Frequently Asked Questions

Find Answers to Your Questions About System Surveyor

General Questions

What Platforms are Supported by System Surveyor?

System Surveyor is a cloud-based software platform that also provide a mobile companion tablet app option for use in the field.

Web-Browser Access:
Access System Surveyor on any device with a network connected web browser. We recommend using Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge as web browsers for the best web experience. This is primarily used for work back at the office or on WiFi.

Native Mobile Tablet app Access:

System Surveyor is also available as a “native” tablet app on iPad (iOS) tablets or Android tablets.  As a native app, it does not need to be Internet connected while you work or conduct a site survey. Typically, the user is not connected and on System Surveyor 2.0, the app will auto-synch to the cloud when back on WiFi or Internet connection.

Apple App Store (iPad tablet)
Google Play Store (Android tablets)
Search “System Surveyor 2.0”

View minimum requirements and tablet specifications.

Who Developed System Surveyor?

System Surveyor was developed by seasoned technical professionals from the IoT and systems industry – and we believe that it shows. After years of being frustrated by rudimentary site survey methods and a tedious system design process, as well as the challenges of keeping system records up to date, we decided to create a solution to streamline security operations. And this is just the beginning. While we have our own ideas for making System Surveyor’s physical security design software even better and more valuable, we’re counting on the System Surveyor user community for ideas and feedback to help set a new standard of professional services in the electronic security industry, AV, low voltage and a wide range of IoT systems industries and markets.

Are There Training Videos for Using System Surveyor?

While System Surveyor is intuitive and easy to use, we have incorporated some innovative concepts. Take a look at our help guide or Resource Center for the available tutorial videos. You can also send us a message via on the screen chat bubble or email us at support@systemsurveyor.com and we’ll be pleased to provide assistance. Our support specialists will get right back to you, and if necessary, arrange an online session to help you out.

Where Can I Find Support?

You can get in contact with a member of our support team by using the on-screen chat located in the bottom right-hand corner of the user interface.  You can also contact us by email at support@systemsurveyor.com or by phone at (737) 717-0163.

System Design Collaboration

How Can I Share My Project with Others?
All account levels have the ability to export security system design layouts and device information as an Excel spreadsheet, PDF or PNG. Better yet, System Surveyor provides collaboration for your team within the security system design platform using the Cloud workspace. Share digital as-built projects with others on your team quickly and easily. There is no need to go back and forth exchanging emails or constantly updating PDFs.
  • Comments make for faster, more efficient remote communication. In today’s environment, more than ever we need streamlined, accurate communications. Survey Comments helps you all get on the same page to make better decisions about your security system design. Engage with @ user mention to communicate with team members quickly and easily.
  • “Send a Link” allows for quick and easy sharing for others outside your organizing. Users can easily send a link of site or survey level for a “read-only” overview of the plan.
  • The Guest User feature permits you to engage your customer or favorite subcontractor directly in the site survey to eliminate emails and improve co-design and implementation of the physical building security system. You can set an expiration date on the Guest User’s access and see a logging of their activity.
Can Multiple Users Work on the Same Site?

Yes, our subscriptions give organizations the ability to collaborate on projects and creates a seamless handoff between Sales, Estimators, Project Managers, Installers, Technicians and Facility Managers.

Multiple individuals can do site or job walks at a time in a quick and standardized way. There can only be one editor on a single floor plan at a time and users will have to “Release Survey Edit” before another team member can make any changes. Users can also “Request Survey Edit” from team members and an email will be sent automatically.

In addition, Team Accounts can also invite individuals outside of their team to collaborate on sites with our “Guest User” feature. The Guest User is great way to work with subcontractors, clients or integrators. Guest Users do not occupy a seat on your team, only have access to sites they are invited with your administration on whether they can make changes to surveys.

What roles can I assign users?

Account Admins have the ability to manage billing and seat quantity – in addition to all capabilities of team admins. There must be at least 1 Account Admin on a team. Account Admins can change the role of other Account Admins, Team Admins and Team Members.

Team Admins have the ability to invite and delete users/guest, delete site surveys, revoke site and survey privileges, manage element profiles and manage app configuration – in addition to all the capabilities of team members. Team Admins can change the role of other Team Admins and Team Members

Team Members with InfoMask have the ability to invite guests, view and edit site surveys, and run reports. They also can toggle On/Off InfoMask to see and change the data within the Configuration attributes such as IP Address and Subnet Mask.

