Category: Applications

University of Michigan Opens Test ‘City’ for Connected Vehicles
The University of Michigan (U-M) has opened Mcity, a controlled environment designed to test the potential of connected and automated vehicle technologies that will lead the way to mass-market driverless cars.

Mcity is a 32-acre simulated urban and suburban environment that includes a network of roads with intersections, traffic signs and signals, streetlights, building facades, sidewalks and construction obstacles. It is designed to support rigorous, repeatable testing of new technologies before they are tried out on public streets and highways.

“There are many challenges ahead as automated vehicles are increasingly deployed on real roadways,” said Peter Sweatman, director of the U-M Mobility Transformation Center (MTC). “Mcity is a safe, controlled, and realistic environment where we are going to figure out how the incredible potential of connected and automated vehicles can be realized quickly, efficiently and safely.”

In particular, Mcity allows researchers to simulate the environments where connected and automated vehicles will be most challenged. Even seemingly minor details a vehicle might encounter in urban and suburban settings have been incorporated into Mcity, such as road signs defaced by graffiti and faded lane markings.

The types of technologies that will be tested at the facility include connected technologies — vehicles talking to other vehicles or to the infrastructure, commonly known as V2V or V2I — and various levels of automation all the way up to fully autonomous, or driverless vehicles.

Mcity was designed and developed by U-M’s interdisciplinary MTC, in partnership with the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT). It is a public-private partnership among industry, government and academia. The center was established to lay the foundation for a commercially viable ecosystem of connected and automated mobility that will revolutionize the movement of people and goods worldwide. A key MTC goal is to put a shared network of connected, automated (including driverless) vehicles on the road in Ann Arbor by 2021.

“We believe that this transformation to connected and automated mobility will be a game changer for safety, for efficiency, for energy, and for accessibility,” Sweatman said. “Our cities will be much better to live in, our suburbs will be much better to live in. These technologies truly open the door to 21st century mobility.”

The facility also underscores Michigan’s emergence as a leader in advanced mobility, building on the state’s position as the global center of automotive research and development for more than a century, U-M said in a news release. Today, Michigan is home to 375 automotive research centers, and has the highest concentration of industrial and mechanical engineers in the country.

MTC is a public-private partnership among industry, government and academia. The center was established to lay the foundation for a commercially viable ecosystem of connected and automated mobility that will revolutionize the movement of people and goods worldwide. A key MTC goal is to put a shared network of connected, automated (including driverless) vehicles on the road in Ann Arbor by 2021.

MTC’s industry and government partners reflect the diversity of perspectives required to meet the challenges ahead. In the private sector, MTC partners include automakers and top-tier auto suppliers, but also traffic signal and traffic sensing companies, insurance providers, telecommunications, big data, IT and more. On the public side, MTC is working with federal, state and city governments.

“Mcity represents an important partnership between government at all levels, private industry and academia,” said Kirk Steudle, director of the Michigan Department of Transportation. “State of Michigan officials are thrilled to be part of this vital collaborative, which will ensure that Michigan continues to be the world’s auto leader.”

In addition to Mcity, MTC has three on-roadway connected and automated vehicle deployments underway. With the help of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, MTC is building on a nearly 3,000-vehicle connected technology project launched three years ago by the U-M Transportation Research Institute to create a major deployment of 9,000 connected vehicles operating across the greater Ann Arbor area. MTC is also partnering with industry and the Michigan Department of Transportation to put 20,000 connected vehicles on the road in Southeast Michigan. The third piece of the plan calls for deploying a 2,000-vehicle mobility service of connected and automated vehicles in Ann Arbor.

MTC was launched in 2013 and Mcity construction began last year. About $10 million has been invested in the test facility, with funding coming from U-M and MDOT. Mcity will be available for use by any organization, but priority will be given to MTC partners and U-M faculty and students.

