Do not try to survey fast in cold weather. In frigid temperatures, optical equipment need time to properly acclimate to ambient temperatures. Some manufacturers recommend 15 minutes, or 1 minute for each 1 degree Fahrenheit difference from where it was stored, whichever is greater. The best practice is to be patient with the instrument and give it more than enough time to acclimate before releveling, orienting and surveying. Manufacturers also recommend that their field calibration routines (collimation) be rerun if the temperature varies more than 20 degrees from the previous field calibration.

These routines are very easy to perform and every field operator should be comfortable performing them. Also be prepared for your battery to die quicker in cold weather. When arriving on site, set the instrument up on a control point first, then do other preparations for the task while the instrument acclimates.

These instructions cover all manufacturers' equipment. Cold weather affects all sensors, metal, plastic and composites used in our industry. Surveying in extreme weather requires more time. It’s simple physics!