GPS World

Tag: mobile devices

  • Trimble Positions Optimizes Data Integrity for GIS Professionals

    The Trimble Positions software workflow.
    The Trimble Positions software workflow.

    Trimble announced today a new version of its Trimble Positions software suite. This new version includes automated workflows to streamline data collection and increase productivity for GIS professionals in a variety of industries such as utility companies, environmental management agencies and municipalities.

    With Trimble Positions, GIS professionals benefit from increased productivity through a streamlined and integrated workflow for managing GNSS data collection. Trimble Positions is a collection of Esri software extensions that provide high-accuracy capabilities on the Trimble GeoExplorer, Juno, and Yuma series of field handheld computers, and on Trimble Pro series receivers. Positions software enables high-accuracy GNSS collection on Trimble devices while using familiar Esri workflows to ensure data integrity. New automated workflows in the software further simplify data processing and management, Trimble said.

    TrimblePositionsOverviewThe latest version of Trimble Positions includes:

    • Automated Session Processor: Optimizes easier, faster GNSS session data processing with a stand-alone tool to perform automated check-in, postprocessing and feature updates.
    • Project Wizard: Saves time and avoids errors by guiding users through a step-by-step project set-up featuring streamlined administration screens.
    • ArcGIS Online Hosted Features Services: Gives users the ability to select ArcGIS Online hosted feature services as a data source allowing them to directly pull their project data from ArcGIS Online into their field collection projects.
    • Trimble Enhanced GPS Device Support: Positions software is now compatible with the Trimble Juno 5 enhanced GPS handheld and Yuma 2 enhanced GPS rugged tablet for increased choice of device and accuracy level that can be achieved.
    • Mean Sea Level Heights: Provides greater flexibility by including an option to utilize a geoid model for measuring heights, in addition to the existing ellipsoid model option.
    • Integration with TerraFlex Software: Saves time by streamlining data transfer between TerraFlex mobile data collection software and ArcGIS for Desktop. This feature integrates the TerraFlex Desktop add-in with the Trimble Positions Desktop add-in to remove the need for separate installations. In addition, fast and easy interoperability is enabled through TerraFlex projects support in the Positions project wizard.
    • Support for Trimble RTX technology-enabled Geo 7X handhelds: Provides autonomous, real-time submeter positioning in cellular environments with access to Trimble RTX services for Geo 7X users.

    “Our customers expect high-quality data, and we need to give them the most efficient means of collecting and managing that data too,” said Alain Samaha, business area director of GIS and Software for Trimble’s Geospatial Division. “Trimble Positions software was specifically developed to meet the needs of our customer that utilize Trimble GNSS devices and Esri workflows. We understand our customers have different requirements and the Trimble Positions solution delivers to meet their needs.”

    The Trimble Positions Desktop Add-In, Mobile Extension, Mobile Project Center and Session Processor are available now through Trimble’s authorized GIS Distribution Channel. The Trimble Positions ArcPad Extension is expected to be available in mid-January 2015.

  • Esri Explorer for ArcGIS Hits Android

    Esri-Explorer-Android-O

    Esri today released its highly anticipated Android version of Explorer for ArcGIS. The native Android app offers access anywhere to data-rich, visually stunning maps. It combines Esri mapping software with the popular mobile-device platform Android.

    Governments, utilities, natural resources, and other commercial businesses have already used Explorer for ArcGIS on iOS and OS X to brief stakeholders, tell stories, and find assets. A sketch function enables highlighting and collaborating. In addition, presentation features make map slides easy to navigate and allow teams to interact with mapped information.

    The app intelligently scales to device size. Any owner of an Android smartphone or tablet (version 4.0 and up) can explore Esri public maps from anywhere. Examples of public maps users can view include data-rich views of the Bakken oil fields of North Dakota, Alaska’s glacial retreats, and life expectancy by country.

    Users with an ArcGIS Online subscription or Portal for ArcGIS account can use the full power of the app, gaining access to their own and their organization’s maps and data.

    Explorer for ArcGIS draws on its native Android operating system with sharing capabilities, including e-mail, text messaging, and push notifications.