MTC is working with 15 Leadership Circle member companies, each investing $1 million over three years, and engaging in thought leadership. Thirty-three Affiliate Members are also contributing, and investing $150,000 over three years. Current Leadership Circle companies are:
- Delphi Automotive PLC
- DENSO Corporation
- Econolite Group, Inc.
- Ford Motor Co.
- General Motors Co.
- Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
- Iteris, Inc.
- Navistar, Inc.
- Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
- Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.
- Robert Bosch LLC
- State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company
- Toyota Motor Corp.
- Verizon Communications, Inc.
- Xerox Corp.
July 23, 2015
German Auto Consortium Set to Buy Nokia Map Unit
Kevin Dennehy

The value of accurate maps is not lost on the automotive industry as it transitions from connected cars to automated vehicles. Three German automakers are rumored to be making a multibillion-dollar investment in Nokia’s HERE mapping division. If the deal goes through as expected by late July, Nokia, which purchased HERE (then called Navteq) for $8 billion in 2007, will have spurned several deep-pocket suitors.

Although not officially confirmed, Nokia’s HERE digital mapping service is set to be purchased by a German auto consortium of Daimler, BMW and Volkswagen’s Audi unit, according to published sources.

Estimates of the deal place it in the $2.7 billion to more than $3 billion range. The potential sale puts to rest industry concern that Google or another giant non-automotive entity would make the winning bid for a company with increasing importance to connected and autonomous vehicles.

Either way, it’s too early to analyze what exactly are the consequences if the German consortium closes the deal with Nokia, said Thilo Koslowski, Gartner vice president and analyst. “In order to justify the purchase price of the acquisition, it will be in the interest of any acquiring party to keep Nokia HERE’s future role as neutral as possible in order not to alienate other clients,” he said. “I could imagine that contractually the acquiring party might be tied to serving these other clients for a least a certain time. If that doesn’t happen, and the deal would be ‘exclusive,’ then it would certainly boost the appeal of other map data providers and encourage new players to emerge.”

If the deal goes through, the German consortium plans to invite such other automotive companies as Fiat Chrysler, Ford, Renault, Toyota and General Motors, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Another take on the potential agreement could be whether car companies have to weigh the pluses and minuses of to join the consortium — or map competitor TomTom needs to consider whether it has more to gain from remaining independent or creating its own consortium, said Roger Lanctot, strategy analytics associate director, global automotive practice.

Industry old-timers may remember the bitter rivalry between Navteq (formerly Navigation Technologies) and Tele Atlas (formerly Etak). This rivalry has remained, even though the names have changed and the location industry has evolved dramatically since 2007, when both Navteq and Tele Atlas were bought by Nokia and TomTom, respectively, in multibillion-dollar deals.

The bidding war for HERE began in April, when Nokia purchased Alcatel Lucent to transition from the location industry. In addition to the German auto consortium, Uber and Chinese technology provider Baidu, Google and Apple were said to be potential buyers. However, Google’s purchase of HERE would have been disruptive to the auto industry, Lanctot wrote in a LinkedIn column. “Google buying HERE would drive the entire industry into the arms of TomTom while removing the leverage-ability of a map duopoly. Google buying both TomTom and HERE would annihilate billions of dollars in research and development activity by car makers seeking to create a truly driver-oriented browsing experience intended to enhance safety,” he wrote.

Mike Dobson, TeleMapics president, who writes about digital maps at www.telemapics.com, recently said that Uber was playing with fire by bidding on HERE because they were clearly concerned about autonomous vehicles. “Within 10 years, Uber will be producing its own fleet of [autonomous vehicles]. While owning a map company might be beneficial to them, they might be better off licensing map databases,” he said.

Uber, which bought mapping company deCarta and Microsoft’s Bing Maps, ultimately withdrew from the bidding war for Here.

City Built for Autonomous Testing Unveiled in Michigan

A 32-acre simulated city recently opened to test how self-diving cars will perform in the future. The $10 million facility, called Mcity and located on the north campus of the University of Michigan, was created by the school’s Mobility Transformation Center and the Transportation Research Institute.

With all the bells and whistles — a bridge, a tunnel, traffic circle, etc. — the facility will rival anything existing, if it hasn’t already surpassed it, in Silicon Valley or Pittsburgh, which seem to be the centers of gravity for the nascent autonomous vehicle industry.

Mcity, which was a government-industry partnership, plans to “lay the foundations for a commercially viable ecosystem of connected and automated mobility,” said a university press release. [Editor’s note: It is refreshing to see the “commercially viable” thrown in there by an academic institution.]

Another key goal is to implement a connected and automated mobility system on the streets of southeastern Michigan by 2021. The MTC is developing deployments of more than 20,000 cars, trucks and buses across southeastern Michigan, serving as testbeds for evaluating consumer behavior and exploring market opportunities, the university said.

