Measuring a Changing Mountain a Challenging Mission to New Zealand’S Highest Peak

A Publication for Geospatial Professionals • Issue 2014-2

Measuring a Changing Mountain A Challenging Mission to New Zealand’s Highest Peak

Flying Over Canada’s Oil Patch Bright Ideas for Solar Energy New Applications for Image Analysis

The Next Disruptor technology&more technology&more Welcome to Technology&more!

Deartechnology&more Readers, I am always impressed by the variety of people, places and opportunities • NEW ZEALAND pg. 1 that make up the world of geospatial information. Working in far corners and High Altitude widely varied environments of the planet, Measurements geospatial professionals are in a unique position to capture and share information about our environment, history and achievments. It’s a compelling and fasci- nating business. • UNITED STATES pg. 6 In this issue of Technology&more, we present stories that illustrate the broad A New Angle on impact that geospatial technologies have Chris Gibson: Vice President Scanning on the professional and social world. The stories show how ingenuity and flexibility combine with multiple technologies to produce new, sometimes unexpected, approaches to meeting the needs of our clients and projects. We’ll travel to the highest mountain in the Southern Alps to see how a team of university researchers respected indigenous traditions while gathering essential • SPAIN pg. 8 geospatial information. In a visit to Spain, we meet an archaeologist who takes advantage of measurement, communications and information Modern Archaeology management technologies to provide powerful new tools for researchers in archaeology and paleontology.

Near Chicago, we meet a surveyor who turns things upside down in using 3D scanning. The results provide information that will help project managers and contractors avoid surprises on a complex water project far underground. And we’ll get to know a surveyor in Dubai who infuses his • ITALY pg. 12 projects with deep experience and drive for precision. Preserving a Historic We’ll also learn about an innovative use for geospatial information in Bridge renewable energy, where a solar energy provider uses image analysis from Trimble® eCognition® software. The result is a simple online tool that provides homeowners with detailed information and cost savings estimates for installing solar panels on their homes. It’s an application that illustrates how the power and flexibility of imaging can penetrate Published by: deep into our societies and economies. Trimble Engineering & Construction 10368 Westmoor Drive If you’d like to share information with Technology&more readers Westminster, Colorado 80021 about your own innovative project, we’d like to hear about it: just Phone: 720-887-6100 email [email protected]. We’ll even write the article for you. Fax: 720-887-6101 Email: [email protected] Remember to make plans to attend the Trimble Dimensions Interna- tional User Conference, to be held November 3–5, 2014, at the Mirage www.trimble.com Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. Last held in 2012, the conference had Editor-in-Chief: Shelly Nooner the largest attendance in its history, attracting more than 3,500 people Editorial Team: Lea Ann McNabb; Ynez-Bernadette Belwan; from over 80 countries. The 2012 conference offered a wide variety of Lee Ann Fleming; Jocelyn Delarosa; Grainne Woods; training and networking opportunities that included more than 480 ses- Anke Seiffert; Lindsay Renkel; Kelly Liberi; Jessica Sebold; sions as well as multiple daily events. We’re planning many new options Echo Wei; Maribel Aguinaldo; Stephanie Kirtland; for 2014 and we hope you’ll be able to join us. If you want to learn more, Survey Technical Marketing Team please visit us online at www.trimbledimensions.com or email us at Art Director: Tom Pipinou [email protected].

And now, enjoy a new look to the future with this issue of © 2014, Trimble Navigation Limited. All rights reserved. Trimble, the Globe & Triangle logo, eCognition, RealWorks, and Yuma are trademarks of Trimble Navigation Limited or its subsidiaries, registered Technology&more. in the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Access, Floodlight, GeoXH, GPScorrect, NetR9, Positions, VX, and Zephyr are trademarks of Trimble Navigation Limited or its subsidiaries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Chris Gibson Cover photo: Pascal Sirguey technology&more technology&more

COVER STORY technology&more Worthy of the Mountain: A GNSS Survey of New Zealand’s Aoraki/Mt Cook

Photo: Nicolas Cullen

“Aoraki/Mount Cook is the highest peak in all In 2013, Otago MSc student Sebastian Vivero, supervised by of New Zealand, a mountain with tapu (sacred) Dr. Pascal Sirguey and Prof. Sean Fitzsimons, embarked on a project to measure changes in Tasman Glacier. With support status and of supreme importance to local Maori. from GNS Science of NZ, Vivero collected GPS coordinates And our team follows in the footsteps of many from all climbing shelter huts in the area. These ground dedicated surveyors before us. This mountain control points enabled the team to triangulate a 2008 aerial deserves the effort that it took to validate its survey and generate a photogrammetric 3D model of the height to the best possible accuracy.” area. – Dr. Pascal Sirguey, Research Team Leader The model had sub-meter accuracy and the team made a surprising discovery—that the summit of Aoraki/Mt Cook was n late 2013, researchers from the Survey School at New now just 3,724 m (12,218 ft)—30 m (98 ft) lower than the 1991 Zealand’s Otago University embarked on a physically post-avalanche estimate. Idemanding survey to validate the height of New Zealand’s highest mountain and confirm the accuracy of a photogram- A Daunting Climb metric 3D model. The research team met with local Maori to propose an ambitious project to validate the newly discovered height. It Rock Avalanche! would involve a physically demanding ascent of the mountain On December 13, 1991, Aoraki/Mt Cook measured 3,764 m in order to perform a GNSS survey at its peak. Following the (12,349 ft). But the very next day a massive avalanche of consultation, the team agreed to not step on the tapu (sacred) 3 3 approximately 14 million m (490 million ft ) of rock travelling summit of Aoraki. Instead they would measure a control point up to 200 km per hour (120 mph) plunged down the mountain’s about 45 m (150 ft) north from the highest point to validate the eastern face. The cascade carried with it a portion of the 3D photogrammetric model. mountain’s summit. Aoraki/Mt Cook is a challenging, often dangerous peak Following the avalanche, new aerial photos were taken of the with dynamic glaciers and steep ice and rock faces. New summit area. The Department of Survey & Land Information, Zealand’s temperate maritime climate and the geography now Land Information NZ (LINZ), reassessed the height of the of the Southern Alps create changeable alpine weather. And summit by tying the updated photos to the triangulation of a because Aoraki/Mt Cook’s summit is less than 20 km (12 mi) comprehensive 1986 aerial survey that included ground points. from the Tasman Sea, sudden, severe storms are common. A new official height of 3,754 m (12,316 ft) was estimated.

-1- Technology&more Dr. Sirguey created two teams of two, with each team comprising one professional mountain guide and one person—also an experienced mountain climber— responsible for gathering the data. If one team could not perform the ascent—due to, for example, inclement weather or injury—the other should still be able to complete the survey. The National School of Surveying, GNS Science, LINZ and the Federated Mountain Clubs of NZ provided financial support for the climb, while sponsor Southern Approach Ltd. provided each team with a GoPro camera to document the attempt.

