Hello from Northeastern Pennsylvania, my name is Tony and I live north of Scranton in rural Susquehanna County below the NY State Line. I've been out of land surveying for a good number of years, now in retirement want to get back into land surveying but on a much smaller scale. Over the last 30 plus years I served in the land development, highway transportation and energy industries as a land surveyor tech., survey manager, highway project engineer and right-of-way agent. I have a PLS in Penna. and PE's in PA, TX and Arizona. I don't know if I'm in the right forum but want to work solo on small topo, boundary retracements and elevation certs; I assume robotic is the way to go? Again, my ambitions are very small scale for little bit of income, as a hobby and to maintain some level of physical fitness with land surveying at my age. Please advise. Thank you!
Hi Tony,
welcome to the forum.?ÿ Do you do much trout fishing in the Susquehanna river??ÿ I don't go out there much, but I heard there are some pretty big native brook trout in there.?ÿ I am not too far east of you.
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I think robotics is the only way to go.?ÿ Not really expensive (can get a used setup for less than 15k.)?ÿ I still often use a second guy. But having the robotic is a must.?ÿ I can work by myself sometimes, and use a second guy to help carry stuff, cut line, or run the instrument while I am searching for the next foresight or boundary corners.
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Also, a cheap GPS system, like the Emlid, will do just fine for small surveys in my opinion.?ÿ Get two, one for a base and one for a rover, or just one and use RTK. about 2600 for each unit, and the DC is your phone.?ÿ I tie everything to the datum, it's just too easy, cheap, and convenient not to.
Looking at the NYSDOT CORS map it looks like you are close to Binghamton and Hancock CORS.?ÿ Maybe get a NYSDOT CORS subscription, then you can get RTN fo free.
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good luck
Joe
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Welcome to the forum.?ÿ I agree with @joe-b, getting a robot for a small one or two man crew, but would advise you to acquire a GPS/GNSS system as well.?ÿ
Depending on your needs, you might want to look into the Javad or Carlson systems.?ÿ Others on this board and some personal acquaintances, have been singing the praises of how well both systems work under canopy and being reasonably priced to boot.
Welcome to the site.?ÿ You have definitely found the right place to ask questions about darn near anything.?ÿ Check in daily to find out how to maximize the benefits of following along.?ÿ We would also enjoy reading any stories you can share with us of your experiences.
Welcome! ?????ÿ
@joe-b Hi Joe! No I have not fished on the Susquehanna River for perhaps now 10 plus years but want to get back into fishing, I did get a permit to fish the NYC Water Supply Reservoir, the Cannosville Reservoir in Delaware County NY about 1 hour drive from my residence. Perhaps next spring I'll get the NY State fishing license which is also required and go there.?ÿ
Yes, I'm looking into a used Trimble S5 3" Robotic, used and serviced by reputable vendor in SE Penna. they want $15.5k for the unit, batteries about $500 each plus charger, Multi Track Target $2,750 , new controller TSC5 $4,300 , Trimble software $2,950, radio module $1,650 plus all hardware to operate unit , TOTAl $29,400...OUCH!! Does that sound about right???ÿ
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Tony
@holy-cow Thanks! I sure will. In the pipeline energy industry (natural gas) I worked with land surveyors on right-of-way aquisition and construction projects but did not do any surveying myself. Crews out of W VA, NY, NC, PA on the multiple projects I worked on over nine years. Thanks for writing this!
@flga-2-2 Hey thanks!
@kevin-hines Kevon, Hello and thanks! Feels good getting back into land surveying on some level, I have absolutely zero interest working on consultant DOT projects as I did in the past, did it, done it!! I want to do my own thing and it's here with land surveying.?ÿ Thanks for the info. on the GPS suggestions, will look into it as well the home office software, like Carlson. Appreciate it!
