Eddie Haynes

Thanks for the advice, Lewis and Clark would be proud. So I guess I'd use the laser level for a vertical reading and get a GPS for horizontal? I also wouldn't like to be able to write baseline document reports for larger areas. Can anyone recommend a GPS receiver? I have been checking out the geneq isxBlue, I'd like to achieve both vertical and horizontal accuracy, but something cheaper would be better.

I'm trying to figure out how I can collect elevations and other site data necessary to make landscape models with 2' contoursby myself, without having to hire a surveyor for smaller/residential projects. Is it possible to use something like the Geneq isxBlue? If so, what else would I need besides the receiver, what kind of program would I also need to purchase to make the data useable? I'd really like to be able to use VW Landmark, but I just can't figure a good way to get useful data to work with. I'd like to be efficient as possible without having to get a degree in surveying. Is there a combination of devices like a laser level and GPS? Even that seems like a lot of extra work to enter points into VW Landmark, but if that is the best way, I'd like to know. Even if I got $20,000 + to buy a total station, could I learn to use that on my own and what else is needed to accompany it to collect useful data? thanks for all your advice Eddie