06/07/2025
Is it Really a Total Station? Letโs Set the Record Straight.
Some devices today are advertised as โTotal Stationsโ just because they have a laser, a camera, and GNSS โ and say they can measure up to 70 meters.
But in real surveying, thatโs not enough to be called a Total Station.
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A real Total Station has:
Angle measurement (Theodolite)
Distance measurement (EDM โ can go beyond 1000m)
Built-in system to calculate and store 3D coordinates on site
๐ Want to know more? Check Trimble, CivilToday, or Wikipedia.
โ A simple laser rangefinder is not the same as an EDM. Real EDMs โ like the one inside South Total Stations โ are made for long distances and tough field conditions, with millimeter-level accuracy.
๐ก GNSS is helpful, but it canโt fully replace angle and distance measurement. Standard GNSS receivers often struggle in tunnels, under zinc roofs, near tall buildings, or beneath tree canopies โ where satellite signals are weak or blocked.
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Thatโs why Southโs hybrid Total Station + GNSS solutions are designed for real-world job sites. With advanced signal tracking and angle/distance integration, South GNSS can maintain performance even under trees, between buildings, and in partially covered areas โ places where most systems fail.
๐ฏ The Bottom Line:
Just having a laser doesnโt make something a Total Station. Donโt be fooled by fancy terms. South has been making trusted, high-precision Total Stations for over 30 years โ used by engineers, schools, and contractors around the world.
Choose wisely. Choose proven. Choose tools made for professionals.
