trimble scs900 site controller software

Trimble® SCS900 Site Controller Software

TOTAL STATION USER GUIDE

NORTH AMERICATrimble Construction Division5475 Kellenburger RoadDayton, Ohio 45424USA800-538-7800 (Toll Free)+1-937-245-5600 Phone+1-937-233-9004 Fax

EUROPETrimble GmbHAm Prime Parc 1165479 RaunheimGERMANY+49-6142-2100-0 Phone+49-6142-2100-550 Fax

ASIA - PACIFICTrimble Navigation AustraliaPTY LimitedLevel 1/120 Wickham StreetFortitude Valley, QLD 4006AUSTRALIA+61-7-3216-0044 Phone+61-7-3216-0088 Fax

www.trimble.com

Version 2.50Revision AFebruary 2009 F

TOTAL STATION USER GUIDE

Trimble® SCS900 Site Controller Software

2 SCS900 Site Controller Software Total Station User Guide

Contact InformationTrimble Navigation LimitedEngineering & Construction Group5475 Kellenburger RoadDayton, Ohio 45424-1099USA

800-538-7800 (toll free in USA)+1-937-245-5600 Phone+1-937-233-9004 Faxwww.trimble.com

Support OfficesFor registered product users:

1 800 SOS 4 TAC (USA-based support)

[email protected]

Legal Notices

Copyright and Trademarks© 2007–2009, Trimble Navigation Limited. All rights reserved.

Trimble, the Globe & Triangle logo, Autolock, BladePro, SiteVision, Terramodel, Tracklight, and TSC2 are trademarks of Trimble Navigation Limited, registered in the United States and in other countries. VRS and SiteNet are trademarks of Trimble Navigation Limited.

The Bluetooth word mark and logos are owned by the Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and any use of such marks by Trimble Navigation Limited is under license.

Microsoft, Windows, and Windows Mobile are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.

All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

The Trimble SCS900 Site Controller software is covered by the following U.S. patents: 6021376, 6016118, 5986604, 5614913 and other patents pending.

Release NoticeThis is the February 2009 release (Revision A) of the SCS900 Site Controller Software Total Station User Guide. It applies to version 2.50 of the SCS900 Site Controller software.

Product Limited Warranty InformationFor applicable product Limited Warranty information, please refer to Legal Notices in the Release Notes, or consult your local Trimble authorized dealer.

http://www.trimble.com

mailto:[email protected]

Safety InformationBefore you use the Trimble® Site Controller software, make sure that you have read and understood all safety requirements, as well as all equipment and job site safety requirements.

Warnings

C WARNING – This alert warns of a potential hazard which, if not avoided, can cause severe injury.

CautionsAlways observe safety instructions that are presented in the following format:

C CAUTION – A Caution alerts you to a possible risk of damage to the equipment and/or loss of data. A Caution describes how to protect the equipment and/or data from this risk.

Vehicle safety

C WARNING – When you select the Vehicle mode, the following warning message appears:

Do not interact with the touch screen, keyboard, or software in any way while the vehicle is moving. While the vehicle is moving, the software provides a continuous display of position and data that can be seen at a glance. Operating the device or interacting with the software while the vehicle is moving can be a distraction for the operator, and may result in collision causing property damage or personal injury.

SCS900 Site Controller Software Total Station User Guide 3

Safety Information

ServicingDo not attempt to repair a Trimble ACU, TSC2®, or Trimble CU controller. There are no user-serviceable parts inside. To arrange for a controller to be serviced, please contact your Trimble dealer.

Accessories

C CAUTION – Use only approved accessories with this equipment. In general, all cables must be high quality, shielded, correctly terminated, and normally restricted to two meters (6.56 feet) in length. AC adaptors approved for this product employ special provisions to avoid radio interference and should not be altered or substituted. Unapproved modifications or operations beyond or in conflict with these instructions for use may void authorization by the authorities to operate the equipment.


Contents 1

Safety Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3Warnings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Cautions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Vehicle safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Servicing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9About the SCS900 Site Controller Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Related information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Technical assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Your comments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

2 Connecting to a Total Station and Setting up the Controller . . . . . . . . 11Starting the SCS900 software. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Connecting to a total station . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Leveling the total station . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13Correcting for atmospheric conditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14Selecting the external battery type . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Setting up the controller. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Units and Formats option . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16Instrument Setup Tolerances option. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17Data Output Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

3 Creating a Site and a Work Order . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21Organizing data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Sites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22Designs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22Work orders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23Global data. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Creating a new work order and a new site . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Opening an existing work order . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Completing a work order . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

4 Main Menu Structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29Work Orders menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Measurement menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Stakeout menu. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Settings menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

Volume & COGO menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

System Setup menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

5 Setting up Control Points . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37Types of control points . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38


Contents

Entering control point coordinates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

6 Establishing the Position and Orientation of the Total Station on the Jobsite (Station Establishment)41Setting up at an arbitrary location . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Setting up on a known point . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

Reading station setup data from the total station. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

Completing a station establishment where the height of the setup point has not been determined . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

7 Setting Up an ATS or SPSx30 Total Station for Machine Control . . . . . . 57Using the ATS or SPSx30 UTS for machine control applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

8 Using Basic Mode. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63Icon panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64

Total Station Basic mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65

DR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66EDM mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66Tracklight. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66Level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67Turn-to . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67Autolock mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68Search . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69Laser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70Joystick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71Set HA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71HD/VD or VA/SD mode. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72

9 Advanced Features. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73Stockpile scan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74

Profile scan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80

Automated measurement. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87

10 Setting up the Total Station for Robotic Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97Starting with the controller connected directly to the total station. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98

Starting with the controller connected over the radio to the total station . . . . . . . . . . . . .102

11 Rechecking the System Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105Checking a control point using a prism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .107

Checking a control point without a prism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .110

12 Measuring a Control Point . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113Measuring a new point . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .114

Measuring an existing control point . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .116

13 Measuring Modes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119Measuring modes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .120

Standing mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .120


Contents

Walking mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .120Vehicle mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .121Averaging mode. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .124DR Single Point mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .124DR Scanning mode. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .124

Changing the measuring mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .124

14 Other Total Station Settings and Functions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127Target height and target type settings from the map view . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .128

DR Target Settings dialog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .129

Stakeout Settings menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .130

General Stake Placement & Marking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .130Auto Aim Option . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .131

COM Port Data Output Option . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .132

Instrument Functions menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .133

External Battery Type Settings option . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .134Atmospheric Corrections option . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .135Instrument Settings option. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .135DR/IR target settings option . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .136Radio Settings option . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .137

15 Adjusting the Total Station . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139Types of checks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .140

Mechanical checks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .140Electronic system checks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .140Electronic/software driven checks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .140

Compensator Calibration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .141

HA VA Collimation test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .142

Trunnion Axis Tilt test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .143

Tracker Collimation test. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .144


Contents


C H A P T E R

1
Introduction 1
This SCS900 Site Controller Software Total Station User Guide covers all aspects of the SCS900 software that relate to total station operation.

For measurement and stakeout operational guidelines that are common to both total station and GPS systems, please refer to the other SCS900 guides that are available (see Related information).

About the SCS900 Site Controller SoftwareThe SCS900 software can be used with the following systems:

• Total stations – The software can be used either with a total station using Servo, Autolock®, Robotic, or Reflectorless technology.

• Precision GPS – Covers centimeter GPS positioning techniques including Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) using a site base station (over radio), local base station (off-site over the Internet, cell phone, or rebroadcast radio), or a VRS™ network (VRS over the Internet, cell phone, or rebroadcast radio). For more information, refer to the SCS900 Site Controller Software Precision GPS User Guide.

• Location GPS – Covers decimeter to submeter GPS positioning techniques including Satellite Based Augmentation Systems (SBAS) (such as WAAS, EGNOS,

and MSAS), DGPS (reference station and rover operations), OmniSTAR VBS, XP, or HP services, and Location RTK (decimeter-level RTK positioning). In addition, it includes moving baseline operations to determine both position and heading of a moving vessel providing the ability to rapidly position objects such as piling rigs, marine dredgers, or bridge sections in real time. For more information, refer to the SCS900 Site Controller Software Location GPS User Guide.

The software is operated using a tablet PC ( for the SCS900 Tablet Edition software), a Trimble ACU, TSC2, or Trimble CU controller.

The SCS900 software supports the following total stations:

• Trimble 5600 Total Station

• ATS Total Station

• SPS610 Total Station



• SPS630 Universal Total Station




1 Introduction

Related informationThe following documents are available from the SCS900 Documentation folder on www.trimble.com:

• SCS900 Site Controller Software Office Guide

• SCS900 Site Controller Software Location GPS User Guide

• SCS900 Site Controller Software Measurement User Guide

• SCS900 Site Controller Software Precision GPS User Guide

• SCS900 Site Controller Software Road and Side Slope Stakeout User Guide

• SCS900 Site Controller Software Stakeout User Guide

• SCS900 Site Controller Software Total Station User Guide

• SCS900 Site Controller Software Release Notes

• SCS900 Site Controller Software Product Registration Form

BTip – For convenience, Trimble recommends that you install all documentation from the website to the hard drive of the office computer.

Each total station system has its own user guide containing instrument specific information. Use this manual with the material contained in those guides.

Technical assistanceIf you have a problem and cannot find the information you need in the product documentation, contact your local Trimble dealer.

Your commentsFeedback about the documentation helps us to improve it with each revision. Please email your comments to [email protected].


mailto:[email protected]

C H A P T E R

2
Connecting to a Total Station and Setting up the Controller 2
In this chapter:

Starting the SCS900 software

Connecting to a total station

Setting up the controller

This chapter guides you through the following actions you must do before you start working in the field:

1. Start the SCS900 software.

2. Check that the controller is connected to the total station.

3. Level the total station. If you enable the compensator inside the total station, it automatically corrects for instrument mislevel.

4. Correct the total station for atmospheric conditions.

5. Select the type of external battery that the total station is using, so that the battery can be characterized (SPSx10, SPS700, or SPSx30 only).

6. Select your preferred choice of units and formats.

7. Specify the instrument setup tolerances.

8. Select options for how you want data to be output.


2 Connecting to a Total Station and Setting up the Controller

Starting the SCS900 softwareTo start the SCS900 software on your controller, do one of the following:

• Select Start / Programs and then select SCS900 from the icons that appear.

• Double-tap the SCS900 software icon on the desktop.

The SCS900 software starts and the main menu appears:

Connecting to a total stationWhen you start the SCS900 software, it automatically looks for a connection to the total station through a cable connection (TSC2) or through a direct connection (Trimble CU). When the connection is made, the Level Compensator dialog appears:

Note – If you use a Trimble CU controller in GPS mode and then attach it to a total station, the controller will not automatically connect to the total station unless you are in Total Station mode (select System Setup / Switch to Total Station Setup). If you leave the controller in GPS mode, it cannot find the connection even if it is connected directly to a total station.



If you are using Bluetooth® wireless technology to connect to the total station (SPSx10, SPS700, or SPSx30 only), you must first turn on the total station and enable Bluetooth (using the face 2 display menu), and then manually force the connection to it.

If you are using a radio to connect to the total station, you need to manually force the connection to it. For more information, see Chapter 10, Setting up the Total Station for Robotic Operation.

To force either a radio or Bluetooth wireless connection:

1. Select System Setup. The System Setup Menu – Instrument appears.

2. Select Connect Instrument. The Connect Instrument menu appears.

3. Select either Connect via radio or Connect via Bluetooth.

4. Follow the instructions that appear on the screen.

Leveling the total station

The compensator inside the total station provides dual-axis correction for any mislevel of the instrument during operation, for a working range of up to 6' of arc. The display enables you to level the total station accurately using the foot-screws on the tribrach.

To level the total station:

1. Align the front face of the total station with two tribrach foot-screws.

2. Adjust the horizontal bubble in the display using those same two foot screws.

3. Adjust the vertical bubble using the third foot screw.

4. Once level, tap OK.

Note – You can disable the compensator, however, only do this in extreme working conditions such as when working:

• in close proximity to a piling rig, vibratory compactor, or other source of extreme ground vibration which would continuously affect the compensation effect on the total station

• on a mobile platform where the level is continuously changing, but where all measurements are needed in the reference frame of the platform itself, for example on a marine vessel or oil platform

• in extremely windy conditions where wind buffet on the total station is significant, and again would continuously affect the compensation of the total station.

If the compensator is switched off, the total station stops correcting for instrument mislevel. In these situations, watch and adjust the level on a regular basis.

At this point, Trimble assumes that the total station is set up accurately over a known point or that you have set it up in a convenient location, and will establish its position using the arbitrary location method (also known as free station or resection). For more information, see Setting up at an arbitrary location, page 43.



Correcting for atmospheric conditions

The following dialog appears, if the Show corrections on start up check box was left selected during a previous operation:

B Tip – Alternatively, open this dialog from the Instrument Functions menu (see page 133).

When measuring distances, the total station’s Electronic Distance Meter (EDM) is affected by the temperature and pressure at which the instrument is being operated. Accurate entry of the ambient air temperature and barometric pressure correctly adjusts the EDM measurements for the PPM (parts per million) error associated with this effect.

The Trimble SPS610, SPS700, SPS710, SPS730, and SPS930 total stations automatically detect the pressure, but you have to enter the temperature. For high accuracy work or long range measurements, you should measure the temperature using a thermometer. For normal site work, estimating temperature or getting it from a weather forecast is normally sufficient. You must also enter the pressure on the Trimble 5600 total station and the Trimble ATS total station; it can be taken from a weather forecast or measured with a barometer.

Note – When working at high altitudes, your barometric pressures will be considerably lower than if you are operating at sea level, which can have a significant effect on the PPM errors. Average daily changes in temperature have a far less impact on the PPM error and if estimated to within a few degrees are adequate for the normal operating ranges of the total station (<500 m, <1500 ft). When working at the maximum ranges of the total station (5,000 m, 15,000 ft), use more accurate values, as the errors become more significant with extended range of operation.



Selecting the external battery type

The Instrument External Battery Type dialog appears, if the Show screen on start up check box was left selected during a previous operation:

B Tip – Alternatively, open this dialog from the Instrument Functions menu (see page 133).

