PORTLAND, Ore. — Two weeks ago, I attended (and hosted) the Field Technology Conference here in Portland, Oregon. This is the fifth year of the conference. In years past, it’s had a forestry emphasis primary because the Western Forestry and Conservation Association has been a major partner in organizing it.
This year, the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission and Pacific Northwest Aquatic Monitoring Partnership joined the organizing committee. The result was a 50-percent increase in attendance and a more diverse audience.
Another newcomer to the conference was a Civil GPS Service Interface Committee (CGSIC) U.S. State and Local Government Subcommittee meeting, which was co-located with the Field Technology Conference, offering a direct connection between civil GPS users and U.S. government representatives who are involved in GPS.
The conference was a two-day event comprised of three technology tracks: a track for general field technology and two tracks for industry-specific (forestry and fisheries) subjects, hands-on technology demonstrations and a field trip. Although forestry and fisheries professionals were the featured user groups, nearly all of the subject matters — GPS, UAVs, smartphones, tablets, laser rangefinders, lidar, photogrammetry, and field data-collection software — is applicable for a wide range of natural resource users involved with GIS (geographic information systems) technology.
As one of the hosts of the conference, I started out moderating the general session with all of the attendees in one room. This year, my general session topics include geospatial awareness and growth, GPS/GNSS technology, mobile devices (smartphones and tablets) and UAVs.
Something new I tried this year, which worked out really well, was using audience response “clickers.” These small handheld devices were given to each audience member and allowed them to answer multiple choice questions that I posed in my Powerpoint presentation. I’ve always been a fan of audience input, and started polling the audience during webinars I conducted many years ago. For this conference, I used an audience polling system from Turning Technologies. I’d like to share with you the questions I asked the audience and the responses that I received.
Question #1: Are you here?
Comment: This was a test question to see if the audience response system was working properly. I’m still not sure if the audience just had a great sense of humor or a technical problem. I think the former was true. ☺
Question #2: Have you attended this conference before?
Comment: This was great news that the conference is attracting new attendees. It’s an annual event held in November, so keep your eyes on it for next year!
Question #3: After a brief discussion about the availability of higher accuracy geospatial data (eg. GNSS, UAVs, etc.), I was curious about the level of accuracy the audience required in their typical tasks.
What geospatial data accuracy do your typical tasks require?
Comment: I wasn’t sure what to expect with this question, but since I’ve polled a fisheries audience before, I had a feeling accuracy requirements would vary, and they did. Previously, a fisheries audience had told me that they were satisfied with 5-meter accuracy.
Question #4: The last question leads to this one. I wondered if the audience accuracy requirement was driven by requirement or by availability.
Are you satisfied with the accuracy of the geospatial data you use?
Comment: The answer is clear that, generally speaking, the audience would use higher accuracy geospatial data if it was available.
Question #5: The next question was a pure technology one. In the day of BYOD (Bring Your Own Device), I’ve been very interested in monitoring the trends in mobile devices. The question about operating systems is relevant because it determines which data collection software you can use. For example, if a specific data-collection software is written only for Windows, it will not run on an Android or Apple (iOS) device.
Which operating system do you use on your mobile device(s)?
Comment: These responses surprised me a bit. They certainly don’t match the global market share figures that I’ve read. Following are the latest mobile device operating system market share numbers reported by IDC and Statista.
Question #6: The next part of my presentation discussed unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV, also known as UAS or drone) technology. UAVs were a significant part of the conference this year. We had many presentations and some static demonstrations on UAV technology. On this subject, I had several questions for the audience.
Do you currently use a UAS?
Comment: These answers were not surprising. Flying UAVs commercially in the U.S. requires a special permission from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). To date, the FAA has only issued about 2,000 such exemptions.
Question #7: Do you anticipate using a UAS?
Comment: These answers surprised me a bit. I had no idea the audience would be so interested in personally flying a UAV. This has me thinking about this the same way I think about GPS receivers — just another tool in the toolbox.
