At Caltrans District 7 in Los Angeles, we use the onboard GPS capability of smartphones to navigate in real time to the locations of proposed aerial targets and NGS control stations.
KML files are created in the office using desktop GIS, then downloaded to smartphones for use in the field. We create KML files specifically for use by our surveyors during every aerial mapping project within Los Angeles and Ventura Counties.
The aerial target layer also shows the proposed locations of stereo model limits on the smartphone.
Having the stereo model limits as a data layer becomes a handy piece of information in the event an aerial target needs to be relocated due to unfavorable field conditions. The heads-up capabilities of GPS aboard the smartphones and KML files can also show the easiest path to reach either target location or control stations. The NGS control station layer hyperlinks to the NGS website so the field surveyor always has the recovery note available in an electronic format.
The field surveyors are also given hardcopy maps of the target locations and control stations, but those are now only used as a back-up to the KML files loaded onto the smartphones.
We have found that leveraging the onboard GPS capability of smartphones with GIS-based data layers in the field has increased production. Using smartphones provides the surveyors with information more concisely and clearly, so better decisions can be made while in the field. The project surveyor has the ability to tailor datasets specifically to project needed by the field surveyors.
Once the aerial targets have been placed and the NGS control stations recovered, the field surveyors then position the aerial targets and control stations using carrier phase GNSS.
Juniper Systems is exhibiting its sub-meter GPS solution using Esri ArcPad, Effigis’ EZSurv Post-Processing software, and its ultra-rugged handheld computers — a combination the company says is budget-friendly and easy-to-use — at the Esri User Conference, being held in San Diego July 20–24.
The sub-meter solution involves collecting GIS data using a Juniper Systems rugged handheld running ArcPad data collection software, and then using Effigis’ EZSurv software to post-process the data, resulting in sub-meter GPS accuracy. Users can import and export data, including custom attributes, from their GIS. The data collection process bypasses the need for expensive survey-grade GPS receivers, providing both an affordable and simple solution for professionals who require sub-meter accuracy, Juniper Systems said.
“This solution is a great option for people looking for sub-meter accuracy without the steep price,” said Trevor Brown, Natural Resources market manager at Juniper Systems. “The range of applications that can benefit from this type of solution is very broad, with uses in forestry, agriculture, environmental monitoring, and asset management, to name a few. And not only is it inexpensive, it’s also super simple. You can have sub-meter accuracy with the click of a button.”
Those attending the Esri User Conference can see this affordable sub-meter solution at Juniper Systems’ booth #2212. The data sheet can be downloaded, or visit Juniper Systems’ website to learn more.
Carlson Software has released the Carlson Surveyor2, the newest model in its Carlson Surveyor line of data collectors. The Surveyor2 is paired with Carlson’s software to provide a powerful, complete solution for surveying, stake out, construction layout, and GIS mapping, the company said.
Designed and manufactured by Juniper Systems, the Carlson Surveyor2 is built to withstand the harshest conditions, with an IP68 rating for dust and water and superb durability when dropped or exposed to cold, heat or other rugged environments.
With minimal increase in weight compared to the original Surveyor, the Surveyor2 offers greater memory and data storage, a faster, 1.0-GHz processor, and significantly improved Bluetooth range — up to 1,500 feet. The data collector also features a new QWERTY keyboard with large buttons for easy data entry, enhanced battery power with 20+ hours of runtime, and a larger, brighter display, providing excellent visibility in any lighting conditions.
The Surveyor2 runs Windows Embedded Handheld 6.5.3 and can be purchased with Carlson SurvCE 4.0, Carlson’s powerful data collection software. SurvCE offers exceptional usability, with a tab-based menu and advanced graphics for easy-to-use functionality, the company said.
“The Surveyor2 and SurvCE together create an advanced solution for surveying applications, while maintaining simplicity and ease-of-use,” said Debbie Trolson, geomatics market manager at Juniper Systems. “The Surveyor2 offers significant improvements over its predecessor, providing surveyors with the features they need to perform their work productively and effectively.”
