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Tag: Tim Burch

  • Coordinating surveyors on where we draw the lines

    Coordinating surveyors on where we draw the lines

    Technology changes the rules of the game, and surveying may be more in its crosshairs than the profession will admit

    Maps have existed for centuries. The lines on maps indicating the boundaries of political and administrative units — cities, counties, states, and countries — are graphic representations of the limits of those entities. These lines don’t, however, typically exist in real life. There isn’t a large line between the United States and Canada stretching from the Pacific Ocean, through the Great Lakes, and onto the Atlantic Ocean.

    The same goes for latitude and longitude lines on maps and globes. The public generally accepts the various delineations on maps as being somewhat accurate with an unwritten level of trust in those who have produced these maps.

    Definition

    trust: assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something.

    Here are the guidelines surveyors use for determining surveys.

    1. lines physically verified in the field and proven from evidence
    2. monuments and/or boundaries set and called for within legal descriptions
      • natural monuments
      • artificial monuments
    3. adjoiners (to determine junior/senior rights)
    4. courses
      • bearings, then distances (metes and bounds states)
      • distances, then bearings (public land survey states)
    5. recitation of area
      • controlling description
      • evidentiary description
    6. coordinates: local and/or geodetic

    Surveyors rely on physical monuments, title documents and evidence of occupation to assist with the establishment of not just major dividing lines, but all lines of property, public or private. Finding, setting and honoring physical monuments has been a significant character trait of the surveyor for as long as maps have existed.

    Monuments are placed to determine the endpoints of these lines as depicted on maps or plats, but what happens when technology introduces new ways to re-establish these lines? What will happen to our monuments when technology — more specifically those who utilize them — deems them obsolete?

    The guidelines above are known as “priority of calls” or “rules of construction” by the surveying community. These items have provided the instructions for surveyors to follow in retracement of lines for many years. However, like nearly everything else in our modern world, technology has a hand in modernizing even this time-honored “surveyor’s code of retracement.”

    Who would have guessed that the rotary phone dial would give way to touch-tone buttons, that the system would jump from landlines to cellular and satellite signals to remote handsets, then progress to receivers evolving away from physical buttons to touchscreens?

    Technology changes the rules of the game, and surveying may be more in its crosshairs than the profession will admit.

    Here come the numbers

    Note that the last entry in the above guidelines for survey retracement is “coordinates.” In accordance with most accepted lists, coordinates can be local or geodetic. These coordinate values are generated by surveyors, geodesists and public agencies; they can be found on plats, and in records and websites kept by government agencies.

    Now that we are more than two decades into the 21st century, it would be safe to say that most of the surveying profession uses an established geodetic coordinate system. The use of GNSS receivers is widely accepted as normal practice by many surveyors because these systems are much more user friendly than in years past. Additional constellations have added to the availability and accuracy of GNSS positional values, so utilizing state plane coordinates has become the norm.

    We are now surrounded by something that has an incredible impact on our profession and the world around us. We are placing trust in a georeferenced coordinate system that cannot be identified by any of our senses, like we can with a physical monument.

    A coordinate cannot be seen, touched, tasted, heard or smelled.

    We are placing our full trust in a reliable position on Earth as determined by our GNSS receiver working within a published coordinate system. Because of these advancements in technology, a new generation of geospatialists is insisting we should revise the way we survey, because technology provides much higher precision and accuracy.

    Just like lines on a map or plat, coordinates only exist as a calculation of a position on the face of Earth. So why is there animosity in trusting coordinates over the more traditional items on the list of retracement guidelines? It may have to do with the fact that the ground we are surveying is not in the same place it was a short time ago. Depending on where you live, it may have moved more than you think. For more information on the shifting ground we live on, let us dig into some research about our continents.

    Pangea: Description of moving land masses

    (Text from USGS.gov)

    From about 300-200 million years ago (late Paleozoic Era until the very late Triassic), the continent we now know as North America was continuous with Africa, South America and Europe. They all existed as a single continent called Pangea. Pangea first began to be torn apart when a three-pronged fissure grew between Africa, South America and North America. Rifting began as magma welled up through the weakness in the crust, creating a volcanic rift zone. Volcanic eruptions spewed ash and volcanic debris across the landscape as these severed continent-sized fragments of Pangea diverged. The gash between the spreading continents gradually grew to form a new ocean basin, the Atlantic. The rift zone known as the mid-Atlantic ridge continued to provide the raw volcanic materials for the expanding ocean basin.

    Meanwhile, North America was slowly pushed westward away from the rift zone. The thick continental crust that made up the new east coast collapsed into a series of down-dropped fault blocks that roughly parallel today’s coastline. At first, the hot, faulted edge of the continent was high and buoyant relative to the new ocean basin. As the edge of North America moved away from the hot rift zone, it began to cool and subside beneath the new Atlantic Ocean. This once-active divergent plate boundary became the passive, trailing edge of westward moving North America. In plate tectonic terms, the Atlantic Plain is known as a classic example of a passive continental margin.

    Today, the Mesozoic and Cenozoic sedimentary rock layers that lie beneath much of the coastal plain and fringing continental shelf remain nearly horizontal.

    Image: USGS
    Image: USGS

    In geologic terms, a plate is a large, rigid slab of solid rock. The word tectonics comes from the Greek root “to build.” Putting these two words together, we get the term plate tectonics, which refers to how the Earth’s surface is built of plates.

    The theory of plate tectonics states that the Earth’s outermost layer is fragmented into a dozen or more large and small plates that are moving relative to one another as they ride atop hotter, more mobile material. Before the advent of plate tectonics, however, some people already believed that the present-day continents were the fragmented pieces of pre-existing larger landmasses (“supercontinents”).

    The diagrams below show the break-up of the supercontinent Pangaea (meaning “all lands” in Greek), which figured prominently in the theory of continental drift — the forerunner to the theory of plate tectonics.

    Image: USGS
    Image: USGS

    Continental drift, plate tectonics and prime meridians

    Historians and other scientists have theorized about Pangea for centuries. Common soil types, fossils, and other evidence found on different continents help to solidify the concept of Pangea. Items discovered on the west coast of Africa have many similarities with those found on eastern South America. The physical evidence is quite convincing that an earlier supercontinent existed millions of years ago.

    Now, let’s apply a fixed measurement system with lines upon Earth that defines latitude and longitude. In the past, geodesists, geographers and mathematicians established various “prime meridians” around the world to serve as a basis for maps. Locations and cities used included Amsterdam, Antwerp, the Bering Strait, Bern, Brussels, Copenhagen, Florence, Giza, Jerusalem, Kyoto, Lisbon, Madrid, Naples, Oslo, Paris, Philadelphia, Pisa, Rio de Janeiro, Rome, Stockholm, Warsaw and Washington, D.C. (in four different places!), just to name a few.

    Thankfully, scientists gathered in the 19th century to agree upon a singular “initial meridian” that would pass through Greenwich, England, and was based upon several centuries of astronomical observations at the nearby Royal Observatory.

    For approximately 100 years, mapmakers (and geodesists) used the new Prime Meridian at Greenwich as the beginning baseline for longitude determination around the world. After all, it was based upon years of astronomical observations and solved the age-old problem of where longitude starts. (Latitude was a much easier calculation for astronomers and geodesists, but that story is for another day.)

    Photo: majaiva/iStock/Getty Images Plus/Getty Images
    Photo: majaiva/iStock/Getty Images Plus/Getty Images

    The late 20th century and the fourth industrial revolution

    Technology, once again, provides us with conflicting results. While most technological advancements are game-changing improvements to mankind, they also tend to shake up information and standards that have existed for many generations. Like the previously discussed advancements in telephones, technology makes us change the way we look at things and how we go about our lives.

    Mapping has become a central part of our everyday lives. Georeferenced positions for literally everything is now a standard characteristic of many functions within our environment, especially in our surveying world. Most of these improvements are due to GPS, which was originally developed for the U.S. military to guide and assist with positional location of our defense systems in relation to our enemies. We use this same precise technology to establish positional locations for boundary points, infrastructure and topographic information.

    Image: Burch
    Image: Tim Burch

    We have also used GPS to learn much about our tectonic plates and varying movement of the continents.The first thing we learned is that the Prime Meridian established in 1884 does not fall in the same place as our 0° latitude designation as determined by GPS/GNSS calculations.

    This finding, however, is not the telling item within our adaptation of GPS data; it came when various agencies established the continuously operating reference system (CORS), composed of static GPS base stations. CORS stations, while used to help establish new survey positions in relation to a known reference location, also measure a continuous drift of latitude and longitude positions over time.

    The National Geodetic Survey (NGS) is in the process of finalizing a new reference framework for establishing coordinate values that utilize time as a core component. Future implementation of the new National Spatial Reference System (NSRS) will require the additional attribute of time within the metadata of any new values.

    Read more in David Zilkoski’s Survey Scene column.

    The reality of ‘moving’ monuments

    So how does this affect surveying and the monuments we surveyors hold on such a high pedestal? The answer varies depending on who one asks. Most surveyors will continue to hold the “priority of calls” as listed above. Several practitioners, however, want to move coordinates higher up the list because of technology, and the ability to retrace a published point because of the increase in technology and the higher accuracy and precision of today’s GNSS.

    This is possible if the user of the technology follows the procedures as established by NGS with metadata and accurate timing, but there are still several variables in the setting and retracing methodologies. When was the last time the equipment was calibrated? Was adequate research performed to minimize environmental errors? Was there any interference due to solar storms or multipath? There are many potential issues a surveyor can face, but few are checking all the boxes when performing highly accurate and precise positional measurements.

    Technology has brought surveying into the 21st century with GPS/GNSS and ever-increasing accuracy and precision. It should also be the profession’s goal that the technology does not override what the general public can see. They can see monuments, fence lines, buildings and other improvements, but they cannot see coordinates, which remain invisible to the naked eye. Technology may change that in the future, too, but until that time, we must rely on what we can see.

  • GPS World contributor Tim Burch appointed executive director of NSPS

    GPS World contributor Tim Burch appointed executive director of NSPS

    Headshot: tim-burch
    Tim Burch

    The board of directors of the National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS) has appointed Timothy W. Burch to be its new executive director. Burch took up the position on Jan. 3.

    Tim Burch is a contributing editor to GPS World’s Survey Scene newsletter, authoring columns six times a year.

    Burch is a professional land surveyor (PLS) licensed in Illinois and Wisconsin. He has been involved with NSPS for more than 20 years as secretary of the board of governors as well as the board of directors, NSPS vice president, a member of the Certified Survey Technician Board, Joint Government Affairs and American Land Title Association (ALTA)/NSPS Land Title Survey committees. Along with content contributor for NSPS social media, he is creator and producer of the NSPS podcast “Surveyor Says!” and a contributing writer to the NSPS newsletter “News and Views.”

    Burch has been involved with the land surveying profession for more than 30 years and has represented NSPS at numerous functions and conferences. He has provided testimony on behalf of the profession at both the state and federal levels as well as helping establish a partnership with “Get Kids into Surveying.”

    He is currently chair of the International Federation of Surveyors (FIG) Working Group 1.1 (Professional Ethics) and is chair-elect for FIG Commission 1 (Professional Standards).

    Burch succeeded Curt Sumner, who was executive director for the past 23 years.

  • The surveyor and augmented reality – ready for the future

    The surveyor and augmented reality – ready for the future

    Photo: ipopba/iStock / Getty Images Plus/Getty Images
    Photo: ipopba/iStock / Getty Images Plus/Getty Images

    The surveying profession has experienced a plethora of advancing technology over the past two decades and it does not look like there will be a slowdown any time soon. From robotic total stations to laser scanning to the use of multiple GNSS constellations, the profession is constantly adapting these emerging technologies into a useful tool for daily applications. For most practicing surveyors, it is a challenge to keep up with not just the hardware of these advancements, but also with software, which is being developed in parallel. Have you tried to open and draw a simple figure in any of the industry standard CAD programs lately?

    The complexity of these programs, while advancing the capability of many technical professions, forces even the casual user to maintain a regular habit of software education and training. While it may seem primitive to say that a practitioner is a “practicing” surveyor, on-the-job training never stops. Just when the profession thinks there are no more significant advancements, something comes out of left field that truly blindsides us. (See the adoption of UAVS by the surveying profession compared to the public sector…) What do I think will be one of the next “big things” to revolutionize surveying? The technology is already here, and we need to seriously get on board with adoption before we miss another opportunity to highlight the expertise of the profession.

