Question for you big city surveyors

Wendell,

Please move to the appropriate forum, just realized I posted in Education and Training.

Thanks.

We always dropped it off close with a couple guys and one went and parked the truck and walked back.

Never been in a big city, but way way back, we officed in the downtown part of town, where the streets had 1 hour parking limits in front of the building our 2nd floor office was on.?ÿ We would hopefully find a parking spot, and carry stuff into the lobby, then one guy go park the truck.?ÿ Bumping into people was not a concern, because unless there is an event, downtown has almost nobody on the sidewalks.?ÿ Our community just isn't one that walks anywhere.?ÿ (The city installed black sidewalks with a shiny mica substance in the late 1950's?ÿ The black on a 100 degree day, Boy it is hot!?ÿ And the shiny stuff, when it rains, it is slick!)

Posted by: @plumb-bill

We always dropped it off close with a couple guys and one went and parked the truck and walked back.

Onsite space is made for the work trucks of various trades. Which is fine as they need their tools and supplies close at hand. I point out that my truck is not personal transportation. It carries my tools and supplies, which I need to have close at hand. Usually I get onsite space made for me.?ÿ If that is just impossible I drop off my stuff and go park elsewhere.

Cost of parking is a billable expense.

I often work in areas with little or no available parking, and my solution is a collapsible aluminum garden cart.?ÿ I can get everything I need for a typical workday in it.

Thanks all,

I forgot to mention these are ALTA surveys with a one man crew.

?ÿ

@jim-frame

Looks interesting.

Will it stand up on end?

Can you push it like a wheel barrow?

I like to see what I'm about to hit. 😉

Thanks.

Posted by: @mav1958

Will it stand up on end?

Can you push it like a wheel barrow?

I think it'll stand up on end, I've never had a need to try it.?ÿ Visibility has never been a problem.?ÿ

I usually push it like a wheelbarrow, though when going over curbs I pull it.

It also serves as something to lock my robot to.?ÿ I loop the cable through a wheel and padlock it to one of the tie-down loops that I riveted to the side (visible in the photo).?ÿ That means a thief is either going to have to cut the cable or try to run while carrying the gun and dragging the cart.?ÿ It's doable, but it won't be elegant.

Using a one-man crew on these is just creating problems for no reason. There is always work for two or more surveyors on an ALTA, even if it's just a second pair of eyes and security..

Surveying downtown is done at night when we can park anywhere we need to. I wouldn't want the rig too far away or have to keep track of too much stuff. If I need to I have the general get us a street use permit.?ÿ

Like Daniel said, if your working in Manhattan or downtown Philly your best off working at night, and you don't want to work alone. We had equipment taken from our truck when the crew chief was only 50-ft away. It's amazing how fast they can pull up, get out of their vehicle, break in and take off.?ÿ

If you can't park on site, get some type of hand truck and strap what you need onto it. The more compact it is the easier it is to maneuver around the crowds.

If your doing ALTA's in Manhattan or downtown Philly, I hope you know what your getting yourself into, because it's a whole different monster.?ÿ

When I am working in downtown StL I just park right on the sidewalk/curb and leave the truck there with lights on and cones all about. Usually not an issue at all as long as traffic is not affected. But like others...never survey in the City alone. I would like to add though, that the City of St. Louis has its own feel - crime is high and it's better to draw attention to yourself and it's not an issue at all to talk with the City Cops I prefer that they know where we are working. And never, ever, leave a robot by itself.

In DC I just put parking tickets in the budget

Touching wood while writing this - I am so glad I live and work in a city where I can turn my back on my equipment without worrying about it being stolen.?ÿ One or two things have been picked up over the years, but I've flat lost more than has been stolen, and I've had things returned that I left behind.

I just have to put up with the homeless campers on every sidewalk. They live in a little pool of filth but do not molest the survey equipment.?ÿ ?ÿ

@stlsurveyor

I had a kid about 10 years old wing a soda bottle at me in downtown STL. I didn't see enough of the handgun to identify it, but I did back down and leave. It may have been a toy but the ante on that hand was too rich for me ..