Surveying in the rain

I used to just carry one of those plastic grocery bags in my pocket. I'd just lift it up long enough for a shot and cover back up. Of course that wouldn't work for a solo feller and a robot.

Something like a simple ball-cap for the gun would work fine if someone wants to design one.
Of course, in high winds it wouldn't really matter I don't suppose.

Just put everything back in the truck and head for the nearest bar......should keep it pretty dry 😛
I hate working in the rain, but I've used the sun shade to keep water off of the lens.
We also have one of those canopy tents that can be setup over the instrument. That doesn't help with the prisms, but it will keep the instrument pretty dry. Then again, depending on where you are setup it may or may not be useable.

> Just put everything back in the truck and head for the nearest bar......should keep it pretty dry

Well Dan, that might keep the gun dry. But I can honestly admit that if I'm in a bar during a rain storm, I sure won't be "dry" for long. 😀

have you actually tried an umbrella?
If I have to work in the rain, (and I chose not to unless absolutely pressed) I use one and though its extra stuff to juggle it works extremely well.
Wind is another matter though and makes life harder.

Have you considered:

Set up an extra tripod, beside the one with the gun.
Bungee a golf umbrella to it. If need be sand bag it, if there is wind.

I sometimes park the 4-wheeler beside the gun, and tie the umbrella to the rack, with bungees.

Works for me.

I use large field books. Set a large field book on top the gun for a quick shot, and if the point will not be occupied for long.

I don't survey in heavy rain.

N

Being in Florida rain does happen periodically, especially in the summer where it can be quite refreshing unless you are working near asphalt. Then the world just becomes one giant sauna. Quite a sight, seeing steam rising from the road.

But, to your original question, I use an umbrella at the instrument but I don't attach it to the tripod. If a truck blows by, the wind catches the umbrella tried to your tripod and down the road they go. A 2' piece of PVC set in a small bucket filled with concrete provides a great base for the umbrella.

For the sights, I have fashioned a small "shoe box" made out of thin aluminum that can be placed over the sight. One end of the box is open allowing the prism to be sighted. the rest of the box keeps the prism dry.

Granted, these applications are only used in light rain. If we get a good old Florida afternoon thunderstorm, we box everything up and head home.

Jacob,

Here in the Great Northwet where from mid October to some time in June you can expect to get soaked on a daily basis, and usually it is not a quick downpour but a steady heavy drizzle. Needles to say surveyors around here are use to working in the rain and rarely does it adversely effect our TCRP1200's. What really gets them is Oregon rain which is like combination of fog and heavy mist.

I'm not sure I would trust an umbrella around the instrument. I have actually had a robotic instrument picked up and slammed to the ground by a freak wind (along with an outhouse about 10 feet away). Even in a light wind an umbrella is potentially a big sail and might take out the instrument even if it was not attached directly to the instrument tri-pod. As for Rain-X, I've been using it since the early 80's on my cars and trucks. It might work on the instrument but from my experience it take a little wind to really make the water move.

It sounds like you are using a Leica. If it becomes hard to get a shot I would start by changing the ATR to the 'Low Viz' mode which can be found in the EDM settings menu. It also help to wipe down the prism every so often. If you are still having problems you might consider putting the sun screen on the instrument, just be sure to remove it before you change face.

Hope this helps.

John

Singin in the rain

Gene Kelly ~ 1952

We frequenly get rain on campus during surveying lab days, so I insist that students can only check out an instrument if they have an umbrella for the instrument. There's always enough kids in each group for one to hold the umbrella in light rain.

In heavy rain I insist that they come back in. Besides which there's commonly lightning in which they shouldn't be outside, anyway.

Lab sessions last up to three hours - not all day.

While it wasn't raining the day I constructed this. The temp in the sun was 130F. We were surveying 2.5mi of powerline for an as-built and setups were usually taking about an hour to get all the shots needed, otherwise I would have toughed it out without shade. As I was tearing down from this setup, the only gust of wind we had that day came by and toppled my engineering marvel. Luckily for me I had a spare umbrella. 😀

Thanks everyone for commenting.

Sounds like Rain-X has not been tried by anyone, I will experiment and report back on my findings. Of course, now the forecast calls for sun for the rest of the week, LOL.

I don't like the idea of anything being on or near the instrument, usually a robotic Leica TCRP 1200. I haven't tried the sun scope accessory, mainly because of the problem with plunging the scope. I like to set control with the 2 Face averaging method, especially in poor conditions!

Jacob

I am pretty sure there is already a film of some sort on the scope of the Leica guns and unless you are going to be driving your total station at 40 miles per hour do not really think that rain-x is a good idea.

The guns are sealed and I would be concerned about applying other chemicals.

I can report from the Northwest that we work in the rain all the time without aid of umbrella or coats for the equipment and if properly cared for afterward there is no problem. It is my opinion that condensation is the real enemy which would make me wary of covering the equipment with plastic bags in the rain, saying this I realize that many instruments come with a bag and if I were to leave a set up overnight I would probably use a bag as well.

I have however used umbrellas to avoid direct sun when performing critical measurements and if I were in the market for a field umbrella I would shop for the type that welders use as they are lightweight and have a variety of securing options and neat tripods and the like.

Second with party chief above said. I'm sure they are coated lenses, and that could scratch them, and the end would be worse than the present. Ask Leica.

Nate

I ahve always operated on the premise that the first raindrop that hits you is God's fault. The second raindrop that hits you is your fault. But then again, that was when I was an inspector and not a self-employed surveyor. Now, it mostly depends on the importance of the job and the hourly rate whether I get rained on or not.

I worked in John's area of the world for 20 years and will again. I never once heard of anybody doing anything particular to keep the rain off the equipment while working.

After talking to the Leica guy and hearing various opinions I have decided not to put Rain-X on the instrument scope for fear of unintended consequences. I will try it on the prisms as there doesn't seem to be any potential harm there. From what I understand (based on a YouTube video) glass is porous and water droplets cling to the surface because of these tiny pores, a Rain-X coating makes the surface super smooth which is why water is not able to cling to it in the same way. I also have never heard of anyone using Rain-X for this application but I was wondering why not, after a rather difficult day in heavy rain. 95% of the time it doesn't rain like that around here either (Vancouver Island).

Jacob

Get yourself a 6' u-shaped aluminum or lightweight metal post. Also get a golf umbrella.

If you are setup on dirt them you drive the post a few inches into the ground and strap the golf umbrella to it with velcro straps. Works like a charm. Gets the instrument out of the rain and gives you a dry place to write down notes.

When you move then you just pull the post up and carry it to the next setup point.

When on pavement I use one of those larger Sokkia umbrellas which is designed to be put down through the center hole of a tripod. But the golf umbrella is smaller, lighter and not such a burden to deal with a huge wet thing. Plus those Sokkia umbrellas are really sun shades so they aren't completely waterproof although they will keep the rain off all day.

for $50 these work pretty well

I don't think I have ever seen any optics manufacturer recommend anything but a fine hair brush and lens paper for maintainace of lenses only. Even the cheap ones are coated, and the good ones have their coating formulas as industrial secrets. I would want to here back from the manufactures rep before I tried it on any Zeiss or high quality lens. Check the Leupold site for FAQ's. They know something about scopes and rain and fog as they service hunters in Oregon and the world.

They do make covers for hunting scopes. They slip on the ends and you can flip up the front to serve as a rain shield while targeting or scanning for game.

RainX is wonderful for windshields, of a certainty. You don't need wipers except for downpours.