    A Windows version of Explorer is set to be released next year. It will add to Esri’s growing suite of mobile apps that puts intelligent maps into the hands of people with zero to high GIS experience.

    Android users can test-drive Explorer for ArcGIS by downloading it for free from the Google Play Store. Learn more about Explorer for ArcGIS at esri.com/explorerapp.

  • Customizable iPad Data Form for Wetlands Released

    Wetlands-Test-Pits-W

    CMTINC.COM has released the Wetland – Stakeout application for use on the Apple iPad. Besides providing Feature digitization and GPS Stakeout functions, this app will let the users create a custom data entry and report form. The form could be a simple inventory log, price quote, or job contract, or a sophisticated form for collecting GIS data.

    In particular, a customizable report form is built into the app to facilitate the data collection for wetland delineation. This wetland determination data form contains built-in logic as well as formulas for performing automatic computations. It is based on the “Wetland Determination Data Form — Arid West Region” provided by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The data collection form can be modified by the users for use in other regions.

    The Wetland – Stakeout app will let the users digitize the test sites in a map job or import the test sites from Shapefiles or DXF files. The users can then use the stakeout function to help them get to the test sites and record the observation data. Now that the iOS devices are able to work with some external sub-meter GPS receivers, a user could also record fairly accurate location data for the test holes that are actually dug on site. After completing the wetland data entry, the users can send the report to a PDF file and email it back to the office.

    The Wetland – Stakeout app is one of a series of GPS-based iOS apps developed by CMTINC.COM. It is now available for download from the iTunes App Store.

    Wetland-Input3

  • Interactive Senate Maps Seek to Explain International Issues

    The U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee is offering a new webpage with a variety of interactive international maps using GIS technology.

    From showcasing maps reflecting worldwide GDP growth rates and unemployment rates, to highlighting Freedom House’s annual country–by–country report on political rights and civil liberties, the newly launched feature on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee website helps visually tell important global stories and trends, the committee said.

    “As chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, I want to find different ways to engage the public in key foreign policy issues, and the use of GIS technology is one way to do that,” said Chairman Menendez. “These dynamic maps help bring a new dimension to understanding international issues in a quick and visual way. From relaunching the committee’s website, to establishing a committee twitterfeed, and now utilizing this mapping technology, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee is reaching out to broader and more diverse audiences to increase engagement on international issues.”

    The chairman’s maps were created using Esri’s Senate Analytical Mapping System, a product provided free–of–charge to congressional offices to conduct research and showcase trends using geospatial data visualizations.

    A screengrab of the new map feature on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee website.
    A screengrab of the new map feature on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee website.

  • Whatever Happened to SketchUp? — Trimble Dimensions

    Earlier this month, I attended the Trimble Dimensions conference in Las Vegas. More than 4,000 attendees made it the largest Dimensions conference to date. Since Trimble has been on a corporate acquisition binge for the last 10+ years, one has to pick an area of interest to focus on; otherwise, it’s easy to be overwhelmed with their wide offering of geospatial technology. In my Survey Scene newsletter earlier this month, I focused on Trimble’s satellite-based GNSS augmentation services. In this month’s GSS Monthly newsletter, I’d like to touch on Trimble’s activities in the geospatial software arena.

    If you recall, Trimble bought SketchUp from Google a couple of years ago. SketchUp is software for 3D modeling used for a wide range of apps from interior/exterior architectural design to video game design. It’s not hard to understand why Google would want to sell SketchUp. Google products like Google Earth and Gmail are everyday consumer-friendly products that have mass appeal to a huge audience. SketchUp is a product that takes a higher level of geospatial user knowledge and time investment to use. It seems to be a perfect fit for a geospatial-oriented company like Trimble.

    I used to be involved in a lot of 3D modeling projects in the landscape architecture area. I know how labor-intensive it is to generate high-quality 3D models and 3D video fly-throughs. I also understand the value that 3D models offer in bringing a proposed design to life. For example, look at the following photo taken of an unimproved site:

    SH12_BeforeSH12_BeforeSH12_Before_Small-SketchUp-W

    To visualize the golf course architect’s design, following is a 3D model of a proposed golf hole overlaid on an image of the unimproved land:

     

    SH12_Small-SketchUp-W

    Imagine how much more effective it is to show a client this sort of visualization, rather than trying to explain this using a 2D set of architectural or engineering plans.