    VIRTUAL REALITY and AUGMENTED REALITY (VR & AR)

    First, we need to know that virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) are different, even though many people use these terms interchangeably. The differences are as follows:

    Virtual Reality (VR)

    • VR is a virtual world generated by computers and programming.
    • VR is a closed environment that is fully immersive.
    • VR requires a device (specialized glasses and/or a headset).
    • Users in the VR experience are limited by the programming and their computer’s abilities.
    • The VR experience may be based upon real-world conditions but is a fictional setting.
    • Users of VR can travel and experience conditions in real and fictitious places.
    • VR can allow users to have experiences that are not physically possible in the real world.
    • VR is 75% virtual + 25% real (industry “rule of thumb”)

    Augmented Reality (AR)

    • AR is typically based on actual physical places.
    • AR is an open environment that is partly immersive.
    • In AR, the user controls the environment.
    • AR combines virtual elements and experiences with real world conditions.
    • Experiences in AR can be accessed by computer, tablet, and smartphones.
    • AR is useful for product visualization and evaluation.
    • AR is 75% real + 25% virtual (industry “rule of thumb”)

    It is important to know these difference between the two technologies in order to implement the correct one for the task at hand. However, both will play an important in surveying for generations to come.

    Photo: Georgijevic/iStock / Getty Images Plus/Getty Images
    Photo: Georgijevic/iStock / Getty Images Plus/Getty Images

    USES OF VIRTUAL REALITY TECHNOLOGY FOR SURVEYING

    One of the surveyor’s biggest responsibilities is to complete an accurate site conditions model by topographic methods. Once the topographic survey is completed, site designers will utilize this information to create a unique project that works with the existing site conditions. Advances in CAD software and technology allow engineers and architects to design in 3D and blend the new site with the existing conditions, drainage, and utilities. These designs can be further refined into virtual reality models to give the project’s stakeholders a better indication of what the final product will be when construction is completed.

    The key takeaway here is that the surveyor is responsible for delivering the existing conditions model. A model that accurately represents the subject site but in digital form enables the design of the project to be more efficient and realistic to meet the client’s expectation. Surveyers, however, will not use virtual reality as much as augmented reality, for many good reasons.

    USES OF AUGMENTED REALITY TECHNOLOGY FOR SURVEYING

    AR is still in its infancy. Because surveyors have an interest in the existing and proposed conditions of sites, the use of AR becomes an important tool for the future. Merging proposed information with existing site conditions can become the norm, but like many emerging technologies, the profession will need to learn how to embrace it.

    To get a better idea of how the technology works and why surveyors need to consider using it, let us look at an application that showcases AR: Pokémon Go. Yes, the smartphone game app that took the world by storm in 2016 and captivated many “trainers” to search the streets for Ultra Balls and characters. (There are still more than 100 million active players worldwide.) Players of all ages have continued to search for elusive items and characters in a high-tech scavenger hunt that is constantly changing, and all based upon the real world around us. By merging a real-time view with game entities at random geographic locations, players move about our world using one of the best examples of AR.

    How does this apply to the surveying profession? Surveyors could utilize AR in everyday tasks but that would require having a fully developed 3D design model that could merge with the existing conditions in their visual device. There are a variety of devices for utilizing AR, including smartphones and tablets. Many of the new data collectors running Windows and Android operating systems can also be used for incorporating AR into the field operation. Here are some examples of AR how can be utilized for surveying tasks:

    • While construction staking, AR can be used to assist with structure and improvement location. A quick visual check can help confirm staking calculations are consistent with engineering design.
    • Use AR to visually check installed improvements, including curbs, utility structures, and paving. Any deviation from the proposed design should be quite evident.
    • When establishing property corners, AR will help the field crew quickly determine whether the calculated location is accessible. This can be used for staking out pre-calculated boundary points and/or proposed lot corners in a new subdivision.
    Photo: AnnaFrajtova/iStock / Getty Images Plus/Getty Images
    Photo: AnnaFrajtova/iStock / Getty Images Plus/Getty Images

    Here are a few ideas as to how surveyors could utilize AR in everyday tasks in the future:

    • As public utilities are becoming more available within GIS shape files with geographic locations, they could be utilized with AR to help visually establish locations in the field. Mainline utilities and service lines would become easier to physically verify using AR.
    • Another GIS shapefile entity, the parcel line layer, could be used to help the surveyor understand where the property owner believes the line(s) to be as opposed to the actual monumented location.
    • All reference monuments and benchmarks established by public agencies using geographic location information could enhance the “treasure hunt” of confirming local datum points.

    SURVEYING USING AR TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC

    Geospatial information has revolutionized our world, so using AR to help when trouble strikes can potentially be a lifesaver. Recently, an oceanfront condominium in Florida collapsed due to structural failure. While the age of the structure precluded it from having any digital geographic location data, any new similar development could be measured and recorded to assist with future emergency needs. Almost all new development has digital surveying, engineering, and architecture and must use local horizontal and vertical datums. Using the proposed information and verifying with post-construction record drawings, the digital record can be created.

    It doesn’t take a design flaw to create a public hazard. For instance, a gas leak could render any building, such as the Florida condo, susceptible to catastrophic damage. By having a digital model of the underground structure, emergency crews could use AR to help locate potential open spaces in the building. As is the case with installing fire suppression systems and emergency exits, the cost to create a digital model of a completed building will be well worth it to save lives.

    Underground utility corridors within cities, campuses, or manufacturing facilities could also utilize geospatial locations to establish a digital map for future use with AR. It will take time and significant cost to map existing facilities, yet it should be required for new sites to provide this information for emergencies and for use when designing expansions within the site. Having this utility information to use with AR during the design phase could lead to identifying potential problems before construction starts.

    Photo: 1001nights/E+/Getty Images
    Haiti after an earthquake. (Photo: 1001nights/E+/Getty Images)

    Another reason to plan for future safety is how much uncertainty we face in today’s society. At press time, we are coming up on the 20th anniversary of 9/11. We also just watched Haiti suffer another devastating earthquake. The 2021 hurricane season has also been very active, so that danger looms large, too. Disasters happen all the time with little to no warning. Our world is much more advanced than we were at the turn of the century, so we can use these advancements to map our infrastructure. Let us hope we never need to use the digital information for another disaster akin of 9/11. Instead, let us use it to ensure that we can get to someone in a remote spot if necessary.

    THE ROAD TO FUTURE MAPPING AND AUTOMATION

    As previously discussed, establishing a digital twin of our world could help provide a better map for establishing parcel ownership, reducing construction conflicts, and offering better planning tools for future expansion. Will it be completed within my lifetime? No, and I doubt it will be done within the next couple of generations after me.

    We can, however, get a significant start on capturing the necessary information to begin the process of digitization. Technology has exceeded my expectations just within the past decade, so I can only hope that more advancements will help with building this digital beast. More architects and engineers are utilizing BIM (building information modeling) for 3D design and collaboration. Most municipalities and counties have built some form of GIS that uses one of the standard geographic datums. Surveyors have fully embraced GNSS technology so state plane and national geographic coordinate systems have become the norm. In addition, we are seeing a wide number of consultants use autonomous vehicles (aerial, hydro, and terrestrial) with photogrammetry, LiDAR, and SLAM remote sensing. Another bit of good news is that computing power is higher than ever and that storage space is cheap for all this data. We should also include how 5G has expanded our reach and, with cloud storage, we can work from just about anywhere. We can do so much more than most of us ever dreamed of, so we need to leverage that into creating a digital entity that can be helpful.

    Photo: RyanJLane/E+/Getty Images
    Photo: RyanJLane/E+/Getty Images

    HOW TO IMPLEMENT THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY

    Augmented reality is one of many new technologies surveyors need to introduce into their toolbox. Many of you may be asking where to begin; my answer, depending on your age, may offend you.

    Hire a Gen Zer. Really.

    As a Gen Xer, I have come to realize my limitations on technology and being able to fully implement it. The Z generation, while lacking the experience of us wily old guys, see things much differently. The smartphone/tablet/computer, and even the latest data collectors, are designed with them in mind. They grew up playing computer games based in virtual reality, developed excellent hand-eye coordination, and find efficient ways of getting things done. Our surveying world is almost completely digital (when is the last time a client only wanted paper copies of a plat?), so now is the time to make the leap and ditch the drafting table. We have as much to learn from them as they do from us. Together, we can get the surveying profession ready for the next generations. It has been a great profession for us, so let us hand it off to the Z generation. They will (eventually) be glad we did.

  • Surveying and the future: Where is technology going?

    Surveying and the future: Where is technology going?

    Photo: FDA
    Photo: FDA

    Earlier this year, we looked back at 2020 and reviewed how surveying has dealt with the worldwide pandemic while adapting to the new tools and technology being created. We discovered the need for surveyors did not diminish during this crisis, and in many places the demand has gone up significantly. Instruments, computers and measuring methods continue to increase in capability and complexity to help with the shortage of qualified field crews, yet we still need to expand our efforts to find the next generation of surveyors.

    How do we find those future geospatial experts, data collectors and surveying professionals? The answer is right under our noses, and our current group of practitioners needs to get the word out.

    What is the word, you ask?

    Technology.

    Younger generations understand technology better than most practicing surveyors. New devices, methods and operations are being invented at a fast pace, and our best and brightest should be considering using that technology in a rewarding career. Before we make the big pitch to them, however, we should refresh our understanding of recent surveying history to better understand why technology is a good thing.

    How did we get here? A short historical look at measuring

    The measurement methods, devices and instruments used by surveyors have radically changed in the past 50 years, and we have covered their evolution in past columns (Survey Scene May 2016, May 2017 and Sept. 2019).

    Instruments and devices used by surveyors vary in their function and output of information. Some are used to physically measure the distance from a stationary point to another, determine horizontal and vertical angles at a specific location, or determine grade differentials between various points. Other instruments are used to determine horizontal or vertical positions to establish locations and elevations. All these instruments are being used to gather positional data on any number of items, but the quality of the information may vary depending on the technology and method used. How?

    Devices and methods for measuring distances

    AGA Geodimeter NASM-2A. (Photo: NOAA)
    AGA Geodimeter NASM-2A. (Photo: NOAA)

    Tools for measuring distances have been around for centuries. The Egyptians are famous for their “rope stretchers,” while early surveyors in Europe and the New Colonies were known to use the Gunter’s chain and a measuring wheel. In the early 1800s, steel tapes were invented to replace the chain. These measuring tapes continued to evolve well into the 20th century with varying metals, fiberglass and nylon-coated plastics.

    In the mid-20th century, scientists and physicists began to experiment using light waves as a means of measuring terrestrial distances. These experiments led to the development of the first electronic distance meter (EDM), commercially produced by the Swedish company Svenska Aktiebolaget Gasaccumulator (AGA) in the early 1950s. Other methods of electronic measurement, including microwave and infrared wave technology, were also developed in the years following the introduction of the lightwave EDM.

    For many years, the EDM was used independently from transits or theodolites to measure long distances. For those who needed to consistently measure long distances, the invention of the EDM was not just a time saver, but also provided much higher accuracy than manual measurements.

    Other technologies were developed in the latter part of the 20th century, introducing the surveyor to laser scanning, but we can defer this topic until later in this column.

    Devices for measuring angles

    The T3 theodolite was introduced in 1925. With its 10.5-inch telescope, this theodolite had a range of up to 60 miles. It saw heavy use between 1952 and 1984. (Photo: NOAA)
    The T3 theodolite was introduced in 1925. With its 10.5-inch telescope, this theodolite had a range of up to 60 miles. It saw heavy use between 1952 and 1984. (Photo: NOAA)

    The surveyor, like the astronomer, has consistently been at the forefront of developing optical instruments. The key has been combining high optical quality with a means of measuring horizontal and vertical angles within the instrument. The creation of the theodolite and the transit revolutionized the ability of the surveyor to accurately measure angles and apply trigonometric functions to determine mathematical computations. In addition, the surveyor’s compass was also developed to assist with angle measurement — with less accuracy but greater flexibility.

    By the 1920s, optical theodolite technology was rapidly improving through the work of Switzerland’s Heinrich Wild. Beginning with the T2 and T3, these instruments provided accuracy and precision not previously available to the surveyor. Other manufacturers followed suit with similar instruments for the next several decades and were used in conjunction with the EDM for larger surveys. Anticipation grew with the competition to see which instrument company could marry the theodolite and the EDM into one easy-to-use, yet accurate, optical instrument.

    Introducing the total station

    By the late 1960s, technology had firmly entered the surveying world with a few electronic advancements. In 1968, Zeiss — a German company known for its lenses and optical systems — produced the first known tachymeter, combining a theodolite with an electronic distance meter. The tachymeter became better known as the total station, as it was capable of measuring angles and distances in one instrument. While somewhat crude and hard to use, the Elta 14 total station introduced the world to a future generation of surveying instruments that would revolutionize the field.

    In the course of a few years, several manufacturers developed their own total stations. The biggest hurdle was combining the optics of the scope with the measuring axis of the EDM. By the end of the 1970s, most total stations were coaxial, therefore measuring angles and distances was done with one sighting.

    Robotics were introduced in the early 1990s, with two servo motors to drive the horizontal and vertical movements of the total station. These movements were controlled remotely by the tracking system connected to the prism pole and data collector. Not requiring a human being to remain stationary and manually operate the total station provided cost savings and additional efficiency for the field crew.

    Positions, everyone! Positions!

