Electronic Recording and Measurement

Here are a few links on certification, training and use of electronic recording devices and electronic measurement in field events.

Electronic Recording

FieldLynx Quick Start Guides

Additional Electronic Recording materials

Electronic Measurement

USATF Officials Committee/Clinic materials:

Protocols for training officials to use Electronic Measurement of the long throws
Recommendations for Training Officials on Electronic Measurement Devices
Vertical Jumps by Jim McGoin pocket guide
Committee recommendations defining positions needed to use electronic measuring devices and the testing and certification of officials to fill these positions, committee report.

Gill Measurement Guides

Additional Electronic Measurement

Electronic Measurement Device (EMD) Set-Up Protocol
Electronic Recording Device (ERD) and Electronic Measurement Device (EMD) certification checklist
Example of Effect of Invalid Calibration Data on Electronic Measurements in Throws -calculating using law of cosines
2010 IAAF FORM OF CONFORMITYThis is the required IAAF form. It is similar the USATF Laser Measurement Device Certification form
2009 Laser Measurement Device Certification - Throws (example used during 2009 USA Outdoor Championships)
2007 Laser Measurement Device Certification - Throws (example used during 2007 USA Outdoor Championships)
Mini-prism extensionWhen measuring in sand or tall grass, this extension raises the mini-prism 6" (15cm).
What total stations work with LaserLynx? Here's an unoffical list.
Click here to view a photo of the equipment shipped to the 2009 USA National Outdoor Championship in Eugene.
LaserLynx setup with a PocketPC - 36 images demonstrate the steps you need to get the LaserLynx running on a Pocket PC.
Remote Distance Measurement - use the Pentax total station to measure throws without a handheld device.
Missing Line Measurement - use the GoWin TKS-202 total station to measure throws without a handheld device. Thanks to Scott Rose.
Throws Adjustment Chart - Use this chart to when using the RDM or MLM method, to quickly subtract the circle radius from the measurement. Thanks to Duane Shaul.
LaserLynx setup on a Tablet PC - notes on setting up a Fujistu Stylistic ST5020D Windows Tablet PC.
NFHS Presentation (1/18/2008)
Here's the law of cosines formula (from Wikipedia):

Miscellaneous

Field Event Boards (FEBs - that’s scoreboards to you and me)
Tool Tips for circular vials (article from Jul 2007, Point of Beginning)
LaserLynx Lite Operator's Manual
Leica Distro A5 User Manual
Pentax Total Station specifications and user manuals
Mato Total Station user manual
The HandEra 330 palm pilot and Pentax 325N Total Station takes approximately 14 seconds acquire the data from the total station and calculate the distance of the throw. Additional time is needed to locate the target by the operator.
Automatic Target Tracking (this is at the top of my wish list.)
Y-cable hookup. A scoreboard may be run directly from the Palm unit . Here's a description on how to use a serial y-cable to attach the Palm unit to a wired scoreboard and the total station. The same technique may be used to run a scoreboard and wind gauge for the horizontal jumps.
Fingertip Stylus - The fingertip stylus seems to speed up the data entry on a Palm unit. Perhaps, that's because you don't need to fumble looking for the palm stylus. Click on the image to find out where to buy them.
Leica GPS Technical Reference Manual. System 500 is used to receive signals from GPS satellites which are then processed to obtain a position on the earth's surface.
Leica SKI-PRO Manual User manual for SKI-Pro, Static-KInematic-Professional GPS software for post-processing and management of GPS data. SKI-Pro is the complete GPS office software package that accompanies Leica Geosystems GPS System 500 Hardware.
2/2008 jkuo: Purchased a used HP iPAQ RX 1950 on eBay for $150 delivered. Purchased a serial cable from SERIALIO.COM for less than $30 delivered. Added LaserLynx software and tested with the Pentax Total Station. I found it measures and calculates in 8 seconds (compared to the HandEra which does the same task in 14 seconds.)
TimeTronics (Belgium: sports timing products including EDM)
On the quality of distance measurements in athletics throwing events by M. Tsakiri, M. P. Stewart, A. Snow and J. Karabelas (appeared in Survey Review Vol. 38, No. 296. April 2005)
Distance measurement in athletic throwing events is fundamentally a surveying problem which should follow the appropriate quality control procedures. This paper discusses the measurement procedure adopted by the IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federations) for throwing events, with particular emphasis on the javelin event. Published National Survey Standards are applied to form models of the errors associated with the IAAF procedure. The effect of these random error models on measured throwing distances is discussed statistically with probabilities of ‘miscarriages of justice’ (one athlete throwing less far than another but being awarded a longer distance by the officials) being presented. Finally some comments and recommendations regarding the IAAF measurement specifications are made.
A series or articles by Leica feature electronic measurements athletics: Decathlon world record, Distance measurements, Distance of throws, Training - Decathlon, Sporting glory
SEIKO Optical Distance Measuring Equipment DM-300
Measures the Distance in Field Events Accurately and Quickly Using Infrared Beam
Here's a page from the SEIKO Sports Timing Catalog. There must have been an error in translation. Infrared Beam should be replaced by Laser Beam. The device can interface with a display (model ST-306.). It's interesting to note the opearator is seated and the total station appears to be the familiar Pentax model.
US Patent 6782118 - System for measuring, substantially instantaneously, the distance and trajectory traveled by a body in flight during sports competitions
This is SEIKOs system for meausuring a throw or horizontal jump using a video style system. A cursor, on a calculation area matrix (monitor), is positioned on the landing area.
SEIKO Electronic Distance Measurement (check out the heavy duty tripod.)
Recommendations for Shipping Surveying Equipment FEMA's recommendations on shipping a total station and tripod.
Pentax 325N Total Station carrying case dimensions: 11.5"(W) x 17"(H) x 18.5"(L). I have carried this total station as carry-on luggage in United Airlines without a problem. The total station fit in the overhead rack in most airplanes.
Carry-on Regulations. What are the regulations for carry-on baggage?
Airline Baggage Regulations
Anderson PowerPoles FEMA's recommendations on portable power cables.
Land Surveyor Education

Surveyor Manuals

US Army Corp of Engineers Control and Topographic Surveying Manual. (2007) 498 detailed pages. Very good reference on all aspects of surveying.
State of New Jersey Survey Manual. Good reference manual on surveying practices. Created for NJDOT employees.
State of Colorodo Survey Manual. Similar to the NJ survey manual. Chapter 8 contains lots of diagrams and calculations. Standard arm signals are pictured in Chapter 8, page 57.
City of Los Angeles Survey Manual. (1986)
State of South Carolina DOT Survey Manual. (2003)

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USATF New England Officials

Electronic Recording and Measurement

Electronic Recording

Electronic Measurement