Topo with ATV

[K Davis]

I'm planning to topo about 33 acres of open field with an ATV staying on grid lines 50 feet apart with a shot every 25 feet. I've researched some threads on here and found some going back to 2016. Can someone link to a more recent thread discussing setting up the LS for this? Will be my first time doing this. The topography is a gentle slope with almost no features (cropland).

I want to autostore every 25 feet but also stay on predetermined imported grid lines. Any help would be appreciated!

 

[Shawn Billings]

Is there a reason for wanting to stay on grid lines?

I would normally recommend trajectory, and it's a solution I've used many times to collect topo points while mobile. I personally prefer using time rather than distance because you have control over point density just by slowing down. So if you encounter a slight drainage you can slow down to make sure you get the lowest point in the drain. Using distance alone you might only get a point somewhere along the side-slope.

Trajectory will let you set up both, whichever occurs first is what gets stored. So you can get the benefit of point density when needed and make sure you have your desired spacing when you have smooth terrain where you can go faster.

Unfortunately you can't see what you're doing while collecting a trajectory. Trajectory data also requires a bit of effort when exporting to get it in a format that your contour software will accept.

I'd possibly look at making an action profile that automatically starts and accepts with a five second delay using one epoch.

 

[K Davis]

Thanks Shawn, I'm going to set up a test run and see how it works.

I thought about using a tape to lay out stakes at the of the field as a guide, that would keep me on line. There are 18 grid lines.

 

[Nate The Surveyor]

Using an atv, it’s hard to totally stay close to grid lines.
I wish there was a sequence in trajectory, to “set up grid lines” then, drive those grid lines, with a large arrow, pointing left and right, with a number showing how many feet R Or L to be on grid line number. A numerical system to just number the grid lines.
33 ac of field can be driven twice, in 2 directions ew and NS so as to cover it all.
it’s phenomenally fast. Run it 2 or 3 ways.
n

 

[Shawn Billings]

Great idea Nate. Also, I like criss-cross. It topos so fast running it twice gives you redundancy and helps ensure coverage. I also collect a string of points diagonally across the project at 100-200 feet that don't go in the DTM for a check.

 

[Nate The Surveyor]

(Assuming your office software can handle strict 3 d line work.)
It’s phenomenal. But, you learn it in a multi step process.
1.) Set up setting.
2.) Run field work.
3.) Review what happened in the office.
Repeat.
it’s lather, rinse repeat.
when you get the hang of it, it’s great.
Nate

 

[Phillip Lancaster]

There is an elevation setting also. I set mine to every 0.25' difference in change.

 

[John Thompson]

Be sure that Correct for Tilts is turned off when you collect a trajectory with an ATV.

I like Nate's idea of giving the driver some guidance. Even if it just showed the map during trajectory collection that would help.

 

[Adam]

Be sure that Correct for Tilts is turned off when you collect a trajectory with an ATV.

I like Nate's idea of giving the driver some guidance. Even if it just showed the map during trajectory collection that would help.

You can collect a trajectory while looking at the map. After starting the trajectory just tap review. I also check connect with a line so I can see where I've been.

 

[Adam]

I'm planning to topo about 33 acres of open field with an ATV staying on grid lines 50 feet apart with a shot every 25 feet. I've researched some threads on here and found some going back to 2016. Can someone link to a more recent thread discussing setting up the LS for this? Will be my first time doing this. The topography is a gentle slope with almost no features (cropland).

I want to autostore every 25 feet but also stay on predetermined imported grid lines. Any help would be appreciated!

I would import the linework and then use trajectory. If you tap the review button after starting the trajectory you can see exactly where you are on the map while driving. I wouldn't stake the imported lines out but visually place myself on them in the review screen and drive. Check on connect with lines so you can see what you did. You can set trajectory snap as a user button to manually pick up a point while doing a trajectory in the reveiw screen.

 

[Shawn Billings]

That's awesome, Adam.

 

[John Troelstrup]

If you are wanting straight grid lines.....Prepare and upload a DXF overlay of the site ( on grid ) and just drive up and down the lines.
I like what Shawn says about time vs distance.

