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rod as you normally would, without the need to do the calculations
to find the vertical distance as described above.
The 15ft Vert Rod has an advantage over the traditional way of measuring
or calculating inverts. Each side of the rod is already calibrated for the
TECH
cosine of the assigned angle. The rod is already calibrated to take the
TALK above-described equation into consideration the measurement read
on the rod is the vertical distance. There is no need to do any further
calculations. The surveyor accomplishes this by holding the rod at the
A New Tool for Invert Measurements desired angle using the level bubble on the corresponding calibrated
By Ashley Metz, NYSAPLS Young Professionals Committee side and then simply observing the measured distance. This results in a
more accurate reading and the distance can be measured from multiple
In today’s fast paced technology race, it is very easy to focus on the angles to reduce errors in the field as multiple observations at different
newest technologies that accomplish tasks in new ways that are more angles will result in the same vertical distance being measured.
efficient and effective. A lot of focus is generally directed on new
methods that use new technologies and tools. There are however, The rod also has a digital level on the uncalibrated side of the rod
some parts of the job that have not changed. Measuring inverts is a allowing for a vertical distance to be calculated using a custom angle.
task that many in our industry find monotonous, but it is required This feature can also be used to verify the measurements observed on the
for many jobs and the process can be difficult to do accurately. As calibrated sides of the rod simply by manually calculating the inverted
a simple review of the process, the calculation to find an invert of a distance after using the recorded observed angle and slope distance.
pipe is as follows: with a defined angle, a measurement of the slope Included with the rod is a slide marker, this can be used to determine
distance would be taken, that measurement of the slope distance pipe sizes and it can be used to mark the depth of the pipe then the
would then be multiplied by the cosine of the defined angle (Invert = rod can be placed on the top of the pipe and the resulting difference
Slope Distance x cos (defined angle)). This equation is used in many in the two observed measurements is the pipe’s size.
other aspects of surveying as well.
Tools that drastically improve a surveyor’s productivity are easily
Thankfully, there is a company that was willing to step up to the adopted into the surveyor’s tool belt. Technologies such as Robotic
challenge and create a new method for measuring inverts, including Total Stations, drafting programs like CAD or Carlson and LiDAR
developing a tool to accomplish this task. This new technology allows have all become essential parts of the surveying profession. The use
for quicker and more accurate measurements of inverts. of the newly developed 15ft Vert Rod has the potential to not only
Accurate Inverts recently introduced the 15ft Vert Rod, a calibrated improve the accuracy of work done in the field, it also would make the
measuring rod with each side of the four-sided rod being calibrated process more efficient.
to a common recessed pipe angle between 0 and 30 degrees. This new For more information or to order the 15ft Vert Rod please visit:
patented tool can be used to find the depth of a structure using the https://accurateinverts.com/.

EMPIRE STATE SURVEYOR / VOL. 57 • NO 2/ 2021 • MARCH/APRIL 15