Short duration training standards

Total station for construction

Grant rate/tier:
Grant Tier 2
Grant code:
GET3407
Last updated:
28 Mar 2025

Standard detail

Duration

18 hours

Standard type

Short Duration

Occupation

Surveying and setting out

Occupational Relevance

Training delivered against this standard would be relevant to the following occupational group(s): Operative and Craft; Supervision; Management and Leadership

  • Students studying Civil Engineering or Construction Management at any level
  • Trainee and Gradua

Standard Classification

Lifetime

Purpose

This standard covers the principles of using a total station for site surveying and setting out. These principles can be applied to all types of construction including earthworks, roads, houses, buildings, foundations, piles, structural steel, structures, and reinforced concrete. Scope:

  • Set up
  • Calibration checks
  • Sources of error
  • Topographical Surveys
  • Installing Primary and Secondary Control Points
  • Using different functions
  • Different methods for Plumbing Columns and Walls
  • Data Management and Transfer
  • Capabilities and Limitations

Instruction Supervision

As a minimum, course instructors must be able to demonstrate that, in relation to this standard, they have:

  • A train the trainer or instructional techniques course certificate
  • Successfully completed training to this standard
  • A verifiable CV demonstrating a minimum of 2 years’ experience as a site engineer across a broad range of construction projects (civils, building etc.) and current experience / CPD in the use of modern topographical equipment

Delivery

Delivery may be in an on or off the job environment with outdoor space to support a range of relevant practical related tasks. All materials and equipment must be of a suitable quality and quantity for learner to achieve learning outcomes and must comply with relevant legislation. The class size and learner/instructor ratio must allow training to be delivered in a safe manner and enable learner to achieve the learning outcomes.

  • face to face learning environment only (Such as Classroom/Workshop etc.)
  • a blend of face to face and virtual
  • a blend of face to face and e-learning This standard is predominately Practical This standard is considered to be entry level

Assessment

Informally Assessed For the successful completion of training, the trainer must be satisfied that the learner has achieved all learning outcomes.

Quality Assurance

Assured Quality Assurance against this standard will require initial approval of the training organisation and their content mapped to the standard. CITB will also conduct an approval intervention, either desk-based or centre visit, to ensure the Training Organisation can meet the requirements of the Training Standard. Approved Training Organisations will be required to present information on records of training and assessment upon request to CITB for desk-based analysis. They will also be visited annually by the CITB Quality Assurance team.

Learning Outcomes

The learner will be able to:
  • Set up the total station over a point
  • Carry out relevant calibration checks. (horizontal and vertical collimation error, trunnion axis, prism constant, optical/ laser plummet, diaphragm orientation)
  • List the possible sources of error when using a total station
  • Measure the horizontal distance and level differences between points
  • Stake out points of known co-ordinates using the stake out function
  • Stake out points in relation to a baseline using the reference line function
  • Import and export data
  • Discuss the relationship between Total Station and GNSS equipment
  • Explain the scenarios when you would choose mechanical and robotic total stations
  • List techniques for improving and checking your accuracy and precision
  • View, edit, add, and delete data
  • Install a network of primary control points from scratch (traverse)
  • Install accurate secondary control points (retro targets)
  • Create a local coordinate system
  • Measure and set out reduced levels with the total station
  • Describe a range of methods for plumbing columns and walls
  • Set the position and orientation of the total station using the resection
  • Set the position and orientation by setting up over a known point and referencing another known point
  • Take a topographical survey and record the results systematically