How can I survey a virtual offset point

Why do I need to set a virtual offset point?

In some situations, it's impossible for a GNSS receiver to receive multiple satellite signals with good strength while carrying a fixed position. This can become very inconvenient if you have to survey where you actually can't. Let's say you need to be at the entrance of a house or at the end of an alley. You may have experienced that your fix status is not possible under a low roof at the spot you need to be, or, you simply don't have physical access to that specific location. You can work safely in these situations since this problem is solved with our new function: called "virtual point" or "offset point". When you make your virtual offset point, you don't actually need to be exactly there! That's why this function is so unique. You don't need to have a fix status at this exact point, or you don't need to walk to this virtual point. Below, you see a picture of a situation where the fix obviously couldn't be achieved, right under a low roof. Here, the virtual point comes in handy.

picture 1

How does this concept with virtual points work?

Before you start setting your virtual point on the map, you need to make two reference points. With these two points, you set your third point, which will be the virtual point. The third point can only be made with the two reference points. This is because of the calculations the UNI has to go through to make this virtual point. Below, you see a situation where you can better use the virtual point function for safety reasons. Simply make the two reference points and set the distance you prefer!

picture 2

How it works in UNI-Connect

Open your project and make sure you have a fix status to set the two reference points. You indeed need to have a fix for the first two points, depending on project settings. These points need to have a fixed position, because they calculate the virtual point. Without these two , the virtual point can't be calculated correctly. In the picture above, you see how you could make two reference points to make a virtual point. Now, we will show you how you set the three points in UNI-Connect, step-by-step. Now that you have opened your project and have your fix status, you press on the icon with the pinpoint. Four functions will pop up. Choose the one with the arrow icon at the top.

picture 3

Now when you press on it, you can start making your first two points. Just as you usually do, walk to the spot you want to survey. In this case, we walk near to the spot that is uncomfortable to reach. Just as you see in picture 2, we set our reference points as far as possible to the place that isn't (comfortably) reachable. Press the "Arrow icon" to start with your first reference point. You can only press on the "Plus icon" when you have a fix that is set as the preferred accuracy. When you have set your point, you can start making the second one. Hold at least 2-meter distance between the two reference points. When you have set the second point, you will see the following screen:

Picture 4

You see the new window where you can set the distance in centimetres in picture 4. This is the distance between the two reference points and the virtual point. So simply explained: When you have placed your second reference point, you can set the distance for the third point. In this example, we take a distance of 300 centimetres, which is 3 meters. Now you can see that the virtual point is placed with 3 meters distance from the second point, in the direction of the line with the first two. The points in picture 5 are actually the same as in picture 2.

Before saving, you can choose whether you want to keep the complete line or just the virtual offset point you made, that's up to you!

Picture 5
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