Additional Measurements Using The TruPulse
360B by: Jon Aschenbach
Last month we discussed how the TruPulse 360B could be used to accurately
measure tree heights, even on leaning trees. Additionally, the 360B can be
used to provide us with many other measurements. Here s a partial list of
situations where the missing line mode in the 360B can be used:
Crown ratio
Crown radius
Tree diameter to the tenth of a foot
Stream width (without getting your feet wet!)
Inclination between two inaccessible points
Azimuth between two inaccessible points
Bole length on blow down trees
Road right-of-way width, measured while standing in
the middle of the road.
· Length of individual limbs in danger tree assessment
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Arborists and foresters will find the missing line mode
most helpful on tree measurements. The user must be
careful to hit the proper target. When doing crown radius,
the user would shoot as close as possible to the tip of the
branch being measured. The next target shot would be the
center of the tree bole.
Measuring Stream Width Using the
TruPulse 360B in Missing Line
Mode.
Measuring tree diameter with the 360B is possible, although a bit crude. It would make the most
sense in situations where it is very difficult to measure the tree diameters with a diameter tape. This
occurs with large trees on steep ground. It is virtually impossible to walk around a 60 tree on a
60% slope and hold a diameter tape up high enough to get an accurate tree diameter. You can
measure these trees with a Relaskop and rangefinder, although why not just use the TruPulse
360B? The process is as simple as shooting as close as possible to the left hand edge and then the
right hand edge. The distance between target one and two is the diameter to the tenth of a foot.
Care must be made to hold the TruPulse as steady as possible. A non-magnetic
ball mount on top of an aluminum or wooden staff is most helpful. The staff
cannot have any steel in the top portion. The steel would adversely affect the
internal compass, throwing it way off. A steel spike at the bottom is OK, as
that is four or more feet from the TruPulse 360B.
The ball mount not only steadies the 360B, it allows the user to look away and then come back to
the same sighting point. It is also easier to pan along a horizontal or vertical sighting plane when
using a ball mount.
(Continued on the next page)
Some of you may try using a camera tripod with the TruPulse 360B.
Be very careful to check whether the tripod has anything magnetic
in the head or upper portion. A small and relatively powerful magnet can be used to check nuts, bolts, and anything else to see if an
item is steel. Sometimes the steel items can be replaced with something made from solid brass or aluminum.
Users could also use a small handheld compass to see if the needle
moves when placed near the tripod head. Any movement in the
compass needle is major cause for concern.
Remember that the TruPulse 360B is a very versatile laser rangefinder. Its measuring capability is only limited by the imagination of
the operator.
Part three of the TruPulse 360B series will be on measuring log
deck volume using the TruPulse and the MapSmart software.
TruPulse 360B mounted on
top of a non-Magnetic Ball
Mount and a TrekPod II.
For more information on the TruPulse 360B, contact Jon Aschenbach at 503-707-6236.
Resource Supply, LLC
11607 SW Winter Lake Drive
Tigard, OR 97223
503-521-0888
Jon s cell: 503-707-6236
Fax: 503-536-6869
www.resourcesupplyllc.com
Email: [email protected]
(Copyright 2009 by Resource Supply, LLC)