“‘Nightmare on GIS Street: GNSS Accuracy, Datums and Geospatial Data’” is a look at the challenge of dealing with horizontal datums in your GIS,” explained moderator Eric Gakstatter, survey editor and editor of Geospatial Solutions. “We are moving into a new era in dealing with datum transformations. Geodata 2.0 is coming, and it can create big headaches when attempting to combine disparate geospatial databases. Sensors such as GPS receivers, remote sensing imagery, and 3D scanning provide much more accurate data, setting up a collision with outdated and mismatched legacy horizontal datums.”

Scheduled speakers include:

Kevin Kelly,Geodesist, ESRI, Inc.
Kevin Kelly is a Geodesist with ESRI in Redlands, California where he researches and implements geodetic algorithms and applications for the ArcGIS software. His experience spans over 35 years in hydrography, geodesy, surveying and most recently, geographic information systems. He has held the posts of Manager of Geodetic Services for the Province of Ontario, Chief Geodesist for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Military Survey Department and Senior Project Surveyor for The Keith Companies (now Stantec, Inc.). Mr. Kelly received a Master of Applied Science in Geodesy at the University of Toronto, Canada and holds an Honors Diploma in Hydrographic Surveying Technology from Humber College in Toronto. He is also a licensed Geodetic Surveyor in the Province of Ontario, Canada.

Craig Greenwald, Technical Director, GeoMobile Innovations
Craig Greenwald is the Technical Director and a principal at GeoMobile Innovations Inc. He has worked in the GPS and Mobile GIS industry for over 13 years, including seven years for GIS software leader, ESRI and is well known for his work on the ESRI ArcPad team. Craig leads the GeoMobile software development and consulting team specializing in Mobile GIS and field data collection applications and technology providing Mobile GIS software, consulting, and training services to GeoMobile Innovations? clients. Craig has real world experience designing, implementing, and consulting on all sizes of projects, ranging from local campground trash mapping to the U.S. national census, and has been a key developer in GeoMobile?s commercial applications such as LaserGIS for ArcPad and Geo-Photo Inventory Tool for Garmin GPS solutions.

Michael L. Dennis, RLS, PE, Geodesist, NOAA
Michael L. Dennis, RLS, PE, is a geodesist at NOAA’s National Geodetic Survey (NGS) where his duties include analysis of geometric (“horizontal”) and vertical datums; evaluation of data processing and survey network adjustment procedures; development and promotion of standards and guidelines; integration of NGS products and services with GIS; and public outreach. Mr. Dennis is also a registered professional engineer and surveyor with private sector experience, including ownership of a consulting and surveying firm. Mr. Dennis is an officer of the American Association for Geodetic Surveying (AAGS), an American Congress on Surveying and Mapping (ACSM) Fellow, and a member of the Arizona Professional Land Surveyors Association and the Geomatics Division of the American Society of Civil Engineers.

Moderator:

Eric Gakstatter, Editor of Geospatial Solutions Monthly and Survey Scene
Eric Gakstatter has been involved in the GPS/GNSS industry for more than 20 years. For 10 years, he held several product management positions in the GPS/GNSS industry, managing the development of several medium- and high-precision GNSS products along with associated data-collection and post-processing software.

To learn more about our webinars, visit our webinar page.

The Leica media event at HXGN Live Conference in Las Vegas.

At a media event held during the HXGN Live Conference in Las Vegas today, Leica Geosystems introduced several new products. The highlight of the event was presentation of Leica Nova and the Leica Nova MS50 MultiStation.

The Leica Nova measurement solution is designed to provide users with a complete and seamless workflow, Leica Geosystems said. It integrates advanced measurement technology, modern and intuitive field software, intelligent office software, and Leica’s services to give users the ability to make faster, smarter decisions, across a range of applications. The flagship of the new solution is the Leica Nova MS50 MultiStation, which combines scanning, total station, imaging and GNSS positioning in one instrument to deliver fast and reliable results. 

Leica Nova uses advanced measuring technology that provides accuracy and quality, yet is easy to use for an unprecedented range of applications, Leica said. The Leica Nova solution covers the complete process from capturing and visualizing data, to creating intelligent deliverables that shape the world. Whether users measure objects on a construction site, quickly calculate volumes, monitor a dam or a bridge, capture an accident scene with digital imaging or scan a façade, Leica Nova integrates all these capabilities in one compact, flexible solution.

The Leica Nova MS50 MultiStation.

The Leica Nova MS50 MultiStation combines every significant measuring technology in one device for the first time, Leica said. Precision 3D scanning, extensive and precise total station capabilities, digital imagery and GNSS connectivity are brought together in the multistation. The new mergeTEC technology fuses hardware capabilities with comprehensive data-management solutions. Images are synchronized with scans, and scans are tied into total station measurements, making it easy to manage complex 3D data, Leica said.

The Leica Nova MS50 integrates 3D point cloud measurements into regular survey workflows. Users can collect and visualize their topographic survey data with detailed high-precision scans. They save time by computing results and verifying the integrity and completeness of data immediately in the field, avoiding costly reworking or returns. Ultimately, users benefit from better decisions with richer and more detailed data.

