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Ditch Assist tablet app

Download the app for your field tablet.

The current app and earlier releases are right below. Ditch Assist® is distributed from our website, not the Google Play Store, and the app is free — every mode is included, no subscription.

Android tablet Works offline after setup No app store account Included with every kit and with Ditch Assist Lite
  1. Open this page on your tablet — or scan the QR code beside any download with the tablet camera.

  2. Download your version below. Most operators want the production app at the top of the list.

  3. Allow the install when Android asks, then open the app. Full install steps are further down.

Downloads

Download the app here.

Most operators want Production — the first card below. Earlier versions stay listed under it so you can roll back, and when we have a beta or alpha test build running, it is posted here too.

ProductionStart here · Recommended for everyone

Ditch Assist v1.5.4

For everyone doing normal field work. Required for DIG.

Version 1.5.4 is the current production app. It replaces v1.4 and every v1.5 test build, and adds drainage worked out on the tablet in LiDAR & Mapping with the new Drainage Planner, Ditch Assist Lite, receiver programming from the app (Emlid Diagnostics), fixed outlet depth, design edits that keep your progress, Terrace Simple Maintenance, the new Calibrate Elevation flow, Decimal Feet and DIG firmware updates. Earlier releases, including v1.4, stay available under Previous versions.

RecommendedVersion 1.5.4October 15, 2026Required for DIG

Tablet requirement: Try the standard build first — it is the right one for most tablets. For optimum performance, use a modern, powerful Android tablet with plenty of RAM, such as the Samsung Galaxy Tab A11+ we recommend. If the standard build will not install or run, use the older tablet download; performance may be reduced, and upgrading to a newer tablet may be necessary.

What's new in v1.5.4

Installing

  • From v1.2 or later (including v1.4 and every v1.5 build): install over the top. It updates in place and keeps your settings, calibration and saved work.
  • From Alpha 2.x, v1.0 or v1.1: uninstall the old app first, then install v1.5.4. Those builds were signed with a development key, so v1.5.4 can’t install over them. Surveys, designs and jobs saved on the tablet are kept; settings and the benchmark calibration are lost with the uninstall and must be re-entered.
  • Which download: the standard build (arm64-v8a) is right for almost every tablet. If your tablet won’t install it, use the older-tablets build (armeabi-v7a, for older 32-bit tablets).

New: LiDAR & Mapping

  • Drainage worked out on the tablet — Prepare Field still downloads the LiDAR over the internet, but flow lines, depressions and ponding are now worked out on the tablet itself, with the same method as Geo-Surface™ Pro. Nothing is uploaded or sent away for processing, and the results match what Geo-Surface Pro shows for the same LiDAR.
  • Ponding is ranked from Wet first to Wet last, with its own cutoff slider, so you can show only the spots that hold water first.
  • Depressions are drawn by depth, with shallow ones hidden. They are listed in Map Layers but start switched off; one tap shows them.
  • Flow lines are drawn in black, thicker for paths that drain more ground, and clipped to the field boundary.
  • Drainage Planner — for a field prepared on the tablet, tap Open Drainage Planner (on the Prepare Field completion screen, or on the field’s row in Saved Fields / DEMs) and drag the minimum drainage area slider (0.1 to 20 acres) to thin the flow network down to the paths that drain at least that much ground. Plan lines are purple, wider for bigger drainage areas, with arrows pointing downstream. Save plan keeps it as a named plan; saved plans load from Map Layers > Add Layer > Drainage plan.
  • LiDAR elevations read correctly — some US (3DEP) and Canadian (HRDEM) downloads had wrong or missing cells along the edges of the data, which also affected contours and the map elevation check.
  • Cached satellite imagery shows as soon as the map opens, LiDAR & Mapping opens on the tablet’s own location, and there is no red "connection lost" banner when you leave the control module Wi-Fi for the internet.
  • Fields prepared with an earlier version keep drawing exactly as before.

