Course Overview

This course is designed to give junior surveyors, engineers and personnel in the surveying and construction industry a good grounding in the principles and practical application of levelling for both Topographical Survey and for Setting Out.

The course is aimed at students with little or no previous experience of using levelling equipment.

The course includes the observing, calculation and checking of levelling runs using the ‘Height of Collimation’ method of booking as well as checking the equipment.

Field practical exercises are used to back up the theory learned in the classroom.

An automatic optical level, manually booked is used for all exercises.

A basic knowledge of the use of calculators for addition/subtraction, multiplication/division and square roots prior to coming on the course would be an advantage.

Summary of main topics covered by the course:

• Introduction and Health and Safety (when using a level & staff)
• Background to levelling and levelling theory
• Reading the staff and booking the readings
• Class exercise; Booking and reducing levelling by Height of collimation
• Practical field levelling exercise – Practice in reading and booking
• Sources of error in levelling and acceptable closures
• Two peg test and adjustment of the instrument theory
• Two peg test field practical – Instrument check
• Use of Intermediate sights & Inverted readings – Theory
• Practical field levelling exercise practical covering topo detail levelling
• Using Benchmarks.
• Setting out levels for Site datum – (Establishing a TBM)
• Settling out levels for profiles – Theory & Practical exercise
• Rise and fall booking theory (overview)
• Use of digital levels (overview)
• Review, questions and close

At the end of the course students receive a certificate of attendance/completion and can follow this with the 3 day total station course to further develop their knowledge and skills.

Book your place now by emailing us at office@surveyschool.org.uk or ringing on 01905 26329.

Download the course overview: 2 Day Levelling

Terms and conditions: TSA Short course Terms and Conditions

Course Overview

This course is designed to give Junior Surveyors, engineers and personnel in the surveying and construction proffesion a good grounding in how to use modern total stations and is aimed at new recruits or staff who have little or no experience of using modern total stations.

Please Note:  – a separate 2 day levelling course is also available.

The course covers best practice in the use of total stations for both basic detail surveying and setting out and is applicable to candidates working in either the surveying or the construction industries.  Practical exercises back up the theory learned in the classroom.

The Total Station will be used to measure angles and distances, also to store measurements and co-ordinates to be downloaded to a computer for mapping, and checking against required measurements.  The course is taught with a Manual (Non Robotic) instrument, to give students confidence in accurate pointing.

Hand calculations are kept to a minimum, but a knowledge of mathematics and the use of the scientific calculator prior to coming on the course would be an advantage.

Summary of main topics covered by the course:

• Introduction and Health & Safety (Using a total station)
• Horizontal and vertical angles Total station – angle measurement theory
• Total station – distance measurement theory
• Total station – setting up and using the instrument and Target.
• Practical field exercise familiarising with the Total Station
• Menu system – creating a job – entering co-ordinates
• Slope, horizontal distances and Height Difference Reduction (in the Instrument)
• Practical field exercise measuring targets with the Total Station
• Prism constants and atmospheric settings and Non Prism reflector less measurements
• Introduction to co-ordinates and how to stablish a new station from a base line.
• Using known stations, and back sights, for orientation,
• Observing, downloading and plotting of field surveyed points – Field exercise
• Resection and free-station Programs
• Menu system – setting out
• Field practice setting out by co-ordinates
• Menu system – overview of other functions (such as reference line, remote height, tie distance and area.)
• Review, questions and close

At the end of the course students receive a certificate of attendance/completion.

Book your place now by emailing us at office@surveyschool.org.uk or ringing on 01905 26329.

Download the course overview: 3 Day Total Stations

Terms and conditions: TSA Short course Terms and Conditions

AutoCAD for Surveying

This 2-day course, run in association with Technical BIM Studio, is specifically aimed at new and current AutoCAD users in the geospatial profession. It ranges from understanding the basic AutoCAD environment to working with client/architectural drawings that may need scaling, grid rotation and fitting etc.