    This is the kind of visualization that SketchUp is designed to address, but more structure (building) oriented. The impact on the the client is the same, bringing 3D and color to design ideas. In fact, SketchUp goes further than just helping designers visualize their ideas for their clients. In some cases, it can produce a list of materials to construct the building. At a short briefing I received at Dimensions, Trimble said that the following structure was designed, and a list of building materials was generated, using SketchUp.

     

    SketchUp_Dome-W

    OK, it’s not a high-rise building and SketchUp can handle more complex designs than this, but this illustrates where the technology is headed and that the fundamental workflow exists. Also, it shows that this type of technology is becoming available to a wider audience. I recall that 10 years ago, we needed a lot of computing horsepower, sophisticated software (such as 3D Studio Max), very specialized technicians, and a lot of time to generate 3D visualizations. SketchUp brings this capability to a wider audience.

    For geospatial professionals, there’s obviously a lot of applications for SketchUp. A simple, yet powerful task is bringing Google Map imagery and topography data into SketchUp to give your buildings context. Following is a five-minute video describing how to import a Google Map into SketchUp:

    To learn more about SketchUp (free and Pro versions), a number of YouTube videos are available, as well as videos of SketchUp’s annual conference called SketchUp 3D Basecamp.

    Seven Best New Features of SketchUp 2014 (five-minute video):

    Lastly, following is a collection of YouTube videos from SketchUp 3DBasecamp 2014 (60 minutes) for you to peruse if you’re interested:

    Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS)

    Of course, UAS are still all the rage. While Trimble showed off its UAS product lineup (a la its 2012 acquisition of GateWing), last month in Reno, Nevada, there was a conference entitled UAS Mapping 2014 that was focused on UAS for mapping. More than 500 geospatial professionals attended to view the UAS technology demonstrations. We’ll have a report on this conference in next month’s GSS Monthly newsletter. UAS technology is still in the early stages of development (and, of course, still not legal to use commercially in the U.S., according to the Federal Aviation Administration) so a lot is happening.

    There’s certainly a push toward using low-end UAS for GIS mapping. The UAVs themselves are becoming so inexpensive that the image-processing software ends up costing more than the UAV. For example, one image-processing company I hear about quite a bit is Pix4D. The company recently announced its Pix4Dmapping app that will turn a $900 DJI Phantom 2 Vision UAV into a 2D mapping and 3D modeling system. If you’re interested in the capabilities of this low-cost UAV mapping system, take a peek at the following 60-minute webinar from Pix4D.

    Thanks, and see you next month.

    Follow me on Twitter at https://twitter.com/GPSGIS_Eric

  • TomTom MultiNet-R Speeds Maps to the Market

    TomTom is making available MultiNet-R, a new map format for business customers. MultiNet-R offers TomTom customers accurate and up-to-date maps that can be quickly integrated into their products, the company said.

    “With MultiNet-R, we leverage the strength of our new transactional mapmaking platform to bring customers the next generation in maps: real-time maps,” said Charles Cautley, managing director of TomTom Maps. “TomTom can now deliver high-quality map updates faster than any other mapmaker on the market. This combination of speed and quality ensures the best end user experience.”

    MultiNet-R delivers rich content and coverage in a database model that features stable IDs and seamed content layers for easy compilation, according to TomTom. Additionally, MultiNet-R can power incremental map updates, enabling maps to be kept up-to-date without the need to install a full map update.  The global, full-feature MultiNet-R will be released monthly in 2015 and weekly in 2016.

    TomTom said it has perfected a highly efficient hybrid approach to mapmaking that optimizes professional methods with community input from hundreds of millions of users who actively share map changes, resulting in a map that is accurate and up-to-date.

    For more information, visit www.tomtom.com.

