Carlson Software

Founded in 1983 by R. Bruce Carlson, Carlson Software is an independent, privately held company providing CAD design software, field data collection, and machine control products. While mining is a significant vertical, Carlson is primarily a surveying and civil engineering company. It is the largest provider of mine software for coal mines in the United States, with particular strength in Appalachian and Illinois basin operations.

The company expanded its mining hardware portfolio in 2017 with the acquisition of laser measurement devices (formerly MDL/Renishaw), adding underground scanners, rock profilers, and borehole deviation tools. Carlson Mining is positioned as an affordable alternative to larger platforms, particularly strong for smaller and mid-size operations and coal-specific workflows.