This document discusses selecting, using, and maintaining equipment and supplies for surveying work. It covers: 1) Choosing the appropriate tools like total stations, levels, GPS based on the job requirements. 2) Inspecting, cleaning, transporting, and storing equipment properly to ensure accuracy and prevent damage. 3) Updating skills and knowledge on new technologies to keep surveys precise.

1. USE AND MAINTAIN
EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES
Level IIISURVEYING Level III
EIS SUR3 13 0912
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US COLLEGE

2. LO1: SELECT EQUIPMENT AND
SUPPLIES
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3. Clarify Requirements of the job.
• Surveying is the technique of determining the
relative position of different features on, above
or beneath the surface of the earth by means of
direct or indirect measurements and finally
representing them on a sheet of paper.
• During a survey, surveyors use various tools to
do their job successfully and accurately.
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4. Example ,
• leveling is practiced to determine the differences
in elevation or vertical distances between various
points in the field using leveling instrument.
• to measure distances and angles from certain
reference pint total stations or theodolites can be
used and
• Location identification /spatial data in reference
with central meridian , equator and sea level GPS
receivers can be also provide.
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5. • Different surveying activities require
–an optimal combination of tools equipment
and labor and
–Some Specific Skill and knowledge
• Proper tools and equipment are essential for the
effective operation of any surveying work.
• Equipping with the correct tools and equipment
plays an essential role in achieving timely and
good quality results.
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6. • Surveying work is done across all types of
industries and projects, including commercial
development, utility projects, mining, residential
development, large-scale infrastructure projects
like roads and railroads, as well as in use cases in
archaeology, architecture and more.
• Depending on the nature and content of the
works, the technical staff needs to know which
tools to use and how to effectively perform
accurate measurements and powerful data
collection and analysis for any project.
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7. selects and prepares Equipment’s and
supplies
• Equipment’s and supplies include
– data recording equipment
– measuring instruments,
– personal computer-based digitizing boards
– tools,
– vehicles etc…
• Equipment is any type of tool or piece of material
that helps a surveyor to
– accurately measure and record, and
– analyze data for any surveying project
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8. • Measuring tools that help professional, trained
surveyors retain accuracy over long distances or
in complex environments.
• Examples of tools and equipment, total station,
automatic level, calculator, magnetic locator,
compass, right angle prism, EDM reflectors,
Range poles etc…
• Spray paint, Can paint, Plastic flagging etc… are
some examples of surveying supplies.
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9. • Equipment required for use at work is very
varied, ranging from
– high to low precision,
–simple to very complex and
–cheap to expensive
depending on the type of equipment and how
and where it is used.
• Anyone who selected certain equipment to use
should ensure that:
–It is suitable for the environment it in which it
will be used; e.g. a wet environment, a
flammable atmosphere, a confined space,
outdoors, etc.
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10. –It is used safely and within the parameters
that it was designed for; e.g. correct tool
being used for a particular job, etc.
–They have had sufficient information,
instruction and training to be able to use/
operate it safely.
• It is important to use the surveying
instruments, equipment, tools, and
supplies for its intended purpose.
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11. Checking Equipment’s.
Surveying equipment is being
– used under most stressful conditions.
– exposed to extreme weather conditions,
– used in dusty construction areas and is
– subject to bumpy transportation.
• Equipment’s that has not been cared for and
maintained becomes inaccurate, and inaccurate
equipment will negatively affect a survey
regardless of the skills and of the crew.
• Lack of calibration and good maintenance can
seriously jeopardize the efficiency and accuracy
of the entire survey.
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12. • Accuracy and quality of the survey will depend
up on the skills of the surveyor. However, the
underlying foundation for a crew’s accurate
survey is the quality and condition of the
surveying equipment.
• CHECKING EQUIPMENT’S before tasks have
been begun is necessary to confirm whether
the equipment’s are in their good condition to
be used or not.
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13. • Prior to release for use in the field, new
measurement equipment has to be visually
inspected by qualified personnel to
–verify that it is adequate to perform its
intended function, If not
–calibrated
• CALIBRATION means the set of operations
which establish, under specified conditions,
the relationship between values indicated by
a measuring instrument or measuring system
and corresponding known values.
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14. Provide Transport of equipment and
supplies.
Vehicular Transport
• The major portion of damage to equipment
and tools occurs when they are being placed
into or when taken out of the survey vehicle.
• Other damage occurs during transport, when
equipment is jostled against other tools or
equipment.
• Provide Compartments to keep equipment
and supplies separated.
