GPS World

Category: Survey

  • Launchpad: The latest in GNSS, survey and UAV products

    OEM

    GPS Firewall

    Protects critical infrastructure from spoofing and jamming

    The BlueSky GPS Firewall is designed to provide security protection for GPS-delivered position, navigation and timing (PNT) data. It can be deployed in-line between any standard GPS antenna and stationary GPS receiver to provide protection against GPS signal incidents, both intentional or accidental, before they enter a GPS receiver system. BlueSky GPS Firewall filters the GPS signal in real time, removing anomalies before the signal is consumed by the downstream GPS receiver. This creates an intelligent and secure barrier against jamming and spoofing, and prevents the GPS receiver from being impacted by such incidents. It incorporates an Ethernet interface for remote management and monitoring and includes a secure web interface for configuration and set-up. Evaluation kits are available in advance of full production release, both in response to the growing number of GPS incidents and their potential threat to critical infrastructure.

    Microsemi, www.microsemi.com

    Low-noise amplifiers

    LNA upgrades enable expanded GNSS reception

    Four new models of high-performing wideband low noise amplifiers (LNAs) are now available for choke-ring antennas, with options of 35-dB and 50-dB gain. The LNAs are designed for upgrading existing choke-ring antennas with Dorne Margolin/EDO elements to receive new and expanding GNSS signals. The LNAs provide consistent gain across the full bandwidth and include filters for suppression of out-of-band interfering signals, such as cellular LTE and Iridium signals, while maintaining a low noise figure, high third-order intercept point, small group delay and low power consumption. The enclosure is designed to fit a wide variety of currently deployed choke-ring antennas.

    Tallysman, www.tallysman.com

    GNSS-inertial boards

    OEM boards for high-precision guidance and control

    The BD GNSS family of boards includes the BD940 GNSS and GNSS-inertial boards and new BD990 GNSS, GNSS-heading and GNSS-inertial boards. The BX940 and BX992 models are available in a rugged enclosure (pictured) for applications in harsh environments. The BD GNSS boards offer simple connectivity and configuration, allowing system integrators and OEMs to easily add GNSS positioning and orientation — with the ability to upgrade its capabilities — using the same board footprint, connectors and software interface for specialized and custom hardware solutions. The compact boards include a broad range of receiver capabilities, from high-accuracy GNSS-only to full GNSS-inertial features for positioning and 3D orientation. Firmware options are upgradeable, allowing functionality to be added as requirements change. The boards are designed for UAVs, autonomous vehicles, fleet management and aviation.

    Trimble, www.trimble.com

    GNSS RTK board

    Upgraded with improved functionality

    The Precis-BX306 RTK board (pictured: Precis-BX306 board easy kit) has been upgraded with new and improved GPS and GLONASS functionality. The new version supports up to 20-Hz real-time kinematic (RTK) solution and raw measurement output, which can be integrated with autopilots and inertial navigation units. With improved algorithms, the new Precis-BX306 demonstrates an ability to quickly fix a 30-km baseline. Stable fix rate is achieved when under tree canopy, in urban canyons and other challenging environments. This latest version of Precis-BX306 is pin-to-pin compatible with major GNSS boards in the market, offering a flexible interface. Event mark and PPS are supported as always.

    Tersus GNSS, www.tersus-gnss.com

    SURVEY & MAPPING

    Radio modem

    Offers advanced radio connectivity with GNSS receivers

    The R4S-BT UHF radio provides an external option for use with the Sokkia GCX receiver line. The UHF multichannel radio modem has a tuning range of up to 70 MHz. It features an IP67 certified housing with internal batteries designed to be easy to carry with versatile mounting options. The radio modem makes the GCX GNSS receiver a more scalable and modular solution for situations without a network connection or when long-range Bluetooth technology is not enough on its own. Survey and mapping professionals can add the radio modem to extend the range between the base and rover. Connectivity options include wireless data transfer and USB connections.

    Sokkia, sokkia.com

    Survey UAV

    Programmable via computer

    The Triumph-F1 Survey UAV and Receiver is based around a geodetic GNSS receiver with 864 channels. When used on the ground, the receiver can function as base or rover. It includes eight propeller motors, a sim card slot, two micro SD card slots, USB connector, satellite tracking and communications indicators, flight and gyro status indicators, storage and selector for saved flight patterns, up to four antennas including Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, four angled cameras and a downward-facing high-precision camera for photogrammetry.

    JAVAD GNSS, www.javad.com

    GNSS smart antennas

    Next-generation multi-frequency

    The S321+ and C321+ smart antennas are upgrades to the previous versions S321 and C321 and offer added benefits. Powered by the Eclipse P326 OEM board, the smart antennas support 394 channels and can simultaneously track all satellite signals including GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo and QZSS. The boards come with two hot-swappable lithium batteries providing up to 12 hours of operation. The S321+ and C321+ combine Hemisphere’s Athena GNSS engine and Atlas L-band correction technologies with a new customer-friendly web user interface. Both antennas meet IP67-standard requirements. The S321+ and C321+ come in two versions, with 4G LTE optimized for either North American or international locations. The S321+ is designed for use in land or marine survey, GIS, mapping and construction. With the SureFix advanced processor, the S321+ delivers high-fidelity RTK-quality information. The C321+ is designed for construction environments, and can be paired with Hemisphere’s SiteMetrix software that helps manage construction jobsite activities.

    Hemisphere GNSS, hemispheregnss.com

    Topography software

    Integrates data from a variety of sensors in one platform

    X-PAD Office Fusion is an all-in-one office software combining data from multiple sensors into a single interface. It manages, combines and processes data from GNSS receivers, total stations, laser scanners and other sensors, whether from GeoMax or another provider. There is no need to export the data from one program to another, and X-PAD also offers all CAD features. The program handles a multitude of different types of data: measurements, coordinates, drawings and point clouds. Large quantities of data can be managed in the fastest way with maximum accuracy. The software automatically detects the common points between the point clouds and performs a first rough alignment. The Bundle Adjustment feature performs the final and accurate alignment in order to reduce errors. Personalized reports are then created with little effort.

    GeoMax Positioning, www.geomax-positioning.com

    TRANSPORTATION

    Public transportation

    Insight for agencies and passengers

    The TSO Public Tracker provides public transportation riders with a variety of GPS-based monitoring capabilities. Riders can view exact locations and information on a variety of public vehicles. Passengers can view on a single screen the whereabouts of connected-fleet vehicles in real time. The tracker can be used by agencies of all sizes and in different geographical locations. The related TSO Mobile App provides route information, current and historical location updates in different map views through Google Maps, and more. TSO Mobile’s transportation solutions also provide agencies with driver reports based on customized behavior metrics to improve driver behavior.

    TSO Mobile, www.tsomobile.com

    Freight tracking

    Location of cargo in transit

    Omnitracs Virtual Load View (VLV) provides brokers, shippers and carriers with direct access to the position data of assets carrying their freight, allowing them to easily track loads. Position data about the load is either shared from the Omnitracs Intelligent Vehicle Gateway (IVG) or Mobile Computing Platform (MCP) unit, or if no Omnitracs unit is available, through the VLV Mobile smartphone application, which the driver can download from the iOS and Android app stores. VLV can also be directly integrated into a company’s back office system, so employees are not required to learn and access a new platform. Brokers and shippers can identify loads that are behind schedule so they can make the proper adjustments in a timely manner.

    Omnitracs, www.omnitracs.com

    UAV

    Mapping drone

    For survey-grade photogrammetry

    The lightweight fixed-wing UX11 UAV combines a powerful integrated onboard system, industry-grade sensors, limitless communication range and PPK centimeter-level positioning. It carries enough onboard computing power to access and process pictures, then send them to the operator in real-time. It will run automated quality checks on the images (such as blur detection or overlap checks) to help ensure the operator is acquiring quality data. Its redundant communications system includes a proprietary line-of-sight radio and 3G/4G connectivity between the ground-control station and the UAV using a worldwide machine-to-machine pre-paid plan. The UX11 is ready for beyond visual line-of-sight (BVLOS) flights with unlimited range and adds a new level of safety with this communication link.

    DelAir, delair.aero

    Super digital camera

    Super 35 Camera for Professional Aerial Cinematography

    The Zenmuse X7 UAV camera features superior image quality, interchangeable lenses and a new post-production color system. The Super 35 digital film camera is designed to work with the DJI Inspire 2 drone. The Zenmuse X7 features 14 stops of dynamic range for more detail in low-light conditions. Its low-noise image capture enhances grading flexibility by preserving details in both highlight and dark areas while enabling a shallow cinematic depth of field. It is capable of shooting 6K CinemaDNG RAW or 5.2K Apple ProRes at up to 30 frames per second (FPS), as well as 3.9K CinemaDNG RAW or 2.7K ProRes at up to 59.94 FPS to integrate into industry-standard post-production workflows.

