I'm a surveyor. I use the equipment. The experamental equation of multiple base sites averaged into "one supreme position" as Shawn put it, has not been a very good option, in the past, due to the effort and time that could be involved. (Especially in the past) We have to have PRODUCTION. To pay our bills. So, I have been doing exactly what Shawn said above. Do the first Opus/ dpos observation, and force subsequent observations to conform to the first one.
To rephrase this, the "one supreme position" is a wonderful concept, but one that has been non feaseable in the past, Due to having to get our jobs done.
As this technology advances, we would prefer a more scientific approach, ie, "one supreme position".
My personal approach has (with the older GPS equipment, it's a legacy E system) been to immediately localize, with a scale factor, and a dummy local coordinate. This way, the underlying coords can shift, and my local coords can remain stationary. As I consider this method, I could possibly get my PRODUCTION. (Read bills paid), and meet my scientific hunger for perfection, by averaging the base coord, from multiple dpos sessions, without upsetting my local job coords. Once the job is archived, that is when I need true, solid spc. This way, I can use them on other jobs, in the vicinity.
It's a round a bout work around, I know. But, 10 yrs ago, I realized that Opus was not a very effecient tool. And, I also learned that coords of points were relative. They are relative, and are inherently relative. They are time dependant, and continents and plates shift. So, I gave up. I just made sure my survey coords were close to ground, and were on state plane grid bearings, for their rotational orientation. This way, I could re integrate them easier, when the technology became more readily available. (Read: I was waiting for something like the Javad LS!) Real world coordinates are not always necessary, for alot of my work. As long as the underlying coords real world coords are within 10 or 20 feet, this works out ok.
With the advent of dpos, and it's wonderfully more effecient processes, I am now revisiting genuine spc. How far can I go? I don't know. But, it is really nice. Operating on genuine spc is now feaseable, practical, and effecient.
Averaging a base site, into one supreme position is also within range.
I do hope that as the tools grow, that the professional community at large will grow too. I think it will make us all into better surveyors. And, that's what it's all about.
Thank you, to the whole Javad team. You are awesome! And Mr. Ashajee. Your dream is working for me. Thank you. I started in this profession, with a 1923 leitz transit, with a worn rack and pinion for the focus device. First order of activity, when getting to a job, was to grab nails, flagging, plumb bob, and a 200' tape. With the already antique transit.
Now, when I get to a job, first order of business is to determine a good base site, And set up the base.
I can only imagine where we are headed.
You've come a long way, surveyor!
Nate
