Land Surveyor Forum

Replies

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  Kevin D. Allen October 14, 2016 at 12:39pm

  I think I've seen more discussion on this topic than any other..haha. Bottom line is that a) the client specified an interval for a reason, b) as a surveyor doing a topo, we are expected to show the topographic features as we find them, both as "standard practice" AND "unique features". As someone that does a good bit of site and civil design, it's easy for me to know what I need for a project. When I send out a crew or work with an outside survey company, I still have to deal with others telling me "what I need And don't need". So I fully see the client side in this topic. We as surveyors are hired to provide precise measurements, not tell the owner that burnt orange window trim would clash with the forest green awnings.
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  CHARLIE B. AYCOCK, III October 14, 2016 at 11:20am

  Sorry if I am redundant or if I missed some of the replies already submitted. I don't see the entire discussion on here.
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  CHARLIE B. AYCOCK, III October 14, 2016 at 11:14am

  The bottom line is that the best interval is the one that is required to meet the specifications of the job/project. I tend to shy away from specific intervals. Most topo. jobs I have done don't specify spot shot intervals but they do specify contour intervals. The experienced surveyor knows what shots he needs to get the results his client wants. Most of my clients appreciate suggestions that save them money & still fulfill their needs. Generally, the more shots the better. I recently did a topo. of a parking lot of a boat landing for a State agency. My job was to collect the data. I got the standard back, top, bottom & beginning of curb (depending on type of C&G). I was not sure what the engineer needed so I saturated the area with shots. I was using the States GPS equipment according to their directions. Well, they did the job over because there was (as they claimed) too much data! There wasn't too much data, the technicians just didn't know what they were doing! They had a "state of the arts" Carlson Civil Engineering Suite that is capable of doing anything short of driving the truck! The problem was nobody knew how to use it! I could have finished the entire job by myself using my Tremble robot in two days, field to finish. Most of the feedback I get from my clients is very positive but you can't always please everybody.
  When you are asked for a quote on a job, you have several alternatives. Aside from the decision to bid or not to bid, you can also make alternate bids. If the client doesn't like your suggestions or their job requires the specifications as written, just make sure you get paid for the work you do if they accept your proposal.
• Land Surveyor

  A Murali babu October 13, 2016 at 1:12am

  Dear friend,

  Its advisable to take levels at 5m interval (even though the land is flat)which will help in getting more accurate contours and further estimation of earth works also will fetch better results, so go for it...

  Regards

  A Murali babu
• Land Surveyor

  ECHUI Ahizi Raoul Saint-cyr October 9, 2016 at 7:56pm

  
  I have already done this a trick where the customer asked all 4m
• Land Surveyor

  Maciej Michalak October 7, 2016 at 6:16pm

  Here is what came out of it, this place was very flat in the middle, red contours 0.1m and blue contours 1m interval.
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    Kevin D. Allen > Maciej Michalak October 9, 2016 at 8:59pm

    nice work, its easy to see why the client wanted a 5m grid now
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  CHARLIE B. AYCOCK, III October 6, 2016 at 8:51pm

  Yea, the high tech stuff is great if you have the work to pay for it. Obviously, with a large area, you need an organized approach but I can be finished with a lot before you can set up your grid & do so with results as good as it gets. Just a grid isn't going to do it if there is any topography to speak of and you want a quality product. Architects love sand dunes. You usually have to locate all the trees so the topo becomes just a side show. It goes without saying that the nature of the job should dictate the specifications & economics usually plays a big part in how the requirements are satisfied.
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  Mark Derks, CST October 6, 2016 at 7:11pm

  Sounds like a job for a UAV. Fieldwork done in 20 minutes
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    Kevin D. Allen > Mark Derks, CST October 6, 2016 at 9:39pm

    What is the vertical accuracy spec?   Unless you've bolted a Lidar Scanner to the belly of the UAV all you'll get are nice hi-rez photos. If the client was looking for a 5m grid, I'd imagine that the vertical would be on the order of 5mm (0.02 ft.).  Not sure if that can be attained from a UAV platform