ABSTRACT
If a GPS survey is carefully planned, it usually progresses smoothly. The tech nology has virtually conquered two stumbling blocks that have defeated the plans of conventional surveyors for generations. Inclement weather does not disrupt GPS observations, and a lack of intervisibility between stations is of no concern whatsoever, at least in static GPS. Still, GPS is far from so independent of condi tions in the sky and on the ground that the process of designing a survey can now be reduced to points-per-day formulas, as some would like. Even with fall ing costs, the initial investment in GPS remains large by most surveyors stan dards. However, there is seldom anything more expensive in a GPS project than a surprise.
