Surveying and Setting Out in Construction for Beginners

The truth is a total station is a combination of theodolite, EDM, hardware & software- a really great piece of equipment if we think about how it was to measure, set, find the points in the past.

TS on site should come as a full set (Tripod, Pole + Prism & Clamps, Controller & Holder, Total Station). You should use it as a set as the Pole type will match the Prism type and only in this case you can use the level grading on the Pole - see Prism Types and Measure Modes Lesson.

Like with all equipment - visual check of the set and calibration certificate check!

*please watch full error check video from resources!

Total Station errors checked on site

Hz collimation error

V index error

Tilting Axis error

On site we call it 2 face check, as what we will be doing is a quick check really -  will checking the horizontal and vertical circles collimation and any discrepancy in ‘closing’ the circle will be our error.

This checks will be regular monthly checks on site, but please be aware that a calibration using a check&adjust option is also required from time to time (see attached photo)

Site '2 face' check:

H (face 2) - H (face1) should be equal 180 00" 0' ---> [H(face2) - H(face1)] - 180 < ITP limit

V (face 1) + V(face 2) should be equal 360 00" 0' ---> [V(face 1) + V(face2)] - 360 < ITP limit

Error checked this way contains error from 2 measurments thus double the instrument error!

example:

Doesn't matter if it's '+', or '-' (we're getting the absolute value) - limits have to be taken from the ITP document as these will be site specific - although we're typically good within 10' (ten seconds) error. ITP might refer to the error check which will equal half of our calculation, or just give you the limit for a site 2 face check (like above)

Please watch the video from the resources, but don't calibrate the TS yourself yet!

Even when come from the factory the TS have some errors and needs a calibration. I don't want you to do calibration of the instrument, but to check the error and if it is bigger than allowed by ITP document you need to report it and your Engineer, or Senior Engineer will calibrate it, contact hire team, or send for replacement.

This course shows Leica VIVA, but as all are similar you will easy change for another one. At this level I want you to understand how to set your TS and how the programs/apps working. I will be teaching Captivate and iCON as well.

Basic settings - mm etc etc

scale factor 1.0

go through the settings Greg :)

1. Find a 'safe' place for the setup

2. Make sure you can see & shoot 3No targets (Control points), target distribution is important too, as the TS calculates position based on angles and distances, so ideally you would like the targets to be 90deg in between, quite far from you and be able to shoot them with your laser as close to perpendicular to target as possible.

3. Set your tripod - on concrete be careful so it won't slide, or use a tripod star / tie the legs. When setting on the ground - drive the legs in as much as you can as tripod has to be set solid in. Try to be as far from any machines operating as vibration will have an impact on your setting out.

4. Take the TS out of the box and level it on the Tripod using a Tribrach bubble.

5. Turn on, finish the levelling and start the Resection app - Look for 'targets' through a viewfinder first (white cross) above the eyepiece and then jump to the eyepiece and focus (vision & crosshair) on the target

6. Use minimum of 3No targets for the resection - you will know the real error, will be working within it too if target distribution is correct (ideally ar. 90º between the targets, targets far from the setup)

Survey App will serve us for the pre works surveys, as builts, setting up a new targets/control point, transfer heights

Stakeout will be used to mark the point and also checking the existing points (drainage pop ups etc) We'll also use a stakeout for as builts - measuring and saving the position of elements in the stakeout app eg. piles

Please also watch the video from the link to see how marking looks in the field / on construction site

Reference Line is probably the most important app for us engineers. Whenever we marking a line it's actually from the app, when picking the lines from the map we're still working through ref. line program. With latest Total Station it's getting easier and easier, but it's important to understand how the program works depending on Line orientation.

Please watch the Marking Lines in the Field Video --> in resources for this lesson

Please watch the vidoes from the links provided for lessons above - surveying, marking a point, marking a line.
Congratulations and wish you all the best in your construction journey!