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Leica Geosystems TruStory : A model for an effective system

Challenge Provide an effective and easy to use RTK GPS system for the Channel Islands.

Company Digimap Ltd

Date - 1999 - 2005

Project Summary Instruments Leica SR530 base stations with Leica AT504 choke ring antennas Leica SR530 GPS Rovers The use of Leica Geosystems has Jersey recognised the need for highly Leica SmartRover (ATX1230 antenna & created an easy to use and accurate satellite positioning systems RX1250 controller) reliable solution for the people of for both the maintenance of their Leica TCRA1205 Total Station the Channel Islands. People just respective Digital Mapping and for Leica GPS Spider Software switch on the rover and go - the benefit of local businesses. Offices: without having to worry about As the Channel Island local GIS Guernsey - Old Gsy Tobacco Factory, Base Stations specialist company and Leica La Ramee, St Peter Port, Guernsey GY1 2ET Geosystems reseller we, at Digimap, and The Channel Islands consist of Jersey, have been instrumental in providing Jersey - Chamber House, 25 Pier Road, Guernsey, , , , the required solution ably assisted St. , Jersey JE1 4HF. and other smaller islands. by the Leica Geosystems sales and Benefits of Leica Geosystems' RTK GPS They are located in the English support staff. • Simple to use Channel, nestled in the Bay of St • Highly accurate Malo, just 25 from and The Channel Island GPS system • Low cost of rover operation 60 miles from the south coast of consists of a base station in each . The States of Jersey and the of the major Islands, Jersey and separately govern Guernsey wholly owned and the Islands, not as part of the United maintained by the respective Kingdom but as Crown Governments. The base stations are Dependencies. To give an idea of sited on points that have been very their size Jersey is approximately accurately surveyed and are key as 45 sq. miles and has a population of they tie all the satellite about 90,000, Guernsey is 25 sq. measurements in to solid local miles and has a population of references. The base stations receive around 60,000. Because of their signals from the available satellites relative independence, each Island then transmit an error correction has to maintain an administration factor, once a second, on a private “Leica Geosystems has provided the and infrastructure that is effectively frequency to roving units which in foundation for all the GPS systems in the Channel Islands”. self sufficient. Not necessarily by turn produce highly accurate growing all of its own food but positional measurements. Basic Colin S. Le Conte, Digimap Ltd. certainly by creating a business and GSM access is of course also Managing Director social environment, which can render available, although the Islands do each fiscally independent. benefit from virtually 100% island coverage with the radios and using During recent years, the Guernsey the available repeater units. States and more latterly the States of Probably the biggest other users “This will effectively allow us to survey of the base stations are the all of our underground water mains Utilities. They are all at various without digging up the roads, a very stages of digitizing their records efficient and cost effective alternative. and the use of RTK GPS has been In fact so problematic was a full Island a major benefit to the accurate survey previously, it was not really a recording of asset location, most practical proposition.” of which are of course buried in Architects and surveyors in Guernsey the roads. Andrew Redhead, Head have for some time been utilising the of Guernsey Water said “we have GPS equipment to plot sites and two rover units and collect developments around the Island. They information everyday. The are able to integrate the GPS data accurate positional record of our obtained with the vectorised Guernsey assets will help to locate our Sean Harvey of the States of Guernsey map data, thereby making their work- distribution pipes in the future, using the first Leica Geosystems rover in flow much more efficient and advise other utilities where they the Channel Islands in 1999 competitive. Their opposite number in are and ultimately reduce the Jersey have recently had made extent of road closures”. The Leica Geosystems base stations available, an equivalent set of the were primarily set up to assist the The States of Guernsey Mapping Jersey map data. Digimap in Jersey has States' mapping Departments with have recently purchased the new a Leica Geosystems GPS roving unit the Digital Mapping updates. As the Leica TCRA1205 series reflectorless available for hire and commercial Channel Islands are not part of the Total Station. David Wakeford, surveying is now being undertaken by (or indeed the EU), Administration & Systems Manager various surveying concerns. they have to provide their own says “The new Total Station The Governments of Guernsey and updates to their excellent digital complements the RTK GPS very Jersey have been visionary enough to maps. David Wakeford of the States well and allows us to record highly see the potential benefit of combining of Guernsey Digimap Service and accurate information on local the groundbreaking technology of Leica Ralph Buchholz of the States of properties, often without having Geosystems GPS equipment with the Jersey Mapping, lead their respective to walk on their land.” accurate digital mapping resource that Island mapping projects. They each Jersey Water has now also each Island has produced and owns. have small surveying and GIS teams, purchased the new cable free who are continually gathering new Leica SmartRover. This equipment and amended information to update stands to revolutionise the way in the mapping data sets. This process which the position and details of ensures that the mapping is dynamic the distribution apparatus is and able to provide very current and recorded. Initially they intend to accurate information to all the start a rolling program surveying all businesses and local government of the Sluice Valve boxes on the agencies that now rely on the Jersey system. These boxes are integrity of the surface mounted in the roads and map data to not only mark the position of the continue their valves but more importantly, give own effective the line of the connected operations. distribution main. The recorded GPS points can be laid over the existing digitised network on the digital map and the relative valves The new Leica and mains can then be shifted into GPS1200 series is position. Peter Redmond the proving to be Monitoring & Systems Engineer of Ben Carruthers of Leica Geosystems training popular with Jersey Water says: Peter Redmond of Jersey Water to use the local users Leica SmartRover RTK GPS.

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