New: Ditch Assist Lite

  • Guidance with only a GPS on the blade — Ditch Assist Lite connects the app to an Emlid Reach RS3 or RS4 over the receiver’s own Wi-Fi hotspot, with no control module and no wires. It works on dozers, self-propelled scrapers and, on the farm, a tractor with a scraper, ditcher, blade or leveler. See Ditch Assist Lite for how it fits your machine.
  • Turn it on in Settings > Mode (Ditch Assist | Ditch Assist Lite). Ditch Assist stays the default on every install and update, and a LITE MODE banner heads the Home screen while Ditch Assist Lite is on. The in-app Manual has a Ditch Assist Lite chapter.
  • Every workflow works, and saved jobs from any workflow resume. Surveys, designs, chevrons, the profile chart, coverage and Auto-Nudge™ staged passes all work the same; you move the blade yourself. The app never moves the blade in Ditch Assist Lite: there is no Raise / Lower, Hold / Resume or automatic grading, and Rock Hit Detection stays off.
  • Excavation follows the receiver’s antenna, not the bucket tip, so it is a grade check between cuts. A reminder shows how to check from the same stick and bucket position each time. Live bucket-tip grade requires the Ditch Assist DIG Kit.
  • One license per receiver — the app shows a request code and a QR code that opens an email to sales@ditchassist.com. Enter the 10-digit unlock code we send back; it is checked on the tablet, with no internet needed. A licensed receiver also unlocks LiDAR & Mapping.

New: GPS receiver programming

  • The app programs your receiver — Settings > Emlid Diagnostics finds an Emlid Reach RS3 or RS4 on its hotspot and shows its settings against the Ditch Assist Base, Rover and Lite Rover setups. Tap Configure and the app programs the receiver section by section, checking each one. If a section won’t take after three tries, it stops and tells you what to finish in Emlid Flow. Works in Ditch Assist and Ditch Assist Lite.
  • Base corrections — the Base setup sends GPS, GLONASS and Galileo corrections every second. If the radio link can’t carry that, it drops them to every two seconds by itself and tries again.
  • Your LoRa channel and RS4 radio power are remembered, and an RS4 base gets a one-tap 500 / 1000 mW switch.
  • A note appears when the receiver’s firmware is older than the version Ditch Assist was checked on (RS3 33.1, RS4 34.8).

New: design and grading

  • Fixed outlet depth (Ditching and Tiling, Best Fit tab) — an OUTLET DEPTH button sets exactly how deep the ditch or tile must be at the outlet, for tying into an existing ditch, culvert or main. The design is worked out from the outlet back, so the far end can’t be left too shallow. An optional outlet transition eases a deep or shallow tie-in (an amber band on the chart), and Suggest picks the shortest distance that works. Off by default.
  • Keep My Progress (Ditching, Excavation, Terrace Simple Maintenance) — implementing an edited design over a job in progress lets you keep your worked surface and coverage map instead of starting over.
  • Edit the active design — an Edit Design button on the grading profile chart reopens the current design; changes save as a new revision.
  • Terrace Simple Maintenance — maintain an existing terrace from a single channel survey. The berm follows the finished channel at an adjustable offset (18 in by default), so there is no berm survey to drive.
  • Import a survey or design file (Ditching, Excavation, Tiling) — load an XYZ / XYZP file from the Load picker, for Geo-Surface Pro exports.
  • Bigger grading controls — HOLD / RESUME is the same size as START / STOP, and the terrace Channel / Berm selector is larger.

New: benchmarks and calibration

  • Calibrate Elevation sheet — the BM badge opens a sheet that says in plain words what you are calibrated to and when, and lists what you can calibrate to right now: saved benchmarks (nearest first), the loaded survey or the loaded design. Benchmarks have their own Benchmarks panel.
  • BM badge colors — green: calibrated this session. Amber: restored from an earlier session, so recalibrate before working. Grey: not calibrated.
  • Field Mode benchmark routine — entering a field with a benchmark prompts you to drive to it and calibrate. Surveys, designs and jobs remember which benchmark they were aligned to.

New: display and map

  • Decimal Feet — Settings > Units adds Decimal Feet next to Feet + Inches and Metric. Small measurements (cut/fill, nudge, blade height, tile depths) show in tenths of a foot.
  • Track-up or North-up — a map orientation button switches between them (Track-up by default), and the app remembers your choice.
  • Backing up no longer spins the map — in Track-up, the map keeps facing the way the machine faces while it reverses.
  • Image overlays (JPG + world file) load fully opaque, each with its own opacity slider, and can be added from a single .zip holding both files.
  • Update DIG module firmware from the app (Settings > DIG Module Firmware). The firmware is built into the app, so no internet is needed in the field.

