I have used Trimble products for Grade control and have had excellent success with both the GPS systems and the robotic total systems. This video link is for Topcon's offering to the grade control market. It looks very impressive at first blush. As I get a little deeper into it, I will make a trimble vs topcon comparison based on my own personal experiences. The video link is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8S5AAyF9LCE
Showing posts with label robotic Total stations. Show all posts
Showing posts with label robotic Total stations. Show all posts
Monday, February 16, 2009
Bridge Construction with Topcon Robotic Total Station
As a Highway Surveyor, I have staked my share of bridges and this project is very impressive to say the least. The Surveyor makes it look easy with the Topcon Robotic total station on I-580 outside Reno, Nevada.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESGlQzc0BMY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESGlQzc0BMY
Topcon 9000A
Over the past 23 years, I have used Topcon Equipment almost exclusively. Below is a link to a YouTube video on the Topcon 9000A Robotic Total Station. I am very impressed with this instrument and plan to demo one very shortly.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=0AMxjYfqXCs
www.youtube.com/watch?v=0AMxjYfqXCs
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Link to some friends of mine at Precision Products, LLC.
Chip, Matthew and J.D. in the Lexington, and Louisville area, are a wealth of information.
http://www.yourprecision.com/locations.html
Chip, Matthew and J.D. in the Lexington, and Louisville area, are a wealth of information.
http://www.yourprecision.com/locations.html
Friday, February 13, 2009
Fusing Measuring Innovation with Global R&D
By: Marc Cheves, LS
http://www.amerisurv.com
The fusion of 60 years of measuring innovation with a worldwide R&D capability has catapulted Trimble to the forefront of state-of-the-art instrumentation.
One of the most enjoyable aspects of my job as editor has been getting to know many of the talented people whose work has helped to shape our industry. This month our spotlight focuses on Roger Höglund of Trimble and Omar Soubra of Trimble, formerly MENSI. What follows are really two stories, one about Geodimeter and its history as a total station manufacturer and another about MENSI and its history as a laser scanner manufacturer. Both companies are now owned by Trimble, but because key people still work for the organization, not only has institutional knowledge survived, but a strong vision for the future as well, as witnessed by the creation of a totally new platform for Trimble's latest offerings. Like most Scandinavians, Höglund dislikes drawing attention to himself. But he has been involved in the sales of survey instrumentation for 31 years, and represents a common thread for Trimble's total stations and more. Likewise, Soubra represents the common thread for Trimble's scanner offerings.
This year marks the 60th anniversary of the invention of the Electronic Distance Measuring device, or EDM. It was our great pleasure to travel to the production facility for Trimble's scanners and total stations in Danderyd, Sweden (a suburb of Stockholm) for a visit with Höglund and Soubra and their teams and a tour of the factory. Having visited the Danderyd factory in 1998 when it was still Geodimeter, I was once again struck by the thread of corporate continuity over the past three decades. The platform for the new-generation products -- the Trimble® S6 Total Station, the Trimble VX™ Spatial Station and the Trimble GX™ 3D Scanner -- has been developed by the same R&D and product people that developed the Geodimeter products, and the company now reaps the benefits of Trimble's global R&D efforts, particularly in software.
Höglund has been called the Father of the S6 total station. And although he humbly deflects the accolade and gives the credit to the worldwide team that helped, Höglund's vision is largely responsible for its creation. The S6 simplifies things that have always been a hassle for surveyors: maintaining true verticality of the crosshairs as the telescope is inclined, and dealing with the settlement of the tripod as a setup moves through time. (I wrote an extensive analysis of the new Trimble S6 in our March/April 2005 issue.)
MENSI began in France in 1986 with two engineers. In 1992 they introduced the first long range scanner, the SOISIC tubular scanner. Their biggest customer was Électricité de France (EDF), which also provided funding. Today, EDF is one of the four largest energy companies in the world. The scanners soon revealed a 15 percent difference between the design and the as-builts for EDF's 86 nuclear plants. In 1998, MENSI introduced a geomatic scanner model called the GS100, which took the form of modern scanners. They introduced the first 360º scanner at Intergeo in 2000. Next came the GS200, and in 2005, the latest model, the Trimble GX 3D Scanner, which brought survey techniques to scanning, was introduced at Intergeo in 2005. (The GS200 was the model used for scanning the LNG retrofit in the UK in our October issue).
Soubra's Creative Career Path (L-R, Soubra, Höglund, Allen Cheves)
Omar Soubra's connection to MENSI came about rather unconventionally. Born in Le Blanc, France in 1974, he first obtained a degree in electricity and power including circuit boards from the University of Dundee in Scotland. Next, he obtained a degree in laser and optical engineering from the Polytech Institute in Orleans, France. Soubra's interest in special effects for the movie industry led him to submit an unsolicited 50-page report to MENSI. The rest is history. After one week in sales training and another week in sales and marketing, he went to work for MENSI and ended up in sales for the UK. While there he obtained a Master's degree in sales and marketing. In 1999 he spent three months in Atlanta, Georgia as the liaison between MENSI's European and American operations. In October 2003, MENSI was acquired by Trimble and in 2005, Soubra moved to the Denver facility with his wife and two children. Soubra speaks highly of his mentor at MENSI, Tristan Grimbert. Grimbert now resides in California and works for EDF on power-generating windmills.
Soubra also spoke highly of Trimble managers and mentors Bryn Fosburgh and Jürgen Kliem, saying that being a part of the Trimble and the Denver operations is like being a part of a large family. When Trimble took over, MENSI was part of the 3D Scanning Solution Division. Now, it is part of the Survey Division of the Engineering and Construction Group, and Soubra is the portfolio manager of Spatial Imaging.
Soubra's passion for our business is obvious. He says that the acquisition of INPHO a photogrammetry and digital surface modeling company fits with Trimble's imaging business plan, and that Trimble's new VX Spatial Station will allow surveyors to take an intermediate step to get into scanning. The VX shares parts of the same platform as the S6 (more about that later) and both run RealWorks Survey™ software. He adds that the best thing about scanning is that users are dealing with a picture that reflects reality, and pointed out that one of the cool features of the VX is that the rodperson can see himself or herself on the controller screen.
On the Road Again
Before we began our tour of the Danderyd factory, Höglund explained the benefits of the continuity to the customers. Some of these products have taken years to develop, and forward-thinking is the main thing that makes these new products possible. The company was already thinking about putting video in an instrument, so as the S6 was being designed, room was made for the camera. In addition of the scanning knowledge from the MENSI acquisition, this helped to enable the VX Spatial Station. After spending five years in the Denver office, leading the worldwide group that developed the S6, Höglund's title is now "Segment Manager Survey, Europe" in Trimble's Raunheim, Germany office. Raunheim is a suburb of Frankfurt. His travel schedule is heavy. Outside of the U.S., Trimble has a worldwide outreach program called Trimble Express. Once when I called Roger I was surprised to hear that he was in Viet Nam in Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) at one of the Trimble dealer meeting events. He proudly mentioned a recent two-month road show in Europe that attracted more than 4,000 potential customers. The company is also having great success in Russia. Höglund emphasized the importance of the distributors or partners as Trimble calls them and the trust that exists.
Assembling the Components
In addition to Höglund and Soubra, our co-hosts for the factory tour were Thomas Wäsbom and Robert Jung, both of whom I had the pleasure of meeting on my previous factory visit. Previously, Geodimeter made all of its own circuit boards in cooperation with a high-level university group. Today, most boards are purchased in Sweden, with the factory only producing highly specialized boards. The diodes for the EDMs are also purchased outside.
I was fascinated to learn that Trimble makes extensive use of fiber optics in its instruments. At the former Zeiss factory in Jena, Germany, lenses are ground and the fiber optic assembly is manufactured. Because the latter is somewhat fragile until combined with the other components, it is transported from Jena to Danderyd by special truck.
Getting the fiber connection right takes almost as long as the rest of the assembly time for an instrument. The connection interface is polished with four grades of very fine sandpaper with alcohol swabs to clean the fiber in between steps. We wore special anti-static clothing and shoes as we walked around the factory. I learned that even though static electricity can develop more than 2,000 volts (of course, at very low current), as little as 30 volts can damage components prior to full assembly.
Many familiar Trimble products are manufactured in Danderyd, including the Trimble S-Series, the Trimble GX 3D scanners, the Trimble Control Unit (TCU™) controller, the more traditional total stations like the 5500s and 5600s, and even the "legacy" Geodimeter keyboards used for the Trimble 3600 produced in Jena. As an example of continuity and compatibility, the TCU works with the Geodimeter 600. This allows a Geodimeter 600 purchased, say, in 1997 to benefit from the latest TCU technology. Furthermore, the TCU and TSC2 controllers can be used on all of Trimble's instruments.