    U.S. National PNT Architecture from a 2007 Department of Transportation report, updated in 2017. (Graphic: U.S. Department of Transportation)
    U.S. National PNT Architecture. (Graphic: U.S. Department of Transportation)

    Positional measurement has revolutionized not just the surveying profession, but a large portion of everyday tasks as well. From monitoring travel times for your commute to providing your food-delivery driver with your location, position determination is the key element to these services. Satellite navigation is now the primary technology used for positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) and a big part of most aspects of surveying.

    Remote sensing

    Here is where we can discuss laser scanning and other remote sensing technologies. Remote sensing is the science and technology of gathering data from a distance. Traditionally this has been mostly done from aircraft, satellites and vessels. However, technology has expanded so that most practitioners now consider the use of laser scanning, lidar, photogrammetry, hyperspectral cameras, bathymetric sonar and simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) to be included in the category. Keep in mind that all these technologies are types of measurements; they are not the vehicle or instruments used for the measurement.

    Image: NASA
    Image: NASA

    These various sensor types can collect millions of data points in a short amount of time. While surveyors are adapting to working with point clouds and gigabytes/terabytes of data, it is a radical departure from our recent past using only total stations and GNSS receivers. Significant advancements in computer processing, data storage and programming have simplified the manipulation of point clouds, but they remain a challenging task for even newer surveyors to tackle.

    Autonomous vehicles

    Hobbyists have been building (and crashing) model airplanes and helicopters for many years. Most of the public does not realize that the big advancement in remote-control aircraft was the introduction of GNSS technology into the flight system. Sure, we all have GNSS receivers  in our phones, but now to be included in our toys? This somewhat simple addition has turned unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) into a revolutionary tool for several occupations, not just surveyors. More control and stability of the UAV means expanded uses for emergency personnel, utility providers, parcel delivery and much more. Being able to program a specific flight provides the UAV user with higher accuracy and precision, but it takes away the element of human control.

    Image: Department of Transportation
    Image: Department of Transportation

    Another vehicle gaining market share is the unmanned surface vessel (USV), used for performing hydrographic surveys. Like its UAV cousin, the USV is autonomous and is programmed to follow a specific route for greater accuracy and precision. Because of the shallow draft of a USV, it can be used in many areas deemed inaccessible by manned vessels.

    An additional aspect of newer technology working with autonomous vehicles is collision avoidance systems. These systems have been implemented on newer UAVs and continue to improve, allowing their the use in tighter confines and spaces. By having a radar-based avoidance signal surrounding the entire UAV, collisions become less likely.

    Geofencing is another advancement being implemented into more UAVs to help keep them from intruding into unauthorized spaces, by programming into their computer specific geographic areas that are off limits. UAVs are often also programmed to return to its takeoff location under certain circumstances.

    Other technological advances to consider

    Image: State Department
    Image: State Department

    How much technology do you have in your home and office? Probably more than you realize. While one may immediately think about a smart speaker or home automation system (Alexa, Echo, Nest, etc.), other components offer simple yet productive solutions.

    Remote control systems enable you to check whether your doors are locked and your garage door is shut. If not, a touch of a button does the job. Motion sensors enable you to detect intruders around and inside the house, of course. Environmental sensors now monitor for water leaks, moisture and gas/carbon monoxide and provide alerts. How about home automation that utilizes robotic technology? The Roomba vacuum, automatic pool cleaners, and even window washing systems activated when dirt is recognized on your exterior windows are just some of the robotic devices in the modern home.

    Precision agriculture utilizes autonomous vehicle control to increase the precision of planting, spraying and harvesting crops. This increase in efficiency has led to higher yields and lower operating costs for the equipment. Another market starting to see more interest is the robotic lawn mowers that functions like the Roomba vacuum. While significantly more expensive than manual mowers, they offer features that can be considered for trade-offs for your time. Depending on your location and needs, they can be set on timers to run day or night and return to base when their battery runs low.

    Adapting today’s technology to tomorrow’s surveying tasks

    Another relevant technology that does not fit into any of the topics above is the inertial measurement unit (IMU). These sensors are now routinely paired with GNSS receivers in UAVs to help them compensate for pitch and roll. Because of their small form factor, IMUs will increasingly be incorporated into other measurement devices.

    It is also safe to say that more handheld devices and smartphones will include lidar scanning capability, as the iPhone 12 Pro and iPad Pro already do. Application and software developers are writing code to make use of data from these devices, so plan on other hardware makers following Apple’s lead.

    Voice and motion control will continue to be integrated into data collectors and workstations. By minimizing physical entries into an input system, computers will begin to recognize patterns and automate procedures to increase efficiencies. Programmable voice commands during field data collection will activate various procedures (for instance, specific roadway cross sections or curb island locations) and walk the user through a predetermined set of steps. The possibilities are endless, but we should prepare to take advantage of the technology.

    Enticing future generations into a geospatial career

    Image: Digital.gov
    Image: Digital.gov

    A geospatial career is so much more than just being a surveyor. Our profession needs bright minds who see the world differently. What does that mean?

    Most surveying and mapping tasks used to produce 2D deliverables on paper. Today’s geospatial technicians fly UAVs, use point clouds, draft existing conditions in 3D, and analyze data for future applications. By applying what they are learning with new devices, technologies and software platforms, our younger generations can help the surveying and geospatial profession evolve into a data-rich environment that helps facilitate change for our planet. These efforts can help with climate change, provide better data for our communities, and bring societies back together.

    Our profession is much more than gathering data; it is helping to make our world a better place through better data analysis and knowledge. Who would not want that?

  • The year 2020 and the surveyor: What we learned

    The year 2020 and the surveyor: What we learned

    If there were ever a time to sit back and reflect on things that have happened in the last calendar year, the year 2020 will be the poster child for the next few generations (at least I hope so…). Because of several things that have happened worldwide in the profession of surveying, let us take this opportunity to look back on a year that was filled with new equipment, emerging technology and government interaction that will have a lasting effect on our surveying horizon.

    Look at all of these wonderful toys

    There was no shortage of introductions to new equipment for surveyors, especially in the GNSS receiver market. While combining GNSS capability with an inertial measurement unit (IMU) is not a new concept, the Big Three of Leica, Topcon and Trimble introduced new or upgraded versions of their latest receivers taking full advantage of the technology. The benefit of having the IMU integrated within the receiver is the ability to “tilt” the instrument yet having the calculated position remain at the tip of the receiver pole.

    Photo: Trimble
    Photo: Trimble

    Leica, however, takes the tilting feature to another level with an integrated camera that allows for close-range photographs to capture additional information through remote sensing software. The data extracted from the photographs can be simple points (and verified in the data collector while in the field) or point clouds that can be integrated into larger projects through the Leica office software.

    These new receivers, along with upgraded models from smaller providers, have opened the GNSS market to many more users well beyond surveying. The combination of more capability through advancing satellite constellations, more robust processors, and reduced receiver sizes have continued to drive GNSS positioning growth.

    Photo: Hexagon
    Photo: Hexagon

    Manufacturers are using these increased capabilities to promote better coverage to obtain positions under heavier canopies and less likelihood for multi-path errors. While I remain cautious about these claims of increased coverage, I also maintain that with any tool, measurements and positions must have proper and appropriate validation. However, I am impressed that the technology continues to advance with what was once seen as only applicable to the open sky.

    Not all the new technology has emerged through the GNSS receiver product lines; several less visible but valuable features have been introduced within the robotic total station lines. The manufacturers continue to push their equipment to react faster, stay locked on targets better, and provide more reliable solutions to data collection and construction layout. Data collectors continue to evolve with larger screens and more software capability, with some rivaling their desktop counterparts.

    As cellular networks grow in both size and speed, more direct connections between field and office are being made with faster response time to data transfer. Data collection can take place in the field and be analyzed by an office technician as it happens. Go another step further and add an aerial background image to the collector and/or the office computer; now each team member can confirm that the information being collected is sufficient for the project in real-time.

    Another technology that continues to advance is remote sensing, with more devices being introduced and with increased software capabilities. Besides new and upgraded offerings from the surveying-based manufacturers, other device makers are introducing products that offer remote sensing to the masses. The biggest news in this arena was the announcement from Apple that the iPhone 12 Pro and iPad Pro would come equipped with lidar sensing technology along with incredible photographic capabilities.

    While there does not seem to be specific apps developed for surveyors at press time, it is safe to say that there will be in short order. It is also a safe bet that having this capability on a mass-produced device will put pressure on the surveying and mapping equipment manufacturers to be cost-competitive on their own proprietary devices or risk losing out on market share.

    UAVs continue to be the fastest-growing segment of the surveying industry. More vehicle, sensor and software providers are coming to market to offer the surveyor a variety of choices. DJI continues to lead the way in the multi-rotor category with new products and sensors while other manufacturers are embracing the fixed-wing and vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) platform for greater range.

    Just like their automobile brethren, flight time continues to increase with discoveries of new battery compositions and weight considerations. The sensor market is expanding to include more affordable lidar units, as well as new technology in multispectral identification, gas and noxious odor detection, and much more.

    Software developers, too, continue to refine and expand the features found in their geospatial offerings with advancing technology and programming. Google Maps is the default navigation app for many smartphone users, but like anything utilizing GNSS in dense urban areas, the users find themselves bouncing all over the map.

    While surveyors recognize this as multipath, the smartphone user does not have any way to remedy this trouble. Google recognizes this issue and has been working on a programming fix to help minimize these positional errors. This is another example of how precise position determination has become a significant goal for our society, with the more correct position, the better.

    Meanwhile, in Washington D.C….

    2020 did not see any shortage of government action for the surveying and mapping community. As with many topics that come out of the nation’s capital, it should not surprise anyone that several of the items considered by the federal government and its agencies were not without controversy.

    The biggest and most controversial item continues to be the advancement of Ligado (formerly known as LightSquared) and the development of new communication technology that has been shown to interfere with the GPS transmission bands. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC), led by Chairman Ajit V. Pai, has been successful in holding off all challenges to the new technology including ones from current legislators and defense staff.

    The main argument from the FCC is the value of the system as a provider of 5G communication to a substantial portion of the country. They also make statements that safeguards are being taken to protect the GPS spectrum, yet many studies from outside parties show otherwise. The fight over this spectrum will continue into 2021, and it will be interesting to see if the new administration will see things from a different perspective.

    Several items to come out of Washington, D.C., late in the year were the blacklisting of DJI and the announcement of new UAV rules for flying over crowds and at night. With the DJI ruling, it is now illegal for government agencies to use the Chinese-based UAV maker for any activities. Based upon the significant market share of DJI, one can only wait to see how this situation plays out, and if the ban is expanded to private individuals.

    The FAA announcement on the new UAV flight rules was surprising but not unexpected. In addition to establishing flight limitations over crowds and at night, it also established a timeframe for requiring most UAVs to transmit a Remote ID during flight for determining who is flying and where they are located. Compliance with these rules will be required by the manufacturer within 18 months and by UAV pilots within 30 months.

    The National Geodetic Survey (NGS) has also been busy during 2020 preparing new datums and specifications for upcoming changes to the National Spatial Reference System (NSRS). Among those changes are the deprecation of the U.S. Survey Foot, beta testing of the latest geoid model (GEOID20), and new software tools for transforming positional information between datums. It was also announced that the release of the modernized NSRS scheduled for 2022 was being delayed.

    NGS continues to work with each state on the improved state plane coordinate systems and/or low distortion projection systems that will be implemented with the new NSRS rollout. All these efforts have been a monumental task (no pun intended) and kudos go out to NGS for getting everything this far.

    Pandemic 2020 (No, this is not a movie or a drill)

    As we covered in the May 2020 Survey Scene article, COVID-19 was unlike anything we had been exposed before. Initial reports tried to relate the virus to typical influenza and the H1N1 outbreak in 2009, but the rapid transmission and sheer volume of cases (and deaths) mostly eliminated those comparisons.

    From a technical viewpoint, the situation with COVID-19 has no bearing on GNSS operations and positional establishment. An operator of a GNSS receiver, and the business of surveying, is greatly affected by the presence of COVID-19 so it does deserve more than a brief mention in a retrospective look at the past year. This virus upended everything; from data collection and survey-related activities to computations and final drafting, the business of surveying felt the effects.

    Once the initial challenges of keeping everyone safe were addressed, it became a year-long marathon of providing surveying services to clients that did not let the pandemic hinder their progress. Field crews were under significant pressure to maintain social distancing at every turn, while office staff dealt with home Wi-Fi and lack of access to normal business conditions such as large-format printing.

    Video calls and instant messaging quickly became the norm, yet also became the scourge of dealing with the day-to-day operations of a business. The “normal” work/life balance with families, school, and social activities has disappeared and a more challenging approach has replaced that balance. Fingers are crossed that people will adhere to social distancing protocols and can get vaccinated as soon as possible so we can resume a portion of our previous lifestyles.

    However, we do have several positive things to take away from the challenges of the pandemic that will make our lives better going forward. Our reliance on geolocation became quite clear throughout the pandemic. Whether it is using it to help establish contact tracing or as simple as having a delivery service bring necessities straight to your door, almost everyone relies on geolocation for helping guide them through the “new normal.”

