Your surveying equipment is expensive and delicate, so you need to take proper care of it to ensure it lasts a long time. Following these simple tips will help keep your equipment in good working condition for many years to come. Read on for more information. We’ve also included tips on cleaning and pretesting your metal detectors. We’ll discuss the importance of these tips and how to make the most of them.
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Maintenance records
Surveyors rely on the accuracy and precision of their instruments, but the harsh conditions on a job site can take a toll on their instruments. To avoid unnecessary repairs or replacements, surveyors must ensure that their instruments are properly maintained.
Store survey instruments in secure compartments, such as carrying cases. Survey instruments should not be placed on shoulders, as various factors could knock them over. Optical targets, prisms, and staffs should be stored in compartments cushioned with firm poly foam to prevent jolting. When carrying and transporting survey equipment, survey crew members should use appropriate tools and take great care to avoid accidental drops.
Cleaning
Cleaning survey equipment is vital for the integrity of the measurements. Surveying equipment contains delicate parts that are not easily cleaned with compressed air or cleaning solution. It’s best to hire professionals to perform maintenance. Listed below are some methods for cleaning survey equipment. Cleaning the device yourself will reduce the risk of voiding a warranty. Cleaning with water, alcohol wipes, or soap will help remove any dirt and debris. Depending on the type of device, these steps may affect the warranty. You may consult rtkgpssurveyequipment.com to learn more about it.
Pretesting
Before you start conducting your survey, you should spend some time pre-testing your equipment. To make your pretest as close to the real thing possible, use the same data collection mode as your final survey. In addition, you should make sure to use the same materials and tools as in the main study. However, if you cannot do this, you should hire a third party to conduct your pretest.
Although sending out your survey as soon as possible is tempting, you should always conduct a pretest. If your survey is not tested properly, it will not be effective in collecting data. If your survey fails to collect data, you can use a pretest to fix any issues. Pretesting is essential and can save you a lot of time and money. It also allows you to see whether you have adequate time to collect the data.
Metal detectors
If you own a metal detector, you’ll want to maintain it properly. First, make sure to calibrate your metal detector. The calibration process will help ensure your equipment is always in the optimal operating condition.
Cleaning the detector is the second most crucial step. While traditional metal detectors have a limited frequency range, X-ray equipment doesn’t have this problem. They can detect metals more precisely and monitor other issues, including weight. X-ray technology is imperfect and cannot detect all metals, but it can identify most metals. And it will last a long time as long as you keep up the maintenance schedule.
Magnetic locators
Magnetic locators are helpful for mapping out the location of survey markers. They are made up of multiple sensors that detect the presence of any ferrous object beneath the surface. They alert the operator when they encounter a ferrous object, either through varying audio tones or a graphical display. Magnetic locators can also be adjusted to change their sensitivity, allowing you to fine-tune the sensitivity according to your needs.
Make sure to test your locator at least once a month. If you’re working on multiple job sites, try performing several checks in different areas to check for errors. By understanding the challenges faced on the job site, you can easily identify issues with your equipment and keep it functioning as expected.
Transporting
If you’re planning on transporting your survey equipment to a new location, there are a few things that you need to do. You need to determine the cost of transport. Transport costs comprise a large portion of the overall survey cost. This cost depends on the mode of transportation, the size of the field team, the distances between field sites, and the time the surveyors are needed to travel between locations. You can choose to compensate your surveyors with a travel allowance or pay them directly through a car rental company. Listed below are a few tips to keep in mind when budgeting for transportation.
Calibration
For proper surveying, it is essential to calibrate survey equipment regularly. Over time, gauges may drift, resulting in distorted measurements. It naturally happens, but regular calibration will prevent the drift and ensure accurate measurements. Also, calibration can improve instrument longevity.