The research team flew by helicopter to Plateau Hut, which is situated on Mt Aoraki at 2,200 m (7,200 ft). Shortly after midnight on November 23, 2013 the four climbers left the hut to begin the 1,500 m (4,900 ft) climb to the summit.

A Unique Survey for the Mountain’s Unpredictability Each team carried a lightweight Trimble R10 GNSS receiver programmed to log data every five seconds from the moment it was powered on until its batteries died. No controller or other equipment was required.

Says Dr. Sirguey, “Due to the risks of bad weather and After the December 1991 avalanche the mountain’s summit retained a thick injury, we had no idea how long our guys would be able ice cap that was out of balance with the new shape of the ridge. to stand on the summit, or if they would even make it. Photo: Ian Owens So we planned for each team to simply set the receiver in place at the top of the mountain for a minimum of destination 10 hours after leaving the hut. Nicolas Cullen 20 minutes, and then again at one backup point on and Jim Anderson immediately spiked the two Trimble R10 their downward climb. In between, the receivers would receivers into the ice cap then powered them on for the continuously log data, even while our guys descended, static survey. to ensure that a long enough session was captured for postprocessing.” Once complete, the team carefully negotiated their descent, eventually reaching the Plateau Hut 18 hours Aoraki/Mt Cook granted the teams good weather and a after first heading out and with two successful static trouble-free climb, with all four men safely reaching their surveys completed.

A Trigonometric Tribute

The Aoraki/Mt Cook project included a trigonometric survey performed as a tribute to the surveyors who came before. Second-year surveying student Tyler Hager, with sponsorship from LINZ, used a precision theodolite to gather trigonometric observations from several locations with a line of sight of the summit.

Hager took advantage of new technologies such as GIS and geo-visualization to help identify appropriate viewing points. Even so, Hager’s measurements reproduced some of the complexities that the early surveyors encountered when estimating the height of a prominent peak.

Hager’s final height assessment was 3725.14 ± 1.38 m (12,221.6 ± 4.5 ft), which is consistent with the GNSS/photogrammetry estimate.

Technology&more -2- Photo: Unknown climber

The full team (left to right): Jim Anderson, a recent graduate from the School of Surveying and now a surveyor at Survey Waitaki; Brian Weedon, mountain guide of Mountain Recreation Ltd; Julian Thomson of GNS Science, who contributed to a visual record of the project; Pascal Sirguey (project leader) a Senior Lecturer at the National School of Surveying at Otago University; Nicolas Cullen, a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Geography at Otago University and expedition leader; and Geoff Wayatt, mountain guide of Mountain Recreation Ltd. Geoff, Brian, Nicolas and Jim made up the climbing team.

A New Official Height Back at Otago University the data was post- processed using Trimble Business Center office software. Using reference signals from nearby stations in the LINZ PositionNZ continuous GNSS network, the team achieved decimeter accuracy. The highest point the team measured on Aoraki/Mt Cook was 3,719 m (12,201 ft), which differed by less than one meter from the 3D model and was consistent with the height from the computer model. They calculated and confirmed the height of the high peak as 3,724 m (12,218 ft) above mean sea level.

Says Dr Sirguey, “It extremely satisfying to have our photogrammetric calculations validated by GPS.” He suggested that the new height can be explained by a two-decades- long reshaping process of the thick ice cap following the avalanche.

Despite its new height, Aoraki/Mt Cook re- mains the highest mountain in New Zealand, still towering above neighboring Mt. Tasman, New Zealand’s second highest peak, which is just 3,497 m (11,473 ft).

See the feature article in The American Surveyor, July 2014: www.amerisurv.com Credit: Pascal Sirguey

-3- Technology&more technology&more technology&more technology&moreWings Over Alberta

Unmanned aerial systems help reduce environmental impacts in Canada’s oil fields.

ne of the world’s six largest oil-producing nations, “We needed detailed information on the pre-construction Canada produces roughly 3.5 million barrels of oil conditions,” Robidoux said. “I had read about unmanned Oeach day. Much of Canada’s oil comes from the aerial systems (UAS) for mapping and was interested in Athabasca oil sands in Alberta, the world’s third-largest using it for Taiga.” After discussing the project with Paul proven crude oil reserve. Just over 50 percent of Alberta’s DeGraff, Vice President of International Operations for oil is produced using Steam-Assisted Gravity Drainage LW Survey Company (LWS), Robidoux was convinced (SAGD), an in-situ technique that uses a pair of parallel that UAS could provide the needed information. The wells drilled horizontally into an oil sand formation. companies agreed on deliverables that included color Because SAGD eliminates the need for open pit mining, orthophotos, a digital surface model (DSM) and infrared it presents a more environmentally friendly approach to imagery. “The high-resolution photos will let me see extracting the oil. It’s expected that SAGD will provide what is on the site,” Robidoux explained. “The area has most of the future growth in production from Canada’s been used by aboriginal groups for centuries. The ortho oil sands. imagery gives us bird’s-eye views and lets us see existing trails and try to preserve them if possible.” The Taiga Project Based in Calgary, Osum Oil Sands Corp. is a major LWS project manager Neil Robicheau conducted the in-situ oil producer. One of Osum’s projects is the Taiga field operations. Robicheau used two different UAS Project in the Cold Lake area of northeast Alberta, aircraft: a Trimble Gatewing X100 and the Trimble UX5 where Osum is developing its leases on roughly 2,600 Aerial Imaging Solution. In the field, both aircraft were acres (1,050 hectares) of land. When the Taiga is oper- controlled using the Trimble Yuma® Tablet. Robicheau ating at full capacity, Osum expects to produce 45,000 used the photogrammetry module in Trimble Business barrels per day. Center (TBC) software for office processing.

The Taiga project lies on lands that have been used by An Unusual Airspace aboriginal people for hundreds of years. Osum assigned To gain authorization for the flights, LWS worked with Aboriginal Relations Coordinator Marie Robidoux to Transport Canada to obtain a Special Flight Operations coordinate the gathering of data representing the current Certificate (SFOC), which spelled out the times and state of the site. A Canada Lands Surveyor, Robidoux dates, location and purpose of the flights as well as the needed maps and detailed information for planning and operator and type of aircraft. Robicheau needed special construction as well as archeological and environmental permission to fly the UASs in the airspace between two assessments for reclamation purposes. Although some military installations, which comprised Canada’s largest earlier high-altitude LiDAR data existed, Robidoux wanted air force base and its weapons training ground. imagery with higher resolution.

Technology&more -4- Limited by the dense vegetation at the Taiga sites, Robicheau selected five different locations from which the aircraft could cover the needed areas. A typical flight lasted 35 to 45 minutes, with the aircraft staying within 1.2 km (3,900 ft) of its takeoff site and control station.

