Land Surveying Equipment Questions

sparc · Sep 17, 2012

Haoleguy said:
No. Nothing inside my property lines yet but a transformer on pad sits just outside where my driveway enters. ...Gary

Not doubting you but nothing inside basedon what? Best at least the first time to call for a markout to be sure. Could be an underground transmission line, you just never know until you hit it with the backhoe, then its too late to say you're sorry.
Even on your own property the law will require you to call. Many don't and are lucky. How's your luck been holding out lately?

cycle_gator · Sep 17, 2012

Perhaps another question, what degree of accuracy are you trying to achieve? I won't argue your preferences on that score, but may be able to assist with finding a good solution for you. For myself, I am quite picky and I do use DIY techniques with two different instruments, one with 10" accuracy, the other with 2" accuracy. I have used then on my 9 acres to establish lines, site buildings, and layout and re-monument a lot line adjustment. I will say neither of them is a total station one is a direct reading digital, the other is a direct reading optical.

A good complete calibrated TS will cost over $10k. While I appreciate the need to have the equipment available when you want it, that is a pretty significant investment. Again, not trying to talk you out of anything, just want to help match what you want to do with the right tools.

Haoleguy · Sep 18, 2012

quicksandfarmer said:
I think you're overthinking this.

You say you have 5 acres and the maximum dimension is 1,000 feet. Five acres is 215,000 square feet, so the other dimension is 215 feet. Those are distances well within the capabilities of stakes and strings. On Google Earth I can easily pinpoint a rock, tree or stump that is a foot across, and I can zoom in with reasonable clarity so that 1/4"=1 foot. Plot out your plan using Google Earth, then go out there with stakes and strings and mark where you want things to go.

You're pretty close to me, and I can tell you that nothing underground is going to go exactly where you want it to go anyway, the soil is too rocky. You'll go to dig a hole for a trellis post and find that 18" down is a rock the size of a desk. You'll be asking for trouble if your plan relies on everything going in exactly the right spot. You need to have a plan that allows you to put things +/- a couple of feet depending on what you encounter. Nothing you've described requires great precision.

Thanks Quicksand. Can you generate a file with Google Earth and then recall and add to it? My acreage is ~50 acres with multiple fields to be developed.

For the rocks, I have, and am, in the process of clearing out those rocks larger than a grapefruit to ready the field for laser guided planting next Spring with a modified tree planter.. For posts I will be pounding them in after a pilot hole(rock auger or rock spike attachment). If I need to move a post a little inline I will but the vines will go where planned. With the tiling going in first this Fall and the vineyard rows next Spring I just need to make sure that my tile lines do not get pounded by the trellis posts. I should be able to accomplish that with simple tools.....Gary

Haoleguy · Sep 18, 2012

True statement. Have had local power company engaged in power easement rights to our property which I filed with our town. In those discussions, including a field tech representative, they confirmed there is no power going through our property. It's a pretty rural hilltop....Gary

greasemonkeyok · Sep 18, 2012

I think you will find that Google Earth is good down to maybe about 30 feet. Less that that, you are likely to find that you can't accurately replicate your coordinates from session to session. I have experienced differences of about 60 feet from one session to the next, keying off of a corner post each time.