Thank you to Rail Engineer magazine, (issue 156) for the great editorial on the use of 3D laser scanning with the Trimble Gedo 2.0 Track Measuring Device.
“Innovation and efficiency are intertwined, and as our industry adopts the digital principles mandated by BIM, capturing 3D digital quickly, efficiently and accurately is more important than ever which is why engineering survey knowledge is so important.”
Read the full piece here on page 82
We were so impressed with our photo competition entries in last year’s contest that we’ve decided to make it a monthly occurrence! Yep, you guessed right, that means someone is going to win a prize every month!
We know there’s no end of photos out there and we are already seeing some great ones coming through on Twitter. All you need to do is upload your entry HERE, we will announce a winner on the first of every month and they’ll receive their very own KOREC goody bag, filled with lots of treats! All entries will automatically be entered in to our annual competition where you can win £/€500 KOREC Vouchers and £/€150 in Amazon vouchers.
So get your cameras out, dust off those lenses and get snapping! We love to see you out and about with your kit, or you may have a great data shot you’d like to share – just remember to let us know the details of how you collected it!
A recent project carried out by J Breheny Contractors on behalf of Cambridge University showcases the strengths of using a high definition 3D laser scanner.
The rate at which geospatial technology is changing is increasing, and with it, our ability to collect more data more rapidly. 20 years ago it would have taken over 12 seconds to get a single point using GPS, today we can collect one million points per second using a 3D laser scanner.
The methodologies and workflows of data collection by total station, GNSS, video, images, laser scanning, terrestrial and mobile are now becoming simpler, faster and more cost effective and it is this evolution in data capture methods and data storage and handling that means we are moving beyond a digital world that is composed of map and CAD layers to a world full of 3 and 4D models.
According to the “Future trends in geospatial information management: the five to ten year vision – United Nations Initiative on Global Geospatial Information Management” report, this trend of moving from 2D to 3D and on to 4D visualisations is both user and technology driven and will accelerate in the next 5 years. Users are likely to expect more complex and realistic 3D models to enable better planning and decision making. In short the report states that 3D will increasingly be an intrinsic part of the core geospatial data, rather than a distinctive add on as it is now.
It is these expectations that have driven the demand for 3D laser scanning which in turn have pushed manufacturers to develop scanners with higher specifications to meet these new demands, typically:
Consequently we have seen several new products on the market that meet these new trends, Trimble’s TX8 being a good example with its incredibly high scan rate and very low scan times. Its usability is key to its performance and the J Breheny Contracting case study reproduced here illustrates this perfectly.
However, the question is always “Where next?” and one of the stronger opinions to emerge at this year’s Intergeo is that we are suffering from a data overload and creating more data than we can efficiently handle. For this reason we can expect to see huge growth in anything that helps us to better process and model what we’ve generated from automatic edge detection, breakline detection, asset extraction and simply processing huge data sets, all of which will enable us to extract even greater value from our surveys.
Case Study – An Educated Decision
Cambridge University’s 63 hectare West Cambridge campus is undergoing a 15 year development programme to provide new faculty and research & development buildings for the engineering and science disciplines and related commercial research and development organizations. Phase 3 works were completed in 2012 and Phase 4 works in August 2014.
Post-completion of the works, it was noted that sections of a paved area (5,340m²) needed the levels re-affirming to the designed/as-built levels. J Breheny Contractors Ltd were therefore contacted to undertake a survey of the terrain on a rigid 0.5m grid interval to allow a digital representation of the area in question to be reviewed.
As the work needed to be carried out and the deliverables sent within a fortnight, a Breheny Engineering Surveyor was sent to the site with a Trimble S6 robotic total station to complete a traditional optical survey. However, after establishing a set-up, the first row took an hour to survey and with over 90 rows to survey in total, the company felt that this was not a great use of resource and began a discussion on other methods of data capture. of data capture.
Minimal site time required
Familiar with Trimble’s TX8 time-of-flight laser scanner and its reputation for the fast capture of high resolution, noise free, data even over its full range of 340m, Breheny contacted KOREC to assist with the survey and post-processing and registering of the data.
With control already established on site, checkerboard targets were positioned around the area and the TX8 set up for an initial scan. The location is open to the public and home to much street furniture including cycle racks and ornate flower filled planters which resulted in more set ups than would normally be required. Despite this, the site work was completed in just 2.5 hours compared to up to 2 weeks if the work had been completed with a total station.
