# Roads

The Trimble Access Roads software is a specialized application for surveying roads and similar linear objects.

The Roads software can be used to survey roads where the road design is defined in a road design file, or where you can build elements of a road (or other similar objects) by selecting one or two strings to stake relative to a primary stationing string. When staking one string you can also define a surface, if required.

When surveying with a road design file you can:

- Upload an existing road design consisting of an alignment with one or more related strings that define the road, or with related cross section templates.

  Supported file types are RXL, LandXML and GENIO. GENIO files are covered in the GENIO roads section of the help. For more information on GENIO files, refer to the Trimble Access GENIO Roads User Guide.

- Key in an RXL road design definition including horizontal and vertical alignments, templates, and superelevation and widening records.

- Review the road definition.

- Stake out the road.

When surveying using strings and surfaces or two polylines you can:

- Stake single strings relative to a primary stationing string, for example traffic islands or curbs. Or stake two strings relative to a primary stationing string, for example the top and bottom edge of an embankment or construction earthworks.

  Strings can be lines, arcs or polylines that are keyed in to the job or they can be selected from any linked files that contain linework.

- Stake two polylines where you want station and offset and cut/fill to both polylines at the same time.

Generate a report for the as-staked road data to check data in the field, or to transfer data from the field to your client or to the office for further processing with office software.

#### Using the Roads app

To use Roads, you must switch to the Roads app. To switch between applications, tap and tap the name of the app you are currently using, and then select the application to switch to.

The Roads app includes the full Cogo menu from General Survey so that you can carry out coordinate geometry (cogo) functions without having to switch to General Survey. You can also access some of these cogo functions from the tap and hold menu in the map. For information on all available cogo functions, see Cogo calculations.

When starting a survey you are prompted to select the survey style you have configured for your equipment.

To customize the terminology used in the software, tap and select Settings / Language. Select:

- Use railroad terminology if you are surveying a railroad and wish to use railroad‑specific terminology.
- Use chainage distance terminology to use the term Chainage instead of Station for the distance along the road.