XGRIDS Pro Guide™ / Module 4: Positioning

Module 4 Quick Field Guide

Field reference for scan setup. Method choice, RTK and PPK thresholds, fault diagnosis, control point spacing and marking, and the failures that cannot be fixed after the scan. Read the full module pages first.

Method Selection

Choose before scanning. It cannot be changed after. Full framework: 4.1.

  • Relative only. No RTK, no GCPs. Local coordinates. As-builts, virtual tours, anything not tied to a real-world system
  • RTK. Live GNSS corrections via NTRIP. L2 Pro uses an attachable module; K2 has one built in. RTK cannot initiate a fix indoors
  • Measure Point (L2 Pro). Carries absolute coordinates from an outdoor fix into an RTK-denied area. 5 cm or better within 164 ft (50 m) of the point where RTK dropped, 10 cm or better within 328 ft (100 m). Requires a fixed solution before the loss and a qualifying route walked in advance, below
  • Surveyed GCPs (GCP1). Markers with known coordinates, marked in the app during the scan. Correct method indoors and anywhere GNSS is unavailable
  • Relative GCPs (GCP2). Targets marked without surveyed coordinates. Internal drift control only, no real-world frame
  • Hybrid RTK + GCPs. Highest accuracy on the platform

Measure Point has to be set up before you lose signal. After initialization, with RTK Fixed and the source ellipsoid set to WGS84 or CGCS2000, walk an L-shaped route of at least 10 m by 10 m covering three sides of the survey area while the solution stays fixed. Then enter the denied area. The disconnection must not exceed 328 ft (100 m). There is no way to add the qualifying route afterwards. Results are written to a measurement CSV downloadable from the app; use the post-optimization file, not the real-time one.

RTK: Status and Thresholds

Status

Status
Meaning
Fixed
Centimeter-level solution. Required before scanning. Differential status code 4.
Float
Decimeter-level. Not acceptable. Code 5.
Single Point
No corrections. Meter-level. Do not scan. Code 1.
Pseudorange differential
Sub-meter, L2 Pro only. Not acceptable for georeferenced work. Code 2.
None
No signal or no NTRIP. Check data connection and antenna. Code 0.

Minimum Validity

  • Status: Fixed throughout
  • Satellites: more than 10
  • Movement while Fixed: more than 33 ft (10 m), continuous, before you start the route
  • Valid RTK points logged: more than 100 for the published accuracy. K2 floor is more than 20 with a scan area over 33 ft (10 m), which converts but at reduced accuracy
  • Unfixed-section max: L2 Pro 328 ft (100 m); K2 164 ft (50 m)
  • Device tilt: L2 Pro within 20 degrees, RTK antenna within 10 degrees. K2 within 10 degrees, because the antenna is built into the device
  • Accuracy verification route: at least 328 ft (100 m) and not a straight line

The 33 ft (10 m) of continuous Fixed movement is a hard gate, not a warm-up. Without it the coordinate transformation is reported as unavailable in processing and there is nothing to recover from the scan. Walk it before you start the route, not during it.

RTK fixes the coordinate frame, not SLAM drift. On long scans add GCPs at the spacing in Section 5.

RTK and NTRIP Faults

Read the two indicators together. The pair tells you whether the problem is the module, the network, or the hardware, and they point at different fixes.

RTK indicator
NTRIP indicator
Cause and fix
Red
Red
Module not seated. Power off, reseat the module, restart.
Red
Green
Quick-connect mode with the module not seated. Same fix: power off, reseat, restart.
Green
Red
NTRIP network not connected. The hardware is fine. Check the phone's internet connection, then the CORS credentials, then try a different mountpoint or account.
Green
Green, 0 satellites
RTK hardware failure. Cross-test with another module before concluding the scanner is at fault.

Green on both is not the same as usable. Both indicators green with zero satellites is a failure state, not a success state. Confirm the satellite count and Fixed status in the app before you start, every time.

XGRIDS RTK does not support 1 plus 1 base-and-rover operation on any device. Corrections come from a CORS network over NTRIP, or you use PPK.

PPK: Thresholds

PPK is the alternative when NTRIP is unavailable or RTK will not hold Fixed.

  • Base RINEX version: 3.0 or above. LixelStudio will not ingest earlier versions
  • Base-to-rover: under 3 mi. Under 1 mi for best accuracy
  • Open ground in scan: more than 33 ft (10 m) with clear sky
  • Valid PPK points: more than 100, checked in LixelStudio before processing
  • Base RINEX logging: continuous, gap-free, 1-second or finer across the full scan window
  • Antenna tilt: within 10 degrees of vertical, same as RTK

The L2 Pro supports RTK, PPK and DJI aircraft-supplied corrections. The K2 supports RTK and PPK.

