Topo Survey

The optical topo survey can be conducted as collection of:

Shots to targets can be taken in one of two modes:

Data collection is available in Normal (dialog) View and Map View.

On any survey dialog you can:

Context menu

The dialog's context menu is displayed on a right-click in empty space of the map. The menu includes the following items:


Pop-up menu

The pop-up menu includes additional options which can be useful during the survey. The menu content depends on the job configuration. The items with small arrows have sub-menus. Clicking on such a menu item opens a subset of items.


Sideshot-Direct: Normal

The Sideshot-Direct dialog contains the initial data for single sideshots and displays the information during survey. The measurement to a single point is taken using the Direct position of the Total Station.

The dialog contains the Status panel along the top.

To perform surveying:

  1. Enter the name of the current Point. During the survey the numerical part of the name changes automatically by one.
  2. Set Code and attribute information for the point. Code needs to be defined at the time it is entered if it is not a code that exists in the Codes dialog
  3. Enter a text Note for the point.
  4. Enter the height of the reflector. Type the value manually or click the button with current reflector icon to select one of the previously used values from the context menu. If prism is used as a target you can also quickly review or change its configuration: select Edit from the context menu to open the Prisms dialog.
  5. Take measurements. More...

Sideshot-Direct: Map

The Map tab shows the points in the graphic mode. The buttons on the right duplicate the controls on the Normal tab.

The Map View contains:

Context menu

The dialog's context menu is displayed on a right-click in empty space of the map. The menu contains the following items:


To avoid cluttering of the elements displayed on the map at the current zoom level, they are combined. Closely positioned points are displayed as a single point with a bracketed number of hidden points next to its name: for example, P001{5}, where 5 is the number of hidden (not displayed) points. If there are more than 99 cluttered points, they will be displayed as {99+}. Hidden elements become visible with the further zoom in.

Note: When measuring points for multiple lines or areas, you may need to extend an existing line or area. As a rule, you have codes and strings assigned to each of them. To extend a line or area, simply click it - this will instruct MAGNET Field that selected line (area) should be extended with the point you are going to measure next. You can identify your selection: the code in the bottom part of the dialog will be selected automatically.

The line will be extended depending on the side the line is clicked.


If you are using Quick Codes buttons, you can press and hold on the necessary Quick Code. In the context menu that appears, there are the +/- items.

If the quick code/string value is a number, the code/string number will increment/decrement, respectively. This allows to increase or decrease the code/string number in a simple way rather than having to type in the number.


Sideshot-Direct/Reverse

The measurement to a single point is taken using the Direct Position and the Reverse Position of the Total Station (i.e., Plunge - Flip and Rotate the Total station by 180 degrees to get the reverse measurement). One set consists of one direct and one reverse measurement. These measurements are used to eliminate the Vertical circle centering errors.

This dialog behaves similar to the Sideshot-Direct dialog except that one measurement constitutes a set of readings rather than a single one.


Traverse

If you select Traverse survey, the occupation point will automatically change to the previous foresight point and the backsight point will automatically change to the previous occupation point. The Backsight dialog will automatically update for the next occupation point.


Offsets

Switch to an appropriate offset task to determine inaccessible points by setting offsets from measured points as required:

Horizontal Angle Offset

Determines a point using the horizontal angle from one point and the distance to another.

Horz-Vert Angle Offset

Determines a point using the horizontal and vertical angles.

Distance Offset

Determines a point giving you the ability to add or subtract distances, horizontally and vertically.

Hidden Point

Determines a point on the ground surface with a slanted rod touching the ground point.

Two Line Intersection

Determines a point by the intersection of the two lines. Each line is defined by two points or two measurements.

Line and Corner

Determines a point on the corner using one line defined by two points and a horizontal angle measurement.

Line and Offset

Determines a point that is in a distance from a line defined by two points.

Plane and Corner

Determines a point (Corner) by a plane defined by three points and horizontal and vertical angle measurements.