Team Members have the ability to invite guests, view and edit site surveys, and run reports. These users can NOT see or change data behind the InfoMask within the Configuration attributes.

Guest Users can have view only or edit privileges within a site survey. Guest users are invited to each site survey. Guest Users are available on the Scale and Enterprise level subscription. See more features on our Pricing Page here.

*Users cannot change their own role on a team.

How Does the Team Library Work?

A Team member will create a site survey on the ‘Team Workbench’ and team members have access to all site surveys within the Library. After saving the survey, a Team member will have to release the edit privileges before another Team member can request edit privileges and modify the survey. Done with a site survey? You can easily toggle on and off what sites and surveys you see on your workbench and they will be stored in your Team Library.

The Product — Physical Security System Design

What System Types are Available?

System Surveyor supports multiple system types on the same survey. These include Cable Infrastructure, Video Surveillance, Access Control, Intrusion Detection Systems, IT Systems, Fire Alarm, Life Safety, Facilities Equipment, Healthcare and Building Automation. Each system type is represented by a different color, but the icon colors can also be changed based on your organizational preference.

System Surveyor gives users the ability to apply filters to surveys based on system type and/or installation status. For example, if you only wanted to view proposed video surveillance cameras you can easily apply the on screen filter. Also, there is ability to run keyword searches on surveys.

If I Use the Tablet App and Create a Survey, Can I View Survey Information on the Systemsurveyor.com Website?

The System Surveyor app can be used offline; you can view floor plans, element layout, photos, and modify the ‘element attributes’ from the field. After creating a survey on your tablet, you can ‘sync’ the site and survey information to the Cloud Workspace associated with your account once you have internet connection. You can refresh the tablet once changes are made from the web and you will have to ‘Download” changes before leaving the office.

What Are Element Attributes?

System Surveyor is great for visually demonstrating the design and layout of multiple physical security components and systems, but you can also save more in-depth information for multiple systems. Within our Elements we have an attribute window which gives you the ability to collect Element information; everything from the Element name, installation notes, functional notes, configuration notes, hardware maintenance notes and pictures associated with the Element. You can also attach pdfs or web links within an Element, a great example is attaching installation data sheets. Update an activity log within the Element which can be used for additional comments for things like device updates by technicians.

What is the Difference Between a ‘Node’, ‘Assembly’ and ‘Component’?

The ‘Node’, ‘Assembly’ and ‘Component’ are all considered ‘Elements’ in System Surveyor and represented by different icon shapes, specifically a square, hexagon and circle respectively. A Component (a circle icon) represents an actual piece of equipment (i.e., a camera, network switch or card reader). The Node and Assembly (the square and the hexagon icons) are logical containers as indicated by an outline around the icon. Components may be ‘dropped’ inside of these containers when they should be physically and logically grouped together. An example of an Assembly is a Single Physical Access Control Door where it has 4 discrete components – an electrified lock, proximity card reader, door position switch and request to exit device. A Node would commonly contain a network switch, system server, centralized equipment panel, system software and UPS system.

Can I Create My Own Icons?

A subscription provides the ability to create ‘Element Profiles’. Element Profiles are a great way to create door assemblies, software packages, or multiple camera models.

Element Profiles allow the Team Admin to configure the attribute details for commonly used devices or components that can then be used by all team members. Users can have templates ready to go before they get on site to make it most productive.

The icon color and name can be saved, as well has other element information such as model, manufacturer, and installation details.

View our online help guide for more details.

Can I Create a Bill of Materials?

System Surveyor is not a quoting tool, but you can easily run a totals report to understand the number of security devices at a site. Also, your subscription allows users to create an estimated budget range for a project. The budget range is calculated by using the labor rate (set by Team Admin), device price, device quantity and installation hours input by users. The Budget Range feature eliminates budget guesswork, and everyone is on the same page from the beginning of a project.

After designing your survey during the site walk, easily generate a complete and accurate Bill of Materials. Choose the physical security system types and the associated element profiles and accessories to be included in your BOM. Run the report as a PDF or export into an XLS to share with customers, team members and stakeholders. Save time, effort and streamline the entire security system design process.

