Laying Out Points on Flat Surfaces Using the Laser

When laying out points on a flat surface such as a floor or slab, the laser can be used instead of a prism. This method is fast, convenient, and effective for many layout tasks.

Prerequisites and important setup

Disable heights

Before starting, heights must be turned off in the settings.

If heights are enabled, the total station will attempt to guide you to the height value of the point
This can cause the tool to point above or below the surface, especially if the points have height data

For flat surface layout, disabling heights ensures the laser is guided directly to the physical surface.

The Total station needs to be stationed

Heights disabled in the General Settings to allow laser layout on a flat surface

Position the PLT correctly

Place the PLT higher off the ground whenever possible.

A higher setup reduces how spread out the laser appears on the surface
The further the laser travels, the wider and less defined the laser spot becomes
A higher placement improves visibility and accuracy when marking points on the ground

How to use layout with the laser

Disable Heights in the settings
Open the View CAD application
Select Laser as the measuring method
Open a Layout application
Select the first point you want to lay out

You will then be prompted to:

“Turn the laser to benchmark surface and measure”

Turn the laser toward the surface where the points will be laid out
Press Measure

This step defines the reference surface for the laser layout.

After this:

The total station will automatically move the laser to the selected layout point
Tapping any other point in the drawing will cause the laser to automatically move to that point as well

Changing the layout surface

If you need to change the surface, for example moving from:

Floor to ceiling
Floor to wall
One slab elevation to another

You must:

Switch to a different application
Switch back to the layout application

You will then be prompted again to turn the laser to the benchmark surface and measure, allowing you to redefine the reference surface.

How to lay out points accurately with the laser

As the distance from the total station increases, the laser spot becomes larger and less focused.
To accurately identify the center of the laser, use the following method.

Laser close to the total station (left) versus far from the total station (right), increased spread with distance

Recommended technique

Take a sturdy object with a flat, non‑reflective surface, such as:
- A piece of cardboard
- A card
- The back of a prism
- A ruler
Hold the object facing the total station so the laser is clearly visible
Slowly move the object away from the total station
Watch the live measurement value in HCL
When the reading shows 0.000 m, you are at the exact layout position

Laser projected onto a cardboard surface to clearly identify the center of the laser spot

Exact layout point where the laser center transfers from the cardboard reference to the ground

This indicates the center of the laser is aligned with the target point.

Mark the point on the surface
Move on to the next point

Best practices and limitations

Laser layout is best suited for flat, accessible surfaces
It is not recommended for:
- Height‑critical layout
- Sloped surfaces
- Long‑range precision layout
Always ensure heights are disabled before starting
Use non‑reflective materials to avoid false readings

Common use cases

Laser layout is particularly useful for:

Drywall track layout
Floor penetrations
Floor‑mounted anchors or sleeves
Layout on concrete slabs
Interior partition layout
Marking reference points before detailed prism layout