Topcon Robotic Total Station Tech provides Accuracy on ‘Air Side’

With a company history that stretches back over half a century, Christchurch firm Isaac Construction still looks ahead for efficient, leading edge technological solutions, such as the latest positioning technology from Topcon.

When it comes to Topcon’s QS Series robotic total station technology, Isaac Construction’s survey manager Allan Watson is of the opinion two are better than one.

“Having two devices that are the same gives our field team a much quicker, more efficient way of working,” says Allan.

“The biggest plus is the versatility having two robotic total stations gives us; we can download data from a job between the two system controllers, ensuring that whichever staff member is heading out on site has exactly the same accurate control point information as his colleague.”

After a previous total station blew over on a particularly windy site, the Isaac Construction team replaced it with a Topcon QS Series unit. With a major contract to complete upgrade works at Christchurch International Airport subsequently won, Allan and his team then decided to hire – and eventually purchase outright – a second unit.

“Aside from the ease-of-use for our guys, we were immediately impressed with the precise tolerances the Topcon system allowed for set-out work. The spec we were working to was plus or minus 4mm, so we needed to be on the ball every step of the way.”

Allan also says another advantage the units gave the Isaac Construction team during the airport project was that, while both units were set up in close proximity to one another, by changing radio and Bluetooth channels, they didn’t interfere with each other’s performance.

Topcon’s QS Series robotic total station offers construction and surfacing entities such as Isaac Construction a suite of advanced technological solutions, including a robust, cable-free design, one-touch robotic set-up and the Quick Lock RC-4 system for improved robotic target acquisition.

Both Isaac Construction’s robotic total stations offer three second angle accuracy (one and five second angle accuracy capability is also available) and feature X-TRAC 8 technology, which is an enhanced prism tracking solution that gives the user strong tracking and quick re-acquisition in challenging environments.

Topcon’s QS Series robotic total stations also offer superior reflectorless measurement capable of precise measurements even at 2000m (6500 ft.). Allan also mentions that his team finds Topcon’s MAGNET field data collection software simple to utilise and offers effective CAD integration.

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The Isaac Construction team completed upgrade work on a large section of pavement at the busy Christchurch International Airport, including taxiways A and F which, as Allan describes, covers a large L-shape across ‘air side’ operations.

But now that these upgrade works have concluded, the company’s two Topcon robotic total stations are being put to good – and constant – work elsewhere.

“We’re now using the robotic total stations on a lot of subdivision work we’re completing,” says Allan.

“We’re also undertaking a number of roading projects for the SCIRT alliance, as well as stop bank replacement work, so these systems are definitely being put through their paces in a variety of scenarios around the Greater Christchurch area.

“The robotic total stations are relied upon by us day in, day out, so I consider them a very good investment indeed.”

For more information on Topcon Robotic Total Stations, click here.