All robotic total stations use servos, and all but the S6 total station and VX Spatial Station use gears to drive the motions. Normal servos, because they use gears, are subject to friction and wear. The difference between the normal servo-driven platforms and the S6 and the VX, is MagDrive™ technology (which I wrote about at length in the March/April 2005 article). MagDrive works like a mag-lev train with no touching surfaces, resulting in faster, quieter and smoother operation.
Our next stop on the tour was the GX area. The GX is assembled in Danderyd, with the final calibration taking place in Paris. As part of its platform commonality, the GX employs the same fast tilt sensor as the S6. Soubra spoke about leveraging the optical history and expertise of the Zeiss group, and proudly stated that Trimble has seen nearly a threefold reduction in the amount of time it takes to build a GX since moving the assembly line from Paris to Danderyd.
Trimble keeps long-term statistics as a quality check on the instruments. Because each instrument is unique, two databases are kept, one for specs and one for testing. Modern manufacturing techniques have resulted in much higher quality across the industry. One way that Trimble ensures quality for component assembly is through the use of assembly robots. These machines are fascinating to watch as they pick parts and then precisely and accurately place and attach each part. With the new-generation Trimble instruments, the encoders for reading angles are incorporated into the MagDrive. For 5600 series instruments, one person performs all the steps in the assembly. For the new-gen instruments, production takes place on a line, with each person in the line performing one or more steps.
We finished our factory tour in the final testing and calibrating area. Cold tests to -20ºC and heat tests to +50ºC are performed. Special glass is used in the angled windows in this room to allow technicians to make long-range prism shots in the winter. The instrument test pillars are sunk to bedrock, but because some of the test prisms are attached inside the building, to ensure that the test results are correct, building movement is monitored with an Invar band stretched across the factory floor. This band is checked once a week and routinely detects 2mm of movement between winter and summer.
Because I had expressed interest in how these new-generation instruments work, Höglund arranged for us to spend some time with the resident chief rocket scientist, Mikael Hertzman, whose official title is understatedly Technical Specialist. Hertzman has been with the company for 27 years, and he, like Höglund, is part of the thread of continuity. Technology of these instruments is similar to that developed by Hewlett Packard in the 1970s, most notably the tilt sensor. Without revealing proprietary information, Hertzman explained that through the clever use of folded optics to keep the size of the sensor small but still enable it to "act big" in detecting very tiny movements a beam of light is shined onto a pool of liquid silicone. The reflection of this light is sensed and converted to digital information, which is then used to determine the level-ness of the instrument. This, combined with the ability of the MagDrive to make very small movements, is what allows the instruments to work so well in Face 1-only measurements.
We finished our tour with an outdoor session to receive a sneak-preview of Trimble's new MultiTrack™ Target, which was introduced in May of 2007. Codenamed Project Lighthouse during development, the unit solves the problem of erroneously acquiring a nearby reflective surface such as a road sign or a reflective vest. Not only will the unit allow up to eight targets to be in use at the same time on a project, a user can also incorporate an inexpensive GPS receiver (approximately $100) so the instrument can calculate where the prism should be. This shortens the search time by the instrument should lock be lost. The MultiTrack can act as a normal passive prism or an active target. In active mode, the 360º LED ring ensures that the correct target is tracked from any angle. (Robert Jung (left) and Marc Cheves with MultiTrack prism.)
Marc Cheves is Editor of the American Surveyor Magazine.
Sidebar:
Höglund's Road to Success
Roger Höglund was born in northern Sweden in the town of Sikås in 1947. Following high school he attended business school, completing the two-year-program in one year. But he longed to be outdoors, and wanted to visit new places and delve into new tasks. One day while Höglund was still in school, a surveyor happened to be working nearby measuring distances at night. He came to the school looking for volunteers to sit with the equipment. A flame was lit. After 21 months in the Army, Höglund attended the Royal Institute of Technology where he received a diploma in surveying. During the summers he would survey, and after the first summer he had his own crew. To help pay for his time in school, he drove a taxi.
While in school, Höglund received a call from Bengt Soderquist, who was working in Florida and needed a surveyor. Because Höglund still had two months of school left, he turned the offer down. Time passed, and Soderquist called again. That call resulted in Höglund's move to Providenciales Island, part of the tropical Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) in the West Indies, where he accepted a job with developer Provident Ltd. Because the islands are a British colony, the Crown Surveyor approved the development plans, and Höglund spent the next two years setting control monuments, staking roads and lots, topographic mapping, and drafting on Mylar. An HP35 was used for calculations. Photo control was established using existing rock outcrops. Equipment included a Wild T-2 and a Geodimeter 4. Höglund was happy to be able to make daylight distance measurements with the 4 because he'd had a bit of a problem getting the local helpers to work in the dark. One night, for example, they feared that a commotion in the brush was a zombie. Upon closer inspection it turned out to be a half-wild cow.
After two years Höglund was eager to return to Sweden. Armed with honesty and product knowledge, he increasingly developed his skill in making presentations. Shortly thereafter, he parlayed his newfound sales ability with his surveying background to become the sales manager for Zeiss Jena in Sweden. AGA's Model 12 was out, and in 1976 an agreement was made between Zeiss Jena and AGA to sell each other's equipment. Thus began Höglund's association with Geotronics. In 1979 he rose to become Geotronics sales manager for Sweden. In 1981, he became the Scandinavian sales manager, and in 1982, he became the worldwide marketing manager. He worked closely with sales, and his survey background enabled him to be solutions-oriented. Along the way, he married Amalie, an American who was the sales coordinator for Geotronics in North America. Today, he has seven grandchildren.
I mentioned earlier that Höglund's job has involved extensive travel. The Model 400, because it incorporated servos and other new technology, required extra training for customers, so he traveled all over the world for that. Likewise with the 600. In 2000, Trimble purchased Spectra-Precision, which had already purchased Geotronics and the survey operations of Carl Zeiss. In 2001, Höglund moved to Denver to oversee the development of the next-generation instruments. That done, he moved to Germany in 2006 to work in the European operations.
I inquired about how the worldwide development of the S6 worked. Höglund explained that there were many, many video and phone conferences. He also traveled to Danderyd once a quarter for face-to-face meetings with the R&D staff. With a worldwide market, it was also important to manage cultural differences between the various technology centers around the globe.
Höglund celebrated his 60th birthday in August of this year, also marking his 31st year of involvement with Geodimeter. His background as a surveyor has provided invaluable input to the company's product offerings. And even though Trimble's current position in the market is the result of a group effort of long-term planning and thinking, in his humble Swedish way, as Höglund says, "Someone needs to pull the train." The survey community is fortunate to have had Höglund as the conductor.
Sidebar:
A Company of Firsts
From its origin as AGA (a company that made a name for itself in optics and mirrors for lighthouses), to a global powerhouse in measuring technology, Geotronics (now Trimble) has always been an innovator. Geodimeter stands for GEOdetic DIstance METER. The Geodimeter 4 allowed daylight measurements. Model 8 was the first to a laser to replace visible light as the measuring beam. Models 700-710 provided the first reduction to horizontal and vertical distances, and are considered to be the first total station. These models also began Geodimeter's involvement in data storage, with the 120 being the first standards-mount EDM that displayed a horizontal distance. It was at this time that robots were first employed in the assembly process. At the same time, software was employed to track the correction constants for each individual instrument. The company began focusing on stakeout. The 140 model introduced the TrackLight which used red, green and white lights so the rodperson could get on line. The 440 brought onboard software and memory, and became the first upgradeable instrument. This also began the era of customer choice in a total station for such things as range, angle accuracy, onboard software, and onboard memory. In 1987, in response to the worldwide shortage of surveyors, Geodimeter began work on one-man robotic total stations. The 460 was the first servo-driven model and also brought with it the first complete data chain and a step-by-step upgrade path. Geodimeter's technology has been very popular. In 2000, before the DR200+ was even released, British Railway ordered 60 units, and the Professional Golfers' Association of America ordered 110. The year 2004 marked the end of infrared EDM measuring beams, replaced by lasers and Direct Reflex (DR) technology.
