How To Use A Total Station

Surveying Process

The surveying process is a procedural one and, by following these instructions, yous should be able to survey an entire stage from beginning to stop.

The gild of the survey process:

physical setup of survey instruments
configure data collector
measure and shop points
move to another physical location (if necessary)
finish measuring points
export points

The survey procedure can take anywhere betwixt 1-5 hours depending on the size of the phase and visibility of targets. Stages with wires and lights in the way of the targets will have longer considering you will need to move the survey instrument to multiple locations to capture all points.

Required Equipment

Survey equipment tin vary depending on the application. For the purpose of surveying for Visual Effects and Previzion, you lot will need the following equipment:

Surveying_Intro2

Total Station with Reflectorless Mode– this allows the total station to take measurements without the use of a prism or reflective stickers.
Right Angle Center Piece – for surveying points overhead, a 90-caste heart piece makes it easier to meet the targets.
Full Station Tripod and Spreaders – the tripod and tripod spreader are important tools. Without these, the survey gun cannot be properly leveled.
Data Collector – this is a split piece of hardware that acts similar a handheld computer. The Data Collector is able to store and output bespeak data besides as configure the total station.
Bluetooth Data or Serial Data Cablevision for Information Collector – for the Data Collector to communicate with the Full Station, you lot will demand either Bluetooth connectivity or a hard wired serial cable connection. We recommend having a cable as Bluetooth often drops out in sound stages.

When working with professional person surveyors, their tools may differ. Read notes about this on Surveying for Visual Furnishings.

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The survey instruments often come up in their own transport bags or protective cases.

Physical Setup of Survey Instruments

When picking the place to set your survey instruments, keep in heed that the first place you lot set the survey tool will become the "Origin" of the survey. That will be the place where all measurements will be measured from.

Make sure the first physical setup has enough clear line-of-sight to the center of as many targets as possible.

Assembling Tripod and Spreaders

We start by assembling the tripod spreaders ortripod stabilizer. Thespreaders have three prophylactic rings and is made upward of three steel bars with threading and screws on the ends.

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With the rubber rings around the steel bars, bring together the two ends of the spreaders forming a triangle.
Unscrew the pollex screw and place the terminate without a thread on superlative of the threaded finish.
Identify the screw through the two parts and tighten firmly.
The spiral will be holding the parts together.
With the spreader on the floor, position one condom ring in each corner.
The ring should be in the space nether the raised bar on each corner.
We are ready for the wooden tripod.
Undo the leather loop and spread the tripod legs.
With the tripod upright, position each one of the legs' spike on the center of the thumbscrews on the spreaders.
Holding the tripod downward, stretch the safety ring on elevation of the tripod's human foot.
This should be done for each tripod leg. This makes the tripod and the spreaders motion as one.
Ane leg at a time, raise the tripod to a comfortable working summit. Disengage the butterfly spiral with ane manus and enhance the tripod with the other.
Finger tighten the butterfly screw at the proper meridian.
Echo this for each leg.
We will now remove the pinnacle mount screw comprehend.
Undo the large manus screw under the meridian mountain of the tripod.
Remove the summit cover.
At that place is a metal clip on the embrace.
Secure the cover on the raised side mounts on the tripod.
The cover should clip securely to the mount.
The tripod is at present ready for the survey gun.

Mounting the Survey Gun

The survey gun volition need to be mounted on the tripod and leveled.

Using both hands, identify the survey gun on top of the tripod. Align the spiral on the top of the tripod with the threaded hole in the base of the survey gun.
Yet holding the survey gun, firmly tighten the screw to the survey gun.
Even so holding the survey gun, bank check that the instrument is securely fastened.

Battery Compartment

Nosotros are ready to insert a battery to the survey gun. Locate the side of the gun with a minor latch.
The latch releases by pushing the gray tab down. This releases the latch.
Pull to open the small door for the battery.
Insert the proper battery with the pins facing down.
Gently shut the bombardment compartment door.
Lock the door latch by pushing the tab in.

Leveling the Survey Gun

In order to properly measure points, the survey gun needs to be properly leveled.

There are iii levels of leveling the survey gun: two analog and one electronic. Some survey guns are equipped with only 2 levels: one analog and one electronic.