Control Point Placement

  • GCP1 (Absolute): surveyed coordinates attached in LixelStudio. Aligns the scan to a real-world system and corrects IMU leveling. Use when the deliverable needs absolute coordinates
  • GCP2 (Relative): marked target, no surveyed coordinate. Constrains drift only. Use when georeferencing is not required
  • The same physical target is either type. The difference is whether a surveyed coordinate is attached in LixelStudio

Count and Spacing

Device
Max Spacing
Note
L2 Pro
328 ft (100 m)
Up to 300 m LiDAR range supports wider spacing
K2
164 ft (50 m)
100 m LiDAR range; closer spacing limits drift between points
PortalCam (Map Fusion)
Minimum 3 shared points, at least 33 ft (10 m) apart, L-shaped
These connect segments; they do not georeference the model

Minimum 3 control points per scan on every device, regardless of how short the scan is. Use the tighter end of the spacing range in feature-poor spaces such as data center aisles.

Distribution

  • Not collinear. Points on one straight line correct only one axis
  • Even, not clustered. Spread points across the full scan extent
  • At boundaries and transitions: floor changes, entries, where coverage paths cross
  • Reachable: the scanner must be able to sit on each point during the scan

Point names are case-sensitive. The CSV name must match what you type in the app exactly, including case. A mismatch fails silently in processing.

Marking

  • Write point names on paper first. Type them into the CSV and the app from that list. Do not invent names in the field
  • Use a floor-level target the scanner can sit on top of while staying vertical. Do not mark points on walls
  • Set the scanner on the exact point, vertical, then add the control point with the exact name
  • Hold stationary at least 5 seconds and wait for the confirmation that the point was added
  • After the confirmation, lift slowly and circle the point once or twice before moving on. This gives the target enough coverage for automatic detection later
  • Mark the same physical spot with the same name in every scan that shares it (Map Fusion)
  • After the last point, keep scanning at least 15 seconds and walk a small loop before ending

Coordinate Setup Before the Scan

  • Supported systems: WGS84, CGCS2000, and ITRF2008, with geodetic height
  • L2 Pro direct absolute-coordinate output supports WGS84 UTM 3-degree zone and CGCS2000 Gauss-Kruger 3-degree zone only. Anything else is a post-processing transformation
  • Confirm the datum and ellipsoid your CORS network transmits (most networks outside Mainland China use WGS84)
  • Have the target EPSG code for the deliverable ready before configuring RTK
  • Match the RTK type to the module physically fitted. The L2 Pro offers Standard, Survey, and Aerial. Selecting the wrong one means processing applies the wrong parameters
  • Wait about 5 minutes after changing the coordinate system. The device accepts the change immediately but takes time to apply it. Starting work inside that window is a silent error

Full configuration, datum transformations, and projection setup: 4.6.

Critical Warnings

  • No recovery Georeferencing cannot be added after the scan. RTK must be active before recording. GCPs must be placed and marked during the scan. A scan delivered without it cannot be corrected without re-scanning
  • No recovery Without 33 ft (10 m) of continuous Fixed movement, coordinate transformation is unavailable in processing. The scan still produces a point cloud, but it has no path to a real-world coordinate system
  • Silent failure Mismatched GCP names are silently discarded. The CSV name must match what you typed in the app, including case. No error appears; the point is simply dropped
  • Silent failure The RTK antenna limit is 10 degrees, not 20. Twenty is the device posture limit while walking. Exceeding 10 degrees on the antenna invalidates the fix record even when the indicator stays green. On the K2 the antenna is built in, so the 10-degree limit applies to the whole device in RTK mode
  • Warning Float is not a substitute for Fixed. Float embeds decimeter-level uncertainty that cannot be verified after the fact
  • Warning Fewer than 3 control points is not a control network. Three is the minimum on every device, and they must not fall on one straight line
  • Warning RINEX gaps cannot be recovered. If the base station stopped logging during the scan, PPK for that period is degraded or absent. Monitor base status
  • Warning Georeferencing does not fix poor technique. A scan with no loop closures and excessive speed still drifts, just with coordinates attached
  • Warning A coordinate system change needs about 5 minutes to take effect. Do not start the scan inside that window

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