Question #8: How much are you willing to spend on a UAS?
Comment: These responses don’t surprise me, although I polled another audience at a different venue that was more engineering-oriented, and the answers were a bit different. The engineering-oriented audience was willing to spend more for a UAV.
Furthermore, in speaking with various attendees during the conference, there was quite a bit of interest in attaching different sensors to UAVs for various requirements. For example, lidar, multi-spectral and thermal (temperature) sensors were commonly mentioned as payloads they would like to see. The challenge is that the cost of a UAV rises sharply when these types of payloads are accommodated, and conflicts with the audience’s response about how much they are willing to pay for a UAV.
In next month’s column, I’ll post links to the papers presented at the Field Technology Conference as well as videos of papers presented by the CGSIC folks.
See you next month.
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Handheld Group’s new Algiz RT7 tablet is designed for rugged use by mobile workers.
Handheld Group, a manufacturer of rugged mobile computers, today announced the launch of its new Android tablet, the Algiz RT7. The Algiz RT7 is a powerful, lightweight and ergonomic 7-inch tablet designed for reliable performance in demanding environments.
The Algiz RT7, which runs Android 5.1.1 (Lollipop), provides a range of features for mobile workforces, Handheld said. It’s fully rugged, meeting stringent MIL-STD-810G U.S. military standards for protection against drops, vibrations and extreme temperatures, and its IP65 rating means that it’s waterproof as well as fully sealed against sand and dust. Weighing just 650 grams, the Algiz RT7 is designed for mobility.
The Algiz RT7 comes with a built-in accelerometer, gyroscope and e-compass and a stand-alone u-blox EA-7M GPS receiver for navigation, along with built-in Qualcomm IZat location services.
A Qualcomm MSM8916 (Snapdragon) chipset and 1.2 GHz quad-core processor power the tablet, giving it processing speed, ultra-fast connectivity and long battery life. It comes standard with LTE data and voice capabilities as well as 802.11 b/g/n WLAN, BT Class 1 and Class 2, and NFC functionality. It also has dual cameras (8-megapixel rear-facing and 2-megapixel front-facing), as well as dual SIM-card slots.
Designed for the mobile worker, the Algiz RT7 sports a high-brightness 7-inch outdoor-viewable capacitive display that can handle true outdoor challenges. Battery performance is key for any mobile application, and the Algiz RT7 comes with a long-life 3.7V 6000mAh lithium-ion battery. Four programmable buttons allow users to launch and use applications in the field. To enhance data capture, users can choose an optional 2D imager or RFID plus 2D imager.
“Our new Algiz RT7 offers enterprises an exceptional value and is a highly requested product from both our end users and our extensive partner network,” said Jerker Hellström, Handheld Group CEO. “This ultra-rugged tablet delivers best-in-class performance to assist fieldworkers in their daily tasks. The Algiz RT7 is built for tough environments and delivers a streamlined Android experience with power and features appropriate for market demands.”
The Algiz RT7 can be ordered immediately. Shipping will start in December, with volume deliveries starting January 2016.
Trimble debuted its new R2 GNSS receiver at Intergeo 2015, held this week in Stuttgart, Germany.
The R2 GNSS receiver is a receiver that works with Trimble handheld devices and iOS, Android or Window mobile handhelds, smartphones and tablets using Bluetooth or USB connectivity. When paired with a mobile device, the receiver adds professional-grade GNSS capabilities for better accuracy. The rugged Trimble R2 provides GIS and survey professionals the flexibility to choose the mobile device, workflows and accuracy they need based on applications.
Trimble R2 GNSS Receiver for Mobile Devices
The Trimble R2 GNSS receiver is compact and portable, weighing 2.4 pounds. With one-button operation and a field swappable battery, the receiver can be pole or vehicle mounted or carried on a backpack. The R2 is a multi-constellation receiver that supports GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou and QZSS satellite signals, as well as SBAS.