    DJI, dji.com

    Charging Station

    For remote BVLOS missions

    The Atlas NEST smart protective charging station is designed for autonomous beyond visual line-of-sight (BVLOS) operation of the Atlas Pro drone platform. The Atlas NEST is a landing, protective charging station that extends flight range and provides constant drone readiness in remote locations. When the Atlas Pro UAV requires new batteries, it can autonomously land in a NEST charging station where a robotic arm changes the drone’s batteries, allowing the Atlas Pro to continue flying to mission completion. The Atlas NEST can be stationary or motorized.

    Atlas Dynamics, www.atlasdynamics.eu

    UAV for heavy payloads

    VTOL lift-off followed by tilt to fixed wing in flight

    The WingtraOne vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) UAV bridges the gap between traditional multi-rotors and fixed-wing drones. It takes off and lands vertically like conventional multirotors, but once in flight, the drone tilts forward to fly like a fixed-wing aircraft. Being able to carry a heavy payload such as the Sony RX1RII, the drone offers high mapping accuracy, while covering an area of 980 acres (400 Ha) at 3 cm/px (1.2 in/px) GSD or the equivalent of 570 football fields. The WingtraOne is available in use in Europe, China, the United States and Australia for applications ranging from surveying and precision agriculture to glacier monitoring.

    Wingtra, wingtra.com

  • Intergeo 2017: A surveyor’s perspective

    Intergeo 2017: A surveyor’s perspective

    Over the past two years, I’ve been sharing my view on land surveying over a variety of topics. One of the constant themes I try to maintain is technological improvements and how surveyors need to continue to embrace new applications and equipment.

    While I will also argue that we cannot forget our surveying roots (see GPS World, March 2017), we still need to keep an eye on future technologies, means and methods to increase our productivity and profitability as well.

    With this idea of peeking at the road ahead, I traveled to Berlin, Germany, to cover Intergeo 2017, an international trade show for everything geospatial.

    Held every year at different venues around Germany, Intergeo is the world’s largest conference and exhibition for geodesy, geoinformation and land management. The theme of the conference this year was “We are bringing worlds together,” and based upon the number of vendors, new equipment and applications, and record breaking attendance, it was quite evident they hit their mark.

    The numbers were astounding: 580 vendors from 37 countries, 18,000+ visitors from 100+ countries, all packed in six interlinking halls covering more than 325,000 square feet (7.5+ acres). When I spoke with several contemporaries who previously attended Intergeo, all warned me to be ready for the size and scale of the facility, the number of vendors, and the large spaces occupied by the big survey players. Truly thinking this rhetoric was hyperbole, I went with guarded expectations. Boy, was I in for big surprise.

    Walking up to the entrance, one could sense immediately the size and enormous presence of this conference. The registration lines were easy and efficient, with plenty of entry gates and attendants to help with any information. When I entered the first hall for my initial visit, the prior warnings about the size and scale were quite true. This conference was three days long, and I knew I was going to need every minute to cover all the bases.

    My account here is broken into four sections — one hall per day. Leica, NovAtel, Laser Technology and Septentrio were among the first booths I encountered on day one. Javad, ComNav, Hemisphere and Emlid were in the next hall over, and can be found below “Behind Door Number Two.” Day three found me hobnobbing with CHC Navigation, EOS and Swift Navigation; look for them under “I’ll Take Hall Three for $200, Alex.” I topped off my Intergeo experience interviewing NavCom, Tersus and Trimble in “The Big Finish (Or Is It?)”

    ENTERING ANOTHER DIMENSION…

    Coming into Hall 1.1, the first thing that catches one’s eye besides the vastness of the entire space is the size and depth of the Hexagon exhibit. Hexagon is the parent company of Leica, NovAtel, and several others, and all were there displaying new products and software for a multitude of geospatial needs.

    I was introduced to the new Leica GS18T GNSS RTK rover (Leica Geosystems debuts GNSS RTK rover at Intergeo 2017) with many new upgrades, including being able to measure a point while the unit is not being held plumb. Yes, you read that right; the unit has an inertial measurement unit (IMU) built in that compensates for any rod tilt and corrects the location back to the bottom of the rod. Now it is possible to collect a GNSS location to places and objects no longer thought possible.

    This feature has been available with the “J-Tip” from Javad for the past year: now Leica has added the capability to the GS18T.

    While the demonstration took care of my skepticism of the unit, it raised different concerns with the field personnel using it. This method of “no bubble” is fine for this unit, but I can envision crews getting sloppy with conventional GNSS and total station prism rods when mixed with this new technology. This will increase the need for proper training and trust that the all rod-based equipment is used in its intended manner and procedure.

    NovAtel was on hand with presentation of a full line of GPS receivers, boards and peripherals, including its GAJT line of anti-jamming receivers as well as an “interference” toolkit of analyzing software modules. With the solid product line and software, the company motto of “assured positioning” bodes well for its users.

    Laser Technology Inc. has provided many measurement breakthroughs over the past few decades, and its introduction of the TruPoint 200h is no exception (see Laser Technology highlights TruPoint 200h at Intergeo 2017). The company has taken the TruPoint 200 line of measuring devices and expanded its capability with phase shift and pulse diode measurements, which means the unit will determine the most accurate method based upon reflectivity. This is also paired with a data collection and reporting application on your Android smartphone to greatly expand your ability to share your data.

    Also at Intergeo introducing a new GNSS receiver was Septentrio, a navigation systems developer from Belgium. Septentrio was showing the Altus NR3, a lightweight multi-constellation receiver aimed at the surveying and mapping community. This new unit boasts an AIM+ system designed to monitor and protect the user’s data from jamming and spoofing so the collected data is confidently accurate.

    Carlson displayed its new BRx6 multi-GNSS receiver along with the RT3 tablet data collector. The BRx6 receiver expands the Carlson family of GNSS products to include connection to most RTN systems worldwide as well as the Atlas L-band correction service that is beginning to gain many followers. Paired with the new RT3 tablet, these products continue the look, feel and service that Carlson users have enjoyed for many years.

    Sokkia was there with a full complement of surveying and monitoring equipment, with the GCX3 GNSS receiver being the main focus of their new products. This unit sets the bar even higher for light and efficient GNSS receivers as it weighs only 440 grams with the batteries, yet is more capable than many similar systems on the market.

    Another new GNSS receiver introduction was from Hi-Target, the iRTK-5. This new model is the one of the first units to have an OLED touchscreen on the receiver. It supports reception from all major GNSS constellations as well as the L-band correction service. Hi-Target prides itself on a new proprietary differential correction technology that analyzes the integrity of data from all sources before providing a position. This model also has a 4G LTE chipset that will communicate with almost all cellular systems worldwide.

    One thing that stood out to me that differs greatly from surveying in the U.S. is the proliferation of monuments and monitoring points/devices used by surveyors throughout the world. So, the multitude of vendors offering varying kinds of targets, prisms, and survey point markets should not have shocked me, but it still did. It was quite impressive with the walls of targets and prism assemblies for many different applications along with the tables of nails, tablets, monuments and vault systems used by surveyors worldwide. Among the notables were Rothburcher Systeme and Bohnenstingl, who both offer a complete line of products beyond most surveyor’s imaginations.

    The Juniper Systems booth showcased the Mesa2 rugged tablet and the Geode sub-meter GNSS receiver, both designed with efficient mapping collection in mind at an affordable price point, yet rugged enough to take on most environments. They were also highlighting their CT5 rugged smartphone and CT7G rugged tablet as solid products for any surveying and mapping data collection need.

    BEHIND DOOR NUMBER TWO

    After navigating the first of four conference areas, I wondered if all the remaining halls would be just as impressive. Hall 2 did not disappoint, as the exhibit spaces were just as big and remarkable as the first one.

    Already a major entity within the GNSS community, Javad came to Intergeo 2017 to introduce its entry into the UAV market, the Triumph F-1. Unlike other UAVs, this unit was designed starting with the GNSS engines Javad is known for; engineers then built the flying craft around the brains of the system. It utilizes the same DNA of the Triumph-LS receiver along with ease of Javad software, all on a multi-rotor platform with hot-swappable batteries.

     

    Aimed for more agricultural users, ComNav introduced a lightweight GNSS receiver, the T30, and a new software guidance system compatible with most tractor configurations. This system is designed to be more efficient and precise than OEM tractor guidance as well as more customizable for the user.