Robicheau flew the project twice. The first flights used the Trimble Gatewing X100 to capture imagery in the near-infrared wavelengths and supply information on the site’s vegetation. The remaining flights used the Trimble UX5 to collect color images for orthophotos and 3D surface models. Robicheau compares the X100 and UX5 airframes. The UX5’s larger wing area Using the Trimble UX5 controlled by the Aerial Imaging allows for better flight performance and shorter landings. module for Trimble Access™ software, Robicheau conducted 18 flights in four and one-half days. The aircraft made the work go quickly; it needed only 10 minutes to download data from a flight and upload the next flight plan and install a freshly charged battery. Robicheau said that the short turnaround time between flights is an important aspect to successful flight operations.

In addition to the short turnaround time, Robicheau said that the ability of the Trimble UX5 to fly and land in confined areas provided needed flexibility in choosing takeoff and landing sites. “It felt like the UX5 could land on a dime,” he said. He also cited the larger, wide-angle image sensor, faster speed and longer flight endurance as contributing to LW Survey Canada Chief Pilot Zak Bland recovers the X100 after a flight. The the UX5 performance. aircraft automatically descends and lands at a specified location.

The heavy vegetation provided challenges in producing ground elevations. “With the photogrammetry, you’re getting predominantly the tree tops,” Robicheau said. “By analyzing the photography and the point cloud, we could check the areas where there was an opening and see spot elevations.”

The image resolution of 5 cm (2 inch) per pixel provided exceptional clarity and delivered resolution much higher than could be obtained from high altitude flights. “At that resolution, you can see individual leaves on the ground,” Robidoux said. She added that because the UAS captures “everything,” it eliminates missing data as the cause for revisits by survey crews. “It’s very helpful in getting additional data, Technicians prepare to launch the Trimble UX5. including information that you didn’t know you needed until after the field work was done.”

Robicheau sees the long-term potential of UAS. When combined with technologies such as mobile LiDAR, he thinks that aerial systems can dominate mapping applications. “The accuracy is there and it beats doing a whole topo with a survey crew,” he said. “The application market for this is wide open. We’re going to find ways to use it to save our clients time and money.” A colorized 3D point cloud from the Taiga site. The 3D model was developed using aerial imagery from the Trimble UX5. See the feature article in Professional Surveyor Aerial Mapping Spring 2014: www.profsurv.com

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technology&moreVertical Viewpoint Planning an upgrade to a Chicago wastewater treatment plant called for detailed data on an existing facility. An innovative surveyor used a Trimble scanner to solve a unique set of challenges.

ocated in southeast Chicago, the Calumet Water Reclama- tion Plant (CWRP) is the oldest of the seven wastewater L treatment plants operated by the Metropolitan Water Rec- lamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD). The plant is served by the Calumet Tunnel, one of four separate tunnel systems in the MWRD’s Tunnel and Reservoir Plan (TARP), a long-term project to facilitate compliance with state and federal water quality standards. A pumping station lifts the water from the tunnel to the treatment facilities on the surface. More than 110 m (350 ft) underground, large grates known as “bar screens” prevent debris carried by the water from entering the pumping equipment. Access to the screens is via a pair of vertical wet shafts roughly 3 m (10 ft) square that connect the underground facilities to a A detailed view of Ring’s system to attach the scanner to the underside of the service building at CWRP. Workers ride in a steel cage lowered cage. The instrument was attached before the cage was placed above the shaft opening. into the shafts by a crane in the service building.

In 2013, the MWRD began preparation to upgrade the bar screens and related equipment. “It’s a complicated project that will take place in tight quarters,” said Lisa Kursell, a principal mechanical engineer with the MWRD. “We want to give the contractors as much information as we can so they know what they are getting into.” Kursell said that detailed information could help MWRD control costs by reducing unexpected problems during construction. Already familiar with 3D laser scanning, Kursell knew what the technology could do in the horizontal environment of the MWRD’s tunnels. But she didn’t know how well it would work in the narrow vertical world of the wet shafts.

MWRD and its consultant, Rubinos and Mesia Engineers (RME), asked Mike Ring of Chicago–based Environmental Design International, Inc. (EDI) to look at the project. After meeting with his clients, Ring devised an approach that would use 3D laser scanning to deliver the information the MWRD needed. The deliverables called for a 3D model of the shaft and service Loaded with equipment and supplies for a day’s work, the cage is positioned over building together with horizontal cross sections at 3-m (10-ft) the open shaft prior to descent.

Technology&more -6- intervals. The MWRD would also receive vertical cross sections and photos of the shaft walls. To collect the data, Ring selected a Trimble TX5 3D laser scanner. He would process the raw data using Trimble RealWorks® software.

Ring’s first task in each shaft was to install visual scanning targets needed to combine the multiple scans covering the full depth of the shafts. Ring cut a simple stencil out of plastic and made the first of many trips down the shafts. An MWRD worker accompanied Ring in the cage on each trip into the shafts. Working at intervals of roughly 3 m (10 ft), he used white spray paint to paint four or five targets on the shaft walls at each stop. It took a full day to set roughly 180 targets in the west shaft.

The initial scanning was straightforward. Mounting the Trimble scanner on a conventional tripod, Ring scanned the interior of the service building, taking care to collect scanning data as far down into the shafts as possible. When it was time to scan the shafts, Ring needed to solve a sticky problem. He needed to mount the scanner on the cage to enable it to clearly “see” the shaft walls. To mount the Trimble TX5 to the cage, Ring took advantage of the scanner’s ability to operate in any orientation. He devised a simple method to invert the scanner and attach it to the underside of the cage, switching off the scanner’s tilt sensor to gather scans and photos without concern for orientation. “I think that the TX5—because of its size—is the right piece of equipment for an application like this,” Ring said. “I was nervous when I first mounted it upside down on the bottom of that cage—if that thing falls off it’s a lot of money literally down the drain.” Sitting safely in the cage, Ring could use a Wi-Fi connection to control the scanner with his Android smartphone.

With the scanner securely mounted beneath the cage, Ring conducted scans at roughly 6-m (20-ft) intervals; the spacing ensured sufficient overlap between scans as well as good visibility of multiple sets of targets. Ring needed 19 scans to cover the entire shaft, capturing photos as well as 3D points at each stop. To meet MWRD specifications for precision, he scanned at a density of 6 mm at 9 m (one-quarter inch at 30 ft).

The finished data set included more than 650 million 3D points and close-up photographs of the twin shafts’ walls. Ring analyzed the scans and created a publishable format so his clients could view it in the free RealWorks viewer. “They could view the scenes and actually go through and see the conditions of the walls,” he said. The final phase of Ring’s work included creating the 3D models and cross-sections. Ring used Trimble RealWorks to easily transfer the scanning data into the client’s software. The work went quickly and EDI completed their work on schedule.