  • Group on Earth Observations Convenes 11th Plenary

    Under the theme “Taking the Pulse of the Planet,” 275 members of the GEO community from more than 45 countries will chart the next steps in creating and implementing a Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS) during the Group on Earth Observations (GEO) Eleventh Plenary Session. The session will be held November 12-14 in Geneva, Switzerland.

    A highlight of the conference will be announcement of the winners of the GEO Appathon, a global app development competition built on the 80-million-plus resources available through GEOSS. The Appathon attracted 250 competitors from 50 countries, and will generate easy-to-use decision tools for mobile devices and computers.

    GEO’s mandate is to harness the power of Earth observations from sources across the globe to provide more and better information to leaders in government, industry, and civil society confronting fundamental decisions affecting people and societies worldwide. One key GEO initiative that will be highlighted during the meeting is developing a comprehensive system to monitor the availability and quality of fresh water, in partnership with the World Health Organization, the UN Environmental Programme and other UN agencies as part of the UN Sustainable Development agenda.

    GEO is leading the creation of an Africa-wide technological and human infrastructure so decision makers have the capacity to access and use Earth observations in making key decisions. To strengthen agricultural activity and reduce market volatility, GEO is coordinating the assessment of growing conditions of the world’s major crops through a combination of regional expertise, ground observations and analysis of meteorological and satellite data.

    GEO is a voluntary partnership of governments and organizations that envisions “a future wherein decisions and actions for the benefit of humankind are informed by coordinated, comprehensive and sustained Earth observations and information.” Members include 94 nations and the European Commission and 77 participating organizations comprised of international bodies with a mandate in Earth observations.

    GEO’s agenda spans nine Societal Benefit Areas, including agriculture, biodiversity, climate, disasters, ecosystems, energy, health, water and weather.

  • Trimble Launches Leap, a GNSS Bluetooth Device

    The Trimble Leap, also shown with a smartphone.
    The Trimble Leap, also shown with a smartphone.

    Trimble is making available the Trimble Leap, a Trimble RTX compatible GNSS Bluetooth device. When enabled with the ViewPoint RTX correction service, Leap delivers submeter accuracy directly to the Terrain Navigator Pro (TNP) Mobile app for iOS and Android devices. The TNP Mobile app allows users to collect markers, tracks and geo-stamped photos in the field, and then sync all the GNSS data into the Terrain Navigator Pro office software.

    The TNP Mobile app enables users to:

    • Display and navigate routes created in TNP desktop.
    • Collect field data such as markers, tracks, photos, videos and audio clips.
    • Near real-time sync between phone and TNP map software via WiFi or cellular data connection.
    • View data on topo, aerial, and street maps downloaded to phone for offline use. Terrain Navigator Pro offers 1-meter aerial photos for the 48 contiguous United States. The seamless USGS topo graphic maps are based off 1:24K, 1:100K, 1:250K map scales. Alaska is 1:63K and 1:250K.
    • Access a compass and other geo-information such as lat/long, elevation, and direction on phone.
    • Collect data offline. The TNP mobile app uses the GPS built into the smartphones, so users can collect field data in areas without a cellular or data signal.

    Trimble Leap is compact and portable, weighing 9.5 ounces. It snaps to a smartphone or tablet to use as a handheld, can be mounted on a monopole or tripod, or can be magnet mounted to a vehicle. Leap has 16 hours of battery life and uses Bluetooth communication to connect to smart devices for ease of use and flexibility. An onboard micro SD card stores the GNSS observables data for use in the field or the office.

    A micro USB port can provide power to Trimble Leap for continuous fixed-mount applications, or it can be used with battery-booster products to extend field work. Trimble Leap is charged by a standard cell phone vehicle accessory charger, a USB connection to a PC, or from a USB AC adapter.

    Based on Trimble RTX (Real Time eXtended) technology, ViewPoint RTX delivers better than 1 meter horizontal accuracy 95 percent of the time without the use of a traditional RTK base station or virtual reference station network. ViewPoint RTX is delivered into the TNP Mobile app via cellular data network and is available nearly anywhere in the world.

    “Trimble Leap enhances the Terrain Navigator Pro solution by adding a simple way to collect submeter accurate geolocation data with standard Android or iOS devices. Adding accuracy to TNP’s robust field-to-office data collection solution provides a value-add where low-resolution collection is not sufficient. Trimble Leap with TNP Mobile is configured and operational in minutes with little training,” said Larry Fox, business area manager for Terrain Navigator Pro.

