We are in the process of changing over to a new instrument the Leica D8 which records inclination and distance in a single device, BlueTooth enables the data to be delivered directly to the spreadsheet. This data can then be sent to the 3d programme enabling the 3d splines to be viewed immediately on site. The new instrument will enable much faster and more accurate surveying, as part of the changes we are now using Calc the spreadsheet included in OpenOffice. Basic scripting within calc manipulates the data received from the laser measure to generate 3d coordinates required to build the models.
