Measure and Record - How to Use for Backsight Creation, As-Built, or Quality Checks

Measure and Record Demo

The Purpose of Measure and Record

Overview

The Measure and Record application allows you to capture real-world locations from your jobsite and save them directly into your project.

Before using Measure and Record, the total station must be stationed so that it knows its position within the project coordinate system. If you have not already done so, complete the stationing process before attempting to measure points.

Common Uses

Measure and Record is commonly used for:

Verifying and documenting the location of items that were previously laid out
Capturing as-built conditions for future design or documentation
Creating new control points (backsights) around the jobsite
Recording existing field conditions for quality control purposes

A helpful video on the topic can be found below:

Measuring and Saving Points

When you are ready to save a location, position the prism or laser on the desired point and select the red Measure button on the right side of the screen.

Before saving the measurement, review the available options in the data panel.

Point Name and Layer

Assign a name to the point and select the layer where the point should be displayed.

Using clear naming conventions can make it easier to identify points later when performing layout, stationing, or quality control.

Point Class

Choose how the point should be classified within the project.

Measure Point

Select Measure Point when recording points for:

As-built documentation
Quality assurance checks
Existing conditions
Future design reference

Measure Points are displayed as square icons in the point list and CAD view.

Control Point (Backsight)

Select Control Point when creating a point that may be used for:

Future stationing operations
Backsight checks
Jobsite control networks

Control Points are displayed as triangle icons and can be selected during stationing and backsight verification workflows.

Best Practices for Creating Control Points (Backsight Points)

If you plan to create control points (backsight points), it is highly recommended to use permanently mounted prisms whenever possible.

Mounted prisms provide:

Faster stationing workflows
More repeatable measurements
Improved long-term accuracy
Easier backsight verification

The POA 103 Prism is a popular choice because it can be securely installed using:

Magnets
Drop-in anchors
Screws

Creating several mounted prism locations around the jobsite gives you a reliable control network that can be used throughout the project.

Recommended Workflow: After your first successful stationing, immediately create and measure several control points around the site. These additional backsights provide valuable redundancy if original survey control points become inaccessible or damaged.

For additional guidance on establishing a robust control network, see this article.

Measuring Edges and Corners

When measuring the corner of a structure or another location that cannot be directly observed, use the Corner Measurement option.

This workflow is commonly used when measuring:

Building corners
Concrete edges
Structural intersections
Other hard-to-access features

How It Works

Measure a point near the edge.
Sight precisely on the desired edge using the crosshairs.
Save the measurement.

The software combines the measured distance and observed angle to calculate the corner position accurately.

This method often produces more reliable results than attempting a direct measurement in situations where visibility or geometry makes direct observation difficult.

For additional information, see this article on corner measurement.

Creating Lines While Measuring

If desired, measured points can automatically be connected with lines as they are recorded.

You can also choose to display temporary dimension information between measured points directly in the CAD view.

Note: Displayed dimensions are temporary and are not stored permanently with the project data. Dimensions can be recreated later using the Dimension Application.

Viewing Measured Points

After a point is saved, it will immediately appear:

In the Point List
In the CAD view

Point symbols indicate their type:

Square = Measured Point
Triangle = Control Point (Backsight)

If you need to modify a point's properties after it has been saved, use the Edit Points functionality from the point management menu.

Key Takeaway

Measure and Record is the primary tool for capturing existing jobsite conditions and creating new control (backsight) points.

While it can be used for as-built documentation and quality checks, one of its most valuable uses is establishing a reliable network of backsight points that can support stationing, accuracy verification, and troubleshooting throughout the life of a project.