Also part of the innovative new Leica Nova solution are the Leica Nova TS50 high-precision total station and Nova TM50 monitoring station.

The Leica Nova TS50 high-precision total station has 0.5-inch angular accuracy and an optimum combination of angle and distance measuring. Integrated overview and telescope cameras with fatigue-reducing autofocus document the scene with high-quality photogrammetric images using the latest SmartWorx on-board software.

The Leica Nova MS50.

The user sees on the remote control display exactly what the Leica Nova TS50 sees, allowing for easy one-person data capture. The Leica Nova TS50 allows full control through “tap and turn” without the need to go to the instrument and back again. The 20-Hz live video stream can be combined with a graphical overlay for cost-effective recording with immediate clarification of ambiguous situations. Together with the benefits of GNSS connectivity, the Leica Nova TS50 offers complete versatility by delivering reliable results, Leica said.

For critical monitoring tasks, the new Leica Nova TM50 monitoring station provides the highest angle accuracy and offers short measurement cycles through high speed Piezo drives and a fast, highly accurate EDM. The Leica Nova TM50 includes 0.5″ angular accuracy and can measure up to 3’000 meters, which makes it the ideal sensor for monitoring tasks in mines, landslides, etc. For additional documentation, the monitoring sensor includes an overview camera and a telescope camera with 30x magnification and autofocus. The Leica Nova TM50 meets the challenge of 24-hour-a-day, 7-days-a-week monitoring applications. The Leica Nova TS50/TM50 instruments are IP65 rated and designed to withstand the roughest use in the most severe environments.

Leica GeoMoS 6.0 enhances conventional monitoring methods with automatic scanning of surfaces with the Leica Nova MS50 MultiStation.

The Leica software portfolio includes the following:

• With the new Leica Infinity software, users can seamlessly manage, visualize, process and georeference combined total station, imaging and scanning data from the Leica Nova MS50 MultiStation and other Leica Geosystems sensors.
• For AutoCAD users who have never before worked with rich point clouds or 3D datasets, the new Leica MultiWorx for AutoCAD plug-in software offers a simple way to integrate point cloud processing into existing workflows.
• Leica Cyclone and Leica GeoMoS as well as numerous other software packages from partners such as MicroSurvey and Listech can also be integrated into the workflow to meet specific needs.

Here is a video of the Leica Nova MS50.

The C-Tides suite combines the vertical accuracy of C-Nav’s GNSS Precise Point Positioning service with the latest advanced ocean and coastal tides models, the company said.

C-Tides Online features real-time filters and vessel dynamics, a choice of worldwide Mean Sea Surface or regional reference frame models, and tidal prediction for mission planning.

C-Tides Offline utilities include data smoothing and outlier rejection, harmonic analysis, Doodson X0 filter, and a LAT option.

“It’s been a privilege working with our academic partners to develop what is probably the worlds’ most advanced real-time GNSS tide solution,” said Russell Morton, C-Nav head of development.

C-Tides is a fully supported C-Nav utility. The results are suitable for combining with other suitably calibrated vertical components to achieve IHO SP44 Order 1 or better.

“We are excited and thankful for the opportunity to partner with LTI, a strong and respected leader in field laser data collection,” said Mark Milligan, president of F4 Tech. “The S-Series offers a cost effective solution that compliments the current product offerings.”

“Our product management team approached F4 Tech about a data collector solution, and they were quick to respond. The S-Series provides LTI with an ergonomic, rugged and reliable handheld unit for our Professional Measurement and Traffic Safety software solutions. We are excited to bring this solution to our customers,”said Derrick Reish, senior product manager of LTI.

The use of RTKLIB, in conjunction with NVS Technologies’ NV08C GNSS receiver series, including the highly integrated NV08C-CSM surface mount module with geodetic grade raw data output, enables GNSS system designers and OEMs to develop highly accurate, low cost and compact precision-grade positioning and navigation equipment.

RTKLIB features include:

• Full compatibility with NVS Technologies’ NV08C Series GNSS Receivers.
• A portable program library and several APs.
• Standard and precise positioning algorithms using GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, BeiDou and SBAS.
• Supports various GNSS based positioning modes, both for real-time and post-processing, including: Single, DGPS/DGNSS, Kinematic, Static, Moving-Baseline, Fixed, PPP-Kinematic, PPP-Static and PPP-Fixed.
• Positioning mode for real‐time and post‐processing, including Single, SBAS, DGPS, RTK, Static, Moving‐base and PPP.
• Supports many standard formats and protocols for GNSS, including RINEX 2 & 3, RTCM 2 & 3, BINEX, NTRIP 1.0, RTCA/DO-229C, NMEA 0183, SP3-c, ANTEX 1.4, IONEX 1.0, NGS PCV and EMS 2.0.
• External communication via Serial, TCP/IP, NTRIP, local log file (record and playback) and FTP/HTTP (auto download).