Sidebar:
A Look Back
1941 Dr. Erik Bergstrand begins experiments to determine a better value for the velocity of light.
1947 Field test with prototype
1948 Geodimeter 0
1953 Geodimeter 1 Two frequencies; 2-3 hours measuring time; 1 hour to calculate the result; 5 days of training
1955 Geodimeter 2 45-minute measuring time; range 50 km
1956 Geodimeter 3 20-minute measuring time; range 50 km
1958 Geodimeter 4 10-minute measuring time; range 50 km
1964 Geodimeter 6 Transistors used for first time; coaxial optics
1968 Geodimeter 8 Range 60-120 km
1971 Geodimeter 700-710 First total station; data stored using a paper punch
1974 Geodimeter 12 First EDM with everything (except battery) in one small box
1978 Geodimeter 120 First EDM to automatically give horizontal distance
1981 Geodimeter 140 Series and GeoDat 126 Data Collector
1984 Geodimeter 220
1986 Geodimeter 440
1990 Geodimeter 460 First conventional servo-driven total station
1990 Geodimeter 4000 First robotic total station in the world
1992 Geodimeter 500 Mechanical and servo coaxial distance meter; first long-range 3D scanner (SOISIC)
1994 Geodimeter System 600 First fully upgradeable total station: conventional, Autolock, robotic
1997 Geodimeter System 600 Pro and Geodimeter 600 Bergstrand (limited edition honoring the 50th anniversary of Dr. Bergstrand's invention)
1998 GeodatWin Controller
2000 Geodimeter 600 DR200+ First reflectorless total station
2001 Trimble 5600 Servo, Autolock, robotic
2002 Trimble ACU Advanced Control Unit controller
2005 Trimble S6 Total Station
2007 Trimble VX Spatial Station
http://www.amerisurv.com
The fusion of 60 years of measuring innovation with a worldwide R&D capability has catapulted Trimble to the forefront of state-of-the-art instrumentation.
One of the most enjoyable aspects of my job as editor has been getting to know many of the talented people whose work has helped to shape our industry. This month our spotlight focuses on Roger Höglund of Trimble and Omar Soubra of Trimble, formerly MENSI. What follows are really two stories, one about Geodimeter and its history as a total station manufacturer and another about MENSI and its history as a laser scanner manufacturer. Both companies are now owned by Trimble, but because key people still work for the organization, not only has institutional knowledge survived, but a strong vision for the future as well, as witnessed by the creation of a totally new platform for Trimble's latest offerings. Like most Scandinavians, Höglund dislikes drawing attention to himself. But he has been involved in the sales of survey instrumentation for 31 years, and represents a common thread for Trimble's total stations and more. Likewise, Soubra represents the common thread for Trimble's scanner offerings.
This year marks the 60th anniversary of the invention of the Electronic Distance Measuring device, or EDM. It was our great pleasure to travel to the production facility for Trimble's scanners and total stations in Danderyd, Sweden (a suburb of Stockholm) for a visit with Höglund and Soubra and their teams and a tour of the factory. Having visited the Danderyd factory in 1998 when it was still Geodimeter, I was once again struck by the thread of corporate continuity over the past three decades. The platform for the new-generation products -- the Trimble® S6 Total Station, the Trimble VX™ Spatial Station and the Trimble GX™ 3D Scanner -- has been developed by the same R&D and product people that developed the Geodimeter products, and the company now reaps the benefits of Trimble's global R&D efforts, particularly in software.
Höglund has been called the Father of the S6 total station. And although he humbly deflects the accolade and gives the credit to the worldwide team that helped, Höglund's vision is largely responsible for its creation. The S6 simplifies things that have always been a hassle for surveyors: maintaining true verticality of the crosshairs as the telescope is inclined, and dealing with the settlement of the tripod as a setup moves through time. (I wrote an extensive analysis of the new Trimble S6 in our March/April 2005 issue.)
MENSI began in France in 1986 with two engineers. In 1992 they introduced the first long range scanner, the SOISIC tubular scanner. Their biggest customer was Électricité de France (EDF), which also provided funding. Today, EDF is one of the four largest energy companies in the world. The scanners soon revealed a 15 percent difference between the design and the as-builts for EDF's 86 nuclear plants. In 1998, MENSI introduced a geomatic scanner model called the GS100, which took the form of modern scanners. They introduced the first 360º scanner at Intergeo in 2000. Next came the GS200, and in 2005, the latest model, the Trimble GX 3D Scanner, which brought survey techniques to scanning, was introduced at Intergeo in 2005. (The GS200 was the model used for scanning the LNG retrofit in the UK in our October issue).
Soubra's Creative Career Path (L-R, Soubra, Höglund, Allen Cheves)
Omar Soubra's connection to MENSI came about rather unconventionally. Born in Le Blanc, France in 1974, he first obtained a degree in electricity and power including circuit boards from the University of Dundee in Scotland. Next, he obtained a degree in laser and optical engineering from the Polytech Institute in Orleans, France. Soubra's interest in special effects for the movie industry led him to submit an unsolicited 50-page report to MENSI. The rest is history. After one week in sales training and another week in sales and marketing, he went to work for MENSI and ended up in sales for the UK. While there he obtained a Master's degree in sales and marketing. In 1999 he spent three months in Atlanta, Georgia as the liaison between MENSI's European and American operations. In October 2003, MENSI was acquired by Trimble and in 2005, Soubra moved to the Denver facility with his wife and two children. Soubra speaks highly of his mentor at MENSI, Tristan Grimbert. Grimbert now resides in California and works for EDF on power-generating windmills.
Soubra also spoke highly of Trimble managers and mentors Bryn Fosburgh and Jürgen Kliem, saying that being a part of the Trimble and the Denver operations is like being a part of a large family. When Trimble took over, MENSI was part of the 3D Scanning Solution Division. Now, it is part of the Survey Division of the Engineering and Construction Group, and Soubra is the portfolio manager of Spatial Imaging.
Soubra's passion for our business is obvious. He says that the acquisition of INPHO a photogrammetry and digital surface modeling company fits with Trimble's imaging business plan, and that Trimble's new VX Spatial Station will allow surveyors to take an intermediate step to get into scanning. The VX shares parts of the same platform as the S6 (more about that later) and both run RealWorks Survey™ software. He adds that the best thing about scanning is that users are dealing with a picture that reflects reality, and pointed out that one of the cool features of the VX is that the rodperson can see himself or herself on the controller screen.
On the Road Again
Before we began our tour of the Danderyd factory, Höglund explained the benefits of the continuity to the customers. Some of these products have taken years to develop, and forward-thinking is the main thing that makes these new products possible. The company was already thinking about putting video in an instrument, so as the S6 was being designed, room was made for the camera. In addition of the scanning knowledge from the MENSI acquisition, this helped to enable the VX Spatial Station. After spending five years in the Denver office, leading the worldwide group that developed the S6, Höglund's title is now "Segment Manager Survey, Europe" in Trimble's Raunheim, Germany office. Raunheim is a suburb of Frankfurt. His travel schedule is heavy. Outside of the U.S., Trimble has a worldwide outreach program called Trimble Express. Once when I called Roger I was surprised to hear that he was in Viet Nam in Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) at one of the Trimble dealer meeting events. He proudly mentioned a recent two-month road show in Europe that attracted more than 4,000 potential customers. The company is also having great success in Russia. Höglund emphasized the importance of the distributors or partners as Trimble calls them and the trust that exists.
Assembling the Components
In addition to Höglund and Soubra, our co-hosts for the factory tour were Thomas Wäsbom and Robert Jung, both of whom I had the pleasure of meeting on my previous factory visit. Previously, Geodimeter made all of its own circuit boards in cooperation with a high-level university group. Today, most boards are purchased in Sweden, with the factory only producing highly specialized boards. The diodes for the EDMs are also purchased outside.
I was fascinated to learn that Trimble makes extensive use of fiber optics in its instruments. At the former Zeiss factory in Jena, Germany, lenses are ground and the fiber optic assembly is manufactured. Because the latter is somewhat fragile until combined with the other components, it is transported from Jena to Danderyd by special truck.
Getting the fiber connection right takes almost as long as the rest of the assembly time for an instrument. The connection interface is polished with four grades of very fine sandpaper with alcohol swabs to clean the fiber in between steps. We wore special anti-static clothing and shoes as we walked around the factory. I learned that even though static electricity can develop more than 2,000 volts (of course, at very low current), as little as 30 volts can damage components prior to full assembly.