With a variety of standard and optional correction capabilities, the Trimble R2 can achieve sub-meter to centimeter positioning for a broad range of accuracy requirements. The receiver is an option for the Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) strategy.
“Today’s geospatial professionals require flexible solutions which allow for configuration to meet their specific job requirements,” said Ron Bisio, general manager of Trimble’s Surveying and Geospatial Division. “The Trimble R2’s versatility to support GIS and survey workflows as well as BYOD deployment enables geospatial professionals to collect data using the mobile device, workflow and accuracy they choose.”
Workflows – GIS and Survey Field Software
Designed for both GIS field data collection and survey workflows, the Trimble R2 receiver integrates with Trimble TerraFlex mapping and GIS field software and Trimble Access survey field software.
TerraFlex software is a scalable cloud-based solution for geospatial data collection. By pairing the R2 with a smart device or Trimble handheld running TerraFlex, the solution addresses a wide variety of field requirements, including attribute-rich GIS data collection on consumer and professional devices.
Trimble Access software supports the workflows of everyday surveying tasks such as topographic and control surveys and specialized surveying tasks such as roads, monitoring, tunnels and mines. By pairing the receiver with a Trimble handheld running Trimble Access or TerraFlex field software, the Trimble R2 is a versatile solution that supports the full range of geospatial data collection workflows for both GIS and survey applications.
Flexible Accuracy
The receiver is capable of receiving a broad range of corrections from traditional RTK, VRS networks and SBAS to Trimble RTX correction services via cellular/IP connections or satellite (L-band), the Trimble R2 provides high-accuracy data worldwide.
The R2 GNSS receiver can leverage the entire portfolio of subscription-based Trimble RTX correction services to accommodate a wide range of applications and accuracy requirements. This includes CenterPoint RTX (less than 4 centimeters), RangePoint RTX (less than 50 centimeters), and ViewPoint RTX (less than 1 meter) correction services.
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.
TomTom is introducing Lifetime World Maps and Lifetime Speed Cameras to drivers with the launch of four new TomTom navigation devices.
TomTom is introducing Lifetime World Maps and Lifetime Speed Cameras to drivers with the launch of new TomTom navigation devices. Lifetime World Maps allow people to drive with maps from around the world at no extra cost, for the lifetime of their TomTom GO device2. Lifetime Speed Cameras let drivers know the locations of all speed cameras — both fixed and mobile, also for the lifetime of the device.
The TomTom GO 510, 610, 5100 and 6100 feature a fully interactive screen to pinch, zoom and swipe — as well as a rich user interface, simplified user interaction, 3D Maps and a Click & Go mount. Drivers can also choose between a 5-inch or a 6-inch screen size, TomTom said. The new TomTom GO devices also include “Drive Home” and “Drive to Work” buttons in the main menu, for faster, simpler navigation.
TomTom GO devices combine real-time traffic information with routing technology, to always offer drivers the fastest route available. TomTom Traffic covers all mapped roads and combines data from millions of data sources, from all over the world, to deliver traffic information so accurate that, with each new update, it can pinpoint the start and end of a traffic jam, precisely, down to 10 meters.
“With the addition of Lifetime World Maps and Lifetime Speed Cameras to our new TomTom GO devices, we’re offering the most comprehensive package to drivers that we’ve ever launched,” said Corinne Vigreux, co-founder and managing director, TomTom Consumer. “Our aim is to help you avoid the jams, getting to your destination faster, wherever in the world you might be.”
Lifetime TomTom Traffic is available via a smartphone connection on the TomTom GO 510 and 610. The TomTom GO 5100 and 6100 offer Lifetime TomTom Traffic via a built-in SIM with unlimited data and roaming at no extra cost.
