Look for help about collection static data?ÿ in the field

Howdy ashraf,

That's a pretty big order, and there are far too many?ÿ"unknowns" to ponder for a simple answer.

First would be the Post Processing Software that you plan on using (standalone Baseline Processor, OPUS, OPUS-Projects, etc.)

Second would be whether you are doing a "route survey," or a large/small network (semi-square).

In my opinion, a 2-reciever scenario?ÿpretty much limits your options, and is usually the least productive, although the logistics are usually the simplest. A 3-reciever scenario is "usually" the most productive for a one-man survey, and can return EXCELLENT results with a minimum of head-scratching, and relatively simple logistics. A 4 (or more) receiver scenario can be a logistical boondoggle for a one-man operation, and can get pretty complicated from a planning/processing/adjustment standpoint (although potentially returning?ÿthe?ÿMOST "accurate" results).?ÿ

Loyal

I've run 6 before. Moving 2 at a time. Leave one sitting all day, and it's pretty good. I have run 3, but if economy is important, 4 is great. Leave one stationary all day, move 2, then one, then 2, then 1. Lots of closed loops, and adequate redundancy.

Do you have any right now?

N

Do you own Static software for post-processing? This is becoming less used and kind of a lost art of processing in today's RTK network world. I personally own 6 GNSS receivers that I use in long static sessions for large surveys of wooded, rugged terrain; where RTK and radios?ÿdo NOT work.

I don't know if such a book exists; if it does, I've never seen it.?ÿ The approach I've always used is to draw the network layout in CAD, decide how many receivers I want to run, and then start drawing session vector lines, forming "nearest neighbor" triangles.?ÿ I put the vector lines for each session on their own date-and-sequence-coded layer.?ÿ Each session leapfrogs the one before it, leaving receivers in place between sessions to minimize moves.?ÿ Continue in this manner until all desired vectors are obtained.

The session layers make it easy to produce the observation schedule from the CAD drawing.?ÿ With 4 or 5 sessions per day, redundant observations with good time-of-day separation can be scheduled simply by changing the session order.

I've set up and run campaigns with as many as 10 receivers and observers using this process.?ÿ?ÿ

Egypt!!! Wow, cool!

I didn't make the connection like Gavin did.

I have only traveled/vacationed in Egypt, but as I recall, John Hamilton has done Control Surveys there (lucky dog).

That certainly changes the "scenario" somewhat.

Keep us in the loop, sounds like an interesting "project."

Loyal?ÿ

I would suggest getting training from a vendor if you were in the states and had a relationship with one. In Egypt it may still be an option.

We hired an instructor and it was a surprise what was required to do a correct network.?ÿ

It is more involved than many think and more involved than most will do.?ÿ

Don't think GPS, think Distance and Coordinates. Using 2, 3 or 4 receivers at a time is simply collecting 1, 3 or 6 vectors (3 directional distances) at the same time. The key to efficiency is in your using least squares thinking(GPS Post Processing engines are least squares programs).

Static GPS networks are in fact Control Point networks, with somewhat less constraints on the equality of angles and distances as in conventional control networks, but you can begin by studying conventional Geodesy. You establish a very strong Base Network and add in side networks.

How and what you do is more or less personal philosophy based om personal experience, so develop a and stick with it until you know enough to have to change your plan. First consider 2 to 4 receivers, are all multi signal, L1 or L1/L2+, GPS or GNSS? For arguments sake let me assume 2 GNSS, 1 GPS L1/L2 and 1 GPS L1 only. Set the first two at extreme control points, put the L1 only on a long term static point and jump the L1/L2 on shorter term points. In one day you could do a dozen L1/L2 points and 2 or 3 L1 only points. Do not be afraid to use less capable receivers on points inside the network.

In the past (before GNSS), I used up to 3 L1/L2 GPS and 7 L1 GPS on and static once and done network, (2 assistants) or 3 L1/L2 and 4 L1 working alone. Today I limit myself to smaller projects and easier to setup 2 L1/L2 and 3 L1 max. I may take all 5 to the field and only use 3.