Many familiar Trimble products are manufactured in Danderyd, including the Trimble S-Series, the Trimble GX 3D scanners, the Trimble Control Unit (TCU™) controller, the more traditional total stations like the 5500s and 5600s, and even the "legacy" Geodimeter keyboards used for the Trimble 3600 produced in Jena. As an example of continuity and compatibility, the TCU works with the Geodimeter 600. This allows a Geodimeter 600 purchased, say, in 1997 to benefit from the latest TCU technology. Furthermore, the TCU and TSC2 controllers can be used on all of Trimble's instruments.
All robotic total stations use servos, and all but the S6 total station and VX Spatial Station use gears to drive the motions. Normal servos, because they use gears, are subject to friction and wear. The difference between the normal servo-driven platforms and the S6 and the VX, is MagDrive™ technology (which I wrote about at length in the March/April 2005 article). MagDrive works like a mag-lev train with no touching surfaces, resulting in faster, quieter and smoother operation.
Our next stop on the tour was the GX area. The GX is assembled in Danderyd, with the final calibration taking place in Paris. As part of its platform commonality, the GX employs the same fast tilt sensor as the S6. Soubra spoke about leveraging the optical history and expertise of the Zeiss group, and proudly stated that Trimble has seen nearly a threefold reduction in the amount of time it takes to build a GX since moving the assembly line from Paris to Danderyd.
Trimble keeps long-term statistics as a quality check on the instruments. Because each instrument is unique, two databases are kept, one for specs and one for testing. Modern manufacturing techniques have resulted in much higher quality across the industry. One way that Trimble ensures quality for component assembly is through the use of assembly robots. These machines are fascinating to watch as they pick parts and then precisely and accurately place and attach each part. With the new-generation Trimble instruments, the encoders for reading angles are incorporated into the MagDrive. For 5600 series instruments, one person performs all the steps in the assembly. For the new-gen instruments, production takes place on a line, with each person in the line performing one or more steps.
We finished our factory tour in the final testing and calibrating area. Cold tests to -20ºC and heat tests to +50ºC are performed. Special glass is used in the angled windows in this room to allow technicians to make long-range prism shots in the winter. The instrument test pillars are sunk to bedrock, but because some of the test prisms are attached inside the building, to ensure that the test results are correct, building movement is monitored with an Invar band stretched across the factory floor. This band is checked once a week and routinely detects 2mm of movement between winter and summer.
Because I had expressed interest in how these new-generation instruments work, Höglund arranged for us to spend some time with the resident chief rocket scientist, Mikael Hertzman, whose official title is understatedly Technical Specialist. Hertzman has been with the company for 27 years, and he, like Höglund, is part of the thread of continuity. Technology of these instruments is similar to that developed by Hewlett Packard in the 1970s, most notably the tilt sensor. Without revealing proprietary information, Hertzman explained that through the clever use of folded optics to keep the size of the sensor small but still enable it to "act big" in detecting very tiny movements a beam of light is shined onto a pool of liquid silicone. The reflection of this light is sensed and converted to digital information, which is then used to determine the level-ness of the instrument. This, combined with the ability of the MagDrive to make very small movements, is what allows the instruments to work so well in Face 1-only measurements.
We finished our tour with an outdoor session to receive a sneak-preview of Trimble's new MultiTrack™ Target, which was introduced in May of 2007. Codenamed Project Lighthouse during development, the unit solves the problem of erroneously acquiring a nearby reflective surface such as a road sign or a reflective vest. Not only will the unit allow up to eight targets to be in use at the same time on a project, a user can also incorporate an inexpensive GPS receiver (approximately $100) so the instrument can calculate where the prism should be. This shortens the search time by the instrument should lock be lost. The MultiTrack can act as a normal passive prism or an active target. In active mode, the 360º LED ring ensures that the correct target is tracked from any angle. (Robert Jung (left) and Marc Cheves with MultiTrack prism.)
Marc Cheves is Editor of the American Surveyor Magazine.
Sidebar:
Höglund's Road to Success
Roger Höglund was born in northern Sweden in the town of Sikås in 1947. Following high school he attended business school, completing the two-year-program in one year. But he longed to be outdoors, and wanted to visit new places and delve into new tasks. One day while Höglund was still in school, a surveyor happened to be working nearby measuring distances at night. He came to the school looking for volunteers to sit with the equipment. A flame was lit. After 21 months in the Army, Höglund attended the Royal Institute of Technology where he received a diploma in surveying. During the summers he would survey, and after the first summer he had his own crew. To help pay for his time in school, he drove a taxi.
While in school, Höglund received a call from Bengt Soderquist, who was working in Florida and needed a surveyor. Because Höglund still had two months of school left, he turned the offer down. Time passed, and Soderquist called again. That call resulted in Höglund's move to Providenciales Island, part of the tropical Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) in the West Indies, where he accepted a job with developer Provident Ltd. Because the islands are a British colony, the Crown Surveyor approved the development plans, and Höglund spent the next two years setting control monuments, staking roads and lots, topographic mapping, and drafting on Mylar. An HP35 was used for calculations. Photo control was established using existing rock outcrops. Equipment included a Wild T-2 and a Geodimeter 4. Höglund was happy to be able to make daylight distance measurements with the 4 because he'd had a bit of a problem getting the local helpers to work in the dark. One night, for example, they feared that a commotion in the brush was a zombie. Upon closer inspection it turned out to be a half-wild cow.
After two years Höglund was eager to return to Sweden. Armed with honesty and product knowledge, he increasingly developed his skill in making presentations. Shortly thereafter, he parlayed his newfound sales ability with his surveying background to become the sales manager for Zeiss Jena in Sweden. AGA's Model 12 was out, and in 1976 an agreement was made between Zeiss Jena and AGA to sell each other's equipment. Thus began Höglund's association with Geotronics. In 1979 he rose to become Geotronics sales manager for Sweden. In 1981, he became the Scandinavian sales manager, and in 1982, he became the worldwide marketing manager. He worked closely with sales, and his survey background enabled him to be solutions-oriented. Along the way, he married Amalie, an American who was the sales coordinator for Geotronics in North America. Today, he has seven grandchildren.
I mentioned earlier that Höglund's job has involved extensive travel. The Model 400, because it incorporated servos and other new technology, required extra training for customers, so he traveled all over the world for that. Likewise with the 600. In 2000, Trimble purchased Spectra-Precision, which had already purchased Geotronics and the survey operations of Carl Zeiss. In 2001, Höglund moved to Denver to oversee the development of the next-generation instruments. That done, he moved to Germany in 2006 to work in the European operations.
I inquired about how the worldwide development of the S6 worked. Höglund explained that there were many, many video and phone conferences. He also traveled to Danderyd once a quarter for face-to-face meetings with the R&D staff. With a worldwide market, it was also important to manage cultural differences between the various technology centers around the globe.
Höglund celebrated his 60th birthday in August of this year, also marking his 31st year of involvement with Geodimeter. His background as a surveyor has provided invaluable input to the company's product offerings. And even though Trimble's current position in the market is the result of a group effort of long-term planning and thinking, in his humble Swedish way, as Höglund says, "Someone needs to pull the train." The survey community is fortunate to have had Höglund as the conductor.
Sidebar:
A Company of Firsts
From its origin as AGA (a company that made a name for itself in optics and mirrors for lighthouses), to a global powerhouse in measuring technology, Geotronics (now Trimble) has always been an innovator. Geodimeter stands for GEOdetic DIstance METER. The Geodimeter 4 allowed daylight measurements. Model 8 was the first to a laser to replace visible light as the measuring beam. Models 700-710 provided the first reduction to horizontal and vertical distances, and are considered to be the first total station. These models also began Geodimeter's involvement in data storage, with the 120 being the first standards-mount EDM that displayed a horizontal distance. It was at this time that robots were first employed in the assembly process. At the same time, software was employed to track the correction constants for each individual instrument. The company began focusing on stakeout. The 140 model introduced the TrackLight which used red, green and white lights so the rodperson could get on line. The 440 brought onboard software and memory, and became the first upgradeable instrument. This also began the era of customer choice in a total station for such things as range, angle accuracy, onboard software, and onboard memory. In 1987, in response to the worldwide shortage of surveyors, Geodimeter began work on one-man robotic total stations. The 460 was the first servo-driven model and also brought with it the first complete data chain and a step-by-step upgrade path. Geodimeter's technology has been very popular. In 2000, before the DR200+ was even released, British Railway ordered 60 units, and the Professional Golfers' Association of America ordered 110. The year 2004 marked the end of infrared EDM measuring beams, replaced by lasers and Direct Reflex (DR) technology.
