Staking Toolbar

The staking toolbar is used in conjunction with the Observation Toolbar to help you navigate to your stake point. If you're using a robotic or conventional instrument the staking process will be similar.

The staking toolbar can be accessed by pressing the Stake Point button on the Stake Points screen. It will also be accessed from many other commands that require a point to be staked.

When you first see the staking screen you may be asked to take a measurement first so it can calculate the current position of the rod. Press the measure button if you're using a conventional instrument, or turn on the cursor tracking button if you're using a robot or GNSS.

You should define a map orientation in the staking settings. Setting this will twist your map view to help you with your stakeout and change the way the "move by" distance are reported. Press the top button "Viewing North/Instrument/Prism" to adjust your Orientation Reference setting. For best results, set the Orientation Reference to Prism for a conventional total station, Instrument for a robotic total station, North for GPNS staking.

Grid Staking Mode is selected by default, select the Grid button on the bottom-left corner will allows you to choose Map staking mode that relays on Observation Toolbar, or Compass staking method if you are using a GNSS receiver or robotic total station.

Note that Compass staking mode for GNSS will require movements to determine the orientation to the point you are trying to stake. Once you are close to the point, the screen will automatically switch to Grid mode for precise staking. The threshold of this switch can be found inside Staking Settings menu.

 

Buttons

	Store Point When this is pressed the Store / Edit Points screen will appear so you can store the position of the rod. The default is to store a point in the project database as well as write raw records to the raw file. You might not want to store a point for the staked position but want to have a record of it in the raw file. This can be done by turning off "Store Staked Point" in Stake Settings. (This button not available for GNSS staking, use the Measure button to record the point.)
	Select Viewing Direction This opens up Viewing Direction dialogue where you can select options depending on the current instrument Current options include: Viewing North/Instrument/Prism/User Point.
	Select Staking Method Depending on the instrument selected, this button allows you to choose from Map, Grid, Compass staking modes.
	Staking Information This displays information about the point you are staking. It will list the coordinates of the point plus other information that will help you during your stakeout.
	Toggle Observation View This button allows you to see or hide the Observation Toolbar.
	Select Next Point This button opens up options to select next point to Stake
	Zoom Map View only - This will automatically zoom to the extents of your current target position and the point you're staking.
	Settings This will open the Staking Settings screen which allows you to setup parameters that will be used during the stakeout such as your Tolerance, Orientation Reference, and more.
	Close This will close the Staking Toolbar, and return you to the previous screen.

Staking Method - Map View

For each of the following methods, if you are within the Tolerance setting defined in the Staking Settings, then the direction/distance text will be green; if you are outside the tolerance then the text will be red. You can also switch pages within the Observation Toolbar at any time to see other measurement information, for example if you want to see the rod elevation instead of a Cut/Fill.

Turn An Angle

This method will display both the required and measured horizontal angles in the Observation Toolbar near the top of the screen. This method is useful while staking with a conventional total station, to quickly get online with the design point.

Directional

This method will display the In/Out and Left/Right (or N/S/E/W), and Cut/Fill distances from the current rod position to the design point in the Observation Toolbar near the top of the screen. This method is useful while staking with a conventional or robotic total station, but be sure to set the "Orientation Reference" option to Prism for a conventional total station, Instrument for a robotic total station, or North for GNSS staking.

Radial

This method will display the Direction (Bearing or Azimuth) and Distance from the current rod position to the design point in the Observation Toolbar near the top of the screen. This method is useful while staking with a robotic total station or GNSS.

Conventional Total Station Tips

If you're using a conventional total station you need to press the measure button on the instrument toolbar before the navigate distances are displayed.

To help with navigating, set your map orientation to Prism in the staking settings screen. This will force the map to orientate itself so the prism is at the top and the instrument is at the bottom.

You can use the Turn An Angle method to quickly get online with your point, then switch to the Directional method to navigate accurately to the point.

Robotic Total Station Tips

If you're using a robotic instrument you need to turn on the cursor tracking button on the instrument toolbar before the navigate distances are displayed. Note that with a robotic instrument, there is no need to press the measure button as the cursor tracking provides real-time positions to the Observation Toolbar.

To help with navigating, set your map orientation to Instrument in the Settings screen. This will force the map to orientate itself so the instrument is at the top and the prism is at the bottom.

You can set the EDM mode on the instrument toolbar to use a fine measurement setting that can be used to record the position of the point. When cursor tracking is on it uses a coarse mode which might not be suitable for the storing the point, but suitable enough to for navigation. For precise stakeout you can use the following procedure:

1. Use cursor tracking to navigate to your point.
2. When you attain the position to be staked you can do one of two things:
1. If tracking mode is precise enough for your needs you can turn off cursor tracking, then press the Lock button to stop the instrument from tracking the prism. It is useful to do this as the instrument will still be pointed at the stake location and prevents the instrument from following the prism if you have to lay it down.
2. If you need to take a more accurate position before marking the point or pounding in your stake: You can turn off cursor tracking, then press the measure button to help you locate the stake point. By doing this it will use the EDM mode set in the instrument toolbar (make certain it is set to a fine mode) instead of using the coarse (tracking) mode. Once the point is located, make sure to press the Lock button to stop the instrument from tracking the prism. It is useful to do this as the instrument will still be pointed at the stake location and prevents the instrument from following the prism if you have to lay it down.
3. Mark your point or pound in your stake.
4. Set the prism on the point you just marked and press the No Lock button which will initiate a search. Since you stopped the instrument from tracking in the previous step the instrument should lock onto the prism very quickly.
5. Press the Measure button to record one final position for the stake point.
6. Press the Store Point button on the staking toolbar to store the final location of the point you just staked.

GNSS Tips

To help with navigating, set your map orientation to North in the settings screen. This will force the map to orient itself so that North remains up on the screen.

Use cursor tracking to navigate to your point (this provides real-time positions to the Observation Toolbar) then when you attain the final position to be staked press the Measure button. The usual GNSS Measurement procedure will apply, and your current tolerance mode and masks will be in effect for the measurement.

Raw File

When you store your point several records are written to the raw file. Following is an example of a point that was staked out:

SP,PN1400,N 715346.319,E 2381454.812,EL1.009,--

CF,EL1.0087,GD1.0000

DE,PN342,N 715346.319,E 2381454.770,EL1.000,--

SD,ND-0.000,ED-0.042,LD-0.009

SK,OP251,FP1400,AR180.00000,ZE89.05000,SD63.0500,--Design Point: 342

The SP record is the point that was recorded when you pressed the Store Point button.

The CF record displays the measured elevation versus design.

The DE record displays the design coordinates for the point to be staked.

The SD record displays the delta values of the staked point. This is the DE record - SP record.

The SK record is the recorded raw observation used to compute the store point (SP) record.

Note: If you turned off "Store Staked Point" in the staking settings, then no SP or CF record will be stored in the raw file.