Improved

  • Raise / Lower hold: the valve keeps moving for as long as the button is held, even if your finger drifts a little on the button.
  • Auto Hold explains itself: when grading holds for GPS quality, an amber bar says what it is waiting for and shows the current value.
  • RTK Sensitivity > Low now watches RTK Fixed status only and waits for about a second of steady RTK Fixed before resuming. Receivers that send no HDOP show "--" instead of a misleading 0.00.
  • RTK Filter OFF (for receivers such as John Deere StarFire SF-RTK that report DGPS while on RTK) now works for blade-height Auto Measure and benchmark averaging too. A greyed-out Start Survey now says why.
  • Pre-Flight Checks and GPS Info show live Wi-Fi signal strength and link speed, and a connected DIG module reads green.
  • Samsung tablets: if "Switch to better Wi-Fi networks" is on (it makes the tablet drop every Ditch Assist hotspot), the app warns once and takes you straight to the setting.
  • A DIG module that is connected but sending no position now says so, instead of reporting a lost Wi-Fi connection.
  • The Pre-Start elevation-mismatch check is now a switch under Settings > Pre-Start Safety, off by default (threshold 30 in).
  • Valve response defaults for new installs now match the Gen 1 app.
  • Small tablets (960 × 600): survey and grading top bars wrap instead of clipping.
  • Send Logs no longer says "Sent!" when the upload failed. Support logs record Wi-Fi strength, and only real crashes are labelled as crashes.

Fixed

  • Very large GeoTIFF or LandXML elevation files no longer freeze or close the app: oversize files are refused with a clear message, and the rest load in the background.
  • Bluetooth GNSS no longer leaks a connection on every dropout.
  • A rare crash when saving a design while the keyboard was closing.
  • False "connection lost" banners after waking the tablet.
  • Garbled arrows and minus signs in the Land Forming cut/fill legend.
  • Terrace and Auto-Nudge chart fixes: the current-pass line past pass 10, berm passes with Auto-Nudge, and the chart scale after a terrace job.
Standard build — most tablets Download v1.5.4
QR code

Scan with the tablet camera to download this APK directly.

Older tablets Download v1.5.4 for older tablets Only if the standard build will not install or run
QR code

Scan with the tablet camera to download this APK directly.

Previous versionsRollback · Still available

Earlier releases

For going back to the version that was working for you.

If a new version gives you trouble on your setup, share logs with support, then reinstall the version that was working for you while we fix it.

Ditch Assist appRollback option
Version 1.5.2 September 22, 2026 · Alpha test build
Download
QR code

Scan with the tablet camera to download this APK directly.

Download for older tablets
QR code

Scan with the tablet camera to download this APK directly.

What changed in v1.5.2
  • Released as an alpha field-test build. Go back to it only if you were running it before v1.5.4; if you came from v1.4, go back to v1.4.
  • Raise / Lower keeps the valve moving while the button is held; Auto-Detect finds every control module again; Emlid Diagnostics; the Samsung Wi-Fi-drop warning; the Pre-Start Safety switch; fixes for large elevation files and Bluetooth GNSS.
  • Includes everything from the v1.4.4 beta: the Calibrate Elevation sheet and Benchmarks panel, Field Mode benchmark prompts, Geo-Surface Pro file import, the DIG firmware updater, Keep My Progress, and Terrace Simple Maintenance.
Version 1.4 July 17, 2026
Download
QR code

Scan with the tablet camera to download this APK directly.

Download for older tablets
QR code

Scan with the tablet camera to download this APK directly.

