Good morning all,
I'm really excited to put what I'm reading in Surveying Fundamentals and Practices into, well, practice. My budget right now would just about cover the foam padding on a TS carry-case, so purchasing any of the equipment I'd most likely be actually using in the field is out of the question. What I'm really after is the most simple manual equipment (tape measure, plumb-bob for example) necessary to experiment with the basic principles of taking measurements in my back yard, local park etc. I want to see the theory (the practical and the math) in action.
I'm already getting field and Civil 3D experience during the summer, which is awesome; this is something for me to do in my spare time.
So two questions I suppose:
1. If you lost every single piece of your equipment, but you absolutely HAD to perform a property survey today to the best of your ability (let's assume it's not on completely level ground), and you had $75 - $100, what would you buy? I think I can safely assume a tape measureÛ? what else?
2. Here in the USA, should I get a tape measure in feet and inches, or tenths of a foot?
Look forward to hearing your ideas!
Thanks,
Cary
I'd probably go get 75 lotto tickets. [emoji23]
No no. In seriousness, I'm not sure. I don't even use a measuring tape anymore.
But get your tape in tenths. Who uses inches anyway....
The so-called "engineer's" tapes are notably less expensive since they only have ten inches to a foot...
A vest, tape, machete, and compass
Are you in school? You really need something that can turn angles if you hope to do anything worthwhile.
Don't skimp on your tools...
A NEW 100 foot Lufkin Super Hi-Way Nubian Tape, Style B, costs more than $100..if treated well should last a lifetime...
DDSM
I once did a boundary survey for a civil engineer who did his own topo. He had no clue how to do a boundary survey.
He mounted a 10-inch full circle plastic protractor horizontally on a camera tripod and used a 2-foot level as a sighting instrument.
He measured all of the distances to the "rod" with a steel tape. The "rod" was a box tape, graduated in inches.
He called the finish floor of the house zero elevation and located every integer foot contour.
The final product was impressive. Probably inaccurate, but impressive.
Ranging rods and 2 tapes and do some linear surveying.
More Ebay...(always wondered where he went)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lot-of-Misc-Land-Surveying-Equipment-Vest-Plumb-Bob-Gammon-Reel-Prism-Pouch-/152086067978?hash=item2369093b0a:g:hPQAAOSw8vZXMfwf
Copy of the previous survey.
100 ft Tape with some nails for chasing pins
Compass for bearings and to locate iron corners from previous surveys. (Swipe near ground to see if needle moves)
Bush axe to cut, dig, and use as staff for compass.
Pencil paper and cheap trig calculator
Robert Hill, post: 378013, member: 378 wrote: Copy of the previous survey.
100 ft Tape with some nails for chasing pins
Compass for bearings and to locate iron corners from previous surveys. (Swipe near ground to see if needle moves)
Bush axe to cut, dig, and use as staff for compass.
Pencil paper and cheap trig calculator
What no shovel?
bobwesterman, post: 378031, member: 7106 wrote: What no shovel?
Use brush hook as stated above
Robert Hill, post: 378013, member: 378 wrote: Copy of the previous survey.
100 ft Tape with some nails for chasing pins
Compass for bearings and to locate iron corners from previous surveys. (Swipe near ground to see if needle moves)
Bush axe to cut, dig, and use as staff for compass.
Pencil paper and cheap trig calculator
Gawd this autocorrect is a botch. Beech Beeitch
Rich., post: 377983, member: 10450 wrote: I'd probably go get 75 lotto tickets.
Haha, I'll update the thread title with however that works out...
Jim_H, post: 377990, member: 11536 wrote: Are you in school? You really need something that can turn angles if you hope to do anything worthwhile.
School's out for summer (my first actual surveying class isn't 'til Fall). Gonna try a compass!
Robert Hill, post: 378013, member: 378 wrote: Copy of the previous survey.
100 ft Tape with some nails for chasing pins
Compass for bearings and to locate iron corners from previous surveys. (Swipe near ground to see if needle moves)
Bush axe to cut, dig, and use as staff for compass.
Pencil paper and cheap trig calculator
Useful info, much appreciated!
For turning angles on the cheap, I'd suggest a plastic sextant, which will be good to perhaps 2 arcminutes:
https://www.amazon.com/Davis-011-Marine-Sextant/dp/B0014476FI
Magnet, from hardware store. To magnetize a nail. Hang nail with string. Protractor, and 12" ruler from dollar store. And a pack of paper, and pencils.
100' fiberglass tape. String, and rock for plumb bob. Jack knife, to sharpen pencils. And scribe trees. I think I could get out the door, for 50 or 60 dollars. I could work a week, earn enough to:
Then, shop hard, ebay, get a transit, legs, etc, 200- 350. Then, work a month, and I can get a used total sta. For 1200.
Then, add 2 static receivers, for 3k. Then, a laptop to post process, off Craig's list, for 300.
Now, i'd get business cards and stationary.
Then... I'd be after a JAVAD!
🙂
N
Magnet, from hardware store. To magnetize a nail. Hang nail with string. Protractor, and 12" ruler from dollar store. And a pack of paper, and pencils.
100' fiberglass tape. String, and rock for plumb bob. Jack knife, to sharpen pencils. And scribe trees. I think I could get out the door, for 50 or 60 dollars. I could work a week, earn enough to:
Then, shop hard, ebay, get a transit, legs, etc, 200- 350. Then, work a month, and I can get a used total sta. For 1200.
Then, add 2 static receivers, for 3k. Then, a laptop to post process, off Craig's list, for 300.
Now, i'd get business cards and stationary.
Then... I'd be after a JAVAD!
🙂
N
If I absolutely had to do a survey and had lost all my equipment my first consideration is what am I being paid for this survey. since my reputation is worth much more than money I would be willing to spend at least 100% of the amount I am to be compensated. Assuming I have shoes, pants and a shirt my first purchase would be a bicycle to get me to the courthouse and to the job. I should have enough left to buy a 100' steel tape, one plumb bob, compass. mason's hammer, a 6' folding engineers rule, a hand level and some Parker Davis Quik Stakes which can be also used as chaining pins. If I could not afford all of the above then I am not surveying.
Paul in PA
Something we use to do when time allowed and I worked for an outfit that had scads of subdivision work; we would "pin" a lot (or two) without using the theodolite...just chain and plumb bob and calculator. Afterwards we'd set up the gun and see how we did. Wide open brand new subdivisions with just paving and few or no houses made it fairly easy. We had fun. It teaches you a lot about your chaining abilities.
