A laser level includes a level body, the level body including a body housing and a laser light source contained in the body housing, the laser light source configured to emit a laser light beam plane so as to project a laser light line on a target surface, the laser light beam plane configured to form an adjustable angle relative to a horizontal plane, and the laser level including a fixing structure configured to fix the laser light source such that the laser light beam plane projected therefrom is fixed at an adjusted angle, the laser light line providing a levelling height when in a horizontal state. The laser level further includes an adjustment means configured to adjust the attitude of the laser light source when the laser light line projected onto the target surface from the laser light source from a non-horizontal state to a horizontal state.

A surveying pole and to a secondary sensor unit which is attachable to the surveying pole. A reflector and/or GNSS receiver attachable to the surveying pole can be attached independently of whether or not the secondary sensor unit is attached to the surveying pole. A distance between the reflector and/or GNSS receiver and a pole tip is also independent of whether or not the secondary sensor unit is attached to the surveying pole. A distance between an attached reflector and/or GNSS receiver and the attached secondary sensor unit is also known and fixed. A method and computer program product for numerically correcting distance measurement errors due to reflector orientation and position with respect to a primary sensor, in particular a tachymeter.

A survey tool for determining position and orientation (P&O) thereof relative to a construction site is provided herein. The survey tool may include: a moveable platform wherein the moveable platform is configured to rotate at least one two-axis electro-optic deflection unit mounted on the moveable platform; at least one light source coupled to the two-axis electro-optic deflection unit configured to project a light beam, wherein steering of the light beam is carried out by operating at least one of: the two-axis electro-optic deflection unit, and the moveable platform, and wherein the light beam forms a projection onto surfaces within the construction site; at least one sensor configured to record at least one of: a steering angle and, a distance between the survey tool and said point; and at least one computer processor configured to determine the P&O of the survey tool relative to the construction site.

Various laser level designs and remote controls are shown. In another example, the remote control for a laser level receives a plurality of interface protocols configured to control one or more laser levels, and subsequently selects one of the interface protocols when initiating control of a laser level. In another example, the relative positions a remote control with respect to a laser level are determined, and subsequently a visual representation is presented at the remote control based on the relative positions.

Provided is a surveying instrument including a distance measuring module configured to measure a distance to an object, an optical axis deflector configured to deflect the distance measuring light, a measuring direction image pickup module configured to acquire an observation image, an arithmetic control module, and an operation panel includes a display module, the arithmetic control module is configured to cause the optical axis deflector to perform a scan with a predetermined scan pattern and create an overlay image as a superimposition of the locus of the scan pattern on the observation image, and calculate a formula of a straight line or a curve line based on a measurement result of intersections or the closest points to the intersections between the straight line or the curve line drawn along a ridge line or a contour of the object and the locus of the scan pattern on the displayed overlay image.

Visual-inertial odometry uses visual input from a camera and inertial motion measurements to track the motion of an object. This technique can be applied to surveying urban environments, such as a curb or streetscape, that are impractical to survey with a surveyor's wheel, GPS, or imagery from cars. Making visual-inertial odometry measurements of a curb with a handheld surveying device yields relative measurements from a starting point to an ending point on the curb. These relative measurements can be pinned to an absolute coordinate frame using measurements of gravity made while acquiring the visual-inertial odometry measurements and absolute measurements of the starting and ending points.

Systems and methods for determining elevation based on structural modeling and light detection and ranging (LIDAR) data are disclosure. LIDAR bare earth data corresponding to an area within a parcel boundary is obtained as preliminary elevation data. A basis of structure boundary is determined for a structure within the parcel boundary based on an absence of the LIDAR bare earth data within a region in the area. Three-dimensional models are generated based on photographic data, to represent portions of the structure that affect LIDAR signals. A structure boundary for the structure is determined based on the basis of structure boundary in combination with supplemental elevation data generated using the three-dimensional models. Adjacent grade values are determined based on a portion of the preliminary elevation data and supplemental elevation data corresponding to an area between the structure boundary and a buffer boundary.

A total station configured for receiving from a camera a first image captured in a first face and a second image captured in a second face, wherein in the second face the camera is rotated around the optical axis by between 170° and 190° compared to the first face, receiving at least one of an azimuthal angle pair and an elevative angle pair, said azimuthal angle pair comprising a first azimuthal angle and a second azimuthal angle, and said elevative angle pair comprising a first elevative angle a second elevative angle, matching the first image and the second image with a relative rotation and a relative translation, determining the relative rotation of the matched first image and second image, determining the relative translation of the matched first image and second image, based on the respective angle pair, the relative rotation, the relative translation, and determining an instrument error.

A protection apparatus for an appliance supported by a tripod, the protection apparatus including: a tilt sensor, for alerting upon tilting of the tripod; and an airbag inflated upon the alerting for protecting the appliance. The airbag is shaped to comprise at least one of three protrusions, projected outward upon airbag inflation, each protrusion being directed in one of the common tilting directions perpendicular to and towards an imaginary line between feet of two tripod legs.

Embodiments provide for methods and portable positioning devices adapted to determine a geospatial position of a point of interest. In one embodiment, the portable positioning device comprises an antenna, a levelling detector, an imaging device, a display unit and a processing unit. The antenna may be adapted to receive satellite information signals. The levelling detector is arranged relative to the antenna for detecting whether the antenna is positioned horizontally. The imaging device has an optical axis and a sighting axis. In one embodiment, the sighting axis intersects an antenna axis. In another embodiment, the sighting axis is aligned with the antenna axis. The display unit may be provided for assisting in identifying the point of interest within a field of view of the imaging device and for assisting in identifying whether the antenna is horizontally levelled and whether a phase center and the point of interest are vertically aligned.