Site Measuring Revisited Again

[Kirk Bianchi]

Thanks Andrew! How did you handle complex sites where you have to move the tripod around to various areas, collecting more than 30 points?
I’m using Vectorworks. Thought someone in the thread was.
Kirk

[Andrew Garulay, RLA]

I set up and take 30 shots and then save. If I need more from the same location, I start again by taking the reference points again (usually two house corners on the same face and top of foundation or threshold) and continuing. I often need to relocate, but follow the same protocol.

I use a more stable surveyors tripod because the one in the kit is hard to set up firmly on turf or mulch. It is also very easy to level the instrument by adjusting the leg lengths. It is just a circle bubble on the base that attaches to the tripod. After that you just select the function for doing the dxf which then prompts you to tilt the head of the device to confirm level – you have to turn it 90 degrees two more times so that the automatic leveling is fine tuned – takes a total of maybe a minute to set up and take the first shot.

It is good to have some things you can use for a target for those odd instances where you are shooting something flush with grade (a tennis ball, tape measure, or a rock suffices).

[Kirk Bianchi]

Ok the leica rep was trying to upgrade me to the Disto 3D which he said was infinitely easier to relocate. Small jump in price. I also found a local service which will do a leica BLK 360 cloud laser scan affordably. I’m going to try that Monday, to see if the cloud is too cumbersome to work with. Have you ever worked with the the cloud data that the BLK 360 generates?

[Andrew Garulay, RLA]

No, I have not worked with the other units. I get by very well with the 910, so no strong desire to upgrade. Most of my jobs have fairly complete surveys anyway. I use it to supplement if they don’t get all of the trees, or if it is a small job like adding a swimming pool to an existing house. It does not replace a survey crew on a full site, but does a good job locating things in relation to each other.

If topo is important, I use a zip level to get spot elevations on the ground, but again, I usually get a surveyors dwg with lots of spot grades and contours.

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