Crew set up a base station in asphalt behind k-rail along side a roadway west of the west end of the runways at LAX. We were using a car battery for power. The battery is in a carry bag which is then connected tightly with cinch straps to the tripod for additional stability. When they returned later in the day, they couldn't see the unit or the tripod until they got next to the k-rail. There it was laying on the ground with its legs splayed out at strange angles. The tribach was in two pieces, one-half connected to the GPS unit, and one-half connected to the tripod. The battery was still strapped to the tripod. After analysis, we figured that someone tried to steal the setup but were confounded by the heavy weight attached to the tripod, and slammed the unit to the ground, breaking the tribach in half. The GPS unit was a little scratched on the edge of the antenna but appears ok. We'll test the unit before putting it back in service.
When found, the unit was still connected to the battery and still running. With an antenna plot, we determined exactly when the unit went down.
When the crew was originally setting up, an LAX Airport Police car showed up and they wanted to know what we were doing. We have since reported the incident to then and asked them to keep an eye out for our equipment.
It was an odd day.
Few years ago I returned to a unit set on a control point and found much the same. Setup trashed, broken tribach and cable pulled out of connector.
There were hoof prints of the culprit, horse wondering down county road...
I was setting panels for an aerial topo with Promark 2s once and had 5 or 6 units spread out over a mile or so. i was constantly driving around checking on them. I had one PM2 set up in a remote area and upon arriving to check on it, there was a guy maybe 300' from it and walking towards it. When he heard me pulling up from behind him, he turned around and started walking away from the unit. I stopped and asked if I could help him and he asked if I had a light for his cigarette. Red flags went up. When I got up to the unit, the canvas bag that holds all of the PM2 accessories was gone. It had been empty except for a few AA batteries. Everything important was on the pole. I turned around to confront him but he was gone. My theory is that he grabbed the bag and took off with it. When he looked in it and saw that there were only a few batteries he went back for the pole with everything on it. I happened to pull up at the right time to disrupt his plan.
Me. "What's the difference?"
T.C. Carroll "It's the difference between right and wrong!"
Sometimes I think the only solution is to have a body next to the base station......course if the other fella had a gun.
Is it possible an airplane taking off or landing blew the tripod to the tracts?
Scott Ellis, post: 322739, member: 7154 wrote: Is it possible an airplane taking off or landing blew the tripod to the tracts?
Nope, not with a 50 pound battery attached and the tripod was laying the wrong direction.
I have been thinking, that un-attended base stations probably should have a cable, attached to a screwed into the ground device, so that a thief would find it difficult to take. (I take the position that thieves are lazy, and thus try to steal) So, if we can adequately make it hard, then the theft of the device, becomes "Too hard". Thus, they will "pass" on your equipment. Has anybody done this? Maybe a device that can be screwed into the ground, with a battery powered drill.
I also like the looks of this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dozen-WOLF-FANG-ANCHORS-w-CABLE-DRIVER-trapping-stakes-traps-coyote-trap-/291209755650?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item43cd743c02
Nate,
We have always used the Seco precise GPS tripods. The treaded (5/8"x11) top can be setup loose with a special set screw so that the GPS unit will spin and not unscrew. Then we just cable off from the lower holes where the legs points rest. We connect cable to something that will hindered the snatch and run type of thief, such as a fence post, pole, catch basin grate, etc. For those open areas, we have used 2 of the dog anchors that screw into the ground placed next to each other such that we can put the lock through the handle of each (preventing them from being removed).
Of course the serious thief will just cut through the cable or what ever.
Nate The Surveyor, post: 323164, member: 291 wrote: I have been thinking, that un-attended base stations probably should have a cable, attached to a screwed into the ground device, so that a thief would find it difficult to take. (I take the position that thieves are lazy, and thus try to steal) So, if we can adequately make it hard, then the theft of the device, becomes "Too hard". Thus, they will "pass" on your equipment. Has anybody done this? Maybe a device that can be screwed into the ground, with a battery powered drill.
From doing a lot of work in south Florida, we have "lost" a couple GPS units. Mostly smash and grab from the trucks, and the guys recalled "people paying attention" to them while working. While the ground screw idea has been tossed around, it doesn't work well when the control point is in asphalt or on a concrete pad/sidewalk. However, we currently use the FDOT GPS network and have no need for a base station setup, so no theft in the last 4 years (knock on wood).
However, we currently use the FDOT GPS network and have no need for a base station setup, so no theft in the last 4 years (knock on wood). OK, somebody will learn to steal that too! (Wink)
Were you within 10 feet of the perimeter fence? If so, TSA may have tried to move it. Either way, if you were at LAX contact their control center and they should have video.
Brad
Ruel del Castillo, post: 322808, member: 137 wrote: Nope, not with a 50 pound battery attached and the tripod was laying the wrong direction.
I'm not aware just far how far off the end of this runway the setup was but if it was anywhere within the jetwash of any taxiing / taking off planes that could definitely blow over a tripod, battery and all.
;">In fact, if you drive past a taxiing plane too close it can blow your truck over and away.
PLS30820, post: 323177, member: 1439 wrote: .... While the ground screw idea has been tossed around, it doesn't work well when the control point is in asphalt or on a concrete pad/sidewalk.....
While I was in OK there were 2 or 3 incidents of set up GPS base stations being stolen. There have been other cases besides. In each case, they were set up on the shoulder of a road. I instruct my crew to set up the base in a vacant lot, a park, a church yard, or a school yard. Any where but beside the road. This for technical reasons as well as security.