The new TomTom navigation devices are compatible with TomTom MyDrive4. For the first time, drivers can use their smartphone, tablet or PC to review real-time traffic information, plan routes, and send destinations to their TomTom GO, before they get in the car. Previously launched TomTom GO devices5 are also compatible with MyDrive though a simple software update. Find out more about TomTom MyDrive here.
The new TomTom GO devices are now available online and in-store from €199.95.
Great view of the Pentagon while departing from the U.S. Hydro conference held in Washington, D.C.
I’ve attended five conferences in the past couple of months; Esri Water Conference (first one!), Esri Partner Conference, US Hydro 2015, APSG (Association of Petroleum Surveying & Geomatics) and the Esri Petroleum User Group (PUG) conference. It may look Esri-heavy, but the fact is that Esri is doing a really good job of organizing vertical market GIS conferences, and people are showing up. Even with crude oil prices in the cellar (relatively speaking), 1,200 people still showed up at the PUG.
There were a lot of good presentations at these conferences, and I’ll post links to some of them below. Not surprisingly, drones are a major topic of discussion at most GIS conferences. There was even a drone demo (I missed) at the Esri Partner conference showing Esri’s workflow in working with drone-collected data.
If you don’t follow me on Twitter, you might consider it. Twitter is easy and free. When I’m at a conference, I send tweets (most with a photo) in near real-time when I see something of interest. For example, I tweeted when Jack Dangermond showed up at the Esri PUG (he usually doesn’t, but did this year because it was the 25th annual conference) and had something interesting to say (read below). You can sign up for Twitter here, and then choose to follow me at https://twitter.com/GPSGIS_Eric. I get that you may be hesitant to invest any time in this, but it looks like Twitter is becoming the standard for near real-time news (as opposed to other social media such as Facebook or LinkedIn.)
Of all the new technology I’ve heard about over the past few months at these conferences, two subjects continue to excite me.
Drone Mapping. Of course, one of them is drone technology for mapping. It seems like I’ve beat this horse to death over the past few months, but it continues to get juicier and juicier. Technology development in this industry is moving really fast. It seems like new drones are being announced as frequently as new smartphones, maybe more so.
Other ancillary technologies are being developed to support commercial drone operations. For example, in my hometown (Portland, Ore.), a company called Skyward just raised $4+ million in venture capital funding to provide “professional services for UAV operations.” Essentially, the company’s software helps drone operators stay within FAA regulatory compliance.
Last year, the Oregon Unmanned Systems Business Enterprise was formed “with a two-year $882,000 state grant from the Oregon Business Development Department and the Oregon Innovation Council and will be working to match the government money with private investment and other grants.” The organization will award grants up to $75,000. The point is, the money is flowing and it’s a wide-open market.
The drone market is so wide open, in fact, that most drone companies are just buying common airframes and associated parts, putting their brand name on them, and selling them. Perhaps oversimplified, but the point is there’s not much “special sauce” (technology) being added. The manufacturers that aren’t innovating and adding valuable “special sauce” will eventually disappear. Essentially, following are the parts needed for a fixed-wing drone for mapping:
Aircraft components:
Airframe (off the shelf)
Motor (off the shelf)
Servos (off the shelf)
Propeller (off the shelf)
Radio (off the shelf)
GPS (off the shelf)
Autopilot (off the shelf)
Batteries (off the shelf)
Camera trigger (off the shelf)
Camera (off the shelf)
Ground compoments:
900-MHz controller (off the shelf)
Battery chargers (off the shelf)
Mission planning software (off the shelf)
Propeller balancer (off the shelf)
As you can see, all of these components are available off the shelf. You can order each component (maybe all of them from Amazon!), have them shipped to you, and assemble your own UAS for mapping. That said, someone who has gone through the process of building, flying and producing a valuable deliverable that you can make decisions from can add value. But, as competition increases, there’s no doubt that the companies that don’t offer much added value will not be able to operate a sustainable business.
Finally, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is being surprisingly nimble, approving “333 Exemption” requests at record pace and moving towards using a “summary grant” process to issue bulk approvals of 333 Exemption requests for commercial operations.
