4 Pieces of Modern Equipment Used in Surveying and their Uses
Surveyors have a lot to thank technology for by way of measurement tools, but in many cases, these professionals rely on a range of processes and equipment to achieve accurate measurements from complex environments. Different pieces of survey equipment may perform better in certain situations, giving a surveyor a wide arsenal of options for the most efficient and effective assessment. These are some of the more modern pieces of equipment and what they may be used for.
1. Electronic Distance Measurement Instruments
Using electromagnetic waves, this device will measure the length between two points. It is convenient and highly reliable, and it is able to measure distances up to several kilometers. Three types of wave instruments may be used: infrared wave, microwave and light wave. In triangulation, this instrument is effective because of the precision and accuracy needed when measuring the baseline. A microwave instrument has the farthest range, with infrared being a short-range instrument. Versions of these instruments include:
• Tellurometer
• Total station
• Geodimeter
• Theodolites
2. Global Positioning System
More commonly referred to as GPS, the global positioning system was developed by the nation’s defense departments. There are 24 different satellites in orbit around the earth with a general altitude of 20,200 kilometers above the surface. The way these satellites have been positioned means allows for at least four of them to always be visible from any location on earth. There are three components to this system when used for surveying: the user segment, the ground segment and the space segment.
The surveyor uses a GPS receiver to determine the position of any point on the ground. The receiver takes in the signals from the satellites in space and computes the latitude and longitude of the position as well as the elevation of the specific point. This tool has dramatically increased the accuracy and reliability of data as well as increased productivity in the industry. The different features identified by GPS can be displayed in geographic information systems or on maps. One unique benefit of this equipment is the removal of line-of-sight visibility restraints.
3. Automatic Level
A surveyor needs to precisely measure angles and planes, and this data is more accurate when using an automatic level. It is a versatile piece of equipment that is convenient to carry and easy to set up, but it can be used for landscaping or grading. This optical survey equipment can verify or establish points on the same horizontal plane or measure height differences with vertical staff.
4. 3D Laser Scanning
One of the newer tech processes in the industry, laser scanning captures a significant number of images. This tool will analyze an environment or a real-world image for information based on its shape. The collected data is then manipulated to construct a 3D model of the space. This is particularly useful for measuring heritage sites or historical buildings and revealing geometrical complications.
Time has improved upon the different pieces of survey equipment available, and many of the changes have improved efficiency and accuracy in the field. To find a great selection of modern survey equipment from industry-leading manufacturers, shop with Engineer Supply.
