SOM Survey Instruments

SOM Survey Instruments We provide powerful, advanced and cost-effective survey solutions helping you become more profitable

09/05/2026

Need to stake out points accurately in the field?

In this tutorial, we show how to use Emlid Flow to connect to your rover, open your project, apply a base shift, and stake out imported control points.

This workflow is especially useful when your base is not set up over a known point and you need your current survey to align with existing site control.

Once the base shift is active, you can stake out your known point to verify the setup, then move to other points and use the north/east guidance to navigate into position.

The key is simple: do not just trust the setup. Check your residuals, make sure your rover is level, and confirm that your stakeout is within acceptable tolerance before continuing.

A clean stakeout workflow helps reduce site errors, improve confidence, and make sure your fieldwork lines up with the design or control data.

Have you ever had stakeout points not line up on site because of base setup, control issues, or incorrect imported points?

Watch the full tutorial to see the Emlid Flow stakeout workflow step by step.

08/05/2026

Need to bring existing survey points into your Emlid Flow project?

In this tutorial, we show you how to import CSV points into Emlid Flow so you can work with your existing site data directly in the field.

We cover how to create a project, select the correct coordinate system, open the point library, and import your CSV file into the project.

One important reminder: make sure your CSV format matches the correct coordinate type. Local and global coordinates require different point order formats, so always check before importing.

Getting this step right helps you avoid confusion on site and ensures your points are ready for stakeout, checks, and continued survey work.

Have you ever had issues importing points because of coordinate format, CSV layout, or the wrong coordinate system?

Watch the full tutorial to see the workflow step by step.

Learn how to set up the Emlid RS4 and RS4 Pro Complete Kit, perform a base shift, set up over a known point, and verify ...
08/05/2026

Learn how to set up the Emlid RS4 and RS4 Pro Complete Kit, perform a base shift, set up over a known point, and verify your accuracy using stakeout and residual checks.

This workflow is built to help surveyors work with more confidence in the field and ensure their setup is correct before continuing with the survey.

Click the link below to watch the full Youtube video:
https://youtu.be/EgaomrMQnoE?si=fapwbWo66INFMXpD

07/05/2026

Setting up your base in a different position does not mean your survey has to fall out of alignment.

In this tutorial, we show how to do a base shift in Emlid Flow when your base was moved, or when you return to a site and cannot set up directly over a known point.

A base shift helps you bring your current setup back onto the same system as the previous survey, so your measurements line up correctly with existing site data.

This is especially important when:
you are revisiting a site,
your base is not on a known point,
you need to continue from previous survey work,
or your stakeout points are showing large offsets.

In the example, the point was around 2 m out before the base shift. After measuring an existing point and applying the calculated shift, the stakeout aligned correctly again.

The key is not only applying the base shift, but also checking it on an independent point to make sure the shift was successful.

Small setup errors can become big site problems. A proper base shift helps you keep your survey accurate, consistent, and connected to the original site control.

Have you ever returned to a site and found your points were not lining up with the previous survey?

Watch the full tutorial to see the base shift workflow step by step.

06/05/2026

Your survey data is only useful if it meets the accuracy requirements of the job.

In this tutorial, we show how to set up precision limits in Emlid Flow before collecting points on site.

Precision limits help you control the quality of your data by setting acceptable horizontal and vertical accuracy values.

For example, if your horizontal limit is set to 2 cm and your vertical limit is set to 3 cm, Emlid Flow will only allow you to measure when your rover is within those limits.

This helps you avoid collecting points that do not meet the site specification, reducing the risk of inaccurate data, rework, and problems later in the project.

A simple setting like this can make a big difference in the quality of your final survey deliverable.

Do you currently set precision limits before collecting data on site, or do you check accuracy manually as you go?

Watch the full tutorial to see how to set it up step by step.

06/05/2026

Need new surveying equipment, but don’t want to pay the full amount upfront?

With Float, you can buy now and pay over 2 to 6 months with 0% interest and 0 fees.

No application.
No credit check.
Just a valid business or personal credit card with enough available limit for the purchase.

Float reserves the full amount on your card, but you only pay it back in monthly instalments. As each instalment is paid, your available credit is restored.

A smarter way to get the equipment you need without putting pressure on your cash flow.

Send us a message to find out how Float works with your next SOM Survey Instruments purchase.

06/05/2026

Surveying instruments can be a big investment, but that should not stop you from getting the equipment you need to grow.

With **SOM Rent-to-Buy**, you can access professional surveying instruments and pay them off in low monthly instalments, similar to financing a vehicle.

Instead of waiting until you can pay the full amount upfront, you can start using the equipment to generate income sooner.

How it works:

1. Choose your instalment timeline and accept your rental quote
2. Submit your application documents
3. Once approved, sign the final agreement
4. Agree on delivery timelines
5. Start using your equipment while paying monthly

This option is available for registered South African businesses or sole proprietors operating for at least two years, or individuals who own property and have a healthy credit score.

Your next instrument could be closer than you think.

Send us a message to find out if you qualify.

05/05/2026

Not every survey point needs to be collected the same way.

In this tutorial, we walk through the different collection modes available in Emlid Flow and show when each one makes sense in the field.

Instant mode is useful when you want to capture and save a single point quickly.

Averaging mode helps when you want the receiver to observe the point for a set amount of time before saving it.

Auto collection is ideal for longer topographical surveys, especially when your GNSS rover is mounted on a vehicle and you want to collect points automatically by time or by distance.

Choosing the right collection mode can make your survey workflow faster, cleaner, and better suited to the type of data you need to deliver.

When doing topo surveys, do you prefer collecting points manually, or do you use auto collection for larger areas?

Watch the full tutorial to see how each mode works inside Emlid Flow.

05/05/2026

Quick field test with the HTS820.

We tested the stakeout distance from 20 m up to 300 m, and only stopped because we ran out of space.

Simple, practical, and built for real site work.

How far do you normally stake out on site?

Not every site gives you perfect radio range, clear line of sight, or reliable internet.And when you are working in dens...
05/05/2026

Not every site gives you perfect radio range, clear line of sight, or reliable internet.

And when you are working in dense vegetation, steep terrain, or on a large site, that can make real-time corrections difficult.

That is where the PPK Stop and Go method becomes a practical solution.

In our latest tutorial, we show how to configure the Emlid Reach RS4 base and RS4 Pro rover in Emlid Flow, set up the base over a known point, start logging, and collect points that can be post-processed afterwards for a fixed solution.

This workflow is especially useful when your rover cannot maintain a correction link across the entire site, but you still need reliable survey data.

A key reminder from the workflow: for every 1 km from the base, average at least 1 minute per point to support better post-processing results.

If you are working on large sites, difficult terrain, or areas with poor correction coverage, this is a workflow worth understanding.

Have you ever had a site where radio range, terrain, vegetation, or weak internet made RTK collection difficult?

Watch the full tutorial and let us know in the comments where you usually struggle most with corrections on site.

Youtube link: https://youtu.be/G0iqiJkb4B4?si=4YrmyuMPeo9N9zXa

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0184

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