    Terrain Navigator Pro integrates powerful desktop mapping software, a cloud connected mobile data collection platform (compatible with GPS-enabled iOS and Android devices) and a robust Web portal. TNP users can plan projects in the office, collect data in the field and access projects from the Web—simultaneously. Geo-referenced data such as tracks, waypoints, photographs and video can be shared, updated in near real-time and displayed on the included topographic, aerial/satellite or street base maps.

  • Carlson GIS360 for Android Gives 3D Views on Site

    Carlson GIS360 Android app.
    Carlson GIS360 Android app.

    Carlson GIS360 for Android, new from Carlson Software and Carlson EMEA, is a mobile field GIS-GPS tool that uses both GIS and surveying technologies for field data collection. The app is designed to be easy to learn and easy to use, Carlson said.

    “Taking advantage of the graphics processing power of Android devices, GIS360 now includes an innovative 3D viewer so the user can see data and models in 3D on site,” said David Loescher, Carlson U.K. sales director and director of GIS360 development.

    In addition to allowing field crews to navigate maps and collect and report data in the field, GIS360 provides the data and fully rendered models of mines, earthworks and pipe networks that can be viewed in 3D. The software’s Siteview function uses the Android devices’ built-in GPS, compass and gyros to give the user the view of the site in front of him.

    Carlson GIS360 provides a wireless connection to any map server of choice, so users are never without a map. This saves considerable time and effort as field crews can verify that all of the data collected is accurate before leaving the site, Carlson said. No costly site revisits are necessary and no office work is needed.

    The software’s cloud options provide backup for users’ data, enabling it to be shared between field and office in real time. GIS360 goes beyond positioning with a range of tools for mobile workforce management, GPS data collection, tracking and asset maintenance.

    On an Android tablet or smartphone, Carlson GIS360 for Android can take GIS data anywhere. The built-in GPS and compass instantly calculate what the user is looking at and then displays the data automatically.

    “The GIS360 development team set out to make the collection of asset information easier and more efficient by combining the power of GIS360 with affordable Android devices,” added Loescher. “The result not only saves a lot of field time, but also makes the process far easier for everyone concerned.”

  • Trimble’s Smart Water Software Adds GNSS for 3D Accuracy

    Trimble has introduced the latest version of its smart water infrastructure mapping and work management cloud software — Trimble Connect for Water version 1.9.

    The latest release of the geographic information system (GIS) centric software-as-a-service (SaaS) adds real-time, high-accuracy centimeter-level horizontal and vertical GNSS accuracy for capturing 3D asset positions. The new release includes a suite of applications that allow water, wastewater and stormwater utilities to accurately locate, inventory and visualize their infrastructure assets and increase operations and maintenance efficiency.

    The announcement was made at Trimble Dimensions.

    Trimble Connect for Water cloud software leverages Trimble’s GNSS rugged mobile devices and Esri’s GIS technologies to accurately map, locate and assess the condition of critical infrastructure assets, allowing utilities to keep their field infrastructure data up-to-date and accurate.

    The new release now supports Trimble’s Geo 7 Centimeter Edition rugged handheld, integrating 3D mapping into utility field workflows and enabling mobile workers to precisely locate and map the horizontal position and elevation of buried infrastructure.

    Trimble Connect for Water version 1.9 can be configured and deployed quickly on a variety of Trimble and non-Trimble mobile devices, laptops, tablets and smartphones, including Apple iPads, iPhones, Android, Windows and Windows Mobile devices to automate fieldwork and eliminate paper-based maps.

    Trimble Connect uses the latest Esri ArcGIS for Server, Mobile and ArcGIS Online basemap services. The software is designed to automate a variety of specific water, wastewater and stormwater industry workflows through individual pre-configured “apps” offered within the product and as part of a subscription.