At the same time as the Mcity announcement, also in Ann Arbor, the Automated Vehicle Symposium, which is the largest autonomous vehicle conference, was being held at a local hotel. While the conference had such keynote speakers as Google’s Chris Urmson, and sponsors that included Denso and Uber, it still has the feel of this government/academic/technical conference — not unlike TRB or ITS America.

In fact, like many government meetings, the afternoon “breakout sessions” were closed off to the press. This leads to the question, with so many new, and expensive, autonomous vehicle conferences springing up, why isn’t there a single panel on the future worldwide market opportunity?

In other location news:
- IndoorAtlas signed a $3 million deal with South Korea’s SK Planet, a subsidiary of SK Telecom, to target the e-commerce market. IndoorAtlas’ investors include ST Planet and Chinese technology provider Baidu, which made a $10 million investment in the company.
- Nokia’s HERE mapping and location services business is developing a new global standard for contactless transport ticketing payments using Near Field Communications-enabled mobile phones. HERE announced the formation of the Open Mobile Ticketing Alliance, or OMTA, to help consumers purchase public transit ticket using a mobile app.
- HERE competitor TomTom continues to be a major force in vehicle monitoring and location, recently announcing its telematics division broke 500,000 subscribers. Overall, the company serve 36,000 customers, primarily in the European fleet market.
July 23, 2015
Phones Allow Surreptitious Geo-Tracking

Janice Partyka

Not everyone wants to be located. Consumers think they have the ability to turn off the tracking ability of their phones. But can they? More about that later. In other news, there are good reasons why Nokia’s HERE mapping is still on the selling block. And blind people are using a no-tech version of a widely used location positioning method that doesn’t need canes.

The controls that phone makers have devised to enable consumers to opt out of being located have a big hole. Android-based phones are giving app makers free access to phone data that can be used to surreptitiously geolocate devices. The data comes from an unlikely source: power consumption, and no consent is needed.

The technique, called PowerSpy, was developed by researchers at Stanford and Rafael, Israel’s defense research group, and gathers a phone’s power usage history. Simplistically, the location of the phone is tracked by using the phone’s battery consumption to determine the distance of a phone to a cell tower. The further the distance, or the greater the obstacles blocking the tower, the more power is consumed by the battery. The researchers say they can take into account phone usage battery drain and filter out the noise created by focusing on long-term trends.

At its current level of development, the PowerSpy method requires the snoop to have driven a route (war driving) to identify its power consumption pattern. With tests conducted in San Francisco, the method worked with 90 percent accuracy to identify a correct route from seven choices. The team is working on using the data to detect unknown routes that have not been previewed.

How would the hypothetical stalker, crook or unethical mobile advertiser get access to this data? They would entice a person to download an app. The smoke screen app might be a game or a productivity app that is quietly slurping up the power consumption data.

Here Today, Not Gone Tomorrow? Wouldn’t you think that Nokia would by now have clinched a deal to sell the mapping division? Given its mapping debacle, Apple was on the top of everyone’s list as a buyer, but apparently the company didn’t even participate in the bidding, and instead is committed to further development of its self-built mapping database. Contenders — Facebook, Baidu, Tencent and Uber — seem to have dropped out of the competition. Left is a consortium of German automakers — BMW, Daimler and Volkswagen — who feel that they should get a better deal with no other buyers in sight. It is a double-edged sword, as they also worry that if the highly accurate maps are acquired by tech firms, the car makers will lose a competitive advantage in the fight for supremacy of the automated vehicle. High-precision mapping is critical to the success of the auto OEMs.

Who Will Win Connected Vehicles? Follow the Money. Investors who want a piece of the connected vehicle action are placing bets on the tech companies, not the auto OEMs. Many blue chip and small companies are seeing healthy gains in price. Sensor chip makers, car infotainment and telecom companies are some of the winners. With the surge of connectivity required in the Internet of Things, networking technology will also do well.

E911 Innovations. While regulations are in place for eventually requiring technology to automatically identify the location of indoor E911 calls, dispatchers don’t yet have that capability. Callers can be inside a large complex, like a dormitory or hotel, and if they are unable to speak or identify their location, response is hampered. Smart911 from Rave Mobile Safety is sending dispatchers floor plans of buildings to help in rescue efforts. The maps are automatically sent with the 911 call and have already been credited with quicker responses.

