Store Points

Note: For the following discussion, line and polyline are analogous.

• Profile View: (icon) When the selected line has one or more vertex locations at an elevation other than zero (0), the profile view of the polyline can be viewed and optionally saved to a named Profile file:

  

• Source: Indicates the method that was used to generate the line.
• Type: Indicates the type of line.
• Code: If the Source of the line was from a Field Code, it can be change to an alternate code.
• Status: Indicates if additional vertex locations can be added to the line.

  Note: Using the Change option adds/removes the End Line Special Code to the last sequenced point of the line.

• Layer: Indicates the current layer upon which the line has been placed.

  Note: If the line was created as a result of Field Code, a Layer change is made into the actual Field Code Library file.

• View Attributes: Permits the viewing or setting of any GIS Attributes to be associated with the line.
• Camera: Permits the viewing or attaching of photographic information to the line.
• Delete Line: Permits the line to be removed from the Map Screen.

  Note: If the line was created as a result of Field Code, the points that created the line are maintained and the point descriptions are prefixed with a "/" character that the Field-to-Finish engine uses as an unprocessed description. In other words, everything after the "/" is added directly to the point description and is not considered a code and no further code interpretation is performed.

• Continue Line: Use of this button will continue the selected line from the last sequenced point of the line to the measured point.

  Note: If the line was previously Ended, the End Line Special Code will be first removed.

• New Line: Use this button to create a new instance of the line which begins at the closest vertex of the picked line and travels to the measured location.

  Note: The routine makes use of the Begin Line code and numerically incrementing the selected code (e.g. FL becomes FL1, first new instance of Fence Line) to represent the new line. In this way, new lines can start from a vertex location of an existing line without the need to re-survey it (which saves time and is particularly beneficial in high-traffic areas and when collecting fences, utility lines, etc).

Note: The methodology to determine how GNSS measurements are averaged is governed by the Point Averaging Mode.

• Min. Measurement count: When enabled, indicate the minimum number of measurements that need to be obtained for the active session.
• Time in minutes: When enabled, indicate the minimum amount of time that must elapse for the active session
• Standard Deviation: When enabled, indicate the maximum allowable standard deviations (Horizontal and Vertical).
• Redundancy Sessions: When enabled, specify the number of additional sessions that should be recorded.
• Time Delay: Indicate the amount of time that must elapse from one session to the next.

Note: If IMU is enabled and calibrated, the average position will adjust for the tilt of the pole.

At the conclusion of the session(s), the results will be presented. The use of the Horizontal and/or Vertical component(s) of the session(s) and/or their individual measurements can be disabled/enabled.

Dist/Ang tab

The Distance/Angle method (commonly used for center of tree coordinates) requires two measurements. The first measurement is the distance, followed by the prompt to read the angle.

In the case of measuring a tree, where the goal is to shoot the center of the tree, you would take a shot to the side of the tree, equivalent to the distance to the center of the tree. Then you would take a second measurement to the middle of the tree, for horizontal angle only.

Note: For the elevation of the point, you can use the distance measurement or the angle measurement (second reading), and apply the vertical offset, if any, accordingly.

After both measurements are taken, the results are displayed which can then be saved through the Store button.

Point tab

The Point Offset method takes a measurement and adds a distance relative to the line-of-sight in all three directions (Left/Right, In/Out, Vertically Up/Down) from the measured point:

When taking multiple measurements in traffic or other conditions where you must move away quickly, one technique is to use the Point method. You would perform a Read and enter 0 for all offsets, then Store. For subsequent measurements, simply set the preferred distance(s) and description and tap Store again (no additional Read is necessary). Additionally, some office software programs require distinct readings on the same point to process multiple point descriptions, in which case the use of Offsets to store multiple readings with one field measurement is recommended.

Note: Within the Point method is a Settings (gear) button that permits control of whether or not a recent measurement should be cleared upon a Store operation.

