Best Accessories for Survey Equipment

Having the right accessories for your survey equipment can improve its capabilities and will make your job much easier. Not only will it save you a great deal of time, but it will also save you money. Having a good set of batteries and chargers are obvious choices, but there are other items you can use to boost your productivity on the job site. It doesn’t mean that having them is less important, because the last thing you want is to get to a job site and realize that you can’t do anything because your batteries haven’t been properly charged. You always want to make sure your batteries are well maintained, properly stored, and have a sufficient amount of charge. In some situations, it’s a good idea to have some spare batteries and chargers in case something goes wrong or missing.

Common Types of Survey Equipment

Surveyors need to make accurate measurements of a specific area, and they use a variety of precision tools to help them do it. Some of the most common survey instruments include the following:

• Theodolite— This tool has a telescope that can be moved on both the horizontal and vertical axes, so it can be lined up with a measuring stake.
• Transit Level— This optical instrument or telescope has a built-in spirit level and can be mounted to a tripod.
• Automatic Level— This instrument has an optical compensator that keeps a specific line of sight or line of collimation, even if it has been slightly tilted.
• Total Station— This tool combines the functionality of a theodolite with other features you can find on an auto level or electronic distance meter (EDM).
• Electronic Distance Meter (EDM) — This tool uses light waves and radio signals to measure distance.

Most surveying tools are used to calculate the angles and distances between points. They do this by collecting certain types of data about these points. Theodolites and transit levels can be used to measure angles, while chains and tapes can be used to calculate distance.

Other Common Accessories for Survey Equipment

While batteries are useful accessories for your survey instruments, there are other survey supplies that can help you with your work. Receivers are good to use with a laser level, because it can help you to find a laser beam over a larger work area or when the light is too bright. It’s clamped into a secure position, so you can get more accurate results. And to do this, you’ll also need a bracket. You want to make sure you have enough of both these items when you’re at a job site, and one of the best ones you can use is the Leica Rod Eye 180 Digital RF Bracket.

This receiver works at the top of the range and has integrated radio remote functionality. It also has a digital readout, has millimeter accuracy, and comes with strobe rejection. The intelligence that’s inside the Laserman can automatically align your laser plane at the touch of a button — whether it’s horizontal, vertical, or dual-axis. You can even monitor the laser plane in real time with the Smart Lock. Some of the other features of this receiver include:

• Smart Target— Automatically catches and monitors the slope with radio communication.
• Digital Readout— Has large numbers that are clear and easy to read.
• Capture Function— Allows you to store and display a measurement.
• LCD Indication— Has two large graphic displays on the front and back of the receiver.
• Audio Indication— Has four audio settings (which can go up to 110 dB for noisy jobs).
• Units of Measure— Digital information is displayed above and below grade in millimeters, inches, fractions of an inch, and or feet.
• Versatile Rod Bracket— A rugged rod clamp makes sure it can be mounted to a grade rod.

Another important accessory for your survey equipment is a tripod. It has a simple design, but it can be incredibly useful. And if you’re using lasers, levels, or total stations, it’s an absolute must. A tripod will keep your survey instruments steady, which will make sure you get the most accurate results. Leveling staffs can also be helpful if you’re using a surveyor’s level, because it will allow you to measure differences in elevation.

One of the best tripods is the Seco’s Birchwood/Fiberglass Quick Clamp Hybrid Tripod, which has the following features:

• A combination of hardwood legs and fiberglass dowels.
• A large aluminum head and leg hinges.
• Double-banded extension legs.
• A large positive-locking quick clamp with large quick-release clamps.
• Powder-coated metal hardware that’s resistant to wear.
• An aluminum shoe with hardened steel replaceable shoe points.
• A plastic head cap for added protection.
• A heavy-duty poly-webbing shoulder strap for easier carrying to and from the job site.

In addition to a good tripod, it’s also good to use a tribrach with your survey equipment. It’s an attachment plate you can use to secure the instrument to your tripod. Tribrachs play an important role getting the most accurate measurements possible because it can provide torsional rigidity. Any tribrach you use must be able to withstand the harsh and rugged conditions of a construction site, so you want to make sure it’s of the highest quality.

If you use survey equipment in your work, it can also be helpful to have the following accessories:

• Surveying Prism— A corner cube or retroreflector that’s typically attached to a survey pole and can be used as a target for distance measurement.
• Prism Pole— Can be used to measure the elevation of the existing ground but can also be used in combinations with a survey level (such as an automatic level, transit level, or laser level) to measure grade.

In addition to these useful accessories, there are a number of survey supplies that can help you with your work. Some of them include but may not be limited to:

• Cables
• Carriers
• Containers and bags
• Range poles
• Reflective targets
• Survey books
• Survey nails
• Marking flags
• Safety vests
• Eyepieces

You can also find a number of GPS/GNSS accessories you can use with your survey equipment, which can include any of the following items:

• Antennae
• Adapters
• Brackets
• Poles
• Cables
• Carriers
• Batteries
• Memory cards

There’s also software that can help you with any number of surveying and engineering applications, as well as a number of data storage solutions (such as USB memory sticks and flashcards). This can be good for meeting any data logging requirements. It can also eliminate the frustration of losing important and expensive data at the end of the day.

If you’re looking for one of the best places to buy accessories for your survey instruments, you can find what you need at Engineer Supply. We have a variety of survey supplies that can help you be more productive on the job site, and we can offer them to you at a competitive price. All of our survey equipment and accessories come from some of the best manufacturers in the industry, so you can be sure to get a product that’s of the highest quality. Feel free to look at what we have in our inventory, so you can find a tool that will meet your specific needs.

Frequently Asked Questions