    We are using our smartphones to track our family members and help keep them out of harm’s way. It would be hard to imagine how much more difficult this situation would have been before cellphone and GNSS integration.

    Graphic: World Health Organization
    Graphic: World Health Organization (https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019).

    Another leap forward that most people are not aware of is the publicizing of GIS dashboards and incredible analysis of the geolocation of people worldwide. While GIS dashboards have been in existence for many years, it is only now that the public has paid attention to the vast information available to them.

    From providing numbers of cases to graphically depicting “hotspots” across the world, these dashboards are full of useful information to help people understand the size of this pandemic, the places where mitigation is working, and where additional restrictions are being put in place to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.

    The ability to merge geolocations with physical conditions and situations into a real-time mapping solution can help reduce the spread of the virus. By combining GNSS technology with advanced computing power and data storage, the power of GIS has been brought to the front page of public agencies and news sites.

    While we still enjoy watching movies with superheroes, the true heroes during this pandemic are the frontline health workers, first responders and data analysts/programmers who bring us this timely information quickly. A hearty thank you goes out to all of them for their efforts and dedication to the cause.

    In memoriam

    Photo: GPS World staff
    Photo: GPS World staff

    The year 2020 also brought losses to every corner of the world and the surveying community was not spared. There are very few individuals we call pioneers in the surveying industry, so to include Dr. Javad Ashjaee among that group is no small feat. His contributions to the surveying profession helped turn every practitioner into a geospatial information provider.

    From his early days at Trimble pioneering the commercial-grade receiver to creating his company at Ashtech and embracing GLONASS with GPS, he continued to expand the capability of the GNSS receiver. Many surveyors today only know his name through his latest company, Javad GNSS, and the unique line of receivers and measuring devices and their distinctive green color.

    Cover photo: Ed Koziarski
    Cover photo: Ed Koziarski

    Dr. Ashjaee was a big part of the GNSS revolution, so next time you starts up their receiver to collect survey data, take a moment to thank him. It was my pleasure to meet and interview him at the 2017 Intergeo trade show in Berlin to talk about his product line. I was also able to test-drive his incredible GNSS products for a feature in GPS World magazine on using smartphones for data collectors.

    To say the man will be missed is a big understatement and I wish his family well on continuing his company and tradition of making great leaps in technology.

     

  • The surveyor and the mapper — sharing the same stage

    The surveyor and the mapper — sharing the same stage

    The world of mathematics has always been a mysterious one. It is universally loved by those who enjoy STEM-related fields and occupations, while being generally loathed by those who prefer the arts and humanities (similar to the argument with cats versus dogs, but let us not go down that rabbit hole). It would be easy to believe that if each side sticks to their side of the road, there would be peace and harmony in the world.

    While I cannot speak for the art and humanities group, I can say with certainty that the STEM-related mathematics professions have been known to disagree with each other on various roles within the surveying and mapping world. While surveying has been around since the beginning of time, various forms of organized mapping systems began in earnest in the 1960s.

    When attempts were made to bring the two professions together, each side bristled at being mentioned in the same breath as the other one. The surveyors were the outdoor cowboys with theodolites and tapes, measuring properties and improvements with low precision and accuracy. The mappers, now beginning to be known by the acronym GIS (geographical information system) technicians, were the office computer nerds with punch cards and slide rules.

    Each side did not care much for the other — mostly because they did not understand each other’s role in creating the modern infrastructure database. This relationship would last for decades with no relief in sight.

    Early (and unresolvable) differences

    Each side brought a good argument to the table regarding why the other side was not as important to the authoritative role of map/plat making. For instance, here are the typical stances of each side in the 1970s, before the introduction of personal computers and electronic data collectors.

    • Surveyors worked on the ground and with actual monuments and improvements. They measured angles and distances to collect the pertinent data and drew by hand said information graphically on paper. Because of the accuracy and precision of the field measurements, adjustments were made to the calculations to resolve the unknown errors within the data collection.
    • GIS technicians used a combination of hand calculations, drafting and primitive computers to depict information obtained by existing maps and plats. Because the information being reviewed was not obtained through field methods, parcel lines were forced to fit, improvements to be shown with 90-degree corners, and ambiguities with most data issues to be dismissed.

    Each side stood their ground (in the field or the office) and maintained the distance and differences until more technological revolutions began to infiltrate their vision. At first blush, one could assume these advancements would bring the two factions together; one would be wrong.

    Would you like to play a game?

    Photo: RyanJLane/E+/Getty Images
    Photo: RyanJLane/E+/Getty Images

    The 1980s are known for many things, but for the surveying and mapping communities, it brought a new way of reviewing and storing spatial data. The introduction of the personal computer and vector-based software in the early part of the decade set the pace for rapid and revolutionary upgrades to each profession.

    It was now possible to see on a computer screen what had only been previously possible through manual computation and drafting. As the decade went on, computing speed and storage continued to increase along with the features of software packages.

    However, these advancements did little to bring the surveying and mapping professions together; in fact, the technology has been blamed for causing even more of a divide between the two.

    Again, each side has their reasons for maintaining their hold on being recognized as the authority on the creation of the cadaster layer.

    • Surveyors continued to insist because they worked on the ground and with actual monuments and improvements, the process of putting the data into a computerized format only solidified their position.
    • GIS technicians continued to insist that the refinement of their previous calculations of drafting and mapping into a computerized version further extended their expertise in the mapping world. Also, because many in GIS were specifically trained on computers in college, the work being produced by these members was superior to surveyors.

    Even with the improvements in technology from computers, the divide between the two grew. The relationship between surveying and mapping was at an all-time low, so there must be nowhere to go but up, right? Not so fast.

    GPS + spatial = data custody battle?

    Photo: Magellan
    Photo: Magellan

    Through the 1990s and beyond, the introduction and subsequent rapid implementation of GPS/GNSS gave new meaning to a previous but rarely used term: geospatial data. Only geodesists and higher-end scientists truly worked with geospatial data because of their professional environment and expertise, but now anyone with a GPS receiver became a geospatial data collector.

    Previously, surveyors would measure on a global scale (latitude/longitude and/or state plane coordinates), but this would typically consist of solar and lunar observations under ideal conditions. GIS technicians could only rely on data provided to fit within the location parameters of their projects, which has usually scaled from quadrangle maps.

    However, this new technology was being used with data collectors programmed for almost anyone to use with little to no geodesy experience. Turn it on, press a button and voila — a geospatial location in a variety of coordinate systems. No more sun shots, lengthy traverses from obscure NGS monuments, or scaling from the quad sheets.

    Finally, the surveying and mapping communities have common ground to work on! It would be easy to assume that walls came down and the two professions mended their fences. The short answer is no; they once again did not. Here is each side’s general take on geospatial abilities:

    • Surveyors (once again!) continued to insist that because they worked on the ground and with actual monuments and improvements (though now with improved positioning), the process of putting the data into a georeferenced format only solidified their position.
    • GIS technicians now contended that they, too, could collect the necessary field data using GPS and bypass the need for surveyors. Also, because many in the GIS field were specifically educated to work with spatial data, the information being produced by these members was superior to surveyors’ data.

    We now find ourselves flipping the calendar pages well into the 2020s, with little movement on resolving this relationship. But we can change that if we introduce a little friendlier dialogue.

    In this corner, the surveyor. In the opposite corner, the GIS technician

    When it comes to high accuracy/high-precision data collection for locating existing properties and improvements, there will be little argument that this role is strictly designated to the surveying profession. Technological improvements have made our work more precise and accurate; all while being collected in a georeferenced system. The relationship between the surveyor and geospatial data was previously discussed to demonstrate the importance of our work and determining existing conditions, (see GPS World July 2020 column). The surveyor’s ability to be able to collect an enormous amount of geospatial data for surveying purposes is not being questioned, but the line to where the work encroaches into GIS territory. Spoiler alert: Practically everything the surveyor collects can be considered GIS information as well.

    Let us look at the relationship from the GIS perspective. The input and oversight of the parcel layer must rely on the licensed land surveyor to provide, while the GIS community is charged to collect necessary information to include into their database. It would make sense to update existing infrastructure information using current technology or historical archives in which the position of the data can be verified. Either way, it is now going to be referenced by its geospatial position rather than a relationship to a parcel line.

    Also, the GIS technicians have the same or better capability to utilize data collectors with GNSS receivers for locating existing improvements for inclusion into their system. Most of these technicians have access to the same sources providing the GNSS equipment and coupled with their education and skills, they can collect the data as well as any survey crew. B

    ut does this data collection by a GIS technician fall under most state statutes for surveying without a license? Spoiler alert: The short answer is yes, it does if any data collection includes parcel monumentation and could depict a relationship to a parcel line.

    The whole is greater than the sum of its parts

    Before both parties of this discussion get their pitchforks and torches to have a “talk” with this author, let us take a step back and reassess where we are today with technology and looking toward a future together. The common element here is the data, but how each party uses the data does vary.

    The surveyor typically uses geospatial data for several applications; boundary determination, existing planimetric and topographical conditions, and physical depiction of proposed improvements. The surveyor’s data should be considered as a snapshot in time of the conditions of a particular site or project area.

    Because of emerging technology, it is not just manually collected survey points using conventional equipment; it can be point clouds and 3D photographs not possible 20 years ago. The surveyor can be considered a high-tech record keeper and can update information as sites change. All because the collected geospatial data is timestamped and memorialized in a digital database.

    GIS professionals, on the other hand, require similar information but for many different purposes. Attributes play a much bigger role in the geospatial data requirements than surveyors because the information found within tells them an important story.

    Photo: aydinmutlu/E+/Getty Images
    Photo: aydinmutlu/E+/Getty Images

    The biggest improvement because of the increasing accuracy of the data is infrastructure. As aging utilities require replacement, locating old facilities can be difficult based upon old mapping. Geospatial data collection provides more reliable locations once old facilities are found, existing conditions are reported, and crucial information about its lifespan is collected for future consideration.

    Newly installed utilities will have the luxury of significant attribute data applied to each structure to help with future monitoring and maintenance. These are some of the factor that apply to effective asset management and can be applicable to both public and private clients.

    While the surveyor and the mapper use geospatial data for similar yet different uses, the product is generally the same. But this discussion is not just about merging data into one big global database; we need to dig a little deeper on how to grow each side of our professions together.

    Growth is never by mere chance; it is the result of forces working together

    The surveying and mapping professions have been at a crossroad for some time and both sides continue to ignore each other. Both believe that geospatial data is theirs to control, and they both are right. However, each have a different stake in this geospatial data discussion and need to learn to respect each other’s role. Each side brings a different perspective how to grow and advance our world through effective and efficient surveying and mapping, but they must start talking to realize how much they can grow together.

    With a little more focus and education of each other’s roles on both sides, an overlap of responsibilities could mean faster approach to modernizing many aspects of our respective professions. For instance:

    • Cross training of surveyors in GIS software, data collection requirements, parcel modules, and layer nomenclature
      • Encourage surveyors to apply for GISCI Certified GIS Professional (GISP) testing
    • Cross training of GIS professionals and technicians with survey technician programs
      • Encourage GIS personnel to apply for NSPS Certified Survey Technician (CST) testing
    • Both surveyors and mappers cross training with data collection systems capable of collecting geospatial data containing specific positional information and attributes
      • Identifying limitations of various equipment and techniques (i.e. using the right “tool” for the job)
      • Understanding of positional tolerance (precision versus accuracy) and metadata
      • Comprehension of coordinate systems and zones, including low distortion projections (LDP)
      • Distinguishing between surveying and mapping data collection (i.e. boundary/right-of-way determination versus infrastructure collection for inventory)

    Light at the end of the tunnel

    Technology has introduced our world to many advances not thought possible for our entire existence. The Fourth Industrial Revolution (see GPS World July 2019 column) is now taking aim at industries like surveying and mapping through automation and artificial intelligence capability.

    Data is crucial to everything and our respective professions are in the center of the revolution. 2020 and our worldwide pandemic of COVID-19 has been (unfortunately) perfect example of how data affects our world in real time. The more critical and accurate data that is collected, the better we can make assessments of situations.

    Surveyors and mappers are doing the same thing with data; survey data helps design our world through establishing accurate conditions, while GIS data helps to evaluate our current conditions and plan for future situations. Both professions rely heavily on data, collected in similar methods, but for separate but similar uses. Each has their strengths to bring to the collective table and can increase the effectiveness of digital modeling going forward.

    Photo: PeopleImages/E+/Getty Images
    Photo: PeopleImages/E+/Getty Images

    Let’s make a plan

    The world is moving toward digital twins, augmented and virtual reality along with autonomous travel; it would be in our best interest that the data used to identify the surroundings for those advancements be correct and seamless from all sources. Let us begin by dropping all the delusions of grandeur for our respective professions and formulate a plan to move forward together. The clock is ticking, and time continues to march on.

    Technology continues, and soon Generation Z will be trying to do our work with their laptops and smartphones from the coffee shops without our help. Because they can. See, it is important, isn’t it?

