TxDOT GPS User’s Manual - Pennsylvania State University

1 TxDOT GPSUser s ManualRevised August 2005 2005 by Texas Department of TransportationAll rights reservedTxDOT GPS user s ManualAugust 2005 Manual NoticesManual Notice 2005-1To: Users of TxDOT information ResourcesFrom: Judy Skeen, P. E., Director, information Systems DivisionManual: TxDOT GPS user s ManualEffective Date: August 1, 2005 PurposeTo provide the Global Positioning Systems (GPS) information governing the operationstandards used by Texas Department of Transportation ( TxDOT ). These standards are thepolicies and guidelines set forth by TxDOT regarding Global Positioning Systems processesand intent of this Manual is for use by TxDOT employees and TxDOT of this Manual provides TxDOT employees and contractors with the concepts,policies, standards, procedures, and practices that govern Global Positioning Manual provides information on the use of Global Positioning System (GPS)technology to perform densification surveys at the State and District level down to small-scale mapping projects.

2 The Manual provides an index for quickly locating specificinformation in the field. Additionally, Appendix B provides a glossary for definitions online TxDOT GPS user s Manual supersedes the TxDOT GPS Manual of Practice,dated June are encouraged to print this Manual double-sided. To ensure Manual currency, checkthe publishing date of printed manuals against the Manual found on the General ServicesDivision (Online Manuals) address your comments, concerns, or questions regarding this Manual s informationpolicies, guidelines, procedures, and practices to the TxDOT Standing Committee onSurveying (SCOS).Copyright NoticeThis Manual and this revision:Copyright 2005 by Texas Department of TransportationPublished by the information Systems Division (ISD)GPS user 's Manual1-1 TxDOT 8/2005 Chapter 1 IntroductionContents:Section 1 1-2 Section 2 Chapter Descriptions.

3 1-4 Chapter 1 IntroductionSection 1 OverviewGPS user 's Manual1-2 TxDOT 8/2005 Section 1 OverviewSummaryThe TxDOT GPS user s Manual is referred to as the GPS user s Manual through allchapters of this Manual . The GPS user s Manual contains information that governs theoperational standards used by Texas Department of Transportation ( TxDOT ). Thesestandards are the policies and guidelines set forth by TxDOT regarding Global PositioningSystems (GPS) processes and 2 of this chapter presents all chapter GPS user s Manual is primarily intended to be accessed online. The online versiontakes precedence over printed copies, changes, updates and edits. However, paper copiesmay be used in the field.

4 Copies should be checked for currency date. Caution should betaken not to rely on the printed version due to ongoing updates and/or information within this Manual is governed by the laws and standards of informationsecurity. Please refer to the information Security Manual for specific security of AuthorityThe following documents authorize the TxDOT GPS user s Manual and the activities itcovers: TxDOT Directive 5-92, TxDOT Manual System Executive Order 1-89, Policy and Procedures Communication TxDOT Policy Statement 2-96, information SecurityLaws and StandardsThe GPS user s Manual provides the information that TxDOT GPS and survey resourceusers need to comply with applicable legal and policy requirements.

5 Based on federal andstate laws, State standards and agency policy, this Manual draws upon the following: Texas Government Code, Section , Requirement to Use State Property forState Purposes Texas Government Code, Section , Liability for Property LossChapter 1 IntroductionSection 1 OverviewGPS user 's Manual1-3 TxDOT 8/2005 Purpose of the TxDOT GPS user s ManualThis Manual is intended for use by TxDOT surveyors as well as consultants. This manualwas developed to provide TxDOT employees and contractors with the concepts, policies,standards, procedures, and practices that govern Global Positioning System (GPS) is not the intention of this Manual to document all technical procedures used within Manual provides guidance to the surveyor in the use of GPS technology to performdensification surveys at the State and district level down to small-scale mapping projects.

6 Itsets out the criteria and specifications for TxDOT and consultant surveyors to of ChaptersChapters 2-8 are similar in organization and address a general aspect of GPS surveying andrelated information . Each chapter has: a chapter overview numbered sections for major topics unnumbered subsections describing concepts and policies relevant to the section chapters also contain procedures with step-by-step directions for successfullycompleting tasks related to the section sections are numbered sequentially within each chapter and contain relatedinformation associated with the chapter topic. Each chapter is titled to describe its contain detailed information that describes concepts, policies, standards, andprocedures related to the section topic.

7 Concepts and policies a user needs to know tosuccessfully complete a procedure are presented before the procedure, and procedures arepresented in tables with step-by-step (step/action) directions for completing a Manual is designed to be published and accessed electronically. The Manual is dividedinto an introductory chapter and chapters that address specific GPS TxDOT GPS user s Manual OrganizationElementPurposeChapter 1 Identifies and provides Manual information and organization. Additionally,it identifies the authorities, laws, and standards that govern the 2 8 Provide TxDOT GPS policies and proceduresAppendix AReferencesAppendix BGlossaryChapter 1 IntroductionSection 2 Chapter DescriptionsGPS user 's Manual1-4 TxDOT 8/2005 Section 2 Chapter DescriptionsAbout this SectionThe following subsections describe the contents of Chapters 2-8 of the GPS user s hyperlinks found in this section will lead the reader to the Overview section of 2, BackgroundChapter 2 provides background on surveying with GPS, including accuracy, error sources,and the process for handling errors.

8 It presents information on surveying vertical networkswith GPS and the basic differences of conventional and GPS 3, Accuracy StandardsChapter 3 discusses local and network accuracy and provides information on the concepts,guidelines, standards and specifications, as well as methodologies associated with GPSsurvey accuracy standards. Additionally, it provides tables to illustrate coordinate tolerancesand historical 4, Equipment and ResourcesChapter 4 presents information regarding the use of GPS instruments and equipment. Itincludes discussions on the requirements for accurate and consistent data collection for avariety of instruments and equipment. This chapter also provides information on 5, Network DesignChapter 5 discusses network design and includes the determination of the number andlocation of existing control stations for network constraints, as well as selection of newproject control stations, and relative dispersion of network 1 IntroductionSection 2 Chapter DescriptionsGPS user 's Manual1-5 TxDOT 8/2005 Chapter 6, GPS Survey SpecificationsChapter 6 covers specifications involved in the planning of a project, field data acquisitionmethods, field survey operations and procedures, data processing, analysis of the data, anddocumentation.

9 This chapter also provides information on monumentation, survey methods,field survey operations and procedures, and data 7, Units, Data, and MetadataChapter 7 provides information regarding the units used in TxDOT work, horizontal andvertical datum, adjustment factors, requirements for delivering metadata lists and files, andprovisions for conversions and 8, Project Documentation and Deliverables to TxDOTC hapter 8 TxDOT requirements for project documentation and deliverables are outlined inthis chapter. Specifications on technical reports, digital data; control point data sheets andvalidation surveys are A, ReferencesAppendix A contains a comprehensive list of references used in the preparation of B, GlossaryAppendix B contains extensive GPS survey related terms and in this Manual may appear as red, underlined text or as Web addresses.

10 Thesehyperlinks take the reader to related information found within this Manual , another Manual ,or outside the TxDOT Manual 1 IntroductionSection 2 Chapter DescriptionsGPS user 's Manual1-6 TxDOT 8/2005 How to Get HelpThe district survey coordinators are available to answer questions and discuss proceduresand specifications outlined in this Manual . Additionally, the information Systems Divisionprovides a helpdesk number, which offers survey help from the Automated Survey SupportUnit. Users may access the helpdesk by calling (512) 302-2350, press 3 for engineeringsupport, and then 4 for surveying GPS technology advances, changes in the Manual will be necessary.