2018 State of the GNSS Industry survey respondents who identified themselves as from the survey sector constituted 30% of the total, corresponding to the percentage of the magazine’s readership.
What is the most promising and practical way to gain the increased accuracy that survey and other high-precision applications continue to demand? (Source: GPS World 2018 State of the Industry survey)
Higher Accuracy. Regarding the most promising technology to get the increased accuracy that surveying continues to demand, the outright choice was “dual-frequency, dual- or multi-constellation GNSS,” with “real-time kinematic” coming in second. Surprisingly, the newest technology to be introduced to GNSS receivers, inertial correction, lagged at just over 5%.
Inertial correction devices, which contain gyroscope and accelerometer technology, are now being installed in survey-grade receivers to increase accuracy and productivity. It’s a gamechanger in GNSS data collection for surveyors, so I am surprised by the survey results. These sensors work in conjunction with the receiver to more accurately collect positional information in relation to the point being acquired. While RTK positions are normally collected at 1-20 Hz, the inertial device works in tandem to further refine a more accurate location. As this technology becomes more publicized in phones and other devices, the surveying community will begin to take notice.
What role will drones (UAVs) play during the next three years in the survey sector? (Source: GPS World 2018 State of the Industry survey)
Drones. Concerning the role that drones (UAVs) will play in the next three years, by a slim margin — 47% to 42% — respondents state that up to 20% of their work will be completed by UAVs vs. those who feel less than 10% of their work will be done by a drone. Only1.3% answered that UAVs will take over most of their work and displace surveyors in the field for specific survey tasks.
I see UAVs becoming a standard equipment much like the EDM/total station and GNSS receivers, as it is clearly a unique tool for not just collecting visual images but as a remote sensing device. While it won’t replace workers in the field, it will allow crews to become more efficient, tech-savvy and valuable for human-only types of data collection.
Business. A whopping 85% of the survey sector found this market either “very healthy, with strong growth” (37%) or “relatively healthy, with moderate growth” (48%). This compares with total of 79% across all GNSS industry sectors. So we’re on top! That is, we are doing comparatively well amid the rest of the GNSS industry — which itself is in very good shape indeed.
Poll results reflect the positive nature of the surveying profession in relation to technology, specifically GNSS and the utilization of UAVs, in our every day work. Previously, introduction of new technology has been historically unreliable, less than user-friendly, and expensive. The trend with newer technologies, however, has been quite the opposite with shorter, easier learning curves and lower cost of entry. These factors have led more surveyors to upgrade their equipment, implementing newer technologies and thus creating more efficiency in the profession.
For more results from the 2018 State of the GNSS Industry, see this page.
TIM BURCH is a professional land surveyor and secretary, Board of Directors, National Society of Professional Surveyors.
Javad GNSS has taken the power of its Triumph system and expanded to ground-based measurement technologies (versus satellite-based positioning) with the J-Mate.
The J-Mate is a new measurement module that combines conventional measurement via laser scanning and photographic imagery with the multi-constellation location accuracy of the Triumph-LS receiver.
Unlike most conventional total stations, J-Mate does not contain optics for manual use. It does, however, utilize precision horizontal and vertical encoders for angular measurement while the high-definition camera and laser module combine to locate the USB-powered target for accurate measurements, the company said.
The target rest on top of the receiver and lights up for better visibility to the camera and sensor. The lighting power comes through the USB cord connected to the receiver.
Coupled with the onboard data collector screen of the Triumph-LS, operation of the module is done visually with the LS mounted on top of the module or remotely on the J-Pod pole used for GNSS data collection.
Setup of the module for survey data collection can be accomplished by several different methods: Backsight, Resect or Astro-Seek.
The Backsight method of station establishment, while following in the manner of traditional total stations, can be accomplished by several different methods utilizing the J-Mate and Triumph-LS.
The first option is to occupy a known station with pre-established horizontal and vertical values, and then proceed to orient the instrument to another known station.
The second option is using the Triumph-LS GNSS engines to establish a station coordinate value, perform the same procedure on the reference station, and use the J-Mate software to calculate backsight azimuth for orientation.