2-Point tab

The 2 Point method creates a 3D "vector" from two points where the offset direction, distance, and vertical offset are computed from the delta N, delta E and Delta Z between the two points.

The offset entered will extend the vector from point "P2" in the direction of "P1" to "P2". The vector offset will also impact the elevation that is calculated.

Ang Rdgs tab

The Angle Readings tab allows for angle-only measurements to be stored in the raw file.

Settings tab

When the active piece of equipment is a robotic total station, additional Settings can be configured from within the Offset routine:

• Laser Settings: Permits the configuration of an attached Laser Peripheral device.
• Robotics: Permits the current robotic total station orientation to be reconfigured.
• Read target height from laser: When enabled, the Laser Target Height value will be used.

Distance/Angle Method

In the Distance/Angle method, offsets can be:

• specified manually by choosing the Offset tab, or,

  

  

• read digitally with a laser, by choosing the Laser tab (when enabled and configured under Equip - Peripherals).

  

  For more accurate offsets, lasers can be used for either the distance (with direction and vertical offset entered by the user) or for both distance and direction (where the laser gun includes compass directions). Laser measurements are popular on construction sites and mine sites where it is dangerous to stand beneath highwalls and unstable rock conditions. Readings are taken from a safe location to the rock or dirt face. They are also useful for utility pole surveying and other forms of "windshield" surveys. The laser devices are often mounted on the pole beneath the GPS antenna. Special poles are available that offset around the lasers, allowing them to mount vertically, in-line with the center of the pole. If the antenna height is 2.5 meters, and the laser is mounted 0.7 meters below the antenna and 1.8 meters above the ground, you would enter 1.8m as the laser height. Offsets are read automatically from the laser attached to the communications port. Upon triggering the laser, you will see the reading displayed in terms of up to five parameters:

  1. Horizontal Offset
  2. Vertical Offset
  3. Azimuth
  4. Distance
  5. Zenith Angle

  In order to expedite the data collection process, the methodology for reading an offset from the laser has been optimized so that you do not need to touch your PC between shots. This option can be enabled by selecting Multiread Laser.

  If you are a first-time user, it is recommended that you disable this option. If Multiread Laser is disabled, pressing Read Laser will pop up a dialog asking you to trigger the laser. From here, you can either cancel, or fire the laser to record the shot.

  If Multiread Laser is enabled, when you press Read Laser, a dialog will appear asking you to trigger the laser. Each time you trigger the laser, a new shot will be collected, and if there was a previous shot, it will be automatically stored. Between shots, the laser reading and the offset-adjusted position to be stored are displayed. If Auto GPS Update is enabled during peripheral setup, a new GPS position will be read for each shot. If a bad reading is taken, you can prevent it from being stored by pressing Reject Last Shot. When finished, click Exit Shot Sequence.

When all necessary data has been entered, you'll be able to store by tapping Store, or preview the point you're storing by selecting Map or Results:

Intersection Method

Use the Intersection method to calculate a point based on two GPS positions and two distance offsets. The distance values can either be manually entered or input with a Peripheral - Laser.

Press Read Point 1 to read the first point from GPS and enter the distance of the point to be stored, or press Read Dist 1 to read this distance from a laser (use the Settings button to access the laser settings). Repeat this process for the second point. After you have two GPS positions and two distances that form a valid triangle, review the Results.

If valid data has been entered, the result will appear and you can adjust the GPS antenna height, or specify a vertical difference for your target point. You can also specify the point ID and description for the point that will be stored. The intersection method generates two solutions, so you will have to select which one you want by clicking the appropriate radio button.

2 Points Method

Use the 2 Points method to calculate a point based on two GPS positions and a distance from the second point.

If Straight is selected (lower right dropdown), the distance offset from the second point is along the 3-D vector created by the two GPS points. If Left or Right is selected, the offset is perpendicular to the 2-D vector created by the two GPS points, and the second point's elevation is used as the elevation of the resulting point.

Tilted Pole Method

Use the Tilted Pole method to calculate a point based on three or more tilted GPS measurements.