Course Summary

AutoCAD Basics

• Understand AutoCAD Environment & how to use the toolbar.
• Project set-up and templates
• Layer Management, Inserting Drawing, Blocks & Xrefs.
• Annotation & viewport scale

Working with Survey Data

• Understanding UCS and Coordinate system
• Control line visibility
• Topography digitisation from dxf
• Scale & grid rotations
• Finding measurements – area and distances

Working with backdrops

• Methods for converting paper drawings to AutoCAD.
• Importing and working with Raster Images
• Turning off the frame, adjusting quality, and controlling transparency
• Importing a PDF file
• Scaling & Osnaps with PDFs
• Controlling a PDF display
• Importing a PDF as an AutoCAD drawing
• Reconstructing imported SHX fonts

Documentation

• Sheet Layout and Title Blocks
• Scaling & adding a scale bar.
• Exporting and printing – to PDF, plotter etc.

Classes are limited to a maximum of 6 students.

Book your place now by emailing us at office@surveyschool.org.uk or ringing on 01905 26329.

Download the course overview: 2-Day AutoCAD for Surveying

Terms and conditions: TSA Short course Terms and Conditions

In association with Sygma Solutions Ltd

Course Agenda

Day 1

• Overview of utility networks – Operatives will learn about utility networks i.e. “from
  power station to plug”. Explanation on how electricity/gas/water/communication etc.,
  gets to our homes/businesses. Different cable/pipe types, materials, connectivity etc.
  Classroom.
• Surveying Methodology & Types – How to undertake a typical utility survey, where to
  start and why, incorporating PAS 128 process flowchart & TSA Guidance Notes for
  Utility Surveys – Classroom.
• Utility (STAT’s) Plans – Conventions, variations, abbreviations & meanings –
  Operatives will study a wide variety of different plans. PAS 128 Survey Type D will be
  discussed – Classroom.
• Locating without a locator – Operatives will draw the assumed route of buried services
  onto a blank base plan & compare their findings with STATs plans – Site/Classroom.

Day 2

• Operatives will undertake a PAS 128 Survey Type C Site Reconnaissance/TSA Utility
  Survey Level 2 – Site/Classroom
• Basic Electrical Theory – Operatives will learn about electrical circuits with a “back to
  basics” practical approach using bulbs, wires, batteries, magnets etc – Classroom.
• Electromagnetic (EM) Theory – Understanding how an EM locator works, how to and
  where to apply a signal, limitations etc – Classroom
• Legislation/Health & Safety requirements/implications – Very brief overview of HSG47
  Classroom.

Day 3

• Radiodetection RD4000/8000, Vivax v-Loc Pro specific information – Understanding
  correct use/application of different frequencies, distorted magnetic fields, depth,
  current, Current Direction CD (Signal Direction SD), deep sonde location technique,
  Passive signals/limitations etc – Classroom.
• Operatives will learn PAS 128 Detection Methods (Normative) Methods M1 – M4
  EML/TSA Survey Level 3 EML – Classroom/Site.
• Radiodetection RD4000/8000, Vivax v-Loc Pro Operation – Operatives will use EML
  in active & passive modes to locate buried services at the same survey site to allow
  comparison between “Locating without a locator”, Stats Plans and actual findings –
  Site.

Day 4

• Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) Theory – Operatives will learn the theory of how
  GPR works, what the settings & controls do, different ground conditions and view
  “real world” examples – Classroom.
• Operatives will learn PAS 128 Detection Methods (Normative) Methods M1 – M4
  EML/TSA Survey Level 3 GPR (Non Post Processing) – Classroom/Site.
• Ground Penetrating Radar Operation – Operatives will use the GPR to locate a variety
  of buried utilities in different situations – Site.

Day 5

• Practical Operational Test – Two man team to survey small site area without STATs
  plans but using all methods learned including – “Locating without a locator”, Surveying
  Methodology, RD4000/8000/v-Loc Pro & GPR, providing rough sketch of locations &
  depths. Operatives will show compliance with PAS 128 indicating quality level B1 – B4
  (non post processing).
• Use of equipment and methodologies will be observed and proof of location will be
  demonstrated to the examiner(s). Any buried utilities not located which the
  examiner(s) can prove was locatable will equate to a 5% reduction for each
  occurrence in overall exam score – Site.
• Written Exam – Operatives will sit a written exam under exam conditions. The exam
  will include a combination of graphical and written questions – An overall pass mark of
  70% is required to successfully complete the course – Classroom.
  Course requirements:
• Appropriate PPE for working in quiet roads & footpaths.
• Specific Electromagnetic (EM/EML) &/or GPR equipment as required (Radiodetection
  RD4000/8000, Vivax v-Loc Pro & Mala Easy Locator will available for operatives to
  use on site).
• Operatives may prefer to use their own/other manufacturer’s equipment,
  please ensure they bring this equipment with them.