Quick Business News. Uber acquired Microsoft’s geo-imagery team and assets, known at BIT (Bing Imagery Technologies), which is based in Boulder. Microsoft didn’t need this technology as it had already outsourced Bing Maps technology to Nokia HERE. Telecommunication Systems (TCS) purchased location-based technology and intellectual property from Loctronix. The purchase will further TCS in developing indoor-location technologies. Denmark has become the first country to use real-time traffic data across a national network. Denmark will use GPS probe data managed by INRIX for congestion management. The Internet of Things relies on multitudes of sensors and a new start-up, Sense360, has built a platform to manage that data.

No-Tech Location Technology. Daniel Kish was a particularly helpful kid who made deliveries for his mom to homes outside of his neighborhood. What is unusual is that Kish is blind and uses echolocation to “see” the space around him. He clicks his tongue to ascertain the unique echoes of his surroundings, starting by identifying areas of high or low density, such as tall buildings, squat houses or open space. And in a version of drive testing, blind users like Kish first walk a neighborhood with a sighted guide and remember the signature echoes. Whether it is solely by ear or with a big computer algorithm like PowerSpy, pattern mapping can be effective.

July 23, 2015
Esri and Leica Geosystems Combine for Mobile Data Collection

The Leica Geosystems ZenoCollector2 comes with Esri Collector for ArcGIS.

Esri Collector for ArcGIS, a configurable mobile app for collecting and editing data in the field, has combined with the Zeno 20, Leica Geosystems’ ultra-rugged Android-based professional-grade handheld, in a new solution called ZenoCollector. ZenoCollector uses Collector for ArcGIS as its main user interface and comes bundled with an ArcGIS Online organizational subscription for one year.

“Esri and Leica Geosystems recognize that enterprises may have particular field data collection challenges that smartphones can’t ideally meet,” said Esri president Jack Dangermond. “We’re excited to combine Collector for ArcGIS with Leica Geosystems’ industry-standard surveying units to create a more rugged and accurate solution for the more exacting needs of organizations.”

ArcGIS Online connects ZenoCollector to the ArcGIS platform, automatically syncing field changes to enterprise information and giving everyone access to the latest data gathered in the field. Collector for ArcGIS also supports offline data collection. Any updates will be synchronized with the map once the user is reconnected.

“We’re excited to raise mobile data collection solutions to the next level of precision and interoperability through rigorous connectivity between our survey-grade Leica Zeno series and Esri’s GIS solutions,” said Hexagon Geosystems President Juergen Dold. “This industry collaboration between Leica Geosystems and Esri is another joint commitment to make it easier for professionals around the world to capture, manage, and share their data, regardless if they’re in the office or the field, without sacrificing precision or interoperability.”

Although Collector for ArcGIS is most often used on smartphones, field crews may need higher precision that only a dedicated survey device can deliver. ZenoCollector contains a professional-grade GNSS receiver that provides significantly higher position accuracies than GPS receivers on smartphones and other handheld GIS devices on the market.

Leica’s Zeno series devices are also waterproof, even with the latch open, suiting the requirements of organizations operating in wet environments that would stress the tolerances of consumer-grade mobile devices.

The announcement was made at the Esri User Conference, being held this week in San Diego.

July 22, 2015
Septentrio Launches GIS Software PinPoint-GIS

Septentrio, a designer and manufacturer of GNSS receivers, has launched a new software suite called PinPoint-GIS, which is designed to make GIS data collection and visualization straightforward. Septentrio’s PinPoint-GIS provides several methods of data collection, based on a standard web browser hosted on the Altus APS-NR2 and a mobile app integrated with Esri’s ArcGIS or other GIS mapping systems.

Users of PinPoint-GIS benefit from bringing the data-collection process into their familiar GIS environment, Septentrio said. Data collected with Altus and Septentrio receivers is directly available in the user’s GIS application. This data is processed into the database without any intermediary steps, greatly reducing the time and complexity of the collection process for the user. This allows the user to focus on the project objectives by easily customizing and updating maps instead of losing time on the mechanics of data collection and transmission.

