Pole dancing with the LS

[Jim Campi]

Gentlemen,

Is there a relationship between the precision/accuracy of a solution and the difference in the orientation of the base/rover antenna. In other words, should both antennas be oriented North?

Also, I have noticed that there is a correlation between the orientation of the LS receiver and the time to/total number of fixed engines - especially with overhead obstructions. Is there something to this?

I'm about 6'1" and set the LS at 5.3'. It also appears that my body position can interfere with time to a solution. Occasionally I have a problem obtaining a fix when adjacent to a structure or in areas with heavy vegetation obstructing my overhead view. Circling the rover to find the best position probably looks a bit odd to others.

Do you guys set the LS so the top of the receiver is at least equal with the top of your head?

 

[Adam]

For critical points I usually use a bipod and step away from the LS. I have noticed that a little wobble will help fix and I too will point the arrow on the LS to the North in bad environments. I can't really weight how much it helps but I think it does.

 

[Nate The Surveyor]

The LS can function in poor environments.
This does not mean it will work in the basement....
Those still need offsets!
"The basement" means "no sky".
It's still GPS, and still signal dependant.
It runs best in the open.
But, it is the best system available today.

 

[Robert P Stenerson]

Speaking of offsets, is the a way to turn the front facing camera on in the Collect action screen so I can use its cross hair for pointing exacting what I am about to offset? Also, it sure would be nice also to be able to create a survey point (i.e. one that would also adjust with a base adjustment) with on-the-fly offset info (distance, direction, and vertical offset) like I can do in SurvCE. Right now I have to wait for my base DPOS adjustments for first day shots before I can create design point shots. I know life is tough all over, but this would be a convenience to create the points as I take them.

Also, why isn't there a white box for the level vial camera in Stake mode?

Thanks, hopefully these weren't RTFM questions
Rory

 

[Matthew D. Sibole]

When you want to shoot an offset, set one of your white boxes to offset. It will bring up a symbol that looks like the one in COGO. If you tap on that offset icon in the collect screen then hit direct, you can tap on the P1 at the top and survey the offset point and it will ask if you want to store that point. Hit yes and it will take you back to the cogo screen. Tap on the angle tab. There is a button that says from camera. Point the crosshairs at what you are offsetting and press the check mark on the right and hit apply. It should kick you back out to the cogo screen. You can then enter your distance and you will want to check the point number and code/description of the point. Then hit create.

This will create a surveyed point where you want it.

 

[Robert P Stenerson]

Thank you Matt, I'll give it a go with your suggestions, as they sound like exactly what I was looking for.

This is why I love this forum , so much stuff that isn't in the manuals yet. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Rory

 

[Jim Campi]

For critical points I usually use a bipod and step away from the LS. I have noticed that a little wobble will help fix and I too will point the arrow on the LS to the North in bad environments. I can't really weight how much it helps but I think it does.

I'm certain that the alignment of the receiver has a significant effect on time to fix and total number of engines when working in difficult environments. In some cases, the receiver will only fix or obtain at least 2 fixed engines when oriented a particular direction.

Watch the total number of available satellites change based on direction. Check the sky plot that describes the satellite location and signal strength. As you rotate the LS, the number of blue, red and green satellites change - at times significantly. After collecting the first 5 to 10 points it becomes pretty obvious what direction I should align the receiver to get the greatest number of fixed engines. If you apply this method you will also notice that receiver alignment changes with position on the property and obstructed view of the sky.

Finding and utilizing the optimal orientation of the receiver cuts my field time by 10-20%. The efficiency of this method increases with overhead obstructions. It has nearly no effect on sites with a full view of the sky.

 

[Robert P Stenerson]

When you want to shoot an offset, set one of your white boxes to offset. It will bring up a symbol that looks like the one in COGO. If you tap on that offset icon in the collect screen then hit direct, you can tap on the P1 at the top and survey the offset point and it will ask if you want to store that point. Hit yes and it will take you back to the cogo screen. Tap on the angle tab. There is a button that says from camera. Point the crosshairs at what you are offsetting and press the check mark on the right and hit apply. It should kick you back out to the cogo screen. You can then enter your distance and you will want to check the point number and code/description of the point. Then hit create.

This will create a surveyed point where you want it.

Hi Matt,

I've been using your above offset method to create surveyed points by offset using the white box offset button -> Cogo -> Direct for non-precision points like trees, utility poles, etc. However, when I want to get something tighter like a building/house corner I would like to get it by a distance distance intersection offset. Is there similar way to do this that creates a surveyed point from a distance distance offset, instead of a static design point from two surveyed and saved offset points, which will be adjusted? This would be handy for when using an autonomous base RTK session.

Thanks,
Rory

 

[Matt Johnson]

Is there similar way to do this that creates a surveyed point from a distance distance offset, instead of a static design point from two surveyed and saved offset points, which will be adjusted?

The current plan is that the CoGo functions, other than the average function, will always create design points but that base coordinates will be attached to design points when appropriate after a future update so that they can automatically be shifted. In the next version of J-Field the CoGo Move and Shift functions allow the adjustment deltas to be populated into these functions so design points can easily be adjusted.

 

[Nate The Surveyor]

I realize that some of us are set in our ways (me too).
However... There is a solution that will work in alot of situations.
Localize it, with an average scale factor. Leave the rotation at zero. NOW all your coords remain on the same datum, start to finish, of project.
The software is supposed to allow the underlying spc coords to shift, and the point that you localized on to remain the same.

(It's been giving me some eratic and inconsistent behaviour, as this part of the software is getting worked on. Especially, at dpos.)
However, this data flow method, keeps things consistent. Ie, the field, and design coords remain on the same datum.
Then, at archive, I have the whole project on spc.
The ability to allow design coords to shift.... Would this mean all design points, or just the ones created in the LS? Or would it be user selectable?
Could you pick the ones that shift?
Just thinking.
Thanks everbody for all you do.
It's gonna be the most incredible surveying system to hit the planet!

 

[Nate The Surveyor]

Oops! Double post.

 

[Robert P Stenerson]

The current plan is that the CoGo functions, other than the average function, will always create design points but that base coordinates will be attached to design points when appropriate after a future update so that they can automatically be shifted. In the next version of J-Field the CoGo Move and Shift functions allow the adjustment deltas to be populated into these functions so design points can easily be adjusted.

Ouch! I hope they're not taking away Matt's offset on the fly method of creating survey points via Direct offset and the front facing camera?

 

[Matt Johnson]

Ouch! I hope they're not taking away Matt's offset on the fly method of creating survey points via Direct offset and the front facing camera?

This will still remain the same. It currently creates a design point. The goal for the future is that the design points created from CoGo functions will have base station coordinates so that they can be shifted automatically with DPOS.

 

[Robert P Stenerson]

This will still remain the same. It currently creates a design point. The goal for the future is that the design points created from CoGo functions will have base station coordinates so that they can be shifted automatically with DPOS.

Hi Matt,

"it currently creates a design point" Are you sure? When I followed Matt's method I thought for sure it created a surveyed point, which is what I liked about it (I don't have to worry about adjusting later on, it's done and done, no going back for it, etc. also it groups together nicely with the other surveyed points.

 

[Matt Johnson]

When I try the latest version it creates design points with base station coordinates. It's possible the version you have may have created survey points but I don't remember.

 

[Matthew D. Sibole]

The version that I had that created survey points is quite old. I haven't tested it in the testing version yet.