Ushikata LS-25 Surveying Compass for Oil Palm Plantation & Hilly Terrain Sabah Malaysia
Ushikata LS-25 Surveying Compass for Oil Palm Plantation & Hilly Terrain Sabah Malaysia
Looking for a professional surveying compass for oil palm plantation, agricultural estate or hilly terrain fieldwork in Sabah?
The Ushikata LS-25 is a Japanese surveying compass / Level Tracon designed for professional field observations where users require more than basic direction finding.
It combines:
✓ Magnetic direction & bearing
✓ 12× erect-image telescope
✓ Horizontal angle observation
✓ Vertical angle observation
✓ Levelling capability
✓ Stadia measurement
For plantation teams working across uneven or remote terrain, these functions can make the LS-25 useful for reconnaissance and preliminary field observations before more detailed engineering surveying begins.
Why Plantation Surveying Is Not Just About Direction
A basic compass can answer:
“Which direction are we going?”
Plantation fieldwork may require additional questions:
“Where is the selected reference point?”
“What is the bearing?”
“What is the angle between these two directions?”
“Is the target uphill or downhill?”
“What is the vertical angle toward the target?”
This is where a specialised surveying compass becomes different from a normal navigation compass.
Ushikata LS-25 for Oil Palm Plantation Survey
Possible applications include:
Plantation reconnaissance
Estate field orientation
Access-route investigation
Preliminary road alignment observation
Terrain assessment
Slope-related observation
Preliminary drainage-route investigation
Agricultural field research
Remote-site observations
The LS-25 should be selected when its measurement functions match the actual project requirement.
Why Hilly Terrain Changes Equipment Requirements
Working on flat ground and working across uneven plantation terrain are different.
A field team may encounter:
Uphill observations
Downhill observations
Valleys
Ridges
Sloping access roads
Uneven planting areas
Drainage routes
For this reason, vertical-angle capability can become useful in addition to magnetic direction.
Vertical Angle Measurement with LS-25
The Ushikata LS-25 incorporates a:
Full-circle vertical scale with 1° graduation.
This allows relevant vertical-angle observations toward elevated or depressed targets.
For example:
Instrument Position
↓
Sight Target Uphill
↓
Observe Vertical Angle
or:
Instrument Position
↓
Sight Target Downhill
↓
Observe Vertical Angle
This can provide useful information during preliminary terrain reconnaissance.
Important: Vertical Angle Is Not the Same as Elevation
This distinction is essential.
A vertical-angle observation does not automatically provide a precise reduced level or benchmark elevation.
If the project requires accurate:
RL
Benchmark transfer
Road level
Drainage level
Platform elevation
Height difference
use an appropriate Auto Level + Levelling Staff or another suitable surveying method.
Horizontal Angle Measurement
The LS-25 provides:
5′ horizontal graduation
with
O-BAC zero-setting system.
This can be useful when observing the angular relationship between two field directions.
For example:
Existing Plantation Road
versus
Proposed Access Direction
or:
Reference Point
versus
Selected Field Target
Horizontal angle and magnetic bearing are related surveying concepts, but they are not the same measurement.
Why the 12× Telescope Helps in Plantation Work
Oil palm estates and agricultural sites can contain many similar visual features.
Accurately identifying the intended target can therefore be important.
The LS-25 uses a 12× erect-image telescope for target sighting.
Potential targets include:
Ranging poles
Survey markers
Reference points
Selected trees
Temporary markers
Terrain features
The telescope helps the operator observe a defined target rather than relying only on general visual direction.
Magnetic Bearing in Plantation Environments
The LS-25 incorporates a:
70 mm compass circle with 1° graduation.
When using the magnetic compass, be aware of nearby sources of interference.
Avoid critical bearing observations immediately beside:
4WD vehicles
Tractors
Excavators
Lorries
Steel fencing
Large machinery
Steel structures
Electrical installations
If a reading looks unusual:
Move away → Set up again → Repeat the observation.
Do not immediately assume the instrument is faulty.
LS-25 vs Ordinary Compass for Plantation Work
RequirementOrdinary CompassUshikata LS-25General Direction✓✓Magnetic Bearing✓✓12× TelescopeNo✓Horizontal AngleLimited✓Vertical AngleUsually No✓Levelling CapabilityNo✓Stadia CapabilityNo✓Survey ObservationLimitedProfessional field capability
If your plantation team only needs basic navigation, a simpler compass may be sufficient.
If the team needs bearing + telescope + horizontal/vertical angle observations, the LS-25 becomes much more relevant.
LS-25 vs Auto Level for Plantation Work
Use an Auto Level when you need accurate height differences.
Typical plantation applications include:
Drainage construction
Road levels
Culvert work
Platform levels
Infrastructure levels
Benchmark transfer
MTM Precision supplies options including:
Myzox CL-28
Myzox CL-36
Topcon Auto Levels
5 m Levelling Staffs
The LS-25 and Auto Level therefore solve different problems.
LS-25 vs Total Station
A Total Station becomes appropriate when the plantation project requires:
Precise electronic angle measurement
Electronic distance measurement
Coordinates
Detailed topographic survey
Road setting-out
Infrastructure setting-out
Digital survey records
The LS-25 should not be purchased as a cheaper substitute for these functions.