Altus APS-NR2 and GeoPod are well known for providing consistent and accurate data. Thanks to PinPoint-GIS, this data becomes seamlessly integrated with the GIS database. The data becomes easily accessible to the field worker though existing hardware such as commercial and ruggedized mobile devices, regardless of their operating system.

“By introducing PinPoint-GIS, Septentrio is committed to making accurate and reliable GIS collection as simple and cost effective as possible. Once installed Pinpoint GIS works without user involvement to place high quality positions into the users existing GIS data collection tools by using the three components of the software,” said Gustavo Lopez, PinPoint-GIS product manager. “Thanks to PinPoint-GIS, Septentrio provides a seamless interface for capturing data in the field, customizing maps, access to data and user functionality. More field workers can get greater productivity from their existing GIS tools.”

Septentrio will be presenting PinPoint-GIS at Esri AEC Summit, held at the Manchester Grand Hyatt July 18-21, and at the Esri User Conference, held July 20-24. Both events take place in San Diego, Calif.

July 16, 2015
Map Technology Takes Center Stage in San Diego

Esri President Jack Dangermond will deliver the keynote speech at Esri UC.

More than 16,000 people from 120 countries around the world are expected to converge in San Diego to discuss the power of maps and applying geography at the 2015 Esri User Conference (Esri UC). The Esri UC and related events will take place from July 18–24, featuring a variety of speakers from a presidential candidate to global first responders. Attendees will share ideas and best practices for improving our world through maps.

GPS World/Geospatial Solutions staff will also attend, and will be posting news and videos from the show. Follow us on Twitter at @GPSWorld and @GSS_NCM. Follow our coverage here.

“We have millions of users around the globe who do amazing things with our technology every day,” said Esri president Jack Dangermond. “The User Conference is our opportunity to recognize their important work, learn from them, and empower them with even better tools and techniques to continue their mission.”

Other featured speakers will include operations staff from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, executives from JPMorgan Chase, the director of Strategic Cooperation at the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), and the president and CEO of the National Geographic Society. Former Maryland governor Martin O’Malley headlines a list of innovators from across every industry who will demonstrate how geospatial technology can make government smarter, combat global health challenges, ensure public safety, and drive greater revenues for businesses.

With a full week of activities, the 2015 Esri User Conference is shaping up to be the biggest yet.

Starting Off the Week with a Bang. Before the Esri UC even kicks off, a series of concurrent events related to business; education; national security; architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC ); and 3D mapping will take place July 18 and 19 in and around the San Diego Convention Center. These focused events will give attendees a deeper dive into various functional areas and equip them with an action plan to immediately invigorate their own organizations.

Real Stories from Real People. Throughout the week, more than 1,000 users will deliver presentations detailing how GIS helps their organizations in a number of ways. Whether they’re onstage for Monday’s Plenary Session or leading one of the nearly 300 moderated paper sessions, speakers will share lessons learned and best practices that can help their peers succeed.

Celebrating 100 Years of Mapping. The National Geographic Society will be on hand to continue celebrating the organization’s 100 years of making maps. A chronicle of the history of maps and the American presidency, from future President Dwight Eisenhower carrying maps into battle during World War II to President Barack Obama receiving official presidential maps in the White House, will present the art and science of where. Gary E. Knell, president and CEO of the National Geographic Society, will also speak at the Plenary Session about the importance of geography in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education.

Innovation on Display. From hundreds of expert-led technical workshops to the expansive GIS Solutions EXPO featuring more than 300 technology companies and start-ups, attendees will immerse themselves in the latest and greatest in mapping and spatial analysis. Attendees will find a range of demos, talks, and resources about hot topics—big data, 3D visualization, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and more.

The Esri UC and related events will span seven days and offer opportunities for both technologists and managers to understand how geography can be applied to every organization’s challenge to drive better outcomes. For more information, visit esri.com/uc.

July 16, 2015
Precise GNSS Positioning — but Compared with What?
By Denis Parrot
Guest Columnist, Survey Scene newsletter

I recently read an article by David Doyle entitled “Why Doesn’t my Centimeter Match Your Centimeter?” (May Survey Scene), which painted an interesting portrait of the widespread use of GNSS-based data collection systems. Nowadays, almost everyone can claim to have surveys with centimeter or sub-meter accuracy anywhere in the world, which before was achievable only by a few rare specialists. In many cases, the positions do not always fall at the right place when they are integrated into geographical information systems (GIS). Unfortunately, it is often at this stage that we call on a specialist! The key is in the reference system, also known as datum.