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15. –Heavier items should be carried in the lower
parts of vehicles, should never be in direct
contact with other tools or equipment below
them.
–Treat optical targets, prisms, and staffs with
the same consideration.
–Transport the instruments in their carrying
cases placed in a compartment cushioned
with firm poly foam or similar material to
protect them from jolting or excessive
vibrations.
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16. Casing and Uncasing
• Before removing an instrument, study the
way it is placed and secured in the case.
• The instrument must be replaced in the same
position when returned to the case.
• In removing the instrument from the case,
carefully grip it with both hands, but do not
grip the vertical circle standard or where
pressure will be exerted on tubular or circular
level vials.
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17. Field Transport of Surveying Instruments
• Do not "shoulder" or carry a tripod mounted
theodolite or electronic distance measuring
equipment (EDM).
• The equipment should always be removed
from the tripod and secured in their carrying
cases when moved.
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18. Update Skills and knowledge’s
• A profession is founded on
–knowledge,
–skills and
–education.
• The required knowledge, skills and education
to practice within a profession should be
defined in a body of knowledge of that
profession.
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19. The best techniques to update your Skills and
knowledge are to
• develop a general outline of skills, attitudes and
knowledge that will enable you to develop
specific understanding and abilities necessary to
become and remain a professional expert and
• compile a detailed list of theories, methodologies,
technologies and procedures that have to be
mastered for present professional practice.
• Keep abreast with the changing technologies
and advancement.
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20. • For example, Recent development include a
GPS unit with the total station fully integrated
data storage and data processing, Bluetooth
data transfer or GPRS
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21. LO2: USE EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES.
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22. operate appropriate equipment’s.
Routine Care of Surveying Instruments
• Every instrument is accompanied by a user’s
manual that tells you
–proper operation and components of the
instrument
–proper care and maintenance
• Proper care in the methods by which equipment
is used, stored, transported, and adjusted is a
major factor in the successful completion of the
survey.
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23. • accuracy and quality of your surveys will depend
upon how well you take care of your surveying
equipment.
• before making the first set up of the day
–visually inspect the instrument for cracks
bumps, and dents.
–Check the machined surfaces and the polished
faces of the lenses and mirrors.
–Try the clamps and motions for smooth
operation (absence of binding or gritty sound).
• Frequently clean the instrument externally
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24. • Any accumulation of dirt and dust can scratch
the machined or polished surfaces and cause
friction or sticking in the motions.
• Dirt and dust should be removed only with a
clean soft cloth or with a camel hair brush.
• Non-optical parts may be cleaned with a soft
cloth or clean chamois.
• Clean the external surfaces of lenses with a
fine lens brush and, if necessary, use a dry lens
tissue.
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25. • Do not use silicone treated tissues, as they can
damage the coated optics.
• It is permissible to breathe on the lens before
wiping it, but liquids, such as oil, benzene,
water, etc., should never be used for cleaning
purposes.
• DO NOT loosen or attempt to clean the internal
surfaces of any lens.
• Cover an instrument whenever it is uncased and
not being used for any length of time,
particularly if there is dust or moisture in the air.
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26. • After an instrument has been used in damp or
extremely cold situations, special precautions
must be taken to prevent condensation of
moisture inside of the instrument.
• When working with the instrument in cold
weather, it should be left in the carrying case in
the vehicle overnight.
• If stored in a heated room overnight, the
instrument must be removed from the carrying
case.
• If the instrument is wet or frost covered, remove it
from its case, and leave it at room temperature to
dry out.
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27.  Accurately record spatial data.
• The goal of surveying is to gain an accurate
understanding of a space from the data recorded.
• Spatial data represents the essential location
characteristics of real or conceptual objects as those
objects relate to the real or conceptual space in
which they exist.
• Measurement of spatial accuracy depends on
dimensionality.
• Positional accuracy refers to the accuracy of the
spatial component that is the accuracy of coordinate
values.
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28. • According to the Spatial Data Transfer Standard
accuracy testing by an independent source of higher
accuracy is the preferred test for positional accuracy.
• Horizontal accuracy shall be tested by comparing the
plan metric coordinates of well-defined points in the
dataset with 3 coordinates of the same points from
an independent source of higher accuracy.
• Vertical accuracy shall be tested by comparing the
elevations in the dataset with elevations of the same
points as determined from an independent source of
higher accuracy.
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29. • A distinction is often made between relative
and absolute positional accuracy and between
vertical and horizontal positional accuracy.
• It is subdivided into horizontal and vertical
accuracy elements.