Select the type of external battery that is to be used by the SPSx10, SPS700, or SPSx30 total station. Enter its specifications to characterize the battery. Characterizing the battery does two things:

• It protects the battery from the total station taking its voltage too low thereby prohibiting damage

• It ensures that the total station can maximize the use of the battery assuring the longest operational time from the battery

For more information, see page 134.

Setting up the controllerFrom the main menu, select Settings:



The settings that you should set up now are:

• Units & Formats

• Instrument Setup Tolerances

• Data Output Options

These settings will then be used in every site and every work order created and opened.

Units and Formats option

The first time that you use the SCS900 software, you need to set the units and data formats correctly before you take a measurement or associate a design with a site. It is important that you do this before you take a measurement or associate a design with the site. All files that relate to a single site must be stored and operated with the same units. Once a measurement has been taken, or a design has been selected, you cannot change the units.

Set up the SCS900 software to operate in your units and formats of choice and to operate in the correct coordinate system.

From the Settings menu, select Units & Formats:

Field Description

Distances Distance units supported include Meters, US Survey Feet, and International Feet. The distance units are applied to all imported data, computed information, and measured positions.Select the setting appropriate to your region of operation.

Angles Angle units can be measured in Degrees or Gons. The specified angle units are applied to all computed and displayed angular information.Select the setting appropriate to your region of operation.

Stationing Stationing (also known as chainage) formats currently supported include 0.000, 0+00.000, and 0+000.000. The selected stationing format is applied to all measured, computed, and displayed station (chainage) values.Select the setting appropriate to your region of operation.



Instrument Setup Tolerances option

From the Settings menu, select Instrument Setup Tolerances:

When setting up the total station, and while measuring or staking points, the total station checks the values measured against a set of entered tolerances for operation, and notifies you if the measurements are in or out of tolerance.

Coordinate Order

The order in which coordinate values will be interpreted within control point and stakeout point files can be either P,N,E,Z,D or P,E,N,Z,D where:P = Point Name or NumberN = NorthingE = EastingZ = ElevationD = Description or Point Code

The selected coordinate order dictates the way that those point files will be read and used, and how coordinates will be entered, displayed, and recorded by the software.

Note – Reading a control points or stakeout point file where the data items are actually in a different order to that defined by this setting causes the software to incorrectly use the values in the file.

Grid Coord Supported grid (Cartesian) coordinate systems include that where the axes of increasing positive coordinates extend north and east, and that where they extend south and west. The Grid Coord field dictates the direction of increasing coordinate values. In most regions, coordinates typically increase to the north and east direction. However, in a few countries the coordinates increase in a different direction, for example in South Africa, the coordinates increase to the south and west. Select the setting appropriate to your region of operation.

Azimuth Azimuth direction options currently include north or south. Azimuth direction in most regions has its zero origin direction as true north. However, in some countries the origin or zero direction is set to a different direction, for example in South Africa, a zero azimuth is in the direction of the south axis.Select the setting appropriate to your region of operation.

Field Description



Setting tolerances too low results in failure to generate appropriate warnings; setting tolerances too high results in frequent warnings. You should ensure that the values that you enter for the tolerances are:

• accurate enough for the work being carried out

• within the capabilities of the total station

For example, if stakeout has to be achieved to an accuracy of better than 5 mm (.016 ft), do not set the stakeout or instrument setup tolerance to 15 mm (.049 ft). If the total station in use has a horizontal angle accuracy of 5" arc, do not set the instrument setup tolerance to 1" arc as this will never be achieved.

The following table shows the specified accuracy of the supported total stations:

Data Output Options

The last settings to consider are what data you want to store during operation and then output on completion of a work order.

From the Settings menu, select Data Output Options:

To record raw measurement data (HA VA SD) along with all computed positions etc, select the Store raw data to Record.txt file check box. Raw data will be stored with each measured or staked location.

Total station Horizontal angle Vertical angle Distance

5605 DR200+ 5” 5” 3 mm +/- 2 ppm

ATS 1” 1” 2 mm +/- 2 ppm

SPS610 5” 5” 2 mm +/- 2 ppm

SPS700 5” 2” 3 mm +/- 2 ppm

SPS710 3” 2” 3 mm +/- 2 ppm

SPS730 3” 2” 3 mm +/- 2 ppm

SPS930 1” 1” 3 mm +/- 2 ppm



To add a 3D Triangulated Irregular Network (TIN) surface model to the DXF CAD file output, select the Surface in DXF 3D Faces format check box.

On completion of a work order, the software optionally creates a CAD compatible DXF file of all the measurements and stakeout records taken during execution of the work order. The Measurements in DXF format and the Surface in DXF 3D Faces format options enable you to add the following output to the DXF file:

• measurements only (points, lines, areas, boundaries measured, and staked locations)

• surface only (that is, the triangulated model of the surface)

• measurements and the surface

The resulting DXF file comprises a number of layers, depending on the options selected. It includes the following:

• Surface-Data (measurements)

• Surface-Faces (3D TIN surface model)

• Surface-Boundary (outer boundary of the model)

• Survey-Data (site features i.e., non surface data)

• COGO (computed points)

• Staked-Points (as-staked locations)


C H A P T E R

3
Creating a Site and a Work Order 3
In this chapter:

Organizing data

Creating a new work order and a new site

Opening an existing work order

Completing a work order

All SCS900 operations are carried out on a specific site. Work orders are associated with that same site. Before you can begin work, you need to create a work order or open an existing work order.

A work order contains a record of every measurement or stakeout operation completed. Work orders also allow tasks to be monitored in terms of progress towards completion, and allow different types of tasks to have different settings and tolerances. Work orders also record every setting and change of setting made while you work.

Many tasks such as setting up a new site, design, or work order, and the settings or operational parameters for those operations can be established using the SCS900 software or the SCS900 support utilities ( for example, the SCS Data Manager, the Trimble Business Center software, or the Terramodel® Field Data Module) and then transferred to the controller. Establishing these tasks and settings in the office enables the supervisor to control and manage the quality of all the operations.


3 Creating a Site and a Work Order

Organizing dataData is organized by site. Within each site, data is further divided into designs and work orders.

Sites

An SCS900 site is a project that contains records of all activities that a crew does on a jobsite. The site contains the following:

• all settings and information that would be considered a requirement for the execution of any type of task (known as a work order)

• a background map

• a control points file

• the GPS site calibration information

• a geoid model for GPS operations

• all software settings that would be considered applicable as the default settings for any task executed on the project

Site information is available to all work orders carried out on the site.

Storage of sites

SCS900 sites are stored in the Trimble SCS900 Data folder or root folder.

• If you are using a controller that runs Windows® CE .NET ( for example, the TCU), then the root folder is \Disk\Trimble SCS900 Data.

• If you are using a controller that runs Windows Mobile® Pocket PC, ( for example, the TSC2), then the root folder is \<StorageCard>\Trimble SCS900 Data.

• If you are running the SCS900 Tablet Edition on a laptop or tablet PC, then the root folder is \Trimble Synchronizer Data\PC\Trimble SCS900 Data.

In this way, if you synchronize other SCS900 controllers with the tablet PC using Trimble Office Synchronizer, they will be added as additional devices beneath the \Trimble Synchronizer Data folder so their information can easily be seen and reviewed using the SCS Data Manager.

Designs

A site can contain one or more designs. Each design contains all the information relating to a specific aspect of the construction of the project, for example, original ground, finished grade, utilities such as sewers, electrical, gas, water, pads, roads, and other similar groupings. A single SCS900 design for example, can comprise a CAD drawing, one or two surfaces or roadway models, and a stakeout point list.



Information stored at this level includes foreground maps, stakeout data, and a design surface or road model.

Work orders

A work order is a job or task (or a set of tasks) that needs to be carried out on a particular site. The following are typical tasks:

• checking grade on a completed surface

• staking out a parking lot

• measuring a stockpile volume

• measuring a progress volume

The Trimble SCS900 Site Controller software is task-oriented. When you open a work order, the software automatically retrieves the data that you need to complete that work order.

A work order defines the site. It can also, but does not have to, reference:

• a design, which has the data needed to carry out the task

• an underlying surface design, which has any previously-measured, saved surfaces that can be used for material thickness checking

For a material thickness check, only an underlying surface design is required. For a grade check and material thickness check, a design and an underlying surface design are required.

Two surfaces can be used to display cut/fill when using Location GPS with a poor vertical precision. The cut/fill values are the difference between a recent topo survey of the surface and the desired design surface.

A work order can also include basic written instructions to the operator that outline the requirements for the task.

Tasks such as setting up the base station, carrying out a station establishment with a total station, carrying out a measurement of the original ground levels for a site, and so forth, do not require the work order to have a referenced design.

Tasks such as carrying out a grade check of a finished surface, carrying out any stakeout operation, or displaying real-time cut and fill around the site require the work order to have a referenced design.

There can be many work order subfolders within the main work orders folder. Each work order subfolder contains:

• An initialization file called <Work Order Name>.ini that references the relevant design files and define the settings for the work order.

• An Output folder that contains all data stored or output during the execution of the work order. This includes the data collected in the field, computed by the SCS900 software, or generated during field operations.



The following files are continually updated and stored in the Output folder:

– <Work Order Name>-Record.txt – Contains a record of every point measured or staked out, and includes station establishment and control point measurement records.

– <Work Order Name>-Report.txt – Contains a record of every function used and every result reported on-screen during the execution of a work order. This is effectively a log file of activities and the results generated.

The following file is created when you complete a work order:

– <Work Order Name>-Measure.dxf

• An optional work order instruction file called <Work Order Name>.txt.

Global data

The following data is used by all sites:

• Lists of feature codes

• Lists of operator names

• Geoid files

Creating a new work order and a new siteBefore you can set up the SCS900 software to use with a conventional system and collect site measurements, you must create or open a work order. Every SCS900 field operation requires a work order, or task-related folder, into which field results are written.

You can create work orders in the following ways:

• In the office – Using the SCS Data Manager or the Terramodel Field Data Module, you can assign it to a field crew and then use the Trimble Office Synchronizer utility to transfer the work order to a controller. For information about these utilities, refer to the SCS900 Site Controller Software Office Guide.

• In the field – Directly on the controller by the crew in the field, as and when required, for example, to carry out a site measurement task.



To create or open a work order in the field:

1. From the main menu, select Work Orders:

2. To start a new work order on a new site, select New :

B Tip – If you are working on a site that already exists, select the site from the list and then tap Next. Then go to Step 7.

3. Tap New Site:



4. Enter the name of the site ( for example, Road Job 2) and then tap Next:

5. Confirm or change the unit settings for the new site. These values default to the ones that you have already set up (see page 16).

Note – Always set the distance units correctly before taking a measurement or associating a design with the site. All files that relate to a single site must be stored and operated with the same units. Once a measurement is taken, or a design is selected, you cannot change the units.

6. Tap Next:

For this example, the following items are not available: a site background map (provides a reference map for the site in all work orders), a site calibration file (used for GPS operations), or a control points file (needed to set up the total station when known control points exist).



7. Tap Finish:

8. Enter a name for the work order and then tap Next.

B Tip – Give work orders a meaningful name to make it easy to identify them when multiple work orders are created for a particular project. If you are using the total station only for machine control work, that is, no site measurement or stakeout operations, then name the work order something like Daily Total Station Setups. If you are staking, for example, a sewer line, then name the work order Stake Sewer Line. If relevant, you can also add the date to the name of the work order so you know when the task was started, for example Stake Sewer Line 120606.

The following dialog appears:

9. The dialog lists all designs associated with the opened site. At this stage, you only want to establish the total station position and carry out a site calibration; you do not have a design requirement (typically needed for stakeout or grade checking operations). Select <No design needed> and then tap Finish. The software enables you to select a maximum of two design surfaces. Use the Primary tab to select the main design surface and use the Underlying tab to select the secondary design surface.

B Tip – If you require only one design surface, select <No design needed> on the Underlying tab.



Note – With every task, the operator’s name is stored with the task as a part of the recorded information.

The work order is now open on the new site.

Opening an existing work orderTo open a work order that was created in the office, or previously created in the field:

1. From the main menu, tap Work Orders / Open.

The Select a Work Order dialog appears. It lists all the work orders for the current site. To choose a work order from a different site, tap Change Site.

2. Select the work order from the list and then tap Next or press the Enter key =.

3. Review the information that appears on the screen. Check the site name, the work order name, and any design(s) associated with the work order. Tap Confirm or press = to continue.

Completing a work orderOn completion, the work order contains the following:

• Reference to the site that it was carried out on.

• Reference to the design data that was used in completing the task (surface, CAD drawings, road models, or stakeout point data).

• A record of all the settings and tolerances that were used in the execution of the task.

• A record of all measurements made, all in-field reports generated, and a log of all activities carried out to complete the task.

• Optionally, an output CAD (.dxf) file containing all of the measured, COGO, and as-staked information. It may also contain a 3D faces model for the surface created from the measurements made.

On completion, the results from a work order can be reviewed and analyzed using the SCS Report Utility, viewed in the SCS Data Manager, or imported into the Trimble Business Center software – HCE software, the Terramodel software or the SiteVision® Office software for more in-depth analysis.


C H A P T E R

4
Main Menu Structure 4
In this chapter:

Work Orders menu

Measurement menu

Stakeout menu

Settings menu

Volume & COGO menu

System Setup menu

The SCS900 software is a menu-driven system, for ease of use and learning. When you open the software, the main menu appears, providing access to six submenus:

Once set up, whether being used by GPS or by a total station, there are two main functions:

1. Measurements – This function enables you to measure and record the location, or as-built location, of features or surfaces or objects on a project, or to collect information that allows you to create a surface model, from which you can make volume computations, and grade or material thickness checks.

2. Stakeout – This function enables you to stake or relocate any aspect of the site including point features (such as manholes), line features (such as curbs, foundations, and footings), planar surface features (such as pads), or surfaces (such as site terrain models, side slopes and catch points, or road surface models).


4 Main Menu Structure

Work Orders menu

The Work Orders menu contains the tools to create, open, and complete work orders. The menu also provides the capability to change the design referenced by the current work order, and output new design data from the current work order, for example, the original ground topographic measurements.

This menu also provides the ability to export measured information or selected design information to a CompactFlash card for use in the GCS900 Grade Control System or the SiteVision® machine control systems.