The last option is to use a combination of the known coordinates or collect GNSS-derived values for either station or backsight point and complete the station setup.
The Resect method is utilized when occupied station cannot use GNSS-observed coordinate values but can view two or more stations with known values. Once the user has measured all the visible know stations, the data-collection software provides geometric precision analysis and a coordinate solution if tolerances are acceptable.
The last method of orientation, Astro-Seek, can observe solar or lunar positions to accurately determine the location and orientation of the station. The user installs a darkening filter for solar observations and starts the Astro-Seek process; the module automatically makes necessary remaining measurements and calculations.
J-Mate screen (Image: Javad GNSS)
The J-Mate system is equipped with system parameters that allows the user to customize a variety of settings, including minimum and maximum collection distance, windowing of project area, and edge definition tolerance to fine tune scanning small objects. Also definable within the window area is the scan spacing variable, used to minimize the number of data points where needed.
According to Javad GNSS, the range of the J-Mate is rated at 100 meters (328 U.S. survey feet) using the Javad target and to most white surfaces, while the rating for darker surfaces is 50 meters (164 U.S. survey feet). Three precision vials are placed around the top for visual verification of levelness in addition to the electronic leveling mechanism, giving the user on-the-fly notification of any unstableness of the instrument.
The J-Mate isn’t exclusively a data collection system, though; this module and software is also designed to be an efficient staking application. Taking advantage of robust servos and effective targeting system, this system performs dutifully for staking applications where accuracy and precision are required.
No, this is not a drill or a major motion picture event.
During my lifetime, many natural disasters that have taken place around the globe. These unfortunate events have created mass destruction and caused many deaths by a variety of environmental elements, ranging from earthquakes and volcanic eruptions to hurricanes and snowstorms.
Disasters in the United States. (Image: FEMA)
Once Mother Nature decides to unleash her wrath, rarely anything stands in her way. Some types of disasters create situations worse than others, but all have a reputation of leaving a trail of death and destruction.
Search and rescue is the first and foremost priority when it comes to these disasters, with cleanup and rebuilding to soon follow.
The role of the land surveyor, however, doesn’t usually enter the discussion when it comes to these situations. It has always been considered an occupation that fills an important role in development, construction and parcel ownership, but rarely is discussed in the same terms as a fireman, policeman or doctor.
We will take a closer examination at how the surveyor uses skills developed through education, technical training and practical application of geographical data to quietly assist those in need through these difficult bouts with Mother Nature.
First, however, we will discuss various types of the deadliest natural disasters, the amount of destruction that has been caused and types of problems (besides deaths) that were left because of these tragedies.
Disasters throughout history
When describing natural disasters, the obvious ones come to mind: earthquake, hurricane/typhoon/cyclone, tornado, wildfire, flooding/monsoon, drought/famine, volcanic eruption, tsunami, sandstorm, avalanche, and snowstorm.
All of these have wreaked havoc on mankind for centuries, with more physical destruction taking place in the past few centuries.
Some of the factors leading to an increase in this devastation are gains overall population and amount of buildings and improvements in populated areas. Let’s look at how each disaster impacts the areas in which it occurs:
Flooding/Monsoon
Historically the deadliest type of natural disaster, rainfall through storms and monsoons cause flood events that have caused millions of deaths in several instances around the world. Most of the deaths caused by flooding situations are due to drowning in floodwaters that inundate areas not normally affected by normal amounts of rain.
The largest flood in recorded history took place in China during 1931, combining melting snow and ice with ongoing rain events to create a continuous flooding event that lasted most of the year. Death toll estimates range from 400,000 to almost 4 million, as many of the victims either died or moved to other regions with no trace.
Hurricane/Typhoon/Cyclone
This is another type of flooding disaster, but it combines large amounts of rain gathered from ocean storms with high winds to batter shoreline and inland areas. These storms can often stall in place, causing significant damage by both wind and rain.
