Field · Checklist

Field survey checklist: 25 real checks before RTK, stake-out and delivery

10 min read June 14, 2026

Good surveying is not only about good equipment; it is about good habits. Many field errors start small: wrong project, old DXF, antenna height, zone, battery, missing photo or no backup.

Field takeaways

A checklist saves time by catching expensive field mistakes early.
CRS and control points must be checked before the instrument becomes the focus.
Critical observations need antenna height, fix status, time and notes.
Open the exported file before delivery and check location.
Data without backup is almost as risky as data never measured.

Before leaving the vehicle

Open the correct project.
Check CRS, EPSG/zone and design file version.
Check receiver, phone/tablet and powerbank batteries.
Confirm pole, bipod, tape, paint, stakes and reflector.

Before the first point

Enter the real antenna height.
Confirm correction source or base station.
Check fixed status, PDOP and satellites.
Measure a known control point and compare tolerance.

During and before leaving

Repeat critical points.
Note multipath risks near metal, water and facades.
Add photos and notes to important points.
Reopen exports and back up the data before the day ends.

In the field · MapLab Survey

Measure, check and deliver in the right format.

MapLab Survey is a mobile field app for RTK/GNSS points, drawings, area/volume calculations, coordinate conversion and export to DXF, KML/KMZ, GeoJSON and CSV. Capture, calculation and export can work offline; live NTRIP corrections and online basemaps need connectivity.

Get MapLab Survey

Frequently asked questions

Who is this checklist for?

Survey technicians, engineers, site crews, RTK users and stake-out teams.

What is the most critical check?

CRS and known control point.

Should every point be repeated?

Not every point, but critical corners, stake-out points and elevation points should be checked.

How does MapLab Survey help?

It keeps project, layers, notes, photos, transformations and export in one workflow.

Technical references

The field guidance in this article is aligned with the technical and official references below.