online or print reference for surveying?

[hazmat]

google is giving me data overload but no information...

Can someone point me in the right direction regarding online and or print references for surveying. I have a robotoolz "automatic level" that I picked up for cheap. I'd like to learn more about what it can do vs. a transit and how I might be able to use it instead of my laser level. I'd also like to learn more about how GIS and GPS are being used today. Looking more for textbook type material.

Current "need" is I am considering adding a micro hydroelectric generator to my stream. I need to quantify head (which I know is low) and flow (which seems reasonable) to see how much potential I have before I start looking into the permitting process (wish me luck there I live in MA).

 

[HomeBrew2]

First, if you pm me w/your email addy, I'll make the Army Construction Surveying and Topographic Surveying manuals available to you. I can't vouch for them cuz I really haven't read them cuz I know all I need to know already.

Second, I don't know what a Robotoolz autolevel is but, I'll assume it's like an auto engineer's level which has a telescope and an internal prism floating in oil which allows turning the telescope and taking readings without re-leveling the unit (in contrast to a "dumpy" level").

If my assumption about your Robowhatever is correct, it differs from a laser level in that, a laser does not need an instrument man ... a good thing for us that work alone.

A laser level and an [engineer's] auto level are different from a transit in that a transit, TRANSITS, ie, it's telescope "transits" vertically, thus allowing shooting a line up and down a mountain (for example). Also, via trig, elevations can be determined (with the addition of a distance measurement).

Note: all instruments are only as good as they are proven to be. If a man can't prove the precision of his equipment and techniques, the equipment should be considered to be junk.

Disclaimer: this missive is very general in nature and there is a whole bunch more to say about each piece of equipment and their use than I have the ambition to comment on at this time.

 

[HomeBrew2]

Further comments:

Upon a one minute review of the Army topo manual, I beilieve it will provide most of the background info you desire.

GIS has nothing to do with surveying ... although, a field survey might, or might not, be the basis of a GIS geodatabase/coverage. For one reference, see esri.com.

GPS for [pure] surveying purposes is economically out of reach for most of us. Rental of equipment is a possible. For one reference, see trimble.com.

For your "current need":
Verticle head is a no-brainer to determine with your existing equipment.
Flow, is quite another story. One of our many TBN engineer's should be called upon for precise info. Me?, I would use simple horizontal and verticle measuring techniques to determine the cross-section or your channel at various stations along it's length. Calculate the volume of the channel, based on an average area of the cross-sections multiplied by the total length of your channel. Then, I'd get a chunk of styrofoam, toss it in the creek, when you experienced a "representative" flow rate and use a stop watch to measure the time it took to travel from known point A to known point B (ie, a known distance) ... the result would be your cf/sec flow.

Then again, I don't really know much about this stuff.

 

[BruceR]

Hazmat,

You might check out "Point of Beginning" magazine Home - Point of Beginning or "Professional Surveyor" magazine Professional Surveyor Magazine for some quality surveying information. P.O.B. also has an excellent message board for surveying questions Point of Beginning Message Board

 

[hazmat]

Thanks guys - homebrew I sent you a PM.

I checked out a textbook on surveying from the local library. haven't had a chance to crack it open yet (too busy skiing in ankle deep powder this weekend)