     

    The company behind the new Atlas L-band correction service, Hemisphere GNSS, also provided introductions to several new products at Intergeo. In addition to several navigation chipsets for OEM use, they also introduced the 321+ GNSS Smart Antenna. This new receiver is multi-frequency and multi-GNSS with an Athena RTK engine and Atlas L-band global corrections to cover most positional needs. With hot-swappable batteries, this unit will run over 12 hours on two sets that are provided.

    EMLID may be a newcomer to the GNSS environment but they are making noise by offering new products and technology at price points for more consumers. At Intergeo, they were demonstrating the Reach RS GNSS receiver with RTK capability, the Reach GNSS module for UAV systems and the Edge module, an advanced drone controller with HDMI video input and 5.8 GHz data link. These guys are my sleeper pick for becoming a bigger player in the very near future.

    Topcon’s space, which included industry partner Intel included an interactive dome using their “Immersive Point Cloud Workspace” software and 3D point cloud data to give attendees a virtual reality tour of sites previously mapped with Topcon equipment and software. This four-meter dome was a popular stop with visitors, as was the product introductions of their SmoothRide software and the MAGNET Collage desktop mass data processing software. In addition, another product showcased in conjunction with Intel was their UAV systems, led by the Sirius Pro fixed wing vehicle and the Falcon 8 multi-rotor vehicle.

    The main presentation from Bentley to the surveying/GNSS community was the increased capability of their ContextCapture software module. With 3D point clouds and virtual reality systems become the norm, Bentley has upped their game with visualization tools and features within this module not found in many point cloud software packages. The biggest improvement is the ability for survey-grade data acquired through laser scanning, LiDAR and photogrammetry to be easily input and manipulated for many different uses. From BIM to roadway corridor modeling and asset management, these improvements are making the utilization of 3D data more seamless.

    Something that caught my eye initially as a novelty was TinyMobileRobots, a Danish company producing a small unmanned cart for marking surfaces. They currently have three products: the TinySurveyor, the TinyLineMarker, and the TinyPreMarker. All have GNSS receivers that operate autonomously on a predetermined route and carry a paint can for marking specific points. From marking athletic fields to paint striping, they might be on to something quite unique but very cool.

    I’LL TAKE HALL THREE FOR $200, ALEX

    Hall 3 brought us to CHC Navigation and their full range of surveying and mapping products. Highlighted during our discussions with them was the M6, i70 and i80 GNSS receivers and the Apache 5 USV boat for hydrographic applications. It was quite evident how large of a company CHC is and how vast their global presence is so don’t be surprised to see them in North America soon.

    EOS Positioning Systems is another smaller GNSS receiver producer that is targeting the mapping community with the lower entry pricing and smartphone application interfacing. From the basic L1 receiver for mapping to the multi-constellation, triple-frequency model including Atlas L-band corrections, EOS is providing an easy to use package at an affordable price point.

    Another entry in the OEM board/system provider of centimeter-level accuracy systems is Swift Navigation and their Piksi line of products. From agricultural applications to autonomous vehicle positioning, they are providing navigational systems that will guide our future. As the surveying community expands its use of unmanned vehicles, I would not be surprised to see Swift at the forefront of this effort.

    Another member of the Hexagon family, the Geomax display was loaded with everything imaginable for measuring and remote sensing. The main introduction for Intergeo 2017 was X-PAD Office Fusion, an all-in-one software package that allows the data from various sources to come together in one place for creating and manipulating 3D models. While I was not familiar with Geomax, it was quite evident that their customer base, while European-centric, was big and quite loyal to the brand.

    A newcomer to the surveying world is Pix4D and their photo processing software. Used by many UAV enthusiasts and now surveyors, Pix4D has quickly become one of the largest providers of software for creating orthometric photos that are georeferenced to known coordinate systems and GIS databases. Most of their success has been because of ease of use and affordability versus the leading surveying software packages. They are also industry partners with Esri and DJI, so having big friends in popular places has helped their cause. Look for more great stuff from them for surveying applications in the near future.

    THE BIG FINISH

    As I entered Hall 4, I began to wonder if I was done with the major attractions and getting into the bit players. I was wrong.

    The first stop was Geozone, who was introducing a new receiver, Falcon SF, through a collaboration with NavCom. This new unit features multi-constellation and multi-frequency collection, but also includes Starfire, a global system designed and maintained by NavCom that is a satellite-based correction signal and provides accuracy of 5 CM anywhere in the world. This correction system comes standard with a subscription when you purchase the receiver, which is unheard of in most surveying environments. This is another product I predict that will be making more of a global presence in short time.

    Tersus GNSS was at Intergeo to introduce many OEM navigation boards and an RTK system for surveyors and autonomous control systems. The Tersus David RTK system is designed to turn your smartphone into a high accuracy GNSS data collector. This system is highly durable and compact so it will accommodate many different mapping needs.

    Another company that has global reach but not much exposure to U.S. business, South Surveying & Mapping Instruments, wouldn’t give an attendee the impression that they are a small player in the surveying world. Their exhibit space was impressive, ranging from simple theodolites to high accuracy robotic total stations, RTK GNSS receivers and fixed-wing/multi-rotor UAVs.

    As lidar technology becomes more available and affordable, a stop at the Riegl booth was a must. They were introducing many new products at the Intergeo 2017 show, including the miniVUX-1DL UAV laser scanner for multi-rotor and fixed-wing aircraft. This little beauty weighs under 3 kg and fits on most scalable UAV platforms.

    Another fun item on display was the VMX-2HA Dual Scanner Mobile Laser Scanner, which looks like a high-tech octopus on top of your vehicle. This unit collects 2 million measurements per second as well as 9 x 12MP camera images at various angles. As the miniaturization of technology continues, I see RIEGL continuing to lead the lidar segment well into the future.

    Just when I thought I was almost done, I realized that there was one major player left that I had not seen: Trimble. They were in the back of Hall 4 across almost the entire width of the conference space. Everything geomatics, remote sensing, and navigation; it was here in one of the biggest exhibition spaces at Intergeo 2017.

    All the latest surveying instruments were here, including the R10 GNSS receiver and SX10 scanning total station. The new items for surveying at this show were numerous; the C3 and C5 mechanical total stations with autofocus, Catalyst software with GNSS receiver for smartphones, the T10 rugged tablet for survey and GIS applications, and OEM receiver boards (BD940-INS, BD992-INS and BD990).

    Also included within the Trimble space were Nikon and Spectra Precision branded instruments as well as the latest acquisition, Applanix GNSS-aided inertial movement systems. While Trimble has grown considerably in the past decade, it seems as nothing will slow them down. If they continue to introduce great products and technology, I wouldn’t bet against them.

    BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE…

    There were three more halls, with two of them being organizations and information booths. Hall 6, however, has grown into a standalone space as “Interaerial Solutions,” Europe’s biggest UAV show. All the main players were in here (including DJI, DroneDeploy and over 150 more) so almost everything imaginable with UAVs can be found here.

    During the conference, the adjacent courtyard was utilized for UAV demonstrations and product introductions. It will be interesting to see in the coming years if this segment of measurement and remote sensing will continue to expand with number of vendors/suppliers or if it will get absorbed by many of the bigger players within the geomatics community.

    INTERGEO 2017, IN RETROSPECT

    The common theme/message through this gathering was digitalization, “smart cities” and the evolution of the occupations that work within these environments. Intergeo is an impressive gathering of likeminded people discussing how to manage the increasing waves of data through technology, analyzation and thought processing.

    While I can’t say that these types of gathering do not happen in the U.S., it is not as obvious as the annual assembly of Intergeo in Germany. The surveying community in the United States needs to hold a similar “summit” to help guide the profession toward its future goals. The one thing I have always appreciated about surveying is how it does embrace technology and forward thinking yet must rely on the past to tell us where we have been.

    Digitalization is here and cities will get smarter with or without us, so it’s up to us as surveyors to keep looking forward with the times. Global measurement and navigation will be a big part of that, so let’s put our thinking caps on to see what we learn next.

    Until next time, guten tag und gute gesundheit.

    A big thank you also goes out to my fellow Intergeo members Ryan Gerard, Mike Joyce, and Allison Barwacz for making this a wonderful experience.

  • Velodyne partners with YellowScan for UAV lidar system

    Velodyne partners with YellowScan for UAV lidar system

    Velodyne Lidar Inc., maker of 3D vision systems for autonomous vehicles, is partnering with YellowScan to integrate its VLP-16 Puck and VLP-16 Puck LITE lidar sensors into YellowScan’s Surveyor.

    The result is a turn-key and reliable lidar system for demanding UAV applications, the companies said.

