Tag: construction

Topcon Releases New UAS for Aerial Mapping

Topcon Positioning Group has released two unmanned aerial systems (UAS) for mapping — the Sirius Pro and Sirius Basic. Both systems are designed to produce the most accurate solutions for the automated mapping of a wide range of sites — regardless of terrain — including construction sites, mines and quarries, and for use in land surveying, power line and pipeline inspection as well as precision agriculture field mapping.

The fixed-wing systems resulted from a partnership with MAVinci GmbH, a UAS development company with which Topcon recently entered into a worldwide distribution agreement.

“The Sirius Pro system is unique to the UAS marketplace. Instead of using traditional ground control points, Topcon combines RTK (real-time kinematic) GNSS solutions with precision timing technology to provide more accurate mapping results when compared to other products,” said Eduardo Falcon, executive vice president and general manager for the Topcon GeoPositioning Solutions Group.

“The system is easy to use and rugged — allowing operators to use a simple hand launch with precise automatic operation from takeoff to landing, and it can be flown safely in nearly all weather conditions,” Falcon said.

The Topcon Sirius Basic is an entry-level system offering many of the advantages of the Sirius Pro with options to upgrade. “The Sirius Basic shares the same hardware components of the Pro model, providing affordability with the same level of sturdiness and ease of operation,” said Falcon. “Additionally, when the need arises for the increased accuracy and productivity of the Pro system, a simple upgrade makes the transition practically effortless.”

Both systems also offer autopilot assisted manual control, automatic flight planning and safety features.

August 28, 2014
Topcon Offers 3D Indicate Grade System

Topcon Positioning Group has announced a multi-platform 3D indicate grade system, the i-33. The new system features GNSS technology and a graphical display designed to provide a powerful indicate system at an economical price.

The i-33 allows for quick installation and easy operation on many types of grading and earth-moving machinery, according to Topcon. It is designed for use on a dozer, scraper or any type of machinery used for cut or fill operations.

“The new system brings the productivity of GNSS-based 3D grade control for all types of applications,” said Kris Maas, Topcon’s manager of machine control product marketing.

“Indicate GNSS systems have not been an economical reality for many contractors or types of work. In other words, the return on investment for a traditional 3D-MC system did not make it practical for bulk earthmoving or less utilized equipment,” Maas said. “With i-33, the game has changed. Its low cost and quick installation make it the perfect solution for use on multiple pieces of equipment or even sharing between machines. Basically, it eliminates over- or under-cutting and ensures material is moved exactly where it needs to be the first time.”

The GX-30 graphical display control box keeps the operator “visually informed as to final grade so adjustments can easily be made, eliminating redundant passes and helping to further reduce the need for onsite grade checking,” Maas said.

The system also includes the new MC-i3 GNSS receiver with Vanguard technology, offering single or dual GNSS antenna configurations, allowing the system to work in a wide variety of applications. The MC-i3 also allows connection to Topcon’s Sitelink3D site management solution that provides real-time data control, machine tracking, reporting and planning in one solution to maintain conformance and improve productivity through all job phases.

August 25, 2014
Trimble Releases Software for Real-Time Construction Equipment Inspection

Trimble has announced three new asset inspection software solutions for heavy civil contractors—Trimble Inspector, Trimble Inspector Pro and Trimble Asset Manager.

Trimble Inspector is a free mobile app that allows equipment managers to easily inspect assets in real-time using their smartphone or tablet.

Trimble Inspector Pro, the premium, subscription version of Trimble Inspector, is used to wirelessly aggregate and share asset condition across multiple sites using Trimble Asset Manager office software.

Trimble Asset Manager software gives contractors the ability to store the inspection data of all assets in a centralized, Web-based database for accurate reporting and documentation.

“Contractors can achieve significant cost savings by proactively scheduling asset maintenance with Trimble’s new inspection solutions,” said Alan Sharp, business area director for Trimble Heavy Civil Construction. “Trimble takes the guesswork out of asset maintenance and puts the control back in the hands of the equipment manager.”

Trimble Inspector, a free mobile app, runs on both Android and iOS smartphones or tablets for daily, weekly and monthly visual inspections using a library of equipment, machine and vehicle types, makes and models, and inspection checklists. Reports containing current visual health status, hours, odometer reading and general condition can be promptly emailed to equipment and maintenance managers. The reports, along with photos, can then be retained for legal documentation of health and safety standards compliance, and for audit purposes. In addition, Trimble Inspector assists with scheduling maintenance to reduce equipment downtime and unplanned stoppages. The app is also ideal for trade-in or auction house inspections of used equipment.