Command Description

New Create a new work order in the field as required for a requested task, for which no work order has been provided. The SCS900 software creates a new work order that references a specific site and design.

Open Open an existing work order. This can be:

• a new work order, created by the supervisor, which you are to carry out

• an in-progress work order, which you need to retrieve data from or add data to

• a previously completed work order, which you need to reopen to retrieve information or to add information to

Change Design Select a different design, which provides different information to that currently loaded, as a result of a change in the design for the project, or a request to do something within the current work order that requires different design data.

Complete Work Order Complete the currently open work order and write the Work-Order Measure.dxf file.

Export/Import Data (TCU and TSC2 controllers)

Write the surface data that was measured in the field to a new design surface; export the site calibration file to a CompactFlash card; export a design to a CompactFlash card for use with the GCS900 Grade Control System, save site calibration data to a memory card; and send or receive files from “intelligent” emails.

Save surface as design Write the surface data that was measured in the field, to a new design surface.



Measurement menu

The Measurement menu contains all site measurement functions. With the dedicated functions, you can check grades and material thickness, take topographic measurements to create surface models ( for example, volume computations), take site feature measurements to record the location of non-surface features, and provide real-time cut/fill information against a selected design model.

Before you enter this menu, set up the system using the System Setup menu. If you do not, when you select an option in this menu, the software automatically puts you through either the station establishment process ( for a total station) or the rover setup ( for GPS).

For information about how to use the site measurement functions, refer to the SCS900 Site Controller Software Measurements User Guide.

Command Description

Check Surface Grade Check the grade of a surface against a selected design.This option is available only when the current design is not a road.

Check Grade of Roadway Specify a high or low tolerance for the finished grade and check whether or not the grading operations have achieved tolerance.This option is available only when the current design is a road.

Check Material Thickness Check the thickness of laid materials against the specified thickness.

Measure Surface Measure a surface: points, break-lines, volume boundaries, and the site boundary.

Measure Site Features Measure site features not used in the creation of a surface.

Display Real-Time Cut/Fill Check current cut and fill at any location on the project against the original ground, finished design, or any other surface.

Intelligent Scanning Scanning options for use with total stations, specifically for scanning stockpiles or recording profile lines of objects like quarry walls or high walls.



Stakeout menu

The Stakeout menu contains all SCS900 stakeout functions including staking points, lines and alignments, planes, surfaces, side slopes, catch points, and road features.

Before you enter this menu, set up the system using the System Setup menu. If you do not, when you select an option in this menu, the software automatically puts you through either the station establishment process ( for a total station) or the rover setup ( for GPS).

For information about how to use the site stakeout functions, refer to the SCS900 Site Controller Software Stakeout Guide, or if you have the Road module installed, refer to the SCS900 Site Controller Software Road and Side Slope Stakeout User Guide.

Command Description

Point Stake individual point data. The software guides you directly to the point.

Line Stake lines and alignments or offsets to lines using station and offset methods. The software guides you directly to the line.

Side Slope & Catch Point Stake an earthwork operation that involves a tie to the current ground surface.

Plane Create and stake out a level plane, a sloping plane, or a 3-point plane. The software guides you directly to points on the plane.

Surface Stake out from a design surface. The software guides you directly to points on the surface.This option is available only when the SCS900 road module is not installed.

Road Stake roadway features, sideslopes, and catch points or any point on the surface.This option is available only when the SCS900 road module is installed.

Enter/Edit Stakeout Points Add, edit, or delete any stakeout points that are in the current design.



Settings menu

The Settings menu contains all the SCS900 system settings that control the units of measurement, how the software operates, and what tolerances the software will use for different functions during operation.

The settings provide control over Internet connectivity for VRS or remote base station GPS operations.

The settings also control what data is recorded during operation and then exported when a work order is complete.

Command Description

Page 1 of 2:

Units & Formats Specify the measurement units and the order of coordinates.

GPS Precision Settings Specify GPS measurement and site calibration tolerances.

Internet & VRS Settings Configure your Internet connection for use with “intelligent” email functions, a VRS system, or create a new connection with the New Connection wizard.

Instrument Setup & Adjustment

Specify horizontal, vertical, and angle setup tolerances and the type of corrections to apply to the measured distance.

Stakeout Settings Specify stakeout methods to be used, stake writing information, stakeout tolerances, and auto-aim controls for use with a total station. Select map view options.

Data Output Options Specify .dxf file output options (surface measurements and/or 3D faces). Specify whether or not raw data will be output with each record.

Page 2 of 2:

COM Port Data Output Option

Enable the controller to output the instrument measurement data through a COM port.

Radio Baud Rate Change the receiver to radio baud rate for third-party and Trimble PDL 450 radios.



Volume & COGO menu

The Volume & COGO menu contains a number of calculation (area, distance, bearing, slope) and point generation functions ( free point, offset points, radius point) that can be used to generate points for stakeout operation from CAD data in the currently loaded design.

The menu provides access to the contour generation function, which you can use to review a measured surface before you use the Compute Volume option, to determine stockpile or progress volumes. The menu also provides access to review and edit functions for editing breaklines and deleting points or lines to resolve surface modelling problems.

Command Description

Review & Edit Surface View or delete point and lines, add breaklines and boundaries, contour surface and calculate surface volumes (stockpiles) or periodic progress volumes.

Review Design Features Calculate volumes based on the design data, and calculate distances and areas.

Compute Distance & Area Compute areas, distances, and angles from measured or stakeout data.

Create Stakeout Points Create points by a variety of methods including free point, radius, and offset to a line. Free points can be created by tapping the screen or entering coordinates.

Create/Edit Road Data Enter a roadway and perform COGO functions based on a road. This option is available only when the SCS900 road module is installed.



System Setup menu

The System Setup menu contains the control and system setup functions for GPS or total station operation:

• For total stations, use the menu to connect the instrument and carry out station establishment to establish the position and orientation of the instrument. The menu provides access to all total station control functions and calibration procedures.

• For GPS, use the menu to start the base station, start the rover receiver, and then carry out the site calibration process.

General functions include being able to enter and edit control point information, measure new control points for the project, and recheck the system setup on a control point.

The menu also provides the ability to switch between GPS and total station operations.

Command Description

GPS

Set up Base Set up and start a Precision GPS base station.

Set up Rover Set up and start a GPS rover.

Calibrate Site Perform or resume a single-point, two-point, or multi-point site calibration.

Recheck System Setup Check an existing site calibration on a known control point.

Enter/Measure Control Points

Edit and enter control point coordinates.

Switch to Total Station Setup Access the Total Station System Setup menu.

Total Station

Connect Instrument Connect to the total station using a radio for robotic operation or using Bluetooth® wireless technology for Servo, Autolock, or Reflectorless operation.

Set up Total Station Position Set up the total station and establish its position and orientation on the site using the known point or arbitrary location (also known as free station or resection) methods.

Instrument Functions Menu Provides access to all total station specific functions and settings in addition to calibration procedures for angle collimation, tilt axis, and tracker collimation errors.

Recheck System Setup Check the current instrument setup on a known point location.

Enter/Measure Control Points Edit and enter control point coordinates; measure new control points.

Switch to GPS System Setup Access the GPS System Setup menu.


C H A P T E R

5
Setting up Control Points 5
In this chapter:

Types of control points

Entering control point coordinates

A control point is a location on site that is clearly and permanently marked with a peg, nail, target, or other permanent feature. Typically, it is in a location that is unlikely to be disturbed or destroyed. A qualified surveyor should establish the known coordinates of a control point.

Each day when you set up the total station, you will do one of the following:

• Set up over a known control point and observe to one or more known control points to establish the position, elevation, and orientation of the instrument in relation to the site coordinate system.

• Set up in a convenient but arbitrary location and observe to two or more known control points to establish the position, elevation, and orientation of the instrument in relation to the site coordinate system.

Before you establish the total station’s position and orientation on the project in order to carry out a site calibration, you first need some control points and their coordinate values stored in the control points file for the site.

Control points are also required when you recheck the system setup. For more information, see Chapter 11, Rechecking the System Setup.


5 Setting up Control Points

Types of control pointsThe control point file is available every time you open any work order on a site. Control points can be one of the following:

• 1D – Elevation only ( for example, a benchmark)

• 2D – Horizontal position only

• 3D – Horizontal position and elevation

Note – A 1D point appears only in the control point list and is not shown in the graphics of the map view because its position is not known. A 2D or 3D point appears in the control point list and in the graphics of the map view. A control point is marked with a black triangle and you can control its visibility in the map by using the Map Display options.

Entering control point coordinatesAfter you create a new site, add the control point coordinates to a control points file. To do this:

1. From the main menu, select System Setup:

Note – If your System Setup Menu does not look the same as that shown above, you are currently in GPS mode. To change to Total Station mode, select Switch to Total Station Setup.

2. Select Enter / Measure Control Points:

At this stage, you should have a list of control points for the project. Control points are normally marked on the plans or provided as a list by the project surveyor.


Setting up Control Points 5

3. Select Enter / Edit Control Points:

4. Tap Add:

5. In the Add a New Point dialog, do the following:

a. Enter the control point name (which might commonly be a point number):

– For 1D points, select the Elevation check box and then enter the elevation for the point.

– For 2D points, select the Northing check box and then enter the northing and easting for the point.

– For 3D points, select both check boxes and then enter the northing, easting, and elevation for the point.

b. Enter a code to identify what type of point it is, for example, Nail, Peg, Target.

c. Once you finish entering the data, tap OK.

6. Repeat this process for all the control points provided. Once all points are entered, tap Save.


5 Setting up Control Points

The control points that you entered are added to a file called Control.csv, which is stored in your Site folder. These coordinate points are always available on this site. You can add more control points at any time, or measure new control points (see ) as required.

You can also create the control point file in the office and then transfer it to the controller.


C H A P T E R

6
Establishing the Position and Orientation of the Total Station on the Jobsite (Station Establishment) 6
In this chapter:

Setting up at an arbitrary location

Setting up on a known point

Reading station setup data from the total station

Completing a station establishment where the height of the setup point has not been determined

The total station position and orientation is necessary if the instrument is to be used for site measurement, stakeout, or machine control operations where the positions computed are related to a site coordinate system.

There are two methods of establishing the position and orientation of the total station:

• Arbitrary location (also known as free

station or resection)

• Known point

Once the station has been established, the total station can be used for measurement, stakeout, or machine control operations.


6 Establishing the Position and Orientation of the Total Station on the Jobsite (Station Establishment)

1. From the main menu, select System Setup. The following menu appears:

Note – If you have not established the position of the total station and you select a measurement or stakeout function, the software automatically forces you into this process when connected to a total station.

Note – If you have not entered any control point data for the site, the station establishment process will only allow you to set up at a manually entered coordinate location and orientation of the angle system to 0.0000 in a chosen direction. This method is acceptable only if you are measuring a new site that has not been measured before and provided that you are not trying to measure or stake anything from a loaded design. In most cases, you should have control points available.

2. Select Set Up Total Station Position. The following menu appears:



Setting up at an arbitrary locationThe arbitrary location setup allows you to set up the total station at a location that is convenient for the operation to be carried out (and not over a known point). It measures the angle and distance to two or more known points to determine the total station’s position and orientation.

To set up a total station at an arbitrary location:

1. Select Set up at an arbitrary location. The map view appears:

2. Pick the first point using one of the following methods:

– tap the point (marked with a triangle)

– tap the list icon and then select the point from the list that appears

– if you need to add or edit a control point at this stage, tap and then enter or edit the control point (see Step 2 on page 39)

When you select the point, it is highlighted with a blue circle as shown.

3. Tap Next. The Measure Control Point dialog appears:



4. Select the Use averaging mode check box to make multiple observations to the target in face 1 and face 2 and then tap Measure:

5. In the Measurement Sets field, enter a value for how many measurement sets you want to make. For example, entering 3 results in three measurements in face 1 and three measurements in face 2. Set the standard deviation tolerance for the Angle and Distance fields. Select the Turn On Autolock check box to use the Tracker for measurements in both faces. Leaving this box unselected means you need to manually sight the instrument for all rounds in both faces. Tap OK.

6. Enter the target height and target type for the point being measured. Point the total station at the target.

7. Tap Measure to measure the first control point. On completion of the measurement, the software shows you that one point has been measured and the precisions of that measurement. The blue circle changes to a green circle.

8. Repeat Step 2 through Step 7 to select and measure a second control point.

Once you have measured two points, you have a solution and at least some redundancy of information. At this point, you are informed if you are in or out of tolerance, based on the settings entered earlier for total station instrument use:



9. Select from one of the following options:

Option Description

If the setup is OUT of tolerance

Retake or take a new point Allows you to measure another point or remeasure a point, if for example, the measurements to date are out of tolerance and you suspect that you have measured the wrong point or measured incorrectly.

Complete instrument setup Allows you to accept a failed tolerance if it is "close enough" for what you are doing. This overrides the tolerance setting for the system for this specific setup.

Edit setup components Allows you to view all the measured points, and to review the errors in horizontal and vertical components for each point. The most suspect observation is highlighted, and allows you to select, deselect, or reselect components for use in the position computation.

Cancel instrument setup You can cancel the total station setup and restart the station establishment process or move to another location and try again.

If the setup is IN tolerance

Retake or take a new point Allows you to measure another point or remeasure a point, if for example, the setup is within the tolerance specified, however you think the precision could be improved by eliminating or remeasuring a point or point component.

Complete instrument setup You can complete the station establishment process and store the computed station position and orientation, and then move on with measurement or staking operations.

Edit the setup components Allows you to view all the measured points, and to review the errors in horizontal and vertical components for each point. The most suspect observation is highlighted, and allows you to select, deselect, or reselect components for use in the position computation.




As each point is measured, the software recomputes and displays the error analysis, providing the same options:

Unless there has been a gross error, for example, observing the wrong point, Trimble recommends that you measure as many points as you can before you try to resolve any out of tolerance issues. The only exception is if you are moving long distances between points, and you believe that you should remeasure a point before moving to the next one because it may be suspect.