    Real-time lidar systems for UAVs are used around the world for industrial and scientific applications, including surveying, civil engineering, archeology and environmental science.

    By combining its LiveStation app with the real-time 3D data capture capabilities of Velodyne’s VLP-16 Puck and VLP-16 Puck LITE sensors — both of which feature a 360-degree horizontal field-of-view, 100-meter range, and weigh 830 grams and 590 grams, respectively — YellowScan delivers a turn-key surveyor system that can be mounted to any drone for short-time data processing needs.

    The result is a real-time in-flight lidar monitoring platform, with users able to see how the final map is being generated in real-time during the drone mission, and the basic map datasets available immediately after the mission.

    “YellowScan is known for its commitment to providing reliable and easy to use sensing solutions for the UAV industry, which make the VLP-16 Puck sensors an easy choice for the Surveyor system,” said Erich Smidt, executive director, Europe, Velodyne Lidar. “The VLP-16 Pucks are some of our newest offerings, with significant effort put into reducing weight while maintaining the resolution and reliability expected of Velodyne’s industry-leading lidar sensors.”

    “YellowScan Surveyor, the turn-key lidar solution integrating Velodyne’s advanced VLP-16 sensor, enables mapping professionals to do more in less time thanks to tremendously high density and accurate measurements acquired from UAVs,” said Tristan Allouis, CTO of YellowScan.

  • Carlson Survey 2018 has AutoCAD engine built in

    The recently released Carlson Survey 2018 OEM comes with the AutoCAD 2018 OEM engine built in. In this latest OEM version, Carlson Survey users gain the ability to directly read and write the AutoCAD DWG-drawing file format.

    Carlson Survey 2018 OEM contains most all of the same improvements found in Carlson Survey for AutoCAD and IntelliCAD.

    “We listen to our customers and work all year to develop their requested tools,” said Doug Aaberg, survey product manager for Carlson Software.

    Field to finish plan generation with Carlson Survey 2018 OEM.

    In the LotNetwork routines of Carlson Survey 2018, users now have the ability to setup multiple building footprints with their individual dimensions and setback requirements and designate the order of placement priority. Each lot is then automatically drawn with the building footprint as designated. There are also new options to leave empty lots and to draw driveways.

    Legacy users will see some traditional AutoCAD commands included in 2018, such as AutoCAD line and Polyline.

    Improvements to Carlson Survey 2018 OEM include:

    • COGO distance input – Added method to input distances by point numbers using # as the delimiter.
    • Edit process raw file – Added support for processing offset records (OF) for in/out, left/right and depth. Added display option to only show the traverse point records. Added search and replace function by point number.
    • Geoid utilities – New command to report geoid values, apply geoid values or switch the geoid for points.
    • Field to finish – several new special codes for controlling labels, non-surface points, GIS attributes, 3D entities and labeling offset line elevations.
    • Points – Added options to mask point labels, compare points in drawing on startup, more control over merge, export and the Point Group Manager and a new command to store points to an on-line database publicly or privately

    All versions of Carlson Survey, which benefit from more than 30 years of continued improvement, are designed for use for land surveying, providing a full toolkit for surveyors with everything from network least squares to surface modeling.

    Users get the ability to work seamlessly between the office and the field and they can establish company-wide design styles to ease and speed their work.

    A full list of the Carlson Survey 2018 OEM new features can be found on the Carlson Software webpage.For more information about the 2018 versions of Carlson Survey or Carlson Survey OEM, visit your local dealer or www.carlsonsw.com or call Carlson at 800-989- 5028 or 606-564-5028.

  • Launchpad: Assisted BeiDou testing for LBS

    Launchpad: Assisted BeiDou testing for LBS

    OEM

    Combat survival radio

    32 GPS channels for faster, 
more accurate position lock

    The HOOK3 radio is 30 percent smaller and 40 percent lighter than the HOOK2 radio, and has a smaller, longer lasting battery. The embedded GPS module has 32 channels, enabling a faster position acquisition time, more accurate position reporting and better performance under forested or densely vegetated areas or near structures. The radio transmits encrypted GPS, user identification, situation reports and other critical information to rescue teams and aircraft in short bursts to reduce the risk of detection. The radio can also use multiple GNSS. The HOOK3 provides direct line-of-sight voice and encrypted two-way data communications to help combat search-and-rescue teams quickly and accurately locate and rescue downed pilots and isolated military personnel. It automatically activates and transmits location data when specific G-force or salt water is detected.

    General Dynamics Mission Systems,
 gdmissionsystems.com

    Category 11 LTE card

    Module for routers and gateways

    Image: TelitThe LM940 is a global full PCI Express mini card (mPCIe) module for the router and gateway industry supporting LTE Advanced Category 11 (Cat 11) with speeds of up to 600 Mbps. The internet of things (IoT) module will be available, with various mobile network operator approvals, in the fourth quarter of 2017. The module includes quad-constellation integrated GNSS and is in an mPCIe form factor to support Cat 11 with the Qualcomm Snapdragon X12 LTE modem. The industrial-grade LM940 delivers significant flexibility and a competitive edge to original equipment manufacturers looking to quickly deploy next-generation products. 3x carrier aggregation leverages extended capabilities of the network for increased coverage and bandwidth. The industrial-grade module is designed for the router and gateway market supporting high-bandwidth dependent applications like high-definition video streaming with digital signage.

    Telit, www.telit.com

    Mobile testing

    For Assisted BeiDou 
location-based services

    Photo: Shutterstock.com/MaridavThe Rohde & Schwarz TS-LBS test solution allows mobile manufacturers, chipset manufacturers, test houses and network operators to verify chipsets and mobile devices to obtain permission to operate them in a particular network. The successful Assisted BeiDou (A-BeiDou) verification of a Media-Tek device under test using the Rohde & Schwarz test system means the setup can be used to validate and verify a device in the U-plane and C-plane for A-BeiDou location-based services (LBS). The TS-LBS uses an R&S CMW500 as the base-station simulator and an R&S SMBV100A GNSS simulator. The CMW500 provides assistance data to the device under test and the SMBV100A simulates the BeiDou satellites. The test system can be used to obtain Global Certification Forum (GCF) and PTCRB certification as well as network-operator-specific certification for chipsets and mobile devices.

    Rohde & Schwarz,
www.rohde-schwarz.com

    Receiver module

    Next-generation quad-system 
GNSS module in small package

    The UM482 is a multi-frequency high-precision heading module with a 30 × 40 millimeter footprint. It supports the satellite signals BDS B1/B2, GPS L1/L2, GLONASS L1/L2, Galileo E1/ E5b and SBAS. The module is designed for applications such as robotics, drones, intelligent drives and mechanical control. Features include surface-mount (SMD) packaging; 1-centimeter real-time kinematic (RTK) positioning accuracy and 0.2-degree heading accuracy with a 1-meter baseline; dual antenna input with support of antenna signal detection; supports simultaneous output of heading and positioning with a 20-Hz data output rate; adaptive recognition of RTCM input data format; and on-board micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) integrated navigation. The UM482 GNSS RTK module adopts Unicore’s new-generation Nebulas II chip and UGypsophila real-time kinematic (RTK) algorithm.

    Unicore Communications, www.unicorecomm.com

    Time server

    Underlying tech, security benefits described in new application note

    The NTP Reflector is one of many differentiating features of Microsemi’s new SyncServer S600 series network time servers. The Reflector is a real-time, hardware-based NTP packet identification and time-stamping engine uniquely designed to protect the SyncServer CPU from excessive network traffic denial of service (DoS) attacks. It will and notify the operator if NTP traffic is above expected levels. This enables extremely high-bandwidth, high-accuracy, high-reliability and security-hardened NTP operations.The Security Hardened SyncServer features denial of service (DoS) resilience, monitoring and notification functions.

    Microsemi, www.microsemi.com

    High-gain antennas

    Provide a high degree 
of multipath signal rejection

    The TW3152 and TW3752 are high-gain (50dB) GNSS antennas useful where long cable runs are required, such as in timing systems and GNSS re-radiator systems. The TW3152 provides reception of GPS L1. The TW3752 provides reception of GPS L1, GLONASS G1, BeiDou B1 and Galileo E1 signals. Both antennas employ Tallysman’s Accutenna technology, which provides a high degree of multipath signal rejection through the full bandwidth of the antenna. The antennas are triple filtered to prevent the saturation of the front-end low-noise amplifier (LNA) by strong near frequency and harmonic signals — are a growing concern throughout the world. The antennas are available with a choice of radome shape (flat or conical), color of radome (white or grey), and a wide variety of connectors.