I have not done such thing yet, but I think I would be less concerned about my lines being straight and just drive all over the place creating lots of redundancy.
Create a Site Tin, overlay a grid and place the points closest to your grid intersections onto a visible plot layer.

I yearn to do such a project but have not had one come up yet....

It would be interesting to compare such a project with Drone data overlay.

Has anyone done this?

 

[Kelly Bellis]

Using visual stakeout you might just need to have your grid line end points loaded and then carefully drive with one eye on the screen and the other on what's in front of your vehicle.

 

[Nate The Surveyor]

I’m thinking. Using the review screen. And the screen scale set up right. Maybe being able to just drive the field, keeping the last set of lines visible on the screen, should allow a user to make parallel topo lines, in a systematic fashion.
and, then review looking for holes in the pattern.
Then, change to a new active layer and repeat. (while running it in another direction) This would give a double topo. And could allow the user to find a bad shot.
in fact, this is what I’ll plan on for next time.
n

 

[Nate The Surveyor]

@K Davis
Tell us how it’s going. Each situation has its own needs. Like walk the perimeter of a site. And take shots, near trees and obstacles. Then run the open field stuff with “trajectory “.
I’ve got some ideas for myself, for next time from this thread.
Life is a work in progress.
Nate

 

[K Davis]

I worked on this the other day, but I had a problem with the jig on my ATV, so I had to walk. There are 2 treelines running through the project so I divided it into 3 separate areas to walk. Once I got set up and going the actual measurement time with trajectory goes fast, so I didn't really mind not having the ATV. I hadn't read Adam's suggestion to hit the Review button so I wasn't following my imported line work. I just laid out starting points every 50 feet and used a compass to find a point in the treeline or a building in the background and used that as a guide to walk to. I was able to shoot 15 gridlines 1000 feet long storing every 25 feet, and had good results. Then I walked 4 lines along the edge of trees storing with Precise topo to make sure I didn't get float solutions.

My plan now is to finish with the ATV using Adam's advice above so I have a system worked out for next time.

@Nate The Surveyor, life and surveying both are a work in progress. It's hard to believe I started 30 years ago running a Topcon Guppy and now I'm walking holding a Javad LS taking shots without even touching it. I'll always be "practicing" surveying, you never get to the finish line. Never trust a surveyor who thinks they've learned or done it all!

 

[David M. Simolo]

I worked on this the other day, but I had a problem with the jig on my ATV, so I had to walk. There are 2 treelines running through the project so I divided it into 3 separate areas to walk. Once I got set up and going the actual measurement time with trajectory goes fast, so I didn't really mind not having the ATV. I hadn't read Adam's suggestion to hit the Review button so I wasn't following my imported line work. I just laid out starting points every 50 feet and used a compass to find a point in the treeline or a building in the background and used that as a guide to walk to. I was able to shoot 15 gridlines 1000 feet long storing every 25 feet, and had good results. Then I walked 4 lines along the edge of trees storing with Precise topo to make sure I didn't get float solutions.

My plan now is to finish with the ATV using Adam's advice above so I have a system worked out for next time.

@Nate The Surveyor, life and surveying both are a work in progress. It's hard to believe I started 30 years ago running a Topcon Guppy and now I'm walking holding a Javad LS taking shots without even touching it. I'll always be "practicing" surveying, you never get to the finish line. Never trust a surveyor who thinks they've learned or done it all!

Kevin, how were you carrying the LS? I assume without a rod somehow at a fixed height and letting it take its shots.

 

[Nate The Surveyor]

I don’t have a LS mount on my atv. I drive it one handed. Hold the pole with the other.
n

 

[K Davis]

Kevin, how were you carrying the LS? I assume without a rod somehow at a fixed height and letting it take its shots.

I use a lightweight rod with the tip removed and hold it about 0.3' above the ground. This site was a harvested soybean field so it was bare dirt for the most part and easy to keep a fixed height.

 

[DUANE WETMORE]

Pics of my LS topo system in my Argo ATV, measured height on garage floor, use pre-drawn grid lines to follow, and trajectory, either time or distance as site dictates. Also pic of my truck dash mount that works for woods road centerlines and to use the LS for in cab computations. Mount is just wood block machined to accept the quick release stud that is on the LS.