Tornado
Most weather systems associated with creating tornadoes are believed to occur in the United States, but they happen all over the world. Many of the deadliest tornadoes have taken place in the Middle East, including Bangladesh, Russia and Pakistan. These storms can include torrential rain, but most of the damage caused by tornadoes is wind-related.
Earthquake
Shifting tectonic plates and earth-shaking tremors are a significant cause of damage and deaths throughout the world. Most of the highest death tolls have taken place in Asia, with the biggest loss of life occurring in Shaanxi, China, on Jan. 23, 1556, with more than 830,000 deaths.
Indian Ocean (Jan. 2, 2005): A village near the coast of Sumatra lays in ruin after the Tsunami that struck South East Asia. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Photographer’s Mate 2nd Class Philip A. McDaniel)
Tsunami
Often a secondary disaster generally associated with earthquakes in coastal areas, tsunamis kill thousands by inundating shorelines with huge waves and sending vast amounts of water into low-lying areas and poorly constructed seaside villages. The largest tsunami in recent memory was on Dec. 26, 2004, in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Indonesia, with the death toll reaching 280,000 people.
Volcano
The biggest cause of earthquakes is typically molten lava expanding to shift tectonic plates, but volcanoes are formed with the lava and associated gases finding an escape in the Earth’s crust.
Once a volcano has formed, an eruption can lead to significant damage from lava flow onto adjacent land and hot ash spewed into the atmosphere. Many volcanic eruptions throughout history have buried local cities and villages, making them virtually disappear.
Wildfire
Grabbing the headlines more recently has been the proliferation of wildfires. While not causing the substantial loss-of-life associated with many other natural disasters, wildfires are responsible for scorching hundreds of thousands of acres of forest and brush areas, as well as decimating neighborhoods.
Avalanche
This disaster only takes place in locations with significant snow pack and elevation changes. After large amounts of snowfall, various factors lead to movement of large areas of snow and ice down mountainous slopes. Often these events take place near cities and villages in mountainous regions and can leave the inhabitants buried and unreachable.
Other Types of Natural Disasters
While the varieties of events listed above can create large-scale destruction, there are others that, while smaller in nature, can collectively cause great damage and loss of life. Thunderstorms, snowstorms and sandstorms are wind-related and can be devastating to the areas being affected.
Other natural disasters that often don’t get the same recognition as those listed above include drought and famine. These environmental tragedies ruin thousands of lives, and it take years to recover from the damage caused by these inflictions.
Disaster hits. Now what?
June 28, 2008: A house in Parkersburg, Iowa, is being rebuilt while debris from a deadly EF5 tornado still covers the ground. (Photo: FEMA/Richard O’Reilly)
All of these disaster types have led to a great number of fatalities and total devastation of cities and roadways. To help us understand what type of assistance the surveyor can provide, we first need to identify the conditions left by each of these events.
Most of the disasters simply wipe out whatever is in its path; from tornadoes, hurricanes, and wildfires to earthquakes, avalanches and tsunamis, the regions affected are left in shambles after the occurrence.
The initial search and rescue through the rubble takes manpower and careful identification of areas where people are known to inhabit, either as residences, places of employment or public spaces. These areas require retracement of existing mapping and atlases to accurately identify those places for timely recovery.
Once the search-and-rescue efforts have ceased and cleanup/rebuilding commences, the destroyed areas will need to be remapped based upon existing parcels and ownership rights. Reconciliation of existing parcels, subdivisions and rights-of-way will be required to properly return the injured areas to a habitable state.
The one disaster that’s a big wildcard, however, is the earthquake. The devastation is like the others and generally will need rebuilding like the others, but with one large difference; putting everything back where it belongs.
When large tremors cause significant shifts in inhabited and/or complex parcels, the ability to retrace existing parcels, subdivisions and rights-of-way to place them in their original location becomes a nightmare.
How surveyors and GNSS help before and after disasters
As expert measurers and establishers of boundaries, the surveyor provides guidance for the creation of parcels and rights-of-way. Through extensive education, training and experience, the surveyor combines field reconnaissance, legal definitions of parcels and high-level mathematics to provide direction for the creation and retracement of real property.