    Tallysman, www.tallysman.com

    Survey & Mapping

    Data collection app

    Cloud-connected android application in the field

    Photo: TrimblePenmap for Android is a cloud-connected application for field surveying and high-accuracy geographic information system (GIS) data collection that works on mobile handhelds, smartphones and tablets. It focuses on core survey and mapping tasks such as cadastral and boundary surveys, establishing local control, stake-outs, quality checks and asset management for utilities. It provides both professional surveyors and field workers with a map-based interface to manage features and attributes for high-accuracy GIS and complete survey documentation. In the energy sector, it can be used to locate infrastructure and record critical information on encroachments, clearways and existing monuments. The app runs on Android handhelds such as the Trimble TDC100 and supports the Trimble R10, R8s and R2 GNSS receivers.

    Trimble, www.trimble.com

    RTK rover radio

    Advanced, high-speed wireless radio

    The HX-DU1603D is an advanced, high-speed, Bluetooth-enabled wireless rover radio designed for GNSS/RTK surveying and precise positioning. The HX-DU1603D is a lightweight, ruggedized UHF receiver designed for data communications between 410 MHz and 470 MHz in either 12.5-KHz or 25-KHz channels, which can be widely used in GNSS/RTK surveying and GNSS precise positioning fields. It has a Bluetooth transceiver and is IP67 waterproof rated. It also has a 6800-mAh rechargeable internal battery and configurable transmit power between 0.5W and 2W. The 1.9-inch display screen supports frequency, protocols, power display, serial port baud rate and air baud rate. Users can instantly communicate with GNSS precise positioning receivers with the same protocols throughout the world.

    Harxon, en.harxon.com

    Water-depth data

    Bathymetrics portal delivers data online for download

    The Bathymetrics Data Portal allows users to search, purchase and automatically download water-depth information directly from an online store to their computer. It offers continuously expanding 2m Bathymetry data in shallow water areas and a global database of interpolated 90m bathymetry. The portal allows users to search for data in their areas of interest and purchase what they need. Data is priced by the square kilometer; the customer pays online with credit card and can download the data shortly after. Bathymetric products are used extensively by organizations involved in energy infrastructure development, port construction, environmental monitoring, aquaculture planning and hydrodynamic modeling.

    DHI, www.dhigroup.com
    TCarta, www.tcarta.com
    DigitalGlobe, www.digitalglobe.com

    Digital asset management

    Organize, access and share geospatial datasets

    Image: LizardTech
    Image: LizardTech

    Portfolio 2017 is a digital asset management (DAM) solution optimized for geospatial data. It enables users to organize, access and share geospatial datasets — including compressed MrSID files — along with associated graphics and documents. Divisions of Celartem Inc., LizardTech and Extensis collaborated in adding geospatial data management capabilities to the new version. The DAM solution indexes and catalogs photographs, videos, maps, audio files, Adobe Creative Cloud applications and Microsoft Office documents. A centralized repository for managing digital files should reduce time spent looking for datasets and eliminate costly replacement of misplaced files, according to LizardTech. Portfolio 2017 gives users instant access to imagery, lidar and video data captured by satellite, aircraft and UAV platforms. Geospatial files that have been compressed and saved in MrSID formats with the LizardTech GeoExpress solution can be loaded and viewed into Portfolio without any further data conversion. The new version extracts embedded metadata from compressed imagery and lidar files saved in MrSID formats — as well as GeoTIFF, JPEG 2000, NITF and LAS. Geospatial data can be indexed and stored alongside associated non-geospatial photographs and documents. Data can be retrieved by geographic coordinates or the metadata tag, such as a name, acquisition date or sensor platform. Users can also search by defining an area of interest on a map.

    LizardTech, www.lizardtech.com
    Extensis, www.extensis.com

    GIS training

    Book and website

    Image: EsriThe ArcGIS book 10 Big Ideas about Applying The Science of Where has a companion website. The book provides mapmakers with the know-how and hands-on experience to practice what Esri calls “The Science of Where.” The accompanying website offers information and interactive education resources needed to use web-based geographic information system (GIS) technology to create maps, work with apps, create and use authoritative data and conduct spatial analysis. The book is available in print, as an interactive PDF and online. Chapters cover web mapping, ready-to-use apps, story maps, 3D GIS, spatial analysis, imagery and the Internet of Things, as well as curated content from Esri’s Living Atlas of the World.

    Esri, www.esri.com

    Productivity app

    Internet of things workflow automation application

    Image: WyzelinkWyzeTask is now available in the Geotab Marketplace. WyzeTask is a complement to the MyGeotab platform, which serves more than 14,000 Geotab customers. WyzeTask maximizes employee productivity by automating task tracking and job completion processes, freeing workers from paperwork and manual data entry. WyzeTask includes the WyzeBeacon, a wearable device that uses Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) to transmit data to a nearby BLE scanner, which can be a Geotab IOX-BT hub or a smartphone/tablet running the WyzeTask application. Employees click a button on their WyzeBeacon to have it log and share information such as their task status, time and GPS location.

    Wyzelink Systems, www.wyzelink.com
    Geotab, www.geotab.com

    Transportation

    Aircraft imaging system

    Incorporates GPS 
with additional GPS options

    Photo: L3
    Photo: L3

    The MX-15 electro-optical and infrared (EO/IR) imaging system can be configured with up to six imaging and laser payloads, each of which shares the highest level of stabilization. It incorporates a GPS receiver and antenna, with options available for a GPS time-sync interface and GPS data interface. Sensor options include a high-definition thermal imager, color low-light continuous zoom, daylight step zoom spotter, day/night spotter, laser rangefinder and a laser illuminator. The MX series turrets are operational across 74 countries and on more than 137 different types of platforms, including Airb us helicopters.

    L3 Technologies, www.l3t.com

    Autopilot for farmers

    Autosteer designed for agricultural machinery

    Photo: Tersus GNSSThe AG960 AutoSteer System is designed to accelerate the application of autopilot for precision agricultural machinery. By integrating high-precision real-time kinematic (RTK) receiver and software, the AG960 enables agricultural machines to operate in accordance with a pre-set planning path. Using precise GNSS guidance, the hydraulic system of the agricultural machinery is steered by the vehicle controller. Agricultural machines can operate aligned with the set route automatically, while graphical details are displayed on the vehicle display panel. The system includes a high-precision positioning receiver with GPS L1/L2, GLONASS G1/G2, BDS B1/B2, Galileo, QZSS and two GNSS antennas. Other features include a vehicle display panel computer, hydraulic valve (steering wheel optional), autopilot (controller), coaxial rotation direction sensor, electromagnetic hydraulic valve and radio receiving antenna mast/pedestal.

    Tersus GNSS, www.tersus-gnss.com

    GNSS compass

    Maintains accurate heading during GNSS outages of up to 20 minutes

    Photo: Advanced NavigationThe GNSS Compass is a fully integrated wheelmark certified GPS/INS navigation and heading solution. It contains a 9-axis IMU that is integrated with a dual-antenna GNSS system with high-performance antennas. It provides higher heading accuracy than magnetic systems and does not require any calibration or setup. It features high accuracy RTK positioning and is plug and play for NMEA0183 and NMEA2000 integrations. Four product variants are available . The low-cost variant is an L1-only model suitable for commercial vessel navigation, while an L1/L2 variant meets the high accuracy requirements of surveying applications. It is also possible to choose between an NMEA0183/NMEA2000 interface and a power-over-Ethernet interface for maximum flexibility. The Ethernet variant features NTP and PTP timing servers for precise time synchronization.

    Advanced Navigation, 
www.advancednavigation.com.au

    GNSS simulation

    In-vehicle system compliance tools for EU eCall regulations

    Photo: BMWSpectracom has introduced built-in scenarios for testing eCall in-vehicle systems compliance to the GNSS requirements of the regulation as an option with its GSG simulator products. These options will ensure that automotive manufacturers who plan to continue selling in Europe are equipped with the right tools for testing the eCall regulatory compliance of their equipment. The Spectracom GSG simulators simulate all the major GNSS constellations needed for testing compliance of critical signal-receiving equipment in a variety of eCall scenarios. Scenarios can test positioning accuracy under different conditions, time-to-first-fix, GNSS receiver sensitivity, reacquisition performance following signal outages, playing specific static and dynamic trajectory scenarios, and changing RF transmit-power-level manually or remotely sequenced as required by standard. European Union (EU) regulation 2015/758 requires new vehicle types of M1 and N1 to be equipped with eCall in-vehicle systems by March 31, 2018.