Kursell said the MWRD could present the scanning data at pre-bid conferences. By using the scanning information, contractors can better understand the scope of the project and develop ideas to operate in the shafts’ tight working space. “It’s important to prevent surprises as much as possible,” she said, “and that means getting good information up front.” The scanning data will save time and money as the project moves into the bidding phase, with the real value coming during construction by optimizing contractor performance. “Difficult problems often can be solved by using technology that already exists,” Kursell added. “You just need to apply it in a different way.” As Mike Ring has learned, sometimes you might even need to turn things Top: The 3D point cloud of the east and west shafts. Cross sections and upside down. spot dimensions could be extracted from the model. Bottom: The 3D model of the service room and upper portion of the See the feature article in Professional Surveyor, March 2014 issue: wet shafts developed by EDI and V3 Consultants. The scanning data www.profsurv.com provided precision of 1/8 inch (3mm).

-7- Technology&more technology&more technology&more A New Tool for technology&more Archaeology A researcher in Spain has created a new tool to make scientific record keeping faster and more accurate.

orking on an archaeological excavation (or “dig”) can special care in determining an object’s 3D coordinates. Canals be both thrilling and tedious. A dig can reveal artifacts envisioned using the new technology of the time, personal Wand structures that provide important new information digital assistants (PDAs), to combine standardized data collection about the people who lived thousands or millions of years ago. forms with localized wireless communications. To measure an But the work to find, document and sometimes remove the object’s position, Canals’ could replace the string line grids with objects and other evidence of ancient human activity can be precise surveying equipment. slow and difficult. Workers must carefully describe and catalog all items to preserve accurate records of the site and provide Canals’ system, named ARCH-e, improved the quality of in- reliable data for subsequent scientific work. formation collected in the field while making excavation and cataloging move faster and more smoothly. The electronic One of the most important parts of an object’s archaeological data format helped to reduce errors and ensured the use of or paleontological record is its context: where it was found, in controlled protocols for registering and handling the scientific what materials, and how it relates to other objects. For example, evidence. the location of objects in relation to fire pits, graves or water sources may give clues to the activities and daily life of ancient The early development initially focused on PDAs to collect attribute humans. Similarly, paleontologists know that a fossil’s context information about the objects Canals needed to combine common can reveal as much information as the fossil itself. In the best field procedures with requirements for recording and preserving case, data from excavations should enable scientists to recon- information in a system that could work in often-challenging struct a site in three dimensions. physical environments. The advent of rugged PDAs such as the Trimble Slate controller provided the field-capable platforms Collecting context information requires the field teams to keep detailed notes on their finds. Historically, workers kept hand- written notes in field books, clipboards and binders. Site workers often collected photographs and sketches, which would later be manually matched with written records. An object’s location could be determined by using pocket tapes and hand levels to measure from reference points. In many locations, a site coordinate grid system could be marked using string lines, with the location of objects referenced to the grid squares.

While recording context and location data is an essential task, it’s time-consuming and presents opportunities for errors and missing information. Gaps and inconsistencies can degrade the historical record and introduce uncertainty into the scientific work. Antoni Canals, a researcher and professor of prehistory at the University of Rovira i Virgili (URV) in Spain, set out to improve the efficiency and accuracy of gathering data on archaeological sites.

First envisioned in 1992, Canals’ idea was to develop a system A team of archaeologists uses ARCH-e at the Atapuerca site. Collecting accurate in-situ data is an essential part of the scientific processes. to streamline onsite data collection and management, taking Photo: IPHES

Technology&more -8- The Toixoneres cave near Barcelona awaits the next round of excavation. A laptop computer acts as the field server for data collection. A single Archaeologists often work in a spider web of string lines used to provide researcher can monitor data recorded by multiple workers on a site. position reference. Photo: IPHES Photo: IPHES for the handheld software. But the challenge of implementing the When all of the information has been collected and verified collection of 3D positioning remained. on the field server, the object can be packaged for travel to the laboratory. The field system even prints labels to identify In 2009, working with Al-Top Topografia S.A, a Trimble dealer in the objects. One person at the field server can monitor data Spain, Canals was able to connect ARCH-e to Trimble robotic coming from everyone on the site. At the end of each day, total stations. This connection enabled field crews to capture an the field server database is transferred to a general database object’s location and then return to their core tasks of unearthing, off site. identifying and describing the object. The total stations provided an essential component of Canals’ comprehensive, on-site Security and reliability of the data is an essential component solution for capturing and managing scientific data. As a result, of scientific excavations. Once an object has been moved, the flow of archaeological data has transformed into a smooth, its context is lost and can’t be exactly recreated. Field teams reliable process, enabling field teams to pay full attention to the must be sure that information is complete and correct before scientific endeavors. anything is removed. In addition to descriptive records, workers can capture photographs and video using built-in cameras and The system’s success comes from Canals’ knowledge of the linking the image files to each object’s record. ARCH-e uses work processes. When a worker uncovers an artifact, he or she standardized forms and checkboxes to guide the workers in the uses a PDA to create a field record describing the artifact, its data entry process, and the daily offsite backup provides a high taxonomic identification, orientation and measurements. The level of data integrity. PDA connects to the onsite computer server via a dedicated local Wi-Fi network. A Trimble robotic total station measures the The ARCH-e system is now at work at research sites in Europe. position and sends the coordinates to the server. These include the Archaeological Site of Atapuerca, which is a World Heritage Site and among Europe’s most important archaeo-paleontological locations. The system is also operating at field projects of the Catalan Institute of Human Paleoecology and Social Evolution (IPHES).

As a researcher and archaeologist, Canals is pleased with the results. “ARCH-e represents an important approach to improve the technical and methodological system of capturing and recording field data for Pleistocene archeological excavations,” he said. “On a personal level, I have a modern tool, practical and efficient in my work. I believe that the system will improve the work of many archaeologists worldwide.”

Software for the ARCH-e PDA provides workflows customized to standard See feature in The American Surveyor June 2014 issue: protocols for archaeological information. A dedicated Wi-Fi network www.amerisurv.com connects the PDAs and surveying systems to the field server.

