Surveying Equipment Recommendation

[kxa]

I am planning on doing some basic land surveying and was wondering if anybody has any experience that can help me buy the right transit. I need to do stationing and elevations for regarding of a parking lot and sidewalk. What the things I should look for. Any suggestions? I don’t need anything expensive as will only be used occasionally.
Thanks.

 

[diarmud]

Hire a surveyor, the time you spend in doing this (acquisition, doing the work) can best be spent in advancing your speciality or getting clients.

If you decide to go forward, keep track of your time, you'll be surprised, it will take you 3-4 times as much as you think it will.

Good luck,
Dermott

 

[Rye1]

I've often thought about this also. In NC a PE may sign off on elevation data - such as a LOMR-F, or other type of elevation data where they are not setting an elevation point (i.e., the PE is running levels from a known benchmark). A good automatic rotating laser level package can be purchased for less than $2,000. The cost of a surveyor running 3-4 crosssecions will be this much.

I guess I have an old school train of thought about keeping overhead low. If your project pays for the equipment cost, your company grows in value.

I also think there are time concerns here as well. If you are not busy 100% of the time, and money is tight, I think it is a good idea to purchase the equipment.

Robert

http://www.newrivereng.com

 

[civilperson]

Get a level and a rod and hundred foot steel tape, a transit is for turning angles. A T-2, (+/- 15 secs.), is as accurate as you can use if you are not doing boundary closures or setting property pins.

 

[Rye1]

I'm looking at a TopCon RL-H3C rotating laser level. The advantage to these type levels is the one man operation. This works well for a small firm.

Robert Billings

http://www.newrivereng.com

 

[dik]

I have an old Helger and Watts 5 second theodolite and a Hilti laser level... also Hilti PD40 laser measuring device... seems to fill the bill

Dik

 

[bimr]

There are many firms that will rent the equipment. If you are not planning to use the equipment every day, you probably would be better off just renting.

 

[kxa]

Thanks for the advice. I did some research and decided to get a level instead of a transit since a good transit/theodolite will cost about a $1000. The change in elevation is not that significant (12" +/-). A CST/Berger SAL 28x level with an 8' rod & a tripod for about $350 can do the job with a very good level of accuracy.