Released today, the latest version of the web-based Leica CrossCheck service for GNSS reference station network integrity and deformation monitoring now comes with enhanced visualization and reporting options. Customizable, automatically generated reports can be distributed to multiple viewers, according to Leica Geosystems. Dashboard and status views allow easy and fast interpretation of complex data of reference network coordinates and area deformation, the company said.
Highly trained experts at Leica Geosystems process monitoring data using the latest geodetic software and algorithms to provide highly accurate assessments of any site movement on various types of infrastructure platforms such as oil platforms, bridges or dams. Customizable reports can then be distributed via email or downloaded on demand.
Leica CrossCheck is a secure web-based application that provides interactive and flexible, round the clock access to project data. Intuitive and easy-to-use tools simplify project site movement analysis, speed up decision making when there is a need to react to changes.
From our July issue comes this showcase featuring products for surveyors, geographic information systems (GIS) professionals, field workers, and anyone who is looking to expand the capabilities of their smartphone or tablet.
Dedicated Survey/Geospatial
Three-Accuracy Series
The LT500 series of handheld GPS receivers, LT500H/T/N, covers three accuracy ranges from sub-meter to centimeter. It is a cost-effective full GNSS positioning solution for survey, construction and GIS professionals.
Powered by the Windows Embedded Handheld 6.5 operating system, the LT500 is accurate, rugged and versatile. User productivity is enhanced with the built-in gyroscope, an innovative laser plummet for positioning the accurate handheld receiver over a point, an E-compass for showing the direction and G-sensors for leveling. The LT500 series comes bundled with software including SurvCE, DigiTerra and MapCloud. The LT500H has120 channels (GPS L1/L2/L2C, GLONASS G1, G2, BeiDou B1 and Galileo E1), the LT500T has 220 channels (L1, G1, B1), and the LT500N has 12 channels (L1).
The all-in-one TRIUMPH-LS by JAVAD GNSS combines a high-performance 864-channel GNSS receiver, all-frequency GNSS antenna, and a modern featured handheld. The 864 all-in-view channels include Galileo E1/E5A/E5B, GPS L1/L2/L5, GLONASS L1/L2/L3, QZSS L1/L2/L5, BeiDou B1/B2 and SBAS L1/L5.
More than 100 channels are dedicated to continuous interference monitoring, allowing safe GNSS operation in a city, airport and military environment.
The GEOmeter MX system is designed to gather GIS information in heavily wooded areas, with object description, area coordinates and measurement time grasped automatically. The system consists of the GEOsat MXbox receiver, a combination antenna, a PDA such as the Trimble Recon or the Handheld Nautiz X8, and GEOfield software for mobile GIS.
The Mxbox receiver is a Hemisphere multi-constellation GNSS OEM board with GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo and QZSS, plus code- and carrier-phase tracking for increased positioning accuracy and availability. The GEOfield software offers reliabe recording, representation and processing of geodata. Measurement quality is indicated in the field with statistics and graphics, in either German or English.
The Matchstiq S10 is a software-defined radio (SDR) platform. It provides increased RF flexibility, RF performance and signal processing capacity in a small package. The Matchstiq S10 platform combines the Epiq Solutions’ Sidekiq SDR with a quad-core processor system running Linux. The Sidekiq MiniPCIe SDR card provides an independently tunable RF transmitter and receiver covering 70 Mhz to 6 Ghz with an RF bandwidth up to 50 Mhz, plus FPGA. The Matchstiq S10 platform also integrates GPS, Gigabit ethernet (with PoE), USB 2.0 OTG, HDMI and real-time clock in a very small form factor package.
Leica Captivate software provides a 3D view for the Leica Viva GNSS, merging the overlay of measured points, 3D models and point clouds into a single view.
Using Leica Captivate, users can capture and manage complex data with the touchscreen on both the Leica CS20 handheld controller and the CS35 tablet.
The CS20 runs on Windows EC7 and is IP68 and MIL-STD-810F rated. It has a 5-inch WVGA color touchscreen that allows for comfortable and quick data processing and a fully integrated radio and antenna for long range robotic total station control. The CS35’s 10.1-inch screen is visible in all conditions. It runs on Windows 8.1 Pro, enabling workers to take their office into the field. It is IP65 and MIL-STD-810G rated.
