Quick Reference Guide # 4 Global Survey Limited

Purpose: Perform the steps necessary to operate a System 1200 GPS in

terms of arbitrary site coordinates.
Instrument: GPS 1200 Series

This guide assumes that the base station and rover are set up and operating. An
assumption has been made that the base station has been started with the “Here
key”, so it is using an autonomous GPS position.

Further information: Refer to your instrument reference manual and the online
help in Leica Geo Office for detailed instructions

1. Survey the control marks using the GPS Rover

a. Use the Survey program to make observations on all your control marks.
Note – Refer to the end of this guide for a table showing minimum recommended control
distribution.
Note – It is possible to add control marks to an existing local coordinate system, and also to
survey control marks from within the ‘determine coordinate system’ process, however for the
purposes of this Quick Reference Guide all marks should have previously been surveyed.
2. Configure the “Determine Coordinate System” program
a. From the Programs menu, select Determine Coordinate System
b. Enter a name for the coordinate system. Hint – This name will be the identifier
for the combination of all the parameters that form the coordinate system for
this site.
c. Choose the job that contains WGS84 coordinates for the control points. Hint –
This is the job used for your observations on each point.
d. Choose the job that contains the control NEE coordinates. Hint – this could be
the same as the WGS84 Points job.
e. Choose the method that you will use.
i. Method: Normal. This method will allow you to include several
control points into the coordinate system determination
Note - Method: One Point Localisation. This method will only allow you to tie to
one control coordinate. This removes any error in the base station coordinate by
calculating a ‘shift’ in X, Y and Z, but it will not account for any rotation or scale
parameters that should be present. This guide follows the Normal method.
f. Press CONF (F2) to configure the default settings for the Determine
Coordinate System program.
Note – refer to the end of this guide for an explanation of the different settings
g. Press CONT (F1) to continue
3. Choose Transformation Type
a. Select the Transformation Type
i. Use One-Step to tie to an arbitrary site grid.
b. Select the Height Mode
i. Use Orthometric if you are tying to local site elevations
Note – Contact Global Survey Technical Support about height modes if you plan to
use a geoid model.
c. Press CONT (F1) to continue

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Quick Reference Guide # 4 Global Survey Limited

4. Choose Parameters
a. Select the Geoid Model to use. Hint – In most cases, no suitable geoid model
will exist.
b. Press CONT (F1) to continue
5. Match Points
Note – Use this table to choose observed WGS84 and known Local Grid points for the calculation.
Points will be drawn from the jobs selected in Steps 2c and 2d above.
a. Select NEW (F2) to add a new point pair to the list.
i. Choose a WGS84 observed point
Hint – it is possible to use SURVEY (F5) to observe on a control point
at this time if you have not already done so.
ii. Choose the corresponding Known 1D, 2D or 3D point
iii. Use Match Type to decide whether to use the point pair for Position &
Height (3D), Position-only (2D) or Height-only (1D) control.
b. Press CONT (F1) to accept the point pair and go back to the table
c. Repeat steps 5a and 5b until all points have been added.
d. Press CALC (F1) to calculate the results
6. Check Residuals
Note – Through a Least Squares process, residuals (similar to misclosures) are calculated on each
point. Use the size and distribution of the residuals and your knowledge of your local control and
accuracy requirements to determine which points to include and which to remove from the calculation.
a. Select MORE (F5) to toggle between residuals on heights and in plan.
i. Assess the size and distribution of the residuals
Hint – Erroneous control coordinates or observations “often” have
high residuals. ESC back to the Match Points table to toggle between
1D, 2D and 3D or remove points from the calculation to troubleshoot
the problem. IMPORTANT – make only one change at a time to avoid
confusion.
b. Select RESLT (F3) to view the results
i. Assess the size of the shifts, rotation and scale for position
Hint – Problems with plan coordinates often show up as an
“unexpectedly large” rotation, scale or shift. ESC back to the Match
Points table to toggle between 1D, 2D and 3D or remove points from
the calculation to troubleshoot the problem. IMPORTANT – make only
one change at a time to avoid confusion.
ii. Select PAGE (F6) to assess the size of the slopes and shift in height
Hint – Problems with heights often show up as an “unexpectedly
large” slope or height shift. ESC back to the Match Points table to
toggle between 1D, 2D and 3D or remove points from the calculation
to troubleshoot the problem. IMPORTANT – make only one change at
a time to avoid confusion.
7. Once satisfied with the coordinate system calculation, select CONT (F1) from the
Check Residuals page to store the coordinate system.
a. Name the coordinate system. Hint – The site coordinate system will be stored
on the instrument and can be used again in the future. Name the system so
that you will be able to easily recognize it again.
b. Select STORE (F1) to store the system

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Quick Reference Guide # 4 Global Survey Limited

Minimum recommended control requirements

End Known Known Use GPS to Suggested method

Requirement Parameters Coordinates occupy…
Work with Local Published Mixture of 1D, Min three NE Two-step (See
Circuit NEE Transformation 2D and 3D local local circuit & “QRG Determine
and Projection circuit and four elevation Coordinate System
elevation control control points NZ Local Circuits”
for details)
Work with local None Mixture of 1D, Min three NE One-step
arbitrary site 2D and 3D site site grid &
grid and grid control four elevation
assumed control points
elevation

Suggested control distribution

Height Control Plan Control

Note – for Two-step or One-step methods, each control point may be 1D, 2D or 3D.

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