What changed in v1.4
  • Field Mode (beta) — organize surveys, designs, jobs, and benchmarks by field, with a whole-field map view of every past run.
  • Saved field benchmarks — save a benchmark at a repeatable spot and recalibrate to it on any later visit; benchmarks show on the map with nearest-first guidance.
  • Calibrate to design grade — re-benchmark on a section already cut to grade instead of hunting for undisturbed ground.
  • Survey pause, Shot mode & Grade Check — survey around obstacles, take individual point shots, and read a live two-point grade.
  • Tile designer Guided & Freeform — pin or hand-shape the tile line, with amber/red cover-depth shading.
  • Tiling descent control — paced blade descent, a pitch-sensor notice, and a start-at-the-outlet check.
  • Fixes: surveys record in the calibrated elevation frame; new benchmarks no longer inherit a stale offset; Freeform Undo removes the right point; controller auto-detect stays consistent with manual selection.
Version 1.3.1 July 13, 2026
Download
QR code

Scan with the tablet camera to download this APK directly.

What changed in v1.3.1
  • Maintenance release: bug fixes and reliability improvements across grading, GPS handling, design import, saved jobs and surveys, and Bluetooth GNSS.
  • The profile chart now draws your graded (green) line on top of the design line when you reach grade.
Version 1.3 July 9, 2026
Download
QR code

Scan with the tablet camera to download this APK directly.

What changed in v1.3
  • Terrace grading: the berm target is now sent to the controller with look-ahead on (was aiming at the channel elevation).
  • A Bluetooth GPS receiver reconnecting in the background can no longer take over while grading on a controller.
  • Contour guidance: corrected steering geometry at terrain saddles; the Lightbar Full Deflection setting now works.
  • Tile design: the depth range stays consistent and no longer locks up or crashes the guided setup.
  • Safer saves: crash-proof file writes, no same-name overwrites, and in-progress survey recovery after a shutdown.
  • The grade alert sound stops when you leave the grading screen; LiDAR & Mapping unlocks only on a real controller or DIG connection.
Version 1.2 June 24, 2026
Download
QR code

Scan with the tablet camera to download this APK directly.

What changed in v1.2
  • In-app What's New section in the Manual, in English, Spanish, and Portuguese.
  • Session logs record the exact app version and build date for faster support diagnosis.
Gen 1 legacyFallback · Old app

Legacy Stable

For non-DIG machines still on the Gen 1 app, or when support asks you to drop back to it.

The field-proven Gen 1 app for non-DIG operators who need the legacy app, or for cases where support has identified an issue in the current app and asked you to use Gen 1 temporarily.

Gen 1 appNo DIG support10+ years field proven
Download Gen 1 Version 4.22.4 APK
QR code

Scan with the tablet camera to download this APK directly.

Install guide

Installing the app on a tablet.

If your tablet came from us, the app may already be installed. If you are installing on your own tablet, Android will ask for a few confirmations the first time.

Open this page on the tablet.

Use the browser already on the Android tablet that will run Ditch Assist in the cab. Downloading on a laptop first usually just adds a file-transfer step.

Uninstall the existing app first.

Before sideloading a new app file, manually uninstall the Ditch Assist app already on the tablet. This avoids Android install conflicts and keeps the update process predictable.

Tap the app version you need.

Use Production unless Ditch Assist support has asked you to use Legacy Stable or sent you a specific test build. DIG requires the current app. Android may warn that sideloaded app files can be harmful; continue only when the file came from this Ditch Assist page or direct support.

Allow install from this source.

On first install, Android usually opens a Settings screen for your browser or Files app. Turn on Allow from this source, then return to the downloaded app file.

Install, then open Ditch Assist.

After installation, open the app and accept the required safety terms. Grant the permissions the app asks for, including location/GPS, Bluetooth or nearby devices when used, and file access for jobs, logs, imports, and exports.

Install FAQ

Download and install questions.

Straight answers for getting the app onto a field tablet.

Install steps

How do I install the Ditch Assist app on my tablet?

Open this page on the Android tablet you use in the cab, uninstall the existing Ditch Assist app if one is already installed, tap the app version you need, allow install from this source when Android asks, install the app and open it, accept the required safety terms, then grant the permissions it asks for.

App store

Do I need an app store account to install it?

No. Ditch Assist is distributed directly from this website, not the Google Play Store. You install the app file directly on the tablet, which is why Android asks you to allow install from this source the first time.

Compatibility

What does the app need to run?