    Spectracom, spectracom.com

    Electronic logbook

    Addresses U.S. Dec. 18 mandate for fleets

    Photo: Titan GPSTitan GPS’ Titan Electronic Logbook (ELD) was one of the first devices to be registered as a certified ELD under the standards of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). The Titan Electronic Logging Devices and Electronic Hours of Service Logbook App help fleets comply with hours of service regulations with error-free, easy-to-use electronic solutions. An intuitive interface, detailed analytics and easy installation ensure that fleets of all sizes can comply with the FMSCA mandate. Features include easy creation of a driver log faster roadside inspections and audits, pre- and post-trip DVIR reports. The logbook adheres to both U.S. and Canadian rules.

    Titan GPS, www.titangps.com

    Low-profile GNSS antenna

    For tracking applications 
and smart cities

    The Robusta GNSS antenna ia a very low-profile antenna in a new patent design for metal surfaces. The antenna operates in the 1559–1609 MHz bands and is designed for tracking metal objects and smart city applications. It is designed to answer to the challenge of operating on a metal surface or housing, where it is extremely difficult for an antenna to operate. It uses a patented new technology with two layers: The first layer is electrically isolated to provide RF shielding to the second layer, allowing the antenna to radiate effectively in the direction pointing away from the base material. It can be used on bicycles, motorcycles, vehicles, containers or other property that needs to be tracked and located accurately.

    Antenova, www.antenova.com

    UAV

    Drone controller

    In kit with UAVCAN GNSS module, power module, long-range Wi-Fi

    Photo: EmlidThe ArduPilot-based Emlid Edge drone controller runs Linux on a quad-core system on chip, and offers an HDMI input, long-range 5.8GHz Wi-Fi and a UAVCAN GNSS module. The Emlid Edge kit offers an HDMI input to capture video from an HD camera such as the GoPro. An optimized, long-range 5.8-GHz Wi-Fi link can stream pre-compressed HD video and telemetry data up to 2 kilometers to Emlid’s QGroundControl station (GCS) software running on a laptop equipped with the same 5.8-GHz link. The kit provides a separate external UAVCAN GNSS module that includes a temperature-controlled dual inertial measurement unit (IMU) and barometer sensor subsystem. The module supports batteries up to 12S and current sensing up to 200A. The GCS software includes waypoint navigation, flight status monitoring, automatic return based on triggers, and payload control for devices like cameras, retractable landing gear, parachute or crop-spraying equipment.

    Emlid, emlid.com

    Professional drone

    12-kilometer direct vision feed

    The Falcon UAV comes with a complete first-person-view kit. A return-to-launch function enables the system to come back to the point of launch by command of the Ground Control Station or when it loses power. High-efficiency motors and actively braking propellers provide increased stability and response control, while hard-switch buttons on the command station reduce the in-field risk of operating the the aircraft and selecting the wrong mode or instruction. Autonomous software allows the operator to plan, control and fly missions using pre-determined flight paths via waypoint control. Its small noise footprint means the aircraft is undetectable at 150 meters.

    Airborne Drones, 
www.airbornedrones.co

    Counter-UAV rifle

    Distrupts GNSS signals

    Photo: ZALA Aero GroupThe REX 1 is designed to disrupt GPS, GLONASS, Galileo and BeiDou sateliite navigation signals; radio-frequency communications (900 MHz, 2.4 GHz and 5.2–5.8 GHz); and mobile networks (GSM, 3G and LTE). Built on the Kalashnikov MP-514K rifle, it can be put in combat mode with the push of a button. It is equipped with interchangeable jamming units, a sight, foregrip, bipod and a mount for ancillaries such as a strobe light or a laser-beam pointer. The battery is installed in the rifle’s buttstock and has a continuous working time of 3 hours. It has a jamming distance of 1,000 meters (5,000 meters against GPS navigation), an angular coverage of 15° (180° against GPS navigation) and weighs 4.2 kilograms.

    ZALA Aero Group, zala.aero

    Fixed-wing UAV

    Six-hour flight time

    Photo: Atlas DynamicsThe Atlas Blue-J features a 3.5-meter wing span, four to six hours of flight time and a 150-kilometer operational range. Designed for large-scale security and inspection missions, the fixed-wing UAV can be operated in autonomous and semi-autonomous modes, including takeoff and landing. Made of carbon fiber, the Atlas Blue-J is light weight (11 kilograms) and can carry up to a 9-kilogram payload. It is suitable for high-speed, high-altitude missions, with long target duration capabilities and a low radar footprint.

    Atlas Dynamics, 
www.atlasdynamics.eu

    Agriculture drone

    Simultaneous capture of thermal, NDVI, high-resolution RGB imagery

    Photo: SenteraThe Omni quadcopter drone captures three distinct crop health data measurements in a single flight: thermal, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and high-resolution RGB. Pairing a DJI XT Thermal sensor with Omni’s standard Double 4K offers agronomists, crop consultants, advisors, and producers a precise agriculture data capture tool for multi-dimensional insights. Thermal data allows farmers to evaluate plant health and practices as reflected through plant and soil temperatures.

    Sentera, www.sentera.com

    Charging station

    Enables battery and package exchange

    Photo: MatternetThe Matternet Station enables fully-automated ground operations for Matternet customer networks, including battery and package exchange. It is integrated with Matternet’s autonomous M2 drone and Matternet’s cloud platform to provide an intuitive user interface for sending and receiving packages through Matternet. The station has a footprint of 2 square meters and can be installed at ground or rooftop locations. Its technology guides the Matternet M2 drone to precision landing on the station’s platform. After landing, the station locks the drone in place and automatically swaps its battery and payload. A user is able to send a package to another location by scanning it into the Matternet Station, or receive a package from the station by scanning a QR code. The first Matternet networks will service hospitals in cities across Switzerland.

    Matternet, mttr.net

  • Are drones the future of marine surveying?

    Are drones the future of marine surveying?

    Drones are quickly becoming a staple of the maritime industry. In January, the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) issued the largest ever civilian maritime drone contact, valued at €67 million.

    Under the contract, drones will be used to assist with border control, search-and-rescue operations and monitoring of pollution, as well as the detection of illegal fishing and drug and people trafficking.

    External Vessel Inspections. Big names in the maritime industry such as DNV-GL, Lloyds Register and Maersk have all shown strategic intent to revolutionize their operations by embracing drone technology, and many maritime operators are now following suit.

    All ship owners know that traditional methods of external vessel inspection can be a costly affair. Now that high-definition, camera-equipped drones are widely available and affordable, it is becoming more common to use them for external vessel inspections to assess structural conditions. Identifying substantial corrosion, significant deformation, fractures, damage or other structural deterioration can be done quickly, easily and cost-effectively using drones.

    Tank Inspections. The visual inspection of cargo tanks was traditionally performed by workers suspended on ropes to inspect the tank structure. The sheer size of modern-day vessels means that access methods including staging, rafting and climbing are often used by surveyors to access tanks.

    In contrast, drone surveys require no human access to the tank and, since no access equipment is required, there are no setup costs, and inspections can be completed within a quicker timeframe.

    Martek Marine’s V-200 UAS. (Photo: Martek Marine)

    Bathymetric Surveys. Accurate and reliable information on the features of water bodies and their shorelines is vital to navigational safety. Bathymetric surveys gather the information, which is then published for use on nautical charts. Rather than using a fixed-wing airplane or helicopter, bathymetric sensors developed for drones allow this type of survey to be carried out flexibly and at a fraction of the cost.

    To operate effectively in the harsh maritime environment, the technology has been developed to withstand storm force wind and heavy rain, snow and salt spray.

    As technology advances, so does the flight time available on drones, meaning more area can be covered in a quicker timeframe.

    Floating Flare-Tip Inspections. Drone surveys typically exist to provide close visual and thermal inspections of high, live or difficult to access structures offshore, and there’s nothing more challenging to access than a flare tip, 70 meters above water, on a floating production facility.

    Drone survey inspections for flare tips remove the need for a shutdown to inspect the flare and offer reduced costs compared to aerial surveys carried out by helicopter or plane.

    Offshore Wind Energy. The wind energy sector is growing fast. Storm force winds, erosion, lightning strikes and even build-up of insects can have an impact on turbines, and blades need to be inspected for deterioration. Inspectors have traditionally had to scale the turbines with the help of ropes and cables.

    The maritime surveying company Martek Marine uses a drone fleet designed for turbine-blade inspections onshore or offshore. Qualified and trained pilots quickly and accurately identify and assess faults.

    Traditional surveying requires turbines to be offline for two hours up to a day, but Martek’s inspection process reduces this time to 45 minutes.

    Following the inspection, the client can access the data through Martek’s secure, cloud-based asset management portal where they can download a detailed PDF report and access raw survey data.