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technology&more

A New Light on Utility Mapping

GIS technicians in Columbia County, Georgia are Howard said that a fiber mapping crew used an under- mapping buried fiber cables as fast as they can ground-line-locating device to detect the buried fiber and walk—even in dense tree canopy. Thanks to a Trimble mark its location. Then the crew recorded the location using the handheld GeoXH unit running Esri ArcPad with Trimble GNSS solution, the county has realized a four-fold GPSCorrect™ data collection software. improvement in data collection productivity. Putting Floodlight to Work n 2010, Columbia County received $13 million to fund a The dense forest in the county had long provided challeng- broadband project to tie county buildings, utilities, schools, ing conditions for GIS technicians. Satellite shadow, caused Ilibraries and traffic control infrastructure into a common when tall buildings or dense tree canopies deflect or block communications network. The project included 350 km signals coming from GNSS satellites, was a common problem (220 miles) of buried fiber cable and five wireless relay towers that sapped productivity in GIS data collection. By using spread across the 307 square-mile (795 square-km) county in GeoXH receivers with Trimble Floodlight™ technology, which eastern Georgia. is designed to mitigate the effects of satellite shadow, county GIS technicians experienced significant improvements in Already a prolific user of geospatial technology, the county performance. GIS department was prepared to inventory the new cable during construction of the 350-km (220-mile) route. According “Before the Floodlight technology, it would take 30 minutes to to County GIS Manager Mary Howard, Columbia County’s GIS an hour just to collect a point under canopy, even with the asset inventory—developed since 1998 using Trimble GPS Trimble Zephyr external antenna,” said Howard. On some days, products—has allowed management to optimally assess canopy and satellite availability conspired to limit work to small collection areas and plan construction methodologies. At the windows during a day. time of the broadband implementation, the GIS department had just purchased several Trimble GeoXH™ 6000 handheld Using Floodlight, technicians rarely needed external antennas data collectors for other existing utility projects. The new to supplement their data collectors. In addition to improve- equipment would help solve the challenges of collecting and ments from Floodlight, data from the Trimble NetR9 GNSS managing the fiber cable data in the heavily wooded terrain. reference station enables the GeoXH to nearly double the total number of satellites used for tracking and positioning. “You The county’s upgraded GNSS capabilities also included a new don’t have to stand there and wait,” Howard explained. “It’s Trimble NetR9™ GNSS reference receiver to serve as the county amazing to see how quickly you’re receiving 10-cm [4-inch] Continuously Operating Reference Station (CORS). The perma- accuracy.” Using Trimble GPSCorrect, the GeoXH constantly nent base station broadcasts real-time correction signals for monitors the accuracy of collected positions, alerting the use in GIS and mapping as well as surveying and other appli- operator If accuracy is less than required limits. “This lets the cations. “Our GIS technicians use real-time corrections during user know to slow down or stop until signal quality improves,” data collection,” said Howard. “We have found excellent return said Howard. on investment for both staffing time during collections as well as the importance of having a reliable end-product.” County GIS/GPS Technician Ernie Phelps added that a technician could look at the display screen on the GeoXH unit to

Technology&more -10- determine what the point accuracy was at any time. According to Phelps, Floodlight technology, combined with the real-time differential corrections from the Trimble NetR9, allowed field technicians to keep moving and collect data almost continuously regardless of canopy cover. On the broadband lines, GIS technicians collected fiber location data at a rate of about 1.6 km (1 mile) every 15 minutes. That’s a pace equivalent to a brisk walk. Previously, linear GPS collection required about one hour to cover the same distance.

The system produced similar time savings in the office. After a day in the field, GIS technicians downloaded their data to a desktop computer running Trimble Positions™ software. A technician could examine the accuracy of each individual point, quickly identifying and eliminating any errors or outliers. Once the data was reviewed for accuracy, Trimble Positions added the fiber location points into the Esri GIS, checking the new data into the appropriate layer in the GIS. “For every hour we spend mapping in the field, we spend 15 minutes editing the data,” said Howard. “We are thrilled with how easy the Trimble Positions software is. It has added to our efficiency in the office and has cut the time required to process the data by half.”

The broadband cable information is a valuable addition to the county GIS. In planning new development, the county can accurately forecast the scope of work for cable relocations. And knowing the exact location of buried cables can also help prevent damage to the cables caused by construction in the fast-growing county.

Growth and development will continue in Columbia County. Thanks to its new asset inventory, Howard and her team can quickly show where the broadband cables are buried, helping management to determine the best locations for new lines. It’s all because of an accurate GIS that can be updated with a quick walk in the woods.

See the feature article in POB, April 2014 issue: www.pobonline.com

The county’s GNSS reference station provides corrections for GIS and other positioning activities.

-11- Technology&more technology&more technology&more

technology&more

Survey on the Norman Bridge

tanding at 3,343 m (10,970 ft) tall, Italy’s Mount Etna Today, unfortunately, the Norman bridge is in a state of disre- dominates Sicily and is the highest volcano in Europe. pair. A project to restore the bridge and the surrounding land- SAt its foot stretches a vast area of cultivated fields inter- scape was advanced by the Rotary Club Aetna North-West. To laced with a dense network of narrow streets bordered by the do that, a detailed scale model of the bridge was needed. dry lava stone walls typical of the area. The survey work on the Norman bridge, commissioned to Tony Travagliante’s company STAID Srl, required a quick turn- West of the volcano, the area is crossed by the Simeto River, around as the restoration project had to be delivered quickly Sicily’s largest, as well as by distinctive “lava gorges.” These and within a limited budget. impressive canyons have walls between 5 and 30 m (15 and 50 ft) tall and were formed over the millennia as the Simeto River The Survey eroded the black basalt of Etna’s lava flows. The characteristic The basalt erosion by the Troina River over the centuries interaction between sedimentary rocks and Etna’s volcanic created a 25-m-deep (80-ft) canyon beneath the Norman lava make these gorges interesting from both landscape and bridge. Today the bridge sits in an area of dense vegetation, geomorphologic points of view. including reeds and shrubs that cover part of the bridge piles and abutments. A second, more modern bridge a short dis- The land that the Simeto River crosses is also rich in history. It tance away provides a good view of one side of the medieval is dotted with numerous Roman, medieval and modern arti- Norman Bridge and the underlying terrain. facts, including the impressive Norman bridge over the Troina River, a tributary of the Simeto. Built in 1121, this humpback The main goal of the survey was to create an accurate rep- bridge is a daring feat of medieval engineering, chromatically resentation of the old bridge and surrounding area. Travagli- characterized by the alternating use of local basalt stones and ante conducted the survey using a Trimble 5605 total station white tuff, creating a very special, two-color effect. equipped with a Trimble-Geodimeter Control Unit and laser pointer. Even though a scanner would have been the ideal

Technology&more -12- solution for such a job, the dense vegetation would have added significant time to office processing and modeling of the scanned data. In order to meet the time and budget constrictions, Travagliante decided to use the Trimble 5605 instead.

Travagliante calculated that the survey would take two days to complete. Arriving on site, Travagliante and his assistant used the total station to establish a local network of five control points around the project perimeter. To do this they used a prism and two tripods (one for the instrument and one for the prism). They drove marking nails into the walkway of the Norman bridge and into the concrete curb and asphalt of the adjacent bridge. The nails allowed further resections and avoid- ed unnecessary fixed stations that, given the general layout of the site, would have imposed very small viewing angles.

