Know what is already in the job.
Northstar AI can inspect project inventory, recent collected points, active selection, CRS/vertical-reference state, surfaces, alignments, GCPs and recent activity before it recommends or performs the next step.
In-house AeroGeo North technology · NorthStar CAD v1.8.28 for Windows & macOS · NorthStar Field for Android & iOS
Northstar CAD + Field
One project. One agent. Field to deliverable.
NorthStar is the local-first geospatial platform We build for our geospatial, CAD and field operations. It brings together drafting, terrain analysis, editable geometry, GNSS collection and project-aware AI. The same desktop CAD experience runs on Windows and macOS; NorthStar Field carries the project into Android and iOS for collection, visualization and field decisions.
Managed Northstar AIServer-side planning, project/CRS/selection inspection, compact workflow memory, verification and recovery over deterministic Northstar tools.
God's Eye + Northstar DataProvider-neutral retrieval with ranked dataset selection, source provenance, failure diagnostics and parallel elevation-source checks where applicable.
Display reliabilityGPU/cached DEM presentation with Windows OpenGL validation + raster fallback and Field surface-range colouring with complete cached terrain rasterization.
Target-aware stakeoutPoint/line/alignment targets retain horizontal navigation. The animated laser is clipped rover→target; DEM/surface targets remain vertical CUT / FILL / ON GRADE only.
Northstar AI
A conversational geospatial agent inside the project.
Northstar AI now operates as a managed geospatial orchestration layer: it can privately plan complex work, inspect live project prerequisites, combine the relevant survey/CAD/GIS/GNSS/terrain/drainage/photogrammetry/LiDAR/QA reasoning, call deterministic Northstar actions one at a time, and verify returned evidence before it reports completion.
Keep the next useful prompts ready.
Suggested actions adapt to live project state so QA, terrain, stakeout, reconciliation and drafting workflows can move forward without requiring the operator to invent the exact prompt wording.
Turn project state into a workflow transition.
Northstar can identify missing prerequisites, inconsistencies and the next valid operation, then use deterministic tools to advance safe, reversible work.
Natural instructions become normal geometry.
When the anchor is unambiguous, prompts such as “create a 50 m polyline due north from the point” use survey azimuths and create persistent editable project linework. Northstar does not invent missing survey or design inputs.
Break complex requests into safe steps.
For multi-step work, the server can identify intent, prerequisites, missing inputs, likely actions, risk and appropriate verification before choosing the next visible Northstar action.
Keep the workflow coherent.
Compact project workflow memory helps resolve follow-ups such as “continue”, “that one” or “use the same surface”. The live .nscad project, local project state and deterministic tools remain authoritative.
Diagnose instead of blindly repeating.
Failed actions and online-provider errors are classified so Northstar can choose a materially different safe recovery route where one exists rather than treating a single failure as the final answer.
Require evidence before completion.
Consequential tool results are evaluated against the operator’s goal. Northstar should inspect or otherwise verify project state when needed before saying a surface, import, export or edit is complete.
Internal deployment: AeroGeo North operators sign into Northstar normally; AI and Portal services use the managed AeroGeo North backend, while project files remain local.
Operational model: connected AI improvements can be delivered server-side to compatible internal clients, while client-code changes are deployed through the normal desktop/mobile build process.
One Northstar workflow
Desktop preparation. Field execution. Local project transfer.
The current builds preserve a deliberate field-to-office workflow without cloud project storage: export the active .nscad project, transfer it by the operator’s chosen method, and import it on the destination device.
NorthStar CAD v1.8.28 · Windows and macOS
From 2D drafting to vivid 3D terrain analysis
Plan views, labelled survey points, contours, DEM/TIN rendering, 3D terrain views, project-aware AI, editable features and QGIS-oriented deliverables are presented in the same desktop workspace on Windows and macOS.
NorthStar Field · iOS and Android
Field collection with immediate terrain context
Mobile collection and drafting sit beside terrain colour palettes, surface contours, configurable layer visibility, GNSS/RTK controls and reference geometry. Local project exchange keeps the desktop and mobile workflows connected.
Real application captures · October 2026
The software, as it actually looks.
See NorthStar CAD on Windows and macOS, plus NorthStar Field on Android and iOS. These are genuine application screenshots, not interface mockups. The Alpine Massif terrain shown here is a synthetic demonstration dataset, not a surveyed site. Select a screenshot to open the original view.
01 / Desktop · Windows + macOS
NorthStar CAD
One consistent workspace across both desktop platforms. Plan view, editable survey geometry, colour-coded terrain, contours, integrated project tools, and immersive 3D review.
Desktop captures reflect the shared Windows/macOS interface. Data on screen is from a synthetic 12 × 10 km Alpine Massif demonstration with a local/assumed coordinate system.