• Accuracy of your measurements relies on the
quality of your equipment and utilizing the
right process.
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30. • Precision is the degree of refinement in the
performance of an operation (procedures and
instrumentation) or in the statement of a
result.
• The accuracy of a field survey depends
directly upon the precision of the survey.
• Recorded field measured values should never
indicate a precision greater than that used in
the actual survey.
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31. Instrument Errors
• Instrument errors are caused by imperfections
in the design, construction, and adjustment of
instruments.
• Most instrumental errors are eliminated by
using proper procedures, such as
–observing angles direct and reverse,
–balancing foresights and back sights when
leveling, and
–repeating measurements.
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32. • Instrumental errors are not eliminated by
procedures.
• But, minimized by maintaining a regular
program of periodically checking and adjusting
(or calibrating) instruments and other
equipment.
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33. Care during Instrument Setups
• select instrument stations where operation is
not dangerous to the instrument operator, the
crew, or the instrument.
• Select stable ground for the tripod feet.
• Do not set an instrument closely in front of,
or behind, a vehicle or equipment which is
likely to move.
• Take a safe route to all setups.
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34. • Firmly plant the tripod with its legs
widespread.
• Push along the legs, not vertically, downward.
• On smooth surfaces, use some type of tripod
leg restrainer to keep the legs from sliding
outward.
• Always have the tripod firmly set over the point
before removing the instrument from its
carrying case.
• Immediately secure the instrument to the
tripod with the instrument fastener
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35. Instrument adjustment
• Adjustment means the process of bringing
the various parts of an instrument in to
proper relationship with one another.
• To be a qualified surveyor you must have the
ability to make these adjustments.
• Before making an adjustment consider
whether any error discovered will have a
material effect on field result.
• Make adjustments in a prescribed order.
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36. To make proper adjustments a qualified
surveyor must:
• Be familiar with the principles upon which the
adjustments are based.
• Know the methods or tests used to determine
if an instrument is out of adjustment
• Know the procedure and sequence for
making adjustments.
• Understand what effect an adjustment of one
element will have on the other parts.
• Understand the effect of each adjustment
when it is actually used for measurements.
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37. • study the manual prior to use of the
instrument, particularly whenever prescribed
field adjustments are to be made.
• The crew leader should develop a set of test
procedures to be used frequently for
elimination of gross errors.
• Such tests should include a check of items
such as the levels, optical plummet, and
tripod.
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Field Adjustments

38. Standards and procedural
specifications
• The primary reason for detailed standards and
procedural requirements is to ensure that a
desired accuracy is attained throughout a survey.
• This means that the accuracy is not only attained
at the points of closures, but at all points in the
survey.
• Standards and procedural specifications also will
create uniformity among surveys of the same
classification.
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39. • It is impossible to achieve uniformity when
different survey parties use different procedures
and standards to perform surveys, which are
purported to be of the same classification.
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40. LO3: MAINTAIN EQUIPMENT AND
REPLENISH SUPPLIES
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41. Operational maintenance of
equipment’s
• Surveying instruments, which include theodolites,
levels, total stations, electronic measuring devices,
and GPS receivers, are designed and constructed
to provide years of reliable use.
• Each new instrument is furnished with an
operator's manual.
• The operator's manual should be kept with the
instrument at all times.
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42. • The manual contains a
– description of the instrument,
– specifications of its various components and
capabilities, and
– Applications.
• The manual also contains
– basic instructions for use of the instrument &
– describes recommended servicing and adjusting
methods.
– If the manual is lost, stolen, or damaged beyond
use, a replacement copy should be obtained as
soon as practicable.
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43. Organize unsafe or faulty equipment
for work.
• Faulty equipment is a common reason for
measured data which lack accuracy.
• Faulty, broken or unsafe equipment
should be identified, removed from
service and only returned to service after
it has been repaired and made safe to
use.
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44. • A modern age advice
“An instrument should be checked frequently
but adjusted rarely”
• the bases for this lies in the fact that modern
quality instruments get out of adjustment
much less frequently than generally believed .
• The need for an adjustment is often caused by
a previous adjustment that was unnecessary
but occurred because of error in checking.
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45. • The steps to be Followed to remove faulty or
broken equipment from service include:
–Switch off and remove the equipment from
the job.
–Remove and isolate the item from service.
e.g. physically removing the item from the
work area, isolation of energy sources,
signage, Out of service tags
–Fix an Out of Service Tag to the equipment
and any other warning signage
–Report the faulty / broken equipment to
the Supervisor/ Manager for the work area.