The survey proved to be more difficult than expected as some points were easily accessible but many others were not. In order to collect the first points, the team needed to work on over- grown, uneven and slippery terrain. Once the instrument was in position, however, it was easier to acquire additional points. By changing the location of the total station, Travagliante could perform resections based on at least three reference points using a Survey on the prism mounted on a telescopic pole. The most difficult points to collect were on the sides of the bridge and the underlying terrain. In addition to the physical Norman Bridge difficulty of reaching these points, the thick undergrowth left only a few points visible. Moving from one instrument station to another, Travagliante collected a series of points that followed the shape of the bridge arches and abutments. He also collected points on the terrain and in correspondence to the robustness, cautiously climbed up on the total station’s case spikes of rocks. To collect ground data without walking through to continue the survey on the edge of the bridge. [Editor’s the difficult terrain, Travagliante used the Trimble 5605 direct note: This was by no means the safest way and we don’t recom- reflex measurement to measure straight to the soil. mend you try this!]

Once the control stations were established on the adjacent By the second day, Travagliante met the delivery deadline, bridge, Travagliante faced a new challenge. The guardrail of collecting 1,382 points including control points, describing the bridge was too high and blocked the instrument’s view, them through feature codes attached to each point. The data especially when aiming down towards the river. Reluctantly, was enough to accurately describe the conditions of the area. Travagliante reset the height of the tripod and, relying on its Travagliante provided the Rotary Club with 3D points, creating planimetry, perspectives and axonometry. The measurements allowed for the creation of a 3D model of the Norman bridge— the first step in the restoration of this important artifact.

Historical artifacts set within wild surroundings are a common feature in Sicily, as in all of Italy. It is difficult for any local ad- ministration to constantly check and prevent structures from falling into disrepair. In Sicily, the survey of the Norman bridge provided an accurate basis for planning needed restoration and requalification work. By using the Trimble 5605, Travagliante could overcome the difficulties imposed by the bridge’s setting and surroundings to complete the work on schedule.

See the feature article in xyHt, July 2014: www.xyHt.com

-13- Technology&more technology&more technology&more Day in the Life technology&more The Right Stuff Doing things right is not always easy. It comes naturally to a survey manager in Dubai.

uhail Tarazi can be a very demanding person. He is proud of his role as a surveyor and takes his work seriously, a trait that “Many people do not realize that Shas served him well over a career that has taken him to multiple continents. While Tarazi has worked on an impressive variety surveying is just as important as any of projects, his passion is on quality and best practices in surveying. “Every project is unique,” he explains. “They have different problems delicate profession such as a doctor, and every one of them is interesting. The solution always varies but the commonality of all these projects is that the numbers have to a scientist or a lawyer. Everything always be right.” starts with the survey.”

Tarazi grew up in Amman, Jordan where his attention to detail began as a fascination on civil projects. He became keen observer of infrastructure such as railroads and bridges. “I found these projects remarkable and I became an engineer so that I could create these marvels. It also helped that I was good in Math and Physics.” He moved to Hungary to continue his studies, graduating from the Technical University in Buadapest with a Masters degree in Civil Engineering, Major in Surveying in 1987.

Tarazi returned to Jordan, working as a Topographical Survey Engi- neer on the Zarqa River Basin Project in Jordan, one of the largest soil conservation and reconstruction projects in the Middle East. In 1993 he moved to Australia, where he worked on projects ranging from cadastral and detail surveying to as-built surveys and engineering surveying for high-rise buildings. After a few years of working for local engineering and surveying firms, Tarazi set up his own business subcontracting for a large telecommunications company. The work let Tarazi spend much of his time in the Australian outback conducting surveys for cellular communications towers. Life in Aus- tralia also helped fuel his hobby of buying and restoring old cars.

After 13 years Down Under, Tarazi moved to the United Arab Emirates, where he worked for Arabtec as chief surveyor on initial surveys of the Dubai International Finance Center and the Meydan Racecourse in Meydan City. “The curves on the racecourse made it difficult to use conventional surveying,” he said. “We needed to utilize radial methods for setting out with our Trimble S6 total stations. By loading coordinates into the Trimble controllers, the job was easier—especially when working in the high temperatures during the summer.” Tarazi’s work on Suhail Tarazi at work on a construction job. Frequent site the complex facilities reinforced his reputation and in 2008 he joined visits keep him up to date with project status and problems. Al Futtaim Carillion (AFC), a multidisciplinary engineering and construction firm working on large buildings and infrastructure projects.

Technology&more -14- Today, Tarazi is AFC’s survey manager for the Middle East and When talking about the challenges of his job, Tarazi de- North Africa, supervising a team of roughly 100 surveyors scribes issues experienced by surveyors around the world. and survey assistants. Tarazi’s experience at AFC is filled with “The most interesting challenges occur when things go world-class projects. He has supervised survey work on the Al wrong on the construction site,” he said. “It’s often due to Muneera Project, which consists of more than 1,280 residential different versions of drawings or substandard workmanship, units in 16 apartment towers together with a commercial tower but many times people try to blame the survey team.” To and retail areas. Tarazi has also worked on a major expansion prevent these issues, Tarazi’s surveyors use quality control at the Al Ain Airport as well as the Al Bahr Towers, a twin-tower sheets to track the versions and dates of the documents development to house corporate headquarters for the Abu used for the survey work. Tarazi emphasizes that there is no Dhabi Investment Council. He led the surveying work on the room for error and that he is responsible for choices that can new Al Jalila Children’s Hospital, a 200-bed, 85,000 m2 have large effects on a project. “It lies on my shoulders and (915,000 ft2) facility that is the UAE’s first hospital dedicated can be very frightening. I must make sure my decision is the to treating children. right one,” he said.

Tarazi keeps in close touch with project details. He stays in- Tarazi believes that the survey profession’s biggest challenges volved with the setup of all AFC projects, including work to stem from a lack of recognition of the role surveyors play in set initial project survey control and to conduct surveys of economic development and stability. “Many people do not pre-construction conditions. Once work is underway, Tarazi realize that surveying is just as important as any delicate pro- makes regular checks on construction progress and the work fession such as a doctor, a scientist or a lawyer,” he explains. of the AFC survey teams. He frequently works long days and “Everything starts with the survey, whether it’s the smallest puts in as much time as possible on the job sites. park, the tallest tower or the biggest stadium. It all relies on the surveying that is done perfectly to the tiniest detail.” When in the field, Tarazi uses 360-degree evaluations to get information from surveyors, contractors and other stakehold- As he looks to the end of his career in a few years, Tarazi has ers on the site. The approach lets him make sure that concerns set a good example for surveyors who come behind him. He from project owners, construction crews and surveyors are ad- stresses the need for constant education and keeping up dressed. Tarazi noted that some site visits are more interesting with evolving technologies. For himself, Tarazi will always be a than others. “We were conducting a survey for a car park on surveyor—and a compassionate one. “I would like to help out Jumeirah Beach. During the survey the police approached the in poor countries and contribute my skills where I am most crew, who were using a total station to carry out the survey needed,” he said. “That is something I am sure would give me work. But the police thought that we were spying on women the most pleasure.” Maybe he’s not such a demanding guy on the beach or taking photos of them in their bikinis.” after all.

