Convert Carlson RW5 (.rw5) to State Plane coordinates
FieldToCAD parses Carlson RW5 (.rw5) survey files locally, applies your site localization parameters, transforms coordinates to NAD83(2011) State Plane or UTM, and exports LandXML entirely in the browser with no coordinate upload.
How to convert with FieldToCAD
- 1. Import RW5: Drop the .rw5 file exported from Carlson Survey or SurvCE.
- 2. Configure localization: Enter your 4-parameter conformal transform (scale, rotation, shifts).
- 3. Select zone: Pick your State Plane zone (e.g. Colorado North ftUS).
- 4. Review CSF: Auto-calculate combined scale factor from elevation and grid factor.
- 5. Export: Download LandXML or Field Book (.fbk) for CAD.
Comparison
| Method | Typical time | Risk |
|---|---|---|
| FieldToCAD | ~5 min | Live map validation |
| Manual calc | 45+ min | Transcription errors common |
| Carlson office | 15–30 min | Requires desktop license |
RW5 is Carlson's ASCII survey format containing point records, traverse data, and feature codes. FieldToCAD normalizes RW5 into a unified survey model before applying your ground-to-grid transform.
Combined scale factor (grid factor × elevation factor) reconciles ground distances with the flat CAD grid. FieldToCAD uses ellipsoid height (orthometric elevation + GEOID18 separation) per NGS best practice.