Synchronize Spring 2009 Survey Newsletter

The Survey newsletter from KOREC SPRING 2009

synchronize

Inside this issue - Coastal Monitoring with Trimble GPS

KOREC announces second substantial Highways Agency order KOREC has won a second substantial order from the Highways Agency for the supply of surveying instruments.

The Highways Agency, which is responsible for England’s motorways and major A roads, has invested an additional £600,000 in total station and GPS receivers. KOREC was approached by the Highways Agency to tender for Trimble S6 DR (Direct Reflex) Total Stations and Trimble R8 GNSS receivers which will be used by Police Collision Investigation Units across the country as part of the Highways Agency’s heavy investment to ensure that Police Forces are equipped to carry out their survey work quickly and accurately with minimum road closure time.

In 2008, many Police Forces selected KOREC’s ‘Integrated Surveying Solution’ of Trimble S6 DR Total Stations and Trimble GNSS R8 Rovers. Recent reports of a marked increase in productivity since the introduction of these new systems has led the Highways Agency to continue its investment by replacing any remaining older, less productive total stations, with Trimble S6’s.

Liz Talbot, Traffic Incident Management team leader, Highways Agency, said “We have continued our investment following the success of last year’s roll-out of equipment.

The equipment reduces the amount of time it takes for the Police to conduct their investigation, on average by 30 minutes. Using this new equipment the Police are able to do this more quickly but without compromising the quality of the data they collect. It has made a real difference to re-opening roads more quickly. We are committed to working with the police to make the roads safer and making journey times more reliable for road users.”

Measured Solutions Construction | Surveying | Mapping

KOREC and Trimble are delighted to announce full GNSS RTK network correction data availability throughout Great Britain.

Based on Trimble’s unrivalled VRS technology, users can access a full GNSS Network correction data solution. Trimble VRS Now is the first and only service providing this capability in Great Britain and Ireland.

This GNSS capability provides users with correction data for the maximum number of satellites, thereby aiding operation in areas of limited ‘sky’ visibility such as urban canyons or high foliage environments. Using both GPS and GLONASS satellites can improve productivity by reducing the time required to achieve centimetre-level RTK accuracy initialization.

The additional functionality is provided at no additional cost for all Trimble VRS Now subscribers.

NEW RELEASE iScope real-time tracking option for Trimble VRS Now users - see inside

Trimble VRS Now - full Nationwide GNSS Coverage

The Trimble S6 – improving productivity at crash scenes for Police Collision Investigation Units across the country

For further details, please contact your KOREC Survey Sales Consultant.

SPRING 2009

synchronize

KOREC News -

Trimble GPS steals prime time TV slot!

It’s not often that a selection of survey kit gets the chance to feature on prime time TV, but with the return of Channel 4’s Time Team earlier this year, Trimble instruments were once again in the spotlight. Now in its 15th year, the new series covered locations from every corner of the British Isles and many different time periods. During filming, we caught up with Dr Henry Chapman who is principally responsible for all the surveying of the excavated trenches, artefacts and geophysics and much filmed with a variety of Trimble instruments. ….and during filming?

My role during the filming is dominated by surveying, reacting to the needs of the moment, and ensuring that all information is recorded onto the computer so that maps can be printed out at any time. Maps of the 'current state of play' are useful since they can influence the planning process. But for the rest, every site is different. Sometimes I'll be spending time generating a 3D model of the wider landscape and analysing it to find routeways or visibility patterns between sites. Other times I'll be up to my knees in bog taking environmental samples and trying to work out how the landscape has changed over time.

Why does Time Team use Trimble instruments and what’s in your tool box?

I have used Trimble kit ever since I began working on Time Team.

Previously I'd used a variety of different types of survey equipment, but when I got hold of Trimble’s integrated survey GPS and EDM, I was hooked. Time Team demands a very reactionary approach, with decisions and strategies changing constantly. The Trimble equipment is perfectly designed for this type of survey, without the need to constantly download data before it can be examined.

Dr. Henry Chapman

What is your role?

Initially my role was to undertake the surveying for Time Team which consists of setting out where geophysics and trenches will go, mapping everything as it is found and working with the archaeologists to ensure that all of the archaeology is recorded properly before we leave site. As time went on, my PhD in 3D digital landscape modelling became useful and I began working more closely with Stewart (Ainsworth) in the analysis of landscapes within the computer. Following on from my background in wetland archaeology, my role soon expanded into working on the fringes of Environmental Archaeology. Hence, you'll sometimes see me with the survey pole, at the computer or wielding a soil auger taking environmental samples. It’s quite a diverse role, but that is something that I love about Time Team.

