| There are many applications where optical survey | | | | for conducting a dig. |
| equipment is being used today. Some of these | | | | This saves a good deal of money. It is not |
| are more commonly known than others. Most | | | | profitable to dig where there is only a slight |
| people know that surveys are done for land | | | | possibility of comprehensive discoveries. There is |
| boundary disputes, but this technology is also used | | | | more chance at success when the research is |
| when archeologists are planning a dig. This is also | | | | conducted fully and this is done by using the aid |
| used for crime scene or accident investigations. | | | | of optical equipment as well as other types of |
| When natural disasters strike, insurance companies | | | | land survey equipment. The satellites have |
| will require a building survey in order to pay off a | | | | advanced these technologies even further making |
| claim. | | | | researching probable dig sites much more |
| Total stations or the EMD, electrical measuring | | | | effective. |
| device, is the most commonly used measuring | | | | Police officers are now using GPS equipment to |
| equipment that is used by these surveyors. | | | | pinpoint exact locations that crimes have taken |
| These surveying instruments come with | | | | place. This can also be used for exact |
| computers and the software to run them so that | | | | measurements when bodies are found buried in |
| data can be easily stored. This reduced the | | | | remote locations. It makes it easier for the |
| chance of human error when inputting data. Once | | | | officers to plot out the path taken by the |
| it is electronically recorded, it can be transferred | | | | criminals. In previous decades, this was all done by |
| to a laptop computer onsite to give the most | | | | leg work and other types of survey equipment. |
| exacting details of the survey. | | | | Many times when a hurricane, tornado or |
| These data collectors have become the most | | | | earthquake disrupts the foundation of buildings, a |
| important piece of survey equipment in the | | | | building survey will need to be conducted in order |
| industry. When used in conjunction with GPS | | | | to determine the extent of damage. The |
| technologies, the surveyor can produce an even | | | | insurance companies will have these done before |
| more precise report. This is vital in cases where | | | | they will pay on a claim. This will also determine |
| land boundaries are hotly disputed between two | | | | the repairs that are needed before the home can |
| parties. | | | | be occupied again. |
| The GPS optical survey equipment can be used | | | | Optical survey equipment is used in more |
| by archeologists to pin point exact areas of | | | | applications that simply mapping out land. It is used |
| excavation. Satellites can now offer infrared | | | | by professions that are not necessarily commonly |
| x-rays of land which can determine whether or | | | | known to use these surveying instruments. With |
| not the area contains any buried objects or | | | | the advances in technologies, it much easier and |
| structural foundations. The site is pinpointed by | | | | quicker to get a full survey conducted than it was |
| GPS and this allows the archeologists to save | | | | just a decade or two ago. |
| time when deciding if a site is a good candidate | | | | |