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The ZipLevel High Precision Altimeter

By Mike Lewis, LS – Young Professionals Committee Member

When it comes to field work in the land surveying
profession, it has typically been a two-person crew doing TECH
the work. In some cases, three or more surveyors are
needed to accomplish certain tasks. With the advent of TALK
robotic total stations, high density laser scanners, drones
and GPS equipment, there are many tasks that can be
accomplished with one surveyor operating solo in the the instrument yourself on the work site or before you
field. But what about vertical work? Sure, you can use leave the office. The unipod can also be used to take your
a bipod that clamps onto a bar coded staff or level rod measurements to avoid having to kneel down over and
and have one person run back and forth between the over again on rough terrain.
level and the rod. But is that efficient? Certainly not for
differential levelling where control is being established. It There are several different functions you can set the
also brings about too many possibilities for human error ZipLevel to perform, some of which are known as hidden
to be introduced into your level run. How about for site functions. The one our office uses the most is the elevation
work? Or field edits where you need to pick up elevations function where you can preset the display to a known
in hard-to-reach places? Or performing an elevation benchmark’s true elevation. Every point you place the
survey to produce an elevation certificate? That is where module on will read the direct elevation of that point.
the ZipLevel comes into play. Developed by a professional It is a modern day Lenker Rod! The maximum height
engineer by the name of Dennis Vories, the ZipLevel is difference you can read is 20’ above or below the base
a “precision pressurized hydrostatic altimeter” according module. In the precision mode, you can read as much as
to the website for Technidea. Technidea is the company 4’ above or below the base with an internal precision of
Vories created to build and market the ZipLevel. 0.005 inches. You can store data onboard and download
to your PC if you desire as well. You can carry elevations
The ZipLevel consists of a base module and a measuring from one point to another, you can even set the module to
module. A 100’ length of cord connects the two. Inside hold a reading temporarily. This is a good way to get the
the cord is an inert liquid under pressure that acts to detect elevation of the manhole cover that always seems to have a
the slight changes in pressure between the measuring car parked over it. It can even record up to 130+ readings
module and its base. In its standard function, the display to get a rough average of the amount of fill needed below a
will show you the direct difference in height. You place the proposed concrete slab, or the rough volume of a fill pile.
measuring module on the desired zero point, zero out the
display, and then place the module on any given surface The ZipLevel has many uses. It comes at a reasonable
to see the difference in height between your reference cost considering the number of ways it can be utilized
point and what you are measuring too. In this mode, by one person in the field where normally you may need
the ZipLevel just became a laser level you can use to set two. It is another tool for your field toolbox that will
concrete forms. Or to level out an area to pour a concrete save you time and money. Go to www.ziplevel.com for
pad for a shed. The elevations you read are displayed in more information.
any number of scales to within one-half inch of internal
precision. The ZipLevel also provides the added benefit of
not needing line of sight back to the rotary laser. Using the
4’ unipod that comes with the ZipLevel, you can calibrate

EMPIRE STATE SURVEYOR / VOL. 57 • NO 4/ 2021 • JULY/AUGUST 29