Patent ID: 8720074

Claim:
A method of determining an elevation of a point relative to a leveling instrument using a leveling staff, the leveling staff positioned at the point and the leveling instrument positioned remote from the point, the method comprising: sending a first signal from a controller to the leveling instrument using a wireless link, the first signal indicating to the leveling instrument to automatically align an alignment unit of the leveling instrument with a reference target of the leveling staff, wherein the alignment unit is configured to rotate about a first horizontal axis independent of the leveling instrument, and the alignment unit and the leveling instrument are configured to rotate about a vertical axis in unison; receiving a second signal at the controller using the wireless link, the second signal sent from the leveling instrument and indicating that the alignment unit is aligned with the reference target of the leveling staff; and sending a third signal from the controller to the leveling instrument using the wireless link, the third signal indicating to the leveling instrument to automatically determine the elevation of the point relative to the leveling instrument, the elevation of the point determined by a measurement unit of the leveling instrument using a pattern on the leveling staff, wherein the measurement unit is configured to rotate about a second horizontal axis independent of the leveling instrument, the first horizontal axis being different from the second horizontal axis, and the measurement unit and the leveling instrument are configured to rotate about the vertical axis in unison.