First nosotros do acoarse leveling. Locate the coarse round chimera level. At this point, the bubble will not exist leveled.
Using the tripod legs, one at a time, level the survey gun looking at the coarse chimera level.
Repeat this process for each leg always looking at the circular bubble level.
Go the bubble every bit close to the middle of the bubble level as possible.
Side by side, we will do a semi-accurate leveling. For this, locate the long chimera level on the side of the survey gun. If your survey gun is not equipped with a long bubble level, skip to step thirteen.
Locate thepan lock and unlock pan by gently turning it xc degrees to a horizontal position.
Rotate the instrument to make the display parallel to two of the bottom leveling screws. There are three of these backleveling screws. Align the display to whatever two of them.
Using simply one of leveling screw at a time, rotate the screw to adjust the long bubble level. Spin the screw counter-clockwise (left to right) to make the bubble move right and clockwise (right to left) to make the bubble motility left.
You are done when the bubble is centered inside the 2 larger lines.
Rotate the musical instrument xc degrees. Aligning one of the sides of the gun square to ii of the alignment screws.
The other side of the survey gun will exist aligned with the third alignment screw. Rotate this screw to level the instrument. Spin the screw counter-clockwise (left to correct) to make the bubble move right and clockwise (right to left) to make the chimera move left.
Yous are done when the bubble is centered within the two larger lines.
Next, nosotros'll do anaccurate-leveling. For this, we will need to turn the instrument on. If the instrument is not turning on. Make sure you have a battery in the instrument.
Some total stations start up with the electronic tilt automatically. If your full station is already on the TILT screen, skip to step sixteen. If it does not go to the level, on the principal screen, locate and press FUNC to toggle the function keys.
When the optionTILTshows every bit one of the function keys, press that function cardinal. In the image below, we haveF2 as ourTILT.
This will bear witness a very accurate electronic version of the analog levels. We need to level the instrument as close to zero minutes and seconds equally possible.
But like earlier, use i leveling screw at a time to level the instrument. Note that, the adjustments should be very subtle at this point.
You are done when the tilt angles are close to zero. At this point, the instrument's leveling is then precise that continuing next to the instrument from unlike sides will offset the level.
This menu is also where, in some survey guns, there is a part button labeledL-ON. This will plough on a laser pointing down on the basis that bespeak the exact position of where theoccupy betoken is. (The electric current point that the survey gun is in.)
To exit this screen, pressESC. This takes y'all to the main carte.
You are set to setup your Data Collector.

Total Station Communication Setup

Total Stations sold by Lightcraft Technology are pre-configured to work with the serial cable as well as Bluetooth, when bachelor.

In case the total station was reset or is not communicating properly, navigate to the configuration menu every bit follows:

From the main screen, pressESC to come across the access to theCONFIGpick.
Using the "F" buttons, selectCNFG.
Using the arrow buttons, arrow down to highlightComms setup. Press the enter () button to enter the carte du jour.
Using the arrow buttons, adjust the settings as follows:
- Wireless: NO
- Baud Charge per unit: 9600bps
- Information $.25: 8bit
- Parity: Not set
- Terminate Scrap: 1bit
- Bank check Sum: No
- Xon/Xoff: Aye

Reflectorless Mode

To survey regular surfaces without the assist of a prism or retro-reflective fabric, you will need to ready the Total Station to reflectorless mode.

— Sokkia Gun

Next to the Battery Icon, at that place will be one of three icons indicating the mode the survey gun is in.
Reflectorless Mode has an icon with an arrow and a line
If you lot are seeing anything that is non this icon, press theSFT button toggling the modes until reflectorless style is selected.

— Sygnus Gun

Press the (*) (star primal) to view the musical instrument options.
Apply the Pointer upwards and Arrow Downwardly () to navigate to NP/P. NP and P stand for Due northon-Prism and Prism, or reflectorless and reflector style respectively.
Set the device to NP way, orreflectorless (Non-Prism)mode.
In the master display yous should run across theNP indicator showing the system is inreflectorlessmode.
This setting needs to be changed every time the survey gun is turned off. The survey gun will default back toprism (orreflector) style when information technology looses ability.

Connecting the Information Collector

Some data collectors are equipped with Bluetooth, merely information technology'south preferred to use the Serial cable for reliability over the grade of your survey.

The Information Collector cable has a Hirose connector on one end and a Series DB9 connector on the other.

Locate theDATA OUT orDATA port on the side of your survey gun.
This is oft under a protective embrace. Remove the cover to reveal the connector receptacle.
The male person end of the connector will have raised keys to register the position to insert the connector.
With the correct orientation, gently push button the connector until information technology clicks in place.
The Data Collector will have, normally at its bottom, a male DB9 connector.
Connect the Serial Cablevision to the Data Collector.
Use the pollex screws to lock the connector in place.
The back of the Information Collector should take a metal clip.
Use the metallic clip to residual the Data Collector on the side of the tripod.

