Total Station Insights

What is Total Station?

A total station is an electronic/optical instrument used in modern surveying and construction. It combines an electronic distance meter (EDM) with an electronic theodolite (angle measuring instrument). Total stations are used to measure angles and distances from the instrument to points to be surveyed. This information is then used to calculate the coordinates of the surveyed points relative to the total station's location. They are widely used in surveying, construction, and mapping applications for tasks such as land surveying, boundary determination, infrastructure development, and monitoring structural deformation.

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What other technologies are related to Total Station?

Total Station Competitor Technologies

level

A generic leveling instrument; while total stations can measure angles and distances for 3D positioning, levels primarily determine elevation.

mentioned alongside Total Station in 33% (773) of relevant job posts

GPS

GPS is an alternative positioning technology. While total stations rely on line-of-sight, GPS uses satellite signals.

mentioned alongside Total Station in 5% (4.2k) of relevant job posts

Auto Level

An auto level is a leveling instrument. Total stations measure angles and distances for 3D positioning, auto levels determine elevation.

mentioned alongside Total Station in 63% (137) of relevant job posts

RTK GPS

RTK GPS (Real-Time Kinematic GPS) provides high-accuracy positioning using satellite signals, a method competitive to total stations that rely on line-of-sight.

mentioned alongside Total Station in 29% (267) of relevant job posts

digital level

A digital level, used for determining elevation, can be a competitor to the vertical angle and distance measuring capabilities of a total station when precise height information is needed.

mentioned alongside Total Station in 50% (155) of relevant job posts

Theodolite

A Theodolite measures angles in both the horizontal and vertical planes. While total stations measure angles and distances, a Theodolite only measures angles.

mentioned alongside Total Station in 38% (124) of relevant job posts

auto levels

An auto level is a leveling instrument. Total stations measure angles and distances for 3D positioning, auto levels determine elevation.

mentioned alongside Total Station in 36% (77) of relevant job posts

automatic level

An automatic level is a leveling instrument. Total stations measure angles and distances for 3D positioning, automatic levels determine elevation.

mentioned alongside Total Station in 35% (77) of relevant job posts