ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Total station

A total station is like a really cool measuring tool that helps people figure out where things are in the world. It looks kinda like a tall stick with a little box on top that has a bunch of buttons and a screen.

When people want to measure something, they use the total station to shoot a special laser beam at it. The laser beam is like a little red dot that helps the total station know exactly where the thing is.

The total station also has a special machine called a theodolite that helps it figure out how high or low the thing is, and how far away it is from other things around it. It's basically like magic!

People who use total stations are usually surveyors or engineers who need to measure things like buildings, roads, or even land. It helps them make sure everything is in the right place and that they're not building something in the wrong spot.

So, in a nutshell, a total station is a really awesome tool that helps people figure out where things are and how high or low they are. It's like a laser pointer with superpowers!