Even if it can become relatively complex when it comes to details, the concept of a reference system when using the GNSS system is essentially identical to conventional surveying techniques. A surveyor always used a reference station for his survey using his theodolite. He stringently maintained his control point network on the territory being surveyed. All his surveys were in reference to his control network (points that are part of a series of controlled polygons). If certain polygons were not well linked to the rest of the network, integration with centimeter precision into the computer-assisted design program (or his geographical information system [GIS]) would be problematic, or even impossible, for the lots linked to the erroneous polygons. And this is exactly what happens with the GNSS system; if the reference is overlooked, GIS integration becomes a real problem.

Without realizing it, GNSS users also use a reference network. If they work in RTK (differential positioning), they use either a VRS (Virtual Reference System) or a station network that sends corrections. In general, these two systems are based on a national reference system (geocentric or not). Users can also use a portable base that they install themselves as needed. When they enter a coordinate into this portable station, they become responsible for the reference system used. During post-processing, the problem remains the same. A position must be entered for the base station and the reference must be known (i.e., the datum).

Example of positions that do not fall at the right place when they are integrated into a geographical information system (GIS).

If they use satellite-based augmentation systems (SBAS), such as the private Omnistar, Veripos or StarFire systems, these systems are generally referenced by a geocentric system (which nowadays includes a temporal drift) defined by international bodies (IGN in France, which maintains, along with several research centers, the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF)). Today, this method of positioning is known as PPP or precise point positioning.

These different GNSS positioning methods, therefore, do not use the same reference! Each may provide highly accurate coordinates. However, these coordinates are only accurate with regard to their reference. Although this concept may seem very simple, in reality the increasingly common use of these systems by non-specialists often produces strange results.

Below are a few examples of uses that may lead to confusion with reference systems, in terms of “compared with what?”:
- A farmer who carries out micro-topography to analyze his fields is pleasantly surprised by the level of altimetric precision he can achieve (within a few cm), using a “single-frequency” receiver. However, when he tries to juxtapose two fields, he may discover an altimetric deviation of up to 2 meters. The reason for this is quite simple: he systematically used local base stations with average coordinates taken in the field as the base coordinates. Normally, he uses one base per field. By not taking into account the consistency of the coordinates for the base stations, without realizing it, this farmer was creating independent references for each of his fields. It is obvious that if the analysis had been done individually on each field, he would not have seen any problem. It is when the two juxtaposed fields are integrated that problems arise.
Photo courtesy of Effigis.
- In Quebec, a surveyor uses a Department of Energy and Natural Resources station as a source for RTK differential corrections. This system is referenced to the NAD83 SCRS coordinates system. When he tries to integrate his survey points using the conventional method, which are based on the original NAD83 coordinates system, he will notice inconsistencies of a few to several centimeters. These two coordinate systems (NAD83 ≠ NAD83SCRS) may have inconsistencies of several centimeters from each other.
- In Canada, an agronomist surveys the position of trees in the city using a portable GNSS system with an SBAS corrections system. Once the survey has been completed and he integrates the position of the trees into the city’s GIS, these all seem to be off by +/- 1.5 m. The SBAS reference systems are all geocentric (within +/- several cm) compared with the NAD83 SCRS system, which is positioned +/- 1.5 m from the Earth’s center!
These three examples illustrate the type of error commonly found in the “reference system” category. The issue here is not GNSS system performance, since we are assuming that the positions obtained are accurate versus the chosen reference. Neither does the issue concern the variations between different reference systems, or the methods or precision of transformations between one reference system and another (this topic is very broad).

Lastly, we should find the answer to the question “But compared with what?” in what we commonly call “metadata.” Regarding GNSS position, this is information related to creating positions: the reference system used, statistics regarding the position estimate, date, different dilution of precision (DOP) values, type of GNSS signal used, etc.

For your next delivery, simply mention “Precise, but compared with what?” or deliver your positions along with full metadata!