The FOIF F55 series GIS handheld comes in two models: F55-A and F55-B. The onboard software FOIF SuperGiS allows users to conduct field mapping with powerful functions for data collecting, data editing and data querying.
The F55 measures 234 x 99 x 56 mm and weighs 895 grams. It has an IP65 rating for water and dust protection. The F55-A supports four GNSS (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo and Beidou) as well as SBAS, and can search for up to 120 channels. The F55-B supports GPS and SBAS and provides 12 channels.
With Differential GPS, the F55-A has an accuracy of 0.4 meters, and the F55-B has an accuracy of 0.5 meters. RTK surveying on the F55-A obtains high precision of 1 cm + 1 ppm. Real-time correction service and post-processing are available.
The geoDVR Gen2 is an advanced multi-channel high-definition/standard-definition geospatial digital video recorder designed for aerial and mobile environments.
Unlike a DVR, the rugged geoDVR permanently embeds videos with important GPS location, time and other data — the GPS metadata remains intact even when a video is edited. Most video cameras and gyro-stabilized gimbals can be connected to the geoDVR for recording of HD or geospatial video files.
Video files created by the geoDVR can be analyzed in the RemoteGeo LineVision suite of mapping applications, including tools for Google Earth, Esri ArcGIS, PLS-CADD and the LineVision Cloud. The administrative dashboard allows for monitoring up to four video streams in real-time.
The G1-m1 receiver is part of the G1 family of products from Geomatics USA. The G1 system is scalable from a single-frequency semi-mobile receiver — for control networks and some semi-kinematic mapping applications — to a dual-frequency network RTK solution. It was designed to be lightweight, accurate and portable, especially suited to building a system for travel; for example, all the G1-m1 components, including tripod, will easily pack into a baseball-style bag for transport. The G1-m1 offers centimeter and sub-foot accuracy (centimeter-level accuracy is possible for OPUS-compliant static sessions).
The Panasonic Toughpad FZ-M1 is a thin, light and rugged 7-inch Windows tablet with dedicated GPS — the u-blox Neo M8 series — as an option. The FZ-M1 is built to enable mission-critical mobile worker productivity. Powered by Windows 8.1 Pro and a choice of two Intel processors, it features a long life, user-replaceable battery and a daylight-readable, high-sensitivity multi touchscreen for use with heavy gloves. With a broad range of configuration options, the customizable Toughpad FZ-M1 is rated MIL-STD-810G and IP65, resistant to five-foot drops, weather, dust and water.
Trimble’s RTX technology-based correction services — Trimble CenterPoint RTX, Trimble RangePoint RTX and the new Trimble ViewPoint RTX — are now available on Trimble Geo 7X handhelds.
Trimble RTX technology provides compatible GNSS receivers with correction services that significantly improve accuracy and reliability in obtaining positions worldwide. Operational efficiency and productivity in the field is improved by delivering real-time DGNSS corrections directly to the Trimble Geo 7X handheld.
The handheld solution is designed for industries such as utility companies, municipalities and environmental management agencies, in which workers are highly mobile and require a reliable, flexible data-collection and asset management solution.
A choice of RTX correction services ranging from 4 centimeters to submeter-level horizontal accuracies is available.
The Spike device and Spike mobile app allow users to measure an object by capturing a photo from a smartphone or tablet. From the photo, users can capture real-time measurements, including height, width, area, length and target location. Location data includes latitude, longitude and altitude. Spike is useful for construction, inspection, safety, advertising, real estate, insurance and government applications.
Measurements and location data are saved with the picture and can be shared via email as a PDF, XML and KMZ. KMZ files can be imported into GIS tools such as ArcGIS and Google Earth. The photo can be referenced via the Spike app to take new measurements or view original measurements.
The Spike device pairs with an Android or Apple iOS smartphone or tablet via Bluetooth. Its laser rangefinder works with a smartphone’s camera, GPS, compass and Internet connection.
