23 Ways to Conduct Electronic Distance Measurement (EDM)

Electrical

What’s the best way to use a laser distance meter? It turns out there are many. Fluke asked customers for ideas on how to perform electronic distance measurement with a device like the 417D Laser Distance Meter and got back hundreds of options.

There are several types of electronic distance measurement (EDM) instruments, but laser meters like the 417D are easy to use and can measure the distance to a target up to 40 m (131 ft) away. The 417D can also do a quick calculation of area (square feet/meters) and volume with accuracy up to ± 2 mm (5/64 in).

For some ideas on how to use electronic distance measurement in your line of work, check out these 23 areas where laser distance meters have come in handy for Fluke customers:

1. Facility Layout

Measure distances, area, and/or volume to provide accurate estimates for bidding out work (HVAC, electrical, cable, maintenance).
Measure height or width of buildings¹ and other objects by triangulation if needed.
Verify CAD drawings for as-built and design drawings.
Determine how square a room or object really is, or whether the sides are completely parallel.
Lay out parking lots.
Verify that new construction satisfies usage requirements.
Determine the footprint of equipment or office cubicles to aid in layout before a facility is installed.
Create as-built building dimensions where no blueprints are provided.
Calculate total internal floor space/volume of a room or building.
Measure distances over areas where obstacles disallow the use of measuring tapes or wheels.

2. Cranes for Facility Construction

Measure distances on a rooftop¹ to quote on crane lift needed for rooftop equipment replacement.
Measure ceiling height to determine equipment needed for access.
Quickly calculate the length of wire rope needed for cranes.
Set up collision detection for cranes without pulling tape and using two people and two aerial lifts.
Measure spans on runways for cranes.

3. Facility-Wide Safety Systems

Measure distances (including ceiling heights) to install emergency lighting, sprinklers, and fire extinguishers to code.
Determine accurate room dimensions to ensure correct chemical concentration for a Clean agent fire suppression system.
Measure distances from machines for safety equipment (fire extinguishers, fire blankets, etc.).
Measure water levels in fire suppression tanks.

4. Miscellaneous Facility Tasks

Use in setting up floor supports in large communication rooms.
Measure room dimensions to calculate how much paint is needed.
Measure room dimensions to calculate how much floor covering is needed.
Measure height for appropriate ladder selection.
Document location of standing water or leaks found with a thermal (IR) imager or infrared thermometer.

5. Electrical Cabling

Measure distances for linear length of wire or cable runs.
Measure distances for linear feet/meters of conduit needed for new installations.
Measure height of high voltage lines to meet clearance requirements.
Calculate total length needed in setting up wire assemblies and harnesses.
Measure distances to calculate voltage drops (in power supply).
Measure depth, distance of underground conduit. ¹
Determine length of wire available on hand.
Measure distances of underground cable¹ between various landmarks or obstacles/known hazards.
Trace down cable and shoot back with distance meter when locating underground cable with a transmitter/sensor tool combo. ¹
Locate underground cable faults¹ using the A-frame method. Tell the exact distance of the fault from its starting point without a tape measure or trundle wheel.

6. Ceiling and Floor Electrical Work

Measure distances to objects within hard-to-reach drop ceilings to determine overhead cable runs, line of sight.
Measure ceiling height and square feet/meters to determine rod lengths for drop ceiling installation and lighting fixtures.
Measure distance under subfloors or structures for networking or other cable installations.

7. Electrical Safety

Measure distances from power system devices (transformers, etc.) for electrical safety/arc flash protection and power studies.

8. Miscellaneous Electrical Tasks

Measure disconnect placement for spas and pools.
Measure distances between electrical service poles.
Ascertain distance around walls for proper receptacle placement per code.
Decide where to place power drops/connections to the power supply in manufacturing floor layouts.
Measure electrical room square feet/meters for regulation verification.

9. Conveyor Systems

Determine conveyor belt length (for/at installation).
Calculate conveyor belt capacity, based on length.

