Putting survey-grade positioning and pocket-sized documentation into every site team's hands: Netpipe's 3tag and u-blox transform construction and landscaping surveying.

Summary

Netpipe has launched 3tag, the world's first standalone GNSS surveying system that combines centimetre-level positioning, integrated laser measurement and on-device reporting in a single handheld device, eliminating the need for traditional survey poles and external accessories, reducing project bottlenecks while improving productivity across everyday field operations. By combining the u-blox ZED-X20P all-band high-precision GNSS receiver with PointPerfect Flex PPP-RTK correction services, 3tag delivers survey-grade accuracy without the complexity traditionally associated with professional surveying equipment, enabling construction, infrastructure and landscaping teams to work faster, more efficiently and with greater confidence.

Challenges

Challenge 1: Making survey-grade positioning accessible to every site team Traditional construction and landscaping surveying often relies on specialist surveyors, expensive equipment and complex workflows. This creates delays whenever accurate positioning is required for routine site tasks. Challenge 2: Maintaining centimetre-level accuracy in challenging environments Construction and landscaping projects frequently take place around buildings, machinery and other obstructions that can affect GNSS performance. Reliable high-precision positioning is essential for accurate setting out, as-built verification and earthworks. Challenge 3: Eliminating fragmented surveying workflows Conventional surveying often requires multiple hardware devices, external correction services, desktop software and manual data processing before usable reports can be produced, increasing both cost and project timelines. In everyday site workflows, many measurements and site checks are still documented using paper notes, standalone photos and ad-hoc spreadsheets, which then need to be manually consolidated into reports and handover documentation. This analog, fragmented documentation makes it difficult for site teams and foremen to provide consistent, verifiable records without investing significant time in office-based rework.

How it works

3tag integrates high-precision GNSS positioning, laser measurement and on-device reporting into a single handheld platform powered by u-blox positioning technologies,
creating a pocket-sized surveying solution that site teams can use anywhere on the project without additional equipment.

At the heart of the solution is the u-blox ZED-X20P, an all-band, multi-constellation high-precision GNSS receiver designed to deliver robust centimetre-level positioning even in demanding environments.

The receiver is combined with u-blox PointPerfect Flex, which delivers precise PPP-RTK correction data over IP, providing survey-grade positioning without requiring users to manage complex RTK base station infrastructure.
Together, the technologies enable:

• Consistent centimetre-level positioning for construction and surveying applications
• Rapid position convergence for immediate productivity on site
• Reliable performance in dense urban environments and around site obstructions
• Simplified deployment without specialist GNSS expertise
• Handheld, pole-free operation that removes the need for tripods and survey poles, making survey-grade GNSS accessible to any site worker

Beyond full-scale surveying tasks, 3tag also supports pocket-sized workflows for everyday site activities. Foremen and site engineers can capture points, measurements, photos and notes directly on the device while walking the site, with each action automatically documented in context. This turns routine checks, minor quantity surveys and variation assessments from analog, paper-based processes into structured digital records.

The positioning engine is fully integrated with 3tag's laser measurement capabilities and native reporting software, allowing users to capture survey data, calculate cut-and-fill volumes, verify as-built positions and generate DXF reports directly from the handheld device without external software or cloud dependencies. Every measurement, photo and note taken on site is automatically linked to its precise position and stored in a structured format, so the resulting data is report-ready without manual post-processing.

Outcomes

Outcome 1: Survey-grade positioning for everyday construction and landscaping workflows By combining ZED-X20P with PointPerfect Flex in a single handheld device, 3tag enables construction crews to perform positioning tasks that previously required specialist, pole-based survey equipment, improving productivity while reducing dependence on external surveyors and tripods. Outcome 2: Faster project delivery through simplified workflows Because positioning, laser measurement and reporting all operate within a single handheld device, site teams can complete surveys and generate finished reports immediately, significantly reducing project delays and manual processing. The data captured on site is already structured and validated, so results can be handed over or shared without additional office-based rework. No training or specialist expertise is required. Key benefits for everyday site teams include: Automated documentation of measurements, photos and notes directly on site, with no separate paperwork. Report-ready data that can be shared with project managers and clients immediately after the survey. Reduced dependency on specialist surveyors for routine checks and minor quantity assessments. Jan Rentsch, CEO of 3tag, explains: "By integrating u-blox's latest high-precision positioning technology into our closed surveying platform, we've removed much of the complexity traditionally associated with professional surveying. Construction and landscaping teams can simply switch on the device and begin collecting survey-grade data immediately, helping projects move faster while maintaining complete confidence in the results." Outcome 3: Scalable high-precision surveying across construction projects The combination of ZED-X20P and PointPerfect Flex allows organisations to cost effectively deploy multiple handheld surveying devices across field teams while maintaining consistent, reliable positioning performance, making survey-grade accuracy practical at scale.

As things stand today

Netpipe has successfully launched 3tag, a fully integrated standalone surveying platform designed specifically for construction, infrastructure and landscaping projects. Powered by u-blox ZED-X20P and PointPerfect Flex, the system enables site teams to capture survey-grade positioning data, automate measurements and generate finished reports directly from the device, with no poles and no tripods required, reducing project bottlenecks while improving productivity across everyday field operations. By turning everyday, often analog site checks into pocket-sized digital surveys with automated documentation, 3tag ensures that results are immediately usable without additional data preparation.

What's on the horizon

As demand grows for digital construction workflows and accurate geospatial data across increasingly complex projects, Netpipe plans to continue expanding the capabilities of the 3tag platform. With the flexibility, scalability and global correction coverage provided by u-blox ZED-X20P and PointPerfect Flex, the platform is well positioned to support new construction applications, additional surveying workflows and wider international deployment.