Create a RoverCore Project: Coordinate System, Datum and Units

Start here, step 3 of 5 · All RoverCore guides

In RoverCore, the work happens inside a project. The project sets the coordinate system, vertical datum and units for every point you collect and everything you stake. Set it to match your plans and control before you shoot anything. It's all on one screen: Projects → New Project.

What you'll need

• The coordinate system, vertical datum and units from your plans or control sheet

• If your system isn't in the list: a custom system already imported into RoverCore (proj4, WKT / .prj or EPSG)

• A network connection on the phone when you first get a position near the job (for NAVD88 projects)

Step 1: Start a new project

Open the Projects tab and tap New Project. Name it something you'll recognize later, like the job name or number.

Step 2: Pick the coordinate system

Search by state, zone or EPSG code, or pick a custom system you already imported (proj4, WKT / .prj or EPSG).

Use a projected (grid) system for layout. Stakeout, surfaces, alignments and LandXML need a projected system, like State Plane or a custom grid. A lat/lon-only project is for mapping, not for staking a grid design.

Step 3: Pick the vertical datum

The vertical datum opens as a sheet on the same screen. Pick one:

OptionUse it whenNAVD88 elevation (GEOID18)You're in the lower 48, Puerto Rico or the US Virgin IslandsNAVD88 (older geoid) (GEOID12B)You're in Alaska or Hawaii, or your plans still say GEOID12BEllipsoid heightYou want GPS height with no geoid

Step 4: Set linear units

Pick metres, international feet or U.S. survey feet. Use the one your plans and control use. The two feet are very close, but on big State Plane coordinates the difference shows up.

Step 5: Pick a point codes library

Under Point codes, pick the code library for this project.

Step 6: Save

Save the project. The Working map is the job: you'll collect, stake, measure, import and export from there.

No geoid file to download

On a NAVD88 project, the first time the phone has a position near the job, it asks the NGS service for the geoid value there and keeps it. The phone needs a network for that first lookup. After that, heights stay NAVD88 elevations while you walk, even through short dropouts.

So if the job site has poor service, open the project with a position once where you do have signal near the job.

Tips

• Match the plans first. Coordinate system, datum and units should match the plan sheet or control sheet before you collect a single point.

• Check into control. Shoot a known point after setup. If it's way off, check your zone, units and datum first.

• Sharing is by file. There's no RoverCore cloud. Send exports through your phone's share sheet (email, Drive, Files and so on).

FAQ

Why can't I stake in my lat/lon project? Stakeout, surfaces, alignments and LandXML need a projected system. Set the project up on State Plane or a custom grid.

My zone isn't in the list. Search by EPSG code, or import a custom system (proj4, WKT / .prj or EPSG) and pick it.

GEOID18 or GEOID12B? GEOID18 in the lower 48, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. GEOID12B in Alaska and Hawaii, or when the plans call for it.

Do I need to download a geoid file? No. The phone looks it up from NGS the first time, so it needs a network once near the job.

Next guide: Connect NTRIP corrections from your phone →