Hi
I was wondering, is it possible to use Emlid Reach to measure height above sea level inside a building?
Are total stations the only option for measuring inside buildings,
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No. Unless there is no roof? 
Total stations or EDM devices such Leica Disto S910 or Moasure or the like.
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I did not think so anyway but wanted to ask. I have Leica Disto 4x but there is always the problem of the reference point
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I’ve actually run a couple of level loops with my Leica Disto D8 ! When I first got mine (and it’s still used), all kind of ideas popped in my head. I have the FTA360 tripod mount adapter and it’s been a good addition to the D8. Level loops are easy with a fixed height target using a traverse rod/bipods with the FTA360. With care small level loops traversing approx 1000’, vertical closures of less than 0.5 cm can be achieved.
I’ve even experimented with triliteration traverses and also running level loops at the same time as well. It’s time consuming and great care is needed using the proper equipment and having good field notes recording the old way (using survey field books).
Back in my younger days when I first got my D8, I even ran a 10 acre triliteration traverse and it compared really well (1’/10,000) with conventional terrestrial traverse. It’s a lot of walking back and forth moving targets by yourself but it’s very rewarding knowing you can achieve accurate traverses using the best in Swiss technology.
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The Leica Disto S910 works with Microsurvey FieldGenius (Windows only, not Android) also. Can also import points into AutoCAD etc.
Much easier with Robotic Total Stations though… but the S910 is ver6 portable and light. The newer models X4 with different encoder mount?? Does not work in FieldGenius though.
Get FG demo at Microsurvey website.
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I have used a system with an antenna mounted outside, a repeater mounted inside the build and rover receiving corrections via radio.
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wwwwwwhhhhhhhuuuuuuttttt?
The Rover ALSO has to have clear sky view even if Base outside with clear sky view???
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Hey Michael, is it Beer-Thirty already this Friday?? 
How is this possible unless you have sky view for the GNSS Rover??
I have read of the Acnova GX900 ROVER. A GNSS with Phantom™ 40 Hemisphere Technology utilizing “aRTK technology powered by Atlas that allows the receiver to operate with RTK accuracies for few minutes when corrections fail. This functionality is especially useful in areas where communication fails.”
I’m not sure I would trust this solution unless it was tested extensively out in the field.
Do you use something like this?
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… guessing this building is a open roof style… football stadium with very steep elevation angle to the sats maybe? …and yes, probably some alcohol involved for maximum accuracy beyond the published specs.
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It’s not fast and requires multiple repeaters for large more complex area because it has to maintain good LOS but it works. I’m not sure what you would want to do indoors besides rough layout but the future is coming for automated systems like Boston Dynamics Spot and printing layout robots. Just like all other Surveying you want to use a total station when you need better than 2".
https://www.gps-repeaters.com/gps-repeater-solutions/gps-l1-l2-repeater-kits/
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Well, I have learned something new here today. I didn’t realize that the repeater would work for distributing the GNSS signal to the Rover inside a building. They must utilize an NTRIP connection to a RTN in order to get RTK corrections inside the building.
I have seen the layout robot on a concrete floor demo using total stations, pretty neat.
Thanks for the information, even though I wouldn’t have a need for it.
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can Leica Disto S910 do traverse like TS? occupy a point like backsight and foresight or just resection only?
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Yes, when used with Microsurvey FieldGenius for WINDOWS (not Android) it acts just like a manual total station using the encoders (angles) and EDM to measure distance. Not as precise or as accurate but pretty good for such a convenient sized set up.
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does it have a laser pointing to the ground or plumb bob to occupy your point
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I cannot remember exactly as i sold my S910 setup awhile back as need Robotic Total Stations. For the money and portability and when used with FieldGenius (FG) cannot beat it. I think they go for about $1600-1800 USD plus tax new… you can usually find good deals on Ebay. I sold mine at a deal for $900 which is the entire kit. The newer X4 and adapter does NOT work with FieldGenius fyi… the power is when used with FG to mimic total station as best as possible with tradeoffs of course.
I think at one time i would measure to the center of the adapter’s pivot point (i think it was the center of Leica logo printed on side) for the height of instrument and rig a plumb bob and/or laser pointer to get as close over mark as possible. You can use thread adapters too if using a traditional heavy duty tripod also which has a plumb bob hook built in.
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No.
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Yes, although like @timd1971 said it wouldn’t be near as accurate as a total station. The encoder has only 0.1° accuracy I think. It’ll tell you in the specs for the device.
I use a standard survey tripod and tribrach with an optical plummet, you’ll have to also buy rotatable center to fit in the tribrach with a 5/8 x 11 adapter screw for the Leica FTA360 mount. On my D8, there’s an offset that you can set to allow for measurements from the center of the FTA360. You can use a regular survey tripod but to allow viewing of the screen, just set it up with the legs collapsed as shown in the pic below. This will allow you to view the screen and access the disto’s commands.
Using this setup for the disto will allow you greater accuracy than using a camera tripod. When using any tripod on concrete (especially smooth concrete), make sure you buy a tripod stabilizer like this
I’ve seen contractors instruments slide out from under them. It’ll save you $$ and embarrassment using a stabilizer.
Also, use good targets that mount on on a mini rods/tripod like this
Using the proper equipment and ensuring care in your measurements, you can achieve good accuracies in your project
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You’ll need something like this too:
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