Trimble Inspector Pro has all the functionality of Trimble Inspector, with the added benefits of customized inspection reports to meet health and safety requirements, and comprehensive maintenance reports for service crews. Equipment managers can record equipment service issues and notify site management staff of equipment status on multiple sites within seconds of the completed inspections. Trimble Inspector Pro requires a subscription to Trimble Asset Manager office software to access the additional functionality.

Trimble Asset Manager is a software as a service (SaaS) application used in the office to integrate, store and report asset condition data collected in the field by Trimble Inspector Pro. Asset information is kept in a secure, centralized online database accessible by authorized users in the company. Users can create asset records, document inspections and customize reports so managers get the data they need quickly and easily.

Trimble Inspector and Trimble Inspector Pro are available now worldwide from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store. Trimble Asset Manager is available now globally through Trimble’s SITECH Technology Dealer Channel.

August 22, 2014
Trimble Announces Land-Based 3D Piling Application for Mixed Fleets

The DPS900 Piling System

Trimble has introduced the DPS900 Piling System, a dedicated land-based 3D machine control system for a variety of piling machine makes and models. The accuracy of the system allows piling contractors to increase operational efficiency and reduce costs for building structural foundations, retaining walls, coffer dams, and solar or wind farm installations.

“The DPS900 Piling System can transform the way piling contractors work,” said Alan Sharp, business area director for Trimble Heavy Civil Construction. “Without DPS900, the process is manual and often error prone. With the DPS900 system, contractors can take advantage of accurate positioning and automated reporting to ensure machines are being utilized efficiently.”

The DPS900 Piling System reduces surveying costs associated with staking and as-built checks. In addition, the system can increase on-site safety by reducing the number of people around machines, pilings and foundations. Accurate positioning in DPS900 can ensure navigation time between piles is reduced, resulting in increased piling time to maximize production and revenue per day.

Built-in, automated quality assurance and quality control reporting includes capture of start and end positions, time and elevation, as well as actual embedment depth, blow count reporting, and inclination and orientation control. In addition, unique system logins allow managers to filter reports by operator for better accountability, production optimization and forecasting.

Business Center–HCE office software by Trimble is used to create pile plans in the office, and allows for integration with data prep, estimating and reporting functions. Piling machines can be connected to the office using Trimble Connected Site solutions for wireless data transfer and GNSS corrections. In addition, machines can be tracked and monitored using VisionLink for location, hours and utilization information.

The new Trimble DPS900 Piling System is available now in Australia, Europe, North America, Chile and South Africa through Trimble’s SITECH Technology Dealer Channel.

July 31, 2014
New Pole-Staking Juniper App with Archer 2 Boosts Efficiency

Juniper Systems and Futura Systems have partnered to provide enterprise utility GIS solutions for the electric and utilities industries. This August, Futura Systems will be launching at its user conference a new pole-staking application called GPSStaker.

Staking, or line design, is performed when new locations need to be added to an existing electric line. It involves mapping a new utility pole run, ensuring that the distance between each pole is up to code and geolocated, and then recording the GPS coordinates of where each pole should be placed. GPSStaker was optimized for Juniper Systems’ Archer 2 rugged handheld, and works with Esri ArcMap.

Using GPSStaker, stakers — or field engineers — can GPS-stake a job on the Archer 2 using ArcPad 10. The data is then automatically synced back into a main database.

“The people in the field want lighter hardware and more efficient staking processes,” said Doug Malinowski, CIO of Futura Systems. “With Futura GPSStaker and the Archer 2, we’ve designed a promising solution that combines the accuracy they need with the design quality they want.”

June 27, 2014
Rugged IP68 GPS Handhelds and Field Computers Launched
The GAGAN-enabled SXtreo GN11.

Stesalit today announced the availability of the SXtreo range of rugged GPS handhelds for survey, industrial use, and field work under extreme conditions such as agriculture, forestry, roads, security and construction.

The SXtreo series of mobile devices are rated IP-68, meaning they are waterproof, dust proof, shockproof, and are coupled with built-in mobile GIS applications. Long battery life allows GPS data collection for a full work day, without the need for recharging. The GNSS devices come with full-size USB port for connecting devices.