The iSXBlue II+ GNSS is a palm-sized receiver that delivers real-time, high-accuracy performance using GPS+GLONASS satellites and free SBAS corrections for an iPad or iPhone. Its battery-powered lightweight design is for a variety of mapping applications including GIS, forestry, mining, utilities, agriculture, surveying and environmental. It delivers high accuracy in real time without the need for post-processing or another correction source when SBAS (WAAS, EGNOS, MSAS or GAGAN) are available. Using both GPS and GLONASS satellites, the iSXBlue II+ GNSS will work where GPS receivers struggle, such as in the forest, around buildings and in other difficult mapping environments. The L1/G1, GPS+GLONASS receiver has 372 channels.
TerraGo Edge allows organizations to collect data and share field information on their smartphones and tablets. TerraGo Edge replaces traditional GPS handheld devices with a mobile cloud-based solution. Users can collect GPS data points at any accuracy level, either by using the onboard GPS on a smartphone or by attaching a centimeter-level GPS receiver to a mobile device.
TerraGo Edge 3.6 features enhanced support for high-accuracy GPS receivers such as EOS and SXBlue on both iOS and Android, as well as better mapping features, basemap sources and integration with Google Earth.
For managers, TerraGo Edge provides a real-time dashboard for monitoring field users and data collection.
MachineryGuide enables a tablet or smartphone to be used as a precision tractor GPS system. The MachineryGuide Android guidance program functions as a precision farming application using an antenna capable of receiving and processing EGNOS and WAAS corrections. It can be used for any farming activity that is done by tractor or other agricultural machinery, including fertilization, manure application and spraying. It even can be used for land measurements.
MachineryGuide sells the software separately; a GNSS receiver + antenna separately; and a package bundle that includes software, GNSS receiver and antenna. The receiver uses GPS, GLONASS, SBAS and QZSS signals for a position accuracy of 2.5 meters CEP.
The TomTom Bandit Action Camera allows creation of videos within moments of the action. It comes with a built-in media server, eliminating the need to download footage before editing. The camera works with a companion app, making it possible to create and share videos in a matter of minutes — by shaking a smartphone.
The TomTom Bandit Action Camera is equipped with in-camera motion and GPS sensors to automatically find and tag footage based on speed, altitude, G-force, acceleration and heart rate. Highlights can also be tagged manually with a tagging button on the camera or the remote control.
The Forerunner 225 integrates optical heart-rate technology by Mio and features a colorful graphic interface showing runners their zone and beats per minute at a glance. A built-in accelerometer provides distance and pace data for indoor running with no need for a separate foot pod. To keep runners active between workouts, it doubles as an activity tracker, counting steps, calories and distance.
When paired with a compatible smartphone, the Forerunner 225 will automatically upload a completed run to the Garmin Connect Mobile app for post-run analysis and sharing on social media sites. Runners can also use live tracking to allow friends and family to follow along during training or on race day to see stats in real time.
Spectra Precision has introduced its new SP60 GNSS receiver. Designed to meet the evolving needs of surveyors, the SP60 is a versatile solution combining next generation Spectra Precision GNSS technology, a high level of configuration flexibility and an innovative design, the company said. The SP60 is part of Spectra Precision’s latest portfolio of GNSS receivers specifically designed for the mainstream survey and construction applications such as cadastral, topographic, control, stakeout and network RTK.
Spectra Precision SP60 features exclusive Z-Blade GNSS-centric technology running on a new-generation, 240-channel 6G chipset. The SP60 is capable of fully utilizing all 6 available GNSS systems (GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo, QZSS and SBAS), but can also be configured to use only selected constellations in an RTK solution (GPS-only, GLONASS-only or BeiDou-only). With L-Band capability to enable CenterPoint RTX correction service, the SP60 GNSS receiver can deliver centimeter-level accuracy without terrestrial/cellular network availability. The receiver is optimized to provide high accuracy positioning performance worldwide.
With its configuration flexibility, the SP60 is scalable and can be used in multiple configurations and operating modes from a simple post-processing solution to a network RTK or CenterPoint RTX capable rover. In addition, the optional transmit radio or embedded Long Range Bluetooth enables the SP60 receiver to be used as a base and rover system. This extended scalability allows surveyors to begin with a simple solution, and through hardware and firmware upgrades, adapt the SP60 to more complex survey jobs.
