Survey Equiptment : How to

[chilcutt]

My job is requireing me to survey grids. No experiance with it, and my Myanmar Foreman cannot communicate well enough in English to instruct me.

Had some liscenced Surveyors come in and set 8 control points for me, but really need to isolate manhole pits/cable drawpits. Depth is very criticle due to other services that will be installed at a later time.
Such as utility's, firewater, domestic water, sewer and drain, etc...(I will be installing all of these as well)
Have 6 buildings to build in all, am now on the first building.

Anybody here have basic instructions that could help me out?

Thnx,
JC

[R Leo]

Originally Posted by chilcutt

M
Anybody here have basic instructions that could help me out?

One word: Subcontract

If you survey it and screw up, it's on your a**. If a contractor surveys it, and someone nails a water main with a backhoe because of a bad survey, they're on the hook.

[The Swede]

If you botch a survey in Singapore, they cut off your balls.

[R Leo]

Originally Posted by The Swede

If you botch a survey in Singapore, they cut off your balls.

Before or after they cane you?

[The Swede]

Originally Posted by R Leo

Before or after they cane you?

If your surveying and spitting out gum at the same time.

[t walgamuth]

Dang! Beat me to the Cane joke. His other advice was right on too.

[layback40]

4 or 5 years University to become a surveyor.
Are you looking at locations or depths/levels only?
What sort of equipment are you using?
Are you working off a plan?
Normally for a pit/manhole You provide a pair of hurdles & the depth below them required.
You probably have some local code for clearances around the utilities.

[chilcutt]

Originally Posted by layback40

4 or 5 years University to become a surveyor.
Are you looking at locations or depths/levels only?
What sort of equipment are you using?
Are you working off a plan?
Normally for a pit/manhole You provide a pair of hurdles & the depth below them required.
You probably have some local code for clearances around the utilities.

Location/depth is critical.
Simple tripod machine with storey pole.
Main Contractor supplys Master Drawings, however it is up to me to zero evrything in-as the people who are provideing isolated drawings are women using Auto-Cad.
Yes the P.U.B. sets the minimum clearance at 100mm, altho 300mm is standard.

I think I better sub this out. Just want to learn the basics.

All jokes aside about Singapore-this is a spanking new Waste Water Treatment facility...If I were to install my pipes and they interfered with
a 8 ft sewer main..I may as well book a flight back to the States- before they send me down to be caned.

[Ara T.]

Originally Posted by The Swede

If your surveying and spitting out gum at the same time.

lmao

[layback40]

Originally Posted by chilcutt

Location/depth is critical.
Simple tripod machine with storey pole.
Main Contractor supplys Master Drawings, however it is up to me to zero evrything in-as the people who are provideing isolated drawings are women using Auto-Cad.
Yes the P.U.B. sets the minimum clearance at 100mm, altho 300mm is standard.

I think I better sub this out. Just want to learn the basics.

All jokes aside about Singapore-this is a spanking new Waste Water Treatment facility...If I were to install my pipes and they interfered with
a 8 ft sewer main..I may as well book a flight back to the States- before they send me down to be caned.

very wise statement !!
You need to have a bench mark height that everything relates back to. There should be a survey point some place near by. All heights are set relative to that. Locations are a little more tricky & best done using angles that you can read on your tripod instrument. Again based on at least 2 bench mark locations.

Good luck.

[Stoney]

Believe me, it is the best way.
I have seen people massively screw up when they DIY without the knowledge (no offense to you).

When I was with a firm in 2001, we found that a contractor had "done his own survey" and begun excavation for a extension structure (about 25,000 sq ft). He took his benchmarks from original plans on file with the county office but DID NOT contact ANY of the local utility suppliers.

When he was starting to install footings, a truck from Con Edison showed up and a survey crew set up their Total Station. The Party Chief came over and asked them what they were doing excavating in the middle of their easement!

The contractor had not done proper due dilligance and acquired a set of pllot maps site that were "consolodated" and reflected all easements and sub surface additions. A basic survey search would have cost him about $1500.

The error cost 375K to correct! The contractor was disqualified from any further work in the county.

When I am on a job site, I NEVER respond to a contractors request like "Hey help us out and shoot this elevation" or "Is this the correct PK?"

I learned basic survey skills in Eng school but I AM NOT a surveyor!

[Botnst]

Buy a couple of GNSS RTK receivers. Set one over a bench mark and use the other as a rover. With differential correction you'll get about 1-2 cm accuracy in x,y,z.

But really and truly, sub it to somebody who knows what they're doing. It will save your butt.

[The Clk Man]

Originally Posted by Botnst

Buy a couple of GNSS RTK receivers. Set one over a bench mark and use the other as a rover. With differential correction you'll get about 1-2 cm accuracy in x,y,z.

But really and truly, sub it to somebody who knows what they're doing. It will save your butt.

Bot........ you so smart, I wish I was smart like you.

[Botnst]

Originally Posted by The Clk Man

Bot........ you so smart, I wish I was smart like you.

Unfortunately for both of us ... you are.

[chilcutt]

Bot's advise seals it, along with all the other great advise..there is absolutely no doubt left in my mind that I am completely unqualified to be attempting to shoot grade.. I'm bailin'..will sub out the work.

A man has to know his limitations.

Thanks guys.

JC