Additional:

Attendees can take the Level 3 certificate in Utility Mapping and Surveying (QCF) alongside this (this is an additional fee for non-TSA Members).

Book your place now by emailing us at office@surveyschool.org.uk or ringing on 01905 26329.

Download the course overview: Utility Mapping Sygma Five Day Course

Terms and conditions: TSA Short course Terms and Conditions

Course Overview

This course is designed to give surveyors and engineers a good grounding in the principles and practical application of site surveying, using a total station and a level and staff.  (Note GNSS practical usage is not a part of this course).

The course is aimed at the assistant or junior surveyor who is starting to carry out their own small surveys and requires more theoretical and practical training in ‘best practice’.

The course assumes that the student either has completed the Survey School’s 2 day levelling and 3 day Total Station courses or has experience of using both level and total station equipment.

Knowledge of mathematics and the use of the scientific calculator prior to coming on the course would be an advantage. The course includes calculation of co-ordinates and bearings and distances to enable the surveyor to establish and survey points of detail or check survey control together with the calculation and the adjustment of traverses.

The Total Station functions used include setting up the instrument for a job, orientation by known points, resection and the detail surveying programs in the instrument.

Practical exercises are used to back up the theory learned in the classroom. One of the main aims of this course is to teach how to establish control by traversing for topographical surveys.

Summary of main topics covered by the course:

• Introduction and Safe working on site
• Calculations – co-ordinates, angles, bearings, and basic trigonometry using a scientific calculator
•  Principles of survey control and sighting of control stations
•  Observing, booking and reducing, Horizontal angles, vertical angles and slope distances.
•  Practical surveying exercises – using a level and a total station
•  Resection – using a total station function
•  Traversing and Traverse calculations
•  Principles of traverse adjustment
•  Detail mapping using feature codes – on a total station
•  Uploading and Downloading of data – and processing in specialist Survey Software
•  Contouring from observed spot heights using specialist Survey Software
•  Cross Sections from field observations drawn in specialist Survey Software
•  Using some of the other total station functions such as Area calculation tie distance and remote height.
•  Required precision of observations and relation of detail to map scale (RICS spec)
•  The Ordnance Survey National Grid system and scale factor awareness
•  Review, questions and close

At the end of the course students receive a certificate of attendance/completion.

Book your place now by emailing us at office@surveyschool.org.uk or ringing on 01905 26329.

Download the course overview: 5 Day Surveying Course

Terms and conditions: TSA Short course Terms and Conditions

Reality Capture & Measured Survey Modelling for Surveyors

This course, run in association with Technical BIM Studio, takes a surveyor from having captured data on site, whether that be from laser scanning or measured survey and introducing such data into Revit, such that 3D models and 2D outputs can be generated, annotated and presented.

Course Summary

• A brief introduction to Revit.
• Revit’s user interface.
• Project setup.
• Point cloud data / measured survey data into Revit.
• Coordinate system.
• Modelling principles.
• Importing Survey data /Point cloud data into Revit
• Setting up Coordinates and Levels
• Controlling Object visibility
• Views, their creation, types and manipulation.
• Phasing
• Create Architectural, Structural and MEP elements from the Survey data/point cloud data
• Model Accuracy, Tolerance and Validation techniques
• Topography modelling.
• Annotation & dimensioning.
• Sheets & view placement
• Data export.

Each course will include up to 5 hours* (TSA member) & 2 hours* (non-member) post-course telephone technical support per attendee.

*Telephone technical support – Each support request can take up to 1 hour or longer. However, if the inquiry can be resolved in less than one hour this will count as 1 hour’s support.

Book your place now by emailing us at office@surveyschool.org.uk or ringing on 01905 26329.

Download the course overview: 2-Day Reality Capture – Revit Fundamentals

Terms and conditions: TSA Short course Terms and Conditions

Course Overview

This course is designed to give engineering graduates and personnel already working in the construction profession experience in the principles, calculations and practical application of site setting-out required for more complex setting-out conditions.  The week-long training gives insight into the application of both a level and staff and a total station such that the best methods are used for a variety of problems and complements the TSA Surveying Course Block 5.