An Android tablet (we recommend the Samsung Galaxy Tab A11+), an RTK GPS source (on a kit, cabled to the module), and Ditch Assist kit hardware — a control module for implement automation and guidance, or a DIG module for excavator guidance. Ditch Assist Lite needs no kit hardware: only a GPS on the implement, no wires — an Emlid Reach RS3 or RS4 that connects to the tablet over its own Wi-Fi, licensed once per receiver.

Permissions

What permissions does the app ask for?

Location/GPS access, Bluetooth or nearby devices access when used, and file access for jobs, logs, imports, and exports.

Tablet requirements

Choose a tablet that will keep up in the field.

The Ditch Assist app runs survey, real-time GPS grading, mapping, and design work on the tablet. For reliable field use, match the app build to the tablet and choose enough memory for the maps and files you use.

Current tablet recommendation

Our standard tablet

We recommend the Samsung Galaxy Tab A11+. It meets every requirement on this page — bright 11-inch screen, current 64-bit processor, expandable storage, and years of Android updates ahead — and it runs the standard build. It is also the tablet we offer bundled with kits where requested.

Need a larger screen or a higher-spec tablet? We have several options for bigger displays and for power users doing heavy Land Forming, LiDAR, or all-day excavator work. Contact us and we will tailor a recommendation to your exact needs and usage requirements.

Two hard requirements for every tablet

  1. Android 7.0 or newer (API 24+). Android 6.0 / 6.0.1 and older cannot install any Ditch Assist build. Update the tablet operating system if an update is available.
  2. Use the build that matches the tablet architecture. Most tablets are 64-bit: install the standard arm64-v8a build first. Older 32-bit tablets, such as the Samsung Galaxy Tab A 2016 (SM-T580), need the separate armeabi-v7a build because the 64-bit build will not install.
Recommended minimum

Buy new at this level

This is the specification for smooth use across the app, including maps and LiDAR/DEM work.

  • OS: Android 11 or newer (API 30+)
  • CPU: 64-bit processor with performance cores, such as Snapdragon 680 / 685 / 695, Helio G99, or Dimensity 700 or higher
  • RAM: 4 GB minimum; 6-8 GB is more comfortable
  • Storage: 64 GB or more, preferably with microSD for offline map tiles, DEMs, and GeoTIFFs
  • Display: 10.1-11 inch, 1920 x 1200, 400+ nits; 500+ is better in direct sun
  • Battery: 7000 mAh or more, and able to run while charging
Absolute minimum

Older 32-bit tablet tier

This is roughly the tier of the older 32-bit tablet named above: it can run the app, but it will struggle.

  • OS: Android 7.0 (API 24), though Android 8.1 or newer is more realistic
  • CPU: Octa-core Cortex-A53 around 1.6 GHz, such as Exynos 7870 or Snapdragon 425-430
  • RAM: 2 GB, enough for core grading but with a real crash risk on maps and LiDAR
  • Storage: 16-32 GB
  • Display: 10 inch or larger, 1280 x 800; smaller screens can have layout problems and crashes
  • GPU: Mali-T830 MP1 class; expect map pan and zoom stutter

What to expect: core survey and real-time grading are usable. Map overlays and coverage grids may be slow. LiDAR and Mapping, DEM/TIN generation, GeoTIFF decoding, and large survey imports can be slow or crash because of low memory.

Older examples The Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+, Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite, Lenovo Tab M10 Plus (Gen 3), and Lenovo Tab P11 are still fine for most users — they are just likely becoming harder to find new.

Recommended floor for typical users The Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite is a well-known choice for normal survey, real-time grading, and map use. Every S6 Lite generation has 4 GB RAM, a 64-bit processor with performance cores, a 10.4 inch 2000 x 1200 display, microSD storage, and runs the primary arm64-v8a build. It is a much safer choice than an unknown budget tablet with 2 GB RAM or a 32-bit operating system.

Two caveats The S6 Lite's roughly 400-nit display is adequate, but a 500+ nit panel is better in direct midday sun. Heavy LiDAR and Mapping or DEM generation will work, but users who do that work all day should choose a 6-8 GB tablet with stronger graphics.

Land Forming users Choose a higher-spec 64-bit tablet with 6-8 GB RAM, a stronger processor, and ample storage. Land Forming work with larger design surfaces, DEMs, GeoTIFFs, and map data is more demanding than normal survey and grading, and benefits directly from the extra memory and processing headroom.

