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What is AR stakeout? How Emlid RS4 Pro speeds up surveys
How Emlid RS4 Pro AR stakeout helps surveyors locate design points faster, improve stakeout efficiency, and streamline field workflows with Emlid Flow.
Key takeaways
AR stakeout allows surveyors to visualise design points directly within the real-world environment.
The technology helps reduce the need to interpret maps and coordinate data during layout operations.
Stakeout remains a critical part of construction, utility, and infrastructure projects.
Emlid Flow enables users to access AR-assisted stakeout workflows in the field.
The Emlid RS4 Pro combines RTK GNSS performance with visual surveying tools.
RS4 Pro can also perform Visual Capture, enabling users to attach imagery to surveyed points, improving documentation and communication.
Together, these capabilities can help improve efficiency throughout the project lifecycle.
- heliguy™ is an Emlid partner and can help you integrate the RS4 Pro and other Emlid solutions into your workflows.
Watch Emlid RS4 Pro AR stakeout in action
Expert Insight
"Stakeout is one of the most important tasks in surveying because it's where digital designs become physical reality. AR stakeout helps simplify that process by allowing users to visualise target locations within their environment, while visual documentation tools create richer project records and improve communication between field and office teams."
- Richard Dunlop, heliguy™ Geospatial Lead
What is stakeout?
Stakeout, also known as setting out, is the process of transferring design coordinates into physical positions on the ground.
While conventional surveying focuses on measuring existing features and recording their locations, stakeout works in reverse.
Surveyors take coordinates from a design, CAD model, or engineering plan and physically mark those locations in the field.
The process supports a wide range of activities, including building and foundation layout, utility installation, road and rail construction, boundary marking, earthworks and grading, infrastructure development, and as-built verification.
Stakeout is a fundamental part of the construction process. Without it, contractors cannot accurately translate designs into physical structures.
Why traditional stakeout can be challenging
Modern GNSS technology has transformed how surveyors work, but stakeout can still require significant interpretation.
Users often rely on maps, coordinate lists, and directional indicators displayed on a field controller to navigate to target locations. On complex sites, this can involve continually switching attention between the screen and the surrounding environment.
Construction sites are rarely static. Machinery, temporary structures, stockpiles, and changing ground conditions can make it difficult to identify positions quickly using conventional stakeout workflows alone.
For surveyors responsible for setting out large numbers of points, even small delays can accumulate into significant time costs over the course of a project.
How AR stakeout with Emlid RS4 Pro helps surveyors work faster
AR stakeout bridges the gap between digital design data and the physical environment.
Using a live camera feed, the Emlid RS4 Pro allows surveyors to visualise stakeout points directly within their surroundings.
Rather than relying entirely on maps and directional arrows, users can see where a target location sits relative to visible site features. Users can also use the EMLID Flow app and AR to stakeout lines.
This provides a more intuitive experience and reduces the amount of interpretation required when navigating to design positions.
For projects involving multiple stakeout points, the result can be:
Faster point location
Improved situational awareness
Reduced ambiguity on site
More efficient workflows
Increased productivity across projects
AR does not replace established surveying methods. Instead, it complements them by making it easier to interact with design data in the field.
How augmented reality stakeout works in Emlid Flow
Emlid's AR stakeout functionality is integrated directly into Emlid Flow.
A typical workflow involves:
1: Connect to the Reach RS4 Pro and achieve an RTK FIX solution. Also have tilt compensation enabled.
2: Open a project within Emlid Flow.
3: Select the object and start staking it out.
4: Switch the mode you'd like to stake out the line. Choose between Along line, By segments, To line, or By intervals and offsets.
Mode | Description |
|---|---|
Along line | Instead of simply guiding you to the line, this mode keeps you aligned and directs you forward or backward along it. |
By segments | Using this mode, you can stake out individual segments of a line or polygon. |
To line | In this mode, you can receive guidance on locating a line, polygon, or segment on the site. |
By intervals and offsets | In this mode, you can stake out points along a line, polygon, or segment at predefined intervals. You can also apply horizontal and vertical offsets to shift each point relative to the original line geometry. |
5: Switch to AR stakeout mode to open the camera view. The chosen design object appears overlaid on the real world.
6: Walk towards the target. Distance and direction update in real-time. As you get closer, the view switches to the bull’s-eye showing precise visual cues.
7: Mark or verify the position on the ground.
This visual approach helps reduce the learning curve associated with traditional stakeout methods and can be particularly useful when working on busy or unfamiliar sites.
Emlid RS4 Pro at a glance
The Reach RS4 Pro combines survey-grade positioning performance with visual surveying technologies designed to improve field efficiency.
Key features include:
All-band RTK reception (L1/L2/L5/L6) across all satellite systems for unparalleled performance in urban canyons, dense canopies, and other difficult conditions.
Integrated antenna system with diversity LTE, dual-band Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth for a clean GNSS signal and stable fix solution wherever you go.
Emlid multi-band radio system up to 2W, interoperable with third-party gear for sending and receiving corrections. The radio supports both licensed and license-free operations at 450 MHz and 915 MHz. This allows users to adapt to project needs while staying compliant with regulatory requirements.
Next-generation IMU tilt compensation with up to 5 times faster initialisation.
Durability-first design with a magnesium alloy body, IP68 protection, and user-replaceable bumpers to secure the receiver from the scariest falls.
Made for iPhone certification for compatibility with iOS apps, including Esri ArcGIS apps.
Innovative quick release mount for a survey pole, ensuring accuracy and speed, even when tilted. Сompatible with standard 5/8” thread.
Vision capabilities with dual, factory-calibrated full HD cameras, for AR stakeout and visual capture.
These capabilities provide the positioning accuracy required for professional survey work while supporting workflows that help users locate, document, and verify data more efficiently.
Beyond stakeout: visual capture and site documentation
The RS4 Pro's visual capabilities extend beyond stakeout.
With the Visual capture feature available for Reach RS4 Pro, users can measure points in hard-to-reach or unsafe areas without entering them.
This can support a range of applications, including:
Asset documentation
Utility inspections
Site condition recording
Construction verification
Project reporting
Attaching imagery directly to survey points provides additional context for office teams and project stakeholders, helping reduce ambiguity and improve communication.
In some cases, it can also minimise the need for repeat site visits by providing a clearer understanding of field conditions.
Summary: AR stakeout and the rise of visual surveying
Surveying has traditionally relied on coordinates, plans, and linework to communicate spatial information.
Technologies such as AR stakeout and Visual Capture are helping make that information easier to understand in the field by providing greater visual context around survey data.
Rather than simply collecting coordinates, surveyors can now visualise, document, and verify information more effectively while working on-site.
As visual technologies continue to develop, they are helping professionals streamline workflows, improve collaboration, and gain greater value from the data they collect.