Denis Parrot earned a degree in surveying and mapping from Université Laval in 1981, and began his career working in those fields around the world for five years. He then completed graduate studies in Fredericton, New Brunswick, where he earned a master’s in satellite geodesy. With a passion for his area of expertise, Parrot has been involved since 1991 in a host of projects that employ geospatial information to meet the specific needs of various markets and users. He is currently president at Effigis and responsible for the OnPOZ Product division, including the commercial aspect and R&D activities.

This column originally appeared as a blog at the Effigis Geo Solutions website, and is shared with permission.
July 15, 2015
Combining the Onboard GPS Capability of Smartphones with KML Files

Following is a submission to our “$100 for 300 Well-Chosen Surveyor Words” contest. To submit your own surveyor’s story, send 300 (or more) words to [email protected].

By Jay Satalich, P.L.S.

At Caltrans District 7 in Los Angeles, we use the onboard GPS capability of smartphones to navigate in real time to the locations of proposed aerial targets and NGS control stations.

KML files are created in the office using desktop GIS, then downloaded to smartphones for use in the field. We create KML files specifically for use by our surveyors during every aerial mapping project within Los Angeles and Ventura Counties.
The aerial target layer also shows the proposed locations of stereo model limits on the smartphone.

Having the stereo model limits as a data layer becomes a handy piece of information in the event an aerial target needs to be relocated due to unfavorable field conditions. The heads-up capabilities of GPS aboard the smartphones and KML files can also show the easiest path to reach either target location or control stations. The NGS control station layer hyperlinks to the NGS website so the field surveyor always has the recovery note available in an electronic format.

The field surveyors are also given hardcopy maps of the target locations and control stations, but those are now only used as a back-up to the KML files loaded onto the smartphones.

We have found that leveraging the onboard GPS capability of smartphones with GIS-based data layers in the field has increased production. Using smartphones provides the surveyors with information more concisely and clearly, so better decisions can be made while in the field. The project surveyor has the ability to tailor datasets specifically to project needed by the field surveyors.

Once the aerial targets have been placed and the NGS control stations recovered, the field surveyors then position the aerial targets and control stations using carrier phase GNSS.

July 15, 2015
Garmin Adds eTrex with Touchscreen to Outdoor Line

The Garmin eTrex can be mounted on bicycles, boats, ATVs or in the car.

Garmin International this summer is releasing the eTrex Touch 25, 35 and 35t, adding new touchscreen models to its line of outdoor handhelds.

The eTrex Touch series has a completely updated user interface, improving the ease-of-use of the device, as well as a 2.6-inch capacitive touchscreen display, the largest display that’s ever been put on an eTrex device. The eTrex Touch series also features new activity profiles for easy-to-use navigation for multiple activities and an enhanced track manager to easily start and stop recording.

The new eTrex Touch series has a high-sensitivity, WAAS-enabled GPS receiver with GLONASS support and HotFix satellite prediction to locate users’ position quickly and precisely, even in heavy cover and deep canyons.All units in the eTrex Touch series have a built-in 3-axis tilt-compensated electronic compass, which gives directional information even when standing still. The eTrex 35 and 35t also have a barometric altimeter to get more accurate altitude, elevation and climb information, as well as indications of pending weather changes.

The eTrex Touch 25, 35 and 35t are compatible with an array of mounts that are easy to use on bicycles, boats, ATVs or in the car, and offer a long-lasting 16-hour battery life, and a rugged ergonomic design to withstand the elements.

The eTrex Touch series integrates a variety of new activity profiles. The device remembers how each profile is set up to each activity, and will set it up for users the same way every time, making it comfortable, quick and intuitive to use the same device for entirely different purposes. No matter if users are out rock climbing, hiking, hunting, cycling, geocaching or fishing, with an eTrex Touch, switching between activities is easier than ever, even if they’re done all in one afternoon.

The eTrex Touch series comes preloaded with a worldwide shaded relief basemap, 4 GB of internal memory on the 25 and 35 models and 8 GB of internal memory on the 35t. The eTrex 35t also comes preloaded with TOPO U.S. 100K. With the built-in microSD card slot, users can install even more maps, like HuntView to see public and private land data while hunting, BirdsEye Satellite Imagery or TOPO U.S. 24K. All models come preloaded with 250,000 geocaches from Geocaching.com, so right out of the box users can start their geocaching adventure virtually anywhere in the world.

