How it works

From the cave entrance to a finished sketch

Here’s a survey trip with Subterra Vector, step by step. Practice it at home first, so it feels familiar underground.

  1. Step 1

    Learn on the practice cave

    Before your first trip, open the practice cave. A step-by-step tutorial walks you through shots, the line plot, and sketching, with a practice survey device, so you don’t need any hardware.

    The caves list in Subterra Vector, with two caves, buttons to import or start a cave, and a button for the practice cave.

  2. Step 2

    Start a cave

    Give the cave a name and its details. Entrance coordinates are optional, and they stay private on your tablet. Add a survey day with your team, and every day after opens the same survey and sketch.

    The cave page in Subterra Vector, with surveyed length, deepest point, average temperature, loop closure, and the list of survey days.

  3. Step 3

    Connect your survey device

    One search finds supported survey devices over Bluetooth. The icon in the top bar shows the connection and battery. Forgot the device, or it ran flat? Type shots by hand and keep going.

  4. Step 4

    Take your shots

    Each shot lands in the shot table as you take it. After each one, the app asks for left, right, up, and down, so your passage walls are recorded as you go. Switch to splays or a quick measurement any time.

    The shot table in Subterra Vector, listing shots from station to station with length, azimuth, inclination, and a Saved status, above the controls for the next shot.

  5. Step 5

    Check as you go

    The line plot draws itself while you survey. Suspect shots are flagged, and loop closures show how far off they are, so you can reshoot before you leave the passage.

    The profile view in Subterra Vector, turned and tilted to show the cave’s stations from an angle.

  6. Step 6

    Sketch the passage

    Draw over the live line plot with a stylus, in the plan, the extended profile, and cross-sections. Add symbols, fills, text, and layers. Everything is saved as you draw.

    The plan view of Cinder Hollow Cave in Subterra Vector, with the survey line, station names, and a detailed sketch of the passages drawn over it.

  7. Step 7

    Back up and export

    Back at the car or at home, save a backup. Then export the survey to your survey program and the sketch as layered SVG, ready to draft.

A surveyor sketches on a rugged tablet with a stylus, sitting in a low cave passage beside a rope and climbing gear.

Tips for your first trips

  • Carry a paper book as a backup on your first trips with a new tool. Many surveyors do.
  • Back up after every trip, and keep a copy somewhere other than your tablet.
  • Charge your tablet and your survey device the night before.
  • Run through the practice cave once more before you go.

Get updates

Subterra Vector is coming in 2027. Email us and we’ll let you know when it’s ready.