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Equipment Operation Flashcards

7 cards from real CST practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 Equipment Operation flashcards as text

  1. A GNSS RTK receiver shows a 'float' solution instead of 'fixed.' What does this indicate?

    Answer: Carrier-phase integer ambiguities are not resolved, so accuracy is only at the decimeter level or worse

    A float solution means integer ambiguities are unresolved, so positions should not be recorded as centimeter-level data.

  2. Which condition most degrades GNSS positioning by causing multipath?

    Answer: Setting up next to a metal building or a chain-link fence

    Reflective surfaces near the antenna cause signals to arrive by indirect paths, creating multipath error.

  3. What does a high PDOP value indicate during a GNSS observation?

    Answer: Poor satellite geometry, which makes the position less precise

    High PDOP means the satellites are poorly distributed in the sky, which weakens the geometry and the precision of the position.

  4. When entering GNSS antenna height measured as a slant height, what must the data collector know?

    Answer: The antenna model and measurement reference point so it can convert to the antenna reference point

    The software uses the antenna model's radius and offsets to convert a slant measurement to a vertical height to the antenna reference point.

  5. An RTK rover checks into a known control point and shows a 0.15 ft horizontal difference. What should the technician do first?

    Answer: Verify the base setup, antenna heights, coordinate system, and localization before continuing

    A failed check shot points to a setup, height, or coordinate system error, which must be resolved before collecting data.

  6. What is the main purpose of a GNSS site calibration (localization)?

    Answer: To fit GNSS-derived positions to local project control coordinates and elevations

    A localization computes a transformation so GNSS positions match the project's local control system.

  7. Why is a GNSS elevation mask (often 10 to 15 degrees) used?

    Answer: To exclude low satellites whose signals pass through more atmosphere and are prone to multipath

    Low-elevation signals pass through more atmosphere and are more affected by multipath, so masking them improves quality.