Stesalit is based in India, and the SXtreo gives that country an affordable option to take geotagged photos and conduct waypoint surveys. The design and conceptualization of SXtreo is a result of the in-house R&D effort of Stesalit. The road towards the birth of SXtreo is presented in the video:

The GAGAN-enabled SXtreo GN series of rugged GNSS field computers and PDAs comes with a full keypad and large five-inch sunlight-readable screen for field data entry in large forms. These models are designed for GPS data collection and asset management, socioeconomic surveys, mapping, agriculture, logistics, forestry, public transportation, construction and security.

The SXtreo WP 60 and WP61 devices have all the features of a smartphone.

The SXtreo WP 61 rugged smartphone.

SXtreo handheld’s Android and embedded Linux-based open-source secured operating systems are compatible with a range of sector-specific applications designed by Stesalit.
- SXgeo is specially designed for waypoint, routes, and track surveys. The added advantage from the similar existing applications is that one can capture geotagged photos and transfer the survey data through GPRS.
- SXsurvey is a complete suite for comprehensive survey management. With the features of SXgeo, one can also create large forms dynamically in the devices for survey data collection.
- SXfield is specifically built for the field workers and employees working away from office like road construction, oil, gas and other utility services, logistics and distribution chains, FMCG, consumer and white good companies with large sales networks, operations and maintenance organizations with large service networks, and security organizations including police.
- The integrated application SXagro is a geospatial agriculture decision-support system in use by agriculture universities and state agriculture departments.
In addition, the SXtreo range of IP68 rugged smartphones is compatible with most of the off-the-shelf mobile software applications.
June 17, 2014
Trimble Adds Automated Mapping and Plotting to Office Suite for Surveyors

Trimble has introduced a new version of its office software suite used by surveyors and geospatial professionals for processing and analyzing geospatial data. Trimble Business Center Version 3.21 introduces new coordinate reference systems and a specialized Advanced Drafting module, which enables faster project turnaround and better decision making.

The optional Advanced Drafting module adds highly customizable templates and simplified selection tools, which are designed to reduce the time required to generate high-quality deliverables, such as geospatial maps and corridor cross-sections. Now, professionals working on road, pipeline, and railway projects can achieve efficiency gains through the software’s new automated cross-section plotting functionality.

Also included in the new module is the ability to create 3D PDFs so that team members and clients can collaborate from any computer or mobile device using Adobe Reader software.

“Trimble Business Center is the enterprise solution for surveyors and geospatial professionals to produce high-quality deliverables,” said Alain Samaha, business area director of GIS and Software for Trimble’s Geospatial Division. “These new capabilities demonstrate the continued evolution of our software portfolio to provide customers with an end-to-end solution to fulfill their client’s high-end requirements in the most efficient way.”

Trimble Business Center Software version 3.21 and the Advanced Drafting module are now available through Trimble’s Geospatial Distribution Channel.

June 13, 2014
Sokkia’s GHX2 RTK Rover Designed for Demanding Environments

Sokkia GHX2 RTK network rover.

Sokkia has added the GHX2 network rover to its GNSS family of surveying products in the North American market. The GHX2 is designed to pair with the Sokkia SA300 external antenna to provide enhanced positioning accuracy and RTK performance in demanding environments.

“The power of a built-in survey and mapping grade GNSS receiver makes the GHX2 an excellent choice,” said Brice Walker, Sokkia vice president of survey sales. When combined with the Sokkia SA300 antenna, the system is a perfectly balanced and lightweight solution for surveying professionals.”

Features include a large 5.7-inch, sunlight readable touchscreen, waterproof housing, a built-in 3.2 MP camera with 4 GB of flash storage, and Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity.

The system is compatible with MAGNET Field and Sokkia Receiver Utility (SRU) software.

June 6, 2014
Leica Releases Viva GNSS Unlimited Series

Leica Viva GS100

The Leica Viva GNSS Unlimited Series, available in August, will allow customers to make a safe investment with future-proof GNSS receivers and smart antennas, Leica Geosystems said in announcing the new series. With a flexible design, the Viva GNSS sensors can be upgraded for maximum performance whenever needed.

