The ESRF uses the Leica TDA5000/5 motorized theodolite with automatic target recognition (ATR) for all high precision survey work. This instrument provides an extremely high measurement rate accompanied by very good precision. Typically, three teams of two people make the full storage ring survey in one 8-hour shift (3200 angle and distance measurements). The standard deviation in the distance and angle measurements are better than 0.15 mm and 4.7 μrad (1 arcsec) respectively. The standard deviation in the absolute point determination is 0.15 mm. In order to achieve these results, great efforts have been made in the proper calibration procedures for this instrument.