  • 30 years of GNSS and the surveyor

    30 years of GNSS and the surveyor

    Photo: Ed Koziarski for GPS World
    Photo: Ed Koziarski for GPS World

    Depending on your age, 30 years represents a varying opinion of time. For some, it may seem like forever; for others, it may be a blink of an eye. In respect to technology, it can represent a complete change in the way we do things.

    When we turned the calendar page to January 1990, our world had yet to experience the internet, the Hubble telescope had not been deployed to share its fantastic views, and The Simpsons television series was preparing to become the cartoon juggernaut it remains today.

    Yes, lots has changed since 1990, and surveying is no exception.

    Most professions look back through their history and see various periods where discoveries and inventions revolutionized how the work was completed.

    For surveyors, the past 30 years have contained more advancements than all other years combined, with the greatest achievement being the global navigation satellite system (GNSS). With the United States leading the way with its Global Positioning System and the civilian ability to use this measuring system, modern surveying was forever changed.

    Solar and lunar observations replaced

    Before the implementation of a satellite navigation system, true global navigation was only computed using solar and lunar readings under specific conditions. GPS provided a new frontier for surveyors to establish positions without having to perform traversing from known points or collecting solar/lunar observations.

    As the constellation grew, it became easier to use GPS to gain initialization for accurate and redundant position determination. As processor speeds and data storage capability increased, real-time kinematic (RTK) observations became the norm for surveyors everywhere.

    The Russian satellite constellation, GLONASS, began operating fully in the late 1990s, and is now included to create today’s GNSS. More satellites provide more coverage, which in turn means more data collection potential.

    Many nations and regions are building their own constellations to augment the current GNSS lineup, and also to safeguard the ability to obtain geographic locations when other systems are not available.

    Bathymetric surveys made easy

    GNSS capability and integration revolutionized several aspects of surveying, including a new and more reliable way of performing bathymetric surveys over large bodies of water. Computerized depth sounders were programmed to coincide readings with GNSS data collection to provide a more accurate and precise method of hydrographic surveying.

    The past decade has continued the reliance on GNSS technology with many more devices and applications — not just for the surveyor, but for the public as well. While surveyors are using GNSS receivers on unmanned vehicles such as UAVs and boats, satellite navigation has infiltrated into many of our everyday routines. Cellphones, fitness trackers and our automobiles use this technology to guide us to our destinations.

    Surveyors have used the GNSS revolution to create a digital world for better data collection, asset management and increased efficiency. Much has changed in 30 years for the surveyor and the world around us, so we should not be surprised about what technology will bring us next.

  • Surveying and geospatial data: the perfect couple

    Surveying and geospatial data: the perfect couple

    1800s theodolite. (Photo: ngs.noaa.gov)
    1800s theodolite. (Photo: ngs.noaa.gov)

    Everywhere we look, data is being collected, reviewed, analyzed and stored. It used to be that data was a static piece of information, like a piece of paper in a filing cabinet. Millions of pieces of data being created yet almost all of it never to be used again. The computer and electronic storage began a revolution of how we warehouse this information but that was only the beginning. Technology has turned data into a living, breathing beast few understand yet it controls most of our lives in various ways.

    Mapping of the earth has not always been about establishing boundaries and parcels; many of the early maps and plats were created to depict the topography of our world. While there are some indications that Middle East maps depicted parcels, the first examples of topographic maps were created during the Roman Empire era of 300 A.D. It is common knowledge that the Romans utilized primitive yet cunning engineering for roads, buildings, and waterways but it was the initial topography that was mapped that allowed them to design those forward-thinking infrastructure components. Because of the lack of sophistication in the measuring methods and data collection, these topographic maps covered small areas and often crude because of the materials available. Considering what they were working with, it is still incredible what they were able to map, design and build.

    Measuring devices and methods of data collection expanded over the centuries like most occupations and professions. By the 16th and 17th century, mathematics has been introduced at a wider scale through many educational facilities. Another profession, geographers, also advanced with the evolution of measuring devices and mapping techniques. It was during this period that we began to see a crossover with surveyors with geographers to create topographic maps with greater accuracy and precision through triangulation.

    In the 18th and 19th century, instruments became more sophisticated to assist in the determination of elevations and more accurate angle measurements. The concept of triangulation flourished during this period and significant mapping was made for most of the civilized world. The early 1800s saw the westward push of expansion in the United States and Thomas Jefferson, U.S. president and former surveyor, led the charge to map the existing states and divide the west into sectional land for sale to settlers.

    Besides the establishment of the Public Land Survey System, surveyors also provided topographic information for map of all sizes for future development planning. The late 1800s brought a large amount of topographic mapping information to paper through efforts by the U.S. Geological Society to map the entire United States. This information has been called the first land database; although crude in overall nature compared to today’s standards, it contained an enormous amount of topographic information.

    These surveys continued well into the early 20th century until a revolutionary invention coupled with a current technology merged: the use of a mounted camera taking aerial photographs from an airplane. Geographers and photogrammetrists were able to use surveying data to assist with scaling orthometric photographs to create aerial images of thousands of acres of land. These aerial photos became the base layer for determining topographic features and contouring, covering much more land than ever before. Additional innovations included advancements in stereo plotting and photogrammetric techniques to further create high sophisticated topographic maps for the era. This type of mapping was the gold standard for decades depicting existing condition and topographic features for most of the world until the early 1970s and the computerized data revolution.

    Computers take over the world (literally)

    1960s mainframe computer (Photo: NASA)
    1960s mainframe computer (Photo: NASA)

    While mainframe computers became more universally used in the 1960s, their use was contained to governmental agencies and large corporations. As the physical size of the computer reduced, the computing capacity increased, programming became easier to complete, and more applications were created to perform a variety of tasks. One of the biggest advancements for the era was electronic storage and analyzation of data through programming. Relational databases became a hot ticket for large datasets; geographic data was the perfect fit for this type of application. Modern mapping was on its way forward at warp speed.

    Topographic mapping was not lost in this shuffle. The survey itself is based upon data points located on the face of the earth so each point is just another chunk of information within the database. Programming continued to advance and soon methods previous completed by manual methods over long periods of time were completed in a fraction of previous efforts without fail.

    This effort was also joined with advancements in graphical technology to display this data on a computer video screen instead of lines of green text and numbers. Vector-based graphics, together with enormous point databases, helped create large topographical and geographical maps for many uses. During the same time the US put a man on the moon, mapping and platting of topographic information was also out of this world.

    The turn of the century brings big changes

    For the next decade, there were small advances in technology for topographic surveys and data points, but most were in presentation of data and increases in computing power. Pen plotters and smaller yet more powerful computers were becoming affordable to smaller companies, but it was still a large investment to get into the computerized data game for a surveyor. By the mid-1980s, electronic data collection with a total station was becoming the norm, but only meant collecting more points in a more efficient timeframe. The computing component did get faster but is still producing the same information of static data points.

    Ancient techniques and new technologies (Image: ngs.noaa.gov)
    Ancient techniques and new technologies (Image: ngs.noaa.gov)

    The mid-1980s also brought us a shiny new object: GPS technology. By the end of the 1990s, we were able to get out of our vehicle, start the receiver and collect geolocated points in minutes rather than hours. The big takeaway from this advancement is the geolocation component of the data point. Now everything can be related to one big dataset of topographical points. By creating a database with all our project data collected in the same georeferenced datums (horizontal & vertical), we can create digital models that replicate existing conditions.

    We can also add another big advancement in data collection: remote sensing technology. From laser and lidar scanners, photogrammetry, SLAM technology and ground penetrating radar, the innovations to collect data at locations we can “see” through sensing are now a reality. Another significant improvement with this technology is the amount of data points remote sensing can collect, both in timing and spacing. We are now talking small scanning projects that consist of billions of points within the site point cloud. We are fortunate that our computing power and storage capabilities has increased exponentially along with the remote sensing. (Remember doing a “regen” on your CAD file and having time to get a cup of coffee?)

    Lots of data — now what?

    Data is powerful, especially when it is harnessed in a robust system that can analyze and model for future use. Yes, this condition also applies to the surveying world, even though you may not be thinking about it now. We can use this data to create a virtual world that mimics the one we live in; the difference is that we exist in ours yet model and manipulate the digital version in our computer system. The technology is now available, and we can make a replica of our current world; however, why would we want to do that? There are lots of reasons to use technology and data to make sophisticated topographic maps (because that is what they are) for recording the world around us.

    One of the big differences now is that we have much more information about the data points we collect within our topographic maps. Sure, many surveyors will say that their data has not changed or evolved during their careers, but they would be wrong. Unless they are still manually writing it all down for hand plotting… (Hello! The 1960s called, and they want their field book back!) Every electronically collected point has attributes associated with the data.

    These attributes, while they may be simple, contain important information about the datapoint it represents. Horizontal location? Check. Vertical elevation? Check. Assigned point number? Probably. Field code? Most likely. But it also has one other important component: time. We now know exactly when that point was collected. Why is that important?

    Because, like a lot of instances, things change. Something collected today might not be there tomorrow. Time is just as important as the physical location and the type of point it represents.

    Gather these points together, throw them in one big model and you have yourself a graphical database that can be analyzed, reviewed, and used for planning and design. It may be hard to visualize with just simple survey data using GNSS and/or a total station, but couple it with a scanner or photogrammetry, you have a powerful hunk of data for which to work.

    Why is this workflow and modeling procedure important enough to dedicate an entire column about surveying and GNSS to? Because it used to be far in the future, but the need and availability to use it is now here in front of us. Surveying and GNSS are an important part of this effort to create three dimensional models. By using survey-grade data in conjunction with point clouds collected from remote sensing equipment, we can replicate the world around us in real time.

    Yes, Virginia, there is a name for the modeling process…

    At Intergeo 2019, Bentley Systems will be focusing on digital construction, digital cities, reality modeling and civil design. (Photo: iStock.com/alexsl)
    Photo: iStock.com/alexsl

    The name for the proposed modeling of this dataset is a digital twin. It represents a digital representation of a physical object or system. NASA famously used the concept for their space program to simulate situations and procedures of many different types of events. The concept has grown with the technology to graphically create almost anything through digitalization and computer modeling. Once the model is created, both actual and proposed data points can be included to represent the existing and future opportunities.

    The idea of a digital twin is not new; technology, however, has pumped more life into its existence by leaps and bounds with computing power and data storage capability. I remember, early in my career, going into an architect’s office and seeing the scale model mockup of a new development or building. The streets in the model were perfect, there were no drainage issues, and it was a neat as a pin. Fast forward to the construction of the development and field changes were at every turn. A digital twin will allow for better planning, more thorough design and creating more cost-effective development. Many large cities have started compiling data and building their digital twin, including New York, Singapore, Boston, and Rotterdam. Engineering and planning for new and replacement facilities is very expensive yet analysts predict that having a digital twin to work will save a significant amount of money and time.

    As a surveyor, what’s in it for me?

    Software capability for the surveyor is already here. Companies, such as Hexagon, Trimble, Topcon and Esri to name a few, have been developing their software to accommodate this concept for many years. Still, lots of surveyors do not know about it. And we should. Many of us live in places where the infrastructure is well past its useful life period and should have been replaced long ago. By starting now with survey-grade data to be put into a real-time model, we can help our governmental agencies and their consultants to move towards a digital twin that will ultimately save money and possibly lives.

    What this means for the surveyor is to further embrace technology and include remote sensing into your operation. If you have not started at least looking into UAVs and photogrammetry, you are already behind. Many aerial operations are making the next leap into mounting a LiDAR unit on their UAV to gain even more capability. Early adopters of laser scanners were probably second guessing their decision during the 2008 Depression but if they stayed with it, it will be a big payoff in the long run. The next leap will be into handheld scanning devices, including ones using SLAM (simultaneous localization and mapping) technology for locating interior and close-up improvements. These technologies will cost a significant amount of time and money to implement but municipalities, engineers and architects are going to be clamoring for the data any day now.

    When it comes to surveying and mapping of existing facilities, the surveyor and technology makes a great team. Do not let point clouds, remote sensing, or terabytes of data scare you away from providing badly needed information to help assemble your local digital twin. In the long run, it will pay off for all who take on the challenge of building it.

  • Surveying and COVID-19: A lesson in essential services

    Surveying and COVID-19: A lesson in essential services

    Open space: the final frontier. These are the voyages of the professional surveyor and their crew. Their mission: to explore and survey strange new lands. To retrace old boundaries and to create new parcels and subdivisions. To boldly go where no one has gone before (unless it has been previously surveyed and platted…)!

    With a nod to Star Trek fans (and apologies to Mr. Roddenberry), the surveyor has been the terrestrial version of the Captain Kirk and Science Officer Spock, exploring existing and uncharted territories. While most surveys completed in the modern day are retracements of previous parcels, there are still areas where surveyors are completing various tasks where no one has been before.

    There are very few instances where a survey is performed near others. By this simple fact, one can argue that the surveyor is the original social distancer. The real question, however, lies within the determination of the value of the surveyor and if the work we perform is an “essential service.”