Once a particular site has been selected, what is your survey schedule?

Before we get to site I'll be involved in ordering the right digital mapping from the Ordnance Survey. But other than that, everything really does take place within the three days on site, often with an early start on day 1 in order to get survey control set up.

What does your survey system need to deliver?

The integrated survey is fantastic, and saves so much time which is critical for the intensity of Time Team work. The ability to react to different situations whilst in the field without the need to upload survey information is excellent.

Having said that, one of the most bizarre surveys I've done in recent years was in Cornwall last year. The director wanted a map of Europe to be drawn in sand on the beach so that trade routes could be explained. The problem was that it had to be filmed obliquely, so I morphed a DXF of Europe so that it looked correct from the position of filming. I georeferenced it from GPS positions and then used the map on the screen of the GPS controller to score out the outlines of the countries. The end result was fantastic and exceeded expectations.

Which new series site has been the most interesting from a survey point of view?

The biggest survey challenge this year was probably Lincolns Inn in London. The density of buildings and trees, coupled with the tight time limits, stretched the integrated survey well. Other sites such as Knock Du in Northern Ireland were great too. The need to get an accurate 3D model of the fort there meant that I had to collect thousands of 3D survey points across a large area at a high resolution. The Trimble R8 was excellent for this, and the resulting model of the landscape generated in the computer (using ESRI ArcGIS) looked fantastic.

What instruments and software did you use for the site above and what work was typically carried out?

At Lincolns Inn I needed to use GPS with the S6 Robotic Total Station, constantly switching between the two. Linking together standing building survey with ground survey is always an interesting challenge. On the next shoot we are hoping to combine these methods with terrestrial laser scanning in addition to the geophysics. The great thing

Using the Trimble R8 to create a map of Europe on the beach in Cornwall

For full details on any Trimble product or service, please call your KOREC Survey Consultant Full contact details are on the back page of this issue of Synchronize

Measured Solutions Construction | Surveying | Mapping

SPRING 2009

synchronize about survey these days and with the Trimble kit, is that the level of integration between different methods means that surveyors can become much more ambitious with their plans - and Time Team takes full advantage of that.

Hardware Focus R8 GNSS Receiver with R-Track Signal Prediction This years Trimble Dimensions event in Las Vegas was the perfect launch pad for their latest GPS Rover, the new R8 GNSS.

What happens to the data once it is collected?

Once the data is collected it is normally processed within a GIS environment (ESRI ArcGIS). There are multiple end users for the data. I'll use it to generate maps of trenches, geophysics and finds which are then circulated and help with making archaeological decisions in the field. I'll also use the data to generate 3D landscape models. The basic mapping data is passed in DXF format to the geophysics team for their reporting and records, and to the archaeologists who finally write the sites up for the archive. The resulting 2D maps and 3D models are also passed onto the Time Team graphics team who use them to generate the imagery you see on television.

Particularly, the 3D models form the basis of many of the reconstructions that you see at the end of the show.

Key features include: • Advanced Trimble R-Track™ Technology – consistently delivers precise positioning performance in the most challenging GNSS conditions • Unmatched tracking of GNSS satellite signals – more satellites and better reception keep you working throughout the day • Superior performance in challenging RTK applications - Signal Prediction compensates for intermittent RTK signals, enabling extended operation after an interruption • Capacity to track up to 44 satellites supports a wide range of satellite signals, including GPS L2C and L5 and GLONASS L1/L2 signals • Flexible system design - ultimate flexibility for rover or base operation • Remote configuration and access - The Trimble R8 GNSS System can be teamed with the new Trimble Access Software (see our Trimble Access item in this issue), which enables data sharing and collaboration between field and office crews in a secure, Web-based environment

Radcot model with geophysics draped on it - a 12th and 17th century fort.

What have been your favourite ‘out of the ordinary’ survey moments?

Over the years there have been numerous stories involving survey. We’ve used the GPS on a long pole to perform a shallow bathemetric survey at Loch Migdale in Scotland - I sent Phil Harding off with a dry suit to take the points for me. At Cheshunt I was challenged to race against Roman re-enactor surveyors to see who could map out the outline of a fort the fastest.

