ISO 17123-6:2022

Overview - ISO 17123-6:2022 (Rotating lasers)

ISO 17123-6:2022 defines field procedures for testing rotating lasers and their ancillary equipment used in geodetic and building levelling tasks. The standard focuses on in situ verification of precision (repeatability) and early-stage evaluation of measurement uncertainty for levelling applications. It is intended as a practical field check to confirm an instrument’s suitability for an immediate surveying task, not as a comprehensive acceptance or final performance certificate.

Key technical topics and requirements

• Scope and purpose: Field procedures to determine repeatability and between‑day reproducibility of rotating laser systems used for levelling.
• Two test procedures:
  • Procedure 1 - Simplified test: Quick, limited-measurement check suitable for routine site verification (area levelling, construction sites).
  • Procedure 2 - Full test: Rigorous field procedure with extended measurements, statistical testing and uncertainty budgeting for more precise assessment.
• Measurement elements:
  • Configuration of test lines/fields and target points.
  • Recommended measurement sequences, calculation of height differences and residuals.
  • Statistical evaluation (experimental standard deviation, t- and F-tests, chi-squared where applicable).
• Uncertainty and error treatment:
  • Differentiates repeatability (Type A) and reproducibility (between-day).
  • Guidance for identifying influence quantities and assembling a combined standard uncertainty (Type A and Type B), in line with ISO/IEC Guide 98‑3 (GUM).
• Practical constraints:
  • Designed for in situ use without special ancillary equipment.
  • Procedures are intentionally designed to minimize atmospheric influences (e.g., temperature gradients, wind), with practical notes on favourable weather conditions.
• Documentation: Examples and worked calculations are provided in annexes to support implementation.

Practical applications and intended users

• Who uses it: surveyors, construction survey teams, site engineers, instrument technicians, and metrology personnel performing on-site verifications of rotating lasers.
• Where it’s applied: building sites, civil engineering projects, and any levelling tasks requiring confidence in laser levelling precision.
• Why it matters: Enables quick field verification of a rotating laser’s suitability, informs uncertainty budgets for project deliverables, and supports compliance with related measurement and setting-out standards.

Related standards

• ISO 17123-1 (Theory), ISO 17123-2 (Levels)
• ISO/IEC Guide 98‑3 (GUM - uncertainty)
• ISO 3534-1, ISO 4463-1, ISO 7077, ISO 7078, ISO 9849

Keywords: ISO 17123-6:2022, rotating lasers, field procedures, levelling, geodetic instruments, measurement uncertainty, repeatability, in situ testing.