10. If the computed position is in tolerance on completion of all point measurements, then you have achieved the set instrument setup tolerance (see page 17). Do one of the following:

– Select Complete instrument setup

– If you feel that you can improve the accuracy of the computed location by manipulating some of the measured points, select Edit Setup Components. The following dialog appears:

This screen shows all the measured control points and the computed errors associated with each point.



a. Enable or disable a complete point, or just the horizontal distance or the vertical distance component to see what effect it has on the solution.

b. When you are satisfied with the solution, tap Save. The following message appears:

11. Tap Yes to save the computed position as a new control point in the control point file.

Note – If you tap No, the point is not stored in the control point file, and is not available to you for later use.


12. Enter the code, point name, and the instrument height, so that the software can compute the true ground elevation of the point before storing it in the control point file.

B Tip – When using an SPSx10, SPS700, or SPSx30 total station, enter the instrument height either as a vertical height to the upper marking (at the telescope height) or as a slope height to the lower marking near the base of the total station on the side cover (easier to measure). To change how the total station height is measured, click Change. The software then computes the vertical height.

13. Tap OK. You are returned to the System Setup menu.



If you are using an ATS or SPSx30 total station, you can proceed with site measurements or continue the setup for machine control (see Chapter 7, Setting Up an ATS or SPSx30 Total Station for Machine Control).

Setting up on a known pointThis allows you to set up the total station over a known control point location and then measure to one or more reference control points to establish its position and orientation on the jobsite. In most cases, a single reference control point may be all that is required. In other cases, where the accuracy of the work is higher, measuring more than one reference control point can provide better control over the orientation of the total station and a further check that the control point at the total station position or any of the measured reference control point locations has not moved.

To set up a total station on a known point:

1. Select Set up on a known control point. The map view appears:

2. From the map view, select the control point over which you are set up. Pick the point using one of the following methods:

– tap the point (marked with a triangle)

– tap the list icon and then select the point from the list that appears

– if you need to add or edit a control point at this stage, tap and then enter or edit the control point (see Step 2 on page 39)

When you select the point, it is highlighted with a blue circle as shown above.



3. Tap Next. The instrument icon appears at the selected location in the map, indicating that it is the instrument setup point:

4. Select the first reference control point to be measured in the same way. The reference control point is now highlighted with a blue circle:

5. Tap Next. The following dialog appears:

6. Select the Use averaging mode check box to make multiple observations of the reference point in face 1 and face 2.



7. Enter the instrument height and the target height and then select the type of target that will be used at the reference control point location.

If you intend to measure more than one reference control point, you should measure all points (but you are not forced to) using a complete angle and distance. If you only want to orientate the total station to any of the reference control points and not measure the distance to it, before you take the measurement select the Shooting angle only check box. The shooting angle only function measures a horizontal and vertical angle to the reference point only.

8. Tap Measure. If the Use averaging mode check box is selected, the following dialog appears:

9. In the Measurement Sets field, enter a value for how many measurement sets you want to make. For example, entering 3 results in three measurements in face 1 and three measurements in face 2. Set the standard deviation tolerance for the Angle and Distance fields. Select the Turn On Autolock check box to use the Tracker for measurements in both faces. Leaving this box unselected means you need to manually sight the instrument for all rounds in both faces. Tap OK.

Unlike the arbitrary location method, once you measure a single reference control point, the information shown below appears on the screen. You can follow similar steps to those used in the arbitrary location method of station establishment.

B Tip – To set the instrument’s angle measurement system orientation to a value other than 0.0000, add two control points to the control point file that will generate the required orientation when used for a known point establishment. When using the known point method, select the Shooting angle only check box since you will not have a real control point to use as a reference. For example, to set a reference angle of 45.0000 (50.0000 gon) enter two coordinate points, the first one (point A) at, for example, 1000 N, 1000 E, 100 Elv, and the second one (point B) at 1100 N, 1100 E, 100 Elv. In the known point setup process, set up at point A and use point B as your reference. The computed orientation along the reference line used will then be 45.0000 degrees (50.0000 gon).

10. Tap Measure to measure the reference control point. On completion of the measurement, the software shows that one point has been measured and the precisions of that measurement.



11. Tap Next. The Set Up Instrument Position dialog appears, which shows that you have measured one control point. Click Next. To add extra points, select

Retake or take a new point and then repeat Step 4 through Step 10.

B Tip – When the map view appears, the first measured point is highlighted with a green circle, which indicates that it has already been measured.

On completion of the reference control point measurements, the following screens appear if the measurement is out of tolerance:

12. Select from one of the following options:

Option Description

If the setup is OUT of tolerance

Retake or take a new point Allows you to measure another point or remeasure a point, if for example, the measurements to date are out of tolerance and you suspect that you have measured the wrong point or measured incorrectly.

Complete instrument setup Allows you to accept a failed tolerance if it is "close enough" for what you are doing. This overrides the tolerance setting for the system for this specific setup.

Edit setup components Allows you to view all the measured points, and to review the errors in horizontal and vertical components for each point. The most suspect observation is highlighted, and allows you to select, deselect, or reselect components for use in the position computation.


If the setup is IN tolerance

Retake or take a new point Allows you to measure another point or remeasure a point, if for example, the setup is within the tolerance specified, however you think the precision could be improved by eliminating or remeasuring a point or point component.

Complete instrument setup You can complete the station establishment process and store the computed station position and orientation, and then move on with measurement or staking operations.



13. If you feel that you can improve the accuracy of the computed location by manipulating some of the measured points, select Edit Setup Components. The following dialog appears:

This screen shows all the measured control points and the computed errors associated with each point.

14. Enable or disable points that contribute to the solution, and see what effect it has on the solution.

15. When you are satisfied with the solution, tap Save. The following screen appears:

Edit the setup components Allows you to view all the measured points, and to review the errors in horizontal and vertical components for each point. The most suspect observation is highlighted, and allows you to select, deselect, or reselect components for use in the position computation.


Option Description



16. Select Complete instrument setup to set the correct orientation of the total station. You can either proceed with site measurements or set up the total station for use with machine control (ATS, or SPSx30 only) (see Chapter 7, Setting Up an ATS or SPSx30 Total Station for Machine Control).

B Tip – If you do not know the name of the reference point being selected when carrying out either station establishment process, simply move the target to the point that you want to measure, or point the total station at an already established target. The target indicator moves in the map to that location, making it easy to identify and select the correct point from the map view.

B Tip – When selecting the third or subsequent point in either station establishment process, an Aim button appears in the display. To turn the total station to the selected point location, tap Aim. The total station turns directly to the selected point.

Reading station setup data from the total stationAfter you have performed a station establishment, the total station stores the information in its memory, so that other controllers running the SCS900 software can access it. Subsequent users can save time by simply retrieving the station setup information from the total station’s memory without setting up at an arbitrary location or on a known control point again.

A machine control system can also retrieve the position and orientation of the total station, so that the machine can be correctly positioned.

To use the total station’s position and orientation as established from the last performed total station establishment, select Read station setup data from instrument:



Completing a station establishment where the height of the setup point has not been determined

If the height of the total station has not been established at the end of the station establishment process, the software prompts you to either enter a known height for the setup point or to height from a known benchmark location defined as a 1D or 3D point. This occurs when:

• setting up at an arbitrary location, the reference control points measured were all 2D points

• setting up a known point, the known point and reference control points selected were all defined as 2D points

The benchmark point is measured in the same way as any other control point. It is used in combination with the target height and instrument height to determine the setup point elevation.

When you tap Complete instrument setup where Height has not been determined, the following dialog appears:



To measure a 1D or 3D control point to transfer the elevation to the setup point:

1. Select Measure a benchmark to transfer elev.:

2. If the control point does not exist in the control point file, enter the elevation of the benchmark elevation and the target height to be used. Go to Step 4.

3. If the control point is in the control point file:

a. Tap Select:

The control point list shows all 1D and 3D points. 2D points are excluded.

b. Select the point from the control point list and tap OK.



The Measure Benchmark dialog now shows the elevation of the selected control point:

c. Enter or accept the target height and the type of target.

4. Tap Measure to take the measurement.

To enter the elevation of the instrument setup point to provide elevation to the instrument setup:

1. Select Enter elevation of the instrument point:

2. Enter the elevation of the total station and then tap OK.

The instrument 3D setup is complete.


C H A P T E R

7
Setting Up an ATS or SPSx30 Total Station for Machine Control 7
In this chapter:

Using the ATS or SPSx30 UTS for machine control applications

This chapter describes how to set up the Trimble ATS (Advanced Tracking Sensor), or SPSx30 total stations with the SCS900 Site Controller software for use with a Trimble machine control system.


7 Setting Up an ATS or SPSx30 Total Station for Machine Control

Using the ATS or SPSx30 UTS for machine control applicationsHaving completed the ATS or SPSx30 total station setup, you can now complete additional steps to prepare the instrument to work with machine control (Trimble BladePro® 3D grade control system, GCS900 Grade Control System, and the SiteVision® software).

1. From the following screen, select Setup for use with machine control.


If you are tracking a machine and the target becomes lost for any reason, the total station continues to turn at a constant horizontal and vertical speed for a short period, in the expectation that the target will appear on the same trajectory when it clears the obstruction. A line-of-sight obstruction, a passing vehicle, or simply losing the target because of movement speed ( for example, speed that is too high at short range) can cause the total station to lose the



target. When the target is ‘lost’, that is, the above method failed to reacquire the target, the total station searches for the target. The total station has two search modes:

2. Set the window for the Full Search mode; do the following:

– Accommodate the fact that the prism can be mounted on an electric mast, and that the window of operation at close range will be higher or lower than at longer ranges.

– Ensure that you set the window of operation to cover the extents of all grading operations to be completed from that location (instrument setup).

– Ensure that if the machine is taken outside that window, to turn around or to bench on a known height point, those locations are also included in the search window.

3. You can define either the upper left/lower right extents of your search window or the upper right/lower left extents of your search window. Ensure that you take a good look at any high or low points in the area where you will be working and then define your search window to what most closely resembles the actual working area in front of you. Do one of the following:

– Point the total station to an upper left location and then to a lower right location; tap the appropriate Set button at each pointing.

– Point the total station to an upper right location and then to a lower left location, tapping the appropriate Set button at each pointing.

B Tip – As soon as the first corner is defined, the only option available in the software is to define the opposite corner. For example, if you define the upper right extent first, the lower left corner is only made available to define. If the lower right corner is set first, then the upper left corner is only made available to define.

Mode Description

Quick Search Initiated as soon as the target is ‘lost’.This search is centered on the last known location, and inside a window defined by a horizontal angle width (e.g., 15°) and a vertical angle width (e.g., 15°). The machine control software sets the values for the search window.

Full Search This search looks inside a larger window, defined by the dialog shown previously. When the Quick Search mode fails to locate the target, the Full Search mode is initiated.



The total station measures the horizontal and vertical angles to those locations using its angle sensors, and the gray circle changes to green to indicate that the location has been accepted:

4. Tap Next:

A single SPSx30 total station can be shared by multiple machines and a single SPS robotic rover pole at, for example, at a bridge structure. Only one user can use the total station at a time, but when not in use, it continually scans a predefined list of radio channels assigned to different machines and the last used site positioning system channel in sequence, looking to see if anyone needs access to the total station. When a machine or site positioning system calls the total station, it connects and provides a positioning service. When completed, the total station returns to standby mode and becomes available to the radio channels previously loaded to the instrument. To facilitate this process, in the set up for machine control process, you can create a list of machines, each with a name and a specified radio channel, for example:

– CAT 140H Grader 1 33



– CAT D6 Dozer 1 34

B Tip – Ensure that all assets in the machine list have the same network ID.

B Tip – The machine list is scanned sequentially whenever the total station is placed in standby for machine control. The more entries in the list, the longer the scan takes to complete a full cycle and therefore the slower the initial connection will be with the total station. If you are not continually using the entries in the list in earthmoving operations, delete the entries from the list to speed up initial connection times.

5. Enter the name of the total station and then tap Finish. The following dialog appears:

6. If you are operating at the total station, point it at the MT900 target on the machine. When the machine connects to the total station, this speeds up the initial search and lock-on process for the total station as it instantly “sees” the target and locks to it.

The total station goes into standby mode for machine control and then it scans the machine list in chronological order until a machine is found calling the instrument on one of the channels.

7. Tap OK. The SCS900 software now disconnects from the total station.

Tap … to …

Add create a new radio channel/machine name pair entry to the machine list. The machine list can contain a maximum of 10 entries. Each radio channel can be used only once in the machine list.

Edit machine list change the entry that is currently highlighted.

Delete delete the entry that is currently highlighted.

Get machine list get the current machine list from the total station’s memory to review and edit it.



8. Move to the machine and initiate connection to the total station. Do one of the following:

– If you are operating the ATS with an external SNB900 radio for compatibility with the on-machine radio system (SiteNet™ 900 radio or SNR900 radio-modem), detach the controller from the total station and then connect the SNB900 radio-modem.

– If you are using an ACU controller, the radio can be connected at all times. For details of how to configure and set up the system for use with the SNB900 radio, refer to the SNB900 User Guide, version 1.20 or later.

9. Tap OK.


C H A P T E R

8
Using Basic Mode 8
In this chapter:

Icon panel

Total Station Basic mode

When connected to a total station, an icon panel appears at the bottom of the screen. To access frequently used total station functions, tap the icons. The icons in the panel change based on the current operation mode and the status of the total station.

The Basic mode is available from all menus and all map screens during measurement or stakeout. The Basic mode enables you to make simple measurements and to quickly access frequently used functions. Some items may be unavailable or disabled because of the current settings.

Trimble recommends that you use the measuring mode to control the operational characteristics of the total station and that you use Basic mode only when necessary.


8 Using Basic Mode

Icon panel

Note – The laser pointer and Autolock functions are mutually exclusive. The Autolock and DR Reflectorless modes are also mutually exclusive. Turning on Autolock automatically turns off DR mode and the laser pointer. Turning on DR mode automatically turns off the Autolock function.

Basic mode. For more information, see page 65.

Internal power level of the total station.

Note – When working in Robotic mode, the panel shows the total station battery level while working at the rod.

shows the current battery level of the handheld controller (TSC2)

The black line indicates that Autolock technology (the tracker) is switched on and is locked to the target. A red line indicates that the laser pointer is switched on.

The current total station measurement mode:

• T for Tracking (TRK) mode• S for Standard (STD or Single shot) mode

* indicates that the total station can see the prism or target and can measure a distance. No * means that the total station is not getting a return signal from the prism or target and cannot measure a distance.