The Leica Viva GNSS range fully supports the Chinese BeiDou navigation system. It can even provide BeiDou-only and GLONASS-only high-precision positioning. The unlimited series includes a future upgrade to a GNSS board with more than 500 channels and will serve users’ needs beyond 2020, the company said. Outages of real-time kinematic (RTK) communication links are bridged for up to 10 minutes with SmartLink to increase centimeter position availability in areas where RTK communications links are unstable.

Leica Viva GS15

The Leica Viva GNSS Unlimited Series can be upgraded to the full range of GNSS signals. The sensors’ future-proof design is equipped for GNSS modernization, providing users with confidence in their investment. The series embraces the future-proof concept by including an upgrade to a GNSS board with more than 500 channels. To fully guarantee future proof GNSS, board exchanges are inevitable because any likely modifications in GNSS signals require a new GNSS ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit).

Leica SmartTrack technology guarantees accurate signal tracking, while SmartCheck technology evaluates and verifies RTK measurements to ensure reliable results. Both SmartTrack and SmartCheck technologies have been extended to support the BeiDou GNSS. BeiDou reached full operational regional capability in 2012 and has a total of 14 satellites. Leica Viva GNSS also supports features like BeiDou-only and GLONASS-only positioning to accommodate governmental regulations.

In addition, Leica Geosystems now offers SmartLink, a correction service delivered via satellite for uninterrupted centimeter positioning in areas where RTK communication links are unstable.

Leica Viva GS14

All Leica Viva GNSS products exceed the toughest environmental specifications, going beyond industrial standards such as IP68. This ensures flawless performance even in the most challenging environments. Applications for the range include construction and field surveying, mining, seismic work in dense forest, desert or mountains, as well as demanding work in extreme heat at 65°C (149 °F) or at extreme latitudes at -30°C (-22 °F). Premium precision and attention to detail ensure that the Leica Viva GNSS products can be trusted throughout the complete product lifetime.

Leica Viva offers a complete range of unlimited GNSS and TPS solutions made with Swiss precision, combining the highest accuracy with maximum versatility and optimized data flow. Leica Viva solutions include Active Customer Care (ACC) with an expansive organization of knowledgeable professionals to provide valuable support, training and service whenever needed. Combined with innovative services such as online support in the field with Leica Active Assist and an instant data exchange between field and office with Leica Exchange, Leica Viva enables continuous productivity.

Webinar on Multi-GNSS OEM

Thursday, June 5
10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. GMT

GPS World’s upcoming webinar features an expert panel with informed viewpoints from GNSS high-precision and mass-market manufacturing, signal simulation, and alternative PNT providers. Registration is free.

June 3, 2014
Altus Announces Second-Generation GNSS RTK Rover

The Altus APS-NR2.

Altus Positioning Systems has introduced its new APS-NR2 RTK surveying receiver. The new product is being previewed at the 2014 Geo Business conference and exhibition in London May 28-29, and will be commercially available in July.

“The APS-NR2 provides a powerful combination of high GNSS RTK performance, light weight, low power consumption, versatile Quad-band modem, remote Web-based access and connectivity with Esri’s cloud-based platform,” said Neil Vancans, Altus president and CEO. “The result is a versatile product designed to enhance productivity and minimize downtime in the field for a wide range of surveying and geolocation jobs.”

The APS-NR2 is Altus’ second-generation RTK rover, building on the highly successful APS-3 product series. It features an easily accessible on-board web interface and integrated Wi-Fi for easy remote configuration and status monitoring, as well as Bluetooth for real-time data streaming, providing true cable-free operation. In parallel to RTK positioning, data can be recorded on a removable 2-GB SD memory card for post-processing.

The APS-NR2 is built around a low-power 132-channel GPS/GLONASS L1/L2/L2C SBAS receiver, which offers robust RTK performance, as well as DGPS capability. The internal 3.5G Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE cellular modem supports RTK network connectivity. Dual internal cellular antennae ensure a positive signal lock and minimize disruptions due to dropped calls.

The new Altus receiver comes with two Li-Ion batteries. It has a built-in USB battery charger, as well as a separate two-bay external charger. The batteries are hot-swappable, allowing uninterrupted productivity on the job.

With Altus’ open-architecture philosophy, the user has a choice of data collector software from Carlson SurvCE, MicroSurvey FIELDGenius or direct interface to Esri ArcGIS Online, as well as proprietary customer-developed software.