UAS presentation from Texas A&M University, one of six FAA-designated UAS test sites.
You may want to take a look at some of the other presentations at the APSG meeting. They were very good. Here’s a quick summary of each by Jon Stigant, long-time member of APSG:
This was a primer in LiDAR technology and methodology — while most of the paper is well understood in the survey community, it is and excellent overview. A reminder for some and a way to fill in the gaps for those not so close to this technology.
Integration of UAVs into O&G Operations — Stacey Lyle, BP (presentation forthcoming)
Stacey provided a valuable summary of the direction in which the FAA is going to regulate the emerging UAV technology. A “must read” for any company that intends to either provide or use this technology. As with most government regulation there is a lot of detail, the devil is in them. Stacey recommended that the APSG engage by developing some standards for the oil and gas industry.
Ron Hughes theme is massive data and managing it — also something of a common theme for all the talks. He focused on automating data processing and recommended a concept of doing this in an automated way with 80 percent of the data. This requires careful procedural development in collaboration with a given client’s business workflows. He gave an example of a large utility company, and how the development of an enterprise metadata server had functional impact for individual business units, but also had the knock on impact of improving inter-functional/inter-community collaboration within the enterprise.
Mike provided input on Geiger mode LiDAR, differentiating Harris’ approach from the more regular LiDAR methodology. The major difference is in data density, data frequency, volume and speed used from higher flying aircraft covering a larger area faster. Providing 10-cm accuracy and expecting 7-cm acuracy development using a/c at 25,000-ft height. Focus on fast processing of immense data volumes (pedabytes) – 24-hour delivery using Harris proprietary processing. Achieve higher density at lower cost.
Mark introduced developments in GIS associated with Common Operating Picture (COP), focusing on the combining of video and data in GIS system. DPFOS mnemonic: Data Management, Planning & Analysis, Field Mobility, Operational Awareness, Stakeholder Engagement. A new SIMOPS (SIMultaneous OperationS). The key is a single source of approved data. Examples of data required in COP from specific disciplines are provided — ROVs, shore clean-up, life of field data, asset and material tracking, live/recorded video, RT data and weather integration, “in the field’” vessel implementation.
GIS, Geospatial, Geomatics…Organizational Capability Evolution — Brian Boulmay, BP (presentation forthcoming)
Rethinking Geospatial Data Management at a major operator. One Map program — not physical, one-way provision. Focus on users vs. geospatial specialists. Users business driven, specialists IT and S driven. Geospatial data integrity and analytics – people, processes and technology. ID goals — massive deployment worldwide — has to be automated. Federated system — regions only have to deal with their own regional data, not be overwhelmed by whole enterprise on their doorstep. IT has the role of providing/maintaining a worldwide solution.
Update on Spring 2014 APSG meeting — All major networks launching satellites. Very soon will have 30 live in-view satellites (U.S., Russia, Europe and China). RTK coverage in China is the best due to BeiDou, supplemented by both Indian and Japanese systems SBAS. $100 RTK on cell phone giving centimeter accuracy eventually, and changing the commercial dynamic!
Set up for managing and analyzing LiDAR data in Global Mapper. Workflows: terrain modeling, visibility, biomass (change monitoring); asset: inspect and maintain pipelines, as-built modeling, simulation. High-accuracy at relatively low cost, outpacing regulatory management. Much public data available — earthexplorer.usgs.gov. xyz values — minimum height threshold, dense RGB point cloud (almost photographic).
Automated dashboard approach, reducing pilot distraction risk, speeding up RT transfer and operational activity reporting.
Esri Conferences
Here are a couple of neat things from the Esri conferences.
First, Jack Dangermond was his usual visionary self at the Esri PUG conference, making his appearance for the 25th annual PUG. He is a master at communicating his GIS vision.
The Evolution of GIS.
