In the rapidly evolving world of surveying, GIS, and construction, the demand for accuracy, speed, ease of use, and end-to-finish workflows is greater than ever. That’s where Emlid’s newest all-band RTK GNSS receivers — the Reach RS4, Reach RS4 Pro, and Reach RX2 — come into play. Pair them with Traverse PC, and you have a streamlined field-to-office workflow that can handle everything from initial control to stakeout, final deliverables, and data hand-off.
In this blog we’ll explore:
- What each of the new Emlid receivers bring to the table
- How TPC supports and integrates GNSS-based workflows
- How the combination of Emlid hardware + TPC software enables a true field-to-finish ecosystem
- Practical workflow suggestions and benefits
Emlid RTK GNSS Lineup – What’s New?
1. Reach RX2
The Reach RX2 is Emlid’s ultra-portable, field-ready rover aimed at GIS, construction, and lighter surveying tasks. Key highlights include:
Geared for teams needing grab-and-go accuracy without extensive GNSS setup.
All-band RTK support (L1/L2/L5/L6) across major constellations — boosting performance even under canopy or in urban structures.
Second-generation IMU tilt compensation (allowing measurement without strict leveling of the pole) for faster field set-up.
Quick-release mount design and compact form-factor – making it easy to deploy in multiple teams or across many jobs.
2. Reach RS4
The Reach RS4 takes things up a notch: ruggedized, built for professional survey/engineering crews in more demanding environments. Major features:
- Same all-band RTK support across all systems (L1/L2/L5/L6) for high accuracy in difficult signal conditions (urban canyons, dense foliage).
- Integrated antenna system with LTE, dual-band WiFi, Bluetooth for stable connectivity and simpler field workflows.
- Next-gen IMU tilt compensation (up to five times faster initialization than previous generation).
- Rugged construction (magnesium alloy body, IP68 rating, replaceable bumpers) so the hardware holds up in tough jobsite conditions.
3. Reach RS4 Pro
For the most demanding jobs and workflows, the RS4 Pro adds camera-vision features and augmented-reality (AR) stake-out capability alongside all the high-end GNSS hardware. Highlights:
- Dual full HD global-shutter cameras built into the receiver — enabling visual stake-out (overlay of design geometry via AR) and measurement from images (e.g., inaccessible points).
- Maintains the same all-band RTK and rugged hardware features as the RS4.
- With visual capabilities, it allows surveyors to operate more quickly and safely when total-station setups or traditional methods are slow or hazardous.
TPC – The Software Link That Brings It All Together
The survey workflow isn’t just about hardware — to truly go from field to finish, software must handle data import/export, control and traverse processing, coordinate transformations, stakeout, deliverables, and integration with CAD/GIS. That’s where TPC comes in.
Here’s how:
- TPC supports GNSS workflows explicitly: it allows for workflows such as RTK via NTRIP, base/rover radio, PPK, and handles coordinate reference systems and survey types seamlessly.
- The software is built with field-to-finish thinking: you can import raw GNSS data or traverse data, process it, adjust, produce drawings, deliver shapefiles, exports, etc.
- Because TPC is used by surveyors and engineers, it speaks the language of the jobsite and the office drawing room: control point capture, stakeout, coordinate transformations, deliverables.
So, we have hardware that captures high-precision GNSS/RTK or image-based measurement plus software that processes, adjusts, draws, exports, and delivers. The synergy is powerful.
The Field-to-Finish Workflow: Putting It All Together
Here’s how you might run a project from start to finish using the Emlid receivers + TPC:
Step 1: Project Setup in the Office
- In TPC, set up your project coordinate system (CRS) and survey type (topographic, boundary, construction layout, etc.). TPC supports handling multiple coordinate systems and linking GNSS coordinates to local survey grid.
- Import any existing CAD plans, drawings, control coordinates, survey monuments, etc.
- Define stakeout points, lines, surfaces, or deliverables (e.g., as-built checks) that you’ll need to capture in the field.
Step 2: Field Control / GNSS Setup
- Deploy one of the new Emlid receivers as your base station (for example, the RS4 on a fixed known mark) or, if using network RTK, simply connect your rover to the correction stream. The all-band capability and advanced antennas help deliver reliable positioning even under challenging conditions.
- On site, use the receiver (for example RS4 Pro) to capture control points with high precision, or deploy the RX2 for lightweight mobile capture.
- Using the RS4 Pro’s camera-vision mode, you might measure inaccessible features (e.g., facade corners, above a pit) by taking images rather than physical contact. This enables faster, safer capture.