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46. • All instruments that should be serviced or
repaired are those which are
–inoperative,
–damaged,
–does not maintain adjustment(s),
–their Mechanical adjustments are stiff
or binding and
–their Optics are fogged or cloudy.
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47. • Identify these equipment’s to
–separate from those which are in safe
and good condition,
–sorting according to their
maintenance priority in an organized
manner
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48. store safely Tools and equipment.
• All equipment and tools should be kept as
clean and dry as practicable, particularly if
they are to be stored for any length of time.
• A coat of light oil should be applied to tapes
and the metal parts of tools to prevent rusting
during storage.
• The original painted or varnished surfaces
should be repaired as often as needed to keep
moisture from entering the wood.
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49. • You can use the 5S ‘s its goal is to create a work
environment that is clean and well-organized.
– Sort (eliminate anything that is not truly needed in
the work area) taking out and disposing unnecessary
items
– Set in Order (organize the remaining items)
– Shine (clean and inspect the work area)
– Standardize (create standards for performing the
above three activities)
– Sustain (ensure the standards are regularly applied)
• Focus of 5s
• Visual order
• Organization
• Cleanliness
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50. Maintenance of Surveying Equipment
and Tools
• Each employee is responsible for keeping
his or her tools and equipment in good
condition.
• Although, precision instruments
constructed for rugged field conditions,
can be damaged by one careless act, or
continued inattention to prescribed
procedures for use, care, and adjustment
of the instrument.
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51. • The following general principles of care
and servicing should be applied for all
survey equipment and supplies:
•cleaning
•lubricating
•tightening
•Simple repair.
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52. Cleaning and lubrication
 All surveying instruments, equipment, or tools
must be thoroughly cleaned immediately
after you have used them.
—dust off the transit or theodolite and wipe
it dry before placing it back in its case.
—When the instrument becomes wet,
remove it from its carrying case and dry it
thoroughly at room temperature.
• NEVER leave a wet instrument stored in the
carrying case
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53. Repair means
• responding to the breakdown of equipment and
• undertaking work to correct the problem in order
to return the equipment to a working condition.
Before the equipment has been repaired,
– you need to be aware that there is a problem!
• Simple repairs can be done by the in-house or
external maintenance and repair team.
• If there is no back-up equipment, a breakdown
mean that the service the equipment was
providing will come to a halt.
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54. • Or cannot be corrected by a minor adjustment or
minor repair, do not attempt to dis assemble it
instead it will need to be sent to an authorized
repair shop
• Most surveying precision instruments require
special skills and tools for major adjustment and
recalibration.
• Only the instrument company or its subsidiaries
can provide these.
• Properly maintaining equipment to inspection
standards facilitates quality work and accurate
surveys.
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55. Maintenance will consist of preventative
care and corrective repair
Preventive maintenance is the systematic
care and protection of tools, equipment,
machines and vehicles in order to keep them in
a safe, usable condition, limit downtime and
extend productivity.
• It is maintenance that is conducted in order to
prevent failure.
• Reduces the chance of something going wrong.
• A program of routine actions such as cleaning,
lubrication, adjusting, or testing to keep
equipment ready for use.
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56. • The most important effect of a
preventative maintenance program is to
ensure measurement system reliability.
Corrective maintenance Is a
maintenance that is conducted after a
failure has occurred.
• Corrective maintenance can be partially
planned when it involves a non-critical
part whose maintenance can be delayed.
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57. Equipment maintenance plan.
‘‘Plan for maintenance when you purchase the equipment ’’
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• Equipment management is one of the essential
elements of a quality management system.
• The benefits of a good equipment management.
 reduces variation in survey results, and
improves confidence in the accuracy of data's.
 lowers repair costs, as fewer repairs will be
needed for a well-maintained instrument.
 lengthens instrument life.
 reduces interruption of services due to
breakdowns and failures.

58. • A maintenance plan will include
– preventive maintenance procedures as well as
– provision for inventory,
– troubleshooting, and
– repair of equipment.
• In order to manage tools and instruments effectively, it
needs good maintenance and repair records.
• The information captured should include
• the date,
• the equipment reference number,
• what was done,
• who did the work, and
• when next maintenance is due.
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59. • The maintenance and repair record can be used
to keep track of all other maintenance, including
maintenance done by the
• in-house team,
• by vendors, or
• by service agents.
• The successful maintenance program is:
– Well organized and scheduled,
– controls hazards,
– defines operational procedures, and
– Trains key personnel.
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