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Total station for construction - GET3407

Overview

This standard covers the principles of using a total station for site surveying and setting out. These principles can be applied to all types of construction including earthworks, roads, houses, buildings, foundations, piles, structural steel, structures, and reinforced concrete.

Duration

18 hours

Purpose/ scope

This standard covers the principles of using a total station for site surveying and setting out. These principles can be applied to all types of construction including earthworks, roads, houses, buildings, foundations, piles, structural steel, structures, and reinforced concrete.

Scope:

  • Set up
  • Calibration checks
  • Sources of error
  • Topographical Surveys
  • Installing Primary and Secondary Control Points
  • Using different functions
  • Different methods for Plumbing Columns and Walls
  • Data Management and Transfer
  • Capabilities and Limitations

Occupational Relevance

Training delivered against this standard would be relevant to the following occupational group(s):

  • Operative and Craft; Supervision; Management and Leadership
  • Students studying Civil Engineering or Construction Management at any level
  • Trainee and Graduate Engineers and Construction Managers
  • Those who are already using the total station on site but have not had structured training
  • Site Managers who would like to be able to supervise, recruit for, check or carry out setting out activities
  • People with direct experience of the construction industry who would like to broaden their skills to include using a total station to set out

Learner Pre-requisites

No qualifications or previous experience is required; however learners are expected to be familiar with basic and co-ordinate geometry, Pythagoras theorem, angles and trigonometry

Instruction/ Supervision

  • As a minimum, course instructors must be able to demonstrate that, in relation to this standard, they have:
  • A train the trainer or instructional techniques course certificate
  • Successfully completed training to this standard
  • A verifiable CV demonstrating a minimum of 2 years’ experience as a site engineer across a broad range of construction projects (civils, building etc.) and current experience / CPD in the use of modern topographical equipment
  • A relevant Civil Engineering degree, HND or equivalent

Delivery

Delivery may be in an on or off the job environment with outdoor space to support a range of relevant practical related tasks.

All materials and equipment must be of a suitable quality and quantity for learner to achieve learning outcomes and must comply with relevant legislation.

The class size and learner/instructor ratio must allow training to be delivered in a safe manner and enable learner to achieve the learning outcomes.

  • face to face learning environment only (Such as Classroom/Workshop etc.)
  • a blend of face to face and virtual
  • a blend of face to face and e-learning

This standard is predominately Practical

This standard is considered to be entry level

Assessment

Informally Assessed

For the successful completion of training, the trainer must be satisfied that the learner has achieved all learning outcomes.

Quality Assurance

Assured

Quality Assurance against this standard will require initial approval of the training organisation and their content mapped to the standard. CITB will also conduct an approval intervention, either desk-based or centre visit, to ensure the Training Organisation can meet the requirements of the Training Standard. Approved Training Organisations will be required to present information on records of training and assessment upon request to CITB for desk-based analysis. They will also be visited annually by the CITB Quality Assurance team.

Renewal

Lifetime

Approval date 

April 2024

Learning Outcomes

The learner will be able to: Additional Guidance to Support Learning Outcome

set up the total station over a point

Demonstration followed by practical exercise

carry out relevant calibration checks.

(horizontal and vertical collimation error, trunnion axis, prism constant, optical/ laser plummet, diaphragm orientation)

Introduction of Total Station and the relevant maths towards degrees, minutes, and seconds

Demonstration followed by practical exercise

list the possible sources of error when using a total station

Group discussion

list techniques for improving and checking your accuracy and precision

 

view, edit, add, and delete data

 

install a network of primary control points from scratch (traverse)

Theory and Practical exercise

install accurate secondary control points (retro targets)

set up over a primary control point and backsight to primary control points before checking to another known point then measuring to retro targets

Theory and Practical exercise

create a local coordinate system

 

measure and set out reduced levels with the total station

 

describe a range of methods for plumbing columns and walls

Group discussion or practical exercise

set the position and orientation of the total station using the resection

 

set the position and orientation by setting up over a known point and referencing another known point

 

take a topographical survey and record the results systematically

Utilise point codes and line styles

measure the horizontal distance and level differences between points

 

stake out points of known co-ordinates using the stake out function

 

stake out points in relation to a baseline using the reference line function

 

import and export data

Demonstration of process

Cover the considerations for 3D mapping software, spreadsheets, CAD formats etc.

discuss the relationship between Total Station and GNSS equipment 

 

explain the scenarios when you would choose mechanical and robotic total stations

 

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