Real Time Kinematic (RTK) Surveying Guidelines

Over the past decade Real Time Kinematic (RTK) surveying with Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) has become common practice in geomatics. RTK surveying can allow people to achieve relative positioning with centimetre (cm) precision, however there are several important factors that need to be considered and thus a need for a good guide of best practices …

Precise Point Positioning GPS Processing

Sometimes when doing GPS field work I will often require a way to double check my own GPS Processing work or am sometimes too far from an active control network to tie into. Using Precise Point Positioning (PPP) service in these situations has often come to my aid, especially on jobs in Nunavut or in Northern Ontario
The Canadian Geodetic Service provides a free online global GPS processing service called CSRS-PPP, where you can process files containing RINEX observations from either a single or dual frequency receiver in either static or kinematic modes. The service is free but does require that you sign up to obtain a username and password to gain access.

UTM Zones in Google Earth

UTM zones in Google Earth

Here is a neat little Google Earth file that has often been helpful on many of my field trips when I needed to know what UTM zone I was working in. Just open the file in Google Earth, then point and click your location to get info on that time zone. Before I found this neat little resource I was using a large JPG image that showed the zones witch I have available here.

I originaly found this file on Google but have not been able to find the original download source (have found other versions) so you here you can download my working copy here .


Every now and then I come across some little utilities that help to make things easier while working in the field and these pages are mainly my way of sharing them with others while creating a go-to place where I can easily find them when I need them. If you know of any other mapping related utilities like this then let me know and I may include it here on my site with the others.

Solar Elevation Angle Calculators

Solar elevation angle is the altitude of the sun, an important factor to consider when planning airborne data collection. Here is a handy tool that I use …

Leica Total Station (TCR1105) User Guide

While doing my graduate LIDAR research work at the AGRG we were often tasked with writing user guides for the equipment that we purchased to help others in the group know how to use it. Here is a user guide for the Leica Total Station (TCR1105) that covers the basic information about the unit itself and the equipment found in the case, how to prepare for the survey in the office, details about the user interface, how to operate the unit, and how to export the data after the survey.

Surveying with the Leica Total Station (TCR1105)

Total stations combine a number of technologies to achieve remarkable accuracy and reliability. The first, an extension of traditional transits and theodolites, is the ability to …