Setting Upwards SurvCE

The Data Collector runs on a Windows Mobile Os. At that place is a small Windows icon in the upper left corner of the screen. This is the start bill of fare.

Tap on the start menu and select SurvCE.
This opens SurvCE and prompts you to either Go on Final Job or Select New/Existing Job. We will brainstorm with a newtask.
This will openSurvCE's documents or jobs.
Past tapping theName box at the bottom of the screen, yous will exist able to enter the name for your job. The SurvCe keyboard takes some getting used to, but all the functions are there.
Once yous have named your Job you are ready to continue to setting up the task parameters. Confirm past tapping on theGreen Check mark on the upper correct corner.
Next, check that your arrangement is setup for:
- Distance: Metric
- Angles: Degrees, Minutes, Seconds
- Nothing Azimuth Settings: Northward
- Project: U.s./..
Ostend past borer on the Light-green Check mark on the upper right corner.
The next screen confirms the measurements for the start indicate. This first point is our Occupy Bespeak, the indicate where the total station is currently sitting on.
- Signal ID, know to e'er leave it every bit a number. SurvCE auto increments the number to the side by side unused digit. We'll starting time with the number i
- Northing, Easting and Summit, make sure to set up these to 0.000 meters.
- Description will be "Abode", "Start" or "OP" (for occupy point). This needs to have messages in the name (alpha characters).
Confirm by tapping on the Greenish Cheque marker.
This will have us to the main screen. Next we demand to communicate with the Survey Gun.
The Survey Gun needs to be powered on and continued to the Information Collector with the Series Data cablevision. See Connecting Data Collector for instructions.
On the Information Collector, select theEquip tab. Then tap onFull Station.
This opensInstrument Setup'southwardElectric current tab. If yous take a known preset that is saved, y'all may load it hither. Otherwise, use the following settings to create your own setting and to save it.
- UnderManufacturer, select Sokkia or whichever is the correct manufacturer for your Total Station.
- Then select theModel of your Total Station from the dropdown menu. In this case, we are using a Sokkia SET 330R.
Under theComms tab, bank check that the connection is cabled with the following settings:
- Type: Cable
- Device: Cablevision or Generic
- Port: COM 1
- Baud: 9600
- Parity: None
- Data: 8
- Finish: i
You may have noticed that the Data Collector settings match the Total Station Communication Setup.
Nether theSettings tab, set the following to:
- EDM Mode: Fine
- Target Type: Reflectorless
- Prism First: -30mm
- BS Prism Offset: -30mm
- Target Sheet Offset: 0.0
- Compensator: Two axis
This tells the information collector to read points in reflectorless mode.
Under theInst tab, exit these settings to the default ones. They should be approximately:
- Temperature: 22.00 Celsius
- Atm. Pressure: 1024 hPa
- Zero Hz Angle to Target: Unchecked
Finally, back to Currenttab, nether the listing, selectSalve to salve these parameters for future use.Mention in the proper noun it's a "cable" connection.
Tap on theGreen Checkmarkfor both windows. This will make the survey gun beep a few times confirming that the settings were received from the data collector. IMPORTANT:If the survey gun does non beep, bank check your settings again and make sure the Serial data cable is plugged in correctly.The data collector will return to the master menu.

Identifying the Primary Side of Total Station

The Total Station orSurvey Gun has two identical sides. The display and all the buttons are identical on either side. All the same, all measurementsmust be done from the master sideof the musical instrument.

Whenever taking measurements, make certain to stand on theChief Side.

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The Master Side is indicated by the two adjustment knobs: tilt knob andpan knob.

MasterSide

TheDumb Side has the same LCD display and even so buttons, but you should not employ it when measuring points.

DumbSide

Backsight Setup

In order to measure points with the total station, the instrument needs a projection model that measures the distance of points based on the bending difference of an initial reference point in an Azimuth "heading". This is called backsight point.

Backsight defines the orientation of the coordinate organization. An easier mode to think about backsight is to compare it to a map where the backsight determines which manner is up.