    This article is not attempting to debate the value of the surveyor versus all the first responders, doctors, nurses, healthcare personnel and the hardworking employees doing their best to keep up with our basic needs. We are here to discuss the challenges faced by the surveyor and how technology has provided much-needed tools for crossing this abyss of doom and despair called COVID-19.

    But first, let us talk about how we arrived at this extraordinary time for nearly everyone on the planet.

    Photo: LeoPatrizi/E+/Getty Images
    Photo: LeoPatrizi/E+/Getty Images

    Worldwide upheaval or some close facsimile thereof

    Every generation has a historical event, moment or era for which they remember exactly what they were doing:

    • “Greatest” generation (born before 1924): the Stock Market crash of 1929 and subsequent depression
    • “Silent” generation (born 1925-1945): Pearl Harbor and World War II
    • Baby Boomers (born 1946-1964): Korean War, the Kennedy assassination, the Moon landing and the Vietnam War
    • Generation X (born 1965-1980): Reagan assassination attempt, Challenger explosion, death of Princess Diana
    • Millennials (born 1981-1996): 9/11, Aurora and Sandy Hook shootings

    Unfortunately, the series of events leading up to the nationwide shutdown because of the COVID-19 pandemic will unseat most of those events and eras. While previous pandemics (for instance, the Spanish flu of 1918) struck and killed many more people, the mobility of today’s population coupled with instantaneous media coverage provides a much different environment for this situation.

    Image: CDC.gov
    Image: CDC.gov

    Obviously, we are not alone, and this virus has spared few countries and races. Different cultures across the globe have adapted for the pandemic in a variety of ways, and the U.S. has faced the same challenges across our diverse environments.

    Depending on where one is located, they face a different set of challenges due to the pandemic. Several heavily populated urban areas are subject to a strict lockdown while states with mostly rural areas are less restrictive. One size does not fit all when dealing with limiting public exposure to others, but let us leave the debate of how much restriction is needed to the scientists and public officials. Many today do not agree with the rules we have been dealt with in going about with our lives. That is a discussion for another time and different forum.

    Instead, let us discuss what we face going forward with our “new reality” of some form of social distancing and how the need for surveying and geospatial information remains for a large portion of this world. We must simply adapt to this situation with the adoption of new technologies and a revamped workflow.

    Everything changes, whether we like it or not

    The surveying profession is not unlike many other service-oriented and public-serving occupations, even with most of the field work being performed in solitude. We still deal with clients, governmental agencies, other consultants and the public.

    The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we are now interacting with those outside partners with technological advances and modified communication conduits. Many of these methods existed well before this situation, but the rapid advancement of the pandemic forced many companies and employees into adapting very quickly.

    Surveyors are no different, so let us run through the changes we have seen within the industry.

    Project communication

    The biggest challenge facing most surveyors in dealing with the pandemic atmosphere has been communication. Whether it is with employees, clients, government agencies or other consultants, communication has been affected mostly because of the elimination of face-to-face opportunities.

    Technology to allow remote communication has existed for many years, but not many of us have taken advantage of it because of the convenience of in-person interaction. Who does not want to leave the office to meet with a client, shake their hand and close the deal? Or have the client come to your office and go over the intricacies of a complex survey?

    Regardless of whether one is introverted or extroverted, human contact has always helped establish and solidify relationships. For most of us, this is how business has always been done, be it your client or your employees.

    Obviously, the biggest area affected has been daily interaction with employees. Controlling workflow, handling projects and troubleshooting any situation is more difficult when the team is not physically in the same location. If a team member is overwhelmed, another one can immediate meet with them and help. Work is easily passed between teammates with little effort.

    But working remotely? That takes more effort, consideration and technology to accomplish. Yes, video conferencing has been in place for many years, but mostly in large companies and only implemented it in a dedicated conference room. Not many employees were previously afforded a webcam, microphone and speakers along with the necessary software; all of these components are now standard issue. For many, programs like Zoom, Skype and Microsoft Teams are now a critical communication tool for timely and efficient sharing of information.

    What about communication with field crews? Many would say that even a pandemic would not change how we stay in touch with field crews, but even these relationships have been affected. While there are survey companies operating with limited physical contact as a norm (large firms with projects regionally or nationwide), most surveyors still have a substantial amount of direct communication between field and office. This situation has forced many firms to take precautions, with crew members only handling specific pieces of equipment or performing a thorough cleaning if sharing during a project.

    Project documents and files have typically been been handled manually with some electronic data files being transferred via email or internet. Depending on the size of the original document, having a full-size paper copy of a previous survey or subdivision plat has advantages to looking at a PDF image on a tablet or computer screen while in the field. Many companies outfit their field crews with 11 x 17-inch printers to be able to print larger detailed areas of bigger documents. Additional care must be taken if these items will still be used for field operations.

    Image: Tim Burch
    Image: Tim Burch

    The transfer of data between office and field has become faster, more efficient and safer with technology. As data collectors have become more capable, direct connections via the internet to cloud storage is making transfer of project files and photos faster and more secure by providing immediate backup to guard against data loss. What used to take a trip to the office, connecting to a computer and downloading is now done in a matter of minutes without leaving the job site.

    Field personnel are also benefiting from technology within our devices. Apps like FaceTime and programs like Microsoft Teams provide a gateway to video chatting so teammates can discuss projects in real time. Shared pictures, computer screens and face-to-face interaction provides an avenue to more effective communication and enhancing relationships between team members.

    The pandemic has forced many surveyors to adapt and learn several new apps and programs to connect in new ways; however, this pandemic has also affected how we go about our field operations, too.

    Enhanced data collection

    Not many of the surveyor’s field activities are affected because of social distancing requirements, but the pandemic has forced our profession to be compliant with the new rules in case we are in proximity with others. Newer technology, using both terrestrial and aerial platforms, are now being utilized by more surveyors for their data collection needs.

    Train employees now. As many companies have seen a slowdown in work due to pullbacks from projects moving forward, now is the time to get employees trained with the new technology and software to be better prepared for when the market comes back.

    Using photogrammetry tools. Photogrammetry, lidar and laser-scanning systems are being purchased and implemented for everyday use and not just “special” projects with larger budgets. Not only are surveyors finding it keeps them further away from other people, it also allows for more efficient data collection and representation of existing conditions.

    Flying unmanned aerial vehicles. UAVs continue to grow in popularity, and like the other technology discussed above, many firms are investing in becoming remote pilots and implementing aerial photography and lidar into their workflow. Previously, most surveyors (and the general public) would use Google Earth, Bing and other resources for aerial imagery to gain a better perspective on their project sites. Vendors are coming out with aerial products with more recent flights at a higher resolution, but do not offer the ability to extract reliable topographic data easily. In-house UAVs provide more flexibility and control over the information needed, and many are using their downtime to become familiar with aerial products.

    Photo: GPS World
    Photo: GPS World

    Dipping toes into remote sensing. Another sector of surveying equipment seeing increased use during this situation are new total stations with remote-sensing capability. Many surveyors may not have the need for a standalone laser or lidar scanner, so several manufacturers have introduced a total station that provides limited remote sensing for everyday use. While the built-in scanner is not nearly as robust as a traditional remote-sensing unit, it provides enough capability and accuracy for most users. This intermediate step of remote sensing helps a firm decide how much scanning they will produce and if an investment in a full function unit is right for them.

    Upgrading GNSS receivers. We would be amiss if we did not mention that more surveyors are now upgrading their GNSS receivers to take advantage of more constellations, integration with IMUs and increased computing power of the latest data collectors. Some surveyors who are not as economically affected during this pandemic are taking advantage of great deals on new equipment and using this time to increase their capability and efficiency. As more satellite vehicles become available, the ability to gain accurate and precise locations is better than ever, so staying ahead of technology is still important in these times. We will continue to see more gains with L5 and L1C signals from the new GPS Block III satellites within the next few years, so staying current now is very important.

    QA/QC — The electronic method

    One trouble spot seen within the new paradigm is the ability to provide a thorough quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) process on all surveying operations. Without the ability to print/plot original surveys at full scale, it becomes a more difficult procedure to review and analyze information on a computer screen.

    The monitors used for drafting and calculations are getting bigger, but studies have shown the human eye will focus differently on an electronic screen compared to a survey on paper. There must be many other professions and occupations using similar technology who have yet to solve the QA/QC dilemma. Hopefully, our industry will find a way to help address this issue and provide guidance.

    Image: Tim Burch
    Image: Tim Burch

    More connected than ever, yet still so alone

    The COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 (let us hope that is all it encumbers) will be forever etched in our memories as frightening and unbelievable. More than 100 years has past since the last pandemic of this proportion has overwhelmed our population. We are much more advanced in our education of health, medicines and technology than the previous event, yet we were caught off-guard by the speed in which the virus spread throughout our lands. It taxed most of our health infrastructure beyond its limits and took its toll emotionally and financially to most of the population.

    We were forced to adapt very quickly to a new norm of working remotely and independently of our co-workers and teammates. Did it hurt our productivity and profitability initially? Absolutely. Were our employees forced to learn new ways of doing their work and communicating by other means. Yes, they did. Was there a need for rapid troubleshooting of new procedures and task management? Of course. Has every transition of remote work been a success story? I doubt it, but it was not for lack of trying.

    We are doing the best we can, and the surveying profession is rapidly trying to adapt. Like the rest of the world, the surveying profession will not be the same coming out of the restrictions placed upon us because of the pandemic. We have learned more about ourselves and how capable we are with tools we have. We also learned how we will transition with these skills into new technology not invented yet.

    Surveyors are a tough bunch, so the social distancing and adaptation required to survive the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 — while not easy by any stretch — has been handled with grace and professionalism. I would say to bring on the next one, but would rather this pandemic be in our rearview mirror quickly and not see anything like it ever again.

  • Product review: Rugged tablet tackles survey tasks

    Product review: Rugged tablet tackles survey tasks

    Photo: DT Research
    Photo: DT Research

    Technology continues to develop and put more capability, data storage and ease of use into many professional’s hands, and surveyors are no different in their needs.

    Spatial data collection has become an important task in the diverse service world of today’s surveyor with a variety of platforms, sensors and techniques being used to provide this operation.

    The movement toward completing a “digital twin” of existing improvements and facilities worldwide has opened the door for new means and methods for data collection. Surveyors are taking a front-line role in producing the spatial data necessary for much of the internal and external infrastructure being used in today’s cutting-edge digital modeling.

    Necessary accuracy and precision

    However, not all data-collection systems offer the accuracy and precision deemed necessary by today’s surveying profession. These systems also need to be tough enough to handle the environmental conditions surveyors face in their everyday work, yet be user-friendly enough to make the data-collection process efficient.

    Surveyors require a system designed for rugged use, yet built with a high-visibility screen, easy-to-use interface and reasonable battery life to allow effective and confident data collection. Many data collectors tout these features, but many of them fail when subjected to the harsh conditions of surveying and construction sites.

    Times, however, are a changing and a new tablet is raising eyebrows.

    DT Research Inc., a Silicon Valley electronics provider, has provided mobile and medical computing devices to many professions for more than 20 years. They have taken one of their most popular models, the DT301, and added integrated significant upgrades that brings it squarely into the surveying and geospatial world.

    This rugged tablet can now include a multi-frequency GNSS module and a second, 3D-capable, stereo-imaging camera for capturing photometric information.

    Specifications

    Here are the overall specifications for the DT301X-TR Rugged Tablet:

    • Intel 8th-generation core i5/i7 processor
    • Microsoft Windows 10 IoT Enterprise operating system
    • 10.1-inch sunlight readable capacitive touch screen
    • High-capacity, hot-swappable battery pack with power-saving modes
    • IP65-rated for water and dust resistance
    • MIL-STD-810G for shock and vibration protection
    • MIL-STD-461F for EMI and EMC tolerance
    • Multi-frequency GNSS (including GPS, GLONASS, Galileo and BeiDou)
    • External GNSS antenna capable
    • Intel RealSense Depth camera, 2D barcode scanner
    • Long-range Bluetooth, 4G LTE, digital pen support
    • Sturdy external keyboard with various mounts for static installation
    • Rugged yet reasonable weight of 3.1 pounds
    • Multiple mounting options for precise measurement

    Rugged, but not too heavy

    The first impression a new user of the DT301X-TR will notice is that while it is heavier than the normal personal tablet, it is very rugged yet not noticeably heavy. The additional weight it does carry, however, gives the user a sense of durability and confidence to take it into fouler environments without fear of infiltration or hazardous climate concerns.

    The external bumpers can take significant abuse, and the rubber rear guard is used for gripping the tablet effectively during data collection tasks. Several mounts are available for this unit, including a pole mount in conjunction with the external GNSS antenna for higher accuracy location determination.

    This unit runs the Microsoft Windows 10 IoT (internet of things) Enterprise operating system, so most users will already have a general feel for the overall interface. All the normal Windows tools are there (email, browser, etc.), so little training is needed for beginners.