Emphasis is put on making use of the many built-in functions of the Total Station.  Supporting survey software and spreadsheets are also used to speed up operation and efficiency on the site.  Students are given instruction on how any setting out might be checked and what can be done to guard against errors.

It is assumed that the delegates will have either completed our 2 day levelling and 3 day total station courses or have had at least six month’s site setting-out experience and be fully conversant with the use of the level and total station.

The delegate will be expected to have a good grasp of mathematics, and be familiar with their pocket calculator.  The course includes calculation of gradients, co-ordinates, bearings and distances to enable the engineer to calculate or check the required setting-out points from the given drawings.

Summary of main topics covered by the course:

• Introduction & Health and safety (using the equipment on site)
• Calculator functions, trigonometry, sine, cosine tangent and the use of Pythagoras’s theorem, to calculate bearing and distances.
• Levelling for control Measurement and datum’s.
• The Total Station – familiarisation instrument settings, prism constant and atmospheric corrections.  Setting up jobs, storing co-ordinates
• Awareness of instrument collimation error and knowing its effect
• Transfer of data between computer and instrument for setting out in the field
• Using Survey Drawing software and spreadsheets to help input data and check Setting out of as built points
• The Total Station – using the free-station (resection) and principles of site control
• Setting out by bearing and distance
• Setting out with the efficient use of the Reference Line
• Setting out by co-ordinates
• Calculation of gradients and setting out of drainage profiles
• Calculation of road cross-sections and setting-out batter-boards
• Setting out horizontal circular curves –Basic calculations
• Using the Ref Arc program for setting and checking radial arrays of points
• Course Review, questions and close.

At the end of the course students, receive a certificate of completion/attendance.

Book your place now by emailing us at office@surveyschool.org.uk or ringing on 01905 26329.

Download the course overview: 5 Day Advanced Setting Out

Terms and conditions: TSA Short course Terms and Conditions

Course Outline

The course offers a combination of background information and hands-on experience using a variety of functions presented by GNSS technology. The material is presented using a combination of Power Point presentation, discussions and practical workshops to capture the individual learning preferences of the participants.

1.    Coordinate System

To make any sense of the GNSS technology in use, an understanding of various coordinate systems is necessary. For example, what is WGS84 of ERTF89 and how does this relate to National Grid or any other map projection? Why do we have map projections anyway? These are some of the questions that will be answered in a simple to understand way.

2.    How does it work?

Here we go slightly beyond the “switching on of the Receiver” process and provide some background information on how the system works using GPS as the guiding technology. Once those workings become clear it is a simple step towards understanding certain operations and settings that are necessary to obtain the correct answers from the system.

3.    Kinematic Surveys

In this part we look more closely at the available Controller software and how to use the various functions. This part is mostly practical: exploring, using the example of Network RTK, how to carry out a Site Calibration or Localisation; how to perform a topographic survey and how to use the setting out functions. Performing Post Processing Kinematic surveys will also be covered.

4.    Static Surveys and Post Processing

A brief look at some processing software will enable the participants to download and process survey data, create files for uploading setting out data to the controller and briefly explore the static processing capability of the office software.

At the end of the course participants will receive all course material in a folder together with a certificate of completion.

Book your place now by emailing us at office@surveyschool.org.uk or ringing on 01905 26329.

Download the course overview: 2 Day GNSS Course

Terms and conditions: TSA Short course Terms and Conditions

Do you want to know how to plan, take and process high quality images to create accurate and detailed 3D models?

This three-day course covers photogrammetric techniques from both a theoretical and practical aspect. Led by a highly experienced tutor, in a small group setting, it provides teaching in the use of cameras and a hands-on processing experience. A high level of tutor/student interaction is possible as this course is never run with more than 6 delegates.

Those who are interested in how to maximise data collected from a small unmanned aircraft (SUA) should consider the two-day SUA Photogrammetry Course. This course contains no practical sessions but is packed with tips, advice and demonstrations on how to best exploit the imagery collected from the air.

Course Summary

Photogrammetry has undergone something of a renaissance in recent years resulting in TSA’s decision to run a quarterly short course on the topic. The demand for the course has arisen because of the recent introduction of more user friendly and semi-automated methods developed via a combination of computer vision algorithms and conventional photogrammetry.

