			Yes	Yes
Compass (Bowditch), Transit and Crandall's Adjustment supported?	Yes	N/A	Yes	N/A	N/A
Least squares analysis and adjustment? (2D, 3D or No)	Yes	N/A	Yes	Yes	Yes
Least squares analysis and adjustment of networks?	Yes	N/A	Yes	Yes	Yes
Are reports available?	Yes	N/A	Yes	Yes	Yes
ELECTRONIC FIELD RECORDERS (DATA COLLECTORS)	Yes	N/A	Yes	Yes	Yes
Are GPS recorders supported? If yes, specify whether raw data is supported from the data collector, receiver memory or both.	Yes	N/A	No	14	All major brands.
Is Face1/Face2 or doubling the angle supported?	yes	N/A	Yes	N/A	N/A
Automatic symbology and linework supported for upload and download? (Specify upload, download, both or neither.)	Yes	N/A	Yes	Yes	Yes
DTM CAPABILITIES	Yes
DTM surface and breaklines directly from field	Yes	No	No	No	No
Can multiple surfaces be open and accessed simultaneously?	Yes	Yes	yes	N/A	N/A
Support TINs that accommodate representation and calculations volumes of such features as escarpments, mines, tunnels, etc.?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Compute volume to specific elevation or other surface?	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
Are contour smoothing algorithms user selectable?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Are TIN editing capabilities supported?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Soft breaklines supported?	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Earthwork take-offs supported?	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
Prismoidal based earthworks supported?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Gridded earthworks methods supported?	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Section method earthworks supported?	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Surface analysis routines supplied with the software?	Yes	Yes	Yes	yes	No
3D surface viewing supported?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
3D Solid calculation for complex surface with same x,y	Yes	No	No	No	No
DESIGN CAPABILITIES	Yes	Yes	y	Yes	Yes
Can alignments be designed or edited?	Yes	Yes	Yes	N/A	N/A
Can alignments be drafted or annotated?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Roadway templates or string theory support?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Is there an external route alignment database?	Yes	Yes	Yes	yes	Yes
Access alignments within the same project simultaneously?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Can profiles and vertical alignments be generated?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Symmetrical and asymmetrical vertical curves supported?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
What types of site grading capabilities does the softrware possess?	Yes	yes	yes	Yes	Yes
Parametric design supported?	Yes	Yes	Yes	yes	Yes
DRAWINGS (SHEETS)	Yes			yes	No
User defined templates?	Yes	Yes	Yes	N/A	Yes
Are templates page size/layout independent?	yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Dynamic legend? (Automatically includes all used symbols.)	No	Yes	Yes	No	No
Dynamic line and curve tables?	yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Reference survey data to images by picking reference points?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Automatic clipping for placing annotations, labels and notes?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Is hatching supported?	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
Can points and curvilinear geometry labeling be customized?	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
Associative/dynamic labeling for linework and points supported?	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
CUSTOMIZING ABILITIES	Yes			No	No
Databases customizable?	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Inside AutoCAD	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
Inside Microstation	Yes	No	Yes	No	No
Inside IntelliCad	VisionTerrain	No	No	Yes	Yes
Are multi-version DWG/DXF import/exports supported?	Yes	yes		Yes	N/A
Is XML supported for the CAD graphics?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Are Microstation V7 and V8 supported?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
ASCII coordinate file?	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Sewer/pipe networks?	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	no
Road design/road layout?	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No
Note: Some information used in this chart have been borrowed from POB Website