Maintenance Protocols Flashcards

How should a range pole's circular bubble be checked?

Answer: Compare it against a plumb line or a verified vertical crosshair in two directions

Checking in two perpendicular directions against a true vertical confirms the bubble shows plumb correctly.

Why is it important to keep firmware up to date on GNSS receivers and total stations?

Answer: Updates can fix bugs, improve performance, and keep up with satellite system changes

Manufacturers release firmware to correct errors and support changes such as new signals or GNSS constellations.

What is the purpose of the compensator check on a total station?

Answer: To confirm the dual-axis compensator correctly corrects for small tilt

A faulty compensator causes angle errors, so its index must be checked and recalibrated if needed.

What is a good practice for the tribrach clamp and leveling screws during routine maintenance?

Answer: Clean them and check for play or stiffness, adjusting as needed

Loose or gritty leveling screws let the instrument move during observations and cause errors.

In a two-peg test, the instrument at the midpoint shows the true elevation difference mainly because:

Answer: Equal sight distances cancel collimation error

When sight lengths are equal, the collimation error is the same on both rods and cancels in the difference.

Which practice helps prevent dust and moisture from entering an instrument's case during storage?

Answer: Keep the case closed and latched, with the instrument fully dry before packing

A dry instrument in a closed case is protected from dust, moisture, and impact.

How often should a total station's errors be checked when doing precise work?

Answer: Regularly, such as on a schedule and after any shock or long storage

Instrument errors can develop over time or after shock, so routine and event-based checks keep measurements reliable.