External power source when using the Trimble CU controller on the total station.

Battery strength of the controller when working robotically.

Side view of the total station – the total station is locked to the target.Front view of the total station – the total station is not locked to the target.


Using Basic Mode 8

Total Station Basic modeTap the instrument icon to open the Basic mode.

Figure 8.1 Basic mode functions

The following functions enable you to change the default behavior of the total station or access specific tools:

• EDM mode

• Tracklight®

• Level – Electronic level and dual axis compensator

• Turn-to – Turn the total station to a specified location

• Joystick – Use to reacquire the target after a loss of lock when working in Robotic mode

For example, when staking a point, the default EDM mode is TRK. For more accurate work, you may want to change the default mode to STD. Using Basic mode allows you to change the default behavior of the total station. However, changing the EDM mode does not change the EDM mode for navigating to and locating a point; it only changes the behavior when you tap Record to record a shot or tap Stake to stake a point. While moving around the jobsite between points, the total station is always in TRK mode so it can provide a real-time map update of your position.

The measuring modes described in Chapter 13, Measuring Modes are how the performance settings of the total station are typically selected ( for example, Standing, Walking, Vehicle, DR, or DR Scanning modes). These modes directly control the use of the DR mode, Laser Pointer, Autolock, and EDM mode as shown below:

Action EDM mode Autolock mode Laser pointer DR mode

Standing STD or TRK On (if available) Off only Off only

Walking TRK only On only Off only Off only

Vehicle TRK only On only Off only Off only

DR STD or TRK Off only On or Off On only

DR Scanning TRK only Off only On or Off On only

See page 66

See page 67

See page 71

See page 67

See page 70

See page 69See page 68

See page 71

See page 72

See page 66 See page 66


8 Using Basic Mode

DR

Controls whether or not the total station can measure without a reflector to a target using the system’s DR Reflectorless capability.

EDM mode

The options are:

• STD (Standard – also known as Single Shot mode)

• TRK (Tracking – also known as Continuous Measurement mode). This is the default mode.

In STD mode while working with Autolock or in Robotic mode, the total station averages the HA and VA angle readings for a period of time before measuring the distance. A complete measurement takes approximately three seconds. The averaging of the HA and VA allows for more accurate measurements to be achieved to a handheld pole. Distance accuracy in STD mode is higher than in TRK mode.

Tracklight

Use the Tracklight mode to provide a visible guide light for stakeout and robotic operations. The next time the total station is turned on, the last used setting becomes the default setting.

The light is a split-field red and green light. You will see a red or green light depending on where you are standing referenced to the instrument’s pointing.

When operating at longer ranges or in very bright sunlight, select the High intensity option to increase the visibility of the tracklight.

While working at the rod, a glance to the total station indicates whether or not it is tracking you. If the total station is turned towards the desired location while staking, you can navigate into the correct line using the tracklight.


Using Basic Mode 8

Level

The electronic level appears when you start the total station (see page 12).

Use the electronic level to check and relevel the total station, and to change the status of the compensator.

In most scenarios, the compensator should always be enabled. However, where the total station is used on a platform that is moving, or if it is set up near a source of heavy vibration ( for example, near compaction, piling, or drilling equipment), you may need to turn off the compensator. By default, the compensator is turned on each time you start the system.

Turn-to

Use the Turn-to function to automatically aim at a specified location. There are three ways to specify the location:

• Turn from last tracked position

Enables you to pace out the distance while moving past an obstruction such as a parked vehicle, and then turn the total station to an estimated location based on the estimated horizontal and vertical distances moved and in the last known


8 Using Basic Mode

direction of movement. The distances entered are used to compute the angle change based on the last known measured position to bypass the obstruction.

• Turn to point

Enables you to select a previously measured or staked out point in the map view and then turn the total station to that location. This can be used to send the total station to a point that can easily be located on the ground such as a curb corner, and then quickly navigate to that position to continue operation.

• Turn to specified angles

Enables you to enter a horizontal and vertical angle, or to step the current angles by an even increment from the last known location to bypass an object, beyond which work can continue. Step the last measured angle reading using the arrow keys beside the angle values, or simply enter new values to which to turn the total station.

Tap OK. The total station turns to the selected location. When working in Robotic mode or with Autolock technology, walking into the total station’s line-of-sight causes it to automatically lock to the target. Use the tracklight to define the current line-of-sight to make it easier for the total station to reacquire the target.

Autolock mode

Autolock technology enables the total station to lock onto the target and track it while moving about the jobsite.

For total stations equipped with Autolock technology, the default mode is on when not using the system’s DR reflectorless capability. For Walking and Vehicle modes, the total station must be equipped with the Autolock technology and Autolock will always be switched on.


Using Basic Mode 8

Search

When the target is ‘lost’ (the total station cannot see the selected target type), the total station search functions are automatically initiated during all operations.

In the search view, tap anywhere on the map to automatically turn the total station horizontally to point at that location. The current pointing direction for the total station is displayed as a red line connected to the instrument location icon (as shown above).

When using a TSC2 or Trimble CU as your field controller, the spider key is active when the software is in the Search view:

• To turn the total station using the spider key, you must deselect the pan and zoom keys. The spider key will work in joystick function.

• To pan the map view using the spider key, select the pan or zoom keys.

Access the search control settings through the Trimble Key icon in the top right of the search view:

Use the settings in this screen to define the default search window. Define the horizontal range and vertical range of your search window. The total station then uses the search window whenever it initates an automated search. This happens when loss


8 Using Basic Mode

of lock occurs while working. The joystick is available from the search window, so that you can manually steer the total station to your location if, for example, the total station has not yet been oriented and a standard automated search would not work.

Tap to open the Turn-to dialog (see page 67). Use this dialog to turn the total station to a location defined by a horizontal and vertical distance moved, to a measured or defined stakeout point, or to a specified horizontal and vertical angle.

Tap Start to initiate the search function based on the current pointing of the total station. The search function is executed within the currently defined search window.

B Tip – The best way to use the search function is to turn the total station horizontally to your current location using estimated screen taps to get the total station close, then use the vertical movement arrows to get the total station pointing close in 3D (you typically know that you are now above or below the last measured location, so moving the total station up or down accordingly is relatively easy to do). Once you are close, walk and place the target in the total station’s line-of-sight, or tap Start to initiate the search process at the current total station pointing location.

Laser

Use the laser pointer to provide a visible red spot at the current pointing location of the total station.

The laser pointer should be coaxial with the cross-hair of the telescope; adjust it if necessary. For more information, refer to your instrument manual.

Typically, the laser pointer is used in combination with DR reflectorless mode to highlight the point to be measured, so that viewing the point through the telescope is not always necessary. The laser pointer allows heads up pointing of the total station without needing to look through or to focus the telescope on the point.

The icon changes to show either Laser ON or Laser OFF. The default is Laser ON when DR (see page 66) is on.


Using Basic Mode 8

Joystick

Use the joystick to quickly steer the total station to the current location, for example, after loss of lock.

Tap the outer arrows for fast movement or tap the inner arrows for slower or finer adjustment of the total station pointing.

The arrow keys are also mapped to the arrow keys on the Trimble CU controller or to the spider key on the TSC2 controller.

Set HA

Use the Set HA function to set the angle reading to a temporary value. This function is available only in Basic Mode.

For example, you can point along a specific line, set the horizontal angle to 0.0000 and then use the Turn to function to turn out a right angle.

Setting the HA in Basic mode does not affect the orientation of the total station for main measurement or stakeout operations.


8 Using Basic Mode

HD/VD or VA/SD mode

The HD/VD and VA/SD functions simply change the displayed data values after measurement in Basic mode only.

• HD/VD mode – Displays HA/HD/VD (shown above left)

• VA/SD mode – Displays HA/VA/SD information (shown above right)

In TRK mode, the total station automatically measures and updates the above values.

In STD mode, tap Measure to trigger a distance measurement.

Measurement can be made using a target or using the total station DR reflectorless mode to measure to any surface in range.

Abbreviation Definition

HA Horizontal Angle

VA Vertical Angle

SD Slope Distance

HD Horizontal Distance

VD Vertical Distance


C H A P T E R

9
Advanced Features 9
In this chapter:

Stockpile scan

Profile scan

Automated measurement

Direct reflex (DR) technology is included in your 5600, SPSx10, SPS700, and SPSx30 total stations. This technology offers many advantages such as:

• Stockpile scanning for accurate volume calculations.

• Creation of profile lines for applications, like monitoring quarrying walls for movement, as-builts of deep cuts such as side slopes along highways, as well as monitoring high walls.

The range varies depending on the total station you are using:

• The SPS610 total station offers DR Standard technology, which allows you to measure reflectorlessly, to a maximum distance of 150 m (492 feet).

• The 5600 total station features DR200+ technology, allowing reflectorless measuring up to 200 meters (656 feet) from the instrument.

• The SPS700, SPS710, and SPSx30 total stations offer DR300+ technology, allowing reflectorless measurement of objects up to 300 meters (984 feet) from the instrument.


9 Advanced Features

Stockpile scanThe Stockpile scan is designed to collect very accurate data for reporting on the volume of material that you have or that you have excavated. By scanning the stockpile or excavation, the need to place a worker in potentially unsafe conditions is eliminated. Reflectorless measurement technology enables you to set up the total station and measure to surfaces without using a target or prism.

B Tip – Given the line of sight restrictions when using a total station, you need to perform a minimum of two station setups to collect all sides of the stockpile. From your first setup, measure new control points around the stockpile in locations that will give you the fewest setups and the best vantage points to scan the largest surface area of the stockpile. This enables you to collect all sides of the stockpile and have the surface points correctly related to each other. Once the whole stockpile has been scanned, define a volume boundary in the Volume & Cogo menu by tapping the points to be used to define the boundary, and then perform a volume calculation in the field.

To set up stockpile scanning:

1. From the main menu, select Measurements:

2. Select Advanced Features:


Advanced Features 9

3. Select Stockpile Scanning. The SCS900 software sets the instrument to DR Mode, and opens the following dialog:

4. Define the shape of your stockpile. Start by tapping the gray dot at the highest point of the stockpile image on the screen. The map view appears:

5. Manually sight your instrument to the highest point of the stockpile and then tap Measure. The following dialog appears:

6. You are then asked for an optional point code and point name. Enter values at this screen and then tap OK. The Stockpile Scanning Setup screen reappears.


9 Advanced Features

7. Repeat Step 4 through Step 6 to define the bottom left, bottom right, and bottom most points of your stockpile. Once successfully measured the points appear green:

8. Tap Next:

9. Define your minimum and maximum distances. Proper use of these settings helps you collect only relevant points in the field. The software will default to the recommended Timeout value depending on which instrument is being used.

C CAUTION – The values stored in Step 9 are overwritten by the min/max values set in the DR Target Settings dialog (Chapter 14, Other Total Station Settings and Functions). Ensure that you check the values set in the DR Target Settings dialog to eliminate confusion by another operator when they are setting the Stockpile Scan settings. Setting the minimum distance to 2 meters (6.56 feet) and maximum distance to 300 meters (984 feet) in the DR Target Settings dialog will eliminate any errors when setting the Stockpile Scan settings.


Advanced Features 9

B Tip – When working at the maximum ranges of the DR technology, the Timeout Setting should be increased. When adjusting the timeout settings, be aware the material being measured affects the strength of the response signal. Also, the instrument's technology affects the time it takes to record each individual point. Tap Next. The following dialog appears:

10. Enter a point name and code and set the distance intervals.

B Tip – Setting the distance intervals low results in more measured points; setting the distance intervals high results in fewer measured points. Keep the size and shape of the stockpile in mind when entering these values.

11. Tap Next:

The Scanning Area Estimates screen displays the total number of points to be collected as a result of the dimension and distance intervals previously entered and an estimation of the time it will take to record the points. This time is an estimate only and the reflectivity of the material, distances involved, and type of instrument used will alter the total time once the scan has started.


9 Advanced Features

12. Either tap Esc to go back and change any settings before starting the scan or tap Start to start the scan.

A grid is displayed as the scan proceeds:

– Scan time remaining is displayed in the Estimated Time Remaining field.

– If you need to change the minimum and maximum distance settings tap Pause and then tap . Change the minimum and maximum settings and then tap Next. The scan will resume.

– Tap in the lower left to display the map view so you can see the points being collected.

– To obtain an explanation of the different grid sector colors, tap in the upper right of the screen:


Advanced Features 9

13. Once scanning is complete, the Points Recorded field reports how many points were collected:

14. To rescan any cells tap OK to return to the measured cells display. Tap the associated grid sectors with your stylus. Selected sectors turn blue. Once the selection is made, tap Rescan. Repeat the rescan function until results are satisfactory and then tap Finish.


9 Advanced Features

Profile scanThe Profile Scan collects very accurate profile lines of features like quarry walls, high walls, and steep side slopes where deep cuts are designed in highway construction. Using reflectorless technology the areas can be measured without sending staff to a location that could be unstable or impossible to access.

To set up profile scanning:

1. From the main menu, select Measurements:

2. Select Advanced Features:


Advanced Features 9

3. Select Profile Scanning. The SCS900 software sets the instrument to DR Mode, and then opens the following dialog:

4. Define the high point and the baseline of the wall or steep slope. Start by tapping the gray dot at the highest point of the image on the screen. The map view appears:

Manually sight your instrument to the highest point of the object being measured and then tap Measure. The following dialog appears:


9 Advanced Features

5. You are then asked for an optional point code and point name. Enter values at this screen and then tap OK. The Profile Scanning Setup screen reappears.

6. Tap the bottom dot to define the baseline:

7. From the map view create a new line segment by tapping . At the prompt enter a name for the line and then tap OK. To define the baseline of the wall you want to measure, point the instrument at any point of tangency on the base of the wall so that the wall's base is accurately represented in the software. The baseline can be defined by an irregular line made up of multiple points.

The line appears on the screen and you will hear a tone to indicate the line was created succesfully:


Advanced Features 9

8. Tap Esc to go back to the profile scan:

9. The line you just defined is already selected. Tap OK:

10. Decide how to determine the 3D elevation of the line. Either:

– Select Use the line’s 3D elevation to use the lines current elevation.

