This command enables points on both vertical and non-vertical planes to be coordinated by angle-only observations. This feature is most often used to pick up details of a building where the prism cannot be placed. You first establish the plane, then take angle-only observations for features such as windows.
The building face is defined by observing three accessible points on the building or by entering their known coordinates. After angle-only observations are made, SurvCE then calculates and stores coordinates of the angle intersection observation with the plane. You can use SurvCE to survey the vertical face of a building or other vertical planes.
Vertical Plane Survey
The Define Plane dialog can be accessed by selecting the Grid/Face option from the SURVEY tab of the main menu.
Existing point IDs can be entered into the Point ID field. These points must be defined by coordinate data. As soon as you enter the point ID, press enter and the coordinates will appear in the Northing, Easting, and Elevation fields. Existing points can be selected from a points list by selecting the Point List icon. Highlight the desired point and press enter or tap OK.
Existing points can be selected from the map screen by selecting the map icon. To select a point, tap it on the screen. If two or more points are close together on the screen, you will be asked to select the intended point from the point list.
Lastly, the points can be taken with the total station by pressing Read.
After you have specified the two defining points for the building face plane, SurvCE will determine the available solution. One of the following messages will be displayed in the dialog box.
Press OK, and the following dialog will appear. The building face or vertical plane is drawn as a solid line, and any measurement taken by angle only reading (eg. angle right of 270, zenith angle of 83 degrees), will plot as a point with calculated x,y,z position, such as point 20.
Non-Vertical Plane Survey
Surveying a non-vertical plane is similar to surveying a vertical plane. Once the plane has been defined, picking up detailed observations follows the same general process detailed above. All three points must be defined for a non-vertical plane survey. When defining a non-vertical plane, the three points cannot be in a line.