Tips & Tricks for field technicians
Use that flagging like you're not paying for it .
Minimize flagging or paint the stake around livestock. Flagging can kill an animal that eats to much.
Fluoro paint fades real fast. Plain enamel lasts MUCH longer
Make an overt effort to appear courteous towards people's property. For instance, instead of cutting through someone's lawn, take the less direct route down a shared boundary or fence line. The neighbors are watching you out their windows. If they see you carefully replacing plugs of their lawn that you just dug up looking for an iron, it'll go a long way towards keeping the peace.
Check your backsight after having been set up for ±20 minutes. You will, most probably, find that it has drifted off. Reset the backsight at that time and it will "hold" for a good while.
If you are having trouble keeping the backsight reading consistent one of the possible causes is a worn tribrach. There are three little "bumps" on the tribrach plate that the instrument contacts. If these have become worn, relative to the clamping mechanism, the instrument will shift enough to throw off the backsight orientation. The only fix for that is a new tribrach.
Check your backsight after having been set up for ±20 minutes. You will, most probably, find that it has drifted off. Reset the backsight at that time and it will "hold" for a good while.
If you are having trouble keeping the backsight reading consistent it may be because the tribrach has become worn. There are three little "bumps" on the tribrach plate that the instrument contacts. If these have become worn, relative to the clamping mechanism, the instrument will shift enough to throw off the backsight orientation.
Just because your locator doesn't scream at a search point doesn't mean there isn't a rebar in the ground. I can't tell you how many "dead" rebars I have found by just probing with the shovel.
"Look for old cut lines, old flagging. Surveyors leave a lot of different kinds of evidence."
AKA surveyor droppings
Before I stomp the shoes of the tripod legs into the ground, I take the instument off and put it in the box. Then, after the tripod is firmly set, I put the instument back on and finish the setup.
Lots of great tips here, I’ll just say that, you will be amazed at how long flagging tied on barbed/hog wire will stay attached, just the knot. Keep your eyes open out there.