    Connectivity is available through dual-band Wi-Fi and/or 4G LTE communications as well as long-range Bluetooth connections where needed. The unit runs on an Intel 8th-generation core processor and SSD storage for fast computing and data access needs.

    In addition to computing performance, this model also exceeds expectations with its robust screen. Where most high-def screens on phones and tablets suffer in daylight conditions, the DT301X-TR allows the user to maintain great visibility and keep working with visual confidence.

    GNSS module and antenna

    The DT301X-TR can be loaded with several data-collection software packages, depending on your application. For traditional surveying, Microsurvey’s Field Genius is used for locating survey points with the GNSS module. Several programs for data collection are available, depending on the accuracy required by the user.

    Photo: DT Research
    Photo: DT Research

    A helical mobile dual-frequency GNSS antenna is mounted directly on the tablet for receiving survey-grade positions with an RTK correction service. The tablet can also be used with an external GNSS antenna mounted on an extendable pole for a more conventional surveyor-style method of data collection while providing stability for the user.

    The data-collection process for mapping is intuitive and allows for uploading existing shapefiles for reference to existing conditions. Exporting information after the data-collection task can be completed in two different formats: shapefiles and KML files.

    Photo: DT Research
    Photo: DT Research

    For the higher accuracies typically required for surveyors, the unit utilizes the pole mount to ensure the accuracy level is not compromised by human interaction, and it connects to an external GNSS antenna. The software allows the user to collect more precise locations through several means: static, real-time kinematic from the user’s base station, or through a real-time network solution from an external source.

    The data collection process in Field Genius is very user friendly and allows for customized point naming and automatic linework between points. Field Genius also contains standard COGO tools and routines that allow the user to perform field calculations right on the job, saving valuable time and money for the practitioner and the client.

    Exporting of field data is robust and allows for creation of DXF/DWG files of linework and LandXML files for surface and point downloads. The user can also export raw data in a GNSS Survey format or the industry standard “field book” format as well. Importing background files is just as simple, so the user can have additional information at their fingertips for reference during their data collection process.

    Also, the DT301X-TR can be utilized for construction staking with an extensive array of staking reports available for user verification. Proposed TIN surface models can be imported for site and roadway staking for placing cut/fill points on the fly.

    Cameras make it shine

    The DT301X-TR, however, is not just a fancy conventional surveying data collector; the Intel RealSense Depth camera and DOT3D Pro software from DOT Product is the latest development to be added to the rugged tablet that makes this platform shine. This latest technology from Intel allows the user to photograph and video spaces that even the newest laser and lidar scanning equipment can’t access.

    Stereo depth modeling is enhancing the data-collection process for surveyors as a new tool to collect important information for engineers, architects and contractors. By collecting close quarters information in real time, a more complete BIM and/or “digital twin” data set can be accomplished faster and more cost efficiently than ever.

    This version of remote sensing is becoming very popular with other vehicles and platforms (such as UAVs), yet being integrated into a single unit with GNSS capability is key to making the DT301X-TR a game changer.

    The divide between the macro (GIS mapping) and micro (traditional surveying) of spatial data collection is closing, but it will take some time before satisfying the surveying community. The DT301X-TR is closing that gap by marrying the accuracy of GNSS measurement with the precision of 3D analyzation technology.

    DT Research began by creating a bulletproof tablet made for durability and dependability, but has raised the bar with a state-of-the-art satellite measurement module and remote-sensing capability through the RealSense camera system.

    Wrapping all this technology into a rugged unit running on an industry-standard software platform, DT Research has provided an insight to what the future of data collection looks like, no matter what profession one is in.

  • On the cusp of 2020: From Y2K to today’s technology

    On the cusp of 2020: From Y2K to today’s technology

    Image: GPS.gov
    Image: GPS.gov

    As we close the book on 2019 and head into the next decade, much has changed during the 2010s and the 21st century. This article will focus on the technological changes that made a significant impact on the surveying world, with the biggest advances being specifically GNSS-based improvements.

    No, we will not debate the true beginning of a century (Jan. 1, 2000, versus Jan. 1, 2001), but instead look at the predicted issues with computers and the Y2K hysteria leading up to the end of 1999 as part of our nostalgic tour.

    For the millennials and Gen-Z readers, bear with us old-timers for a few paragraphs while we take a trip down memory lane.

    The tale of two centuries…

    “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way — in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only.”

    In 1859, Charles Dickens wrote this opening paragraph for his well-known novel, “Tale of Two Cities,” to describe two environments (in this case being London versus Paris) at a significant transitional time. Such was the case for surveying and technology in the late 1990s with the rapid utilization of GNSS technology, expanded capability of robotic equipment and data collection. Some practitioners were excited about the new century while others yearned for bygone eras of less complicated procedures.

    “Gonna party like it’s 1999…”

    A 1999 Gateway PC refurbished by LRG. (Screenshot: LRG video, click to view)
    A 1999 Gateway PC refurbished by LRG. (Screenshot: LRG video, click to view)

    With apologies to the late singer Prince and his 1982 hit song, the news surrounding the year 2000 was bleak when it came to computers and technology. For many of our readers, the technology available in 1999 might seem like the Stone Age. Most homes still used telephone land lines, “state of the art” cellphones were being produced by Nokia, personal computers (manufactured by Dell, Gateway, HP and IBM) were utilizing Pentium III processors (at a whopping 450 MHz!) with 5-10 GB storage. Internet Explorer was the web browser of choice, and Napster was gaining users exponentially sharing music downloads. Google was only one year old but rapidly replacing AltaVista and WebCrawler for our internet search engines. Life seemed good, but a storm was brewing…

    The Y2K bug was front and center in all media outlets as many computerized systems were not programmed with the year 2000 in mind. This issue was unique in that it was a software and hardware problem to address. Replacement or patching of software, while taking a significant amount of time and money, can be much easier than computers and hardware loaded with chipsets that cannot be reprogrammed.

    The Napster logo
    The Napster logo

    Most system programming utilized a two-digit year designation instead of a four-digit version (99 versus 1999) and thus a date entry for January 1, 2000, normally composed as 1/1/00 in older systems would be recognized as January 1, 1900, instead. Because of this situation, many experts were predicting a global meltdown with government, utility company and banking disruptions that would render most computer systems unusable.

    In the United States alone, over $100 billion was spent on computer upgrades and troubleshooting of the potential crisis. Thankfully, most of these systems had already been taken offline and replaced, but a few still lingered in critical systems. Because of pre-Y2K upgrade planning, many systems were tested and proven to be immune from the potential crash.

    Specific Y2K issues that took place within the U.S. satellite system were isolated mostly to the units dedicated to surveillance, and not the navigation section used by surveyors. There was a small issue with the U.S. Naval Observatory, in which the date was deemed to be “Jan. 1, 19100” but that was rectified quickly.

    The U.S. spy satellites, however, were knocked out by a faulty software patch rather than the original programming. These units were producing unusable information for three days before programmers were able to fix the problem. Imagine if that situation had happened to the navigational satellites and was impacting surveyors; we can only hope the GNSS system would have simply provided obvious bogus information.

    Embracing RTK

    By 1999, surveying had begun to embrace RTK systems for everyday measurement needs. Because of the constant focus of GPS technology moving forward, the operating systems for RTK were ahead of the curve for the Y2K issue. Fortunately, the navigational satellites as mentioned above did not fail with the date and time issues that were being predicted.

    Logo of the now-defunct U.S. government Y2K website.
    Logo of the now-defunct U.S. government Y2K website.

    The Y2K bug did, however, affect a few users of older technology and software. Older data collectors, including ones based upon handheld calculators, were susceptible to date issues. Systems that were designed in the 1970s and ’80s should have been replaced with newer technology before 2000, but old surveyors stick to the adage: “If it isn’t broke, don’t fix it!”

    For many, it wasn’t simply an upgrade in technology, but more of a radical change in known processes and procedures. New instruments and data collectors required new computers, which required new software, which required learning a completely new system.

    Handheld GPS technology, introduced in the mid-1990s, was beginning to grow as the general public was embracing the new ability to determine geographical positions. While their use is quite simplified by today’s standards, nonetheless these devices captured the tech lover’s need for more accurate location determination.

    In the end, Y2K wasn’t nearly the technological apocalypse many educated minds feared. While there were a few isolated incidents worldwide, everyday life went on without much of a blip on the radar. Planes didn’t fall out of the sky; financial systems didn’t come crashing down and life went on. Thankfully, surveyors everywhere went about their business on Monday, Jan. 3, 2000 as if nothing happened.

    Then 20 years go by…

    The new millennium has brought the surveying community many new exciting technologies and vast enhancements to age-old procedures. Field book notes has been mostly replaced with electronic data collectors, cellphone cameras and point clouds. Data is efficiently transferred between field and office with a remote connection and a blink of an eye. These past 20 years has seen a landslide of technological improvements, yet the future looks incredibly bright with more to come.

    With the new year and decade, let’s look at where we are today and what advances we are anticipating:

    GNSS CAPABILITY

    • GPS (Global Positioning System)  began working in the U.S. in 1978 and as a true global system in 1994. This system was originally designed to work strictly for the United State military, but was discovered to have consumer applications shortly after implementation. There are currently 30 operational satellites in the GPS constellation with two (2) Block III versions being evaluated at press time. A total of ten (10) Block III satellites are planned to be operational by late 2023 or early 2024. These Block III versions will have an enhanced signal capability (L5 band) and will provide more accuracy and increased protection from jamming and spoofing.
    • GLONASS (GLObal NAvigation Satellite System) is the navigation system designed and implemented by Russia. This system was deemed operational in 1993 and currently has 28 operational satellites. Most surveying equipment in the United States has GLONASS tracking capability to greatly increase the accuracy and precision of most GNSS receivers.

      China launched two more BeiDou satellites on Aug. 25, 2018. (Photo: CCTV)
      China launched two more BeiDou satellites on Aug. 25, 2018. (Photo: CCTV)
    • Galileo is the satellite constellation system created by the European Union. It reached limited capability in 2016 with full expanded reach targeted for 2020. However, the reliability of the system is now in question as a total system outage occurred for seven days in July 2019. The satellites themselves were operational; it was the main control center that experienced the shutdown during a system maintenance upgrade. The overall integrity of the system has been restored and the planned rollout of full operational capability is still scheduled for 2020.
    • BeiDou, the national navigation system of China, has achieved 35 operational satellites with 13 additional vehicles currently being evaluated for implementation. With the increased number of satellites, many GNSS receiver manufacturers are including BeiDou as standard channel reception to greatly increase accuracy and precision for navigational purposes.
    • Two additional regional systems, QZSS (Quasi-Zenith Satellite System) from Japan and IRNSS (Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System) from India are currently working to install more satellites and provide navigation signals soon. Because these are regional systems, access to these signals for U.S.-based surveyors will not be available.

    In 20 short years, we went from having two good systems to four very robust systems and two regional organizations.

    While it is still unclear how political relationships will affect the ability to use a system from another country, the simple fact is that more vehicles in space will only increase the coverage, reliability and effectiveness of GNSS navigational data. Increased signal type and strength will also provide many benefits, so surveyors should look forward to even better GNSS days ahead.

    ADDITIONAL CELLPHONE CAPABILITY

    Several increases in cellphone technology will greatly enhance not only the consumer’s use of GNSS but the surveyor’s. This involves a two-step increase in value with the rollout of 5G signal technology and dual-frequency GNSS receiver hardware within the cellphone.

    5G is being introduced in various markets around the country, but won’t see full potential until 2021 and beyond. Those who can use it in the short term will see greater bandwidth for data connectivity, but surveyors will start utilizing navigational enhancements because of the signal and transmitter technology.

    Photo: Broadcom
    Broadcom’s latest dual-frequency chip. (Photo: Broadcom)

    Add to this mix the future implementation of dual-frequency GNSS chipsets to provide much more accurate location, and the surveyor will have more data-collection power in their pocket. Dual frequency was a gamechanger for GPS receivers in their infancy, so one can only imagine how much it will enhance the navigation accuracy when included in the cellphone.

    REAL-TIME NETWORKS (GNSS)

    Most urban and suburban surveyors already enjoy the benefit of a real-time network, either from a private or public system. With 5G and expanded use of more satellites and L5 signal, the RTN will become a better tool for surveyors everywhere. A reduction of setting up a base station increased productivity, less theft and less equipment costs. The RTN will become a standard operational tool just like having a total station in your survey rig.

    DATA COLLECTORS

    Photo: Spectra Geospatial
    Photo: Spectra Geospatial

    The technology hasn’t stopped with the unveiling of new data collectors and platforms. Small handheld devices used to rule the field surveyor’s world; now those devices have become bigger and more advanced than ever.

    While most collectors already had touchscreens, the actual screen is increasing in size and functionality. Some are adopting the tablet-style format (8- and 10-inch screens), others are incorporating larger screens (7 inches) within the body of the traditional collector. All of them are including better cameras and enhanced connection capability through Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and cellular methods.