    Fully Autonomous Drones? Fully autonomous drones could be the next big thing for maritime surveying. The drones can be pre-loaded with a 3D model of the ship. This allows the drone to autonomously work its way around the vessel, stopping at points of interest to obtain detailed video or image data.

    Advancing this further, a drone could be designed to create its own 3D map of the vessel before carrying out the survey independently.

    This article is excerpted from a blog by Martek Marine, a UK-based maritime surveying company. Read the full blog, with more details and examples.

  • Apply now for methane leak detection technology competition

    Just over three weeks remain to apply to the Mobile Monitoring Challenge (MMC), led by Stanford and the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) with technical advice from ExxonMobil.

    There’s a big push to develop mobile technologies to monitor and quantify methane leaks at oil and natural gas sites. Mobile monitoring offers the promise of surveying highly dispersed industrial facilities — including smaller and older ones — quickly and effectively.

    Stanford and EDF, aided by industry and other expert advisors like those from ExxonMobil, will rigorously field test and compare the most promising new mobile technologies and approaches submitted via the MMC – with extra interest in commercially scalable options. Results will be published in peer-reviewed journals.

    Details on the competition, what is required, and the benefits of applying can all be found here.

    All applications are due by Oct. 31.

  • Discussing the new North American-Pacific Geopotential Datum of 2022 — Part 3

    Discussing the new North American-Pacific Geopotential Datum of 2022 — Part 3

    My last e-newsletter column discussed the basic foundation parameters of the North American-Pacific Geopotential Datum of 2022 (NAPGD2022); that is, a global geopotential model, the GRAV-D project, and the GEOID2022 geoid model. It emphasized that NAPGD2022 will provide a more efficient and cost-effective way to maintain consistent orthometric heights, but evaluating the relative accuracy of the geoid model is critical to a successful implementation of NAPGD2022. Performing GNSS/Leveling evaluation surveys will help in evaluating the relative accuracy of GEOID2022. NGS realizes that users will still have the need to perform leveling to obtain millimeter-level accuracy between closely spaced stations, and to evaluate the relative accuracy of a geoid model. NGS is developing geodetic routines and tools to assist users in transforming heights from NAVD 88 to NAPGD2022, and enabling the incorporation of geodetic leveling data into NAPGD2022 to establish NAPGD2022 orthometric heights. This newsletter will highlight NGS’ current plans for estimating NAPGD2022 GNSS-derived orthometric heights and incorporating geodetic leveling data into NAPGD2022 to establish orthometric heights consistent with GNSS-derived NAPGD2022 orthometric heights. Dan Gillins and Kandell Fancher did an excellent presentation titled “Leveling after 2022” at the 2017 Geospatial Summit. This e-newsletter will highlight some sections of the presentation.

    First, it should be noted that NAVD 88 was realized by leveling and water-level transfer data only. To assist users in performing geodetic leveling surveys, the Federal Geodetic Control Subcommittee (FGCS) documented standards and specifications for performing geodetic leveling surveys (See Standards and Specifications for Geodetic Control Networks and FGCS Specifications and Procedures to Incorporate Electronic Digital/Bar-Code Leveling Systems). To support users to estimate consistent NAVD 88 heights using their leveling data, NGS developed a web tool called LOCUS (Leveling Online Computations User Service). LOCUS applies the appropriate corrections to the leveling data and performs a least-squares adjustment to estimate NAVD 88 heights based on user constraints. (See box “Excerpt from NGS’ LOCUS web tool” below.)

    Excerpt from NGS’ LOCUS web tool

    To support users to estimate NAVD 88 GNSS-derived orthometric heights, NGS developed guidelines and procedures for incorporating GNSS-derived orthometric heights into NAVD 88. (See NGS Constrained Adjustment Guidelines and Guidelines for Establishing GPS-derived Ellipsoid Heights.) These guidelines and procedures have been discussed in my previous GPS World Survey Scene e-newsletter series.

    As described in my last e-newsletter, NAPGD2022 will not be realized with leveling data. So, how will users access the National Spatial Reference System (NSRS) in 2022? NGS has prepared frequently asked questions about the new datums (https://www.ngs.noaa.gov/datums/newdatums/FAQNewDatums.shtml#CAN ). The following is the answer to the question How will accessing the National Spatial Reference System (NSRS) change with the release of the new datums?

    How will accessing the National Spatial Reference System (NSRS) change with the release of the new datums?The NSRS will be accessed using Global Positioning System (GPS) technology that references Continuously Operating Reference Stations (CORS) and relies on a time-dependent gravimetric geoid model. This method of accessing the NSRS is a paradigm shift from accessing NAD 83 and NAVD 88 through the use of geodetic survey marks.

    As described in previous newsletters, GNSS-derived Orthometric Heights are computed using the following formula: orthometric height (H) = ellipsoid height (h) minus geoid height (N). (See box titled “Slide 9 from Gillins and Fancher presentation titled ‘Leveling after 2022’ presented at the 2017 Geospatial Summit.”) It will not be necessary to connect to a geodetic monument, i.e., a bench mark, because the NATRF2022 ellipsoid height (hNATRF2022) is determined using the NGS CORS and the geoid model (NGEOID2022) is consistent with NATRF2022. In other words, GNSS observations combined with the geoid model will become the primary means for deriving orthometric heights on marks.

    Slide 9 from Gillins and Fancher presentation titled “Leveling after 2022” presented at the 2017 Geospatial Summit

    Gillins and Fancher addressed the expected relative accuracy of a 2022 NAPGD2022 GNSS-derived orthometric height difference in slide 11 of their presentation. (See box titled “Slide 11 from Gillins and Fancher presentation titled “Leveling after 2022” presented at the 2017 Geospatial Summit.”) Their estimation assumes a 1 cm sigma for each ellipsoid height value and 1 cm sigma for the relative geoid height value. This results in an estimated relative accuracy of a NAPGD2022 GNSS-derived height difference of +/- 1.7 cm. Gillins and Fancher also addressed the expected accuracy of leveling-derived heights in their slide 12. (See box titled “Slide 12 from Gillins and Fancher presentation titled “Leveling after 2022” presented at the 2017 Geospatial Summit.”)

    Slide 11 from Gillins and Fancher presentation titled “Leveling after 2022” presented at the 2017 Geospatial Summit

    This slide is just meant to give an idea of the error budget of GNSS leveling. Actually, if both stations are observed simultaneously, then there is a correlation term that must be tracked and added to the equation for sigma delta H. Further, the value for sigma delta N is poorly understood over very short distances (which are typical for leveling). However, it is reasonable to assume that differences in orthometric height of approx. 2 cm can be achieved with GNSS and a geoid model. The point is to say differences in height are to around 2 cm when only using GPS+geoid

    Slide 12 from Gillins and Fancher presentation titled “Leveling after 2022” presented at the 2017 Geospatial Summit

    Comparing slides 11 and 12, it’s obvious that leveling-derived orthometric height differences are more accurate than GNSS-derived orthometric height differences between closely spaced stations. NGS recognizes that some users will require a high level of relative accuracy and will continue to perform leveling; and, therefore, they will want their leveling-derived orthometric heights consistent with NAPGD2022. Gillins and Fancher’s presentation stated that NGS has ongoing research to develop models to combine and adjust GNSS-derived heights and/or observations with leveling, and to develop software applications and tools for incorporating leveling-derived heights into NAPGD2022. NGS has performed some preliminary tests of adjusting GNSS derived heights with leveling data using weighted constraints. Slides 16-18 from Gillins and Fancher presentation titled “Leveling after 2022” presented at the 2017 Geospatial Summit” depicts the basic concept.

    The basic concept is that the user will first establish NAPGD2022 orthometric heights at two stations using GNSS observations and a geoid model. Then, the user will observe leveling height differences between the two stations (see box titled “Slide 16 from Gillins and Fancher presentation titled “Leveling after 2022” presented at the 2017 Geospatial Summit”), and finally the user will perform a least squares adjustment to estimate NAPGD2022 orthometric heights using appropriated weighted constraints of the NAPGD 2022 GNSS-derived orthometric heights and appropriated weighted leveling observations (See box titled “Slide 18 from Gillins and Fancher presentation titled “Leveling after 2022” presented at the 2017 Geospatial Summit.”).

