Here's my 3 cents on magnetic gradiometers: I have used several type since 1992. I have never found the added visual meters or polarity features to b...

One more detail to watch out for if you are mixing brands of equipment.... All tribrachs have 3 little bumps in the surface of the socket that the tot...

The leveling screw mechanism in a tribrach is more complex than it seems from the outside. It needs to hold the screws to the upper plate of the trib...

You can easily dis-assemble a tribrach and swap parts; it may be an enjoyable task for a rainy day, but not a good use of your time. I have torn down...

As long as the prism constant is set correctly, any brand of prism works well enough. Test them all at a known distance to be sure you have it right....

Depends on the state, but in at least some places it is not possible to rope someone in forever; if one person wants to get out and the others don't a...

A while back, before we had reflectorless, in coastal Maine, I set up on one side yard bound, backsighted another, and pointed the scope towards the s...

Prism rotator patent was granted back in 1983 as US4413907A "Remote Control Surveying".

"Nodal vs non-nodal" - Nodal prisms have the yoke mounting point at the optical center of the prism. For a standard size 62mm prism this usually mean...

The mini prisms with modern total stations have plenty of range; no need for bigger diameter prisms for most work. Just make the small investment to ...

What is the definition of the building? The siding, the trim boards, or the foundation? What happens if they re-side over added foam insulation? Wha...

I have used nearly every survey tripod on the market since 2001. The most important part of all the surveyors tools is the joint between the legs and...

Subsurface Instruments locators are more durable and have a more reliable battery connection. Some models are even fully submersible, but the waterp...

Even better pucks made for shooting practice are available with heavier harder rubber in orange color.

I use hockey pucks with a divot drilled in the center. Set up the legs a little more vertical than usual to limit the outward spreading force. They ...

Don’t use optical plummet tribrachs. For easier accuracy checking, use open tribrachs and the plummet or laser in the instrument. For prism mounting ...

New Hampshire DOT uses green and white to flag highway monuments.

What total station, Leica? Is your problem backsite shot the first one after powering up? Mine sometimes does that. If I change some setting like E...