If you work for or own a construction or contracting business, you know the importance of measuring your projects or building structures to ensure they are up to code. But, choosing the right surveying equipment is about more than just deciding among theodolite, measuring tape, total station, 3D scanners, GPS/GNSS, level and rod.
You'll get better results when you understand and tap into the power of a robotic total station. Robotic total stations are a simple way to take precise measurements in both the horizontal and vertical planes. That's how you can collect high-precision data, cut your costs, and improve your efficiency.
But as anyone who's ever tried to evaluate the numerous tools to use for surveying on construction projects can tell you, it isn't easy.
Sometimes you need a few pointers to help you on your way.
In this article, you’ll learn exactly what is a total station, how to choose the right one for your needs, and why you might want to invest in one if you are in the construction industry.
Let’s dive right in...
Whether you are an established construction service business or just a start-up, technology is the heart of your business. By investing in the right technology, you can make your construction service business more efficient and lessen work-related injuries. Let's take a look at a few reasons why you should be investing more in technology for your construction company.
The right technology can make your company more efficient.
How? In the construction industry, technology has changed the business by completing construction jobs in less time.
In some cases, technology can reduce the number of workers needed to complete a job which lowers the cost of the job.
In other instances, technology helps construction companies cut down on work-related injuries. Automation and smart sensors can reduce risk at work sites.
Workers in the construction service business should invest in technology for their construction or contracting business to improve their productivity and their bottom line.
In construction, engineering and many other industries, it's essential to have a way to validate the accuracy of measuring and surveying data. Even minuscule inaccuracies can lead to flaws, project delays, higher costs and unhappy clients design errors in construction, for example, can increase costs by around 7% Fortunately, there is a solution. Because these stations are lightweight and portable, you get the precise and accurate data you need to make sure your construction projects come to fruition on time.
These stations are typically used by land surveyors and civil engineers to record features -- like with topographic surveying -- or to set out features (like roads, houses, or property boundaries). Archaeologists use total stations to record excavations. Police, crime scene investigators, private accident reconstructionists, and insurance companies also use this technology to take measurements of scenes.
In the construction business or contracting business, there are several tools available to help people do their jobs well and do them in the proper order. For example, leica total station are in constant use by estimators, surveyors, as well as other contractors.
Well, total stations are used for different purposes in the construction and contracting business. For example, surveyors can use a station to assist them in making a site plan or a map of what they surveyed. This helps contractors to have a clearer picture when it comes to building their constructions, which will eventually lead to a more successful project. It is also used by engineers as they can receive high quality data and work with it to create better designs for their projects.
There are lots of construction workers that use this technology in their day-to-day business. Construction workers use it for a number of different things. The two most common uses by construction workers is either for checking curved surfaces (surveying) or for creating a digital picture of a building’s exterior features.
Construction or contracting workers also use these machines to survey areas for proper placement of poles, water lines and wire.
The same tech is widely used in infrastructure development works such as construction of dams, bridges, roads and buildings, railways and other physical infrastructures such as ports, airports etc. and important for usage in road engineering and geodetic operations, geotechnical investigations like site classification surveys.
So, you know what is total station. Now, understand, there are different kinds of stations, depending on the use. Actually, there are two basic types of stations. They are the self-leveling type and the non-self-leveling type. Both these types have their own advantages and disadvantages.
If you break those basic categories down further, there are five types:
According to Civil Engineer Krunal Rajput there are less than a dozen producers of stations that market in the United States. Each of these manufacturers has various models, each with different features suitable for different working conditions. Considerations include your accuracy requirements, project size (EDM distances), and accessible crew size.
For example, if you need your existing workforce to start with minimal training and don’t want to disrupt your existing construction processes, consider Leica Geosystems’ new construction total station, the Leica iCON iCR70. It will help you make the jump from traditional analogue measurement methods to more modern digital layout techniques. This will help you achieve the high productivity and accuracy demanded by the building construction industry.
Choosing the right station for your needs doesn’t have to be a nerve-wracking process. With the right insights, you’ll select the appropriate technology and be up and running in no time at all.
A good place to start is looking at periodic surveys by trade publications. You can also check out discussions with current users and other engineers, surveyors, suppliers, and builders to see what they recommend.
Another good place to observe and test new equipment is exhibitor demonstrations in state survey society meetings. Sometimes, vendors will even visit you on-site and demo their own equipment for you in-person.
You can also check out Quinn Equipment, Inc., a premier Leica GeoSystems Building and Construction dealer for manual and robotic total station.
Quinn Equipment, Inc. was founded in 1967 by Charles and Marjorie Quinn to represent manufacturers in the distribution of construction-related products. Quinn Equipment is known as an excellent provider of total stations. Our reputation is unparalleled and we are proud of our equipment which is state-of-the-art.
For your convenience, you can visit our webshop and browse Quinn Equipment where we also sells underground utility locators and rotary laser levels.
Except Total Stations, we also specialize in Lasers and Machine Control Products, Underground Utility Locators, Optical Instruments, Tripods, Rotary Laser Levels and other construction solutions.