Column Offset

Determines horizontal and vertical (3D) coordinates of center point (inaccessible point) of the column or tree using the distance and angle measurements.

Vertical Search Offset

Determines a point using the horizontal angle of the ferrule of the pin-pole and the vertical angle and slope distance of the prism.



Survey Cross Section

To perform the survey of the cross section:

  1. Select between Road, H Alnt and None as required.
  2. Enter the name of the Road / Horizontal alignment manually or select it from the list .
  3. When no alignment is selected (None), enter the Centerline Code from the drop-down list. Click the Code button to set attributes. More...
  4. The centerline code must be a valid line code to apply to the surveyed points for creating the alignment.
    If the road has not been set, define the plane. On the first station, the survey is performed so that every next point has a different code, for example A, B, C, cl, D, E, F. Press to automatically change the station number. The application suggests that the survey on the next station uses the same codes in the opposite order: F, E, D, cl, C, B, A. The line is created along the points with the cl code.

  5. Set the Station where the cross section is surveyed.
  6. Enter the Interval of distance towards the next station.
  7. Select the Use Horizontal Transition Points check box to include transition points, in spite of the station distance.
  8. Click to perform measurements of sideshots in Direct or Direct/Reverse mode.


XSect-Direct

The points are surveyed similar to the Observations from the Sideshot-Direct Dialog.



XSect-Direct/Reverse

The points are surveyed similar to the Observations from the Sideshot-Direct/Reverse Dialog.



Pole Measurement

The Pole Measurement dialog allows you, when conducting a x-section survey, to create a point calculated as an offset from the point that was measured with a GNSS receiver or TS.

Taking pole-measured points is useful when you are unable to measure them directly.

Mind the following:


To create a pole point:



Find Station: Input

The Find Station: Input tab is used for the identification of the station by computing the distance from the beginning of the road to the projection of the measured point to the road, and the offset of the measured point from the center line of the road.

  1. Enter the name of the Road / Horizontal or Horizontal and Vertical alignment manually or select it from the list .
  2. The name of the point to Find Station to store after taking a measurement.
  3. The code and attributes of the Point. The code can be entered manually or chosen from the drop-down list.
  4. The button retains the value of the reflector height for the backsight point. You can edit this value, if required, using the field next to it. Additionally, you can edit prism constant by clicking the button and selecting Edit. More...
  5. Click to compute the offsets of a known or measured point.
  6. Take measurements to an unknown point.


Click to open the pop-up menu containing additional options. More...


Find Station: Results

The Find Station: Results tab shows the results of the computations for the Find Station, the Station (chainage) and Offset of the measured point from the center line of the road.

Click the button to save the computation results to *.txt file format.

Click to open the pop-up menu containing additional options. More...


Find Station: Map

The Find Station: Map tab shows the results of the Find Station in a graphic mode.

Click to open the pop-up menu containing additional options. More...


Tape Dimension

The Tape Dimension dialog allows you to calculate the periphery of structures, such as buildings, that have features perpendicular to each other. This is done using tape measurements, relative to two known points that belong to one side of the structure (wall of the building), forming the reference line:

  1. Set the reference line in the Ref Line tab.
  2. Perform measurements in the Tape Dim tab.

Reference Line

In the Reference Line tab, set two points to define the reference line:

  1. In the Start Point field either enter the name for an existing point to start the line (can be entered manually, or chosen from the map or list), or click to measure and save the point.
  2. In the End Point field either enter the name for an existing point to end the line (can be entered manually, or chosen from the map or list), or click to measure and save the point.

Tape Dimension

To survey the points in the polygon with the reference line shown in the plot:

  1. Enter the name of the next Point in the survey.
  2. From the drop-down menu, select the Code for the point being measured. Click to set the point's attributes if required. More...
  3. Toggle between Dist Left and Dist Right values as required. These set the direction of the next movement, relative to the previous direction. Enter the distance to move in the field below.
  4. Click Accept to apply the entered distance to the perimeter line.
  5. Click Finish and select from the floating menu an option you want:


From the pop-up menu you can select:


Results

In the Results tab, observe the initial data and current results of the taped measurements and click to save the data to a *.txt file if required.


