IMO the sweet spot between precision and cost is the 3" model. They don't cost much more than the 5" model and you aren't going to get much extra out ...

I agree with John. The bridge will move a lot more than that while my Labrador Retriever walks across it. Or when the sun shines on it. But for any m...

For setting property corners a 5" gun is more than sufficient. Also, remember that to come close to the guns performance you will need top quality tr...

I've been waiting for someone else to say it, but I guess I have to play the part of the "heavy". What kind of "professional" land surveyor doesn't ha...

Q-COGO looks interesting. And I second the excel suggestion. Nevertheless, both of these options will require some learning on your bosses part. I thi...

I've never desired to do it, so I can't claim personal experience. Nevertheless, I'm sure that any cobbler could do it.

Your desire to avoid speed lacing is very limiting. You could rather easily replace the speed lacing hooks with regular eyelets yourself if you can't ...

I agree with John that we may assume that any metadata we offer in our submissions will be jettisoned by the time final plans are generated. And whil...

"...None reduced but expect the office to do it...." I reduce level notes in a spreadsheet nowadays. But I'm never more than 5 miles from the office. ...

"... didn’t learn that about removing instrument while you stomp the legs in ..." I used to do that and still would, but the last 5 total stations I'v...

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...

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...

At all times you should imagine that there is a little leprechaun on your shoulder asking how you are f'ing up this time. And at all times you should ...

When levelling as rodman, position yourself behind the rod and face the instrument. That way you get the rod squared up to the line of sight. If you s...

To set a total station on level ground at a good height - close the legs together and make their length so that the tripod head is about chin high. Th...

Take care of your equipment and it will take care of you and yours. Bring the instrument in its box to the tripod. You should be taking no steps betwe...

Write it down when you change rod height doing topo, even if using a data collector. I don't do that. But I do limit the number of rod heights I use ...

I did it in 2011. A majority of the questions were about restoration of PLSS corners.