Surveying consists of measuring or laying out. It is sometimes also called sizing and setting out. Measuring and laying out is the basis of all construction projects in the Netherlands. By measuring and plotting properly, new construction projects can be fitted precisely into the existing situation.
Measuring and laying out are important parts of surveying. Measuring, which is also called dimensioning, involves mapping the existing situation. And stakeout is the marking of predetermined coordinates in the field, so that building projects can be laid out and constructed based on these points. Measuring and plotting can be done in different ways. This can be done, for example, with a measuring tape or with a total station. But more and more people are measuring and plotting with GPS. In addition to a good GPS measuring system, it is useful for measuring and laying out with GPS to have a drawing program with which the measurements can be further elaborated and where the elements that need to be laid out can be prepared.
To clarify everything about this topic, we will answer the following questions in this article:
- What is measuring and plotting?
- What is measuring and plotting necessary for?
- What methods are there for measuring and setting out?
- How can one measure and plot with GPS?
- Besides a GPS system, what else is needed to measure and stake out?
Measuring and plotting: the solution
You may not be able to read this entire article. Therefore, there is another opportunity to learn more about measuring and staking.
You can try a GPS measuring system via this website. Please look directly at this page .
You can request a demonstration of one of our GPS measuring systems on the same page. During this demonstration you can ask specific questions about measuring and stakeout and of course also about other topics related to GPS surveying.
If you do not have time for a demonstration or would like to quickly try out the software of our GPS measuring systems, this is possible. Apglos Survey Wizard is the easiest software to perform GPS measurements. You can download it for free from the Google Play Store .
The Apglos Survey Wizard surveying app has full functionality with the GPS of your Android device. So you can fully test this app and it is free.
Of course, the accuracy of our GPS receivers is better than that of standard Android devices. So if you want to test with an accurate system, take a look at this page .
What is measuring and plotting?
What is measuring?
Surveying consists of measuring and laying out. Another word for measuring is sizing. Measuring is not just measuring distances, lengths and areas. No, when surveying it is important that what is measured is measured in relation to other points.
That is why land surveying works with coordinates. In the Netherlands, RD coordinates are used. You can read more about RD coordinates in this article .
Measuring with coordinates ensures that the position of an object is recorded relative to other objects. The measured objects are actually mapped.
Objects include trees, but also buildings, roads, light poles and trash cans. In fact, everything you see outside is measured.
After measuring these objects, the measurement goes in. In the office, a complete map or background is made of everything that has been measured.
What is staking?
And in addition to measuring, there is also plotting. Plotting is actually the exact opposite of measuring. While measuring objects outside involves a map, laying out a map or design involves marking the location in the field.
At the time of deployment, the object is often not yet in the field. By marking the location you can later place the object at the marked location. This object can also be anything. Here again you can think of trees. But construction pits, waterways and pavements are also laid out.
Marking is often done with pickets, nails or paint. The type of marking is determined based on the surface. When placing marking points in the sand, it is not convenient to work with nails or paint. The intention is that the marking point will remain visible for some time after setting out. And with nails and paint on sand that is not the case.
Even with wooden pickets there is often the problem that they are knocked over during construction work. This mainly happens when there is a lot of equipment at work.
Staking must therefore be repeated regularly. It is therefore useful to have a GPS measuring system at work, so that the marking points can be quickly repositioned after they are no longer visible for whatever reason.
What is measuring and plotting necessary for?
The Netherlands is constantly developing. This means that construction is taking place continuously. And if a new structure or road is needed, it must of course fit into the existing situation.
That is why measuring and plotting is extremely important. Measuring creates a map or surface that is the basis of a design for a building, road or garden.
The designer fits the new design into this surface. And when the design is ready and the implementation begins, then comes the laying out. Laying out ensures that the design is placed in the correct position in the field.
Measuring and plotting is therefore extremely important for fitting new works into the existing situation. And measuring and plotting occurs in many disciplines. For example, you can think of the civil engineering, road and hydraulic engineering sectors. But you can also think of construction contractors, gardeners and all parties that manage outdoor spaces.
After implementation, a measurement is important for management. This is the revision measurement. During a revision measurement, everything that has been newly constructed is mapped out. Based on this map, an administrator can make decisions at a later time.
What methods are there for measuring and setting out?
The importance of measuring and plotting is clear. But there are different methods for measuring and plotting.
Measure with a measuring tape
First, there’s the old tape measure. The measuring tape is easy to use. You fix the measuring tape at a known point and read the distance on the measuring tape at the object you want to measure. If you do this for the same object from different known points, you can capture the object relative to these known points.
Measuring and setting out with a measuring tape does have a number of disadvantages. The result of a measurement with a measuring tape is distances relative to known points and therefore not the desired coordinates. You can only find out the coordinates when the coordinates of the known points are properly recorded.
In addition, for a good measurement, the measuring tape should always be tight when you read it. This is not always possible. This increases the inaccuracy factor. Measuring and setting out with a measuring tape also does not take the heights into account.
