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CAD for site engineers

We have doubled the grant rates for short course tiers 1 – 3. To address rising costs, you can now receive higher rates on course achievements from 1st April 2023

Grant Tier

Achievement date before 1 April 2023

Achievement date on or after 1 April 2023

Grant Tier 1

Grant Tier 1 Refresher

£30

£15

£60

£30

Grant Tier 2

Grant Tier 2 Refresher

£70

£35

£140

£70

Grant Tier 3

Grant Tier 3 Refresher

£120

£60

£240

£120

Overview

This standard focuses on skills which can be used to optimise control point accuracy, collect and manipulating survey data, set out using design information and calculating quantities. The content is relevant to all types of construction including earthworks, roads, houses, buildings, foundations, piles, structural steel, structures and reinforced concrete.

Duration

Minimum 2 days of 6 learning hours per day

Purpose/scope

The purpose of this standard is to enable the candidate to develop skills which can be used to optimise control point accuracy, collect and manipulating survey data, set out using design information and calculating quantities. The content is relevant to all types of construction including earthworks, roads, houses, buildings, foundations, piles, structural steel, structures and reinforced concrete.

The scope covers:

  • set up a logical filing system
  • import data, images, strings, polylines and design surfaces
  • re-reduce raw data and re-create the co-ordinates of the points
  • check accuracy
  • retrospectively attribute codes to points or recode points
  • annotate levels
  • set up code tables
  • transform local coordinates into OS and vice versa
  • create annotated sections
  • select points from an electronic file and export them to a setting out schedule
  • create a contoured plan 
  • compare volumes between subsequent surveys.
  • use least squares adjustment to analyse results including control point data
  • insert or edit break lines retrospectively
  • carry out visual checks on 3D models
  • render slab levels and create a ‘heat map’ of as-built Vs design levels
  • select layers 
  • check and convert units
  • create drawings and deliverables
  • technical and contractual pitfalls.

Occupational relevance

Training delivered against this standard would be relevant to the following occupational group(s):

  • operative and craft
  • supervision
  • management and leadership.

Candidate pre-requisites

This course is for people who are confident using the Total Station and/or Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), have a working knowledge of 3D coordinate geometry and construction drawings and who have basic computer literacy.

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
  • a verifiable CV demonstrating extensive 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 
  • a degree or equivalent qualification in Civil Engineering or Engineering Surveying or similar and have successfully completed training to this standard
  • at least 2 years relevant industrial experience.

Delivery

Delivery may be in an on or off the job environment.

All materials and equipment must be of a suitable quality and quantity for candidates to achieve learning outcomes, and must comply with relevant legislation.

The class size and candidate/instructor ratio must allow training to be delivered in a safe manner and enable candidates to achieve the learning outcomes. 

The following delivery methods shall be used in the delivery of this standard:

  • classroom 

This standard is considered to contain 51% or more practical training.

Assessment

For the successful completion of training, candidates must complete an end of course practical assessment or knowledge test that measures the learning outcomes and has a pass or fail criteria.

Quality assurance

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 (ATOs) 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.

Renewal/refresher

There are no mandatory renewal or recommended refreshment requirements for this standard.

Approval date

November 2018

Review cycle

Either on request or in 3 years from approval date.

Learning outcomes

The candidate will be able to: 

  • Describe the characteristics of different file types (e.g. DWG, DXF, DTM, CSV)
  • Set up a logical filing system
  • Import data from the total station
  • Tabulate data
  • Re-reduce raw data and re-create the co-ordinates of the points
  • Check the accuracy of the instrument set-up and control points based on measured data
  • Retrospectively attribute codes to points or recode points
  • Annotate levels
  • Set up code tables
  • Transform local coordinates into OS and vice versa
  • Create annotated sections
  • Import images
  • Select points from an electronic file and export them to a setting out schedule
  • Create a contoured plan 
  • Compare volumes between subsequent surveys
  • Use least squares adjustment to analyse results including control point data
  • Retrospectively insert or edit break lines
  • Carry out visual checks on 3D models
  • Render slab levels and create a ‘heat map’ of as-built Vs design levels
  • Select layers to isolate the relevant information
  • Check and convert units
  • Import data into the total station including strings, polylines and design surfaces
  • Describe the potential technical and contractual pitfalls of working with electronic information as opposed to hard copy drawings
  • Create drawings and deliverables and present them correctly.

Additional information

Training delivered against this standard would be relevant to the following occupational group(s):

  • Students studying Civil Engineering or Construction Management at any level
  • Trainee Engineers and Construction Managers who are already involved in a setting out role
  • Graduate Engineers and Construction Managers
  • Those who use a total station and would like to increase their productivity and range of skills
  • Those who have completed the 3-day course ‘Total station for Construction’ and would like to develop advanced skills.