Its strength is different:
Portable direction, angle and reconnaissance observations.
LS-25 vs GNSS / RTK
For plantation mapping requiring:
Coordinates
Georeferenced points
Large-area positioning
GIS data
Digital estate mapping
consider suitable GNSS / RTK equipment.
A practical project workflow may therefore be:
LS-25 → Preliminary Reconnaissance
↓
GNSS / RTK → Coordinate Survey
↓
Total Station → Detailed Survey / Setting-Out
↓
Auto Level → Precise Elevation
The exact combination depends on the project.
Example: New Plantation Access Route
Suppose a plantation team wants to investigate a possible access route through hilly terrain.
During the initial reconnaissance, the team may want to observe:
Direction
Terrain
Slope relationship
Reference targets
Horizontal changes in route direction
The LS-25 may support this preliminary stage.
Later, once the route is selected, engineers may require:
Coordinates
Precise levels
Detailed distances
Construction setting-out
At that stage, more advanced surveying equipment should be used.
Example: Plantation Drainage
A team is investigating a possible drainage route.
For reconnaissance, direction and terrain observations may be useful.
However, before actual drainage construction, the project may require accurate elevation information.
That means:
Reconnaissance ≠ Final Levelling Survey
For precise drainage level work, use the appropriate Auto Level and Levelling Staff or other engineering survey method.
Ushikata LS-25 Key Specifications
SpecificationUshikata LS-25Telescope12× erect imageHorizontal Graduation5′Horizontal SystemO-BAC zero settingCompass Circle70 mmCompass Graduation1°Vertical CircleFull circle / 1° graduationBubble Sensitivity5′ / 2 mmDistance CapabilityStadiaApprox. Weight with Case1.3 kgOriginJapan
Portability for Remote Plantation Work
Large estates may require personnel to carry instruments some distance from the vehicle.
The LS-25 weighs approximately 1.3 kg including its case.
For preliminary field observations, this can be an advantage compared with transporting a larger complete electronic surveying setup.
However:
Portability should never be used as a reason to sacrifice required measurement accuracy.
If the project requires Total Station or GNSS-level capabilities, use those instruments.
Which Surveying Instrument Does Your Plantation Need?
RequirementInstrument to ConsiderBasic DirectionCompassBearing + Telescope + AnglesUshikata LS-25Preliminary Terrain ReconnaissanceUshikata LS-25Precise Height DifferenceAuto LevelElectronic DistanceTotal StationDetailed Survey / Setting-OutTotal StationCoordinatesGNSS / RTKLarge-Area Digital MappingGNSS / RTK
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ushikata LS-25 suitable for oil palm plantation work?
It can be considered for bearing, direction, target sighting and relevant horizontal/vertical angle observations during plantation reconnaissance and fieldwork.
Can it measure slope?
The LS-25 provides vertical-angle observation. The user should distinguish vertical-angle information from precise engineering elevation or specialised slope measurement requirements.
Can LS-25 measure plantation road level?
For accurate road elevation and height-difference work, use an Auto Level + Levelling Staff or another appropriate surveying method.
Can LS-25 provide GPS coordinates?
No. Consider GNSS / RTK when coordinate positioning is required.
Can LS-25 replace a Total Station?
No. It does not replace electronic distance measurement, coordinate survey or detailed setting-out functions.
Is LS-25 suitable for remote areas?
Its compact, predominantly optical-mechanical surveying functions can make it useful for relevant remote field observations, provided its measurement capability matches the project.
Buying Guide for Sabah Plantation Customers
Before purchasing, send us:
Application: Oil Palm / Agriculture / Forestry / Land / Other
Terrain: Flat / Hilly / Mixed
Required Measurement: Bearing / Angle / Distance / Elevation / Coordinates
Required Accuracy
Site Conditions
Whether Digital Data Is Required
With this information, MTM Precision can help distinguish between:
Ushikata LS-25
Auto Level
Total Station
GNSS / RTK
and other suitable surveying equipment.
Surveying Equipment Supplier for Sabah Malaysia
MTM Precision supplies professional surveying instruments and accessories for customers throughout Malaysia, including relevant requirements in Sabah.
Our surveying range includes:
Ushikata Surveying Compass
Myzox Surveying Equipment
Topcon Surveying Instruments
Auto Levels
Digital Theodolites
Total Stations
Rotating Lasers
5 m Levelling Staffs
Surveying Prisms
Monitoring Prisms
Tripods & Survey Accessories
We also operate a Showroom & Service Centre in Puchong, Selangor for supported surveying-equipment checking, calibration and repair requirements.
Contact MTM Precision
MTM Precision Sdn. Bhd. (744811-A)
Telephone: +603-8080 7172
WhatsApp: +6016-660 7346
Email: mtmpre@yahoo.com / enquiry@mtmpre.com.my
Website: www.mtmpre.com.my
Showroom & Service Centre
No. 29-1 & 29-2, Jalan Bandar 18,
Pusat Bandar Puchong,
47160 Puchong, Selangor, Malaysia.
For Ushikata LS-25, oil palm plantation surveying compass and hilly-terrain survey equipment enquiries in Sabah, contact MTM Precision for price, quotation, availability and technical assistance.
16 Sep 2026