In the master SurvCE window, select the Surveytab and then Store Points.
Next, we have theUnmarried Setup configurations. Pay attending to the settings on this window.
The first field is Occupy Point. You will discover that the Occupy Point is already entered. Information technology defaults to the number "1". When Setting Up SurvCE we save the first betoken, information technology becomes point number 1: the currentoccupy betoken.
The 2d field isInstr. Height, curt for "instrument" meridian. This is a measurement inmeters from the floor to the reference line on the side of the survey gun.
Identify the height reference line on the side of the survey instrument.
Apply a metric record mensurate to measure the summit of the instrument. Position the record measure equally square and vertical to the flooring equally possible.
Make sure to use measurements in meters. In the example shown, the tape mensurate is in centimeters: 151 centimeters is 1.51 meters.
Enter the proper superlative measurement in theInstr. Height field.
Next, we need to enter a number for Backsight Point. This field must be a number. Because we have not measured this signal however, we demand to enter the value past hand. Since signal ID 1 is ouroccupy bespeak, the next availablepoint ID isii.
Exit the other fields every bit they are:
- Backsight North Azi: 0˚00'00"
- Backsight HT: 0
- Use Backsight HT for Foresights: unchecked
We now need to measure the Backsight Point. Pick a location in the phase that is somewhat square to the greenish screen and "frontward" onto the screen. It'due south helpful to use a permanent marking on the stage itself or the green screen. In some instances, it'south easier to add a "quick stick" sticker to where you want to place your "frontward" axis (the x-axis in Previzion).
Turn thereference laser on by holding down the "Light" button until you hear the instrument click and the laser is on. WARNING Directly laser radiation can cause vision damage. Avoid straight center exposure. Practise not stare into the axle.
In lodge to properly point the instrument to a point, you demand to unlock both tilt and pan with their respective butterfly locks. To unlock thetilt knob, plow the lock 90 degrees counter-clockwise to make it horizontal.
Do the same to unlock the pan knob.
Using the laser as reference, you tin can at present roughly signal the tool station as shut to the center of the target every bit possible.
To lock the tilt knob, turn the butterfly lock clockwise past 90 degrees to arrive vertical.
Do the same to lock thepan knob.
With bothpan knob andtilt knob locked, apply the tangent rings to do fine adjustments to pan and tilt.
From the instrument's center piece, you should be both seeing the alignment cantankerous also as the bespeak in focus. This is how you know the point is properly measured.The laser alone can sometimes exist too wide when compared to the eyepiece'south bullseye.
Make sure that you are measuring the point standing in the Primary Side of the survey gun.
At present that the instrument is accurately pointing to our referenceBacksight Point, nosotros need to tell thedata collector to trigger a measurement and shop information technology. Back where we left off in theSingle Setup screen, press Backsight in the lower right corner of the screen.
A dialog window will prompt if we want to Continue in Reflectorless mode. PressYes, to continue.
Next, we are prompted to either enter signal coordinates or use a backsight Azimuth. PrintingUtilise Azimuth to go on.
Adjacent, we are prompted to either go back or continue to measure our backsight point.

PrintingGo along to enter the Backsightset angle window.
In theBacksightset up angle window, at the lesser of the page, pressSet Angle and Read. Note that the green bank check marker is grayed out.
This volition trigger the survey gun to click and make the laser glimmer.
The check mark is now green. Printing thegreen cheque marker to confirm.
This opens a dialog window prompting theDescriptionof theBacksight Point.
- As determined before, theBetoken ID must be a number. It should automatically be set to 2.
- For theDescription, utilise BP orBS for backsight indicate.
This takes us to the principalStore Points window.

Surveying Points and Focusing Instrument

With the survey gun properly setup, nosotros can get-go measuring points.