We’ve even used the S6 Total Station to provide control for a 'green screen' whereby Tony Robinson could be placed within a reconstructed building. Survey control was needed to make sure that perspective worked between his movements and the projected building behind him, so I found myself mapping the positions of targets on the screen and integrating these with Raysan's (Raysan Al-Kubaisi deals with Time Team's graphics) graphical reconstructions. This year, I’ve even used the GPS to map how far a trebuchet could throw grapefruit as part of a cameo!

Best bits?

Time Team is fantastic - you get to travel all over, work on some amazing sites and meet some great specialists. It can also be a challenge for survey, but I really love problem solving in the field. Seeing Mesolithic children’s footprints on the beach in South Wales was perhaps my favourite bit of archaeology for the pure emotive element.

Many thanks to Dr Henry Chapman and Jim Mower (Time Team Development Producer)

Measured Solutions Construction | Surveying | Mapping

Software Focus Trimble Access - Send data back and forth, not people!

Trimble have taken another step towards the “Connected Site” with the launch of Trimble Access, a fresh, new field and office productivity solution for surveyors that improves collaboration and control for surveying teams through constant connectivity – a first for the surveying community.

If you’ve ever arrived at a job to find you are missing a file, or been faced with an unexpected change of plans, or called by a client who needs your data right away, you’ll know just how time-consuming these small but inevitable problems can be. Trimble Access let’s you handle challenges like these without disruption, down-time, a return to the office or a lengthy phone call. Simply synchronize the files (including photographs and other supporting data) onto your Trimble controller from wherever you are. Upload files from the office in the same way. Now any changes made to files can be automatically and securely updated in real-time.

Trimble Access – Benefits: • Increase Efficiency - Surveys can be completed faster with less time spent travelling back and forth to the office. All the files needed for a surveying job are securely shared and exchanged via the Trimble Connected Community in a secure, hosted environment without the need for extensive IT investments • Increase Confidence - Tighter collaboration with the office improves quality assurance in the field. Using Trimble Access, job files are synchronized so project managers can quickly conduct initial quality assurance checks • Familiar Workflows - Work through an interface familiar to users of Trimble Survey Controller software. This provides an easy transition from the familiar to the future

SPRING 2009

synchronize

System News Monitoring

The S I Rover

S8 Robotic Total Station & 4D control software Undeterred by the heavy snow, early February saw KOREC’s Matthew Lock join the English Heritage team of Trevor Pearson, Peter Topping and David Field on-site in Wiltshire collecting data for a 1:1000 scale survey of the archaeological earthworks of Stonehenge and its immediate environs and a 1:2500 archaeological survey of the wider landscape.(A full report on English Heritages’s Stonehenge survey will be coming soon).

In our previous issue of Synchronize, we did a Hardware Focus on the S8 Total Station, Trimble’s most advanced Autolock and Robotic Total Station yet.

Ideal for specialised engineering applications such as monitoring and tunnelling, it now has a special ‘Monitoring Solutions’ area on Trimble’s website featuring videos and applications from around Europe.

To find out more about how the S8 and 4D Control Office software can open doors to new applications, please visit www.trimble.com/monitor.

New Release iScope™ iScope™ real-time asset tracking option for Trimble VRS Now users Now Available! Trimble’s new VRS iScope™ asset tracking service is now available as an upgrade option for all subscribers to Trimble’s VRS Now Service.

Merging 3D scans and conventional surveying data was once possible only through back-office data integration.

Today, the process is easily and flawlessly performed in the field

The 5000 year old site provided an excellent opportunity for Matthew to use Trimble’s Spatial Imaging Rover. The SI Rover is a combination of VX Spatial Station and R8 VRS data to give real time Ordnance Survey coordinated point cloud data and imagery of the stones. An integrated setup created through Trimble Survey Controller (SC) software ties the two together. Using the single TSC2 logger and SC software to operate both the R8 GNSS and VX, Matthew was able to maximise his time at the protected site.

“The R8 is put on top of the prism and the TSC2 talks to the VX radio and R8 via Bluetooth,” he explains. “SC connects to both instruments and I could then use the resection function to establish the location of my VX spatial station. The software prompts me to enter the name of the VX location, the height of the instrument and then the name of the first resection point. When this is done, SC tells me that it doesn’t exist and asks if I want to measure it with GNSS. SC then automatically switches to the R8 and measures the same pole location with GNSS. Therefore SC has stored measurements to the same resection point with both VX (currently unknown coordinates) and R8 GNSS (Ordnance Survey coordinates). I then repeated this process to create as many resection points as I needed (minimum 2) and the VX is located on the Ordnance Survey VRS grid without any physical ground markers being required – a vital benefit for the Stonehenge location. Once the VX is positioned, the photos and scanning are initiated and I was free to switch to the R8 GNSS and carry on surveying with that. Essentially, I am controlling and receiving data from two instruments at the same time. I believe that only Trimble offer this.”