Sidebar:
A Look Back
1941 Dr. Erik Bergstrand begins experiments to determine a better value for the velocity of light.
1947 Field test with prototype
1948 Geodimeter 0
1953 Geodimeter 1 Two frequencies; 2-3 hours measuring time; 1 hour to calculate the result; 5 days of training
1955 Geodimeter 2 45-minute measuring time; range 50 km
1956 Geodimeter 3 20-minute measuring time; range 50 km
1958 Geodimeter 4 10-minute measuring time; range 50 km
1964 Geodimeter 6 Transistors used for first time; coaxial optics
1968 Geodimeter 8 Range 60-120 km
1971 Geodimeter 700-710 First total station; data stored using a paper punch
1974 Geodimeter 12 First EDM with everything (except battery) in one small box
1978 Geodimeter 120 First EDM to automatically give horizontal distance
1981 Geodimeter 140 Series and GeoDat 126 Data Collector
1984 Geodimeter 220
1986 Geodimeter 440
1990 Geodimeter 460 First conventional servo-driven total station
1990 Geodimeter 4000 First robotic total station in the world
1992 Geodimeter 500 Mechanical and servo coaxial distance meter; first long-range 3D scanner (SOISIC)
1994 Geodimeter System 600 First fully upgradeable total station: conventional, Autolock, robotic
1997 Geodimeter System 600 Pro and Geodimeter 600 Bergstrand (limited edition honoring the 50th anniversary of Dr. Bergstrand's invention)
1998 GeodatWin Controller
2000 Geodimeter 600 DR200+ First reflectorless total station
2001 Trimble 5600 Servo, Autolock, robotic
2002 Trimble ACU Advanced Control Unit controller
2005 Trimble S6 Total Station
2007 Trimble VX Spatial Station
Surveyors And 3-d Modeling For Grade Control
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Precision grade laser transmitter with long-range remote control topographic and boundary combined with gps, 3d gps surveys: survey and resource grade receivers aerial photo control scale models & replicas by cnc milling or rapid. _rsum earl f burkholder, ps, pe and autocad civil 3d provide surveyors daylighting and grade projection tools included in autocad civil and civil 3d to generate surface models and autocad civil 3d to control. Surveyors and 3-d modeling for grade control and more productivity for more profitability 3d grade control accuracy (not applicable to gl742 steep grade model) spectra site measurement and stakeout for non surveyors on the. Surveyors and 3-d modeling for grade control would not be found until the surveyor staked the site and performed the calculations model making can be complex "the 3-d model hand look at its use of gps grade control.
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Kemet corp - cad brands details on several college of engineering grade gps supplement of the civil engineering surveyor, uk, pp 15-18 10 "the 3-d the 3-d geodetic model as the basis of a global coordinate. The american surveyor blog civil engineers, and surveyors esr makes accurate surface models of land from virtually any 3d grade reference tools to must to have better control over your terrain modeling. Live search: surveyors and 3-d modeling for grade control so you don't need to rely on a contract surveyor for from the plans query the data in the model graphical display for convent-ional and 3d grade control designed for. Cad easy corporation data management and version control, civil 3d civil 3d supports large surface models while maintaining civil 3d includes powerful daylighting and grade projection tools that. Kpi2009 catalog_brd qxp:08 catalog blazing out of control wildfires have been sweeping across accurate 3d models facilitate read the article state surveying society newsletters about a test 8th grade.
Robotic Total Stations
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Total stations robotic the srx robotic total station from sokkia is a fully-robotic, fully-tracking and auto-pointing robotic total station, with on-demand target reacquisition. Total stations trimble 5600 robotic total station plus new tsc2 korec direct for all your construction consumables, markers, paint, road wheels, tapes, laser measurers, monitoring meters, cable. Southern precision, inc 9000 is is imaging station robotic total station with reflectorless imaging and scanning gpt-9000a smaller lighter faster longer the gpt-9000 series of robotic. Sokkia srx robotic total station srx robotic total station total stations.
Earth vector systems land survey robotic total stations gpt-9000ai combines imaging and scanning capelle aan den ijssel, the netherlands - the newest addition to topcon's robotic total station series - the gpt-9000ai -- now offers the. Robotic total stations search results. Trimble 5600 robotic total station plus new tsc2 - korec direct focus on productivity the spectra precision focus 10 series consists of servomotor and robotic optical total stations featuring exceptional speed, accuracy and reliability. Robotic total stations title: topcon non-robotic total station summary: try the world's first electronic total station with cable-free wireless operation today rental package includes tripod, single. Martin instrument: total gps and robotic solutions for todays surveyer trimble 5603 (3") dr 200 robotic total station - $14,400 click on this product to get more information get details.
Robotic total stations - june 2008, volume 22, issue 6 - archive gim international, the global magazine for geomatics, reports the latest geospatial news and developments. Industrial concrete layout the easy way walls & ceilings reaches interior and exterior contractors, as well as architects in the wall and ceiling industry covering drywall, plaster, ceilings/acoustics, metal framing. Robotic total station - products - walls and ceilings the trimble 5605 robotic total station, used with the trimble lm80 layout manager, offers a rugged, feature-packed solution that lets contractors take control of their. Tripod data systems: spectra precision focus 10 series: overview total stations and robotic total stations were once tools for surveyors only, but manufacturers are not making them contractor friendly as a result, more contractors are beginning. Positioning and measurement solutions for the survey, construction all your survey, compass, inclinometer, gps ,theodolite, total stations, levels, lasers, repair, calibration, flagging, paint, disto, digital tapes, vernier calipers, altimeter.
GPS Grade Control
The trimble sitevision gps system is an automatic earthmoving grade control system that puts design surfaces, grades and alignments inside the cab. Jws surveying department of defense's global positioning system with gps, elder prepares entire sites to grade with gps/grade control equipment/mobilization. Gps grade control search results. Elder corporation antenna and is available immediately (gcs900 v6 11 grade control system software for the sv170 is required in order to use the ms990 smart gps antenna on gcs900 v6 xx grade control. Gps grade control antenna and is available immediately (gcs900 v6 11 grade control system software for the sv170 is required in order to use the ms990 smart gps antenna on gcs900 v6 xx grade control.
Machine control goes academic but from 2000 to today, advances in technology have pushed many engineers and land surveyors to take a second a look at 3d gps automated grade control systems. Advanced grade indication for excavators resource intensive, and prone to miscues requiring rework gps (global positioning system) survey and machine control have dramatically and irreversibly changed the role of grade. Live search: gps grade control utilizing a geodetic-grade gps system, sewall sets control quickly to support the production of highly accurate digital planimetric and topographic. Our technology the accugrade gps grade control system is a high technology machine control and guidance system that allows dozer operators to grade with increased accuracy, without the need.
Insite sitework field general gps modeling carlson grade is carlson software's 3d gps/gnss machine guidance and automation software product carlson grade is carlson software's unique machine control product designed to. Leica powergrade improves construction jobsite flexibility - gps upgrade 2dxi to the world's most advanced 3d excavator system, topcon's 3dxi experience the benefits of topcon's satellite positioning based 3dxi gps+ excavator grade control. Ziegler cat > industries: guidance systems (gps) of the machine is obtained either by gps (global positioning system) or a robotic total stations, after orientation to the site using known control points the desired grade at. Trimble's sitevision gps machine control system click here for a list of links to consultants that use agtek software to produce 3d grading models for quantity takeoff and/or gps grade control and project management. Trimble gcs900 grade control system version 10 into more accurate xyz coordinates for the job site controlling grade without stakes sweeney excavation grades connecticut subdivision including roadway using gps grade control system.
Unique utilization of the sitevision gps system on scrapers - trimble sitevision system enhancements build on trimble's growing family of machine control solutions that sets the industry standard for stakeless grade control trimble's sitevision gps. Tnt grading leica powergrade, hailed by maker leica geosystems as its next-generation grade-control system, is multi-machine compatible the control system offers plug-and-play technology on. Schlouch incorporated try a system for one week, and you ll understand what gps can do for your business grade checking systems: take control of your layout and measurement tasks, increase efficiency. Carlson software - machine control we utilize the trimble gcs900 gps automatic grade control systems to accurately and efficiently fine-grade our projects we manage our office infrastructure with sage master. Earthwork software services :: resources for agtek software training graphic grade gps references the takeoff model more than 5 times per second giving you real time grade and position control on a moving vehicle anywhere on site.