– Select Enter an elevation to manually enter an elevation and then tap OK.


9 Advanced Features

11. The shape of the object you are scanning is now defined. The color of the dots marking the top and bottom are now green. Tap Next:

12. Define your minimum and maximum distances and then tap Next. Proper use of these settings will help you collect only relevant points in the field. The software will default to the recommended Timeout value depending on which instrument is being used.

C CAUTION – The values stored in Step 9 are overwritten by the min/max values set in the DR Target Settings dialog (Chapter 14, Other Total Station Settings and Functions). Ensure that you check the values set in the DR Target Settings dialog to eliminate confusion by another operator when they are setting the Profile Scan settings. Setting the minimum distance to 2 meters (6.56 feet) and maximum distance to 300 meters (984 feet) in the DR Target Settings dialog will eliminate any errors when setting the Profile Scan settings.

B Tip – When working at the maximum ranges of the DR technology the Timeout Setting should be increased. When adjusting the timeout settings, be aware the material being measured affects the strength of the response signal. Also, the instrument's technology will affect the time it takes to record each individual point.


Advanced Features 9

13. Enter a profile line name and set the distance intervals:

– Defining the Station value determines how many profile lines you have once the scan is complete. For example, if your baseline length is 10 meters (~33 feet) and the Station Interval is set at 1 meter, you will have 10 profile lines when the scan is finished. A shorter station interval results in more profile lines, and the scan will take more time to complete.

– The Vertical value determines how many points vertically you record along each profile line. A flat surface requires fewer vertical points, an uneven surface requires more. Enter a larger variable for flat surfaces, a smaller variable for uneven surfaces.

– The Station Tolerance field defines how close to the projected profile line each point is recorded. With the Station Tolerance set to .1 meter the instrument continually adjusts as it scans each profile line until every point collected is within ± .1 meter of the line.

14. Tap Next.

B Tip – The Profile Scan routine can be used for performing as-builts of side slopes. Defining the high point and baseline of the side slope, and then setting the station tolerance to a very loose value will create profile lines that are not true vertical and will give a very good representation of a side slope.


9 Advanced Features

15. The Profile Scanning Estimates screen displays the total number of lines and points to be collected as a result of the dimensions and distance intervals previously entered and the time it will take to record the points. This time is an estimate only and the reflectivity of the material, distances involved, and type of instrument used will alter the total time once the scan has started.

16. Either tap Esc to go back and alter any settings before starting the scan or tap Start to start the scan.

17. A grid is displayed as the scan proceeds:

– Scan time remaining is displayed in the Estimated Time Remaining field.

– If you need to change the minimum and maximum distance settings tap Pause and then tap . Change the minimum and maximum settings and then tap Next.

– Tap in the lower left to display the map view so you can see the points being collected.

– To obtain an explanation of the different grid sector colors, tap in the upper right of the screen:


Advanced Features 9

18. Once scanning is complete the Points Recorded field reports how many points were collected.

19. To rescan any cells tap OK to return to the measured cells display. Tap the associated grid sectors with your stylus. Selected sectors will turn blue. Once the selection is made tap Rescan. Repeat the rescan function until results are satisfactory and then tap Finish.

20. Once the scan results are satisfactory, tap Finish.

Automated measurementAutomated measurement with total stations is a useful tool for many applications where the specifications of the project require that certain objects such as retaining walls, bridge sections, or fly walls are continually measured over a defined period of time to make sure that they do not move. This enables you to set up a total station, set out some targets on the object you want to watch for movement, and then leave the system to observe the object.

If you also use the built-in email capabilities, the system emails you if pre-defined tolerances are exceeded. You can also enable other notifications such as a low battery warning.

This frees you to work on other site tasks, and eliminates the need for you to manually sight the instrument at each target you want to measure.

To setup Advanced Measurement:

1. Establish the total station establishment as normal—either Known Station or Arbitrary Location. See Chapter 6, Establishing the Position and Orientation of the Total Station on the Jobsite (Station Establishment).

2. From the main menu, select (2) Measurements


9 Advanced Features

3. Select (6) Advanced Features:

4. Select (3) Automated Measurements:

5. When prompted, select the points to measure and then tap Add:

B Tip – At this time, set up the targets or prisms used to measure object movement. This reduces the time needed to measure the prisms locations the first time, as you can remain at the instrument and then simply turn it to each target and record its location.


Advanced Features 9

6. At the map screen, tap the New icon :

7. Once the total station is locked to the target, tap Measure:

8. Code the point and name it according to your company's conventions. Tap OK.

9. Repeat step 7 and step 8 until you record all the required targets.

10. Once finished, tap Esc from the Measure Points screen. The screen that appears shows the measured points:


9 Advanced Features

11. Tap OK and then tap Next in the dialog that appears:

12. In the dialog that appears, do the following:

a. Set the tolerances. The Horizontal Tolerance and Vertical Tolerance relate to the allowable threshold before the software reports that a point is out of tolerance.

b. Set error reporting as ΔHD, ΔVD, ΔSD or as ΔE, ΔN, ΔZ.

c. To set the time between rounds of measurement, enter a number and then select either minutes or hours from the drop-down list.

d. If required, select the Averaging Mode check box, which results in a more accurate point measurement. See Averaging mode, page 124.

e. Tap Next:

13. In the dialog that appears, do the following:

a. Enter your email address.

b. Select to be emailed when there is an error (a measured point lies outside tolerances), or for a general progress report.

c. Set the frequency for receiving a progress report.


Advanced Features 9

d. If not already done so, configure the email settings.

e. Tap Next:

B Tip – For an explanation of the error reports you will receive, tap the question mark:

The Internet connection is tested for you; once verified, the summary screen appears. Tap Next:


9 Advanced Features

14. When prompted in the dialog that appears, select the default target height and type for standing mode and then tap Next.

Note – The default target type for standing mode is where you define the target type you used for the targets you mounted to the object to be monitored. You must use the same target type for each point. Otherwise, the prism constant applied to some points will not be correct and the resulting data is unreliable.

The total station now starts to automatically measure to each point you recorded earlier, at the time interval and with the tolerances you set up. A status screen shows the following information:

15. Tap Map to open a screen that shows a plan view of the points and the total station position, as well as changes from the originally stored values for the point at which the instrument is currently aimed:

Column Information

1 Point name

2 Point status

3 Number of the last round completed

4-6 Changes from the original measured value in HD, VD, and SD (as specified during the setup)


Advanced Features 9

16. Tap Log to open a screen that shows a list of actions that occurred on that data collector, as well as results of each round of automated measurements:

If a measured point does not meet the specified tolerances, the system notifies you by email that the point has moved:


9 Advanced Features

If you chose to receive a progress report, that is also emailed at the selected interval, and includes the battery life of the data collector and the instrument. This assists you to plan when to change the batteries:

Note – If the system failed to send an email, the progress screen shows an icon in the upper right of the screen. Once an email is successfully sent, this icon disappears:


Advanced Features 9

Once you finish watching the points for the intended time period, you can synchronize your data collector with your laptop and then view the Report.txt file in the SCS Report utility. You can save this concise record of the measured points as an Excel spreadsheet file for delivery to the project authority:


9 Advanced Features


C H A P T E R

10
Setting up the Total Station for Robotic Operation 10
In this chapter:

Starting with the controller connected directly to the total station

Starting with the controller connected over the radio to the total station

When working in Robotic mode, the total station is connected to the controller using the integrated radio.

You can start the system in Robotic mode in two ways:

• with the controller connected directly to the total station

• with the controller connected over the radio to the total station


10 Setting up the Total Station for Robotic Operation

Starting with the controller connected directly to the total station

In this method, you first connect the controller to the total station, follow the procedure outlined below, then move the controller to the rod and reconnect to the total station over the radio. This method is typically used at one of the following times:

• When the station position and orientation needs establishing first, while at the total station position using the total station as a Servo, Autolock, or Reflectorless system, before starting robotic operation

• When the instrument station is used for machine control operation (ATS and SPSx30 only)

You can carry out station establishment for robotic operation either while at the total station, or after the total station has been put into Robotic mode from the rod. In either case, the station establishment process described in Chapter 6, Establishing the Position and Orientation of the Total Station on the Jobsite (Station Establishment) is the same.

This method of operation involves the following basic steps:

1. Set up and level the total station.

2. Switch on the total station and the controller.

B Tip – When a Trimble CU controller is connected directly to the total station, it will also power on when the total station is turned on.

Note – If the SCS900 software was last used in GPS mode, it will not automatically detect the total station. Select System Setup / Switch to Total Station Setup to automatically dectect it.

3. Start the SCS900 software and allow the controller to make the connection with the total station:

– For the ATS and 5600 total stations, the controller is connected through a cable (TSC2) or through the keyboard attachment plate (ACU).

– For an SPSx10, SPS700, or SPSx30 total station, when connected through a cable (TSC2) or the keyboard attachment plate (Trimble CU), the controller automatically connects to the total station. However, if you use Bluetooth wireless technology (TSC2) to connect to the total station, you will need to force the connection to the total station (select System Setup / Connect Instrument / Connect via Bluetooth).

Note – If the SCS900 software was last used in GPS mode, it will not automatically detect the total station. Select System Setup / Switch to Total Station Setup to automatically dectect it.

4. Once connected, fine level the total station. See page 13.

5. Initiate the compensator (ATS and 5605 total stations only). See page 12.

6. Set the atmospheric corrections. See page 14.



If you intend to do more than initiate the robotic functions of the system, for example, perform a station establishment, then follow the instructions in Chapter 6, Establishing the Position and Orientation of the Total Station on the Jobsite (Station Establishment). If you simply want to initiate robotic operation, then continue with this procedure.

7. From the main menu, select System Setup / Set up Robotic.

8. Set the radio channel and network ID to the required values, and then tap Next.

B Tip – If you are not sure what values the total station’s radio channel and network IDs are set to, check the face 2 display on the total station to observe the current values.

For use with the GCS900 system, make sure that the selected radio channel and network ID numbers match with those set up by the GCS900 system radio on the machine to be used. At this time, the total station and controller radio settings are established, which subsequently allows for robotic operation.

9. Set the search window size:

Trimble recommends the values shown for site positioning applications.

10. Select the appropriate target type, and where applicable, the Target ID value as shown:



The Check ID button allows the total station (SPSx10, SPS700, or SPSx30 only) to scan the target to identify the currently set target ID value:

a. Point the total station at the target.

b. Switch on the Target ID.

c. Enable the appropriate channel for the ID and then tap Check ID.

The total station scans the target ID number displayed in the RMT ID list. If the target you are aiming at is set to the same value, the software informs you that the target is correctly set. If the target ID is set to a different value, you are informed that target ID x could not be found.

For the SPSx10, SPS700, or SPSx30 total stations when using the Target ID function, also select the appropriate use of the RMT ID. The options are:

– Searching – In this mode, the total station checks the target ID presence only during search procedures. At all other times, it ignores the target ID. This means that the total station will check that it locks to the correct target only while searching, and not at any other times. If it happens to see

an alternative target while in a process other than a search, the total

station could switch targets without warning the operator.

– Searching and Measuring – In this mode, the total station checks for the presence of the target ID while searching, and also when measuring to the prism and recording a position measurement. If the target ID is not seen at any time, the Target Lost message appears and you are guided through the search process to reacquire lock.

Note – The total station will see the Target ID as missing if it is switched off, has low power levels, is set to the wrong channel, or if it is pointing away from the line-of-sight by more than 15 degrees. Before initiating a search, or measuring or recording data, always ensure that the target ID box is pointing towards the total station.

– At all times – In this mode, the total station not only checks for the presence of the target ID during search, measure, and record operations, it also uses the target ID as an active target for horizontal tracking only. The total station’s tracker tracks and follows the signal emission from the target ID box in the horizontal, and uses the prism optical center for vertical tracking. If the Target ID box is turned away from the line-of-sight, is switched off, or set to the wrong ID, the total station will no longer track the target.



11. Tap Next. The Setup Robotic screen appears:

12. Follow the instructions shown.

The intent here is that you now leave the total station and walk to where you want to start work. Point the total station to where you intend to start work—point in both horizontal and vertical to where you expect the prism to be (at the target height above the ground). Before leaving it when you walk to that location, the total station either automatically locks on to the prism as it comes into view, or with a quick search it quickly locates the target, to enable you to start work.

To continue robotic operation, you must detach or disconnect the controller from the total station and move it to the rod.

The controller and total station type dictates the configuration of the robotic rod. For an SPSx10, SPS700, or SPSx30 total station, the radio is in the Trimble CU holder or in the TSC2 controller. For the ATS and 5600 total station, the controllers (TSC2 and ACU) use an external radio connected to the controller through the bracket or cable.

13. Switch on the controller. The following message appears:

14. Tap OK.



15. Radio connection between the total station and controller is initiated. Once complete, the electronic level is displayed. The instrument level should still be correct.

16. Tap OK. The compensator is initiated. Enter the atmospheric corrections as normal.

You have completed robotic setup. The display that is normally shown at the total station is now shown at the rod. You can start to measure, stakeout, or perform a station establishment.

For more information about measurement and stakeout operations, refer to the SCS900 Site Controller Software Getting Started Guide or to the SCS900 Site Controller Software Road and Side Slope Stakeout Guide. To establish the position and orientation of the total station on the jobsite coordinate system, see Chapter 6.

Starting with the controller connected over the radio to the total station

In this method, you do not connect the controller to the total station first. You simply switch on the total station, thereby placing it in Standby mode ready for robotic operation. Then you start the controller and the controller software and then connect directly to the total station over the radio.

Once the radio settings for the controller and total station have been matched, this method can be used every day for all operations. The quickest and simplest method of establishing the matching radio settings is to follow the instructions in Step 8 on page 99. However, if you know the radio channel and network ID settings currently set in the total station, you can still start using this method since it allows you to manually set those parameters.

Station establishment for robotic operation can be carried out while at the total station, or after it has been put into its Robotic mode of operation from the rod. In either case, the station establishment process described in Chapter 6, Establishing the Position and Orientation of the Total Station on the Jobsite (Station Establishment) is the same.