Map

The Map tab shows the results of the Tape Dimension in a graphic mode.


Surface

To perform survey and create or append to a real-time Surface:

  1. Enter surface information.
  2. Perform surface survey. More...
  3. If in Volume Input you select the Use Alnt check box and enter a valid road, you can view the current station and center line offset, on the map and video tabs, by selecting those labels from the value selection display.

    Select Volume Report from the pop-up menu to view the stockpile/pit volume report while you are performing survey.


Missing Line

The Missing Line dialog emulates the total station measurement from one point to another and stores the result to the Raw Data database.

  1. In Start Point field enter the name and code for an existing point to start the line (can be entered manually, or chosen from the map or list). Alternatively, you can click to measure and save the point.
  2. In End Point field enter the name and code for an existing point to end the line in the same way.
  3. Select the Check Measurement check box, then click if you want to take measurements and check them before saving.

Data

The Data tab displays the results of the measurements and the differences dHD, dVD, and dSD as they are shown in Raw Data.

If required, click to save the results into a file.


Map

The Map tab shows the relative position of the points and the measured line.


Set Collection

To conduct a survey with the sideshot measurement method of Angle/Dist Sets-Dir/Rev, follow the Set Collection wizard:

  1. Set up the survey. More...
  2. Configure the mode settings. More...
  3. If required, enter observation information. More...
  4. Optionally, define the points to be measured. More...
  5. Perform the measurements. More...

Angle/Dist Sets-Dir/Rev

In this method for the measurement to a single point, the instrument will use the specified Angle sequence to perform repeated measurements. The sequence of four measurements constitutes one set. One measurement is the backsight in Direct phase or the Foresight in Reverse phase in two positions of the Total Station. These measurements are used to eliminate centering errors in the horizontal and vertical circles.


Setup

Set up the backsight for measurements if this is not done:

  1. In the Occupy field, set the occupied Point, where the total station is located, and the height of the instrument HI in the current units. More...
  2. In the Backsight field, set the backsight Point or Azimuth and enter the height of the reflector. More...
  3. Select the Observation info check box to enter information about observation conditions. More...
  4. Click Next.

Config

To configure the mode settings:

  1. Select the Angle Sequence of measured angles. There are six possible sequences of measurements where FS is a foresight point (the next occupation point), BS is a backsight point (the previous occupation point), and Plunge term stands for flipping and rotating the total station telescope by 180 degrees. These are used for the reduction of the angle errors.
  2. Select the Class with the appropriate number of sets and tolerances. Click to edit the classes. More...
  3. The Set circle to field is only available if Angle Sequence starts with BS and displays the horizontal circle reading corresponding to the backsight point. The icon next to the BS Circle field brings up the floating menu that enables you to set the BS Circle value to zero or azimuth, to input a value or to get from the instrument, or to change the value by +/- 90 or 180 degrees. The software retains the previous setting for this drop-down list.
  4. The Set circle at start of each new set option is selected to enable setting the horizontal circle reading corresponding to the backsight point at start of each set of angle measurements.
  5. If required, select the Auto turn check box to automatically advance to the next set in the survey. If this option is selected, when each set is complete, the total station will automatically advance to the next set and continue the operation. If it is not selected, when a set is complete, the user will be prompted to advance to the next set.
  6. Use the Auto accept measurement check box to define auto-storing measurements:
  7. Select the Predefined points check box to define the points to be measured. More...
  8. Click Next.

Observation Info

In this dialog, enter the information needed for a report:

When finished, click Next to proceed.