The eTrex 35 and 35t incorporate wireless ANT+ connectivity to accessory sensors like heart rate monitors, the Tempe temperature sensor, Chirp geocaching beacon, or the cycling speed sensors and cadence sensors. The eTrex 35 and 35t can also act as a wireless remote control for the VIRB line of action cameras. The eTrex 35 and 35t can connect via Bluetooth to compatible smartphones to receive smart notifications and stay connected out on the trail, but keep their phone safely packed away from the elements. Additionally, these units are compatible with the the Garmin Connect mobile app, for features such as LiveTrack. With LiveTrack, users can pair their device with the app, and invite friends and family to follow their activity in real time. This provides peace of mind, especially if users are alone.

The eTrex Touch 25 will have a suggested retail price of $249.99, the eTrex Touch 35 will have a suggested retail price of $299.99 and the eTrex Touch 35t will have a suggested retail price of $349.99.

July 14, 2015
Juniper to Exhibit Sub-Meter GPS Solution at Esri User Conference

Juniper Systems is exhibiting its sub-meter GPS solution using Esri ArcPad, Effigis’ EZSurv Post-Processing software, and its ultra-rugged handheld computers — a combination the company says is budget-friendly and easy-to-use — at the Esri User Conference, being held in San Diego July 20–24.

The sub-meter solution involves collecting GIS data using a Juniper Systems rugged handheld running ArcPad data collection software, and then using Effigis’ EZSurv software to post-process the data, resulting in sub-meter GPS accuracy. Users can import and export data, including custom attributes, from their GIS. The data collection process bypasses the need for expensive survey-grade GPS receivers, providing both an affordable and simple solution for professionals who require sub-meter accuracy, Juniper Systems said.

“This solution is a great option for people looking for sub-meter accuracy without the steep price,” said Trevor Brown, Natural Resources market manager at Juniper Systems. “The range of applications that can benefit from this type of solution is very broad, with uses in forestry, agriculture, environmental monitoring, and asset management, to name a few. And not only is it inexpensive, it’s also super simple. You can have sub-meter accuracy with the click of a button.”

Those attending the Esri User Conference can see this affordable sub-meter solution at Juniper Systems’ booth #2212. The data sheet can be downloaded, or visit Juniper Systems’ website to learn more.

July 13, 2015
Flight Navigation the Focus of New Market Report
MarketsandMarkets.com has released a new report focusing on NextGen flight navigation systems and how they will affect the future of aircraft.

“Flight Navigation System Market by Product, Flight Instrument & Application Forecast to 2020” covers:
- avionics and communications systems
- instrumentation such as altimeters, gyroscopes, autopilots and sensors
- applications (commercial and military)
- geography
The time frame covered is 2014 to 2020.

Market Research Report is available as a PDF download either for single users or for corporate use.
July 13, 2015
Carlson Software Releases Surveyor2 Handheld

Carlson Surveyor2

Carlson Software has released the Carlson Surveyor2, the newest model in its Carlson Surveyor line of data collectors. The Surveyor2 is paired with Carlson’s software to provide a powerful, complete solution for surveying, stake out, construction layout, and GIS mapping, the company said.

Designed and manufactured by Juniper Systems, the Carlson Surveyor2 is built to withstand the harshest conditions, with an IP68 rating for dust and water and superb durability when dropped or exposed to cold, heat or other rugged environments.

With minimal increase in weight compared to the original Surveyor, the Surveyor2 offers greater memory and data storage, a faster, 1.0-GHz processor, and significantly improved Bluetooth range — up to 1,500 feet. The data collector also features a new QWERTY keyboard with large buttons for easy data entry, enhanced battery power with 20+ hours of runtime, and a larger, brighter display, providing excellent visibility in any lighting conditions.

The Surveyor2 runs Windows Embedded Handheld 6.5.3 and can be purchased with Carlson SurvCE 4.0, Carlson’s powerful data collection software. SurvCE offers exceptional usability, with a tab-based menu and advanced graphics for easy-to-use functionality, the company said.

“The Surveyor2 and SurvCE together create an advanced solution for surveying applications, while maintaining simplicity and ease-of-use,” said Debbie Trolson, geomatics market manager at Juniper Systems. “The Surveyor2 offers significant improvements over its predecessor, providing surveyors with the features they need to perform their work productively and effectively.”

The Surveyor2 was previewed at INTERGEO 2014.

July 8, 2015