After experiencing a devastating event like the ones described above, the surveyor becomes a key position in rebuilding the affected area.
Prior to the invention and proliferation of GNSS technology, however, the use of state plane coordinate data was a tedious and time-consuming task (see my January 2017 article at GPS World).
Establishing coordinate values across a large region and/or utility system was not practical from a time or cost viewpoint. The arrival of GNSS technology in the 1990s changed that situation with the ability to determine coordinate values in real-time and create large databases of infrastructure and utility information. Government agencies (and surveyors) now could replicate, with acceptable accuracy and precision, locations of improvements and utilities throughout their jurisdiction.
Surveyors are now being called upon to assist with search and rescue efforts when these disasters hit to help locate and turn off existing utilities (i.e. electricity, gas, water), and to provide mapping assistance for retracing where people may be in the rubble. Because lives are at stake, timely location is essential for these services and GNSS technology use by the surveyor provides a much-needed service.
Once these disaster events being a rebuilding mode, the surveyor steps in to find the existing parcel and right-of-way lines to assist the respective owners where a deed or roadway was previously located. Most times, the surveyor can retrace existing line by locating buried monuments and recreating existing deed descriptions and/or roadway locations.
Where there becomes a problem is when the devastation is large enough to destroy all existing monuments and leave no trace of any occupied land. The surveyor must expand the search area, as far as needed, to find the closest available monuments in which to begin rebuilding the parcel descriptions.
Depending on the site conditions, GNSS equipment is used to locate the positions of the nearest monuments so the surveyor can perform retracement calculations for the disturbed area.
Once the area to be re-established to calculated, the surveyor can return to the site and place markers signifying parcels and rights-of-way for the rebuilding of roads, utilities and buildings. GNSS receivers are again utilized to increase the proficiency of the field crew by allowing the installation of the markers over a large area in a short amount of time.
How surveyors can prepare for future events
Image: DuPage County, Illinois, GIS
As previously written in my January 2017 column, GNSS technology has helped expand geographic information systems (GIS) into a database beast, containing everything from voter districts, zoning regions and floodplain maps to locations of most municipal utility maps and databases.
When these databases have included a geodetic layer of survey information overseen by the licensed land surveyor, the GIS is now more than a glorified digital Etch-A-Sketch. These entities within the database have geolocation as part of its dataset, with varying accuracy depending on the source of the data.
By having all this information available in a digital format, typically saved in a cloud-computing location, the ability to replicate these entities becomes a simple exercise. As more information becomes available, it needs to be included into the database for future mapping consideration.
All relevant data, together with a geolocation tag, becomes valuable for future retracement. This information could be used to locate possible survivors during a disaster event.
Upcoming technology to assist surveyors with disaster relief planning
Image: Esri
Many of the tools being utilized by surveyors have the capability of helping with mapping and data collection of municipal and public facilities for GIS database inclusion.
We currently use laser and lidar scanners both terrestrially and aerially to collect point-cloud data for establishing existing conditions of various sites. This point cloud, along with high-resolution photography, can be used to augment and enhance new and existing GIS databases with extensive datasets.
By having this additional information collected and available digitally, qualified experts can perform disaster simulation tests to depict various environmental events and determine what strategies will be necessary for search-and-rescue efforts.
These experts can also use this data to predict potential flood paths, conduct seismic modeling to determine building shift, and combine weather conditions with conceivable wildfire-capable areas. All these potential life-saving exercises can utilize the surveyor as a significant data-collection source.
Coming to a theater near you…
Whether one believes in climate change or just being affected by an active environmental cycle of natural disasters, the entire world is prone to have an occurrence of at least one of these events.
Since these events are not going away, remember to help your fellow man, woman or child in their time of need. It is the duty of the surveyor to provide a service that is intended to protect the public, and being there for disaster planning, prevention and recovery is part of our mission.
Think of us like the Avengers; now there’s a sequel I’d pay to see.
Hemisphere GNSS has closed its definitive agreement to purchase all of the assets of the Outback Guidance business from AgJunction Inc., along with a new technology licensing agreement.
