Northstar CAD · Windows
Desktop processing, terrain and design
Present the Windows application with a polished terrain-focused interface that communicates CAD, LiDAR, orthomosaic, surface and quantity workflows immediately.
AeroGeo North Software · Windows + Android
Northstar CAD + Field
From raw field data to terrain, CAD and deliverables.
A survey-first desktop and field workflow for drafting, terrain inspection, drone processing, LiDAR, coordinate systems, RTK collection and prompt-driven geometry. The Windows application and Android companion share Northstar .nscad projects so field and office work can stay in the same operational model.
Updated product visuals
See the desktop and field experience more clearly.
These refreshed visuals present the software in a cleaner, more premium way for the sales page, showing the Windows processing environment and the Android field workflow separately as well as together.
Northstar Field · Android
Rugged field collection and terrain inspection
Show the field companion as a modern mobile app for RTK/NTRIP, mapping, point collection, syncing and field-ready terrain tools.
Prompt + manual CADIssue commands or draft with conventional tools.
Terrain & quantitiesSurfaces, 3D inspection, contours and volume checks.
Drone & LiDARPhotogrammetry workflows, GCPs, LAS/LAZ and terrain extraction.
Field companionRTK/NMEA, NTRIP, surface snap and shared projects.
Integrated workflow
CAD, terrain, field collection and drone processing in one environment.
Northstar is designed around practical survey and geospatial work: create and edit geometry, manage coordinate systems, inspect terrain, move projects to the field, then bring field changes back to the desktop.
Describe the result or use tools.
Create and edit lines, polylines, polygons, arcs, roads, ditches and 3D linework from manual tools or validated commands.
- Object snap + surface Z snap
- Offset, move, copy, rotate, scale and measure
- Multi-point alignments and smoothing
Work directly with elevation.
Import or build DEM, DTM, DSM and TIN surfaces, inspect them in 3D and edit terrain while retaining a survey-oriented project structure.
- Contours, profiles and cross-sections
- Cut/fill and polygon volume checks
- Crest, toe and drainage-path suggestions
Manage image processing from Northstar.
Load images, apply GCP/check-point data, optimize the camera network and return geospatial products to the CAD workspace.
- Orthomosaic + DEM + DTM outputs
- Automatic supported coded-target detection
- Processing report and project metadata
Turn LAS/LAZ into usable terrain.
Process point-cloud data into DTM/DSM surfaces and derive editable terrain intelligence.
- Powerline candidate detection
- Editable 3D polyline outputs
- Terrain-feature extraction
Use real coordinate systems and context.
Assign and reproject EPSG/PROJ coordinate systems, search geographic areas and work over online imagery or topographic basemaps.
- Esri imagery/topographic + OpenStreetMap
- KML + DXF exchange
- GeoTIFF/raster layers
Plan grid missions from project geometry.
Create a flight grid inside a selected polygon and export a Litchi waypoint CSV for mission setup.
- Line spacing and waypoint spacing
- Azimuth, altitude and curve-size controls
- Review final mission settings in Litchi before flight
Northstar CAD · Windows
Office processing and engineering workspace
- Windows 10/11 64-bit desktop application.
- Survey CSV, DXF, KML, GeoTIFF, LandXML and LAS/LAZ workflows.
- Photogrammetry coordination through an installed Agisoft Metashape Professional backend or optional OpenDroneMap/Docker backend.
- Native DWG save requires installed AutoCAD/Civil 3D.
- 3D terrain requires a working OpenGL graphics driver.
Northstar Field · Android
Field capture, drafting and terrain inspection
- Shared
.nscadproject workflow with the desktop application. - Bluetooth Classic NMEA rover connection with NTRIP forwarding.
- Phone GNSS, GCP/check-point capture, CSV/COGO and DXF.
- OSNAP + independent Surface Snap for Z.
- 3D TIN viewer, LandXML/DXF 3DFACE surface import and terrain draping.
Third-party software is not included in the bundle. Metashape Professional, Docker/OpenDroneMap, AutoCAD/Civil 3D, Litchi and online basemap services remain separately licensed/installed services where applicable. Provider terms and internet access may apply.
Field-to-office continuity
Keep the project moving instead of rebuilding it twice.
Northstar Field is the mobile companion to Northstar CAD—not the separate AeroGeo FieldBook documentation product. Survey/CAD geometry, points and supported surfaces can move through the shared Northstar project format while FieldBook remains focused on safety, daily records and QC documentation.
Build the project
Import survey/drone data, set the CRS, create surfaces and prepare CAD geometry.
Collect and inspect
Open the project on Android, capture points, connect an RTK/NMEA rover and inspect terrain.
Continue on desktop
Bring the updated project back to Northstar CAD for processing, quantities, drafting and exports.
Responsible use
Automation should accelerate checking—not replace it.
What to verify
- Coordinate system, units, vertical datum/geoid and local/grid assumptions.
- GCP/check-point residuals and photogrammetric alignment quality.
- Terrain classification and any automatically detected crest, toe, drainage or powerline candidates.
- Cut/fill quantities against the method required by the project or contract.
Current engineering boundary
Northstar is a CAD, survey, visualization and processing-assistance platform. It does not replace legal survey, professional engineering design, statutory approvals or project-specific QA requirements. Current alignment smoothing is intended to reduce jagged geometry; it is not yet a complete spiral/vertical-curve road-design system.
Direct commercial bundle
C$850.00 + applicable tax
One licensed user receives the Northstar CAD Windows application and Northstar Field Android companion with perpetual software updates included. The C$850 licence is a one-time purchase with no recurring software subscription. Future updates AeroGeo North releases for the licensed Northstar CAD + Field product are included at no additional licence charge; separately branded products, optional paid services and third-party software/services are not included.
FAQ
Before you buy
Is Northstar Field the same product as AeroGeo FieldBook?
No. Northstar Field is the Android survey/CAD companion for Northstar CAD. AeroGeo FieldBook is a separate safety-first documentation and QC application.
Does the C$850 bundle include Metashape or AutoCAD?
No. Third-party software remains separately licensed. Northstar can coordinate supported workflows with those installed products where stated.
Can Northstar process drone images and LiDAR?
Yes. The desktop application includes photogrammetry workflow management, GCP/check-point handling and LiDAR LAS/LAZ processing. Photogrammetric reconstruction uses a supported external backend such as Metashape Professional or OpenDroneMap/Docker.
Can the field app use an RTK rover?
Northstar Field supports Bluetooth Classic NMEA rover input and NTRIP correction forwarding for compatible receivers. Receiver compatibility and field procedures should be verified before production use.
Are future Northstar updates included?
Yes. The one-time Northstar CAD + Field licence includes perpetual update entitlement: future updates AeroGeo North releases for the licensed Northstar CAD + Field product are included at no additional licence charge. No recurring software subscription is required. Separately branded future products, optional paid services and third-party software/services are excluded.
Is this a substitute for Civil 3D, a legal survey or engineering approval?
No. Northstar provides CAD, geospatial, terrain and processing tools. Users remain responsible for professional judgment, survey control, project standards, design criteria and required approvals.