Units

James Suttles

Active Member
Would it be possible to have the units ( US Survey Feet, International Feet, meters, etc.) be associated with the project instead of being global, like they are currently.

An example of why this is requested. We work mainly in NC, but occasionally we will have to perform a project in our neighboring state of SC. NC is on US Survey Feet, and SC is on International Feet, so we have to change the units, from US Survey Feet, when we go to SC, and then remember to change them back once we start work back in NC.

If the units could be project specific, it would elimination the possibility of getting the two systems intermingled when they should not be. I know one solution would be to run all projects in meters, but everything we do is in feet, not meters, so that is very awkward.

If it is not possible, can continue to work around it, but it would sure be a nice feature and would cut down on a possible error, if possible.

Thx
 

T.Guisewhite

Active Member
This is akin to a bad rod height...it’s not something you can catch in the office...it’s real time in the field.
Being in Charlotte, NC about 30% of my work is down in York Co. SC. ...I switch this back and forth nearly every 3rd time I pull the LS out of its box. It’s tripped me up in NC...and SC since I’ve had this system.

If I get this wrong...like a bad rod height makes a bad elevation...this equals about a 3.5’ shift on the ground as it applies the difference between iFt vs USFt from the 0,0 origin of the SPC System.

We know the conversions by heart down here:
Meters / 0.3048 = iFt
Meters x 3.280833333333333... =USFt
Look at our coordinates in meters and do the conversions...

Word straight from our NGS advisor has it that the 2022 datum change will retire the US Ft...I’m a patriot so I’m partial to our definition just it cause it says “US” but I’ll welcome the change.

again this is one of the fundamental reasons I’ve never let my field crew touch this equipment...that way it’s my mistake not theirs.

Just got a second LS...I’d love to send it out with them... but now there’s even double the screens to have this blunder...my two cents...
 

T.Guisewhite

Active Member
AHHHH...as we speak!!

Just opening my case this morning to set up a new job...and after working for a week straight in S.C. my last little N.C. project was in iFt!!!!

Good thing I process everything by vector in Star*Net...AND check into a monument.
If I would have trusted coordinates straight from the LS...this would have been exactly wrong...case in point...and no rookie at this!
 

James Suttles

Active Member
If it could be made project specific, it would certainly resolve some potential issues. We are allowed to pick the units when we start the project, but they are controlled globally in the LS.

The only real way to be sure, would be to work in meters and convert accordingly, but that is very cumbersome, and really not practical, since everything we work with is in feet. All our deeds, plans, etc are in Feet, and having to convert from meters is really not an option.

If it cannot be made project specific, its not a deal breaker for me I will just have to adjust the workflow to check the units before exporting anything as a work product.
 

Adam

Well-Known Member
5PLS
I've been told it is very deep into the Jfield structure and would take a major rework of the internal data structure. Many man hours of work. Hopefully one day.
 

Duane Frymire

Active Member
It shouldn't tell the user they are in a system if that's not true. I don't understand how a user could pick a unit of measurement for a project and then without their knowledge it isn't the units being used. That's unacceptable, and should be fixed immediately. Communication to the user part shouldn't be a big deal to fix. Don't allow selecting a unit that's not available, or a warning, something.
 

Nate The Surveyor

Well-Known Member
A possible work-around would be a user controlled popup. One that pops up, at certain junctions. And says US Survey foot, and the coord system.

Like:
when turned on
When starting to collect a point.
When pressing POINTS.
Etc.
With these pop ups, it could supply us with a remind. I'll even go so far as to say we had BETTER do this.
 

Adam

Well-Known Member
5PLS
There is somewhat of a reminder. When in International feet an i is beside the units in the antenna height and such. Also Duane, they don't change by themselves, they change when the user changes them. They are applied globally when the user makes that change. I agree units should be tied to the project coordinate system.
 

James Suttles

Active Member
Also it will show ift in the coordinates listed at the bottom of the screen in collect and stake, its just something you have to keep up with for now.
 

James Suttles

Active Member
One thing to watch out for, when importing you are given the opportunity to import, based on USFT or IFT, If you do not pay attention, you will import coords into the wrong system, if you have had to switch, remember to switch back once you are no longer in that system.

Ended up setting a corner 5' out, due working on a project in SC, importing using Ift, then came back to NC imported points, but did not catch the import setting. When checking what was staked vs what was designed in Carlson, found the 5', scratched my head, and then figured out the import was still set for Ift. After switching, all is good and reset the corner using the correct coordinate.

So be careful, if you have to switch.
 
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