MEMORANDUM

To: Arnold Richards, Branch Manager Engineers for Everyone

From: Aiman Ridwan, Assistant Manager Engineers for Everyone AR
Date: July 15, 2018
Subject: Recommendation on replacement for damaged Theodolites and Total Stations
This memorandum highlights the comparison of the equipment that is recommended to be
purchased. Three different types of Theodolites and Total Station are compared with each other
from three different supplier so that a proper decision can be made.
REASON FOR REPLACEMENT
On July 4th, our lab and survey equipment have found to be damaged during its transfer to
the Fort Nelson job site. The pallet that contains the equipment was accidentally dropped when the
forklift transferred it from another truck in the Supersafe Transport’s Kelowna warehouse. Upon
inspection by our representative and an adjustor from Kramer Insurance Company, we were
granted claim by the company a replacement for the damaged equipment.
COMPARISON OF ALTERNATIVES
Our main priority for the equipment replacement is Theodolites and Total Stations, two
unit each. We have identified three different type of Theodolites which are Topcon 7-Second
Digital Theodolite DT-207, Johnson Level 5-Second Digital Theodolite with Laser, and Leica
Digital Electronic Theodolite LDT-05. For this equipment, I referred to 5 different suppliers to
make most of the pricing range as well as the warranty given. To narrow down my
recommendation, I look for equipment that have long battery life, at least can operate under
extreme low weather as well as minimum 1 year of manufacturer’s warranty.
Table 1 Temperature range and Battery Life of Suggested Theodolite

Item Temperature Range (°C) Battery Life (hour)

Topcon 7-Second Digital -40 ~ 60 Up to 150 hours
Theodolite DT-207
Johnson Level 5-Second -40 ~ 60 Up to 36 hours
Digital Theodolite with Laser
Leica Digital Electronic -40 ~ 60 Up to 36 hours
Theodolite LDT-05
Table 2 Price Range and Link to the Supplier of Suggested Theodolite

Item Price Warranty period Supplier

(CAD) (Year)
Topcon 7-Second Digital 3,926.89 5 Engineer Supply [1]
Theodolite DT-207 5,103.00 5 GPSForestry Solusi [2]
4,531.04 5 Survey Supply Inc. [3]
Johnson Level 5-Second 1,703.40 3 Engineer Supply [4]
Digital Theodolite with Laser 2,065.89 3 Tiger Supplies [5]
1,634.37 1 Newegg [6]
Leica Digital Electronic 1,706.02 1 Engineer Supply [7]
Theodolite LDT-05 1,963.45 1 Tiger Supplies [8]
1,963.45 1 Allen Precision Equipment [9]
 Other than that, I also have identified three Total Stations that are suitable with our budget
and have minimum 1 year of warranty from different suppliers. They are Nikon DTM-322, Spectra
Focus 6, and Nikon NPL-322. The Total Stations can operate under low extreme weather, at least
-40°C and have long battery hours. For this equipment, I referred to 7 different suppliers found
online. The link to the supplier can be found in the Hyperlink section at the end of this
memorandum.
Table 3 Temperature range and Battery Life of Suggested Total Station

Item Temperature Range (°C) Battery Life (hour)

Nikon DTM-322 -40 ~ 55 Up to 6 hours
Spectra Focus 6 -40 ~ 60 Up to 19 hours
Nikon NPL-322 -40 ~ 60 Up to 4.5 hours
Table 4 Price Range and Link to the Supplier of Suggested Total Station

Item Price (CAD) Warranty period Supplier

(Year)
Nikon DTM-322 7,486.24 1 Ebay [10]
4,760.98 2 Tiger Supplies [11]
5,250.00 2 Cansel [12]
Spectra Focus 6 5,957.47 1 Geoland Survey [13]
7,995.00 2 Martin Instrument [14]
8,495.00 1 Survey Instrument Sales [15]
Nikon NPL-322 4,835.85 2 Geoland Survey [16]
5,877.35 1 Tiger Supplies [17]
5,109.03 2 Surveying Equipment Palace [18]
PROPOSED BUDGET
For starter, we were paid by the insurance company $10,000 as the assessed value of the
equipment. From the waybill number H2789 where it contained the detail of the damaged
equipment during the transportation, some of the item were Topcon 7-Second Digital Theodolite
DT-207 and Spectra Focus 6 Total Station. Our budget does not cover all the equipment that need
to be replaced, so we will come up with alternative for the equipment.
CONCLUSIONS
All of the equipment can operates at least at -40°C surrounding temperature. This is needed
as the survey equipment might be used under harsh weather such as during winter throughout
Canada. Having a long battery life span will help the equipment to last longer during its operation.
This can help to maintain consistency measurement upon measuring data on the site. Sometime it
helps to have a rechargeable battery as a power source so that we will reduce the need of purchasing
new battery. Since the equipment might be used under harsh weather, it is better to have longer
warranty period. Having 1 year period will let us use the equipment at least once if it is intended
to be used seasonally. Hence why, it is better to have long duration of warranty for the equipment.
RECOMMENDATIONS
This time, I suggested to purchase Johnson Level 5-Second Digital Theodolite with Laser,
equipment as well as Nikon DTM-322 Total Station at lower price relatively which is a great deal
for the lower current budget.
 Table 5 Total amount recommended in purchasing new equipment