In speaking about the evolution of GIS, Mr. Dangermond spoke about the far-reaching impact of email and stated that eventually web-based GIS will be deployed organization-wide, just like email. I agree with this vision. I believe the only question is timing. Is it two years from now? Five years from now? 10 years?
Onto the less visionary and more tactical tidbits…
Of particular interest to me is high-precision GNSS in the Esri environment. A lot of people I talk to are screaming for this. What does high-precision GNSS in the Esri environment mean?
support for high-precision metadata in ArcGIS Collector (ArcPad already supports this).
support for high-precision horizontal (eventually vertical) datum transformations in ArcGIS Collector.
This is important because Esri is supporting ArcGIS Collector across all mobile platforms (Android, iOS and eventually Windows), and people want to use their smartphones and tablets. ArcPad will never run on iOS or Android, so Collector is the GIS collection tool of choice, at least for the Esri environment. It needs to support high-precision GNSS, and by the looks of the following slide, it will. It’s just a matter of timing…
ArcGIS Collector to support high-precision GNSS.
The other potentially neat product Esri announced was Navigator for ArcGIS. Imagine trying to guide a work crew to a buried valve across town (or in the next neighborhood). Displaying a system or region-wide map of valves would not be an efficient way of driving your way across town to find the valve. However, giving a crew turn-by-turn street directions to the street-level, then displaying the valves on that street section, might be a very efficient way of finding the valve.
The Lehmann L-A 300 drone is designed for mapping.
Lehmann Aviation has rolled out a new version of its OperationCenter, a flight preparation and mission control software program for automatic orthomosaic flights. Also, the company dropped the price for its L-A 300 fully automatic professional drone designed for mapping, because of an uptick in demand and increased production.
The new version of Lehmann OpsCenter, designed for Windows 8.1 tablets and PCs, now includes:
New mission control functions (holding, auto return, non-flying zone)
Terrain awareness during mission preparation, for safer flights in mountain areas
Integration with Google Earth for flight preparation and replay
New easier upgrade and update procedures directly through the web
New options to manage new cameras (GoPro, Canon) for orthomosaics and surveying.
Priced at $2,890, the L-A 300 is a professional drone designed for accurate mapping and digital elevation models (DEMs) that works with the GoPro, Canon S110 and multispectral cameras. It flies automatically for 30 to 45 minutes at a trajectory pre-prepared by the user in the OpsCenter (the range is 18.5 miles).
“In 2014 we significantly increased our production volume thanks to numerous orders from all around the world,” said Benjamin Lehmann, founder and CEO of Lehmann Aviation. “This enabled us to reduce the price for our best-sellers, all L-A-series drones. We also made the decision to follow our strategy of offering really high-tech aerial solutions at fair prices.”
Google has reaffirmed its commitment to Project Tango, moving it from the Advanced Technology and Projects Group (ATAP) to a new home inside the company itself, reports Digital Trends.
Project Tango, unveiled in 2014, aims to make it possible to create a 3D model of the space around a smartphone. For instance, a user can map an area, such as a home, by walking around with the phone.
ATAP is Google’s mobile-focused project development laboratory, and shifting Tango from there to a new base suggests Google is happy with the way the project is progressing and ready to take it to the next level, Digital Trends reports.
Google has been collaborating with universities, research labs, and industrial partners in nine countries to concentrate the past 10 years of research in robotics and computer vision into a mobile phone.
Project Tango devices contain customized hardware and software designed to track the full 3D motion of the device, while simultaneously creating a map of the environment. These sensors allow the device to make over a quarter million 3D measurements every second, updating its position and orientation in real-time, combining that data into a single 3D model of the space around you.
Early prototypes run Android and include development APIs to provide position, orientation, and depth data to standard Android applications written in Java, C/C++, as well as the Unity Game Engine.
