Measuring Devices

[icall]

Hi everybody

I have recently done a couple of factuals where I needed to measure roadways and such and was wondering what everybody else uses to do this.

Obviously at the moment I am using the old tape measure but as I was born lazy I am thinking "there must be a better way"

I priced a simple survey iutfit at $12k but this is way too much.

I was thinking of experimenting with a "trundle wheel" like we used at school back in the days when slates and chalk were all the go.

The main job in question required photos of the roadway and mapping for 400m either side of the POI.

This might I think work for bigger distances where acurracy to the nth degree isnt so crucial; Obviously for smaller distances you still use the tape measure.

So, has anybody out there tried one or what suggestions do you have?

[Syd]

Mate go to Bunnings and get yourself a measuring wheel - $100 for a larger one and $30 for a smaller one that fits in a little carry bag...they both do the trick

On CTP jobs I usually take photos at 10, 25, 50, 100 and 200 metre distance from POI so a wheel is a must in these instances

You will also get yourself killed measuring road widths with a tape measure,man  

Cheers
Syd

[justlookin]

and don't forget to wear a safety vest.

Also when you are photographing anything....for some reason (which I don't know) the photos must always be taken in landscape.

[icall]

Thanks Syd, will go and have a look at Bunnings today for a measuring wheel.

That was going to be my next question as to where do I get one. I had  googled trundle wheels and found s school supply place; but Bunnings means I can have one today. Bugger to be impatient isnt it.

Justlookin, from my experience as a professional photographer I would say insurance companies want landscape photographs is that a landscape photo taken with a "standard lens" (50mm for the old 35mm cameras and 38mm for modern digitals) will be what you see when looking at the same scene looking directly ahead with your eyes.

And yes it is definately good advice to always wear a safety vest so that some other investigator doesnt have to do a factual on a squished PI.

I always use my big red van with the lights on and hazard lights blaring too. I dont want to take any chances.

Thanks for the info folks.

[justlookin]

Thanks for the info on photograph layout Icon!

Everybody should always remember - your safety is always paramount!

[brad]

you probably already bought a wheel, but I thought I would mention the ultrasonic digital measures. They are sold on graysonline.com.au