The Meydan Race Course near Dubai. The large, complex facility provided numerous challenges for Tarazi and his teams.

-15- Technology&more technology&more technology&more Shopping for Solar Trimble solutions help consumers learn about renewable energy. technology&more

y the end of the second quarter of 2013, solar electric transitioning to solar. In addition to the real-time assessment, capacity in the U.S. reached high enough levels to power which includes the up-front solar costs and estimated energy Bmore than 1.5 million average American homes—and savings, it also provides a list of financing options, and vetted no apparent slowdown is on the horizon. manufacturers and installers for consideration. Users then simply click on the most favorable offering. Aiding this growth have been substantial decreases in solar’s “hard costs”—modules and inverters—by 60 percent since From the Ground Up 2011, government incentives, and the introduction of attractive, To supply that real-time customization required Geostellar affordable financing options. to first produce building vectors, the crucial data layer that would enable it create precise maps and 3D models of every But the same opportunities inherent in the rapid growth of county in the US. solar have also brought challenges to service providers. With hard costs at a negligible rate, solar companies and financiers Because each environment presents unique classification face fierce competition to attract and acquire customers—the challenges, Geostellar needed to have an image-analysis so-called “soft costs” of turning the solar curious into solar system that could automatically and accurately distinguish consumers—and deliver on the promise of lower energy bills. different structures from vegetative types and map out only As lead generation and customer acquisition has typically buildings. It also required a flexible system because not every followed a rather hands-on approach, companies have county has LiDAR data available. been searching for innovative and efficient ways to funnel in customers. Based on positive experience with Trimble’s eCognition object-based image analysis (OBIA) software, Geostellar chose Enter Geostellar. An online solar marketplace near Washington, eCognition for their building mapping needs. D.C., Geostellar has developed an online system that enables the solar curious to become a solar buyer as quickly and easily Although data inputs will change with geography, typically, as buying an airline ticket. once the available data is integrated, eCognition analyzes the information to first separate vegetation from impermeable Users need only provide their address and average cost of their surfaces. Then, based on height, it determines which of that monthly electricity bill, and Geostellar’s geomatics platform vegetation is grass and which are trees, and identifies what immediately runs a 3D simulation to compute how much sun are rooftops and what are roads. Then it delineates building hits their roof annually. It then automatically layers in other footprints and maps them. Those vector maps are then used data such as local utility rates, property values and incentives by Geostellar’s proprietary solar simulation engine to create programs to calculate the homeowner’s financial feasibility for and provide on-demand rooftop assessments.

Technology&more -16- “A unique strength with OBIA software is I can instruct it to of local solar installers that offer new financing products and mimic how the human brain identifies objects, so it’s better connects those seeking more detailed information to dedicated at classifying land cover,” says Dan Koopman, a spatial analyst solar guides to help them through the process. with Geostellar. “And it’s fast—depending on county size, it can take one minute to three hours on average to produce a Distributing Solar building layer. About 90 minutes of manual time equals one Driving and generating leads in the competitive solar market minute of eCognition time. That’s significant time saving.” has been a key business need for Conergy Americas network of more than 500 installer partners. A leading solar equipment To date, Koopman has mapped more than 600 counties and distributor for ten years, Denver-based Conergy recognized 33 million residential homes. the need to help reduce the soft costs for its installer network to maintain its stable growth. “With its classification capabilities, automation and flexibility, we have been able to map about 80 percent of the most In November 2013, Conergy and Geostellar officially teamed valuable solar market at one-meter resolution,” says David to create a comprehensive, nationwide solar partnership that Levine, Geostellar CEO. “That’s connected us to valuable features solar equipment packages, financing options and markets such as California, Massachusetts and Connecticut, customer acquisition programs. states that we wouldn’t have been able to do business in had we not been able to extract features automatically.” Powered by Geostellar’s solar marketplace platform, potential customers input their address, receive their solar assessment “Solarizing” Statewide and options available for purchasing a solar system or financing The ability to efficiently connect the solar curious with solar the installation with a loan or lease. They can then choose from contractors in Connecticut was an appealing prospect for a list of qualified, participating installers to do the work—the Connecticut’s Clean Energy Finance & Investment Authority installers directly receive the homeowner’s request for service. (CEFIA), a quasi-public agency designed to drive investment and the expansion of clean energy in the state. To date, 36 Conergy installers have signed on for the service, and it has become a new lead-generation tool for Conergy CEFIA wanted to better capitalize on the growth of solar itself to further build its installer customer base. by offering more financing options and transitioning its small-scale, community-driven solar campaigns to a broader, And that is, in short, what the solar industry has become— statewide approach. softening the hard costs of going solar. With technological solutions like Geostellar’s, which help to drive down the total In October 2013, CEFIA launched the GoSolarCT web portal cost of solar energy, the solar market picture may begin to using Geostellar’s platform, allowing more than one million burn even brighter. Connecticut homeowners to obtain specific data regarding their home’s suitability for solar and to compare energy and See the feature article in POB Magazine, July 2014 issue: cash savings for solar leases and loans. The site provides a list www.pobonline.com

-17- Technology&more technology&more technology&more

technology&more The New Power of Imaging

maging rovers reduce the cost of data acquisition while delivering more information than ever before. The technology will transform the businesses of I geospatial professionals. Recently we’ve witnessed the emergence of several important new technologies. Unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and new solutions for field imaging have dominated industry headlines—and rightfully so. They represent the next generation approaches to gathering accurate field data and delivering information across an expanded set of users and applications. In addition to UAS, we’ve seen cameras for terrestrial data collection integrated into total stations and handheld computers. The new field equipment and software produced new ways to capture and utilize georeferenced images. In addition to its role in documentation and visualization, imaging now serves as an important tool for precise measurement.

The growth in imaging and terrestrial photogrammetry will continue, led by new technologies such as the Trimble V10 Imaging Rover, a compact camera system that captures 360-degree digital panoramic images. When used in conjunction with a Trimble R10 GNSS receiver or Trimble S-series total station, the Trimble V10 delivers georeferenced imagery for visualization and measurement of a project site. The Trimble V10 blends into existing data collection workflows to capture in seconds information that might take hours using conventional methods.

The need for geospatial data covers a wide continuum of precision and data types. Applications such as engineering surveys and as-builts require dense sets of precise measurements and 3D positions. Mapping can use lower-precision positions but often needs more detail on objects and features. And asset management may require high levels of precision and details on features and attributes. In between these examples, the continuum is occupied by applications that require varying combinations of precision and information density.

For example, consider a survey of assets in a utility plant, where georeferenced panoramas provide a deliverable that serves a new group of consumers of geospatial information. Some data for plant engineering and asset management can be gathered using low-density scans and individual points collected using a Trimble VX™ spatial station. But panoramic images provided by the Trimble V10 bring a deeper level of information. Panoramic photos enable maintenance teams to see pictures of everything in the plant for use in mission planning, crew scheduling and estimating materials and supplies. They can view the plant virtually, using pictures to see what they need to do and plan their work accordingly.

