Coming 2027

Shoot, plot, and sketch in the cave

Subterra Vector is a tablet app for cave surveyors that keeps shots, line plot, and sketch in one place.

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A surveyor sketches on a rugged tablet with a stylus, sitting in a low cave passage beside a rope and climbing gear.

What it is

Subterra Vector is a tablet app for cave surveyors. Shots from your survey device land in the shot table as you take them, the line plot draws itself, and you sketch over it with a stylus, all with no signal.

  • Android 9 or newer
  • Works with no signal
  • Feet or meters
  • Most digital survey devices

What it does

01

Less time copying, more time surveying

Shots go from the survey device into the survey as you take them, so there’s no book to type up afterward.

02

Catch mistakes while you’re still there

The line plot and loop closures show problems in the cave, while you can still reshoot.

03

A sketch you’ll want to keep

Draw with a stylus over a live line plot, with symbols, fills, and layers, and take it home ready to draft.

  • Works underground with no signal. Everything you record is saved on your tablet as you go.
  • Your survey stays on your tablet unless you export, share, or back it up.
  • Export to Compass, Survex, and Therion.
  • Sketch in layers, and export SVG files that open with their layers in Illustrator and Inkscape.
  • Learn on a practice cave before your first trip.
  • Works with most digital cave survey devices. Type shots by hand with or without a device.
A tablet in a surveyor’s hands shows a line plot with numbered stations, held up in a cave passage.
A caver in a helmet and headlamp draws on a tablet propped on their knee in a tight cave passage.

Questions

Subterra Vector is coming in 2027. These are the questions we hear most.

What is Subterra Vector?

A tablet app for cave surveyors. Shots from your survey device land in the shot table as you take them, the line plot draws itself, and you sketch the cave over it with a stylus.

What devices does it work with?

Most digital cave survey devices, over Bluetooth. You can also type shots by hand, with or without a device.

What tablets does it run on?

Android tablets and phones running Android 9 or newer. It’s designed for tablets with a stylus, and it also works with a finger.

Does it work underground with no signal?

Yes. Everything works with no signal, and every shot and sketch line is saved on your tablet as you go.

Where is my data stored?

On your tablet. Subterra Vector has no accounts and doesn’t send your data anywhere. Back it up to a file you choose, or keep a copy in your own cloud storage.

Can I export to other survey software?

Yes. Export to Compass, Survex, and Therion, as CSV or a spreadsheet, and export sketches as SVG with layers or PNG. Entrance coordinates stay out of exports unless you include them.

Imperial or metric?

Both. Survey in feet or meters and switch the display any time. Your data isn’t changed when you switch.

Do I need Subterra Datum?

No. Subterra Vector works on its own.

Is it hard to learn?

It comes with a practice cave and a step-by-step tutorial, so you can learn before your first trip.

Should I still carry a paper book?

That’s your team’s call. Many surveyors carry one as a backup, especially on their first trips with a new tool.

Get updates

Subterra Vector is coming in 2027. Email us and we’ll let you know when it’s ready.