Contact NVS Technologies for specific features compatibility. Visit www.rtklib.com for RTKLIB’s latest (ver. 2.4.2) software package download, release note, information, tutorial, manual and support.

The new version features photogrammetry enhancements, including the ability to process images from the Gatewing X100 unmanned aerial system (UAS). These enhancements provide surveyors with increased visualization and processing capabilities, allowing them to further maximize productivity and create aerial survey deliverables.

“Powerful and intuitive, Trimble Business Center and its integration with UAS data introduces new capabilities to surveyors and represents a significant leap in efficiency. Surveyors, engineers and geospatial data managers can increase their productivity, efficiency and quality of deliverables through the software’s aerial data processing capabilities,” said Erik Arvesen, vice president of Trimble’s Survey Division. “Traditional sites, such as large mines, that in the past have taken days to map using conventional methods can now be accurately modeled in just hours.”

Version 3.00 introduces a new photogrammetry module for importing and working with flight data and images collected from the Gatewing X100 UAS and optical instruments, such as the Trimble S8 with Trimble VISION technology, which integrates calibrated digital cameras to collect survey data, stream video from the perspective of the instrument and capture panoramic still images. Based on software from Inpho, the Trimble Business Center photogrammetry module also provides office surveyors with the capability to process complete mapping projects containing aerial data, GNSS and total station observations. Surveyors can produce deliverables, including georeferenced orthophotos, 3D point clouds and digital surface models directly from Trimble Business Center.

With the ability to integrate photogrammetry with data collected from GNSS receivers, total stations, and digital levels, surveyors can combine aerial images with GNSS measurements on ground control points and 3D laser scans of buildings to precisely, comprehensively and efficiently map large and complex sites.

The new version also introduces 64-bit processing. As a 64-bit application, Trimble Business Center allows surveyors in the office to utilize their computer’s RAM, maximizing the productivity of the surveyor’s workstation, to display large images and point clouds for increased visualization functionality. Users can also display large images seamlessly; images “tile” automatically on import and the displayed resolution adjusts seamlessly as users zoom in and out for superior image viewing.

“Inpho is a proven leader in digital aerial photogrammetry,” said Arvesen. “Trimble has taken that expertise and applied it to the survey market, as we pioneer the development of UAS data integration for surveyors.”

IN-Fusion Multi-Single-Base Processing is designed for customers who need the highest level of differential GNSS position accuracy and perform long, linear projects such as power-line corridors, long highways or stretches of coastline. During these projects, a GNSS base station network may not be available, or the geometry of the network so weak that an Applanix SmartBase solution — which uses existing reference stations to achieve high accuracy over longer distances — is not viable. In these cases, IN-Fusion Multi-Single-Base Processing allows base stations to be established along the full length of the travel path and makes optimal use of the nearest base station at all times.

Customers can now take advantage of robust tightly coupled in-fusion processing without the need to break the project up into multiple segments for each base station to attain the highest accuracy, Applanix said.

“In addition to IN-Fusion Multi-Single-Base Processing, POSPac MMS V6.2 includes new features designed to increase productivity, efficiency and ease-of-use.  The Coordinate Conversion tool included allows users to choose from a number of local reference frames for inputting base station coordinates,” said Edith Roy, Development Manager of POSPac MMS at Applanix.  “POSPac MMS Version 6.2 demonstrates our commitment to providing customers with not only the most advanced software solutions for mobile mapping applications, but also the easiest to use.”

POSPac MMS V6.2 can be purchased through Applanix’ global sales network. The software is available as an upgrade to all POSPac users currently under a maintenance contract.

The new enhancements will allow surveyors, contractors, engineers and geospatial professionals to rapidly process 3D laser scanning data and expedite the creation of deliverables for their clients, increasing productivity and reducing costs, Trimble said.

The new 3D database engine in Trimble RealWorks version 8.0 will allow up to five times more data to be visualized and managed, compared to Trimble RealWorks version 7.2. The ability to handle larger data sets greatly increases usability and productivity for customers capturing data with 3D laser scanners such as the Trimble TX5 and Trimble FX.

The automated targetless registration function, together with additional workflow enhancements, will provide further productivity gains for customers. The automated targetless registration function automatically identifies planar objects in each scan and matches the planes from multiple stations, creating a combined data set. The function enhances productivity in the field by eliminating target placement prior to data capture in applicable environments. Office processing time is also reduced by the fully automated function.

Sharing of data with clients has been enhanced by the addition of a Publisher function within the Trimble RealWorks software that allows projects to be custom packaged for viewing via Microsoft Internet Explorer. The Scan Explorer interface, embedded inside a HTML web page, allows clients to navigate and explore the scan data as well as take measurements and add notes.

“Software is an integral part of Trimble’s 3D laser scanning solutions and is essential to extract information from 3D data captured in the field,” said Tim Lemmon, marketing director of Trimble. “The new version of Trimble RealWorks software significantly improves our customers’ productivity in processing field data, extracting information and preparing deliverables for their clients.”

The announcement was made today at SPAR International 2013, the leading conference for 3D data capture, processing and delivery technologies.