Breheny’s client required a digital terrain model for interrogation and a CAD drawing showing the levels of paving. The scan data was registered and post-processed using Trimble RealWorks, software specifically designed for point cloud processing and analysis. The software automatically registers the scan and office work was further speeded up by the RealWorks sampling tool which semi-automatically removes points in the cloud above ground level. The end result was a clean scan of just the paving stones with all noise such as weeds, street furniture, bollards etc removed.
Andrew Dobrucki, Senior Land Surveyor at Breheny concludes, “The survey took just 2.5 hours to complete compared to the 2 weeks which a total station survey would have taken which is a vast saving of field time. With data collected at 100mm intervals, the TX8 provided far more data than a traditional survey would have done which is particularly useful for our client. Additionally we were able to view on site the data that was scanned which is a great way to quickly verify that the correct area and data is collected as intended before moving on to the next set-up location. The TX8 performed perfectly and we were able to provide our client with their requested deliverables on time.”
About Breheny
Formed in 1963, J Breheny Contractors Ltd have grown to provide civil engineering services to almost two thirds of the country from offices in Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Kent, Lincolnshire, Buckinghamshire and Yorkshire. www.breheny.co.uk
Twitter: @BrehenyCivils
Breheny’s diverse expertise has been undertaken predominantly as main contractor but also as subcontractor and includes:-
All information and images kindly supplied by Andrew Dobrucki, Senior Land Surveyor, Breheny.
Trimble has used Intergeo to announce the latest developments in its 3D laser scanning portfolio.
Trimble’s TX8 laser scanner has been one of KOREC’s top performing instruments since its launch in 2014 and it’s now even better thanks to the addition of a fully integrated High Dynamic Range (HDR) camera and Wi-Fi remote control.
We are also delighted to announce the launch of Trimble’s new TX6 3D laser scanner – it’s all about productivity at a lower cost! Offering the same built in camera and Wi-Fi remote control, the TX6 is a medium-range, cost-effective 3D scanning solution that also offers Trimble’s patented technology, combining time-of-flight distance measurement with advanced on-board signal and 3D data processing and full integration with Trimble RealWorks processing and analysis software.
At a glance:
“A disruptive technology is one that displaces an established technology and shakes up the industry.”
Welcome to the Trimble SX10!
Developed from the ground up, the SX10 combines surveying, imaging and high speed 3D scanning in one revolutionary solution. Trimble describes its latest release as providing the world’s most innovative solution for surveying, engineering, and scanning professionals, and rightly so.
In short, it’s a single investment with unlimited opportunities. And whilst it’s undoubtedly truly innovative it also brings together Trimble tried and tested technologies including MagDrive, SurePoint, Integrated Surveying, Trimble VISION and Lightning (most advanced EDM technology in the world).
The SX10 was showcased at the KOREC KNOWHOW days in November 2016.
We are delighted to announce the latest addition to the KOREC laser scanning portfolio, a Trimble distributed DotProduct DPI-8 handheld scanner. Weighing just 1kg, the DPI-8 has a large screen, an easy and intuitive workflow and offers real time data quality feedback.
For contractors, engineers and architects
Powerful 3D deliverables and comprehensive datasets have made scanning technology commonplace on jobsites. However, the cost and complexity of traditional tripod based laser scanning have made it difficult to incorporate into daily workflows.
The DPI-8 handheld addresses this problem head on.
The self-contained, lightweight design incorporating a 3D depth sensor and a commercial-grade Android tablet allows one-hand operation for ease, speed and safety. The solution is powered by DotProduct’s Phi.3D software, which provides users with data-quality feedback while scanning and makes it simple for novice users to produce accurate point clouds directly in the field. Advanced compression technology simplifies the ability to pack and share point cloud data with key stakeholders offsite
For surveyors
If you are already using a tripod scanner, the DPI-8 can add to your scanning arsenal by augmenting your tripod scanner data and reduce the need to acquire highly detailed and time consuming scans with your static scanner. With its small size it can also get into tight spots that traditional scanners can’t reach. Once the data is captured it can be brought into Trimble RealWorks and merged with your original static scanner data for evaluation and assessment.
To arrange a demonstration of the DPI-8 handheld scanner, please call your KOREC survey sales consultant.
