Development of an Android-based App for Total Station Surveying and Visualization using Smartphone and Google Earth

Current surveying and spatial information technology incorporates information and communication technology and is user friendly. However, it is not convenient to use in the field because a connection to a computer, such as a laptop, tablet PC, or desktop PC, is needed to obtain the survey results and the coordinates of the surveyed points. To solve this problem, we developed an app that can display surveyed data on a map and the current survey results through a connection between a total station and smartphone using a Bluetooth wireless communication device. The app allows users to perform fieldwork simultaneously with office work in the field, because it consists of Bluetooth, control points survey, current status survey, and coordinate conversion modules. The proposed app should increase user convenience and the operational capability of the total station in the field.