We have previously provided bespoke online training through the Coronavirus Pandemic and were back on site in 2021 with reduced in-person training. In 2022 however, the team have been back at the university at full capacity.

The Challenge

The University needed support for 180 students to be trained in using levels, total stations and GNSS in a practical setting, utilising latest survey technology found on-site.
We had previously worked with the university to develop a course that would train the students, and this was altered to then suit the requirements for the new set of students and new ways of working. The students were studying different courses, so it was important to have practical elements that they could all relate to. This also meant that we could incorporate their new university building, the Robotarium, into the course.

The Solution

We provided the services of three members of our expert training and support team, who each specialised in one of the pieces of equipment the university wanted to train their students on. Course notes were also given after the practical work to give background information and support learning.

To begin, we produced an overview video for the group to watch before the team arrived on site. This covered the theory of what they were about to learn with us, which included levelling procedure, setting out procedure and survey using GNSS procedure. They were able to access this video throughout and had access after the practical training.

Each task on the equipment needed to be set up beforehand to ensure it was ready to be used each day. That included setting up the software on the equipment with pre-set designs, ensuring the equipment was fully charged, and that any assets were in full working order.

Through the week, three tasks were completed by all students.

The group were taught all the essential elements of how to use a level, including tripod setup and the height of collimation booking method. A hypothetical levelling task was completed along a footpath next to a stream, where the water level would rise in the stream after heavy rain. The students needed to establish the lowest points on the path to plot the level and create a long section on CAD or graph paper.

Our team had designed a mini housing estate based on a miniature version of Edinburgh castle for the students. The students were then taught how to use a Total Station and then were tasked, in groups, with setting out the 28 points with flag markers. They then were asked to calculate the area of the building using the coordinates stored during setting out, and compare it against the design area.

The final task was to survey The National Robotarium at Heriot Watt University using a GS18 GPS, with a secondary task to extend the car park to get the students to think about what could be done with the resulting survey

The Results

The team had several positive comments from the students on the practical element of the training, with many commenting that it was extremely useful to use the equipment rather than studying theory in a classroom. They also enjoyed using the state-of-the-art equipment and learning most efficient and useful survey techniques.

Despite adverse weather conditions, the team managed to complete the course on time. They also worked with the university to fit the practical elements around the students existing lecture structure.