This method of operation involves the following basic steps:

1. Set up and level the total station.

2. Switch on the total station using one of the following:

– the trigger key (SPSx10, SPS700, or SPSx30 total stations)

– the single black button in the face 2 position (ATS and 5605 total station only)

– the single black button in the center of the keyboard attachment plate cover for the total station (ATS and 5605 total station only)



3. Once switched on, the total station is in Standby mode. The internal radio is “awake” and waiting for the robotic controller to make its connection. The total station remains in Standby mode for two hours waiting for the connection.

4. Set up the controller on the rod, and make all necessary radio connections. The configuration of the rod depends on which total station and which controller you use.

5. Switch on the controller.

6. Start the SCS900 software and do one of the following:

– If you use the Trimble CU, ACU, or TSC2 controller with external radio, the radio is automatically detected and connected to the total station.

– If you use a Trimble CU or TSC2 controller with integrated radio and the SPSx10, SPS700, or SPSx30 total stations, you will need to force the total station connection. To do this, select System Setup / Connect Instrument / Connect via radio. You can set the total station radio channel and network ID to match that of the total station before making the connection.

The software makes the connection with the total station and displays the electronic level information and atmospheric correction input, before returning you to the main menu.

The robotic setup is complete.

The display that normally appears at the total station now appears at the rod. You can start to measure, stakeout, or perform a station establishment.

For more information about measurement and stakeout operations, refer to the SCS900 Site Controller Software Road and Side Slope Stakeout Guide. To establish a station, see Chapter 6.


C H A P T E R

11
Rechecking the System Setup 11
In this chapter:

Checking a control point using a prism

Checking a control point without a prism

While you use a total station, the most common source of error is movement of the total station during operation. The following conditions can move the total station:

• Heavy ground vibration

• Thawing of the ground

• Wet ground conditions

• Passing traffic

• Wind buffet

• Intense sunshine on the tripod

• Poorly adjusted tripod or tribrach

• Heavy handedness

• Tripod settlement

If the total station moves, this can result in poorly staked positions or in poorly located point measurements. Good total station practice includes regularly checking a reference control point to ensure that any movement during measurement is detected. The more regularly you check the reference control point, the less likely that you will need to redo work as a result of a moved total station.

To recheck the system setup, have the total station measure from its known position to a reference control point. The rod person can occupy the reference control point, or a prism or acrylic target can be established at the reference control point so that the rod person need not visit the point to carry out the check procedure.


11 Rechecking the System Setup

Measuring from the total station’s known position to a reference control point, enables the software to check both the orientation and distance between the total station and the target. If the total station moves, this is reflected in the check measurements as an angular or distance error. If the check measurement shows a minimal or acceptable change to the zero error desired, work can continue. However, if the errors are unacceptable, the total station needs to be reset and work restarted.

With a total station, there is no way to tell when the movement occurred. You can only tell that movement has occurred and the magnitude of the movement. It is your responsibility to make sure that equipment is well adjusted and that the system setup is checked as often as is suitable for the work being carried out.

To recheck the system setup at any time:

1. From the main menu, select System Setup. The following menu appears:

2. Select Recheck System Setup. The following menu appears:

The recheck function provides the following two methods:

• A check on both orientation and position

• A check on orientation only



Checking a control point using a prismUse this option to aim the total station towards a selected reference control point, measure the angle and distance and then report the orientation and distance errors to that point.

1. Select Aim at a prism or reflector…. The map view appears:

2. Select the control point to check and then tap Next. The following dialog appears:

3. Select the Use averaging mode check box to measure multiple rounds to the same reference point. Using this method results in multiple measurements to the same point in face 1 and face 2, which increases the accuracy of the final averaged measurement.

4. Enter the target height and target type for the reference control point location and then tap Measure.

The total station is servo driven so you can automatically aim it to the reference control point location; you do not need to manually point and focus the telescope. Because the total station is equipped with Autolock technology, when it locates the reference point, it automatically “sees” and locks to the prism at the reference point, eliminating the need to fine point the telescope.



The following message appears:

5. Tap Yes to turn the total station to the reference point. Tap No to manually point the total station. The map view appears:

6. Tap Measure to initiate measurement to the target.

The measurement is done in STD mode. The angles are averaged over one second before taking a distance measurement to the target. When the measurement is complete, the errors for horizontal angle, horizontal position, and vertical position are shown. These errors are compared to the total station setup tolerances (See mInstrument Setup Tolerances option, page 17) and flagged as in or out of tolerance. If the control point has no elevation



component, only the horizontal angle and horizontal position error are reported:

7. Tap OK. The software then allows you to automatically return the total station to the location where it was before performing the Recheck System Setup function:



Checking a control point without a prismDo not select this option from a remote location while working robotically and remotely from the total station.

This option is basically the same operation as in the previous section. The only difference is that the total station neither locks to a target at the check point, nor measures a distance to the target, so the system can only carry out an orientation check. Because the total station does not lock to the target, view the target through the telescope to ensure that the total station is looking at the correct location.

1. Select Aim at a non-reflective target for measuring angles only. The map view appears:

2. Select the control point to check and then tap Next. The following message appears:



3. Tap Yes to turn the total station to the reference point. Tap No to manually point the total station. The following screen appears:

4. Once the total station is pointing at the correct target, tap Measure to take the angle only measurement. The horizontal angle error is displayed:

5. The angle error is compared to the total station setup tolerance to test whether it is in or out of tolerance. Tap OK.



6. On completion of the measurement, tap Yes to turn the total station back to where it was pointing at the start of the recheck process:


C H A P T E R

12
Measuring a Control Point 12
In this chapter:

Measuring a new point

Measuring an existing control point

You may need to measure control points in convenient locations around the jobsite such as in the following:

• Total station equipment depends on line-of-sight between it and the prism at the point being measured. On most jobsites, lines-of-sight can be obscured, for example, by trees, vehicles, structures under construction, ground terrain, and material stockpiles. To fully cover the area to be measured, the total station often needs moving several times, for example, during a site topographic measurement.

• For most practical applications, the maximum range of coverage for a total station is 700 m (2,296 ft). As a result, you need to have more control points around the jobsite for total station use than is required for GPS use.

• Site vehicles or machines often destroy control points, requiring replacement control points to be established.

You may want to measure a control point that has already been recorded in situations such as:

• Completing a network of observations

• Completing a traverse

When combining GPS and total station equipment on the same site, you can create control points by measuring with one technology and then use them later with the other technology.

This chapter describes how to measure and create control points using a total station.


12 Measuring a Control Point

Measuring a new point1. From the main menu, select System Setup.


3. Select Measure Control Points. The Measure Control Points screen appears.

4. Create the control point location using a stake, a hub, or a road nail as required and then mark the stake with the name for the control point, for example, STNQ.

5. Set up the total station rod and prism over the point and hold it steady using a bipod.

The software displays the current rod position on the map:

6. Check that the target height is correctly set to ensure that the new control point elevation is computed correctly.



7. When you are ready to take the measurement, tap Measure. The measurement process takes approximately three seconds to complete.

8. When completed, the following dialog appears:

9. In the Point Name field, enter the station name that was written on the stake, for example, STNQ.

10. In the Code field, enter the type of station for the point code, for example, Stake, Hub, or Nail.

11. Tap OK to complete the addition of the new control point.

12. The software repeats the process for multiple control point measurements. To complete the measurement process, tap Esc.

When each control point is measured, the software stores the control point data position in the control point (Control.csv) file for the site, and also records the measurement data into the record and report files for the work order.



Measuring an existing control point1. From the main menu, select System Setup.


3. Select Measure Control Points. The Measure Control Points screen appears.

4. Set up the total station rod and prism over the point and hold it steady using a bipod.

The software displays the current rod position on the map:

5. Check that the target height is correctly set to ensure that the control point elevation is computed correctly.



6. At the Measure Control Points screen, tap the Measuring mode icon. The Change Measuring Mode menu appears. Select Averaging mode.


7. Change the settings, if required, and then tap OK. The text in the upper right of the map view provides access to a shortcut menu:

8. Tap . The Switch Measurement Type menu appears.

9. Select Existing Control Points. The shortcut menu changes to show .



10. From the map view select the control point you want to measure (either tap the point on the screen or select it using the point list ) and then tap Measure.

After the total station has measured for the defined number of rounds in face 1 and face 2, SCS900 displays the results of the measurement:

11. Tap Accept. The differences are displayed from the original measured values versus the values observed when the point was remeasured.

12. If the results are within your desired tolerances, tap OK. If you want to, for example, adjust the setup to gain better results, tap Cancel and then remeasure the point.


C H A P T E R

13
Measuring Modes 13
In this chapter:

Measuring modes

Changing the measuring mode

For most measurement and stakeout operations, you will run the SCS900 dedicated measurement and stakeout functions. In all operations, these operate from the map view.


13 Measuring Modes

Measuring modesThe measuring mode controls a number of functions for the total station. Depending on the type of total station, there are five modes available:

Standing mode

Walk to a point, place the rod tip on the ground and then take a single measurement to that specific location before moving to the next location. The target height is the elevation of the prism on the rod:

Walking mode

Walk continuously between points, holding the rod steady and ensuring that the rod tip never touches the ground. Points are stored based on the horizontal distance moved or elevation changed; parameters that you can define. The target height in this mode is the elevation of the prism on the rod, plus the elevation of the rod tip above the ground:

B Tip – To record an additional point at any time while walking the jobsite, tap Manual or press =. The distance moved and elevation changed counter will then be reset.


Measuring Modes 13

To start recording information:

1. Go to the first point and hold the rod above the ground.

2. Tap Start or press = to initiate measurement.

Once measurement has started, points are recorded based on distance moved or elevation changed.

To stop recording data or to temporarily pause recording, tap Stop.

To restart measuring, tap Start to restart measuring at any time.

Vehicle mode

C WARNING – When you select the Vehicle mode, the following warning message appears:

Do not interact with the touch screen, keyboard, or software in any way while the vehicle is moving. While the vehicle is moving, the software provides a continuous display of position and data that can be seen at a glance. Operating the device or interacting with the software while the vehicle is moving can be a distraction for the operator, and may result in collision causing property damage or personal injury.

Drive around the site in a vehicle such as a pickup truck or ATV, ensuring that the rod tip never touches the ground. Points are collected and stored based on the horizontal distance moved or elevation changed; parameters that you can define. The target


13 Measuring Modes

height in this mode is the elevation of the prism on the rod plus the elevation of the rod tip above the ground while mounted on the vehicle:To define the target height (also

known as benching):

1. Select Vehicle mode.

2. Drive the vehicle onto a known elevation surface. The following dialog appears:

3. Do one of the following:

– If you know the target height, enter it in the Target Height field and then tap OK.


Measuring Modes 13

– If you do not know the target height, tap Measure. The following dialog appears:


– If you know the actual ground elevation, enter it in the Ground elevation field.

– If you do not know the actual ground elevation, tap Select. The map view appears. Select a point that is located on the surface under the vehicle. This eliminates the need to know the elevation of the selected point as it is already a known point. When you have selected the point, tap OK. You are returned to the Measure Antenna Height screen.

5. Press Measure.

The total station measures to the target on the vehicle, subtracts the actual ground elevation and then displays your target height.

6. Tap OK.

B Tip – To record an additional point at any time while driving the jobsite, tap Manual or press = to record an additional shot (pause the vehicle while tapping the key or touch screen). The distance moved and elevation changed counter will then be reset.

To start recording information:

1. Go to the first point and pause the vehicle.

2. Tap Start or press = to initiate measurement.

Once measurement has started, points will be recorded based on distance moved or elevation changed.

To stop recording data or to temporarily pause recording, pause the vehicle and then tap Stop.

To restart measuring at any time, tap Start.


13 Measuring Modes

Averaging mode

The total station will measure in face 1 and face 2, for up to six rounds. The software records the raw data from each measurement, but then displays an averaged calculation of the X,Y,Z position of the point being measured or staked. Measuring in both faces and for multiple rounds results in a more precise output from the total station.

DR Single Point mode

You point the total station at a location from which you want to measure, and use the total station’s DR reflectorless capabilities to measure the point location. The target height in this mode is normally set to 0.000.

DR Scanning mode

You manually track the total station across a surface that you want to measure. Points are measured and stored based on distance moved or elevation changed; parameters that you can define. The measurements are made in the TRK mode using the total station’s DR reflectorless capabilities. The target height in this mode is normally 0.000.

Changing the measuring modeA measuring mode icon in the top left corner of the plan view map shows which mode is in use. The target height is shown to the right of the icon.

To change the measuring mode, tap the measuring mode icon:


Measuring Modes 13

The Change Measuring Mode dialog appears:

A mode is unavailable if it is not configured in the total station that you are using.

Changing the measuring mode automatically changes the operational settings. Autolock, DR, Laser Pointer, and EDM mode will all be set to the appropriate settings. Each measuring mode has its own target height setting, which eliminates the need to change the target height manually. When using the ATS or SPSx30 total station, the ATS synchronized low latency data mode is selected when the operator selects Walking or Vehicle mode, so high accuracy measurement can be maintained while using a moving target.


13 Measuring Modes


C H A P T E R

14
Other Total Station Settings and Functions 14
In this chapter:

Target height and target type settings from the map view

DR Target Settings dialog

Stakeout Settings menu

COM Port Data Output Option

Instrument Functions menu

This chapter covers some additional total station specific settings and operational functions.


14 Other Total Station Settings and Functions

Target height and target type settings from the map viewTo change the target height or target type settings at any time:

1. From the map view, tap the value displayed for the target height:

2. Select Target Type and Ht from the list that appears.

Note – When you are operating in DR Single Point mode or DR Scan Mode, the menu shows this option as DR Target Settings.

The Target Height for <Name of> Mode dialog appears:

Note – The change in target height affects only the currently selected measuring mode, not all measuring modes. The software remembers the target height, so if you switch from Standing mode to Walking mode and then back to Standing mode, you do not need to re-enter your target height for Standing mode.



DR Target Settings dialogWhen in DR mode, the Target Type and Target Height Settings option becomes DR Target Settings, enabling you to set the properties of the DR reflectorless measuring functions:

For DR mode, the Target Height field defaults to 0.0.

The Weak Signal function allows the total station to report distance measurements even when the return EDM signal strength is below its minimum threshold value. This allows for less accurate measurements to poor reflective surfaces, or reflective surfaces at extreme ranges or at very oblique angles to be achieved, allowing measurement to be provided where otherwise it would be rejected.