In short, measuring and plotting with a measuring tape is good for an indication, but it is not accurate and it does not work very quickly.
Surveying with a total station
Fortunately, there are also other methods for measuring and plotting. One of them is the total station. A total station works with angles and distances. Just like a measuring tape, this is based on known points.
Just like with the measuring tape, it is important that the coordinates of the known points are correct when measuring and plotting points with a total station.
If these are correct, the result of a total station can be accurate to the millimeter. However, if the coordinates of the known points are not correct, the margin of error of such a base point continues throughout the measurement.
Surveying with a total station is also a profession. Before anyone can use a total station, he must be properly trained. And this is not everyone.
Measuring and laying out with a total station can only lead to good results if it is carried out by professionals.
Surveying with GPS
Unfortunately, professionals who can handle a total station are scarce. Fortunately, there is also an option to measure and plot with GPS.
GPS is extremely easy for position determination. Everyone uses it for navigation. When it comes to centimeter-accurate position determination, GPS is a little more complicated.
But Apglos has made it very simple with the surveying application Apglos Survey Wizard. This means that measuring and staking with GPS is now accessible to everyone. You can download Apglos Survey Wizard yourself from the Google Play Store.
With GPS measuring, an error in a previously measured point does not affect the rest of the result. Setting up GPS measuring equipment is also much faster than setting up a total station. There are therefore many advantages of GPS measuring equipment compared to a total station.
However, there are also a few disadvantages. Only when the GPS system receives sufficient satellite signals can you measure and plot with a GPS system. GPS cannot therefore be used to measure in tunnels and under viaducts.
Fortunately, more and more satellites are available that can use GPS receivers to determine the position. Yet the maximum accuracy of GPS remains at the centimeter level. This is somewhat less than with a total station. But GPS is very suitable for most measuring and stakeout applications.
How can one measure and plot with GPS?
Measuring and plotting with GPS is therefore the best solution. It is accurate to the centimeter and it is easy to use.
A GPS measuring system consists of a GPS receiver, a GPS measuring stick, a tablet, a tablet holder, and some accessories. However, the most important thing is the software. You can operate the entire measuring system with the software.
The software must therefore be easy to use. And that is why all our GPS measuring systems include the Apglos Survey Wizard surveying app. This app makes it accessible to measure and plot with GPS.
But how exactly does measuring and staking with GPS work? It is self-evident to enable all components and enable Apglos Survey Wizard. Then a connection must be made between Apglos Survey Wizard and the GPS receiver. In the video below you can see the explanation of the connection screen of Apglos Survey Wizard.
Once a connection has been made, measuring is very easy. In the video below you can see the explanation of the measurement screen of Apglos Survey Wizard.
And then there’s the turning off. When staking, you must ensure that the objects to be staked are placed in Apglos Survey Wizard. This can be done by opening a DXF, TXT, CSV file. But you can also perform coordinates manually yourself.
You can then select the objects on the layout screen. On the left side of the screen you will see an arrow pointing towards the point. And below that you will see the distance to the point and the height difference from the point.
You then only have to walk in such a way that the distance is equal to 0. As you can read, it is very simple. And that’s how measuring and surveying with GPS works.
Besides a GPS system, what else is needed to measure and stake out?
Above is briefly described how you can measure and stake out with GPS. So you need a GPSS measuring system for this.
But it’s useful if you have more. Before measuring, it is important that the measurement is converted into a clear drawing. Of course, Apglos Survey Wizard works with layers. And with this surveying app you can save the measurement data as DXF.
This makes the measurement data from Apglos Survey Wizard easy to use in drawing programs such as Microstation and AutoCAD. Of course, there are other drawing programs you can use.
If you really want to get the most out of a GPS system for measuring and plotting, a drawing program is necessary. You can further develop the measurement data using a drawing program.
In addition, a drawing program is also very useful when laying out. With a drawing program you can place the objects in a file, which you can easily plot with your GPS system with Apglos Survey Wizard.
However, you should know that you do not have to be a professional draftsman. You just need to know the basics of the drawing program. You can also take a course with us for this.
Ask about the possibilities.
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In addition to the drawing program, you also need marking material for laying out, such as pickets, nails or paint. And of course you will need tools to apply the marking material.
But that’s all. You don’t need much to measure and stake out yourself with GPS.
Final conclusion about measuring and setting out
This was a whole article about measuring and setting out. There is a lot to report on this topic of GPS surveying. We hope that you have learned at least a few things from it and that you can benefit from them.
However, everything written in this article is theory. If you want to put this theory into practice, you can.
You can try or buy a GPS measuring system via this website . If you do that, you can immediately put into practice what you learned from reading this article about measuring and laying out. And you can see whether working with our GPS measuring equipment is something for you.
Of course, when you try or buy one of our GPS measuring systems, you will receive a short and clear explanation, so that you can get started right away.
If you would like a demonstration first, you can also request one via the pages mentioned above. During a demonstration or a brief explanation you can also ask specific questions about measuring and plotting.
Demo inplannen? Dat kan via whats!