    The new version provides standard core apps including Map Book, Manhole Inspector, Leak Repair, Hydrant Inspector, Valve Inspector, Meter Changeout, Incident Repair, Water Mapper, Wastewater Mapper and Stormwater Mapper. In addition, an optional partner app developed for American Flow Control (AFC) hydrant and valve data collection, “AFC Mapper,” can be purchased from AFC and their distributors for use with Trimble rugged handhelds.

    Trimble Connect for Water version 1.9:

    • Offers centimeter-level real-time GNSS accuracy to improve the quality and accuracy of the utility’s GIS data to precisely locate hard to find assets.
    • Allows capturing accurate vertical elevations in real-time. Combined with horizontal precision, the solution provides high-accuracy GIS data that can be used to measure pipeline slopes, perform flow analysis and generate 3D and hydraulic models.
    • Supports the Trimble Geo 7 Centimeter edition with an integrated laser rangefinder.
    • Offers pre-configured Water, Wastewater and Stormwater mapping apps, allowing utilities to quickly start mapping network infrastructure and updating their asset data.
    • Provides the capability to export data in a variety of formats including Esri File Geodatabase, Shapefiles and MS Excel, which allows users to update the utility’s enterprise GIS or visualize and analyze the collected data using third-party systems.

    Trimble Connect for Water version 1.9 is expected to be available in December 2014 from Trimble’s Water Division and its authorized distribution partners.

  • ArcGIS Runtime SDK for the Microsoft .NET Framework Now Available

    Esri has released the first commercial version of ArcGIS Runtime SDK for the Microsoft .NET Framework. This software development kit (SDK) joins Esri’s line of Runtime products, including iOS, Mac OS X, Android, Java, Qt, and Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF). ArcGIS Runtime SDK for .NET has been built as a new, shared API across native app platforms promoted by Microsoft.

    Using the new ArcGIS Runtime SDK for .NET, developers can integrate ArcGIS into Windows apps for desktop and mobile platforms. The SDK includes a wide range of online or offline mapping functionality including editing, routing, geocoding, spatial analysis, and data visualization.

    Windows Store apps are new types of apps that run on Windows 8.1 devices and emphasize streamlined content with a consistent, touch-friendly user experience. Windows Phone 8.1 and Windows 8.1 support a shared development experience to build universal apps on a common Windows Runtime. ArcGIS Runtime SDK for .NET lets developers use XAML and C# to embed ArcGIS capabilities into location-aware, universal apps for the latest Windows devices.

    To get an app to market quickly, developers can use the same development and deployment model across all the Esri ArcGIS Runtime SDKs with unified licensing. Download any of the Runtime SDKs at no cost and get access to Basic and Standard functionality for development and testing purposes. To deploy an app for offline use, applications must be licensed at the Standard level.

    WPF developers also can migrate new and existing applications created with ArcGIS Runtime SDK for WPF to the new ArcGIS Runtime SDK for .NET.

    For more information on ArcGIS Runtime SDK for .NET or to get started, visit developers.arcgis.com.

  • Topcon to Add 3D Mobile Mapping System to Product Lineup

    The IP-S3 3D mobile mapping system, by Topcon.
    The IP-S3 3D mobile mapping system, by Topcon.

    Topcon Positioning Group will add the IP-S3 to its line of 3D mobile mapping systems by the end of this year. The fully integrated high-density digital imaging system is more compact, lightweight, and designed to scan at a rate up to five times faster than previous models.

    Scanning at 700,000 points-per-second, the system is designed to offer data-rich results with its 30 MP panoramic imagery. Weighing 18 kg (39 lb.), the IP-S3 is engineered to offer simplified installation.

    “The IP-S3 is a mobile mapping powerhouse,” said Charles Rihner, vice president of the Topcon GeoPositioning Group. “It bundles years of mobile mapping experience to glean a high-density and high-resolution camera in a unit that is much smaller than its predecessors. It is so lightweight that a single person could mount it on a vehicle without assistance from anyone else.”

    The system pairs with Topcon Mobile Master Office software to perform all post-processing functions in a single application.

    “Mobile Master Office software offers a complete workflow in a single package, turning raw sensor data collected by the IP-S3 system into rich and precise point clouds and images,” said Rihner.

    The system is planned for release in late 2014.