Option a fiducial board to start surveying. In the example beneath, we will survey the center board, starting with the fiducial marker numbered4500.
Turn thereference light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation on by holding down the "Lite" push until you hear the instrument click and the light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation is on. Alarm: Straight light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation radiation can cause vision damage. Avoid direct middle exposure. Practise not stare into the beam.
In social club to properly point the instrument to a point, you demand to unlock bothtilt andpan with their respective butterfly locks. To unlock thetilt knob, turn the lock ninety degrees counter-clockwise to make information technology horizontal.
Exercise the aforementioned to unlock thepan knob.
Point the instrument to the centre of the marker using the reference laser.
When the reference laser being close to the center of the fiducial marker, lock the tilt and pan knobs. To lock thetilt knob, turn the butterfly lock clockwise by 90 degrees to make it vertical.
Do the same to lock thepan knob.
For each point, you will need to know how to FOCUS THE Instrument. There are two focus rings: diopter ring (smaller) and focus ring (larger). When the ground glass cross pattern is blurry, adjust the diopter ring. Always start with the diopter band and move on to the focus ring after.
The eyepiece itself has a ring for diopter bounty. If you wear corrective lenses, to survey without your spectacles, you may use this band to focus the epitome.
Utilise thediopter ring to suit focus only looking at the footing glass cantankerous pattern.
The larger cylindrical black portion of the eyepiece is actually afocus ring. Use this just after adjusting thediopter ringfirst.
Utilize thefocus ring to arrange focus looking at the actual paradigm.
With bothpan knob andtilt knob locked, use thetangent rings to exercise fine adjustments to pan and tilt.
Using thepan tangent ring to move the ring until the prototype is aligned in the pan axis.
Do the aforementioned for the tilt tangent ring.
Move this ring until the center cross hair is aligned with the desired target.
The target is now gear up to be measured. Back in the data collector, we volition use the target number, in this case 4500 equally theDescription.
Input the clarificationas numbers just. In this instance, the lath being measured is number4500.
There are a serial of buttons on the top row of the screen: "R" for "read point", "S" for "shop indicate", "T" for "traverse", "O" for "commencement, etc. Printing "South" to read and store point.
You lot will then receive a confirmation of the current reading. This screen is very valuable.
- Pt ID – This field is automatically entered and shows the current bespeak ID. Betoken ID 1 is our currentOccupy Point, Point ID ii is the Backsight Bespeak, which makes the adjacent incrementally available point, ID number 3.
- HT – should always exist set to zero. This will automatically be set to 0.
- N:– is the "Northing" measurement, in meters.
- Eastward: – is the "Easting" measurement, in meters.
- Z: – is the "Elevation" measurement, in meters.
- Desc – this is the description of the bespeak and equally set in the previous screen, information technology should be the number of the fiducial circle being measured.
If all the numbers announced right, confirm by pressing theGreenish Check marker.
The new betoken will evidence in the mainstore points window like an overhead diagram.
As more points are measured, you will observe points beingness grouped in groups of five, like they are on the fiducial marker boards.

Continue adding points until your boards are all measured. Should y'all run into points that are occluded or out of sight, move the total station to another position using Resection beneath.

Resection Role

Oftentimes times, when surveying a phase y'all may demand to move to some other location either because not all points were visible from the starting time location or because you needed to move out of someone's manner.

For this and other uses, yous may Resection back into a survey. This part makes employ of 2 or 3 known points that you re-measure out from this new location. This will summate where the total station is and place information technology in the aforementioned coordinate space.

Once this new occupy point is calculated, you lot may proceed adding points to the survey.

For the Resection Feature, we will start SurvCE, but we will choose to: Continue Concluding Chore
In theSurveytab, selectResection.
This opens theResectionwindow.
Commencement with – and this isVERY Of import – entering the properinstrument height in meters.
Just like earlier, this is measured from the flooring to the horizontal reference line.
In the instance shown, the musical instrument pinnacle is 151 centimeters, which is i.51 meters.
Adjacent, tap on the point listing push to view all the points in the survey.
This opens a list, like a spreadsheet, with all the points in the survey. The first few columns don't show the targetDescription.
Whorl to the right to reveal the cavalcade. TheResection reference points can be any one of the v fiducial circles on a board. In this example we are using betoken 1850. Tap on the right row and commit with theGreen Check mark.
Dorsum in theResection window, thePoint ID field volition have the number of theSignal selected. Point the survey tool to the selected indicate. In this case, our Bespeak ID 12 is fiducial number1850.
When the survey musical instrument is properly aiming at the center of the reference marking, press READ to trigger the survey gun to shoot.
This volition trigger the survey gun to click and measure the point. In the data collector, and this isVERY Of import, in that location will exist a dialog window asking: Would you lot like to zero the instrument? Select NO!!!
The next window will have your reading results for this beginning reference point. Go outTarget Pinnacle at zero.
We volition need to do this again for a second and a third betoken.
After the second bespeak, the Calculate button will exist enabled.
Later the third bespeak is measured, printingCalculate. This volition openReview Resection window. Check height (Z:), which should be zero or shut to zero, unless you are at a stage where at that place are multiple levels or stairs where the total station is setup.
Adjacent, nosotros save the currentresectioned location as a new point. In theClarification, salvage it asRS1 orResection.
In theSurvey tab, select Store Points. The fields for Occupy Point, Instr. Height (Instrument Elevation) and Backsight Bespeak are all set according to the Resectionprocess. Instead of measuring another backsight point, ostend by pressing the green bank check marking.
You are now set to add more points to the survey.

Export Survey

To export the survey to use in Constellation Tool, use the Consign Role.

In theFiletab, selectImport/Export.
Then selectExport Ascii File.
In theExport Ascii window, select the following settings:
- Coordinate Order: North,East,Elev,Desc
- Delimiter: Comma
- Range:automatically selects all points
- All other checkboxes should be unchecked.
Salve the file with a unique name.