A unique characteristic to SpatialAnalyzer is the association of points to their respective instrument. SA treats an instrument and its points as a rigid body. If an instrument is transformed (moved), the instrument and its points will move with it. This is a key concept that is used extensively throughout SA. When a point is measured the observation is built and the link is created. More details are available under Instrument Shots.
Associate Objects With Instrument
Objects can also be associated to an instrument. In some cases, such as with point clouds and frames, objects are directly handled like measured points and an association is built automatically when a measurement is acquired. As part of this the relative transform from the instrument to the measured object is saved. This opens the ability to re-establish the the link and rest the relative placement of measurements with respect to the instrument if things are moved. This is done using Reset Associated Object Transforms.
Geometry fit to measure points, all measured from a single instrument station, is also automatically associated with that instrument so that when an instrument moves the associate points and objects will move as well.
The Highlight Associated Objects and Highlight Points Measured by an Instrument provide a convenient means to identify which points are currently associated with an instrument. Alternatively, you can right-click on an instrument model and select Drag Instrument Graphically and move the instrument in order to verify that items move along with it. As long as you press Esc to exit the operation the instruments position will not change.
Should the need to associate additional objects with an instrument be needed, this link to an instrument can be created manually using Associate Objects with an Instrument. The link can also be removed using Disassociate Objects from Instrument.