Surveying teams today are being asked to do more with less. Crews are smaller, project timelines are tighter, and the deliverables clients expect are more complex than ever. That’s the backdrop for AllTerra Central’s expanded partnership with Looq AI — a collaboration we recently announced in a press release.
The Looq Platform combines three elements that, together, help overhaul the way you work:
These three elements allow you to move quickly and accurately from field capture to finished deliverables. And, because they integrate with Trimble® Business Center, you don’t have to worry about disrupting the workflows you already trust.
So, why should surveyors take a closer look? Here’s a look at three things that every project manager can get excited about.
Every surveyor knows the pressure of juggling multiple projects with deadlines that don’t move. The real challenge is getting deliverables to clients fast enough to keep schedules intact. That’s where Looq AI gives you back valuable time. Here’s the simple, 3-step workflow:
With Looq AI, you can create georeferenced 3D models in minutes and move rapidly from capture to collaboration in a single platform. Real-world users have already seen multi-day projects turned into same-day deliverables — proof that this new technology helps keep your projects on track.
And it’s not limited to one type of site. Whether you’re working along vegetated ROWs, in suburban corridors, or on utility jobs where coordinating drones adds friction, ground-based capture can save hours in the field and days in the office.
Surveying often means working in places that aren’t exactly forgiving: shoulders of busy highways, steep embankments, wildfire-prone landscapes, or sites where access is limited. Every extra minute in those environments increases risk, whether it’s to your team’s safety, the traveling public, or the environment itself.
That’s why safety is one of the biggest wins of ground-based capture. With the handheld qCam, crews stay firmly on the ground and out of traffic lanes or restricted zones. There’s no need to set up tripods in harm’s way, close lanes, or coordinate risky access just to capture the data you need. For sites where drones can’t fly (due to FAA restrictions, client policies, or sensitive habitats), ground-based capture provides a reliable alternative.
Because setup is minimal and capture is continuous, crews also spend less total time on site. Fewer setups mean fewer interruptions, fewer exposures to traffic or terrain hazards, and fewer permits to secure. It all adds up to a workflow that moves faster and safer.
Speed and safety mean little if the data isn’t accurate. At the end of the day, surveyors live and die by precision — and that’s where the Looq Platform delivers.
The qCam is a multi-sensor system with survey-grade GNSS, an IMU, and onboard computing. Pair that with the qAI engine, and you’re producing high-resolution models that stand up to scrutiny in the office.
The outputs (point clouds, orthophotos, or elevation products) are fully georeferenced and ready for the software you already use. Drop them straight into Trimble Business Center, Civil 3D, ReCap, or TopoDOT, and you’re enriching your workflow with faster, denser, and more reliable data.
Even better, because the models come in at sub-centimeter accuracy, you can trust the results without re-shoots or re-work. Field capture is validated in the office, so crews can move on to the next project knowing the data is solid.
Looq AI is still new to many surveyors, so it’s natural to have questions about how it fits into everyday workflows. Since partnering with Looq AI, we’ve heard plenty of curiosity from our customers about how the platform works, where it outperforms other options, and how it integrates with the tools they already rely on. Below, we’ve answered some of the most common questions.
Ground-based capture is helpful in many scenarios, but here are three of the most common:
This is a brief rundown of what your Looq AI workflow might look like:
Just like traditional methods: run standard QC checks in TBC or CAD and compare against control or known baselines. The workflow produces sub-centimeter, survey-grade results that hold up in office validation.
Yes. Looq AI outputs integrate directly with Trimble Business Center and other common CAD and feature-extraction tools. There’s no need to overhaul existing workflows — you can slot this technology right into what you already do.
Not steep at all. The system is designed for quick setup and simple app-based control, so crews can get comfortable quickly. Most users find they can be productive in the field almost immediately.
Reading about faster, safer, more precise workflows is one thing. Seeing it in action is another. The best way to understand how Looq AI can transform your projects is to experience it for yourself.
Request a demo with AllTerra Central and put the qCam, qAI, and qApp platform to the test on the types of projects you run every day. You can also learn more about this partnership by reading the full press release.