CivDot+

Summary

The CivDot+ is a compact, wheeled, GNSS-based layout robot that autonomously navigates to uploaded coordinates and marks each point with a laser pointer while a single operator monitors from up to 100 feet away. It handles site-level horizontal layout across solar, concrete foundation, LNG, and heavy civil projects; vertical layout, interior work, and BIM-based layout stay with the survey crew or other systems. The CivDot+ has been shipping since 2021 with 13 confirmed production deployments across the United States and Spain.

Site-Level Horizontal Layout

How it works on your site

Site-Level Horizontal Layout

The robot drives autonomously between uploaded coordinate points on a 4WD chassis with 10 inches of ground clearance, marking each location with a laser pointer. One operator manages the mission from CivPlan software after uploading a CSV or DXF file; no surveying experience is required to run the robot. The crew follows behind to place physical markers at each laser-indicated point.

How it worked on other sites

Commercial concrete/tilt-up · USA · 10-15 active projects

Foundation and tilt-up panel layout across 10-15 concurrent projects.
Operator trained in under one hour with no prior surveying experience.

Industrial LNG · Port Arthur, TX · Wick drain installation

Wick drain installation point layout on uneven LNG site terrain.
4WD chassis and 10-inch ground clearance handled mud and rock conditions.

Renewable energy solar · USA · Solar pile stakeout

700 stakeouts per day with a single operator (vendor case study).
Operating at one-third of previous surveying expenses (vendor case study).

Robot also used by

Will it work on your site

Surface Soil, concrete, mud, rocks, uneven terrain Slopes up to 30 degrees (vendor-stated)

Site preparation Control points + CSV/DXF coordinate file Coordinate file requires upstream survey/engineering

Power source Battery; 8 to 10 hours total with one swap (two 5-hour packs) 4-hour charge cycle (vendor-stated); 8-hour figure reported by independent press (2025)

Connectivity RTK via Trimble, Topcon, Leica, or NTRIP Required for operation; no offline mode

Environment Outdoor only, IP65 rated GPS degrades in thick ice or snow

Autonomy level Supervised autonomous; single operator uploads mission via CivPlan, robot executes point-to-point Operator presence required for physical marker placement (vendor-stated 100 ft distance)

Control interface CivPlan software (preinstalled) No license required; no surveying experience needed

Navigation GNSS-based waypoint navigation Dual-RTK GNSS with 6-axis IMU

Positional accuracy 8 mm GNSS-based; reported by multiple independent press sources (ENR, New Atlas, Interesting Engineering)

Battery life 8 to 10 hours (two battery packs, one swap) 8 hours per New Atlas (2025); 10 hours (2 x 5-hour packs) per The Robot Report (2022)

Throughput Up to 1,200 points/day (single operator, CivDot+) Actual rates vary by site; QCells reported 700/day, Avanza reported 1,000 to 1,500/day

Business model Robot-as-a-Service (RaaS); CivDot+ at $8,250/month Monthly fee includes usage, onboarding, maintenance, and support; purchase option available; international customers purchase outright with software subscription

Operator training No surveying expertise required; on-site training in under one day Under-1-hour training figure from vendor case studies; independent sources confirm no expertise needed

Summary

How it works on your site

Site-Level Horizontal Layout

How it worked on other sites

VEMAC, concrete foundation layout

Bechtel, Port Arthur LNG wick drain

QCells, utility-scale solar stakeout

Robot also used by

Will it work on your site

Talk to Civ Robotics