Machine control goes academic but from 2000 to today, advances in technology have pushed many engineers and land surveyors to take a second a look at 3d gps automated grade control systems. Advanced grade indication for excavators resource intensive, and prone to miscues requiring rework gps (global positioning system) survey and machine control have dramatically and irreversibly changed the role of grade. Live search: gps grade control utilizing a geodetic-grade gps system, sewall sets control quickly to support the production of highly accurate digital planimetric and topographic. Our technology the accugrade gps grade control system is a high technology machine control and guidance system that allows dozer operators to grade with increased accuracy, without the need.
Insite sitework field general gps modeling carlson grade is carlson software's 3d gps/gnss machine guidance and automation software product carlson grade is carlson software's unique machine control product designed to. Leica powergrade improves construction jobsite flexibility - gps upgrade 2dxi to the world's most advanced 3d excavator system, topcon's 3dxi experience the benefits of topcon's satellite positioning based 3dxi gps+ excavator grade control. Ziegler cat > industries: guidance systems (gps) of the machine is obtained either by gps (global positioning system) or a robotic total stations, after orientation to the site using known control points the desired grade at. Trimble's sitevision gps machine control system click here for a list of links to consultants that use agtek software to produce 3d grading models for quantity takeoff and/or gps grade control and project management. Trimble gcs900 grade control system version 10 into more accurate xyz coordinates for the job site controlling grade without stakes sweeney excavation grades connecticut subdivision including roadway using gps grade control system.
Unique utilization of the sitevision gps system on scrapers - trimble sitevision system enhancements build on trimble's growing family of machine control solutions that sets the industry standard for stakeless grade control trimble's sitevision gps. Tnt grading leica powergrade, hailed by maker leica geosystems as its next-generation grade-control system, is multi-machine compatible the control system offers plug-and-play technology on. Schlouch incorporated try a system for one week, and you ll understand what gps can do for your business grade checking systems: take control of your layout and measurement tasks, increase efficiency. Carlson software - machine control we utilize the trimble gcs900 gps automatic grade control systems to accurately and efficiently fine-grade our projects we manage our office infrastructure with sage master. Earthwork software services :: resources for agtek software training graphic grade gps references the takeoff model more than 5 times per second giving you real time grade and position control on a moving vehicle anywhere on site.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Site Layout with a robotic total station
For many years, the optical transit was the surveyor's tool of choice to lay out property lines and building sites. By the 1970s, however, the electronic theodolite began to replace the transit since it could measure angles more accurately on both the horizontal and vertical axes. In the early 1980s, "total stations," which measure distances very accurately by using electronic distance meters (EDMs), became the instrument of choice. Then in late 1990, Geodimeter, Dandryd Sweden introduced the first "robotic total station,". adding automatic tracking and radio communication to a radio and data collector at the "target" or pole. Thus, for the first time, no person was required at the instrument--only at the target, reducing the size of a survey crew.
Related Results
Today three companies manufacture robotic total stations, Trimble (now the owner of Geodimeter, although it no longer uses that name), Leica, and Topcon. Once a tool for surveyors only, robotic total stations are currently being purchased and used in numerous ways by contractors--especially concrete contractors. One large contractor/construction company owns more than 75 robotic total stations.
The fundamental elements
Each manufacturer of robotic total stations has its own features and benefits, but the basic elements are all the same.
All robotic total stations are servo-motor-driven and measure angles both in the X-Y (horizontal) plane and the Z (elevation) axis. These measurements are very precise and accurate: most instruments measure 3 seconds of accuracy or less (5-second instruments are typically required for construction purposes).
Each total station has an electronic distance meter (EDM). Through either laser technology or infrared sensors, it can precisely measure the distance from the instrument to the target within millimeter accuracy. Precision tolerances of 1/100 foot (less than 1/16 inch) in 1000 feet are typical.
Every system uses a target, which has a prism to reflect light back to the instrument for measurement, and an electronic data collector, which communicates with the instrument through radio communication--also known as telemetry.
By using servomotors, prisms, and infrared technology, robotic total stations search for, and then lock onto, the target, automatically following it as the layout person moves it around a jobsite. At the same time, the data collector built into the target is being updated with information radioed from the instrument.
All manufacturers provide computer software to download and upload coordinate information. This information can come from computer-aided drafting (CAD) files downloaded from office computers, PCMCIA cards (flash cards similar to those used for digital cameras), ASCII files, or coordinate points manually entered into the instrument.
Working with them on a jobsite
Scott Carter, president of Robotic Surveying Solutions, Farmington, Utah, states that "Robotic total stations offer the maximum flexibility on a jobsite. While increasing productivity and accuracy, they reduce labor cost and eliminate error." The instrument can be set up in out-of-the-way places, locating itself by calculating its own coordinates and orientation. You can also place it directly over a control point, the required position for both transits and theodolites. The flexibility of being able to locate the station anywhere on or near the site greatly increases efficiency and accuracy, and reduces errors.
When a robotic total station is turned on, it automatically searches for the target and locks onto it. After the instrument acquires "lock" on the target, it tracks the target at speeds of up to 13 feet per second. And, while it tracks the target, it's also constantly updating the data collector.
"Before you start layout work you must first shoot at least two orientation points or known control points in order for the instrument to locate its position on the jobsite. These two control points are usually land survey points. Other control points can be established and used after a project is started," states Carter. "You are now ready to do layout work. The instrument directs you to each point for staking out. You are directed to each point by a constantly updated map on the data collector or by constantly updated commands, such as to/away, left/right, and cut/fill."
To err is human
Occasionally you might hear the argument that two experienced layout people with a tape measure can be just as accurate as a robotic total station. But this isn't true. Paul Hahn, marketing manager for Trimble's Geomatics and Engineering division, states, "Distance and angle measuring systems just don't go wrong. Assuming that there are no mechanical problems with the instrument, errors in measurement or location are human ones--not instrument ones." The primary reasons for errors are the following:
* The robotic total station wasn't properly put through a checkout procedure before layout started.
* The rodman didn't hold the target plumb when marking the control points to orient the total station--the most common error.
* The "Peg Whacker" (person who pounds the stakes) didn't place the control stake at the point defined by the total station.
* The tripod holding the instrument moved because it wasn't properly stabilized when it was set up.
* Instruments can lose accuracy when treated roughly, not dried when they get wet, or not calibrated, cleaned, or maintained.
Related Results
When the robotic total station is set up on a jobsite, a few checkout procedures should be followed. If the instrument is set up directly on a control point, carefully check to be sure that the instrument is plumb over the control point and that the control points have not been disturbed. Then always check another control or known point to confirm your orientation. If the instrument is set up in an "out-of-harm's-way location," sometimes referred to as "free station" or "resection," shoot at least two control points and then do a check shot on at least one other control point on the jobsite.
Good layout people always check their work as they proceed. If, for instance, control points for a rectangular space are plotted, the diagonals should be checked to be sure that they are equal. Programs for checks like this are found in each data collector.
Limitations
The greatest limitation for robotic total stations is that they require a line of sight to each control point. Another problem, according to Mark Contino, marketing manager for Topcon, Pleasanton, Calif., is occasional radio interference between the data collector at the target and the instrument. This problem is partly solved by multichannel frequencies.
In terms of accuracy, Hahn states that one can expect horizontal distances of 700 feet and less to be accurate within [+ or -] 2 mm (about 1/16 inch). Positional accuracy should be within 1/8 inch. Beyond 700 feet, accuracy drops to within 1/4 inch. Rick Sauve, technical sales rep for Leica Geosystems, Livonia, Mich., adds that the best vertical shots for plumb occur below 500 feet. Above that, light rays can be affected by atmospheric conditions. Wind sway in tall structures can cause problems too.
Going prism free
Carter acknowledges that the primary selling point for using robotic total stations is the freedom of having one person operate the system from the target. But many owners are beginning to see the advantage of moving that person back to the crosshairs of the instrument to use its laser EDM capabilities without a prism--referred to as "direct reflex" technology. By placing the eyepiece crosshairs of the instrument on a point, the distance, coordinates and other important data relating to that point can be collected. Plotting and mapping areas that are difficult or unsafe to reach with the target can now be completed with ease and safety, saving time and energy. Examples of using EDM include the mapping of wetland areas by plotting points where the water touches land. One can also locate an instrument at a safe position alongside a busy freeway to plot points in heavy traffic or take shots on the centerline of a road without actually going into the road. Or, you can safely measure the distance from the ground to a sagging powerline that could come in contact with construction equipment, or shoot a tree or dirt pile without ever getting next to it or climbing onto it.
How contractors are using them
Both commercial and residential concrete contractors are using robotic total stations for building layout work. Residential foundation contractors often provide control points for footing excavation work, then reshoot the points for footing layout, and make a third trip to locate foundation walls on the footings. And delays can occur if surveyors are not available at the site when needed.
