z.cross
I'm not saying Zack didn't do this, but when I worked for my dad back in the 70's & 80's, he would get irritated if we didn't figure the HI's and TP elevations while the rodman was walking from point to point. That way, on a loop, you know how good or bad your closure is a few seconds after your last shot. Only problem with that is the instrumentman knows what he's supposed to see on the rod for that last shot.
Zach
NEVER apologize. Take your lumps and learn from it. Surveying picks the person, not the other way around.
z.cross
Btw as far as books go for spiral and bound, the school issued those so I am not to sure which I would prefer. I will say spiral allows for pages to rip.
> My level notes look about the same but all my BS & HI data would be shifted down one line. To me it is less confusing than having the BS and FS on the same line.
I normally would do the same.
The field notes I posted above actually came out of a little book called Surveyor's Field Note Forms (3rd Edition, 1952). I think I picked it up on ebay or someplace a couple years ago.
z.cross
> I do agree that the notes shouldn't be done out of the field but unfortunately my CLIENTS don't care if that's my excuse for why I'm late to GETTING TO THEIR SITE
We have all done it. Even the most self-righteous.
>( Not to mention this is the first time I've done fieldnotes for a leveling circuit so still learning sorry.
Pretty good for a first effort, I'd say. I've seen some from 20 year vets that were worse. Way worse.
But if I may make a suggestion - use more white space. Put a blank line between each turning point - so that you have a line for your FS, then a line for the BS, then a blank line, then the next FS, and so on. You need to leave room in the notes for later annotation in the office. Use a red pencil for that.
Put the sketch on its own page. (BTW- its awesome that you have a sketch at all, its a disappearing art, and the mark of a good surveyor, IMHO) The descriptions go on that right hand page.
As far as how you describe the turning points in the notes - The trick is to pick TPs that are easy to describe. Here are some examples from a recent project I did:
- Cotton Gin spike thru large washer +/-100' east of CP#10
- FH SE of Nustar Office. Elev on nut that arrow is pointing at
- SW nut on hydrant. Has metal plate marked "Bury 4-0" on it. Hydrant is about 100' SE of MW-2
Show the descriptions to a buddy. If they can figure out exactly what you turned on - the exact point - then your description is good.
z.cross
I agree with Steve....there's usually a lot of time between the foresight and the backsight.
It should be used to do the math, write the TP descriptions and anything else, other than staring at your shoes.
z.cross
This is a first time leveling circuit that had 9 TP's and 4 TBM's that had to be done in about 2 hrs. The last thing i had time to do was even look past my waist lol instead my eye was glued to a level.
z.cross
> Btw as far as books go for spiral and bound,
Spirals are easier to lay flat on the copy machine glass.
Zach
> Call me old-fashioned...
Okay. You are old-fashioned, Steve.
Mark
Thank you.
Well Then, Just for Informational Purposes.......
........what did the instrument person do while the rod person was moving between shots?
Or, if this was a three person field party, what were the rod persons doing while the IP walked from set-up to set-up?
z.cross
> ... my eye was glued to a level.
Good choice. Stay focused on getting the data right. Still, you had time to do it twice. Going fast is about knowing when to take it slow.
z.cross
we did the first on a Monday and didn't get to do the second till Wednesday. Main thing is it took us a bit to get are bearing on how to do it and its unsupervised. Also, me and the rodman had to alternate so I didn't have my eye 100% glued to the level but there was still no time to piss off.
z.cross
> there was still no time to piss off.
With practice you will get it down to half that time. For estimating purposes figure about 5 minutes per turning point. But it takes a while to get up to that speed. There is a reason us fat old dogs can still find work.
z.cross
That is defiantly what we aim for. Any preferences on level brands?
Just to make sure that a good learning
opportunity does not go to waste -
Given the first run had a bust of 1.93', what should that number make you suspicious has happened?
Busting a level loop really helps one appreciate using repeatable turning locations (easier to find a mistake if you are repeating measurements between the same points).
From the rest of your posts, looks like you are picking up on leveling well - good job.
Just to make sure that a good learning
Thank you Jon. I have definitely been working hard at it and finally feel a lot more comfortable with it. I like the challenge it gives me.
z.cross
Old timer told me 35 years ago to look at the rod, read it and go on. He found that taking to much time led to errors, sense it was a USACE job and he was the inspector we did it that way and I still do it that way. If rocking the rod it takes a little more time. I often run two sets simultaneously, keeping double notes, One gun, One rod and two + & - for each set up. I like those double TP's to be at least a half foot different in elevation, excepting the beginning and ending points.
jud
z.cross
Not rocking the rod was said to create error. From what I learned you wanted to rock the rod to find the lowest mark you hit to find the elev. Yes or no?
z.cross
Rocking the rod is done to locate the shortest rod reading during the rocking. A rod level is often used to do the same thing and an experienced rod man can hold it plumb without the aids if there is no wind. Rocking the rod requires that the turning point will not add error during the process. Not rocking the rod is fine if other methods to keep the rod plumb are used. So the statement that not rocking the rod adds error is a statement I would never make.
jud