    Slide 16 from Gillins and Fancher presentation titled “Leveling after 2022” presented at the 2017 Geospatial Summit
    (Before Adjustment)
    Slide 18 from Gillins and Fancher presentation titled “Leveling after 2022” presented at the 2017 Geospatial Summit
    (After Adjustment)

    We will address this topic in more detail in another newsletter but the major takeaways are given in slide 22 from Gillins and Fancher presentation titled “Leveling after 2022” presented at the 2017 Geospatial Summit. Basically, the GNSS and a high-accuracy geoid model connects the user to NAPGD2022 and provides the overall network accuracy, and the leveling data improves the accuracy of height differences between marks and provides the local accuracy. The addition of leveling with GNSS increases the overall redundancy in a survey network which increases the ability to detect outliers and improves the relative accuracy of the final adjusted height differences.
    To assist users in obtaining accurate relative NAPGD2022 height differences, NGS has plans to develop software applications and tools for incorporating leveling-derived heights into NAPGD2022. They have a project called “OPUS-Projects for GNSS & Leveling.” The box titled “Slide 25 from Gillins and Fancher presentation titled “Leveling after 2022” presented at the 2017 Geospatial Summit” is a mockup of the proposed tool. This tool will apply the appropriate corrections to the leveling data and perform a least-squares adjustment to estimate NAPGD2022 heights based on weighted constraints.

    Slide 25 from Gillins and Fancher presentation titled “Leveling after 2022” presented at the 2017 Geospatial Summit

    This newsletter focused on NGS’ current plans for estimating NAPGD2022 GNSS-derived orthometric heights and incorporating geodetic leveling data into NAPGD2022 to establish orthometric heights consistent with GNSS-derived NAPGD2022 orthometric heights. It emphasized that after NAPGD2022 is established, the primary means for deriving orthometric heights on monuments will be using GNSS observations combined with the geoid model. Future newsletters will discuss in more detail some of NGS’ ongoing research to develop models and tools to combine and adjust GNSS-derived heights and/or observations with leveling.

  • Sokkia introduces radio modem for GCX receiver line

    Sokkia introduces radio modem for GCX receiver line

    Sokkia has unveiled a new radio modem designed to offer advanced radio connectivity with GNSS receivers. The R4S-BT UHF radio provides an external option for use with the Sokkia GCX receiver line.

    The UHF multichannel radio modem has a tuning range of up to 70 MHz. Additionally, the radio features an IP67 certified housing with internal batteries that is designed to be easy to carry with versatile mounting options.

    “The R4S-BT makes the GCX GNSS receiver into an even more scalable and modular solution,” said Jason Hallett, vice president of global product management at Sokkia. “It is perfect in situations without a network connection or when long-range Bluetooth technology is not enough on its own. Survey and mapping professionals can simply add on this external UHF and extend the range between the base and rover.”

    Connectivity options include wireless data transfer and USB connections.

  • Topcon upgrades SmoothRide road data-collection software

    Topcon Positioning Group is updating its data-collection software for the SmoothRide resurfacing workflow solution. RD-M1 Collect 2.0 includes updates designed to facilitate and optimize mapping of road conditions.

    Topcon is exhibiting at Intergeo 2017 in Hall 2.1, Booth A2.008, and in Hall FG, Booth 005. Intergeo takes place Sept. 26-28 in Berlin, Germany.

    The improvements feature an improved interface that is designed to simplify setup and automatically detect the position of the wheel sensor during data collection, the company said.

    An RD-M1 Collect 2.0 graphical interface status bar indicates the optimum speed for collecting road information based on project requirements, helping the software deliver the best results for the project.

    Memos is a new feature designed to allow operators to create balloons with messages on the map while collecting data that also can be made visible in the processing software, enabling specific site conditions to be noted for future reference.

    The new Manage Runs feature is designed to enable operation without necessitating Windows explorer to be open.

    Large buttons make using a tablet or laptop with touchscreen easy. Operators can copy data collections to a USB drive, delete them from the hard drive, and add or remove them from the manager.

    The RD-M1 Collect 2.0 new Plan Route feature allows for the import of kml files of predetermined routes, designed to ensure nothing is missed on the drive.

    Using the new map downloader, operators can have all map details visible while collecting data, without an internet connection. Overlapping locations can be managed by creating areas where predefined overlaps are required for the project.

  • True tilt compensation GNSS presented by Leica

    Leica Geosystems has released the Leica GS18 T, a fast GNSS RTK rover, as well as the latest versions of Leica Captivate field software and Leica Infinity office software.

    Leica made the announcement at Intergeo 2017, held Sept. 26-28 in Berlin, Germany.

    The announcement expands the Leica Captivate Experience. With the addition of calibration-free GNSS and various upgrades to the Captivate field software and Infinity office software, users continue the immersive experience with self-learning GNSS and engaging, intuitive software interfaces.

    “In my business, speed is the name of the game,” said Manny Sangha, owner of Sangha Geomatics & Land Survey Inc. in Vanderhoof, Canada. ” With my GS16, I’ve been able to reduce time spent on every project. I can only see this getting faster and improving efficiency with the GS18. No longer having to level the pole nor calibrate the system, this is a real value for me and a game-changer in the industry.”

    Calibration-free tilt compensating GNSS

    According to Leica Geosystems, the GS18 T is the a calibration-free tilt compensating GNSS solution immune to magnetic disturbances.

    GNSS measurements can be taken from any position on site, saving users up to 20 percent of time in the field over conventional surveying practices, because they no longer need to hold the pole vertical to level the bubble.

    The GS18 T uses precise inertial measuring units (IMUs) and not a compass, so that users can measure with a tilted pole close to buildings, underneath cars and close to metallic objects.

    With integrated quality assurance, the GS18 T records exactly how the pole was leveled during the measurement. The GS18 T then stores the values, ensuring measurement traceability and complete quality reporting.

    Software updates

    Fully supporting the GS18 T, Leica Captivate v3.0 field software and Leica Infinity v2.4 office software now offer users a more immersive means of control on site and at the desk.

    Captivate now allows configuration of the GS18 T for all measuring and staking applications and the visualization of tilt compensated measurements. Measured data can be directly imported into Infinity or exported into a variety of formats suitable for CAD packages.

    Within Infinity, users can visualise the measured data, including the creation of reports providing full traceability and quality assurance for themselves and their clients.

  • Hexagon presents solutions for geospatial, construction industries at Intergeo

    Hexagon AB showcased its geospatial and construction portfolio at Intergeo 2017 in Berlin, Germany.

    Hexagon’s sensor portfolio combined with a range of software creates solutions that support the geospatial and construction industries.

    According to the company, visitors were able to explore a number of solutions, including mobile mapping; asset collection and management for geographic information systems (GIS); 3D laser scanning; photogrammetry; remote sensing; airborne sensors and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs); global positioning and monitoring like GNSS; construction project controls and progress documentation; utility detection; measurement software and cloud-based dynamic mapping. Hexagon will be at booth A1.024 in Hall 1.1.

    “Hexagon is focused on creating smart digital realities,” said Hexagon President and CEO Ola Rollén. “At Intergeo, we will demonstrate the productivity and savings that can be realized from digitalizing customer workflows, automating processes and ensuring all stakeholders have access to dynamic, critical information.”

    During the conference portion of Intergeo, Hexagon executives addressed the growing need for digitalization in geospatial and construction industries:

    • Transformation through digitalization. Hexagon Geosystems President Juergen Dold provides the Intergeo opening keynote exploring the need for businesses to transform from efficient digitisation to connected digitalisation for continued progress.
    • The power of combining cost, schedules and models in the cloud. Director of Global Business Development for HxGN SMART Build at Hexagon PPM, Cathi Hayes, explains how SMART Build integrates model, schedule, cost and digital layout capabilities into a single solution that addresses the most critical phases of construction planning and execution.
    • Hexagon integrated solution for utility detection and mapping. Leica Geosystems Construction Tools President Katherine Broder and IDS GeoRadar President Alberto Bicci present how to achieve high productivity in mapping utilities with Hexagon’s underground detection portfolio, including ground penetrating radar (GPR) solutions.
    • Escaping the flatlands. Hexagon Geospatial President Mladen Stojic envisions new and easier approaches that ingest the influx of data, use automated approaches to extract the signal from the noise and provide intuitive ways of communicating insights to decision makers and field teams so they can shape smarter change.
    • Connecting perceptions with reality in the world of BIM, GIS and survey. Leica Geosystems Laser Scanning Vice-President of Business Development Faheem Khan looks at the benefits of sensor fusion, the growth of digital reality solutions and how both are affecting project lifecycles in the real, digital world.
    • Streamlining UAV workflows for surveying, construction and inspection. Leica Geosystems Product Manager for UAV Solutions Valentin Fuchs and Leica Geosystems Director of Marketing and Communications for UAV Solutions Benjamin Federmann deliver a series of presentations and hands-on demonstrations on how Hexagon integrates UAVs as part of the technology tool kit to digitalise workflows.