Don, The question here is the precision of the laser measurements, accuracy is something different. The lasers are much more precise than the manufacturers accuracy statements. The readings are repeatable to much less than 1/2 yard or 1 yard. They are repeatable to at least a couple of tenths of a foot. The factory calibration and standard usage of the instruments results in the decrease in accuracy. If used properly - measuring at the so called click-over point the accuracy is the same as the precision. The reading are repeatable and accurate to a tenth of a foot or at worse a couple tenths of a foot. To get this degree of accuracy the instrument needs to be calibrated and measurements taken at a specific portion of the range - at the click-over point - otherwise the 1/2 yard is true. Also the error is not translatable directly into height errors. The amount of error in the length of a reading from laser errors is multiplied by the sin of the angle of measurement. Thus at 45 degrees the error in height from laser error is only 07x the laser error. So in usage the error in heights will range from around 1 foot with no corrections at all, at angles les than 60 degrees or so to less than a tenth of a foot if everything is done right. With multiple measurements the average, excluding outliers, represents the most probable height and is should most likely be expressed to the nearest 1/10 of a foot. I would agree that expressing the 100th of a foot represent non-significant digits. Expressing heights to a tenth of a foot can be supported.
Ed -- Eastern Native Tree Society http://www.nativetreesociety.org Send email to [email protected] Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/entstrees?hl=en To unsubscribe send email to [email protected]
