In general, measurements are only “legal” if they are “traceable” to primary standards of measurement. A GPS measurement is “legally traceable” if: (i) it is carried out using the various test/calibration procedures as required by the Guidelines, and; (ii) the survey has followed the “recommended practices for field and office procedures” as described in the Guidelines. A GPS system testing/calibration program is considered a prerequisite for demonstrating “competence” and for assuring that GPS-derived coordinates are of a uniformly high quality. We recommend three tests: (a) a zerobaseline test, (b) calibration of the GPS equipment on an existing first order EDM/Total station baseline, and (c) connections to several existing first order geodetic control stations. It is essential that all GPS equipment be tested not only initially but periodically depending upon volume of usage of particular GPS equipment in case of surveys of first and second order accuracy. Details of these tests have been described in this paper.

The control panel of the MRA2 Tellurometer It was in the late 1950s that the Tellurometer hit the surveying profession. Certainly it was not the first EDM instrument on the market, that title goes to the Geodimeter which appeared in 1947, but there was a difference. The Geodimeter worked on a light source and as such its maximum range was limited by visibility. The Tellurometer operated on a radiowave which could penetrate most weather conditions and achieved distances up to 100 miles. Since the early 1900s any long distance that was required to be measured as accurately as possible, e.g. a survey baseline, was determined using long tapes or wires suspended in catenary. Numerous baselines around the world were measured this way with each requiring 20 to 40 personnel over a period of several weeks. Then, suddenly, the profession had new tools that would allow such a task to be completed in 20 minutes by two persons. It was a revolution that completely changed the manner in which surveying operated.

  The article introduces the field work fl ow for railway design and construction, using detailed application of RTK GPS system and railway-design software     Generally, the entire railway line is divided into several sections, and each section is fi nished separately. Firstly, we need to collect the existing information of one section, such as map and control points. Then, survey the topography of the working area, select position of control points, set the control point network, and...

  While most surveyors are aware of trilateration methods even so except for the National Survey Organizations other surveyors do not resort to trilateraties as routine     There are generally 2 types of users of DGPS for professional survey one is the National Mapping Agency and other large govt. organization who undertake Survey projects and the 2nd category is comprising of private survey set ups most of whom are first time users of DGPS and use DGPS to...

In the rapidly changing economic, technological, political, and social environment that characterises the world as we see it in the 21st Century, every profession faces major challenges, surveying being no exception. While some of these challenges are common across all professions, others are specific to the surveying community. In this discussion I choose to separate the challenges facing the surveying profession into these two categories.

There are many traditional surveying methods used for the large-scale bridge structure deformation monitor such as the accelerometer measure, the total station surveying and the laser collimation, but these methods are limited by its function of which the continuity, timeliness and automaticity can not meet the need of the large-scale construction dynamic monitor. In recent years, with the GPS hardware and software technology developed, especially the GPS receiver with the high data-collection frequency (for example 10Hz even 20Hz[1][4]) appearanced as well as the GPS data processing was improvement, the GPS-RTK technology applied in large-scale bridge dynamic deformition monitor with real-time or quasi-realtime has become true[2][3].

Geomatics is the art and science of measurements on the surface of earth including what is below the earth and in the oceans. This is the simplest form of definition; more exact and elaborate definition has been produced by FIG¹. In other simple words Geomatics is the new terminology for the centuries old profession of Surveying and Mapping.

Surveying which has been even called the foundation of civil engineering profession has been into existence far longer than some of the high tech and highly paid glamorous professions of recent times. Surveying was practiced when Egyptians were building Pyramids.

The future of the surveying profession is an issue that has been lingering for many years. Recently, the concern has been growing wider and louder among surveyors. Some surveyors contend that the surveying profession, in its current form, is heading towards extinction. Their reasons include a gradual decline in the number of qualified and licensed professionals, impact of emerging technologies, sophisticated and more capable equipment, and a decline in the number of new graduates into the profession.

While there are many opportinties for professionals working in the field of computer science and engineering, etc. many consider surveying has low profile and ‘less rewarding’. Some feel that the total number of qualified and licensed surveyors are diminishing. Does surveying profession has a future? Experts speak