As to observation time and moving. Way back when I began with L1 only, I used up to 5 receivers in a much larger network, setting up and moving and I could not keep exceeding a minimum observation time, not all that bad. I could do the same amount of work with 4 units in a day.?ÿ
With today's receivers it pays to have small jumps and more setups in a day.

Every project has it's own best way and even the second or third best way has little effect on the project hours.

If you have nearby CORS plan on using them in your control. If not this a?ÿ start plan, Set up ABCD for 2 or 4 hours, move CD around for 2 or 4 hours. Repeat ABCD for 2 or 4 hours, move AB around for 2 or 4 hours. In 1 or 2 days, dependant on how far away the CORS are you have 4 solid control points and 6 (reobserved) to 12 semi control points. A GPS campaign for control is a very short time frame in any project.

Paul in PA

A really good book that can get you started is?ÿ https://www.amazon.com/GPS-Land-Surveyors-Jan-Sickle/dp/146658310X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1543420729&sr=8-1&keywords=gps+for+land+surveyors+4th+edition

I found that book to be a collection of good snippets of valuable information, but not a well-enough organized study course.?ÿ So many things I wanted to be told were not there.

GPS for Land Surveyors?ÿis, IMO, the single best book on GPS and coordinate systems out there.?ÿA must have for any surveyors library. Which is not to say that it is perfect. There is plenty of stuff that is left out because it is written for Land Surveyors and not Geodesists or Astrophysicists.?ÿ And it is completely silent on the management of field observation programs.?ÿ

I forgot to ask "ashraf" about his basic Land Surveying education, perhaps he thinks GPS is independent of good surveying techniques.

Paul in PA

I forgot to ask "ashraf" about his basic Land Surveying education, perhaps he thinks GPS is independent of good surveying techniques.

Paul in PA

GPS for Land Surveyors, Second Edition, was my first read to begin survey grade GPS.

I have 3 static GPS units and started out with two as control points and one rover and process with GNSS software.

Today the constelation of satellites is much better and I have began using one unit on a control point and using two as rovers.

Often I am also using TS and GPS at the same time and put a prism under the antenna for BS check.

If you have units already, charge them up and go out and set them up and read the manual and go thru all the necessary steps to record data and you will find how it works.

I started by taking data on two points that were about 8+ft apart and measured the distance with a tape and with the TS and it all checked out with the processed data.

goodluck

Paul in PA?ÿI have a bachelor's degree in engineering survey , but I need help from people with experience

Much of what you ask for was hashed out on a board like this 15 years ago. It was never put into a text, but it should have been. The text I had in a formal class 18 years ago was written in 1992.The theoretical education in that text was important, but I say it is more important what I learned from more general texts in the use of GPS in surveying. Even more important is what I learned from doing it right and sometimes wrong as well as 18 years of hearing the good and the bad from many others. There is just no succinct way for any of us to pass on our accumulation of many years of knowledge in short replies, so do it yourself, pass or fail, and keep coming back with more specific questions. The most important part of a formal education is that it should have taught you how to keep educating yourself.

Paul in PA

Hey Paul ... SURV69 here(Ashtech years).

Way back in the late 90's, there were Magellan Xcm GPS units, which I had used in about 2000-2006 ... even did stop & go with them.

years gone by ...

I just got a deal of a bunch of these units and I'm trying to talk a buddy of mine to FINALLY give GPS a try ... he's very cheap and very non-technical.  If I hadn't pushed him, he'd still be using my old software on a Timex 1000 ...

But I have a problem ... I suffered a devastating fire a few years ago ... losing EVERYTHING, including my old drives and computers.

I'm not sure how or where to ask, if anyone has the latest Magellan Promark Xcm firmware(5.04).

I never thought I'd ever see these units ever again, and now ... I have 14 of them.