Total Station vs. GNSS Receiver: Which is the Better Surveying Tool?

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Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:37 Total Station
3:41 GNSS Receiver
6:22 Disadvantages of Total Stations
7:32 Disadvantages of GNSS Receivers
8:39 Time Efficiency
10:03 Surveying with the GS18I
13:20 Accuracy Assessment

About Rami Tamimi:
As a Doctor of Philosophy student in Geodetic Engineering at The Ohio State University, my research focuses on the integration of traditional field surveying and civil design with advanced geospatial technologies such as LiDAR and photogrammetry. With over a decade of experience in the land development industry, I am continually seeking opportunities to enhance my education and professional skills in order to sustain a successful career in this field.

#Surveying #TotalStation #GNSS

[receiverzz]

Salute for your hard work to teach the beginners like me who is pursuing career in surveying. Thank you very much

[highlight]

Great video Rami, I did a masters in civil engineering during COVID but unfortunately due to remote teaching the Geomatics module was not available (the only module I was really interested in) I genuinely believe your channel has taught me more than that course module ever would have. So thank you.

[lztoniolo]

Nice video Rami! Please, make a video on how to work with Total Station and GNSS measurements in the same project: how to convert grid distances to ground distances: finding an avarage combined scale factor for the entire site, using GNSS calibration, etc.? Which method would you use to start a surveying with GNSS and then use a total station on the same job? What are the best practices for site calibration for rounded areas and linear projects and how do you survey out of this calibration? If you could make a video about this subject would be awesome!
7:30 You metioned that total station takes distances in Grid system, but wouldn't be in Ground? GNSS makes the measurements in Grid (ellipsoid - 3D surface) distances and you need to convert to ground (2D plane - flattened earth) no? Plus, in the end of video, comparing the total station to GNSS distances you wouldn't get the same coordinates and distances to points unless you apply a combined scale factor to total station to reduce or amplify the distances, deppending of the place you're located in UTM grid. So for small places and not so high altitudes, you would observe some few cm of difference no? Thanks!

[jjnxyz]

The one major advantage of a GNSS receiver is that the accuracy, while dependent on the distance from the CORS base stays the same over distance. While GPS is slightly more inaccurate over a single shot, you can expect compounding errors on properties that require you to move your TS.

For instance on a long road or an already build apartment complex you might have to set the TS on A and measure to B and then set the TS on B and measure to C... the inaccuracy in the TS as well as user error (prism slightly unlevel, IMU's generally not nearly as accurate as a straight prism etc.) compounds from shot to shot. While a GPS usually will have a similar accuracy on every shot taken.

Another thing to consider is the ease of use of the software, after using SurvPC I find it hard to use SurveyPro or Access. The layout is just not as easy to use and well thought out. A lot of older brands seem to want to stick with bad menu designs because existing users are used to them, for instance Leica software on a TS is easier to use then Sokkia for the most part.

[gabbothis]

Great video. I might have missed it, but I didn’t see where you mentioned the need for a mobile phone connection when using a CORS system. Can be a problem in some remote areas.

[rodrigosuarezcastano]

GNSS is so much more time efficient, and keeping in mind that you're doing RTK only, It would be interesting to see a PPK with about 5 minutes of readings per point and compare that with a total station.
Great video as always, I'm about to perform my first surveys next week using a GNSS reciever, and your videos have been a great first insight on how to hopefully make everything work out, keep up the good content!

[shelbyh.griggs]

GS18i, yes! I have had one for about two years, use the tilt and the camera both when needed. Just surveyed GCP for a manned flight, hitting vertical control within about a cm, about same horizo
ntal on existing NGS points in the area. For ANY GNSS, always have a redundant (repeat) measurements on your control. I have picked photo ID points that agree with static at about the 3cm level, pretty amazing for just walking by collecting a series of photos and that is with a RTN, not local base.

[travislawrence]

That camera feature on the GNSS receiver is pretty cool. Considering using equipment like this is more of a hobby I'll stick with my Emlid, though. Might not be able to afford Leica but I can still look at it fondly.

[KSISurvey]

You want to rethink your comment on the total station being "grid" distances? GNSS operates on coordinate systems that convert lat/long to grid. The only way to compute ground distances from GNSS data is to compute the horizontal and vertical combined scale factor. Since the total station is set up on the earth, every distance it takes is a ground distance.

[darrylmccall]

Nice one Rami...some colleagues and I were just "discussing " this topic.

[tadamb]

I could (and will) add... Those sexy Leica receivers really are the best on the market. If you have deep pockets, go for it! But if you're new to the business and on a tight budget, the Emlid receivers are shockingly reliable and accurate. I can't tell that our Topcon HiPer VRs are ANY more accurate than our Emlid gear. Really. No lie. Get a pair of Emlid RX2+s so you can set up a local base, and pair that with Carlson Layout on an Android tablet. That makes for a very powerful and super economical setup. Highly recommended.

[simoncraw]

GNSS are horribly unreliable around buildings even when they tell you they have good accuracy. It is often not the case.

[authoronauthorinterviews]

Hey Rami, could you make a video about how GIS and land surveying are relatable? I've completed my undergraduate in surveying and am doing a masters in GIS. I would love to see people working as geomaticians, combining both of these fields for the spatial sciences.

[shemakalinda]

Nice and interesting video Rami, thanks for your hard work

[cadethompson]

Great video! I bet if you would have used a base station instead of VRS, your vertical accuracy for the GPS would have been around .05', instead of .1'.

[ingedgarv]

Total Stations measures Ground distances at 1 scale factor. It is GNSS that measures grid distances, like utm. Actually, when you try to match the distance in softwares like Field Genius, it increases de SF to match Total Stations distances.

[geocentrictruth]

Hello Rami, I would like to congratulate you with all the awesome videos you are producing with these great devices to further the science on these surveying devices... I have question, is there any ways you can produce a video on why a total station will show a higher center point when standing for example by the beach and pointing at the horizon it will mark a location that is higher than the horizon? Is there a way you can explain the science behind this regarding your total station.

[jlock]

Hey Rami, thanks for the great video. How did the 3D coords of the FF elevation at your back door compare between the total station and the GNSS receiver? Was the elevation accurate? Thanks again! Amazing technology!

[ihd-]

While a total station is more accurate in measuring the GNSS is more accurate over a larger area. For instance, if you traverse your way around surveying a 20 acre property with a total station you can expect to see error from your traverse line when checking back into your starting point where the GNSS doesn’t have that problem. Also, if I need to locate a structure or around a structure I prefer the total station because I don’t have to worry about multipath and it’s convenient to locate buildings reflectorless with the total station.

[gilbertocosta]

Hi, congrats excellent tutorial! Do you know what are the external radios compatible to Emlid Reach RS2?