We are doing some topo at a big power plant. The client sent me a map, "while you are out there, can you tie in these points...". Listed as survey nails with stakes, set by his client for scan stations, I believe. Spread all over. Not part of the scope, but...
Ok, what accuracy? Answer: "just do some RTK". Huh, we are not doing RTK, too much stuff overhead: smoke stacks, cooling towers, conveyors, large metal buildings, etc (one of the four stacks is the tallest in the US, 1200+ height).
Called back today...1/16" accuracy. Right.
We are doing the topo (an area around some ash ponds that will have a new scrubber built) with a scanner and a total station. They apparently were expecting RTK, because that is what everybody else does, they said. Multipath???
Maybe if I had Topcon GPS............
Lucky for them they have you doing the topo!
Otherwise they may only get what they have asked for.
Had one construction project that the control did not meet their own specs.
RFI.
They gave me the surveyor who provided the control for them.
He sent me three letters where he tried to explain to them what they needed.
They did not think they needed what he said and would not pay for it.
He did what they wanted and what they paid for....
Sent them the three letters and asked if they would lower the accuracy specs, reminding them of the pipes to be staked at minimum slope.
I got the extra work money to upgrade the control to be useful.
Like I said, good thing they have you on the site!
This is why they are supposed to pay us the big bucks. We have to be smarter than the clients and advise thusly. If they refuse to pay attention, suggest they search around to find someone else to screw up their project for them.