Step 3: Field Data Collection / Stakeout
- With your rover (RS4 or RX2) you go in and collect points, lines, surface features, as-built location, etc. If you’re doing stakeout, you load the geometry exported from TPC and then use the RTK rover to guide you.
- If you’re using RS4 Pro’s AR stakeout, you can overlay design geometry (from TPC export) onto reality via the dual-camera and Emlid Flow app, guiding crews visually to the stakeout points.
- As you collect, the data (points, photos, logs) are timestamped and georeferenced.
- Field QA: Because the IMU tilt-compensation means you don’t have to perfectly level each shot, you reduce setup time and still maintain centimeter-level accuracy.
Step 4: Data Transfer to Office & Processing
- After the field session, import the collected GNSS logs or exported point files into TPC.
- In TPC, perform quality checks (RMS, PDOP, etc.), adjust control networks if needed, integrate the GNSS points into your survey database. TPC supports GNSS workflows explicitly.
- Combine the GNSS-derived data with other survey data (total station traverses, 3D scanner data, if any) inside TPC, apply coordinate transformations, process stakeout residuals.
Step 5: Deliverables & Stakeout Verification
- Export drawings, maps, DXF/DWG, shapefiles, reports directly from TPC. TPC’s field-to-finish ethos means you avoid a lot of manual CAD cleanup.
- If required, go back to the field with the results (stakeout residuals, check points). Using the same Emlid hardware (rover) you can verify and mark any discrepancies.
- Final deliverables: plan view, stakeout report, as-built check, point cloud export, etc.
Why This Integration Matters – Key Benefits
- Efficiency: The advanced hardware (all-band RTK, tilt compensation, vision/AR stakeout) cuts field setup time and reduces error.
- Scalability: With the RX2 you can outfit multiple crews affordably; with RS4/RS4 Pro you support more demanding jobs.
- Unified workflow: Instead of juggling multiple systems (GNSS hardware, separate stakeout app, CAD cleanup) you have a connected ecosystem: Emlid hardware + Flow software in the field, TPC in the office.
- Improved accuracy and reliability: All-band GNSS means better performance in obstructed sites; tilt-comp means you can work faster; TPC integration means your data flows directly into the office with minimal translation.
- Lower training burden: Emlid has emphasized simplicity. TPC is built by surveyors for surveyors, meaning less CAD-only headaches.
- Better deliverables: With TPC’s field-to-finish capabilities you avoid heavy post-processing, cleaning, and deliver faster reports and drawings.
| Model | Best Suited For | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Reach RX2 | GIS, asset inventory, construction layout | Ultra-portable, quick deploy, level-free measurements |
| Reach RS4 | General surveying, construction staking, topo | Rugged, all-band RTK, full-feature professional |
| Reach RS4 Pro | Complex stake-out, inaccessible points, AR work | Adds dual-camera vision/AR, image-based capture |
Tips for Best Practice
- Before field work, ensure your coordinate reference system in TPC matches what you plan to collect in the field. GNSS and local CRS alignment is key. TPC has dedicated workflow pages for this.
- Use the quick-release pole mount for faster setup and leverage tilt compensation to reduce setup errors.
- For RS4 Pro, train crew on using AR stake-out in the Emlid Flow app ahead of time — it’s new but powerful.
- In the office, always import raw GNSS logs (from the Emlid receiver) into TPC and run QA (e.g., residuals, DOP values) so you maintain professional confidence in your deliverables.
- Maintain close integration between field software (Emlid Flow / Flow360) and TPC. Export data at standard formats (CSV, DXF, shapefile) that TPC can ingest seamlessly.
- Consider a “field check” session: after stakeout conduct a verification pass (using the rover) and import the verification points into TPC, comparing stakeout vs actual, reporting residuals.
- Keep firmware and software updated (both Emlid devices and TPC) to ensure best compatibility and performance.
The surveying and GIS industry is reaching a point where hardware capability, software integration, and workflow efficiency must all align. The new Emlid receivers provide top-tier GNSS/RTK performance, modern features like tilt compensation and camera-vision, rugged real-world construction readiness, and simplicity of use. On the software front, TPC enables a truly field-to-finish workflow: from control, to collection, to stakeout, to final delivery.
With the synergy of Emlid + TPC, surveyors and engineering teams can reduce field time, speed up stakeout, improve accuracy, lower errors, and minimize office cleanup. For companies serious about efficiency and quality in GNSS-centric workflows—whether in land boundary, construction layout, infrastructure, or GIS—this integrated ecosystem is one of the most compelling field-to-finish bundles on the market.