The application of the new techniques has grown enormously due to:

• the low investment costs,
• general familiarity with photography,
• the increasing interest in the provision of 3D metric data for archaeological, architectural and engineering purposes and
• the use of small unmanned aircraft (SUAs) for survey and reconnaissance work.

The new technique uses image matching methods and off-the-shelf cameras for the production of geo-referenced point clouds that can be favourably compared to those produced by laser scanners. The use of SUAs for aerial survey of smaller sites is a fraction of the cost of conventional aircraft and the newer algorithms are perfect for the analysis of the many smaller and more randomly distributed images taken on an SUA project.

An example of a mid-range SUA carrying a video and a still camera.

Agisoft Photoscan photogrammetry software in use for the production of an architectural 3D model.

The course has been running since 2015 and is a teaching module with some practical exercises where resources allow. It covers:

• photographic methods and other field considerations
• conventional photogrammetry theory and applications
• plane and ortho rectification of imagery
• user orientated techniques now available in lower cost software (eg EOS Photomodeler Scanner, Bentley ContextCapture and Agisoft Photoscan) and their application
• the advantages and disadvantages compared to laser scanning
• specifying and commissioning projects
• case studies

The course extends over three days and includes six sessions of 2.5 hours each.

The same software showing a topographic 3D model and the distribution of the aerial images.

Book your place now by emailing us at office@surveyschool.org.uk or ringing on 01905 26329.

Download the course overview: Photogrammetry and DI Three Day Course Details

Terms and conditions: TSA Short course Terms and Conditions

Do you want to know how to plan and process your SUA (Small Unmanned Aircraft)/drone imagery to obtain quality survey output and a professional edge for your business and clients?

This two-day course is packed with advice on how to maximise the impact of data collected by your SUA. It will cover flight planning for optimum coverage and processing hints to ensure accurate data delivery. Led by a highly experienced tutor, students will explore the art of the possible using theory, workflows and case studies.

This course is lecture room based but with a maximum of twelve students to maintain a level of intimacy and interaction. It involves a mixture of presentations and software demonstrations.

Delegates who are interested in a broader scope to include terrestrial imagery and require hands-on experience of using cameras and photogrammetry software should attend the three-day Photogrammetry and Digital Imaging Course.

Course Summary

The use of SUA (Small Unmanned Aircraft) to collect data has rapidly increased in the last few years. Not only surveyors but engineers, archaeologists, environmentalists, conservationists and numerous other disciplines are exploiting the advantage of data collected by a small, agile, airborne platform.

Using SUAs for the aerial survey of smaller sites is a fraction of the cost of conventional aircraft and the newer software algorithms are perfect for the analysis of the many smaller and more randomly distributed images taken on an SUA project.

An example of a mid-range SUA carrying a video and a still camera.

A 3D city model and the distribution of the SUA aerial images – Agisoft Metashape software.

The course, which is new to the TSA Survey School in 2019, covers:

• Digital imaging – The quality of the raw data is fundamental to a successful project.  This section will focus on the requirements for producing the highest quality imagery and will include discussion on camera settings, lenses, field of view, resolution, distortion, ground sampling distance (GSD), coverage/overlap and photo-control.

• Photogrammetry theory and practice – A brief background to place today’s advances in context and a little theory to explain how the process works are the subjects of this session. It will include an explanation of the perspective effect of a camera’s central projection and how 3D data is produced from an orientated and overlapping series of 2D images both for stereo mapping and the modern multi-image software products.

• Workflow and outputs – With the emphasis on flight planning, field checking and quality control at each stage of the process the survey outputs available to the SUA user will be explained. These include photogrammetric point clouds, triangular surface meshes, textured 3D models, raster digital elevation models for GIS, orthophotography and 3D vector data collection.

• Software demonstration and case studies – Active demonstration of parts of the workflow using one or more software suites will help to crystallise the information learnt from the previous sessions. It will include a discussion of the settings available to improve the output, observation of control points for geo-referencing and a brief look at vector data collection in 3D. Case studies will be shown, some of which may stray outside of the SUA realm to demonstrate the flexibility of photogrammetry in supplementing the airborne data using terrestrial imagery.

The course extends over two days and includes four sessions of 2.5 hours each.

Book your place now by emailing us at office@surveyschool.org.uk or ringing on 01905 26329.

Download the course overview: SUA Photogrammetry Two Day Course

Terms and conditions: TSA Short course Terms and Conditions