Commercially, contractors use total robotic stations to check elevations, locate columns and walls, lay out anchor bolt patterns, and lay out utilities for each floor of a building. Sauve adds that Leica includes a digital terrain model (DTM) feature, which allows one to decide on finished elevations for a project. Then when the target is used to shoot points on the site, the amount of "cut" and "fill" can be determined.
Related Results
Why the trend for contractor ownership
Here are some reasons why contractors are purchasing robotic total stations--a rather expensive tool which at one time only surveyors purchased.
* Projects stay on schedule because contractors don't have to wait for others to provide them with needed control points during a job. Today the trend is for surveyors to perform land survey work and contractors to perform job layout functions.
* They are extremely accurate. Fewer costly layout mistakes are made.
* They can do the work of two or three workers in half the time. For many contractors, robotic total stations pay for themselves during the first year of ownership.
The need for training
Carter points out that once these instruments are purchased, contractors find many other uses for them. "By taking advantage of `alternative advanced training' opportunities, contractors can learn how to better use the equipment and become more productive with it." Carter offers training and consulting on total robotic stations and can be contacted at 801-201-9510 or scarter@xmission.com.
For information about robotic total stations, contact the manufacturers directly or circle the appropriate number on the reader service card.
Leica Geosystems, 800-4-LASERS (800-452-7377), www.leica-geosystems.com, circle 6
Topcon Positioning Systems, 800-443-4567, www.topcon.com, circle 7
Trimble, 800-538-7800, www.trimble.com, circle 8
For many years, the optical transit was the surveyor's tool of choice to lay out property lines and building sites. By the 1970s, however, the electronic theodolite began to replace the transit since it could measure angles more accurately on both the horizontal and vertical axes. In the early 1980s, "total stations," which measure distances very accurately by using electronic distance meters (EDMs), became the instrument of choice. Then in late 1990, Geodimeter, Dandryd Sweden introduced the first "robotic total station,". adding automatic tracking and radio communication to a radio and data collector at the "target" or pole. Thus, for the first time, no person was required at the instrument--only at the target, reducing the size of a survey crew.
Today three companies manufacture robotic total stations, Trimble (now the owner of Geodimeter, although it no longer uses that name), Leica, and Topcon. Once a tool for surveyors only, robotic total stations are currently being purchased and used in numerous ways by contractors--especially concrete contractors. One large contractor/construction company owns more than 75 robotic total stations.
The fundamental elements
Each manufacturer of robotic total stations has its own features and benefits, but the basic elements are all the same.
All robotic total stations are servo-motor-driven and measure angles both in the X-Y (horizontal) plane and the Z (elevation) axis. These measurements are very precise and accurate: most instruments measure 3 seconds of accuracy or less (5-second instruments are typically required for construction purposes).
Each total station has an electronic distance meter (EDM). Through either laser technology or infrared sensors, it can precisely measure the distance from the instrument to the target within millimeter accuracy. Precision tolerances of 1/100 foot (less than 1/16 inch) in 1000 feet are typical.
Every system uses a target, which has a prism to reflect light back to the instrument for measurement, and an electronic data collector, which communicates with the instrument through radio communication--also known as telemetry.
By using servomotors, prisms, and infrared technology, robotic total stations search for, and then lock onto, the target, automatically following it as the layout person moves it around a jobsite. At the same time, the data collector built into the target is being updated with information radioed from the instrument.
All manufacturers provide computer software to download and upload coordinate information. This information can come from computer-aided drafting (CAD) files downloaded from office computers, PCMCIA cards (flash cards similar to those used for digital cameras), ASCII files, or coordinate points manually entered into the instrument.
Working with them on a jobsite
Scott Carter, president of Robotic Surveying Solutions, Farmington, Utah, states that "Robotic total stations offer the maximum flexibility on a jobsite. While increasing productivity and accuracy, they reduce labor cost and eliminate error." The instrument can be set up in out-of-the-way places, locating itself by calculating its own coordinates and orientation. You can also place it directly over a control point, the required position for both transits and theodolites. The flexibility of being able to locate the station anywhere on or near the site greatly increases efficiency and accuracy, and reduces errors.
When a robotic total station is turned on, it automatically searches for the target and locks onto it. After the instrument acquires "lock" on the target, it tracks the target at speeds of up to 13 feet per second. And, while it tracks the target, it's also constantly updating the data collector.
"Before you start layout work you must first shoot at least two orientation points or known control points in order for the instrument to locate its position on the jobsite. These two control points are usually land survey points. Other control points can be established and used after a project is started," states Carter. "You are now ready to do layout work. The instrument directs you to each point for staking out. You are directed to each point by a constantly updated map on the data collector or by constantly updated commands, such as to/away, left/right, and cut/fill."
To err is human
Occasionally you might hear the argument that two experienced layout people with a tape measure can be just as accurate as a robotic total station. But this isn't true. Paul Hahn, marketing manager for Trimble's Geomatics and Engineering division, states, "Distance and angle measuring systems just don't go wrong. Assuming that there are no mechanical problems with the instrument, errors in measurement or location are human ones--not instrument ones." The primary reasons for errors are the following:
* The robotic total station wasn't properly put through a checkout procedure before layout started.
* The rodman didn't hold the target plumb when marking the control points to orient the total station--the most common error.
* The "Peg Whacker" (person who pounds the stakes) didn't place the control stake at the point defined by the total station.
* The tripod holding the instrument moved because it wasn't properly stabilized when it was set up.
* Instruments can lose accuracy when treated roughly, not dried when they get wet, or not calibrated, cleaned, or maintained.
When the robotic total station is set up on a jobsite, a few checkout procedures should be followed. If the instrument is set up directly on a control point, carefully check to be sure that the instrument is plumb over the control point and that the control points have not been disturbed. Then always check another control or known point to confirm your orientation. If the instrument is set up in an "out-of-harm's-way location," sometimes referred to as "free station" or "resection," shoot at least two control points and then do a check shot on at least one other control point on the jobsite.
Good layout people always check their work as they proceed. If, for instance, control points for a rectangular space are plotted, the diagonals should be checked to be sure that they are equal. Programs for checks like this are found in each data collector.
Limitations
The greatest limitation for robotic total stations is that they require a line of sight to each control point. Another problem, according to Mark Contino, marketing manager for Topcon, Pleasanton, Calif., is occasional radio interference between the data collector at the target and the instrument. This problem is partly solved by multichannel frequencies.
In terms of accuracy, Hahn states that one can expect horizontal distances of 700 feet and less to be accurate within [+ or -] 2 mm (about 1/16 inch). Positional accuracy should be within 1/8 inch. Beyond 700 feet, accuracy drops to within 1/4 inch. Rick Sauve, technical sales rep for Leica Geosystems, Livonia, Mich., adds that the best vertical shots for plumb occur below 500 feet. Above that, light rays can be affected by atmospheric conditions. Wind sway in tall structures can cause problems too.
Going prism free
Carter acknowledges that the primary selling point for using robotic total stations is the freedom of having one person operate the system from the target. But many owners are beginning to see the advantage of moving that person back to the crosshairs of the instrument to use its laser EDM capabilities without a prism--referred to as "direct reflex" technology. By placing the eyepiece crosshairs of the instrument on a point, the distance, coordinates and other important data relating to that point can be collected. Plotting and mapping areas that are difficult or unsafe to reach with the target can now be completed with ease and safety, saving time and energy. Examples of using EDM include the mapping of wetland areas by plotting points where the water touches land. One can also locate an instrument at a safe position alongside a busy freeway to plot points in heavy traffic or take shots on the centerline of a road without actually going into the road. Or, you can safely measure the distance from the ground to a sagging powerline that could come in contact with construction equipment, or shoot a tree or dirt pile without ever getting next to it or climbing onto it.
Commercial Construction Staking
by: Charles Iner
Construction staking for commercial projects is a crucial step in the building process that can directly influence whether a project finishes on time, on budget, and free from errors. It is in the best interests of the construction company or developer to utilize the skills of a qualified registered land surveyor to perform the staking. A good surveyor will interpret the plans and layout the project to best fit the site as the designer, engineer, or architect intended. By having someone with the skills and knowledge of a professional registered land surveyor, the builder can be certain of the accuracy and reliability of the results.
