Just a sticker? The value behind certifying your measurement instruments

证明你的全站仪或多站within specification is crucial to assure the services that you provide deliver the right standards and accuracy. In this Q&A Wolfgang Hardegen, Manager of the Leica Geosystems Accredited Calibration Laboratories, based in Heerbrugg, Switzerland talks about the highly accurate calibration services for total stations and MultiStations offered by Leica Geosystems.

Wolfgang，是什么使Leica Geosystems的校准服务设施特别？

Leica Geosystems is the only surveying instrument manufacturer in the world running accredited calibration laboratories for distances and angles in-house, which issues calibration certificates in accordance with ISO/IEC 17025 granted by the Swiss Accreditation Service (SAS).

Since 1997 we run Accredited Calibration Laboratories that offer a variety of calibration certificates here in Heerbrugg, Switzerland. Calibration certificates by accredited laboratories ensure the accuracy of the surveying equipment. Having such highly accurate in-house laboratories gives Leica Geosystems a big advantage – during development and manufacturing we have at any time the possibility to perform tests in our laboratories.

Why is calibration of a total station or MultiStation so important?

From time to time, it is necessary to send an instrument to service for calibration. Calibration makes sure that the instrument meets the manufacturers specifications and customer’s requirements regarding measurement accuracies.

Leica Geosystems提供4个级别的校准，金，银，青铜和蓝色，这些级别确认了新的或二手测量设备的测量质量。

For more information about calibration certificates阅读白皮书或者visit the Leica Geosystems calibration certificates page.

Leica Geosystems is offering a wide range of calibration certificates. What is special about the Calibration Certificates Gold?

Our Certificate Gold is a special calibration certificate which may only be issued by an Accredited Calibration Laboratory. Such a high-level calibration is perfect for total stations and MultiStations which are used by ISO 9001 certified companies and for major projects and tenders with public interest (e.g. public health, public safety or selected legal procedures).

Calibration certificates issued by Accredited Calibration Laboratories are internationally acknowledged according to theILAC MRA（相互认可协议）. The test results are directly traceable to national standards and they include measurement uncertainties with detailed measurement reports.

如何在国际上组织认证？

Within a global approach in cooperation with the World Trade Organisation (WTO), certificates are internationally recognised in over 100 countries. The WTO has established the国际实验室认证合作（ILAC）, who manages international arrangements. The regional arrangements in Europe are managed by the欧洲an Cooperation for Accreditation (EA), one of worldwide five regional co-operation bodies that work in harmony with ILAC. National accreditation bodies like the瑞士认证服务（SAS）are members of these international organisations and are responsible for the accreditation of laboratories.

To find official information about the Leica Geosystems Accredited Laboratories, pleasevisit the Swiss Accreditation Service (SAS) websiteand select SCS 0079. The document lists the test capabilities with the specific measurement accuracies and uncertainties the Leica Geosystems Accredited Laboratories have.

What are the efforts to run accredited laboratories for the calibration of total stations?

Leica GeoSystems获得认可实验室地位的基础是符合ISO 9001的质量管理系统。除了技术基础设施以及经过高度训练和合格的员工，我们在实验室中使用的每个校准过程都必须进行检查，验证，验证并被国家认证机构（SAS）的外部专家详细接受。

Yearly audits by the SAS in accordance to ISO/IEC 17025 make sure that the laboratories keep the highest possible standards during the operation. Every five years the accreditation must be renewed by the Swiss Accreditation Service (SAS) through an extensive audit.

How many accredited calibration laboratories does Leica Geosystems have and what purpose does each laboratory have?

We run four calibration laboratories and a test laboratory.

1. Calibration Laboratory for Angles

角度的校准是一项非常困难和精心设计的任务。在全球范围内，只有少数机构可以提供类似的高精度。

由于我们找不到提供我们预期的测量质量的机构，因此我们决定，大约在20年前，我们自己开发了第一台理想仪测试机（TPM）。这款复杂的机器会自动检查水平圆和天顶角。由于测量不确定性为0.09英寸（Hz UND V），该测试机非常准确。

2. Baseline Open-Air Laboratory

基线露天实验室位于莱茵河河岸上的露天，不是典型的实验室。它由7个柱子组成，有直线线，没有最多三公里的障碍物。这使我们可以检查500 m，1,000 m，2,000 m或3,000 m的长度长度的距离测量值的标准偏差。在此练习期间，我们准确地确定了大气参数，例如温度，压力和湿度，对于达到最高精度至关重要。

3. Calibration Laboratory for Distance

In the Calibration Laboratory for Distance we determine absolute distance deviations and deviations from linearity over distances of 60 m and 120 m. The results from the tested total stations are compared with the results of a highly accurate interferometer.

4. Calibration Laboratory for Frequency

In simple words, in this laboratory we check the accuracy of the scale of electronic distance meters (EDM) by comparing the output frequency with a reference frequency. This is done in a climate chamber that is set to several temperatures between - 20° C and + 50° C.

5. Test Laboratory for Laser Classification

在该实验室中，我们测量激光器对激光进行分类的输出能力。

总之，将其工具发送到Leica Geosystems认可的校准实验室的客户可以确定所有步骤都将被正确执行，并且他们的设备掌握在最好的手中。

沃尔夫冈，感谢您与我们分享您的见解。
快乐是我的。

Wolfgang Hardegen
经理认可的实验室
瑞士赫尔布格（Heerbugg），瑞士（Leica Geosystems AG）