The Spectra Precision SP60 is rugged and waterproof, yet compact, lightweight and ergonomic for ease of use in the field. The received also includes a patented inside-the-rod mounted UHF antenna. When the UHF transmit radio module is used, its UHF antenna remains protected inside the rugged rod, extending the radio range performance.
“The Spectra Precision SP60 introduces a new level of configuration flexibility to the surveying market,” said Olivier Casabianca, business area director of Trimble’s Spectra Precision Division. “The SP60 was designed as an extremely versatile receiver, allowing surveyors to make it suitable for a specific surveying project, and then upgrade it to a more complex solution, when needed.”
A little more than a year ago, I became a part of a team of surveyors from across the country to offer testing and input on new technology and programing coming out of JAVAD GNSS. It has been a great honor to work along with Dr. Javad Ashjaee, the other surveyors and Javad’s staff at JAVAD GNSS. Why Javad chose me, I doubt that I will ever know. While I am proud to be a part of what Javad has dubbed “J-Team,” I have realized very quickly how little I know about GNSS. In this series of articles that I plan on putting together, I will chronicle my advances in GNSS and testing of JAVAD GNSS equipment.
As part of my testing, I have been using a JAVAD Triumph 2 base (with 4-watt external radio) and a TRIUMPH-LS rover. I had seen advertisements for this system for many months prior to becoming a member of the J-team. I was apprehensive at first with the difference in the appearance and learning the new software. However, it did not take long to realize how advanced this system, namely the TRIUMPH-LS, was.
One key feature that I use to determine the quality of my shots is the V6 engines. The V6 engines that it uses to fix the ambiguities is unlike anything I have seen in any other software or receiver. The V6 engines are six separate RTK engines running simultaneously. Basically, this is like having six separate receivers in one.
When in heavy multipath area, I tend to stay fixated on this screen. Each engine can fix at different times. When another engine gets fixed, the resulting epochs are averaged between the two fixed engines and so on with any of the other engines. (See above image.)
This is only one of many technological advancements that Javad has included in his newest receivers. Please continue to follow my articles on other advancements and general surveying practice topics.
For more information on Javad’s J-Field software, the TRIUMPH-LS or other JAVAD GNSS solutions, please feel free to visit www.javad.com, email [email protected], or call 1-888-550-5301 or 1-408-770-1770.
Matthew D. Sibole is a Professional Land Surveyor (PLS) and a member of the JAVAD GNSS J-Team.
The TRIUMPH-LS and its field software, J-Field, have many revolutionary and innovative features compared to current GNSS systems. Here is a quick overview of its most salient features, making it an ideal unit for surveyors in the field and managing from the office.
The TRIUMPH-LS contains everything needed to function as a complete RTK rover in one small, compact, ergonomic and very portable unit:
an 864-channel GNSS receiver
a UHF or spread spectrum radio, a GSM modem
a Wi-Fi adapter
two internal cameras
a flashlight
a bright 800 x 480 pixel display.
Also included with the system is a collapsible monopod rover pole which allows the unit to be quickly folded up to fit in a very small space, perfect for carrying the system in the field or quickly stowing inside a vehicle. The lack of a data collector bracketed to the rover pole further increases its portability; the user can carry the system through the woods without having to worry about an extruding data collector getting caught in brush.
This system was ergonomically engineered; the head-height vertical display allows the user to operate the TRIUMPH-LS while standing in an upright position and looking forward. Users do not need to bend their neck to look down to view the display, as is traditionally done with a system having a data collector attached to a rover pole. This Triumph feature allows the system to be used without the neck soreness that can plague a user after working for extended periods of time.
The TRIUMPH-LS contains a built-in compass and tilt sensors. The compass enables quick and efficient stake-out of points. Forward/back and left/right offset readings relative to the face of the display show precisely where the stake-out point is located. This stakeout method reduces the time required for this task, compared to using traditional north/south and east/west offsets. The built-in tilt sensors can be used in lieu of having to plumb the rover pole. Taking advantage of the tilt sensors is also a “Lift & Tilt” mode that means topo points can be collected without pressing any buttons. In this mode, when the TRIUMPH-LS is plumbed, a point will automatically start collecting and can be programmed to collect a set number of epochs or to stop collection when the unit is tilted. After the point is collected, the user tilts the TRIUMPH-LS and walks to the next point, which will be collected when the unit is plumbed again.