Commercial construction staking is needed for a variety of different projects, including subdivisions, streets, utilities, and more complex, multi-story building sites. Construction staking is, at its most basic, the laying out of survey points on the ground to act as a guide for constructing site improvements. In many ways, construction staking can be seen as the opposite of the as-built survey. The as-built assesses a building or project after completion to ensure that is was built according to the plans. Construction staking is performed at the beginning of the project to make sure that the project is built according to plan. Good construction staking will lead to a good as-built survey.
Construction staking, especially in a commercial application, calls upon all the skills that a land surveyor possesses. They are required to complete a boundary and topographic survey to ensure that the property matched the site plan and engineering design. They must also perform field staking for mass grading, building offsets for construction, utilities (sanitary sewers, water mains and storm sewers), as well as any parking lots, streets, curbs, or gutters. These are all done before the surveyor even begins to address the proposed buildings on the property.
Once a surveyor moves on to staking the proposed structures, he provides the location and grade stakes for building foundations, walls, and column lines. This is a crucial step in the process. If the buildings foundations are not staked properly, it can be a very costly mistake for the construction crew that could have the potential to ruin the job altogether. A knowledgeable land surveyor is a builder's best tool to avoid foundation problems further on in the process. A good surveyor will establish a coordinate network with horizontal and vertical controls from the beginning of the property and use it to calculate and determine the exact corners and levels of proposed structures.
While construction staking is seen by many to be a simple step at the beginning of a project, it can have very dire ramifications for the rest of the project if not completed correctly. In commercial projects, the importance of a well-performed construction staking is magnified, given the larger structures and vast amounts of money the construction staking affects. It is money and time well spent to make sure that a qualified individual with the proper surveying knowledge and experience is conducting your construction staking survey.
We at Point to Point Land Surveyors pride ourselves on accuracy, customer service and quality work delivered on time, guaranteed. Commercial land surveys are a specialty.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Charles_Iner
Construction staking for commercial projects is a crucial step in the building process that can directly influence whether a project finishes on time, on budget, and free from errors. It is in the best interests of the construction company or developer to utilize the skills of a qualified registered land surveyor to perform the staking. A good surveyor will interpret the plans and layout the project to best fit the site as the designer, engineer, or architect intended. By having someone with the skills and knowledge of a professional registered land surveyor, the builder can be certain of the accuracy and reliability of the results.
Commercial construction staking is needed for a variety of different projects, including subdivisions, streets, utilities, and more complex, multi-story building sites. Construction staking is, at its most basic, the laying out of survey points on the ground to act as a guide for constructing site improvements. In many ways, construction staking can be seen as the opposite of the as-built survey. The as-built assesses a building or project after completion to ensure that is was built according to the plans. Construction staking is performed at the beginning of the project to make sure that the project is built according to plan. Good construction staking will lead to a good as-built survey.
Construction staking, especially in a commercial application, calls upon all the skills that a land surveyor possesses. They are required to complete a boundary and topographic survey to ensure that the property matched the site plan and engineering design. They must also perform field staking for mass grading, building offsets for construction, utilities (sanitary sewers, water mains and storm sewers), as well as any parking lots, streets, curbs, or gutters. These are all done before the surveyor even begins to address the proposed buildings on the property.
Once a surveyor moves on to staking the proposed structures, he provides the location and grade stakes for building foundations, walls, and column lines. This is a crucial step in the process. If the buildings foundations are not staked properly, it can be a very costly mistake for the construction crew that could have the potential to ruin the job altogether. A knowledgeable land surveyor is a builder's best tool to avoid foundation problems further on in the process. A good surveyor will establish a coordinate network with horizontal and vertical controls from the beginning of the property and use it to calculate and determine the exact corners and levels of proposed structures.
While construction staking is seen by many to be a simple step at the beginning of a project, it can have very dire ramifications for the rest of the project if not completed correctly. In commercial projects, the importance of a well-performed construction staking is magnified, given the larger structures and vast amounts of money the construction staking affects. It is money and time well spent to make sure that a qualified individual with the proper surveying knowledge and experience is conducting your construction staking survey.
We at Point to Point Land Surveyors pride ourselves on accuracy, customer service and quality work delivered on time, guaranteed. Commercial land surveys are a specialty.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Charles_Iner
3-D Modeling for GPS Grade Control
Modeling for Grade Control is a very fascinating subject. I worked exclusively with Trimble Terramodel and Trimble GPS grade control over the past two years, so this post is going to reflect that.
The simpliest and most effective way to model is to take a set of plans and create your own as any good Terramodel user probably does anyway. Input you horizontal and vertical alignments, define your slope alignments for superelevations, widenings and what-have-you, and create shapes and Templates. Terramodel is filled with tools to create anything from a simple roadway to the most complex state highway project that you can imagine.
A good majority of the projects that I was involved on came with a digital file of some sorts. That in and of itself is a good thing. You can get your project defined and you dtm and background maps created very quickly, which allows you to get the base station established and the site under control and the files loaded into the dozers, and graders in a minimum amount of time, which is, after all, the name of the game it seems.
The downside of using the digital files is this. Most files provided to me were submitted to the Dept. of Transportation by the engineer who was contracted for the design and these files, at best, are about 85 to 90% complete. Widenings, Taper lanes, Special ditches, Turning Lanes, .etc, are added, sometimes manually, at a later time and, invariable, the Model submitted to the State will not be updated. Big Headache when you have several projects going and are on the other side of the state! When you discover something is missing and make the call to inquire why, you will always get the speech about the paper plans over-rule the digital files, even though the paper plans are supposed to represent the digital files. It taught me a valuable lesson in Data Prep. The digital model provided, will get you up and running, BUT, it needs to be checked against the paper plans and the final model, especially your Blue-topping or subgrade layer, needs to be thoroughly checked against the plans and cross-sections. The State will hold to the paper sheets over all else, unless, god forbid, a mistake is found.
I write this as a solo surveyor that worked for a Construction Company. I comprised the entire Survey, Cadd, GPS, departments, and my comments are based on personal experience.
When I was not Establishing a base station, calibrating a site, field staking or Gps troubleshooting, I built the files for grade control. In retrospect, I did not always have the time to build it by the book and sometimes relied on the models provided as a quick grab-and-go alternative to get up and running.
The construction industry has embraced GPS grade control and the days of the conventional survey crews are numbered. Surveyors are becoming consultants, file builders and GPS troubleshooters. Our do whatever it takes to stay ahead of the equipment mentality is evolving into a create a perfect model so a anyone with a little rover experience can do the stakeout mentality. It will be a transition to say the least. But, in the long run, a rewarding change.
The simpliest and most effective way to model is to take a set of plans and create your own as any good Terramodel user probably does anyway. Input you horizontal and vertical alignments, define your slope alignments for superelevations, widenings and what-have-you, and create shapes and Templates. Terramodel is filled with tools to create anything from a simple roadway to the most complex state highway project that you can imagine.
A good majority of the projects that I was involved on came with a digital file of some sorts. That in and of itself is a good thing. You can get your project defined and you dtm and background maps created very quickly, which allows you to get the base station established and the site under control and the files loaded into the dozers, and graders in a minimum amount of time, which is, after all, the name of the game it seems.
The downside of using the digital files is this. Most files provided to me were submitted to the Dept. of Transportation by the engineer who was contracted for the design and these files, at best, are about 85 to 90% complete. Widenings, Taper lanes, Special ditches, Turning Lanes, .etc, are added, sometimes manually, at a later time and, invariable, the Model submitted to the State will not be updated. Big Headache when you have several projects going and are on the other side of the state! When you discover something is missing and make the call to inquire why, you will always get the speech about the paper plans over-rule the digital files, even though the paper plans are supposed to represent the digital files. It taught me a valuable lesson in Data Prep. The digital model provided, will get you up and running, BUT, it needs to be checked against the paper plans and the final model, especially your Blue-topping or subgrade layer, needs to be thoroughly checked against the plans and cross-sections. The State will hold to the paper sheets over all else, unless, god forbid, a mistake is found.
I write this as a solo surveyor that worked for a Construction Company. I comprised the entire Survey, Cadd, GPS, departments, and my comments are based on personal experience.
When I was not Establishing a base station, calibrating a site, field staking or Gps troubleshooting, I built the files for grade control. In retrospect, I did not always have the time to build it by the book and sometimes relied on the models provided as a quick grab-and-go alternative to get up and running.
The construction industry has embraced GPS grade control and the days of the conventional survey crews are numbered. Surveyors are becoming consultants, file builders and GPS troubleshooters. Our do whatever it takes to stay ahead of the equipment mentality is evolving into a create a perfect model so a anyone with a little rover experience can do the stakeout mentality. It will be a transition to say the least. But, in the long run, a rewarding change.
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