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The SURPAC Topographical Module Applications

[ This module requires SURPAC Lite to run]

General Observation File Loading/Editing
  • This is one of the core programmes in SURPAC, as it the primary interface between the Surveyor’s field work and the calculation and/or draughting applications within the software.
  • Data in an Observation File are required to be in the observation mode, viz:
    • Point Name
    • Point Description Code
    • Observation Code
    • Horizontal Angle
    • Vertical Angle (If 0°, 90°, 180° or 270°, then the Distance given must be the Horizontal Distance)
    • Slope Distance
    • Instrument Height
    • Target Height
  • The Point Description Code is a simple value, 1 through 9, which allows the selected application to identify the function of each Data Line in the Observation file, and to apply the appropriate action.
  • Data input into an Observation File is by either :-
    • Direct Downloading from a Total Station or an Electronic Logger,
      • The currently supported Total Stations and/or Electronic Loggers are:
        • The Psion Organiser using the “Handi-Data Solutions Booker Ver 5” software,
        • The Psion Workabout, using the “Handi-Data Solutions Booker Ver 6” software,
        • The Leica/Wild GIF10 data logger,
        • The Leica TC 605/805/905 Series Total Station,
        • The Leica TCR 303/305/307 Series Total Station,
        • The Nikon DTM-400 Series Total Station,
        • The Nikon NPL-300/350/500/800 Series Total Station,
        • The Pentax PCS-300/R-300 Series Total Station,
        • The Pentax W-825NX Series Total Station,
        • The Sokkia SET2C/SET3C Series Total Station,
        • The Sokkia SET2100/SET3100/SET4100 Series Total Station,
        • The Sokkia SET2110/SET3110/SET4110 Series Total Station,
        • The Sokkia SET300/ SET500/ SET600 Total Station,
        • The Topcon GTS-200/210 Series Total Station,
        • The Topcon GTS-500/700 Series Total Station.
        • The Topcon GPT-3000 Series Total Station.
        • The Topcon GPT-3100 Series Total Station.

    • Downloading from a variety of ASCII file formats,

    • Copying from the Windows Clipboard,

    • Importing from another SURPAC Observation File, or

    • by Manual Data entry

  • The following SURPAC applications use data extraction from a User selected Observation File:

  • Mass Polar reductions, or individual Polar reductions,

    • Reverse Polar reductions,

    • “Two Sides and the included Angle” reductions,

    • Tacheometric reductions,

    • Field Traverse calculations,

    • Least Squares Adjustment of Single Point Fixes [Y, X, Z] (or [E, N, H]),

    • Least Squares Adjustment of [Y, X] (or [E, N]) Networks,

    • Least Squares Adjustment of Trigonometrical Height Networks,

    • Mining “Double Set-Up” Peg Fixing,

    • Mining “Double Button” Peg Fixing,

    • Mining Off-Set (direct and/or indirect) reductions.

  • Once an Observation File has been generated, various editing/printing functions are available, such as:

  • Manually modifying, or Deleting, Data Lines,

    • Using the Windows “Cut and Paste” to move blocks of Data around the File,

    • Manually Adding or Inserting new Data Lines,

    • Meaning multiple Point sightings within a Set Up,

    • Auto-detecting any Code inconsistencies in the File,

    • Applying a User selected factor to Distances and/or Target Heights,

    • Changing the “Active” status for individual observations, or Set Ups. The “Active” status of a Data Line determines whether or not that Line is used in a called application,

    • Printing the Observation File in “Raw” format,

    • Printing the Observation File in “Field Book” format,

    • Creating an ASCII file of the Data,

    • Sending the Data to the Windows Clipboard.

       

