eMeasuring for the field events including shotput, weight, discus, javelin, and hammer is performed with a survey instrument. Faster and more accurate measurement results are obtained, compared with the traditional tape measure. eMeasuring has become the standard for world class track meets.

A high accuracy survey instrument is located near the throwing sector with safety as the primary consideration and with the least inconvenience to the athletes as possible. Its location is determined mathematically and then the center of the throwing circle is surveyed. After each throw, the nearest point of the landing spot to the circle is surveyed. The survey instrument computer then calculates the horizontal distance from the center of the circle to the landing spot, subtracts the radius of the circle as determined by the event, and rounds the distance in meters to the nearest lower centimeter. The result may be sent to the scorers' table and to a score board. It is important to note that this method gives a true horizontal distance while pulling a tape lying on the ground only gives a slope distance. For this reason, taped slope distances can actually be longer than intended by the rules.

We believe that this reasonable comparison may be made: eMeasuring is to the tape measure as fully automatic timing is to the hand held stopwatch.

Survey & Design initiated new technology in 2003 for the identification of the landing spot of the indoor implements. Both the shot and the weight convert the kinetic energy of the throw into thermal energy on the landing surface which may be a carpet such as Astroturf or a harder surface such as Mondo. This spot is heated sufficiently so that it can be identified with an infrared camera. We are using a FLIR ThermaCAM E2 to mark the nearest edge of the heat footprint, eliminating the considerable uncertainty of visually trying to mark the landing spot.

For more information about the E2 go to the FLIR web site.