Software. The field software, J-Field, is included at no extra charge with the system. There is no need for an external data collector or software. J-Field is constantly being improved, and updates will always be available free of charge with the system. The updates can be downloaded through Wi-Fi and are very simple to install, requiring only a couple of button presses to update the system.
J-Field features six separate, parallel RTK engines that all run simultaneously with separate assumptions. This allows for fixes to be obtained quicker than if only a single RTK engine were used. It has an advanced RTK verification system that can be used in difficult RTK environments where there is high multipath and/or tree canopy cover. This process will automatically reset the RTK engines and eliminate points from being collected with bad RTK fixes that often plague other systems in difficult locations.
With the built-in GSM modem, it is very easy to connect to real-time networks (RTNs). Alternately, it can also be connected through Wi-Fi using a mobile hotspot.
Full CAD features are in the process of being developed for use with the map screen. The ability to draw lines, polylines, circles and arcs will be supported. Using the planned move, copy, offset and rotate commands, much of the same CAD work that is traditionally done in the office will now be able to be completed in the field. This very beneficial feature can reduce the number of return visits to a project site.
J-Field has many customization features that can be used to increase productivity as your knowledge of the system grows. The stake and collect screens have eight white boxes that are easily customized to display a number of fields that the user may desire.
When the new Extell luxury high-rise building goes up at 217 West 57th Street in Manhattan, the vertical alignment of the core-wall structure will be crucial to success. This internal core structure will rise almost 1,500 feet above the ground and will be the reference for all other building construction, making its construction one of the most mission-critical aspects of the entire project, according to Leica Geosystems.
Pinnacle Industries, the concrete contractor responsible for building the structure, has invested in an innovative core-wall alignment system. Consisting of advanced GNSS and robotic total station solutions, the Vertical Alignment System from Leica Geosystems will be used as each floor is constructed to ensure the overall vertical geometry of the structure. High-end training from Leica Geosystems will provide the support and knowledge transfer needed to achieve successful adoption of this innovative approach.
The project is noteworthy for a number of reasons. With an overall roof height of 1,479 feet (1,775 feet to top of spire), the new building will dominate the Midtown skyline and will be the tallest residential building in the world. It will also mark the introduction of Nordstrom Inc. to New York City. The architect of record, Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture, is the firm behind Dubai’s Burj Khalifa, the tallest commerical building in the world.
According to David Rutledge, director of structural monitoring for Leica Geosystems’ Monitoring Solutions business in North America, Pinnacle Industries chose the Leica Geosystems Vertical Alignment System for its ability to reliably and quickly make alignment adjustments to the forming traveler that will be used to construct each floor. The Leica GM10 GNSS instruments in particular were chosen for their ability to produce highly accurate 3D position coordinates.
“It’s very exciting to be involved with the soon-to-be tallest residential building in the world,” Rutledge said. “Pinnacle is an industry leader in this type of construction, and we feel honored to have been selected by the team. Leica Geosystems’ solutions provide exceptionally high accuracy and outstanding performance, making them ideally suited for the high productivity demanded on projects like this. We’re thrilled to be able to play a supporting role in this significant and historic project.”
GeoLearn, a company focused on serving the geospatial industry with video-based online learning and continuing education credits, has added nine courses on geodesy topics by retired NGS Chief Geodetic Surveyor and GPS World contributor David Doyle.
Doyle is a contributing editor for survey to GPS World’s monthly Survey Scene newsletter. His first column appeared in May.
GeoLearn’s new introductory geodesy courses carry approval for professional development hours (PDHs) from the ABET-accredited geospatial program at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi.
“I’ve been addressing groups of surveyors and other professionals who use NGS data. In these courses, I take those decades of interaction and try to anticipate and address the most common problems they’ve encountered and most of the questions they would ask,” Doyle said.