Taiwan-based company RuggON is launching the Rextorm series of rugged tablets. With an ultra-bright 1000 Nit optically bonded display, high speed 802.11ac connectivity, hot swappable dual-battery design, and capacitive glove touch capability, the 10.1-inch fully ruggedized tablets are ready for use in the field.
With the latest communication technology including GNSS Positioning (GPS/GLONASS/Beidou), 802.11 ac, Bluetooth 4.0 and optional 4G LTE, mobile workers can experience precise positioning, fast processing, broad coverage and more stable data transfer even around buildings or trees, RuggON said. For in-vehicle usage, a dual pass-through port allows users to connect via vehicle dock for improved GNSS, WLAN, or WWAN reception. Standard I/O ports include USB 3.0, 2.0, RS232, RJ45, Micro-HDMI, and Micro-SD.
The Rextorm series is a fully ruggedized tablet that meets and exceeds MIL-STD-810G standards for shock and vibration, offers IP65 rating, wide operating temperature range and superior drop resistance of 5 feet on to a concrete surface.
Using the Intel Core i5 Haswell processor, the PX-501 has the fastest processor of the series and is a rugged workstation that can be taken to the field. High-capacity 120GB or 240GB SSDs are available, as well as 4GB or 8GB of DDR3 RAM. A precision digitizer allows accurate input for illustrations and technical work in the field. Windows 7/8 Pro as well as Windows Embedded 7/8 are available.
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.”
Hyman Huang of South Surveying & Mapping Instrument Co. talks with GPS World about the company’s new dual-frequency GNSS Receiver and its tablet counterpart while at InterGeo 2014, held October 7-9 in Berlin.
Janam Technologies LLC, a provider of rugged mobile computers that scan barcodes and communicate wirelessly, has launched XT1, a powerful rugged tablet for the mobile workforce. The XT1 rugged mini-tablet is Janam’s first device to support the Android operating system, and is built to meet the diverse needs and demanding requirements of enterprise and government customers.
The XT1 combines best-in-class technologies with a sleek and rugged form factor, providing mobile workers with the information they need to make better informed decisions, increase customer satisfaction, and improve operational efficiencies, the company said. Equipped with integrated 2D barcode scanning technology to eliminate the challenges often associated with camera scanners or bulky sled attachments, the XT1 is designed to improve worker productivity in field sales, field service, healthcare, hospitality and retail markets.
“Many enterprise customers require more screen viewability than traditional PDAs or handheld computers offer, yet full-display rugged tablets are large, thick, heavy and unwieldy,” said Harry B. Lerner, CEO of Janam. “Janam resolves this dilemma. The XT1 blends cutting-edge technologies most often found in consumer phones with mission-critical key features that enterprises need such as ruggedness, sealing, barcode scanning and rapid battery recharging, among others. The result is a sleek, lightweight, rugged mini-tablet that delivers superior performance without sacrificing usability.”
In addition to 4G-ready UMTS/HSDPA/HSUPA/GSM wireless wide-area network communication, the XT1 is equipped with 802.11a/b/g/n dual-band WLAN for access to the information mobile workers need to get the job done, inside and outside the four walls. With IP54 sealing and the ability to withstand repeated three-foot drops to concrete, the XT1 delivers the reliability needed to excel in the most demanding environments, Janam said.
XT1 features include:
Android 4.2 operating system
TI OMAP4470 @ 1.5GHz
5.9-inch WVGA TFT capacitive touchscreen
High-performance 2D data capture
Multiple 3-foot/1-meter drops to concrete
IP54 sealing against environmental elements
Embedded RFID and NFC capabilities
Optional3G/4G WWAN technology (UMTS/HSDPA/HSUPA/GSM)
1GB RAM, 16GB ROM
Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n
Bluetooth 4.0 (BLE)
High-sensitivityGPS and Assisted GPS
Motion sensing accelerometer
Front/rear cameras
User-accessible microSD card slot
3.5mm headset jack
MicroUSB connector
3000mAh rechargeable LiIon battery