    Also catching on is the use of bring-your-own-device (BYOD) with specialized apps for connecting to newer GNSS receivers. This allows surveyors to keep down costs of equipment by not having to purchase a dedicated data collector. As mentioned previously, once the cellphone becomes equipped with 5G and/or dual-frequency GNSS, it will become an excellent system for surveying that will produce extraordinary value for the surveyor.

    SPATIAL DATA

    The biggest revolution for surveyors in the coming years will be the ability to collect spatial data through a variety of equipment and sensors. Besides the obvious explosion of UAV capability, the small-format laser scanner is becoming user- and drafter-friendly as well as much more affordable. Now a surveyor can perform dozens (if not more) of small area scans with simplified orientation and scan formatting to create a great looking point cloud for data extraction and/or Building Information Modeling (BIM). Surveyors are beginning to understand how to utilize this technology and data to reach inaccessible areas and densified regions quickly. In addition to scanning technology, SLAM (simultaneous localization and mapping) will also become more mainstream as more surveyors are adopting the method for data collection.

    What we’ve learned

    “The days are long, but the years are short.” – Gretchen Rubin, author

    Gretchen hit the nail on the head, as these past two decades have rolled on. When the end of 1999 was upon us, it seemed to be a big deal because of the potential of Y2K issues. There we were, surveyors with exciting technology in our hands, and now the forefathers of computers were going to erase it all due to not looking ahead to the next century.

    We easily got past it, yet the memories of Y2K still linger on for some of us. The jump to 2010 didn’t foreshadow any drama (other than climbing out of a recession) and I personally didn’t think any different while moving the calendar to January 2020. But somehow in the last few months of 2019, there were many stories about the Y2K predicament, and it rekindled old memories of those weeks leading up to January 1, 2000.

    Long story short, we survived and lived to survey many more days. Having time to look back and compare where we were 20 years ago to where we are now, I find it simply amazing. No, Rick Deckard isn’t flying by in his car catching bad guys (Blade Runner was set in 2019!), but surveying continues to amaze me with continued technological changes.

    I wonder what the next 20 years will bring.

  • New developments coming with the NGS 2022 datum change

    New developments coming with the NGS 2022 datum change

    Heraclitus (Photo: NPR.org)
    Heraclitus (Photo: NPR.org)

    A famous quote applies to almost everything in our lives: “There is nothing permanent except change.”

    This well-known saying is generally credited to the Greek philosopher Heraclitus (500 B.C.E.), although many historians and philosophy experts tend to agree the quote is a combination of many topics found in writings by Heraclitus.

    However the quote came to be, it aptly describes the world we live in; especially now with lightspeed advancements in technology. Change is markedly evident in today’s surveying world, and almost no practitioner is exempt from revolutionary enhancements and necessary upgrades to stay current in our profession.

    Change is on the horizon

    Photo: Trimble
    Photo: Trimble

    The upcoming NGS 2022 datum change, triggered by advancements in positional accuracies and measurement techniques, has quietly created a groundswell of questions, concern and curiosity of how and why we are at these crossroads. In my September 2019 Survey Scene article, we discussed the background behind the necessity of the upgrade and moving toward a standardized measurement unit, (the “foot”). (For purposes of this article, let’s put aside any mention of using the meter/metric system; the U.S. went down that road in the late 1970s / early 1980s, yet crashed and burned upon implementation. I agree the meter is a more practical unit of measurement, but we need to leave that talk for another day.)

    This article will be concentrating on the actual coordinate systems and how significant changes are coming for almost everyone performing surveying measurements. Yes, this means all those construction-based users of GNSS receivers and total stations performing pre-, in-progress and post- construction tasks. Our coordinate world will be turning upside down but, in this case, it will be changes for the good.

    Origins of X/Y (otherwise known as Northing/Easting)

    We have another philosopher to credit for the concept of coordinate geometry; he is the French scientist Rene Descartes (1596-1650) who was heavily influenced by Plato.

    While he may be more well known for his famous quote “I think, therefore I am,” Descartes created what is believed to be the first graphical depiction of geometrical expressions and assigning coordinate values to the results; hence the background behind “Cartesian coordinates.” It is this coordinate system that was utilized by late 1800s/early 1900s surveyors who began using this system to create small networks within urban settings, including New York City, Cincinnati and Atlanta.

    As economic expansion continued through the Great Depression and beyond, the need for larger survey networks became more evident. The first state plane coordinate system (SPCS) began in North Carolina in 1933-34 with more states quickly falling in behind them. The main force behind this effort was the U.S. Coastal & Geodetic Survey (now known as National Geodetic Survey), as they utilized many surveyors and engineers that were unemployed due to the Stock Market Crash of 1929 and Great Depression. Technology for the era was limited to theodolites and steel tapes, with most computations being based upon triangulation.

    Enter the Electronic Age of surveying

    "Big Red" Geodimeter 4D (Photo: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)
    “Big Red” Geodimeter 4D (Photo: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)

    Positional and measurement technology remained stagnant until the 1950s and 1960s with the introduction of the electronic distance meter (EDM). Longer measurements could be made with increased accuracy and helped expand our coordinate system capabilities.

    These enhancements also led to faster expansion of a nationwide highway system (championed by President Dwight Eisenhower) by simply surveying more efficiently. It is along these highway corridors that state plane coordinate systems were expanded into remote areas and used to verify fractured SPC systems created through solar and/or astronomical means. While positional values at common monuments were found to have significant differences by today’s standards, most error was distributed throughout the network.

    Because of the work necessary to complete a survey using a SPCS, it was not practical for any non-governmental project to attempt tying into a known system. Fundamental use of coordinate geometry (CoGo) typically utilized a project base point with a low assumed positional value, (i.e. northing of 1,000, easting of 2,000).

    Most surveyors used the same coordinate values for each project and did not have any positional relationship between their projects. While the field portion of the project took a significant amount of time to traverse and collect, the office calculations and manual drafting were also tedious and time-consuming tasks.

    Prior to the introduction of the handheld calculator in the early 1970s, traverse computations were completed manually using sine/cosine/tangent tables, traverse adjustment (i.e. compass, transit and Bowditch rule) and double distance meridian (DMD) methods. Even as the programmable calculator became the computation method of choice, regularly producing survey data in SPCS was still years away.

    Along with the electronic theodolite and the personal computer with computation software, the introduction of the data collector quietly revolutionized the amount of data that could be stored and efficiently plotted for surveys. But even with the increased efficiencies, there was one big drawback to utilizing this electronic data collection with SPCS; most hardware was limited to values and significant figures not acceptable to using large coordinate values. Some tried truncating SPCS values but often found the trouble not worth the effort, not to mention having projects large enough to be affected by grid-to-ground scale factors (another topic for another day).

    Fast forward to the 1980s and the introduction of ultimate surveying black box, the GPS receiver. Positional accuracy through static GPS sessions was now better than ever and allowed surveyors to cover greater distances in shorter time periods. It was the implementation of the GPS receiver (and subsequent reduction in cost of entry for its use) that allowed the surveyor to embrace the state plane coordinate system more than ever. Also addressed with the new technology was the ability for the data collector to handle larger coordinate values with increased significant figures.

    As RTK and subsequent RTN systems have allowed for more efficient use of GNSS technology, the surveying profession has now overwhelmed the existing monument network and exposed the deficiencies of NAD83 and our various SPCS zones nationwide. NGS has done an excellent job for many years refining and adjusting the national datums (both horizontal and vertical) by augmenting the systems with new data and “turning the screws” as deemed necessary to provide a reliable network.

    If it is not broken, why fix it?

    The existing SPCS zones and overall NAD83 system works well but we will need to circle back to the quote in the opening paragraph: “There is nothing permanent except change.”

    Research, not just completed by NGS but many other respected agencies and laboratories worldwide, has shown that our existing datums have significant flaws due to many factors. These factors include, but are not limited to, tectonic plate shifting, previous survey data that doesn’t meet today’s positional and measurement standards, and limitations in terrestrial measurements.

    We are overdue for an upgrade to the national system and design of new policies and procedures has taken time and lots of hard work. NGS has created a new framework that will adapt to the changing needs of a state and/or regional authority.

    But what does this mean for the surveyor, the contractor and anyone else in the geospatial world that uses state plane coordinates for the basis of data?

    Image: National Geodetic Survey (Michael Dennis)
    Image: National Geodetic Survey (Michael Dennis)

    As discussed in the last article, NGS has been busy creating a new framework with a proposed implementation of 2022-2023. While NGS is creating the specifications, policies and procedures for the new system, it will be up to each state to decide if they want to keep their existing SPCS zones, change to a new scheme, and/or request that additional smaller zones be included for consideration. NGS, in keeping with existing policy, will work with each state to update their SPC definitions, but only if the state engages NGS during the setup period. Otherwise, NGS will apply the new datum specification to the existing zone(s).

    What does this mean to the everyday surveyor?

    For an example on how a state can revise their SPCS, let’s use Illinois and its plan to revise current zones. Illinois currently implements a two-zone system (East and West, lengthwise through the state) based upon a transverse Mercator projection.

    For several years, GIS users and other agencies have discussed creating a single-zone system across the entire state for ease of use. Because of the size of the state and availability of RTN coverage to some remote areas, the realization of this new system has been on hold. Also, it is understood the distortion in data accuracy across a system this large would not be suitable for survey-grade applications.

    Forward to 2019 and the NGS datum upgrade along with a substantial effort by several equipment manufacturers to install CORS stations across the state for broader RTN coverage (and the not-too-distant future rollout of 5G cellphone service). RTN coverage for mapping grade data collection is now readily available nearly everywhere in Illinois, so the potential of a single-zone system is now not far-fetched.

    It should be noted that if Illinois decides to convert to a single-zone system, NGS will only recognize that system for future computations and documentation and the two-zone system will be scrapped. It will fall to each practitioner to convert their existing data and projects to the single-zone system if they choose to use it, but it will have some drawbacks due to the distortion of the larger system.

    Image: National Geodetic Survey (Michael Dennis)
    Image: National Geodetic Survey (Michael Dennis)

    Enter the low distortion projection (LDP) system. Like other states, Illinois is discussing a potential LDP system containing 32-34 regions statewide for more accurate coordinate system development. These regions are being studied to concentrate on larger urban centers and areas where growth potential is predicted. Regions such as the Chicago, St. Louis and Peoria metropolitan areas are being highlighted for major LDP system use by not just surveyors but government and GIS analysts.

    Having a coordinate system with less distortion and more accuracy can provide more reliable information for the survey but also provide more value for the residents and businesses. By concentrating the coordinate system on smaller areas through an LDP, surveyors will literally be using a communal network like their old calibrated or localized network systems of days past. The coordinates will still be large but the integrity of the data will be higher due to the reduced distortion of the system projection.

    This system will also virtually eliminate the need to have a grid-to-ground scale factor because of the lack of distortion. So we will now have a large statewide system for mapping and smaller regional systems for accurate survey data going forward; sounds like a good plan, right?

    Making a significant change increases our capabilities

    Not to sound like a broken record, but let’s revisit the quote by Heraclitus one more time: “There is nothing permanent except change.”

    Most people don’t like change, even if it is for the better. Surveyors are notoriously famous for not wanting change. Many surveyors I know would not embrace early GPS not simply due to cost, but more of not understanding how it works. They also didn’t understand how to embrace state plane coordinates and having survey data that will be compatible with their competitors. Most of those surveyors now are using it, but only because the data collectors have become more user friendly.

    But why will this change be harder for most? Depending on where one is and how their state is going to adapt will affect that change. If your state is not changing any zones, they will have a -2 to +4.5-meter coordinate shift depending on where they are located. For states like Illinois and potentially changing from two zones (East and West) to a single zone and dozens of regional LDP systems, it will be a bit harder to translate all your existing survey data to the new systems if necessary.

    There are several potential pitfalls in front of us if we aren’t careful. Here are a couple of scenarios to consider:

    Image: National Geodetic Survey (Michael Dennis)
    Image: National Geodetic Survey (Michael Dennis)
    • Understanding the general change in datum values
    • Converting old data to new system for reuse (additional time consideration)
    • For practitioners working in several LDP regions, emphasize the importance of correct zone
    • Software and equipment firmware updates
    • Older unsupported data collectors
    • Compatibility with current and archived GIS data
    • Conversions of government agency-specific data and benchmark

    Major milestone dates:

    • Establishing a date in which all new survey data will use the new datum
    • Establish a date in which all design projects will utilize the new datum
    • Establish a date when all construction layout will utilize the new datum

    These zone/LDP system changes also will be affected if your state is currently recognizing the U.S. Survey Foot and will be changing to the “foot” per my last article and ongoing NGS discussions. That change will also precipitate additional review and care for compliance of any old data to new systems.

    As creatures of habit, change and adaptation moves us forward

    Here’s the bottom line: We need to make this change in order to efficiently address future mapping needs and positional accuracies. Because of technology and evolution of measuring devices, we now know there are other factors that play into our coordinate systems.

    As the world becomes more reliant on digital data and information, it will be critical that the right geospatial information is tied to it. There is nothing permanent except change, but change can also be for the better.