To Use the Instrument Manager

You use the Instrument Manager to define instrument properties.

Survey administers different instruments, and you can import measurement files from different instruments into one calculation project.

Basically you use different types of instruments, such as tachymeters that provide distance and angle observations, and instruments that provide coordinates (GPS). Instrument properties such as the precision influence the calculation of the coordinates and their reliability indicators.

For example, for polar mapping you use an instrument of type Tachymeter, for coordinate observations you use an instrument of type GPS. When you import a measurement into the database, you select the instrument that has been used. Then, the instrument properties are used for the calculation.

To start the Instrument Manager

  1. In the AutoCAD Map 3D Maintenance workspace, do one of the following:

    Click Insert tab > Survey panel > Survey.

  2. Click Settings Instrument Manager.
  3. In the Instrument Manager dialog box, you edit the instrument settings as shown in the following table.

Instrument Manager option

Description

Instrument area

Administers the instruments. Select an instrument, and use the icons.

Select An Instrument

Selects an instrument.

Create

Creates an instrument. Opens the Create Instrument dialog box. Enter name, description, and type.

Delete

Deletes the selected instrument. You can only delete instruments that are not used in any calculation projects.

Edit

Edits the selected instrument name, description, and type. When you modify the instrument type, all settings are lost and reset to the default values.

Description

Describes the instrument.

Instrument Type

For new instruments, specifies the instrument type you want to import the field data from. Select one of the following:

  • Tachymeter—To import distance and angle observations.
  • GPS—To import coordinates.

Settings area

Specifies the instrument settings.

Transformation/GPS

Specifies settings for instruments of type GPS. Click to display all options.

See also Instrument Settings - Transformation and GPS.

Tachymeter

Specifies settings for instruments of type Tachymeter. Click to display all options.

See also Instrument Settings - Tachymeter.

Use the Global Settings to specify default instrument settings, and units for length, angles, temperature, pressure. See also Global Survey Settings and Unit Format Settings.