| The first step to conducting a proper land survey | | | | The Seco Tilting Triple Prism assembly can hold |
| is gathering the right equipment for the job. No | | | | one, two or three prisms at once, allowing for |
| matter whether you're measuring a property line | | | | even more accurate measurements than a single |
| for a fence, vertical lines for a skyscraper or | | | | prism device. It is encased in orange |
| mapping a riverbed prior to a dredging operation, | | | | polycarbonate with metal inserts and an aluminum |
| it is vital to have the right equipment for the job. | | | | yoke, which make this a very sturdy device that |
| Here is a comparative analysis of the various | | | | can stand up to the elements and will last for |
| prism sets available through | | | | years with proper care. The prism assembly is |
| The primary tool a land surveyor uses is a total | | | | compatible with most screw-in prisms, and it |
| station. This device sits atop a tripod and emits an | | | | comes equipped with a peep sight that allows the |
| infrared beam that is intercepted by a prism fixed | | | | surveyor to accurately point the holder toward |
| on top of a pole. Proper land surveys usually | | | | the infrared beam. |
| require two people to operate the equipment: one | | | | Topcon makes many surveying products including |
| to hold the pole carrying the prism, and one to | | | | data collectors and total stations, so it's no |
| operate the total station and collect data from | | | | surprise that this company offers several |
| Global Positioning Systems. When the data is | | | | different options for prisms as well. The Topcon |
| collected and entered into a computer, a | | | | prism assembly comes encased in heavy-duty |
| specialized program can calculate the area of | | | | plastic to offset damage if dropped or jostled. |
| survey to within a few millimeters. | | | | The zero-constant prism features precision-ground |
| Surveyors have several options when choosing a | | | | glass with a 60 millimeter effective diameter. It |
| prism set to compliment their total station. | | | | also comes equipped with a prism holder for |
| The CST single prism assembly comes encased in | | | | long-distance horizontal measurements. The |
| a lightweight but rugged polycarbonate container, | | | | Topcon prism features a striped sighting pole for |
| so it won't break easily in the field. The CST | | | | easy spotting by the data collector. This model |
| model is used with a brightly painted red and | | | | does not tilt, but it can be inverted to house a 30 |
| white sighting pole to allow for quick sighting in | | | | millimeter prism. |
| long-distance surveys. | | | | |