The task of land surveying is not a simple one. From visiting job sites and trekking across often-formidable terrain to logging data and processing it for analyzation and use in map and model creation, any tool that makes this complex job easier seems like it should be a welcome addition. However, many company owners and independent contractors share a fear of moving forward with increasingly common technology. That fear has a name: robotics.
Not a Replacement
One of the chief arguments against robotics in the world of land surveying is that surveying has always been a physical job. This is work done by hand, and has been for centuries. For people who fear being replaced in their line of work by automated machinery, seeing that a total station is for sale becomes far less appealing when the word “robotic” is attached to it.
Take heart: robotic total stations and other automated devices do not seek to replace the surveyor, but assist them. Retailers of surveying equipment typically still offer manual or optical total stations, but their inventory is increasingly dominated by robotic options due to the sheer demand for these time-saving and money-saving products. Still, some people aren’t convinced.
Perceived Problems with Robotics in Surveying
Some of the most commonly held – and stubbornly clung to – fears expressed by surveying professionals about bringing a robotic total station onboard include:
- Less work available. The idea that robotics make for less work is only partly true. There may be more tasks handled by fewer employees, but those newly-free employees can now handle other jobs; it’s a great way for businesses to expand!
- Machine error. A robotic model of a machine is just as capable as any other of producing errant results. It is up to the operators to ensure that it is working and outputting information correctly.
- Expense. It’s no secret that robotic total stations are more expensive than optical models. They are also far more useful. Weigh your options when you see total stations for sale, and decide whether the investment is worth it for you and your business.
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