Can I Export Layouts from System Surveyor?

System Surveyor gives you the ability to run a variety of reports on the digital as-built. All exports options can be found on the ‘Reports’ section on the site level or survey level. The exportable formats include Excel, PDF, or PNG.

With System Surveyor, not only can you export High Resolution Floor Plans and Layouts, but also an Element count, photos associated with a security system design project, estimated cable length, Element details (including installation, functional, and configuration information), and maintenance date ranges.

Go from security system design to immediate totals by element in one-click. You can even include associated accessories with devices – think mounts, brackets and lenses for cameras, for example. No more guessing which accessory goes with which security device. Automate more of the system design process.

After your site walk, run a PDF report or export into XLS for proposals or integration with other systems. Streamline the entire process from design to installing the final product.

How can I secure my device-level information?
You can encrypt sensitive device information such as passwords, IP addresses, Subnet Mask and more using InfoMask. InfoMask allows you to securely store configuration information for access by installers, operations and those that need it to manage the physical security system. You can set-up your users’ permission to allow only certain people to have access to InfoMask to keep this sensitive information secure.
What are Element Profiles?
Time is money and we understand it can be very time consuming to keep populating the same information on every site survey, so we invented Element Profiles. With Element Profiles, you can drag-and-drop icons and select the right products and accessories in your physical security design with a couple of clicks. By using Element Profiles, you can pre-configure the most common security system and smart building products that you sell or buy for more streamlined filtering and selection. Physical Security Leaders and Integrators can create their own or import pre-configured profiles from their favorite manufacturers. Using Element Profiles allows you to dramatically streamline the creation of a proposal and procurement-ready Bill of Materials (BOM).
Does System Surveyor work with any Manufacture Partners?

With over 100,000 physical security and smart building products specified every month into projects, it’s not hard to imagine that your favorite security system manufacturer wants to join in. System Surveyor is an open cloud-based platform, meaning any security system or smart building technology manufacturer can make their security technology product catalog available to all of our users for easy drag-and-drop system design. Security system manufacturers can also add associated accessories to their element profiles, so all of the guesswork is removed. No more mounts sitting and collecting dust in the closet. Now the right smart building component will be paired with the right device. Every time.

Can I brand my reports?

You can put your logo on security system designs and reports built with System Surveyor. Easily import the company or organization logo into the platform. The entire team can export professional reports and layouts. Branded reports show customers and stakeholders that the organization uses an innovative digital site survey tool and security system design software, thereby increasing confidence and trust.

Subscriptions & Pricing

What is the price of System Surveyor?

System Surveyor has some great pricing plans to fit all shapes and sizes of security system integration. We offer System Integrators, Campus Security Leaders and Corporate Security Professionals specialized pricing. Get started exploring on our pricing page.

Does System Surveyor offer Single Sign-On (SSO)?

System Surveyor supports the SAML 2.0 protocol for providing a Single Sign-On (SS0) service to customers on Enterprise, Corporate and Campus Complete plans. Please contact us to discuss details.

Will My Subscription Renew?

Subscriptions will continue until you cancel. Paid subscriptions will be automatically invoiced monthly. There are no long-term commitments, unless you want to pay annually to take advantage of 10% savings. Once you experience the benefits of System Surveyor, we’re confident you’ll want to stick around.

How Can I Pay?

To subscribe to System Surveyor, go to the Pricing page and select your role and view specific plan options. Once you’ve signed up, log in with your user account, or create a user account if you don’t have one and follow the prompts. If you are already a user, you can upgrade at any point by clicking “Upgrade” on the Account screen. You can use a major credit card to complete your purchase. Your account will be activated right away and available for use. A receipt will be e-mailed to you. If you require a quote for a purchase order, please contact us at Sales@SystemSurveyor.com.

How Do I Cancel My Subscription?

If you have a paid monthly subscription, you can downgrade your account anytime. Please email us at Support@SystemSurveyor.com and we can assist or have your Account Admin downgrade on the Account page.

More questions?

Email us at info@systemsurveyor.com

 

Didn't Find What You Were Looking For?

We’re committed to your success. Please access our resources and support portal to help you get started.  To speak with our customer success team, start a conversation with the chat widget in the bottom right-hand side of your browser.