Hi there
I've been asked to do allocate some levels to the floors of a building for a construction company. I'll use my automatic level and staff to do the work as there is a narrow service shaft common to all floors that I can level through.?ÿ My total station wouldn't be suitable for this sort of work.
It occurred to me to ask in this day and age if others actually still own and use an automatic level and staff or do you use other methods.
Thanks, John
I haven't used a level for anything other than geodetic control for some years now.?ÿ I own two of them:?ÿ a Topcon AT-G2 and a Leica DNA03.?ÿ I still carry the Topcon in my truck out of habit, but I should probably take it out to make room for more useful gear.?ÿ
There are some kinds of jobs (residential elevation certificates come to mind) that'd be faster with a two-man crew and an auto level, but I don't do many of those and I prefer to work alone.
We have levels on every truck but they rarely get used. I have a Nikon AS-2 34x auto level with a 43x eyepiece that I use for certain projects. It's usually faster and easier to use a level when Hz coordinates aren't needed than to set up a TS, as well as more accurate in most cases.
I've got a Topcon Auto Level and a 25-foot extendable fiberglass stadia rod I've had for about 25 years. I use them on LOMAs and ECs and to get BMs established on topo surveys, though I can't remember the last time I had the rod extended the full 25 feet.
I recently bought a Wild N2 level (NOT "automatic"). I use a Trimble Dini12 for leveling, but every once in a while we have to cross a bridge or perform leveling where there is a lot of vibration, so I bought the N2 for that, since it does not have a compensator. It has a split level bubble using mirrors that you have to line up for each shot.?ÿ
A lot of times if I just have to do a quick elevation transfer I use the total station (S6).?ÿ
We have about 5 of them.?ÿ They get used a lot less but still a usefull tool.?ÿ I used a Lecia digital last month to run solid elevations for control points around the site for a large topo we did.
No
I have to operate it myself. ??ÿ?ÿ?ÿ
No
The only level I own is an ancient brass cobweb filled monster in a box.
I do have a level. It gets used perhaps once a month or so. Generally to transfer?ÿ elevations from a city benchmark to a site.?ÿ
The Wild NA2 gets used about once a month or so.?ÿ I've always enjoyed level runs. Run the math along the way,?ÿ BS, HI, FS, ELEV and repeat. Shorts and sneakers work.
I still have my Ziess Ni-2, but since I am retired, I very seldom have any need to use it. Probably been 5 or 6 years since since I've even had it out of the box.
Another Zeiss Ni-2 owner?ÿ here.?ÿ I've probably used it more inside buildings than outside.?ÿ Best thing about it, you never have to worry about having the batteries charged!
Ken
Yes.?ÿ We have two and run 3 wire on control.
?ÿ
A few years ago, as a professional courtesy, I sat with a not local surveyor, shared layouts the town lacks, shared how to use the registry of deeds and so on.?ÿ Spent a solid hour with him.?ÿ Had a feeling he would get the project anyhow.
3 weeks later I see his crew at the airport 2 miles from locus.?ÿ A few hours later, they were in front of my office, so I went out to see what was up.?ÿ They were running trig levels with the total station from that distance.
I guess the guy did not know how to research the 2 NGS benchmarks about 800 feet on either side of the project.?ÿ He also could have subcontracted me as I have a 3 wire loop right through the property.?ÿ Never did pull the plan to see how close they ended up.