Predefined Points

This dialog contains the list of points you can define before the first Angle Set measure. The columns are:

The buttons serve the following purposes:

Clicking the Add or Edit opens the dialog, where you can:

  1. In the Point field, enter the name of the point.
  2. Enter Code and attribute information for the point.
  3. Enter the height of the reflector. Type the value manually or click the button with current reflector icon to select one of the previously used values from the context menu. If prism is used as a target you can also quickly review or change its configuration: select Edit from the context menu to open the Prisms dialog.
  4. From the Target Type drop-down list, select one of the available methods of distance measurement with EDM - Prism, Sheet, Non-Prism, or Long Non-Prism. The selection depends on the instrument you use.
  5. From Backsight P.C./Foresight P.C., select prisms for backsight and foresight measurements. If required, click the button to Edit Prisms.

Set Collection

This dialog behaves similar to the Sideshot-Direct dialog except that one measurement constitutes a set of readings rather than a single one.

After finishing the set, the Set Collection: Meas Set dialog will be displayed.

The icon brings up the pop-up menu of additional options. More...


Set Collection: Meas Set

The dialog contains the data collected during the measurements, grouped by sets (one set for Multiple mode contains two measurements; one set of the Repeat mode contains four measurements). The columns are:

The buttons serve the following purposes:


TS Manual Entry

This dialog allows you to enter observation data manually. They can be:


Auto Topo

This function is activated only with Robotic instruments and allows you to collect points by Time or Distance according to your preference to conduct the survey.

  1. The Point field displays the current point name. You can change it.
  2. From the drop-down menu, select the Code for the point being measured. Click to set the point's attributes if required. More...
  3. Enter the HR (the height of the reflector).
  4. Click to start the survey process. After pressing, the button changes to to stop the process.
  5. Click to immediately store the current position.

For a description of other buttons, refer to Status and Tools Panels (Optical survey).

Click to change the sideshot mode, if required. More...

Click the EDM button to select the distance measurement mode as required.

Click the icon to open the pop-up menu of additional options. More..

To avoid cluttering of the elements displayed on the map at the current zoom level, they are combined. Closely positioned points are displayed as a single point with a bracketed number of hidden points next to its name: for example, P001{5}, where 5 is the number of hidden (not displayed) points. If there are more than 99 cluttered points, they will be displayed as {99+}. Hidden elements become visible with the further zoom in.


Monitor Pointlist

The Monitor function measures one or more prisms repeatedly and uses the measurements to detect changes in the position of the prisms. The measurements are recorded into the raw data file. Optionally, the raw measurements or the computed points can be outputted to a file or communication port in either the FC-6 or GTS-7 formats. The output format and destination is accessed from the Monitor Options dialog when configuring the total station.

The Monitor Point List dialog allows you to monitor points from a predefined point list.

  1. Select the predefined Point List. It can be chosen from the List of Point Lists dialog (by clicking ) or entered manually.
  2. The list of currently selected points will display. Set the desired sequence of points.
  3. Enter the height of the reflector. Type the value manually or click the button with current reflector icon to select one of the previously used values from the context menu. If prism is used as a target you can also quickly review or change its configuration: select Edit from the context menu to open the Prisms dialog.
  4. Click Next to initiate monitoring. More...

From the pop-up menu you can select:



Monitor

To control the monitor survey:

  1. The name of the Point to be measured displays.
  2. Set the Cycle Time period. It is the total time for a complete sequence or cycle. If there is time left after a sequence is completed, the instrument will wait the appropriate amount of time before restarting the sequence. The monitor function will always complete the entire sequence, even if the measurements take longer than the cycle time.
  3. In the Retries field you can specify the number of repeated measurements of a point, if the first measurement failed.
  4. Configure the Auto parameter:

  5. Note: If no prism is found or no valid measurement can be returned, an error message is displayed. After closing the displayed error message, the routine continues with the next point.

  6. Click to initiate the sequence of measurements, which repeats at the desired interval.

The status bar includes the following icons.

The icon brings up the pop-up menu of additional options. More...