The acquisition aligns well with Hemisphere’s continued push into the global agriculture market, the company said. In addition to the included IP (intellectual property) licenses for business into the dealer channel, a second license was finalized to allow agriculture steering solutions sales into OEM (original equipment manufacturer), VAR (value-added reseller), and all other segments of the agriculture supply chain.
Hemisphere has assumed ownership of the Outback assets, including a global sales channel, infrastructure and trademarks. Additionally, licenses to IP and related technology have been executed. Also included are two product development, sales and support facilities, including personnel, located in Hiawatha, Kansas, and Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
“Outback’s highly knowledgeable personnel and dealer network will provide us with a key piece of the agriculture supply chain that perfectly complements Hemisphere’s current global agriculture strategy,” said Farlin Halsey, president and chief executive officer of Hemisphere GNSS.
Jeffrey Farrar will lead the Outback business as general manager. Before joining Hemisphere, Farrar was vice president of sales for AgJunction and served in a capacity of director and senior management-level positions for both sales and marketing for AgJunction and Hemisphere GPS. “Jeffrey’s previous leadership and history with the Outback business makes him the ideal person to direct the future growth of this business,” Halsey said.
“Outback has always been a household name in the agriculture space associated with simplicity, performance, and value, and we intend to keep it that way,” Farrar said. “I look forward to ensuring that the Outback business thrives and that the solution and technology offerings are maintained and supported, as we look to refresh and update product lineups. We are committed to helping and supporting our dealer network, farmers, and growers alike to ensure they continue feeding the world.”
The addition of Outback represents Hemisphere’s continued effort to make significant investments to expand its presence in the global agricultural market. Hemisphere has seen successful revenues and wide-reaching positive feedback in recent years with its OEM-focused agriculture products. Hemisphere seeks to further integrate its high-precision GNSS positioning technology via systems and services offered by the Outback dealer network.
The Outback channels of communication including customer support, sales and website, will remain as they currently operate. The Outback dealer network will not see any interruption during this transition period.
Trimble has launched a new model of its premium GNSS receiver, the Trimble R10 Model 2 GNSS System. Designed to help surveyors in a wide range of industries work more effectively and productively, the Model 2 enables reliable, fast and accurate collection of survey data in the field, the company said.
Enhancements in Model 2:
The latest and most advanced custom Trimble survey GNSS ASIC with 672 GNSS channels for unrivaled GNSS constellation tracking, including GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo, QZSS and IRNSS as well as the full range of SBAS. The Trimble R10 Model 2 tracks and processes all of today’s available GNSS signals and is designed to support planned GNSS signals and systems that may be launched in the future.
Improved reliability against sources of interference and spoofed signals.
Improved power management to increase battery life and operating time in the field on average by 33 percent.
Increased internal memory (6 GB) to store more than 10 years of raw observations.
Support for Android and iOS platforms to allow organizations with Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) environments to benefit from a premium survey GNSS receiver by using the mobile devices their field crews already have in their pockets.
The new features build on the Trimble R10’s core technologies, which include the Trimble HD-GNSS processing engine that enables points to be quickly measured with confidence, Trimble SurePoint technology for precise positioning capture and full tilt compensation, Trimble xFill technology for centimeter-level positioning during GNSS outages, and support for Trimble CenterPoint RTX corrections for RTK level precision worldwide.
Advanced GNSS rover system
The Trimble R10 Model 2 supports the recently released Trimble TSC7 controller and Trimble Access 2018 field software. The Trimble R10, in combination with the TSC7’s large 7-inch screen and faster processing power plus Trimble Access 2018’s new user interface and graphics capabilities, gives surveyors a superior, comprehensive solution for collecting and computing data in the field.
“These improvements ensure the Trimble R10 remains one of the most current and relevant GNSS survey solutions on the market today,” said Olivier Casabianca, director of global marketing for Trimble Geospatial. “By providing a powerful rover system such as the R10 Model 2, TSC7 controller and Access 2018 field software, Trimble continues its legacy of unmatched GNSS expertise and knowledge to advance the capabilities of surveyors around the world.”