Item Supplier Price (CAD) Unit Total (CAD)

Johnson Level 5-Second Digital Engineer Supply [4] 1,703.40 2 3406.80
Theodolite with Laser
Nikon DTM-322 Tiger Supplies [11] 4,760.98 2 9521.96
12928.76
This new suggestion still have a great feature without compromising its quality. It can still
operate at -40°C at least. The theodolite have shorter battery life but since we replaced it with a
rechargeable one, it is more suitable for a gadget that will be used repeatedly in long run. The
battery life of the new Total Station does not change that significantly and the warranty period is
still long enough, which were at least 2 year. More importantly, I manage to reduce the spending
approximately by $5,000, although we need an addition approximately $3,000. All and all, I hope
that this recommendation will be approved by the regional office.
I am available to discuss any questions you might have about my recommendations through
this e-mail, aimanridwan.e4e@gmail.com. I look forward to hearing back from you soon.
HYPERLINK
[1] https://www.engineersupply.com/Topcon-DT-207-7-Second-Digital-Theodolite-303216121.aspx
[2] https://www.gpsforestry-suppliers.com/Topcon-DT-207L-Digital-Theodolite
[3] http://www.surveysupplyinc.com/Topcon-7-Digital-Theodolite-DT-207/
[4] https://www.engineersupply.com/Johnson-Level-5-Second-Digital-Theodolite-with-Laser-40-6936.aspx
[5] https://www.tigersupplies.com/Products/Johnson-Level-5-Second-Electronic-Digital-Theodolite-with-
Laser__JOH40-6936.aspx
[6] https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16803279062&nm_mc=AFC-
C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-Tools%20-%20Other%20Hand-_-Johnson%20Level%20%20%20Tool-
_-03279062&cm_sp=&AID=10440897&PID=4051458&SID=
[7] https://www.engineersupply.com/Leica-Digital-Electronic-Theodolite-LDT-05.aspx
[8] https://www.tigersupplies.com/Products/Leica-Digital-Electronic-Theodolite-LDT-05__LEI6003830.aspx
[9] https://www.allenprecision.com/construction/theodolites/hardware/leica-ldt-05-digital-theodolite/
[10] https://www.ebay.com/p/Nikon-DTM-322-Prism-and-Reflectorless-Measurements-Total-Station-2-
Accuracy/26011680975
[11] https://www.tigersupplies.com/Products/Nikon-DTM-322-plus--Total-Station__NIKHQA46450-U.aspx
[12] https://www.cansel.ca/store/cansel/en/Industries/Geospatial-%26-Engineering/Optical-Total-
Stations/Conventional/Nikon-Dtm-322-Surveying-Station/p/510161
[13] http://www.geoland-surveying.com/index.php/total-station/spectra-precision/spectra-focus-6-5-second-reflectorless-
total-station-hna33550.html
[14] https://martininstrument.com/new-equipment/focus-6-5a-total-station.html
[15] https://surveyinstrumentsales.com/spectra-precision-focus-6-mechanical-total-station.html
[16] http://www.geoland-surveying.com/index.php/total-station/nikon/nikon-npl-322-2-second-reflectorless-total-station-
hqa46500.html
[17] https://www.tigersupplies.com/Products/Nikon-NPL-322-plus--P-Total-Station__SPEHQA46610-.aspx
[18] https://surveyinstrumentsales.com/nikon-optical-surveying-npl-322-series-total-
station.html?gclid=CjwKCAjwp7baBRBIEiwAPtjwxIM3s39SwuvE2u6Dp23GZPP0_zE2HTm_L1SWrHNp2AX30
NjZNvTnUBoCwDIQAvD_BwE