02 / Mobile · Android
NorthStar Field
Field CAD, contour-aware collection, terrain/slope interpretation, high/low elevation analysis and project-aware AI.
Screenshots are interface demonstrations. “No Fix” indicators do not represent RTK-fixed positioning.
03 / Mobile · iPhone / iPad
NorthStar Field
3D terrain, the Collector, CAD editing, selectable layers, GeoPackage/QGIS exchange controls and elevation analysis.
Public geometry is reference data, not survey control. Imported datasets and physical stakeout require appropriate verification.
Desktop interoperability
Northstar geometry continues into Civil 3D, FreeCAD and Blender.
The current desktop integrations are designed to move project geometry into established production tools instead of locking it inside Northstar. Third-party applications are separately licensed.
AutoCAD / Civil 3D
Windows detects the installed Autodesk application and can open the Northstar project handoff. The example shows transferred contour/linework geometry in Civil 3D.
FreeCAD
The macOS integration can launch FreeCAD and send project geometry into the CAD workspace for continued inspection and editing.
Blender
Northstar can send the active 3D project into Blender as real terrain geometry; the example shows the triangulated DTM and contour objects in the scene.
Integration scope: the Civil 3D image demonstrates project geometry handoff; it does not by itself claim creation of a native Autodesk Civil 3D TIN Surface definition. Northstar also exposes supported workflows for Agisoft Metashape Professional, WebODM Local and Litchi where installed/configured.
Current platform focus
NorthStar CAD v1.8.28 · Windows + macOS. NorthStar Field · Android + iOS.
Current desktop installations share the same CAD workflow. The mobile experiences are designed for field collection, drafting, GNSS/RTK setup, map interpretation and local project transfer. The images above show the actual user interfaces; capabilities depend on each device, project CRS and available data.
DESKTOP · WINDOWS & MACOS
Select, edit and understand the project.
- Draft → Select Feature: choose survey points, control points, linework, alignments and contours with visual feedback and undoable editing.
- Real vector context: public road, building and water features can be imported as labelled reference geometry, separate from verified survey control.
- Terrain intelligence: 2D plans, editable contours, TIN surfaces, slope/elevation visualization, HDR palettes and 3D inspection.
- Project delivery: local .nscad, CAD/GIS exports, QGIS review and GeoPackage workflows.
MOBILE · ANDROID & IOS
Field context without losing the model.
- Collector + Draw: field points, linework, CAD geometry and terrain views on mobile devices.
- Elevation + slope: HDR Aurora, Earth and other visual palettes, high/low terrain inspection and layer visibility.
- GNSS/RTK options: internal device positioning and supported external GNSS workflows, subject to hardware and configuration.
- GIS continuity: local .nscad projects, supported import/export pathways and contextual online data when available.
- NorthStar AI: project-aware conversational interface and assisted workflows; connected functionality depends on sign-in and service availability.
Reference-map data, synthetic demonstration terrain and approximate DEM-derived elevations are not replacements for survey-grade coordinates or professional verification.
October 2026 / Platform development
Field-to-CAD continuity, refined further.
Recent NorthStar development prioritizes the daily realities of collecting data, checking geometry, moving through a project and delivering usable files. Updates described here are build-level capabilities, not independent certifications of third-party integration or flight compliance.
Collector-first workflow
Point/Line modes, code-first capture, stakeout, line continuation and object review streamline collection while keeping survey context visible.
More deliberate spatial control
Point, line, surface and project geometry views, independent layer visibility controls, improved mobile +Z-up presentation and more responsive terrain display.
More project-aware assistance
NorthStar AI 3.1 development adds context-sensitive command handling, project-state awareness, diagnostic evidence and task-completion checks. Operators still validate results.
Controlled interoperability
Desktop CAD/DXF exchange, project autosave and last-project continuity, plus mission-planning export aligned to the 46-column Litchi CSV schema. Missions require preflight validation in Litchi.
Build references: Windows CAD 1.8.28 · macOS CAD 1.8.28 · Android Field (pictured current build) · iOS Field (pictured v1.8.96). Platform capabilities vary. See NorthStar CAD Interiors for our developing architectural workflow.
Integrated capabilities
Survey, CAD, terrain, field collection and drone processing in one project environment.
Ask for the outcome.
Use natural language for project review, drafting, survey, terrain, drainage, QA and workflow guidance while deterministic Northstar tools perform the actual engineering operations.
- Project/selection/CRS/local-state inspection
- Multi-step observe → plan → act → verify loop
- High-impact action confirmation
Draft, calculate and convert.