Excavator guidance users Choose the same higher-spec 64-bit tier, especially for long sessions on a single job file. More RAM and processing headroom help keep extended guidance, map, and job-file work responsive over a full day.

RAM matters most. If you upgrade just one item above the absolute minimum, move from 2 GB to 4 GB or more of RAM. That is often the difference between a tablet that struggles or crashes and one that runs well. More RAM is always beneficial for Ditch Assist workloads. The tablet must also support 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi to join the Ditch Assist controller network. Bluetooth is used with external GNSS receivers. Not sure about a tablet? Contact us before you buy and we will help confirm it is a suitable choice for your work.
Ditch Assist app home screen on a tablet
App overview

One app for every Ditch Assist workflow.

The app is the operator screen for Ditch Assist hardware: survey, design, calibrate, connect to GPS and the controller, then grade with the workflow that matches the job.

01
Each workflow has its own card on the home screen.

Ditching, Terracing, Land Forming, Simple Grading, Tiling, Leveling, Levee & Contour, LiDAR & Mapping, and Excavator guidance each open the tools needed for that job.

02
Design in the cab or import a design.

Build the design on the tablet with Slope-IQ™, Tile-Best-Fit or a constant slope; Auto-Nudge™ splits a cut deeper than one pass into several passes. Or import a file: XYZP, AGD or LandXML surfaces in Land Forming, LandXML in Excavator, and XYZ/XYZP surveys and designs in Ditching, Tiling and Excavator. KML, WMS and georeferenced image layers show on the field map under your live position, and a GeoTIFF DEM or point file can serve as the terrain for contour guidance.

03
Runs with Ditch Assist hardware and your RTK.

With a kit, the tablet connects to the Ditch Assist control module, or the DIG module on an excavator, and works with any compatible RTK GPS cabled to the module, including one you already own. With Ditch Assist Lite, it connects straight to an Emlid Reach RS3 or RS4 on the blade or implement — no module, no wires. Ditch Assist Lite runs every mode as on-screen guidance, plus LiDAR & Mapping: Auto-Nudge sets each pass's target and you work the controls. In Excavator mode, it checks grade between cuts with the Reach on the stick; live bucket-tip grade requires the Ditch Assist DIG™ Kit, a separate product.

04
Big buttons, three languages, and logs for support.

Large touch targets, a high-contrast Sunlight theme, English/Spanish/Portuguese language support, save/resume jobs, in-app manual, and session logs for troubleshooting.

See every app feature →
Display and units

Set the screen for the cab you are in.

Ditch Assist can run in a darker low-glare color scheme or a Sunlight scheme built for bright cab and field conditions. Operators can switch color scheme and units from Settings.

01
Dark or Sunlight theme.

Use Dark for lower glare and Sunlight when the sun or cab reflections make darker screens harder to read.

02
Imperial or Metric units.

Choose inches, feet, centimetres, and metres from Settings so the live Grade Guide and job screens match how your operators work.

03
Land Forming is metric.

Land Forming must be run in Metric because imported 3D design surfaces, benchmarks, and cut/fill calculations are handled in metric units.

Ditch Assist app grading screen in dark color scheme
DarkLower-glare display for shaded cabs, evening work, and operators who prefer a darker interface.
Ditch Assist app grading screen in daylight color scheme
SunlightHigh-contrast display for bright field conditions and direct cab light.
Feature requests

Have an app idea or workflow request?

Tell us what you want Ditch Assist to do, what job it would help with, and whether you would be willing to beta test it in the field. Submit requests through the contact form so we can follow up with the right questions.

Submit a feature request → Read what's new
Viability

Can the request be built reliably with the hardware, GPS data, files, and field conditions involved?

Benefit

Will it help a reasonable number of operators, dealers, or support cases rather than solving only one unusual setup?

Effort

How much development, testing, documentation, and support work is required before it can be trusted in the field?

Complexity

We may decline features that make the app harder to understand, even if they are technically possible. Keeping Ditch Assist simple is part of the product.

Try it live

Try it in your browser first.

Before you install anything, click through a browser build of the app — the core screens and workflows, no hardware needed.

Ditch Assist app home screen in the browser simulator