GPS data serves as the basis for a geodetic model of the Alps. Here, a horizontal strain field is derived from the data. Red areas indicate compression; blue indicates lateral spreading. (Image: DGFI-TUM)
Our Earth is constantly on the move, as the current Kilauea eruption dramatically illustrates. But capturing data on small shifts over time isn’t so easy.
A new computer model based on more than a decade of GPS data shows the dynamic movements of the Alps as the mountain range drifts and rises.
In general, the range drifts an average of one-half millimeter and rises 1.8 millimeters every year.
However, there are strong regional variances. In South and East Tyrol, a rotation towards the east is superimposed on the overall movement, while at the same time the mountain range is being compressed. And the rise in height is not identical everywhere, either. While very small in the southern part of the western Alps, it reaches its maximum with a speed of more than 2 millimeters per year in the central Alps at the boundaries of Austria, Switzerland and Italy.
To create the model, researchers at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) German Geodetic Research Institute evaluated measurements made by more than 300 GPS antennas over a period of 12 years, in the German, Austrian, Slovenian, Italian, French and Swiss Alps. Over that time, each of the stations has been making positioning measurements every 15 seconds.
The team’s model makes the movements visible on a comprehensive basis for the first time.
The scientists identified the positions of the measurement stations, accurate down to fractions of a millimeter; many of the stations were set up in the EU project ALPS-GPSQUAKENET and are in part operated by TUM.
Once corrected for snow weight and atmospheric interference, the data show horizontal and vertical shifts as well as lateral spreading and compression at a resolution of 25 kilometers.
Explains Florian Seitz, chair of Geodetic Geodynamics, “The data are a goldmine for geodesy, with its objective of accurately measuring the surface of the Earth and identifying any changes occurring.”
Geneq Inc. has released the F90, a multi-constellation GNSS receiver with a high level of technology integration. The new product is designed to fulfill surveyors’ demands for performance, flexibility and cost-effectiveness.
The F90 tracks multiple constellations (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo and Beidou) and can maximize the acquisition and tracking process with all-in-view GNSS satellite frequencies, the company said.
Providing maximum performance for accuracy and real-time measurements, the F90 also supports real-time kinematic correction services, including the RTX service that can achieve centimeter accuracy without a base station.
The F90’s advanced technology ensures a high performance even in harsh environment such as under heavy canopy, Geneq said.
The F90 has an excellent combination of GNSS, 4G, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi antenna. With highly integrated Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and 4G network modules, and without affecting accuracy and efficiency, the innovative F90 GNSS receiver is light and small. Even with its magnesium-alloy casing, F90 weighs only 1 kilogram and measures 140 x 157 x 76 millimeters.
With its integrated highly sensitive E-bubble and new tilt survey algorithm, the F90 becomes a calibration-free GNSS receiver, Geneq said. It is immune to magnetic disturbance and free from the limitation of tilt angles so that it can be used to measure inaccessible points.
Equipped with an internal radio, enabling frequency band change from 410 to 470 MHz, the F90 can be used with different radio communication protocols. Another important feature is its integrated second-generation web user interfae control, which is fully compatible with all devices and all browsers.
The user will benefit the F90’s two smart hot swappable Lithium batteries (the same battery used with Geneq’s SXPad 1000P data collector), allowing uninterrupted field work for up to 10 hours.
Laser Technology Inc. (LTI), manufacturer of professional-grade laser rangefinders, has released its improved TruPulse 360 laser, which features LTI’s TruVector 360° Compass Technology.
The rangefinder has numerous measurement capabilities. According to the company, it can measure slope distance, inclination and azimuth; instantly calculate horizontal and vertical distances; and calculate 3D missing line values.
The enhanced device offers 33 percent increased distance accuracy, 25 percent better target acquisition and a higher azimuth accuracy of 0.5° root mean squared (RMS).
“Given its limitless angle and tilt capabilities, the TruPulse 360 is extremely popular for GPS/GNSS offset mapping processes,” said Eric Miller, president of Laser Technology Inc. “The laser’s flexibility enables users to record offsets and attribute data of multiple features from a single location, making data collection quicker, easier and even safer in potentially hazardous situations.”