VISIT www.korecgroup.com for further information

Measured Solutions Construction | Surveying | Mapping

Although Matthew and the VX were able to pick out some ancient inscriptions on the stones and a carving of a dagger, the reason behind their construction looks likely to remain a mystery forever!

iScope is a new feature that allows office based users to track ‘live’ the progress of a GPS survey, point by point, from their desktop. Developed to bring Trimble customers superior data quality by allowing live checking of observation quality, it also allows network users to better manage their assets, simplify project scheduling and review previous survey paths. iScope is an excellent tool for improving field productivity - missed points can be spotted immediately cutting down on time consuming rework and repeat visits to sites. Users can see exactly where operators are and what they are doing which allows them to monitor both their progress and their safety.

Can you see where I am?

SPRING 2009

synchronize

Application Report Coastal Monitoring Team reaps benefits of Trimble GPS Developments have less down time due to lack of satellites. It’s hard to assess just how much time using the NetR5 alone has saved us, but I’d estimate at around one hour per day or per survey - that’s 130 hours a year. However if the system has one outstanding feature, it has to be just how intuitive the Survey Controller software on the TSC2’s is to use” Hold the Line?

Worthing BC’s GPS kit is predominantly used for monitoring beach levels although periodically coastal defence structure surveys are undertaken and on request, IN and OUT surveys for Local Authorities or Environment Agency contractors who recycle beach material to provide a much more accurate measure of material moved from one location to another.

The R8 can be mounted on All Terrain Vehicles

Whether it’s wave attack, vulnerability to flooding or the need to protect features such as shingle beaches, the UK’s coastline needs to be monitored if existing defences are to remain adequate, future defences planned and resources channelled to where need is greatest.

Following many years of ad hoc monitoring of coastal processes within the southeast, an extensive integrated survey programme has been developed to cover approximately 1000km of open coastline and estuaries between Portland Bill and the Isle of Grain.

Looking after the Selsey Bill to Beachy Head stretch is Worthing Borough Council, the Lead Authority for the South Downs Coastal Group (SDCG) region and responsible for undertaking and managing all of the coastal monitoring work for the local authorities that fall within this frontage.

Faced with the dual tasks of advising on future coastal defence needs and monitoring the performance of those defences already in place, the newly established SDCG team were able to utilise the survey experience of those who had undertaken GPS survey works in the earlier stages of the programme. “New Forest District Council is the Lead Authority for the SCOPAC region between Selsey Bill and Portland Bill including the Isle of Wight,” explains Dan Amos (SDCG Data Analyst and Project Manager for the Strategic Regional Coastal Monitoring Programme). “They began work in 2002 and were established users of GPS and in particular Trimble instruments. We therefore followed their lead so that procedures and file formats would be common and compatible. Of course GPS technology has moved on in those interim years bringing us the benefits of far greater flexibility and a wider choice of receivers.”

Measured Solutions Construction | Surveying | Mapping

Development brings Flexibility Following evaluation, Worthing BC selected four Trimble R8 GNSS receivers, TSC2 data loggers and a NetR5 base station. Dan continues, “Selecting ‘future proof’ R8 GNSS receivers means that we can take full advantage of modernised GPS signals whilst the Bluetooth connectivity with the TSC2’s ensure that we are free from any cable problems that New Forest DC experienced with the old style 5700 system. The antenna and radio are now all encased in the one unit which means that everything is highly portable on the pole and less susceptible to harsh weather conditions. The R8’s have also provided us with impressive flexibility when it comes to different set-up options in different areas, particularly where mobile phone coverage, and thus Net R5 coverage, is limited. We now have the option of setting-up an R8 as a base station which is a real bonus. We typically use 2 or 3 surveyors for each of our surveys, but having recently purchased an additional TSC2, mobile phone and ranging pole, we can now use up to four surveyors where we know mobile coverage is good.

