Survey Range Pole and Data Collector with Electronic Height Detection, Leveling and Hands-Free Data Collection

A method for producing a GNSS data collection system, the method comprising:

• (a) providing a GNSS receiver configured for being disposed at the top/distal end portion of a range pole, the GNSS receiver and/or survey prism configured to generate three-dimensional location data for the GNSS receiver and/or survey prism;
• (b) providing the range pole with an adjustable length extending from a proximal end portion to a distal end portion, wherein the proximal end portion is configured for engaging ground soil;
• (c) disposing an electronic measurement device on the range pole to capture distance between the proximal end portion and the distal end portion, to generate length data for an adjusted length of the range pole;
• (d) providing a hand-held data collector computer including a display;
• (e) providing a plurality of inclination sensors in operative engagement with the data collector, the inclination sensors configured to generate inclination data for the range pole along mutually orthogonal x and y axes;
• (f) configuring a data collection module, implemented by the data collector computer, to generate a data collection graphical user interface (GUI) visible on the display;
• (g) communicably coupling the data collector computer to the GNSS receiver and/or to a total station operatively engaged with the survey prism, and configuring the data collector to receive from the GNSS receiver, the total station, the plurality of inclination sensors, and/or the electronic measurement device, the three-dimensional location data, the length data, and the inclination data for the range pole in real-time;
• (h) configuring a virtual level component, implemented by the data collector computer, to use the inclination data to display on the GUI real-time tilt information for the range pole;
• (i) configuring the data collection module to automatically capture the length data and the location data as the system is moved along a site, when the pole is oriented within a predetermined level tolerance of the horizontal distance from level, the captured length data and location data being combined by the data collection module to correspond to a plurality of three-dimensional points along the ground soil of the site;
• and
• (j) further configuring the data collection module to store at least a portion of the captured length data and location data, wherein the portion of the captured length data and location data corresponds to points captured at predetermined minimum intervals of distance (distance interval) and time (time interval) relative to one another.