Create and edit survey/CAD geometry with object snap, surface Z snap, inverse, bearing-distance, grade/slope, alignments, station/offset, profiles and sections. Convert selected or visible 3D line vertices directly into persistent, surface-ready survey points without re-observing the geometry.
Work directly with elevation.
Build or retrieve DEM, DTM, DSM and TIN surfaces through the current Northstar Data workflow, generate contours, inspect terrain in 3D and run drainage, low-point, watershed and crossing analysis. Address/location lookup can establish an online terrain request before any project geometry exists, and explicit width × height requests are preserved. Vertex-to-point conversion continues to preserve stored XYZ for controlled TIN creation.
Navigate to points and geometry.
Stake points, lines and alignments with target arrows, nearest-point geometry logic, chainage, signed L/R offset and vertical cut/fill guidance where a valid target elevation exists. A persistent pole/antenna-height control corrects observed Z before ground-elevation display, capture and vertical guidance.
Move control into WebODM.
Manage GCP/check-point data, export WebODM GCP Editor CSV and generate gcp_list.txt automatically when image observations are tagged.
Turn LAS/LAZ into usable terrain.
Process point-cloud data into terrain surfaces and derive editable 3D linework, terrain features and candidate infrastructure geometry for operator review.
Search the reference you mean.
Search 11,090 horizontal/compound CRS entries and 1,107 vertical references while canonical authority identifiers are passed to the geospatial engine.
Connect AI and online data.
Use the Portal for sign-in, entitlement, managed Northstar AI, God's Eye and authenticated DEM/vector/data services. Project files remain local and move separately through .nscad import/export.
Continue into established tools.
Plan grid missions and hand off to compatible workflows with AutoCAD/Civil 3D, FreeCAD, Blender, WebODM Local, Agisoft Metashape Professional and Litchi where separately installed/configured.
Internal training stays aligned with the software we actually use.
AeroGeo North maintains internal operator material alongside Windows CAD v1.8.28, macOS CAD v1.8.28, Android Field (pictured current build) and iOS Field (pictured v1.8.96). That keeps field-to-office procedures, QA checks, project transfer and connected services consistent as the tools evolve.
Operator quick startCurrent first-run workflow, Portal/AI, Northstar Data, terrain and stakeout orientation.
Field-to-office workflowLocal-first field-to-deliverable course with practicals, assessments and delivery QA.
Internal QA / instructor guideDelivery cues, module checks, answer keys and local-transfer workflow capstone.
Local field-to-finish workflow
One project. Control to deliverable.
Build the project
Set CRS/vertical reference, import source data, prepare control, design geometry, surfaces and field targets.
Carry the same job
Export the desktop project as .nscad and import it into Northstar Field. Project transfer is local and operator-controlled; the Northstar Portal is not used for project storage or transport.
Work in the field
Use phone GNSS or compatible RTK/NMEA, collect coded observations and stake points, lines or alignments in the portrait Collector with side-mounted graphical guidance.
Return field changes
Export the updated .nscad project from Field and import it on desktop, preserving the project data without cloud project storage or sync.
AI-assisted QA and output
Review the project with adaptive Northstar AI, use suggested actions or Reconcile / Optimize to resolve workflow gaps, then continue terrain/CAD/WebODM processing and generate the required deliverables.
Responsible AI + engineering use
Automation accelerates checking; it does not replace it.
Northstar AI is a planning and orchestration layer over deterministic Northstar tools. Operators remain responsible for control, CRS/vertical datum, units, design criteria, residuals, quantities and project-specific QA.
Cloud AI can transmit prompts and relevant project context/tool results to AeroGeo North's managed AI service when connected. Do not submit client-confidential or restricted information unless you are authorized to process it through the service. See the Northstar privacy notice.
Current engineering boundary
Professional judgment remains with the operator.
Northstar is a CAD, survey, visualization and processing-assistance platform. It does not replace legal survey, professional engineering design, statutory approvals or project-specific standards. Automatically generated geometry and AI recommendations require review before field, design, construction or safety use.
Compact server-side workflow memory is used for conversational continuity such as the current goal and recent action outcome. It does not replace project files, Portal, field notes, control records or professional QA, and it must not be treated as authoritative geometry or survey evidence.
In-house AeroGeo North technology
Built for our work.
Northstar CAD + Field is not sold, licensed or distributed as a standalone software product. AeroGeo North develops and uses it internally because a purpose-built workflow supports control over project data, faster field-to-office handoff, consistent terrain/geometry handling and the ability to improve the tools around real project requirements.
FAQ
About our internal platform
Can clients buy or license Northstar?
No. Northstar CAD + Field is an internal AeroGeo North platform. Clients engage AeroGeo North for geospatial, survey-support, drone, mapping, terrain and related project services; the software supports how We perform that work.
Why build our platform?