The new TruPulse 360 continues LTI’s mission of providing cutting-edge laser measurement solutions in an easy-to-use way, and this model represents an accumulation of more than a decade of work.
In 2007, the TruPulse 360 integrated LTI’s exclusive TruVector 360° Compass Technology, which was developed from the company’s stand-alone MapStar compass module. The combination of an integrated compass, inclinometer and distance laser gave measurement professionals the best possible azimuth accuracy — and mapping-grade precision — no matter the angle it was shot in, the company said.
Features
Photo: LTI
This latest version of the TruPulse 360, with an even more accurate electronic compass integrated into the laser, continues to deliver added value for the modern measurement professional. Uses include forestry, utilities, construction and GIS mapping.
In addition to its increased range and azimuth accuracy and Bluetooth-enabled communication, the TruPulse 360 features:
Reflectorless technology that enables data capture to any surface type;
advanced targeting modes to achieve accurate, repeatable results of the intended target;
seven-power superior optics technology that displays all measured and calculated solutions; and
Smart technology that recognizes adverse measurement conditions and prompts recalibration.
“By integrating our great compass technology into this already groundbreaking device, no other laser on the market can match the performance of the TruPulse 360,” Miller said. “And with our continuous commitment to making user-driven enhancements, the TruPulse 360 stands on its own as the best measurement and mapping laser rangefinder out there.”
NovAtel Inc. has launched its TerraStar-C PRO correction service with multi-constellation support, including the GPS, GLONASS, Galileo and BeiDou constellations.
Combined with NovAtel’s OEM7 positioning technology, TerraStar-C PRO cuts initial convergence times by nearly 60 percent and offers 40 percent better horizontal accuracy than the current TerraStar-C service, the company said.
NovAtel’s TerraStar-C PRO offers a robust multi-constellation solution that provides greater positioning accuracy, availability and reliability than before, the company added. With the growing number of operational GNSS satellites, TerraStar-C PRO offers benefits in challenging signal conditions such as multipath, shading, interference and scintillation. High-rate TerraStar-C PRO corrections provide reconvergence in less than 60 seconds following brief GNSS signal interruptions.
According to NovAtel, TerraStar-C PRO corrections are generated using TerraStar’s proprietary global network of more than 100 strategically located GNSS reference stations. The correction data is delivered worldwide through overlapping geostationary satellites directly to a NovAtel receiver or via cellular IP network.
With OEM7 triple L-band support, TerraStar-C PRO correction signals from up to three satellites can be tracked and used simultaneously, providing continuous correction data reception when the primary satellite signal is blocked.
“TerraStar-C PRO enables higher operational efficiency by allowing users to start operations sooner and continue to work through challenging conditions without interruptions,” said Sara Masterson, NovAtel’s positioning services segment manager. “We continue to build our TerraStar portfolio of services and with the addition of TerraStar-C PRO customers can trust that they have not only a highly-reliable precise positioning solution, but also services that immediately translate to increased productivity.”
TerraStar-C PRO is available immediately as a termed subscription service for agriculture, unmanned, airborne and land applications, such as survey, mapping and GIS and supported on compatible OEM7 products with firmware version 7.05 and later.
EOMAP has released a commercial online store for global shallow-water bathymetry derived from satellite data. The store, EOStore Bathymetry, provides access to search for and request high-quality data.
According to EOMAP, satellite-derived bathymetry (SDB) is now established as a valuable tool for the surveying, planning and management of coastal and offshore sites. SDB can provide shallow-water bathymetric data worldwide without the need for a physical presence in the area of interest.
“The EOStore Bathymetry allows every coastal engineer, modeller or surveyor to rapidly access up-to-date shallow water bathymetric data,” said Knut Hartmann, COO of EOMAP. “It enables you to get the bathymetry data you need — even data you could otherwise not get — so you can plan and execute projects accurately, effectively lowering the project risk level.”
EOMAP developed the bathymetry store in response to industry feedback, the company said.
