Prism Poles - What you need to know

Prism poles are a staple in the surveying industry and are traditionally used with total stations and GNSS systems. Prism poles, also known as survey poles or rods, come in a variety of configurations so it is important to know what features to look for when making a purchase. We outlined the three most important factors to consider when deciding on a prism pole.

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The Height of a Prism Pole:

The height of the prism pole will be the first factor you must choose. The most three common heights are 8.5', 12', and 15'. In addition, there are mini prism poles that are used for specific applications, typically on layout jobs in hard-to-reach areas.

The Material of a Prism Pole:

The next factor to choose is the material of the pole. The three materials they come in are aluminum, fiberglass, and carbon fiber. Aluminum is the most affordable of the three and has the advantage of being lightweight. Fiberglass offers greater durability than aluminum but comes with an increase in weight. Carbon fiber offers the best of both worlds with the light weightiness of aluminum and the durability of fiberglass.

Fixed Tip vs Adjustable Tip:

The most important factor of the three is to choose a fixed or adjustable tip on your prism pole. The advantage of a fixed tip is that it allows you to make precise adjustments to ensure the prism's vertical measurements are accurate. When accuracy is of the utmost importance or you use multiple prisms, we recommend going with the adjustable tip.

We hope this helps point you in the right direction when looking to purchase a prism pole! Feel free to call up and speak with one of our sales reps to learn more or click here to browse the largest selection of prism poles on the web!