The NetR5 has also been an interesting development. The main benefit for us is that we don't have to set-up a base station each and every time we go out - this obviously saves us time which is particularly important when working within tight tidal working windows. It also gives us greater security we're not leaving an expensive piece of kit in an exposed location to possibly get blown over in the wind or kicked by an inquisitive passer by! We can also work up to 30km away from it without repeater radios and track the GLONASS satellite constellation which is particularly useful with the tidal restrictions we have to work within – we

Dan continues, “Typically we spend approximately 75% of our working year surveying with the R8’s and results are comfortably inside the +/-30mm tolerance that we require. We undertake Interim Profile surveys during the Spring and Autumn months, Beach Management Plan surveys in the summer months and Post Storm surveys in the winter months. Over time we can identify whether each of the profiles are eroding or accreting and this information supports sound decision making in the long term.

On frontages where recycling or grading operations are undertaken, we also carry out additional Beach Management Plan surveys, usually in the summer months.

These surveys are much more detailed and are usually (where access and environmental designations allow) undertaken using the R8's mounted on All Terrain Vehicles with data being collected continuously whilst the ATV's are driven back and forth across the beach. Additional software allows us to generate digital terrain models and compare the long term change of a particular frontage in much more detail than using profiles alone.”

Models can be used to monitor changes

Dan concludes "The Korec team has been a pleasure to work with! From Gavin McDonald who advised me from the start with regard to the Net R5 and R8's, to Technical Support who got us up and running - service, support and advice have been second to none"

SPRING 2009

synchronize

Training and Technical Support

Technical Notes

The Trimble Knowledge Network The Trimble Knowledge Network website, provides a portal for accessing on-line training (The Learning Centre) and the ability to search the documentation database (The Solution Centre) for technical self-help - visit us at www.trimble.com/tkn

VRS Now Network – GLONASS Enabled Nationwide In March Trimble announced that the Trimble VRS Now real-time GNSS correction service is GLONASS enabled for the entire UK network.

Following the link to the Learning Centre will enable you to browse the training catalogue of Trimble Web Based courses. A number of courses a are available to view as pre-recorded webcasts divided over a variety of products including Trimble Survey Controller, Trimble Business Centre, Trimble Geomatics Office and Realworks.

These online courses provide a genuinely low cost and convenient way of improving your product knowledge.

Why not give one of the free tutorials a try - please call us on 0151 931 6722

Download our new training brochure by visiting the training section at www.korecgroup.com

KOREC and Trimble News KOREC gets Blogging!

Our new Blog is up and running and content wise, there’s a bit of something for everyone.

Similar to an online journal, our blog will feature chronologically listed entries on everything from technical tips and white papers to market opinion, new releases and the general ponderings of those in the know! Visit us now at www.korecgroup.com/blog to catch up on the news, share stories and leave your comments.

New KOREC Survey Sales Consultant for the South West We are delighted to welcome Ryan Bowles to the position of Survey Sales Consultant for the SW of England.

Responsible for the sales and hire of the full Trimble range of survey instruments for KOREC, Ryan joined us in December and brings extensive field experience after serving a decade with the Royal Engineers in the British Army, working as a Military Engineering Surveyor.

Geo9 round up Many thanks to all those who visited the Trimble/KOREC stand at this years Geo9 event. Overall, we found those Ryan Bowles who talked to us upbeat and optimistic with a general consensus that the situation won’t get much worse. Aside from the house-building sector, there still seems a reasonable amount of work out there and the enquiries that we had, especially for Trimble’s unique VX spatial station, reflect that surveyors are planning for the future and looking at ways to broaden their offering.

The GLONASS satellites are used to support the Rover Initialisation, which requires line of sight to at least 5 usable satellites. The addition of GLONASS enables Initialisation to be maintained and thus surveying to continue, in situations that previously would have been more difficult. For example, close to tall fences, hedges, buildings and vegetation.

To take advantage of the GLONASS satellites, a suitable GNSS receiver is required such as the R8 Model 2, R7 or R6 (with GLONASS upgrade).

Trimble Survey Controller 12.44 The latest version of Trimble Survey Controller is now available and includes a number of GNSS related upgrades, notably the ability to track the test Galileo satellites, GIOVE-A & B, using an R8 Model 2 Receiver. There’s also a new radio transmission format, CMRx, a more compressed data format for RTK networks using GNSS enabled Receivers.

12.44 can be downloaded now from the Support area of the Trimble Web site.

Contact Us Surveying Solutions & Laser Scanning Sales Colin Powell (Midlands): T: 07774 239125 Matthew Lock (North): T: 07974 255597 Gavin Mcdonald (South East): T: 07786 118435 Ryan Bowles (South West): T: 07771 517493 Sean Higgins (Ireland): T: 00 353 868 066477 Mark Poveda (Ireland): T: 00 353 866 005252

Measured Solutions Construction | Surveying | Mapping