Our projects often move between terrain data, CAD geometry, field observations, stakeout, 3D review and final deliverables. Keeping those stages inside a project-aware workflow reduces unnecessary conversions and lets us adapt the tools to the actual work rather than force the work around a generic application.
Is Northstar meant to replace professional review?
No. It accelerates processing, visualization, organization and checking. Control, datum, design criteria, quantities, regulated work and final project decisions remain subject to the appropriate professional and project-specific review.
How does Northstar choose online-data sources?
Northstar's current operator workflow is provider-neutral. Northstar Data acts as the authenticated federated broker and chooses/falls back among supported online/open-data sources in the backend. Legacy provider-specific action names remain compatibility-only for older workflows; new operator actions do not require choosing or troubleshooting a specific provider. Online/open-data geometry remains reference data, not survey control.
Can I delete layers and surfaces without using AI?
Yes. CAD v1.8.28 supports direct Project-panel deletion for individual items and complete collections, including survey points, linework, flight datasets, GCPs, alignments, surfaces, raster layers and photogrammetry jobs. Supported deletions participate in the global Undo history.
Can the AI directly invent or edit survey coordinates?
Northstar AI may infer ordinary workflow intent, but it does not invent missing survey coordinates, elevations, design grades, CRS/datum values, stations, tolerances or other engineering inputs. When the necessary context is unambiguous, it can invoke deterministic tools to create persistent editable geometry; high-impact actions still require operator confirmation.
What happens if cloud AI is unavailable?
Northstar automatically falls back to the local project-aware Agent so the core CAD/field workflow is not dependent on cloud reasoning. Network-dependent features such as Portal, NTRIP and cloud AI still require connectivity when used.
Can Field stake lines as well as points?
Yes. Northstar Northstar Field can stake points, linework and alignments on the current mobile clients. Line/alignment stakeout targets the nearest position on the geometry and reports chainage and signed left/right offset. In Collector, horizontal guidance is kept to the left side and CUT/FILL/ON GRADE guidance to the right when a valid target elevation exists, leaving the centre available for project geometry.
What happens when a Northstar Portal login expires?
CAD v1.8.28 and Android Field (pictured current build) explicitly show that the session has expired and that the operator must sign in again. Portal actions remain disabled until authentication succeeds, rather than leaving an apparently active but unusable login state.
Can Northstar AWe create geometry from a natural-language direction?
Yes, when the anchor and required inputs are unambiguous. For example, with a single project point, “create a 50 m polyline due north from the point” resolves North as survey azimuth 0° and creates ordinary editable project linework. If several candidate points exist, Northstar requires a specific point or an unambiguous selected/latest reference.
Does the field app require an online basemap?
No. Field uses an offline survey canvas. Imported/project geometry, selected features, stakeout, live terrain and field observations remain available without web-map tiles.
Can Northstar create surface points directly from 3D linework?
Yes. CAD v1.8.28 and the current Field clients can convert selected or visible line/polyline vertices into persistent survey points while preserving stored XYZ. Shared XY vertices are deduplicated at 0.001 m, existing surveyed elevations are protected on conflicts, and the generated points can be used immediately to build a TIN surface.
How does Field handle pole or antenna height?
The current Field clients include a persistent POLE control. The active height is subtracted from observed GNSS antenna/device elevation before ground Z is displayed or recorded and before cut/fill or vertical stakeout guidance is calculated. A 0.000 m setting leaves the observation unchanged.
Is Northstar Field available on iPhone and iPad?
Yes. AeroGeo North maintains a current iOS Field build for internal use, including local projects, Draw, Collector, GNSS/RTK selection, stakeout and Project 3D.
Is Northstar a substitute for a legal survey or engineering approval?
No. Users remain responsible for professional judgment, control, project standards, design criteria, QA and required approvals.
Can We create a DEM from only an address or location?
Yes. CAD v1.8.28 and the current Field clients can use address/location context to establish an online terrain request even when the project has no seed point, feature or GCP. Requested terrain dimensions are preserved. Online terrain is reference data and does not become surveyed control merely because it is loaded into the project.
Why is there no horizontal arrow when staking a DEM?
That is intentional in the current Field workflow. A DEM/surface is an elevation target rather than a single horizontal navigation target, so the surface stakeout HUD reports vertical CUT, FILL, ON GRADE or NO TARGET Z only. Horizontal guidance remains available for normal point, line and alignment stakeout.
Do I need a new app build for every Northstar AI improvement?
Not necessarily. The managed Northstar AI and data-broker intelligence can be upgraded server-side while preserving the existing client API. Compatible installed CAD/Field builds receive those improvements when connected. A new desktop installer, Android APK or Apple app update is still required when the corresponding client application itself changes.