Regulation 6(1)(a) and (b) of the Surveying (Cadastral Surveys) Regulations 2015 requires a licensed surveyor to use survey equipment that has been compared to a standard of measurement. The process and basis of comparison must be adequate to obtain the accuracy required under the regulations.
Regulation 6(2) requires licensed surveyors to retain records of comparisons and make them available for inspection upon request by the Surveyor-General Victoria.
Comparison of EDM equipment
Victorian Cadastral Surveys Practice Directives require electronic distance measurement (EDM) equipment used on any survey to be calibrated:
- at intervals not exceeding 12 calendar months
- after every repair to all or part of such equipment
- by comparison to a baseline approved by the Surveyor-General Victoria.
To help licensed surveyors calibrate EDM equipment, the Surveyor-General Victoria maintains an EDM calibration handbook, EDM calibration software, and six EDM calibration baselines in Victoria.
The EDM calibration handbook
Please download the following documents for information on EDM calibrations:
Meteorological transfer standard corrections
In order to ensure readings from meteorological equipment used in EDM equipment calibration are comparable to the national standards for temperature and pressure, the recorded offset for the baseline standard must be applied as a correction.
These corrections are listed in the table below and must be included on the instrument calibration booking sheet.
| BASELINE | TEMPERATURE | PRESSURE |
|---|
Bendigo | +0.2 | +2.3 |
Braeside | 0.0 | +2.3 |
Cowwarr | +0.2 | +2.0 |
Geelong | -0.2 | +2.8 |
Hamilton | +0.3 | +3.2 |
Mitcham | +0.1 | +2.6 |
Table last updated 13/12/2023
Pulsed Instruments and instruments with a unit length of zero
For pulsed instruments and instruments with a unit length of zero, the meteorological observations must be entered into the instrument at the time of the calibration.
The unit length, frequency and carrier wavelength are used in the calculation of the meteorological corrections and cyclic errors within the Baseline software. Surveyors can enter the instrument into the register, leave all the details blank and the software will still process the data correctly.
Instrument parameter spreadsheets
The following spreadsheets list instrument-specific parameters to assist surveyors when using the Baseline software to calibrate EDM equipment.
EDM calibration software
To assist surveyors to calibrate EDM equipment against standard baselines, an EDM calibration computer program called Baseline (Version 6.0.0.5, July 2012) has been made available for public use by the Western Australia's land information authority, Landgate. The Surveyor-General Victoria has adopted this software for calibrating EDM baselines and EDM equipment in Victoria.
Download the latest version of Baseline and distribution file for calibrating EDM equipment against Victoria's baselines:
Please extract zip file contents to a working directory before running the software.
The distribution file available from this link is updated annually following the re-verification of Victoria's baselines. The EDM Calibration Handbook and online help provide the user with the necessary instructions to run Baseline.
The new version of Baseline has been prepared to overcome difficulties running on 64-bit versions of Windows 7.
If users experience persistent runtime difficulties running Baseline on Windows 7, please contact geodetic survey.
Users who have obtained Baseline directly from Landgate must ensure they have the most up to date Victorian baseline information before reducing their results.
EDM calibration baselines
As a verifying authority for length, Surveyor-General Victoria re-verifies these baselines on an annual basis in accordance with the provisions of the National Measurement Act 1960 and National Measurement Regulations 1999.
The Surveyor-General of Victoria maintains six EDM calibration baselines in Victoria:
UPDATED ACCESS – Airside Boundary has been changed, no more airport access requirements
- Full length of the Bendigo baseline is freely accessible and the access gate has been removed (see attached image)
- All ancillary equipment is kept in a large ‘umbrella box’ near "Pillar 2".
- Please remember to lock the box and return all the equipment inside.
- Please bring cleaning supplies and wipe down the ancillary equipment before and after use (umbrellas, atmospheric device, pillar cap key etc).
-
We appreciate your assistance in the ongoing operation of the Bendigo EDM instrument calibration facilities.
Bendigo (PDF, 138.9 KB)
EDM Baseline Bookings
Bendigo Airport Main Terminal
35 Victa Road, East Bendigo, 3550
0499 700 128
The baseline is available for booking (via the EDM Booking Page).
Parks Victoria have requested that surveyors submit an internal job safety plan or safe work method statement for the planned work. Please email Braeside@parks.vic.gov.au
Please note:
Cypress Drive CLOSED to vehicles
- Vehicle access is restricted between Pillars 1 to 6, for essential road repairs.
- It is recommended that visiting surveyors park in Pelican carpark (carpark 4) and walk across to the cabinet until works are complete.
- Equipment will need to be moved on foot, apologies for the inconvenience.
- Access south of Pillar 6 is unaffected and still accessible with a vehicle.
Equipment Cabinet
- The equipment cabinet is located next to Cockatoo car park on the West side of toilet block within the Telford Picnic Area (see attached site access diagram and photos)
- A key safe is attached to the cabinet. The code for the padlock will be sent to you in a separate email once a booking is confirmed.
- Please remember to return all the equipment inside, lock the cabinet and put the keys back in the key safe.
Job Safety Planning
- Parks Victoria have requested that surveyors submit your internal job safety plan or safe work method statement for the planned work. Please email to: Braeside@parks.vic.gov.au
Park Rules & Safety
- The baseline is open from 7.30am until 3.30pm, then the gates are locked.
- Do not climb the electrified fence around the baseline, only climb through the 2 Sty’s provided.
- Be aware of snakes, especially late August to early May.
- If there is a need to contact the Rangers, please call 13 19 63
We appreciate your assistance in the ongoing operation of the Braeside EDM instrument calibration facilities.
Braeside Park Lower Dandenong Road Braeside
Braeside Park Ranger's Office (03) 9265 7300
Braeside (PDF, 92.1 KB)
EDM Baseline Bookings
Department of Transport & Planning
Land Use Victoria Calibration Officer
GPO Box 527
Melbourne 3001
The baseline is available for booking (via the EDM Booking Page) and there is no longer a need to go into the controlling office.
Please note:
Geelong Baseline (PDF, 25.2 KB)
EDM Baseline Bookings
St Quentin Consulting Pty Ltd
51 Little Fyans Street
South Geelong 3220
(03) 5229 2011
Baseline bookings
- Bookings are required in advance to use the baselines.
- Refer to individual baseline details for opening hours or closures.
- Baselines are available for use on weekdays only.
- Users are required to have their own copies of official booking sheets.
- No rubbish is to be left behind.
- All gates must be left in their original position.
- Pillar caps are to be refitted upon completion.
- When using non-standard prisms, sighting difficulties may be experienced between pillars. The same type of prism must be used for the observations to achieve a valid calibration.
- Please bring cleaning supplies and wipe down the ancillary equipment before and after use (umbrellas, pillar cap key)
For general enquiries, please email smes.support@delwp.vic.gov.au.
Page last updated: 15/03/24