The Distance Restrictions group enables you to set up a range gate within which the total station reports measured distances. This enables you to specify a known range within which the measured points will lie, thereby eliminating any possibility of erroneous measurement to an object outside that range. The minimum and maximum values can be entered manually or be measured from objects directly.

B Tip – The settings entered in the Distance Restrictions group are used for both the stockpile scan and profile scan. Setting the distance restrictions to a very narrow window restricts your ability to scan in stockpile scan or profile scan.

The Standard Deviation field can be set to ensure that the reflectorless measurements, averaged from a thousand measurements per second, deliver a measurement with a standard deviation better than the designated value. The total station measures continuously until the standard deviation threshold is achieved. Setting this value to a low (tighter or more stringent) number results in longer measurement times and, in some cases, the inability to measure. Setting this to a higher (looser or less stringent) number shortens the measurement time, extends the range of the system, and also generates measurements in tougher reflectorless circumstances.

As a rule, select the Weak Signal check box and enter a higher (looser or less stringent) number in the Standard Deviation field for longer range and shorter measurement times, but less accurate results. Clear the Weak Signal check box and enter a lower (tighter or more stringent) number in the Standard Deviation field for shorter range and longer measurement times, but more accurate results.



Stakeout Settings menuStakeout settings enable you to define some of the parameters that control stakeout operations. Stakeout settings enable you to define some of parameters that control stakeout operations.

From the main menu select Settings / Stakeout Settings:

General Stake Placement & Marking

Use this dialog to define the tolerance for all stakeout operations:

When you tap Stake during a stakeout operation to record the staked position, the measured location is compared to the design location and the difference is compared to the stakeout tolerance. If the difference is:

• less than the tolerance value, the point is stored and flagged as in tolerance

• greater than the tolerance value, the point is stored and flagged as out of tolerance

The Elevation reference method list allows you to define how you will stake and write the stake information. The options are:



• Ground Surface – You will navigate to the stakeout location and then tap Stake to record the point. The stake marking information will be referenced to the ground location, for example, Come up the stake by X.X to give a Cut of Y.Y.

• Top of Stake – You will navigate to the stakeout location, tap Stake, pound the stake and then measure to the top of the stake. The stake marking information will be referenced to the top of stake, for example, Come down the stake by X.X to give a cut of Y.Y.

• Measured Point – You can tap Stake wherever you want. The stake marking information is referenced to the measured location only, for example, Cut Y.Y only.

For more information about other stakeout settings, please refer to the SCS900 Road and Side Slope Stakeout User Guide.

When you tap Stake to record the staked position, the measured location is compared to the design location and the difference compared to the stakeout tolerance:

• If less than the tolerance value, the point is stored and flagged as in tolerance

• If greater than the tolerance value, the point is stored and flagged as out of tolerance

The Elevation reference method list allows you to define how you will stake and write the stake information. The options are:

• Ground Surface – You will navigate to the stakeout location, and then tap Stake to record the point. The stake marking information will be referenced to the ground location, for example, Come up the stake by X.X to give a Cut of Y.Y.

• Top of Stake – You will navigate to the stakeout location, tap Stake, pound the stake, and then measure to the top of the stake. The stake marking information will be referenced to the top of stake, for example, Come down the stake by X.X to give a cut of Y.Y.

• Measured Point – You can tap Stake wherever you want. The stake marking information is referenced to the measured location only, for example, Cut Y.Y only.

Auto Aim Option

The Auto Aim Option enables you to define how the total station will turn to the selected stakeout location when using any stakeout function. Once the stakeout location is selected, an Aim button appears in the map view. Tap Aim to turn the total station to the selected stakeout location. In most cases, turning the total station only in the horizontal direction is practical. However, in some cases, turning the total station in both the horizontal and vertical directions to point at the true 3D location is useful, especially when using DR modes with the laser pointer for staking out fixtures and fittings inside buildings or on structures.



1. From the Stakeout Settings menu, select Auto Aim Option:


– Select the HA & VA option for the total station to turn in 3D

– Select the HA Only option for the total station to turn in the horizontal only

For information about the other stakeout settings (Grade Stake Marking, Catch Point Marking, and Lightbar Options), please refer to the SCS900 Site Controller Software Road and Side Slope Stakeout User Guide.

COM Port Data Output OptionIn some applications, it is useful to have the controller deliver the raw measurement data or the computed coordinate data to the serial port of the controller, so that other software, for example hydrographic positioning applications, can pick it up and use it.

To set up the COM port:

1. From the main menu, select Settings / More / COM Port Data Output Option. The following dialog appears:

2. To enable data to be sent to the serial COM port of the controller or total station, select the check box at the top of dialog.



3. In the Output Format list, select either HAVASD raw data or XYZ coordinates:

4. In the Output Mode list, select either After recording (every time you tap Record) or Continuous (every time the total station has a new measurement).

5. In the COM Port list, select the controller port through which to send the data.

6. In the Baud Rate list, select the rate in bits per second that you want to send the data to the COM port.

Note – Parity is set to 0 (No Parity), data bits is set to 8, and stop bits is set to 1. You cannot change these settings.

7. Tap OK. Once the connection is established, and measurement commences, the data will be sent to the selected COM port in the format you selected in Step 3.

Instrument Functions menuThe Instrument Functions menu provides access to most of the functions described in earlier sections. It also provides access to the routine calibration checks that you should carry out to keep the total station in adjustment so that it delivers the best possible measurement results.

To access the Instrument Functions menu:

• From the main menu select System Setup / Instrument Functions. The following menu appears:

Raw data format Coordinate data format

0

7 = HA8 = VA9 = SD

0

37 = Northing38 = Easting39 = Elevation

The first line of data is always a 0, which is a status tag indicating a complete measurement record.

Each line of data is terminated with a carriage return and line feed.



External Battery Type Settings option

Use this option to characterize the external battery to be used by an SPSx10, SPS700, or SPSx30 total station. The total station can be powered by a Trimble internal battery or a set of up to three Trimble batteries in an external battery cradle. To use an alterative battery source such as a 12 V car battery, select the custom battery type and then enter its characteristics, so that the total station knows how to interact with it.

For more information, see Selecting the external battery type, page 15.



Atmospheric Corrections option

Use this option to enter the current temperature and pressure so that the ppm (parts per million) corrections can be computed for EDM distance measurements. For more information, see Correcting for atmospheric conditions, page 14.

Instrument Settings option

Use this option to view the current total station type and firmware version, and in addition to set the following values:

Reticle illumination

When operating in dark conditions such as at night or in a tunnel, you can illuminate the cross-hair of the telescope so that they can be seen by the operator. It is likely that you will also need to illuminate the face of the target in order to operate efficiently.

Note – Reticle illumination only works when there is little or no ambient light.



DR/IR target settings option

The DR/IR target settings are the same as those described on page 128. Depending on the current settings of the total station (Prism or DR mode), the function shows the target type and height settings or DR target and DR Measurement mode settings.

For DR mode, the target height defaults to 0.0 m/ft and allows you to specify how the DR measurement function is used. For more details on the DR function controls, see DR Target Settings dialog, page 129.

For Prism mode, there are a number of different prism types that can be used, all shown below. Each prism selection has an associated set of parameters including:

• Prism constant

• Vertical or tiltable type of target

• Target IDs and how the Target ID is used

Select the correct prism type to ensure accurate measurements. Any prism constants or corrections that need to be used are automatically applied when you select the appropriate prism type. For third-party prisms and accessories, use the Custom target type and then apply the correct prism constant for that prism.



Tap Set Target ID when the MT900 is connected to the controller in, for example, ATV applications through the junction box (Trimble P/N 58005012). In this case, the software transmits the ID to the MT900 target directly using the junction box. The junction box is used to provide both a controller connection and external power to the target. When you tap Set Target ID, the Configure MT900 dialog appears.

Radio Settings option

The Radio Settings option enables you to set the radio channel and network ID of the total station radio for robotic operation. These are requested on each robotic connection.


C H A P T E R

15
Adjusting the Total Station 15
In this chapter:

Types of checks

Compensator Calibration

HA VA Collimation test

Trunnion Axis Tilt test

Tracker Collimation test

All total stations require regular and routine checks and adjustments to deliver optimum results. All Trimble total stations allow fully accurate measurements to be made with a single pointing to a target. To achieve that, the total station stores its current adjustment values internally, and corrects all measured data accordingly. For accurate measurements to be made, the current adjustment values need to be determined and stored in memory.

Total station adjustments are required because of the optical mechanical design of the instrument. The following conditions can move the optics and mechanics out of adjustment:

• Shipping and handling

• Bumps and knocks

• Temperature and pressure changes

• Storage conditions

• General wear and tear of mechanics

To start the tests, select System Setup Menu – Instrument / Instrument Functions menu / Adjust Instruments.


15 Adjusting the Total Station

Types of checksThe three types of checks that you should carry out on the total stations on a routine basis are mechanical, electronic system, and electronic/software.

Mechanical checks

For details of the mechanical checks that you should regularly perform, refer to your instrument manual. These checks include:

• Tribrach or instrument optical plummet

• Tribrach locking mechanism

• Tripod leg adjustment/tightness/condition

• Tripod head rotation

• Tripod head warping and condition

• Laser pointer adjustment

• Telescope optics cleaning

• Telescope cross-hair adjustment

• Horizontal and vertical axis bearing condition

Electronic system checks

For details of the electronic system checks that you should regularly perform, refer to your appropriate instrument manual. These checks include:

• Battery status, life, and conditioning

• Angle measurement system

• Distance measurement system

• Electronic leveling and compensator calibration

Electronic/software driven checks

There are three main system checks that you should carry out regularly and before any task that requires the highest system accuracy. Trimble recommends that you create a System Maintenance site and work order to store the results of these checks. Open the work order before carrying out the checks. This allows all the checks to be stored along with date, time, operator, and the results to perform a quality assurance trail on the total station maintenance operations.

The four main checks are:

• Compensator Calibration

• HA VA Collimation

• Trunnion Axis Tilt

• Tracker Collimation



Compensator CalibrationThe SPS family of motorized total stations are all equipped with a dual-axis compensator. The compensator is active when the total station is switched on.

You should calibrate the compensator periodically to adjust for any minor changes in the total station caused by normal wear and tear, as well as shipping or temperature variations. It is extremely important to perform this calibration when you are working within a very tight tolerance range. You should also perform this calibration whenever the highest accuracies are needed.

You must manually calibrate the SPS610, SPS700, SPS710, SPS730, and SPS930 total stations. This calibration can only be performed through the face 2 display on the total station itself. For directions, please refer to the SPS Series User Guide included on the CD in your instrument case.

C CAUTION – It is important that this calibration is performed before the HA VA Collimation, Trunnion Axis Tilt, and Tracker Collimation. The compensator does not need to be calibrated every time the other three collimations are performed, but if the Compensator Calibration is performed, you should immediately perform the HA VA Collimation, Trunnion Axis Collimation, and Tracker Collimation. Performing the Compensator Calibration negates the validity of the values of the errors found from previous HA VA Collimations, Trunnion Axis Collimations, and Tracker Collimations.

The ATS600 and 5600 total stations calibrate their compensators when they power up, so you do not need to manually calibrate them.



HA VA Collimation testYou should perform this test to a target that can be easily bisected with both the horizontal and vertical cross-hair, placed at a location at least 100 m from the total station, and at approximately the same elevation as the total station telescope. The target can be any object including a road sign, window frame, or an adhesive prism target.

The test involves taking a series of HA VA measurements to the target in both instrument faces, to generate a mean or averaged pointing in face 1 and face 2, from which the difference between face 1 and face 2 readings can be determined. The difference between the two face readings is known as the collimation error. In the horizontal axis, the collimation error has little affect on measurements. However in the vertical axis, if not corrected for, the collimation error will result in erroneous elevation values for all measured points.

The collimation test computes the collimation error, stores the error inside the total station and then corrects all subsequent measurements for that error before displaying them on the screen or storing them in memory.

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Trunnion Axis Tilt testYou should perform this test to a target that can be easily bisected with both the horizontal and vertical cross-hair, placed at a location at an elevation angle at least 15° to the horizontal. Below 15°, the Trunnion axis tilt is hard to measure, and has little influence over measured positions. The target can be any object including a road sign, window frame, or an adhesive prism target.

The test involves taking a series of HA VA measurements to the target in both instrument faces, to generate a mean or averaged pointing in face 1 and face 2. From the measurements made, any misalignment of the axis around which the telescope rotates in relation to the instrument’s level can be determined. This misalignment is known as the Trunnion axis tilt error, and, if not corrected for, affects the computed position of measured points at steep sight lines from the total station.

The Trunnion Axis Tilt test computes the error, stores the error inside the total station and then corrects all subsequent measurements for that error before displaying them on the screen or storing them in memory.

Note – The Trunnion Axis Tilt test can only be carried out after an HA VA collimation test has been computed.

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Tracker Collimation testYou should perform this test towards a prism (SPSx10, SPS700, or SPSx30) or active target (ATS or 5600), set up at a distance of around 100 m and at approximately the same elevation as the total station telescope. Ideally, perform the test at the approximate range that subsequent measurements will be made.

The test involves the total station locking onto and measuring an average position over a period of time in both faces to determine any misalignment of the tracker in relationship to the telescope cross-hair. If not corrected for, this error results in erroneous position determination in both horizontal and vertical axes, and also between measurements made with and without Autolock technology.

Once measured, the error is stored in the total station, and is used to correct all subsequently measured positions.

Note – There can be two reasons for significant change between old and new values:

• The total station has received a knock or bump in transit that may need a service correction.

• There has been an observation error.

If you suspect an observation error, repeat the process. If the values are repeated, you may want to contact an authorized Trimble Service Center for advice. When the values exceed a certain level, you will be advised to send the total station to an approved Trimble Service Center for recalibration.

Note – The values displayed when new will be close to zero, but over time these are expected to change. Non-zero values are no cause for alarm; however, sudden large changes should be cause for concern because they indicate misuse, abuse, or transportation problems.

For full details of the instrumentation errors, refer to your instrument manual.

For details of measurement, stakeout, or other SCS900 software functions, and GPS equipment usage, please refer to the appropriate SCS900 user guide.

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trimble scs900 site controller software

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