10. Industrial Maintenance Planning

Measure distance between machines to estimate heat loading.
Determine equipment ventilation requirements (mass air flow).

11. Industrial Tanks

Check tank level² and verify accuracy of tank level transmitters.
Measure water level at power plant water intake.

12. Miscellaneous Maintenance Tasks

Check calibration of automated product shuttle distance sensors.
Align large welding fixtures.
Determine the volume of industrial ovens used in powder coating, etc.

13. HVAC

Measure roof height¹ to determine flue lengths.
Calculate duct lengths for static pressure drop on long runs.
Determine rise or drop over distance for pipe drainage.
Measure distances for duct runs for installation or replacement.
Determine room volume for cooling, air flow/exchange requirements, and sizing equipment.
Determine duct run type (size, for volume requirements).
Size ducts for traversals.
Measure distances for air handler spacing.

14. Plumbing

Determine distance between pumps and distance the pump needs to push liquid to determine pump and/or motor size.
Determine distance for pump lines and piping runs, especially when measuring pipe lengths behind existing walls.
Measure distances between tower drives for water pressure calculations in irrigation.
Measure the size of a yard to figure out sprinkler heads required.
Measure condensation lines for installation/repair.

15. Construction

Find horizontal lengths (overhead) for determining rain gutter¹ length.
Measure distances from roads¹ and property lines to comply with local building codes.
Determine amounts of structural materials (studs, plywood) needed for construction.
Determine insulation requirements (volume needed).
Determine offsets needed for septic systems. ¹
Determine trench, hole depth. ¹
Determine the amount of sheetrock to cover surfaces.

16. Lighting

Find the center point of a ceiling and other key locations for fan/lighting installation.
Determine light/lumen requirements based on ceiling height, compared to elevations of suspended lighting fixtures.
Determine the number of power supplies needed in temporary LED lighting applications.
Determine distance from power supplies for LED and low-voltage lighting and other electronic loads.
Determine length to access light fixtures in high ceilings for maintenance.

17. IT

Determine network equipment spacing in communication rooms.
Measure reach and distance between wireless network elements for IT installation technicians.

18. Towers

Estimate guy-cable lengths for cell towers. ¹
Set earth grounds for cell towers; measure distance from ground when conducting earth-ground 3-pole fall of potential tests and soil resistivity tests. ¹
Determine safe distance from microwave transmitters on cell towers. ¹
Measure height of equipment on utility poles in surveying for cell tower sites.¹
Measure heights of lines and brackets on transmission towers for maintenance. ¹

19. Solar

Measure roof width and peak height¹ to calculate roof pitch in estimating output of solar panels.
Determine roof area¹ for solar panel size estimates.
Document location of shading analysis¹ for ground-mounted photovoltaic (PV) arrays.

20. Automotive

Calibrate on-board distance, parking, and warning systems.
Set up a stopping distance course for training/demonstration and brake tests.
Check for vehicle oversized load clearances.

21. Video, Audio, Photography, and Theatre

Measure distances for camera lens selection, focus, and zoom settings.
Figure length for video and camera cable compensation calculations.
Measure height of video projector and screen for calculation of lumens and for pixel per inch/quality of projection.
Calculate viewing angles and audio-based predicted coverage maps when evaluating a room or new system design.
Measure the height of a lighting pipe to raise theatrical lighting trusses to specific heights above the stage or the seats.

22. Biomed

Verify source-to-image distances when servicing X-ray equipment.
Verify discrete medical equipment distance requirements are met when systems are installed.

23. Miscellaneous Applications

Check distance from objects for setting thermal imager ranges and determining distance to spot accuracy on infrared thermometers.
Determine distance between surveillance cameras and subjects to get desired coverage.
Measure from a target to the optical micrometer mounted on an alignment telescope for setups in a calibration lab.
Continuously measure automated moving equipment to verify the correct location.

Footnotes

Laser measurement outdoors can be compromised by direct sunlight.
Do not use laser measurement tools in the proximity of flammable materials.