GI-Profesional Especializado

Position: 51 (GI-38) Profesional Especializado 9th Apr, 2021 Like
The following curated scenarios illustrate that questionable practices in surveying often stem from attempts to save time or reduce workload. Yet, in the high-precision field of land surveying, such shortcuts rarely pay off. The impacts resonate beyond the immediate project, influencing reputations, future job prospects, and even entire professional networks. In an industry where meticulous detail and credibility are invaluable, surveyors must remember that every decision today can affect their standing tomorrow.

But before we begin, here is a deep dive audio podcast about the subject pping Angles  History and Reasoning  Wrapping angles is a technique that dates back to the use of repeating theodolites. The purpose was to distribute potential errors across multiple readings, reducing the impact of human error in manually reading scales. The practice involved carrying the lower scale to the backsight, spreading out errors by making several observations, which was necessary before the advent of modern total stations.

Real-World Example  In a large urban development project, a surveyor was tasked with high-precision work near existing structures. Adhering to outdated municipal standards, they wrapped angles using an electronic total station, simulating the traditional method. This approach led to unnecessary complexity, time delays, and did not significantly improve precision. The delays impacted the project timeline, demonstrating that some traditional methods, though historically effective, may no longer be necessary with today’s technology.

Unadjusted Control  Detailed Explanation and Impact  The practice of leaving control points unadjusted, even when they fall within acceptable survey closure tolerances, is grounded in the idea that minimal discrepancies won’t significantly affect the outcome. Historically, this mindset may have been suitable for less exacting work, like rural land boundary surveys. But in today’s high-stakes projects—like constructing skyscrapers, bridges, or other critical infrastructure—even slight deviations in control can cause cascading problems.  

For instance, consider a coastal city high-rise construction project where surveyors set up control points around the site. The initial closure fell within acceptable limits, so the team opted to forgo further adjustments, assuming any errors would remain negligible. Months later, as the building’s steel framework reached higher levels, a secondary survey exposed discrepancies between control points. The building’s vertical alignment was slightly off, leading to issues in connecting pre-fabricated structural elements.

These inconsistencies required rework on several floors, delaying the project timeline, increasing labor costs, and wasting materials.  Such a situation doesn’t just impact the current project. The decision not to adjust control points might haunt surveyors on future projects as well. A reputation for unadjusted or “sloppy” control data could lead to mistrust among engineering and construction partners, who may choose more meticulous survey teams for high-stakes work.

In a field where accuracy and reliability are paramount, overlooking precision in control can tarnish a surveyor’s career.  Moreover, advanced monitoring technologies used in modern construction (like laser scanning and GPS) have exposed these control-related inconsistencies more readily. Surveyors who rely on outdated or unchecked control methods might find themselves frequently overruled by project managers who demand greater accuracy, potentially losing valuable contracts in competitive markets.  

Reading Angles on One Face  Detailed Explanation and Impact  The practice of reading angles on only one face of a theodolite was traditionally discouraged because it could introduce systematic errors—especially if the instrument’s trunnion axis is slightly misaligned. By measuring angles on both the direct and reverse faces, surveyors could cancel out these errors. Today, even with high-tech instruments that claim to minimize such discrepancies, relying solely on one-face readings can still introduce inaccuracies, particularly in uneven or…