The Stakeout function is used to find a specific point in the field. Once you tell Carlson Field the point that you are looking for, pick Start and the program draws an X-marks-the-spot bullseye on that point in the drawing. Carlson Field also draws a triangle on the drawing for where you are currently standing. These icons help to guide to the target point graphically. Carlson Field also reports in the dialog box how far you need to move to reach the point.
There are several options for Stakeout defined in Configure Field>Stakeout Settings. These options should be set by Configure Field before running Stakeout. See the Configure Field section of the manual for a description of the stakeout options.
There are four ways to define the target point for stakeout. The first method is to specify a point number from the current coordinate file. To do this, click on the Point Number button and type in the point number in the dialog. The second method is to give a station and an offset from a centerline. The program will prompt for a centerline file (.CL) and then the station and offset. You can also specify the station interval for automatically incrementing to the next stakeout point. See the Roads section of this manual for how to create centerline files. The third method is to graphically pick the point from the drawing. Select Pick Point and a dialog box allows you to pick different snaps: endpoint, midpoint, center, node (point), or intersection. This will help you pick your desired point more accurately. For example, you can select endpoint and then pick on a polyline corner to stakeout that the polyline endpoint. See the Object Snap command is this manual for more on snaps. The fourth method is to simply type in the target point coordinates in the Northing, Easting and Elevation fields.
Once the stakeout point is set, click the Start button and Carlson Field begins the stakeout routine. The format of the stakeout screen that appears depends on whether you are using total stations or GPS as described below.
When you reach the target point, click the Store button. Carlson
Field reports the difference between your current position and your
target position. At this point you can choose to store this
staked-out point as a new point in the coordinate file.
When the target stakeout point has an elevation, Carlson Field also reports the elevation difference between the target and current elevations. This cut/fill is also in an edit box that allows you to change the value for labeling. For example, you may want to round the cut/fill number to an even number to label on the stake with a mark to indicate where this even number occurs. When you change the cut/fill label from the original value, Carlson Field will report the offset for this mark. For total stations, Carlson Field will also report the zenith angle for locating this mark. There are also fields in the report dialog for entering vertical offsets to get additional cut/fill values. For example, if the target point is for the road surface and you want to also get the cut/fill to an 18 inch subgrade, then enter -1.5 as the vertical offset.
GPS Stakeout
After you click Start to begin staking the point, Carlson Field changes the dialog box to the one shown below. The dialog shows the target point, the current position northing, easting and elevation and the GPS HRMS/VRMS. The distance, azimuth and cut/fill from the current position to the target are also reported. Carlson Field also breaks down this distance into how far north/south and how far east/west to go. Finally based on your current heading, the program tells you whether to turn right, turn left or that you are on-line.
In the graphics view, the large "X" shows the point being
staked-out and the triangle represents your position. A temporary
line is drawn between your current position and the target. In
Configure Field>Stakeout Settings, there is an option to auto
zoom in as you approach the target point. Otherwise you can use the
arrow keys to pan the display and the Page Up/Down keys to zoom out
and in.
Total Station Stakeout
Before starting the stakeout, be sure that the instrument is setup with correct occupied point, backsight and instrument height. This setup data is displayed in the third line of the dialog. You can pick the Setup button to change the instrument setup.
After you click Start to begin staking the point, Carlson
Field changes the dialog box to the one shown below. The dialog
shows the angle to turn the gun and the horizontal distance to the
target. Turn the instrument to this angle and position the rodman
at this angle and distance. Then pick the Read button to take a
measurement. Carlson Field will then report the horizontal distance
and cut/fill from the current position to the target. This distance
is also reported as how far north/south and how far east/west to go
and as how far in/out and left/right to go. To in/out and
left/right distances are relative to the rodman facing the
instrument. Keep moving the rodman and picking the Read button
until you reach the point. Then pick the Store button.
In the graphics view, the large "X" shows the point being staked-out and the triangle represents your position. Also the location of the instrument is shown with an icon and the backsight is shown as temporary line.