Level Observation File Loading/Editing
  • This programme Loads and/or Edits Level Observation Files, which are used for input Data in the Level Network Least Squares Adjustment Programme.
  • Level Observation File Data are required to be in the format :-
    • Point Name
    • Left Back Sight
    • Left Fore Sight
    • Right Back Site (Optional, only used for precision Levelling)
    • Right Fore Site (Optional, only used for precision Levelling)
  • The Point Description Code is a simple value, 1 through 9, which allows the selected application to identify the function of each Data Line
  • The Point Name is used to differentiate between Fore Sight, and an Intermediate Sight. If the first two characters of a Point Name are “I-“, then the sight is considered to be an Intermediate Site.
  • Data input into a Level Observation File is by either :-
    • Direct Downloading from a Total Station or an Electronic Logger,
    • The currently supported Total Stations and/or Electronic Loggers are :-
      • The Psion Organiser using the “Handi-Data Solutions Levels” ASCII File,
      • The Psion Workabout, using the “Handi-Data Solutions Levels” ASCII File,
      • The Leica/Wild GIF 10 Digital Level
      • The Sokkia SDL Power Level
    • Downloading from a variety of ASCII file formats,
    • Copying from the Windows Clipboard,
    • by Manual Data entry.
  • Once an Observation File has been generated, various editing/printing functions are available, such as :-
    • Manually modifying, or Deleting, Data Lines,
    • Using the Windows “Cut and Paste” to move blocks of Data around the File,
    • Manually Adding or Inserting new Data Lines,
    • Printing the Observation File in “Field Book” format,
    • Creating an ASCII file of the Data,
    • Sending the Data to the Windows Clipboard.
General Observation File Reductions (Polar Reductions)
  • This application carries out an automated reduction of Polar observations held in a User defined Observation File, using the following steps:
    • It first prompts for the User selection of a number of calculation options,
    • It then searches through the defined Observation File, and determine which of the Set-Ups in the File have both Orientation and Polar data included (this is done via the Observation Coding system),
    • Each relevant Set-Up will then be displayed, with its orientation corrections (a single Set-Up may have multiple orientations, applied at different parts of the Set-Up),
    • Any of the orientation corrections may be manually overridden, if required.
    • Calculation of the Polars will then take place. For double, or multi-Polars, the differences will be displayed.
    • The calculated Points are stored in the current Co-ordinate File.
  • This application can also be used for computing complete Surveys, including the calculation of the Control Points themselves. If required, the programme will compute (where possible) the co-ordinates of the Set-Up Points, if these do not already exist.
General Observation File Reductions (Tacheometric Reductions)
  • This application carries out an automated reduction of Tacheometric data held in a User defined Observation File, using the following steps:
    • The current Co-ordinate File must contain the Control Points (Set-Up Points etc.) to be used for reducing the Tacheometric data. 
    • It will first prompt for the User selection of a number of calculation options,
    • It then searches through the defined Observation File, and determine which of the Set-Ups in the File have both Orientation and Tacheometric data included (this is done via the Observation Coding system),
    • Each relevant Set-Up will then be displayed, with its orientation corrections (a single Set-Up may have multiple orientations, applied at different parts of the Set-Up),
    • Any of the orientation corrections may be manually overridden, if required.
    • Calculation of the Tacheometric Points will then take place.
    • The calculated Points are stored in the User defined Tacheometric File.
Tacheometric File (Loading/Editing)
  • This application provides Loading, Editing and Output functions for Tacheometric Files.
  • Data in a Tacheometric File consist of:
    • Point Number,
    • Point Y – ordinate (or Easting),
    • Point X – ordinate (or Northing),
    • Point Height,
    • Point Description, and
    • Point BreakLine Description
  • Tacheometric Files are used for:
    • Generating Contour Files using BreakLines and/or Surface Triangulation,
    • Generating Digital Terrain Models (DTMs),
    • Generating Cross Section Files,
    • Generating Longitudinal Section Files,
    • Generating General (non-formatted) Section Files,
    • Generating Underground Off-Set Files.
  • Tacheometric Files are created by:
    • Auto Reduction of Observation File Data,
    • Manual Co-ordinate Entry,
    • Import of ASCII [Y, X, Z] Files (various formats),
    • Import from SURPAC Co-ordinate Files
    • Import from a Civil Designer DAT File
  • The most important use of the Tacheometric File is to provide the necessary input data required for the Contour CAD Plotting application (see below). This application provides a graphic User interface for the development of Contours, DTMs and Sections.
Digital Terrain Modelling
  • This application has the following functions:
    • Creating a Surface DTM and/or a Base DTM, using either:
      • Contour Triangulation, or
      • Point data plus BreakLine data.
    • Displaying/Plotting a DTM using various options, such as:
      • Showing either the Surface or the Base DTM,
      • Showing the DTM as either a solid model, or as a “wire frame” model,
      • Using any Viewing Direction or Tilt Angle,
      • Using various colour options for the display,
      • Setting a defined “water line” height and showing the model above and below this line in different colour variations,
      • Dynamic rotation and tilting of the DTM display using the keyboard arrow keys (requires a fast PC!)
    • Calculating Volumes with the following options:
      • Determine the Cut and Fill Volumes between the Surface and Base models,
      • Determine the Cut and Fill Volumes between the Surface model and a defined horizontal plane,
      • Determine the Cut and Fill Balance Plane height for a Surface model,
      • Determine the Cut and Fill Volumes between the Surface model and another, User defined, Surface model.
    • General DTM application options include:
      • Super-imposing a User defined Surface model onto the current Surface model,
      • Calculating the DTM slope Surface Area,
      • Calculating the Surface Area for a horizontal plane intersecting the Surface model,
      • Define and use a sub-area of a Surface model,
      • Display a Slope Analysis model of the current Surface model (showing slope vectors).
    • DTM grid data, including BreakLine information, may be stored in an ASCII format for export to other applications.

General Observation File Loading/Editing

General Observation File Loading/Editing

Contour Creation/Plotting CAD

Digital Terrain Modelling