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Survey Points Annotator - Geodetic & Construction Workflow

by Jan Holinka·Workflow

Images © Jan Holinka. Used for product review; image policy.

Why we like it

Earns its place in the superhive library for turning raw survey point data into labeled markers and readable coordinate text, with a Geometry Nodes approach built for large datasets.

What is Survey Points Annotator - Geodetic & Construction Workflow?

Survey Points Annotator - Geodetic & Construction Workflow is a Blender add-on for annotating survey points, aimed at geodetic, construction, and civil engineering workflows. It visualizes points with geometry markers, annotates them with IDs, names, and coordinates, and produces clean, readable drawings ready for printing or field work. The add-on supports both mesh vertices and empty objects.

You can annotate all vertices of a mesh object using a Geometry Nodes-based, performance-optimized approach, or annotate all empty objects in a selected collection. Marker types include Circle, Sphere, Triangle, Cross, and Cross with Circle, each customizable for size, color, line width, rotation, and subdivisions. Geometry Nodes instancing and shared geometry data blocks keep large datasets manageable. Text annotation covers vertex index, object name, and X/Y/Z coordinates with adjustable font, size, offset, rotation, and color.

Coordinate transformation handles reference point offset, axis orientation mapping, Z-axis rotation, and decimal precision control. The add-on is part of the Geodetic & Construction Workflow suite alongside Survey Points Importer and Exporter, and it can load settings directly from them so results stay consistent from import to final output.

Who is Survey Points Annotator - Geodetic & Construction Workflow best for?

Survey Points Annotator - Geodetic & Construction Workflow is best for geodetic, construction, and civil engineering workflows that need printable, labeled survey drawings and field staking documentation.

How much does Survey Points Annotator - Geodetic & Construction Workflow cost?

Survey Points Annotator - Geodetic & Construction Workflow is completely free to download and use.

Key features

  • Point visualization with five marker types (Circle, Sphere, Triangle, Cross, Cross with Circle), each customizable for size, color, line width, rotation, and subdivisions
  • Text annotation showing vertex index (1-based numbering), object name, and X/Y/Z coordinates, with adjustable font, size, offset, rotation, and color
  • Two selection modes: annotate all vertices of a mesh object (Geometry Nodes-based, performance optimized) or all empty objects in a selected collection
  • Coordinate transformation with reference point offset, axis orientation mapping, Z-axis rotation, and decimal precision control
  • Geometry Nodes instancing and shared geometry data blocks for handling large point sets efficiently
  • Direct loading of settings from Survey Points Importer / Exporter for consistent coordinate handling

Tags

#survey points#geodetic#construction#annotation#coordinates#GIS#Blender add-on

Frequently asked questions

Does Survey Points Annotator require Blender 5.0?

Survey Points Annotator requires Blender 5.0 or later and is listed as Blender Extension compatible. It uses Geometry Nodes for point visualization and instancing. If you are running an older Blender release, you would need to update before installing. The add-on runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux. For the most current details on version support and any changes to requirements, check the developer's page before installing.

What operating systems does Survey Points Annotator support?

Survey Points Annotator runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux, covering the three main desktop platforms. It relies on Geometry Nodes instancing and shared geometry data blocks, which are designed to handle large point sets without performance loss. The add-on is also listed as Blender Extension compatible. Requirements list Blender 5.0 or later, so make sure your Blender version matches on your chosen platform. For the latest platform and setup notes, refer to the developer's page.

How does Survey Points Annotator work with the Importer and Exporter?

Survey Points Annotator is part of the Geodetic & Construction Workflow suite alongside Survey Points Importer and Survey Points Exporter. The Importer brings in survey data from TXT or CSV files, and the Exporter sends processed data back to files. All three share the same coordinate system settings, and the Annotator can load those settings directly from the Importer or Exporter. Its vertex index uses 1-based numbering consistent with them, keeping point identification aligned across the workflow.

Is Survey Points Annotator free, and what license does it use?

Survey Points Annotator is listed as free in this catalog and distributed under the GPL license. It is offered by Jan Holinka. Because it is GPL, you have the freedoms that license grants for using and modifying the add-on. Pricing and licensing terms can change over time, so check the developer's page for the current details before you rely on it.

What marker types can Survey Points Annotator display?

Survey Points Annotator offers five marker types for point visualization: Circle, Sphere, Triangle, Cross, and Cross with Circle. Each marker can be adjusted for size, color, line width, rotation, and subdivisions. Alongside markers, text annotation can display the vertex index using 1-based numbering, the object name, and X, Y, and Z coordinates, with adjustable font, size, offset, rotation, and color. You can apply these to all vertices of a mesh object or to all empty objects in a selected collection.

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