Doyle’s first eight courses are offered as a series, though students can pick and choose. The first is an introductory stage-setting course on geodetic fundamentals for those who have been hesitant to delve into any geodesy-related topic. It is an excellent primer for a broad spectrum of geospatial professionals and technicians in fields such as land surveying, engineering and technical GIS applications. The rest of the series includes two on classical horizontal datums and contemporary horizontal datums and two on vertical datums. He includes an additional course on future datums and another on coordinate systems.
Doyle’s ninth course uncovers the “secret sauce” to understanding and using NGS data sheets. It helps novices and experienced alike to understand all the clues and guideposts embedded in such sheets. He includes a discussion of how to understand the accuracy (horizontal and vertical) of various marks based on the metadata provided right in the data sheet. Also included is information on how to access photographs of the marks and how you can update the information using a simple program that you can download from the NGS website.
“Dave was of phenomenal service to geospatial professionals when he was with NGS,” said Joe Paiva, CEO of GeoLearn. “We are proud to be the only 24/7 education source that delivers Dave’s quality, video-based education on these needed topics.”
Flightline Geographics and Tablerock Land Survey have partnered to provide industry-leading premium 3D aerial imagery from Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) for pipeline and electric transmission projects across North America. The announcement was made at the International Right of Way Association annual conference and trade show.
FlightlineGeo is a GIS company that has been involved in professional UAS since 2012 and is able to provide base mapping and 3D terrain modeling through the use of drones for energy corridors and other areas of interest. Resolution and delivery times are far better than traditional manned sources and costs are significantly lower. “GIS is a technology that depends upon up-to-date content and UAS is now a cost-effective way to provide aerial visual intelligence for GIS, in the form of stunning 3D Imagery. All delivered in days, not months,” said FlightlineGeo Founder and CEO Devon Humphrey.
Tablerock provides complete survey, right-of-way, and project management/inspection services for projects of all sizes. “One of the challenges we have faced has been obtaining current aerial imagery and topographic information that meets industry needs for project design and GIS within the United States. On most projects, our clients are limited to whatever current satellite imagery is available on the Internet, but it is often dated and of low quality. Content from FlightlineGeo changes all that,” said Andrew Darlington, President of Tablerock Land Survey.
FlightlineGeo is an ESRI Partner Network Company based in the Austin, Texas, area, and Tablerock Land Survey is based in Denver, Colo.
At 20, 320 feet, Mount McKinley is North America’s highest peak. (Photo courtesy of Todd Paris, UAF).
A new GPS survey of Mount McKinley, the highest point in North America, will update the commonly accepted elevation of McKinley’s peak, 20,320 feet. The last survey was completed in 1953.
The USGS, along with NOAA’s National Geodetic Survey (NGS) and the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF), are supporting a GPS survey of the Mount McKinley apex. Surveying technology and processes have improved greatly since the last survey and the ability to establish a much more accurate height now exists, the USGS said.
The Mount McKinley survey team, and their equipment, are expected to face temperatures well below zero, high winds and frequent snow. Current forecast, courtesy of NOAA. (Photo courtesy of Todd Paris, UAF).
An experienced team of four climbers, one from UAF and three from CompassData, will start the precarious trek to the summit with the needed scientific instruments in tow, in the middle of June. They plan to return on or before July 7 and begin work with the University of Alaska Fairbanks and NGS processing the data to arrive at the new summit elevation.
With the acquisition of new elevation (ifsar) data in Alaska as part of the 3D Elevation Program, there have been inquiries about the height of the summit. The survey party is being led by CompassData, a subcontractor for Dewberry on a task awarded under the USGS’ Geospatial Products and Services Contract (GPSC).
Using modern GPS survey equipment and techniques, along with better gravity data to improve the geoid model in Alaska, the partners will be able to report the summit elevation with a much higher level of confidence than has been possible in the past.
According to CompassData, the survey equipment includes two Trimble R10 antennas and one Trimble Net-R9 with a Zephyr-2 antenna. Also being taken up the mountain is a 10-meter specialized glacier avalanche probe and a Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR), courtesy of the University of Alaska Fairbanks.
It is anticipated the newly surveyed elevation will be published by the National Geodetic Survey in late August.
Climbing Mount McKinley, North America’s highest peak, is a daunting task for even the most experienced mountaineers at Denali National Park in Alaska. (Photo courtesy of National Geographic).