Let’s look at a second illustration. Natural disasters such as flooding can damage roads and infrastructure. Communities need to repair or rebuild key facilities quickly, A technician uses a Trimble V10 to capture pan- which often requires detailed information on the damaged structures. Using a oramic images at an industrial facility. Photography provides accurate information on complex instal- Trimble V10 and Trimble R10 GNSS receiver, a team can visit a bridge crossing a lations while minimizing time on site and reducing flood-ravaged stream and—in just a few minutes—collect images from multiple need to work in hazardous areas.

Technology&more -18- An imaging rover provides users with a tool that can fit many needs without sacrificing precision or performance. For example, consider an as-built survey of a pipeline. GNSS can make quick work of locating the pipeline across long, open areas. But when the pipeline crosses a road, crews often must switch to a total station to collect detailed information on the pipeline structures, roadway, clearances and more. With the imaging rover, the crew can collect a handful of panoramas in a matter of minutes, enabling them to capture every feature and asset of the crossing. Not only can the pipeline engineers look at a set of points—they can see the entire scene. Later, some items important to the engineers can be measured from the photographs, potentially saving a revisit to gather the additional information.

These examples show how—by utilizing new instruments and software that integrate positioning and imaging—geospatial professionals can fill in the white space between different levels of precision and data density. Completing that continuum previously required multiple technologies and techniques. The Trimble V10 makes it possible with a single tool. Panoramic image of a flood-damaged bridge in Colorado (top) was processed using Trimble Business Center software. Individual points measured from the Because the photography is integrated into the standard photos (bottom) provided the basis for 3D modeling of the bridge structure. field workflow, field crews can collect imaging data without breaking stride. A single checkbox automatically captures images along with position. The Trimble V10 uses 12 separate cameras to collect photos, automatically combining the images to produce a single panoramic view. In the office, TBC allows panoramas to be viewed, shared and analyzed. TBC’s built-in photogrammetry functionality makes it a simple task to measure individual points.

With an imaging rover, companies can reduce field time by 30 percent or more. Field crews can plan their mission to capture images of the entire scene. More and more measurement takes place in the office, further reducing costs while leaving field crews free for other tasks. And because most of the photogrammetric processes are automated into the rover and software, the system provides short learning curves in field and office. Trimble Business Center displays the photo stations and areas of captured images. Areas of overlap can be used for measuring individual 3D points. Ultimate Flexibility—Measurement in the Office Geospatial professionals can apply the power of terrestrial locations around the bridge. They can then use Trimble Business photogrammetry in multiple ways. An imaging rover makes Center software (TBC) to measure dozens of individual 3D points it possible to achieve the accuracy and precision required for on the bridge. The points can be used to develop a 3D model of specific applications. It’s possible to quickly gather data to the bridge in SketchUp or other CAD or design software. centimeter precision and other techniques can bring precision to sub-centimeter levels. Using the same images, water engineers can examine the effects of flood scouring on the riverbed to plan for reconstruction. In Imaging and visualization will soon be a core technology in the addition to reconstruction, images and measurements can assist geospatial arena. No longer reliant on field measurements of emergency managers and flood analysts to examine the river’s individual points, geospatial professionals will be able to get behavior. Biologist and riparian teams can use the data to develop high-accuracy results from images. The benefits of reduced plans for replanting the damaged areas. All this can come from field time, increased flexibility and new deliverables will provide less than one hour of field time and a small handful of images. new opportunities and a strong competitive advantage.

-19- Technology&more technology&more technology&more PHOTO CONTEST technology&more

ur Facebook fans have spoken once again: after our editors chose the top three photos and posted them on Facebook (www.facebook.com/TrimbleSurvey), our fans chose the top two winners. First place—and a Trimble O 3-in-1 all-weather jacket—goes to “Best by a Dam Site,” which received the most Facebook fan votes. Second place—and an iPod Shuffle—goes to “Siberia.”

“Best by a Dam Site” We were tempted to call this one “Up Periscope,” but figured that might be a bit misleading. Submitted by Trey McAdams, PLS, the photo shows the Wolf Creek Dam, which forms Lake Cumberland on the Cumberland River in the state of Kentucky. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recently finished extensive repairs to the previously leaking dam. The state transportation department hired Palmer Engineering, in partnership with Qk4 Engineering, to develop a new alignment for U.S. Highway 127 that will reduce traffic on the dam. Trey and several co-workers at Qk4 spent months on the survey. When this shot was taken, Trey was locating property corners of parcels affected by the proposed new alignment. They use Trimble R8 GNSS systems and Trimble 5600 robotic total stations exclusively.

“Siberia” This image probably doesn’t fit with your personal image of Siberia—no snow, no ice, no tundra, etc. But there’s a good reason for that: it isn’t in Siberia. It’s the Siberia gold mine, north of Kalgoorlie in Western Australia, which has been the predom- inant gold-mining area in Australia since the 1880s. The Siberia is one of many mines that have been opened, worked and then abandoned when the gold is exhausted after a number of years. The photo, taken several years ago by Grant Barty, shows a cutback operation on one of the pit walls. Grant was working for the mine operator, Monarch Gold. Today, Grant is a Senior Mine Surveyor for Sinosteel Midwest, providing the survey function for two open-cut pits of the Blue Hills iron ore mine. He uses Trimble GNSS gear for all of his surface-mine operations.

Get Involved! Get in on the action! Check out Trimble Survey Division on Facebook for the next issue’s photo contest winners and vote for your choice. Or better yet—enter the Photo Contest yourself for the next issue of T&m. Send your photo at 300-dpi resolution (10 x 15 cm or 4 x 6 in) to [email protected]. Be sure to include your name, title and contact information. Good luck!

Technology&more -20- www.trimbledimensions.com [email protected] -25- Technology&more

Dimensions 2014_Ad_8.125in x 10.75in_0514.indd 1 6/9/2014 9:50:36 AM technology&more technology&more

technology&more A DAY IN THE LIFE Wants You! Whether you survey in the big city or the back country, whether you work alone or as part of a crew, on spectacular construction projects or setting up cadastre in developing countries, tell us about your day—and we may share it with others. If you’d like to be profiled in A Day in the Life, please send a brief paragraph highlighting what your day looks like with your name, contact info and a photo or two to [email protected]. We look forward to hearing from you and potentially spot- Third place photo contest winner is a Tang Dynasty structure in Shanxi lighting your “Day in the Life.” Province, China. Courtesy of Chen Huwei.

To subscribe to Technology&more for free, go to: www.trimble.com/tmmag. Contact us via email at: [email protected]. View Technology&more online at www.trimble.com/tmmag.

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