“The demand for bathymetry data in shallow waters is increasing significantly,” Hartmann said. “What industry told us at our first conference on satellite-derived bathymetry, in June 2018, was that they needed to understand the global feasibility of SDB methods and ways to search for and request the data. Thus, we’ve created the EOStore Bathymetry, which allows users to get worldwide shallow-water bathymetry data quickly and easily at a fraction of the price of traditional surveys.”
According to EOMAP, EOStore Bathymetry offers different horizontal spatial resolutions of the bathymetric grid of 2 to 15 meters. This makes it flexible and fit for purpose for surveying, as well as for but also for planning and modeling purposes, the company added.
Geneq Inc. has introduced the Net20 Pro, a robust system designed for Continuously Operating Reference Station networks.
The Net20 Pro’s efficiency and flexibility will provide high-quality data for users interested in the proximity and reliability of a reference station while eliminating real-time kinematic (RTK) corrections service charges, the company said.
The Net20 Pro uses multi-frequency, 555-channel technologies in a rugged casing to deliver accurate and effective positioning data even in a harsh environment.
The receiver can be configured for correction data reception in client mode to calculate a fixed RTK position and to monitor the antenna position while continuing to work as a GNSS reference server.
With its NTRIP Caster software, the Net20 Pro provides superior connectivity with an unlimited number of mount points, Geneq said. Users can have permanent transmission of RTK corrections with a simple local internet connection from a LAN working network.
Equipped with an internal memory of 32 GB with an additional 32 GB external memory, the Net20 Pro provides enough storage space for permanent recording even for a 100-Hz high data sampling rate.
The Net20 Pro comes with an ergonomic and easy-to-manage web user interface that features software upgrade, status and settings management, as well as data downloading via smartphone, tablet or other internet-enabled electronic devices.
The Trimble RTX GNSS corrections technology can now achieve horizontal accuracies of better than two centimeters, according to Trimble.
Start-up times, commonly referred to as convergence, have also improved.
(Photo: Trimble)
Users can now achieve full accuracy in less than 15 minutes, and as fast as one minute in select areas where RTX Fast network infrastructure is available, the company added.
This performance is achievable using Trimble’s premier correction service, CenterPoint RTX, delivering RTK-level accuracy outside traditional Virtual Reference Station (VRS) networks, considered the gold standard for high-accuracy corrections.
Trimble’s RTX network is available throughout most of the world, with the RTX-Fast network coverage available in select geographies in the U.S., Canada and throughout most of Europe when using Trimble RTX compatible GNSS receivers.
Trimble RTX provides a satellite-delivered correction source. In addition, corrections are available via an Internet or cellular connection, adding to its versatility.
With satellite-delivered Trimble RTX corrections, users can perform a variety of positioning fieldwork in some of the most remote locations, without relying on traditional ground-based VRS networks or a local RTK base station to receive high-accuracy positioning data.
By powering on an RTX-capable receiver or display, customers can start working quickly with only a minimal convergence period, Trimble said. As long as users have line of sight to the sky they can work freely without being constrained by the geographic boundaries of a VRS network.
Offering a suite of correction services, Trimble RTX provides users the flexibility to choose the level of accuracy to suit their application needs from meter to centimeter level. It is designed for a variety of applications including agriculture, survey, mapping, construction, automotive and any location-based service that could benefit from greater precision.
Trimble RTX also powers Trimble xFill technology, a feature that enables RTK and VRS users to continue working if their primary correction stream is not available. xFill, delivered via satellite, “fills in” for RTK corrections in the event of temporary radio or Internet connection outages. As a result, users can experience fewer interruptions and less downtime.
“Trimble RTX performance and reliability are changing the positioning game for users who never considered a satellite-delivered correction service for applications traditionally requiring RTK-level accuracy,” said Patricia Boothe, vice president of Trimble’s Advanced Positioning Division. “Trimble RTX offers a global solution delivering similar performance to VRS where terrestrial networks are not available.”
Subscriptions are available through Trimble’s Authorized Business Partners or Trimble’s online store.