The APS-NR2 doesn’t sacrifice essential processing power or connectivity and still weighs only 0.7 kg (1.5 lbs). The compact receiver is just 69 mm (2.7 in) high and 167 mm (6.6 in) in diameter. The rugged unit is waterproof to IP67 and has an operating temperature range of -40 to +85°C.

May 28, 2014
Trimble Field Link Software for Construction Gets New Version

Trimble is offering Field Link 2.20, the latest version of its software for management of layout tasks associated with building construction. The new release extends field layout capabilities for contractors and field teams, providing task-based workflows, customizable views, and a touch-screen user interface designed to optimize the information presented.

To find the exact location of a point in the field, users can now visualize where they are inside the 3D model relative to the layout point in their Trimble Field Link software, giving a more intuitive, realistic 3D perspective viewpoint and making it easier to navigate to the selected point.

Trimble Field Link Version 2.20 encompasses updates to Trimble Field Link for MEP and Trimble Field Link for Structures field software, which now include augmented 3D model support, and an enhanced in-model perspective layout view for a more productive and realistic field layout experience. Trimble Field Link also provides users with better visualization, navigation and rendering of building models, as well as the capability to import much larger, more sophisticated models.

In addition to the advancements made in performing layout-specific tasks, Trimble Field Link adds reporting routines to detail layout productivity, and the ability to document existing site conditions for information requests (RFIs).

Bentley Systems. Trimble also announced its collaboration with Bentley Systems to enhance information mobility between the design and field construction processes. This collaboration enables users to share their 3D constructible models between design and engineering applications and Trimble Field Link 2.20 via Bentley’s mobile i-model technology. A Bentley CONNECTIONS Passport, which entitles use of Bentley’s mobile apps and mobile i-models, is provided with Trimble Field Link.

Bentley i-models are containers for the open exchange of infrastructure information that enable project team members to share and interact with complex project data and across product lines and technology platforms. Using i-models, project teams can exchange and distribute packages of information within multi-organizational, multi-disciplinary, and multi-phase construction projects to continue uninterrupted workflows, and to easily adapt to real-time project changes.

“By joining forces with Bentley, Trimble is giving contractors and other building construction professionals greater choice, accuracy and flexibility in performing their field layout tasks,” said Mark Sawyer, general manager of the General Contractor / Construction Manager Division of Trimble Buildings Group. “Our companies share complementary visions of boosting productivity in all facets of construction projects, and we’re pleased to connect our advanced technologies to deliver greater benefits to the industry.”

May 19, 2014
Leica Geosystems Offers CC55 Controller

The Leica iCON CC55 controller is part of the Leica iCON portfolio.

Leica Geosystems now offers the Leica iCON CC55 controller, a versatile and rugged PDA with a 3.5-inch color display, as part of its iCON construction portfolio. The handheld controls Leica iCON sensors, runs the iCONstruct field software, and has a QuadraClear sunlight readable display and a fast 1-GHz processor.

The smaller Leica iCON CC55 handheld controller, as well as the seven-inch Tablet PC Leica iCON CC65/66 field controller, are both fully integrated into Leica Geosystems’ iCON portfolio of hardware and software solutions. It runs the Leica iCON build or site software to display and connect measured points for as-built data capturing or to lay out points and construction lines directly from the digital construction plan. The controller provides flexible options for data communication and an extensive data storage.

The Leica iCON CC55 can be used to control the Leica iCON robot total stations, enabling one-person operation, saving time and increasing productivity for construction layout tasks and as-built checks, the company said. The optional Long-Range Bluetooth allows communication with the iCON robot 50 at distances of more than 350 m/1150 feet. Alternatively, the iCON CC55 can be used as a data logger with the Leica Builder manual total station. Together with the versatile Leica iCON gps 60 SmartAntenna, the iCON CC55 creates a compact and light-weight GPS rover system.

The iCON CC55 runs the state-of-the-art Windows Embedded Handheld 6.5 operating system and comes with 256MB NAND Flash memory and 8 GB of extended storage, enabling extensive data process and storage capacity. An internal WLAN module and Long-Range Bluetooth offer users impressive distance communication, the company said, and the longer life 5.6Ah battery lets users easily complete a full day’s work. The iCON CC55 also comes equipped with a 5-MP camera so users can document their construction projects.

May 12, 2014