It’s been a busy start to the year for KOREC with the February issues of the Geospatial industry’s leading publications publishing some of our latest thoughts and case studies.
GeoConnexionUK – Oliver Brooks’ ‘Modern Surveying’ column is back and his latest piece, The Right Tool for the Job, can be viewed online here or read on page 59 of the January/February issue.
GIS Professional – Many thanks to Anthony Tuffour of the London Borough of Hackney for the time he spent helping us put together this latest case study. In the attached pdf from the magazine, Anthony explains why the decimetre accuracy provided by a Trimble 6000 Series GeoXH has proved invaluable to the Borough’s Parks department.
GeoInformatics Magazine- Berkshire based Tripoint Surveys has been putting its KOREC supplied 3D laser scanner and RealWorks software to good use on a project that will see Ealing’s cinematic history restored with the construction of a £100 million cinema quarter. The full story can be found on here.
The May/June issue of Geomatics World has just been published. Don’t miss the KOREC article on page 24.
3D laser scanning is playing a central role in major coastal research and marine infrastructure projects, all be it in a scaled down environment just outside of land locked Oxford. Find out exactly how Oxfordshire based H R Wallingford, an independent specialist for research and consultancy in civil engineering and environmental hydraulics, is using its laser scanner by clicking here
Trimble has a history of releasing new products at Intergeo and this year’s Hanover show was no exception!
Trimble R10 next Generation GNSS Surveying Solution
The Trimble R10 is the smallest and lightest receiver in its class combining groundbreaking technologies including Trimble HD-GNSS, Trimble SurePoint™, Trimble 360, and Trimble xFill™
With the introduction of the Trimble R10, Trimble also released new versions of its field and office software — Trimble Access 2012.20 and Trimble Business Center 2.80 to extend Trimble’s Connected Site® survey solution. This powerful solution enables surveyors to collect and process reliable data more efficiently.
Trimble TX5 3D laser scanner
The Trimble TX5 3D laser scanner is a versatile and cost-effective 3D scanning solution for a broad variety of scanning applications. Portable and lightweight, it has intuitive and easy to use onboard interface allowing new users to quickly get up to speed.
Trimble also announced an update to the Trimble RealWorks software.This offers improved data management, streamlined registration tools and support for data from the Trimble TX5 3D laser scanner, via the SCENE software.
Inpho Software for UAV’s and Aerial LiDAR Data Production
The latest version of Inpho, 5.5, introduces new techniques specifically designed to manage UAV image characteristics, tackling challenges with camera calibration and image quality. UAV users will gain access to the high-quality photogrammetric processing that Inpho has offered within aerial survey for more than three decades.
Trimble Delivers Land Mobile Mapping and Survey Data Analysis Powered by eCognition
Trimble also launched new versions of its eCognition image analysis software and Trident Analyst office software. The release brings powerful geospatial analysis technology developed for remote sensing into the land mobile mapping and survey domain.
Spectra Precision GL612 and GL622 Grade Lasers
The GL612 is a single grade laser and the GL622 is a dual grade laser. Both are rugged, automatic self-levelling lasers featuring grade capability of ± 25 percent and can be used in a wide variety of grading, excavating and alignment applications by general and specialty contractors.
The GL612 and GL622 include full-function radio remote control with a 100m range and an intuitive back-lit graphic display. Each laser package also includes the advanced HL750 Laserometer that provides a digital readout of elevation and can be used at an operating diameter of up to 800 meters (2,600 feet). Wireless communication between the HL750 Laserometer and the transmitters provide automatic Grade Matching which allows measurement of unknown grade values between two points. For applications that require maximum stability and accuracy, PlaneLok is available in both the horizontal and vertical planes. PlaneLok automatically locks the beam on the receiver and keeps it on grade. This reduces typical environmental factors that may induce an error. In addition, the HL750 Laserometer can communicate with another HL750 for long-range wireless remote display and monitoring.
We’re delighted to have another guest post from one of our customers. Graham Mills from The Technics Group takes a look at the effect of 3D laser scanning on the surveying industry.
Graham is the Managing Director of The Technics Group. Graham started Sitechnics Ltd, a general surveying company in 1989 and co founded Subtechnics Ltd, a utility mapping company in 1999. Now trading under the Technics Group he employs a team of 35 people and have offices in Guildford, Surrey and Maidstone, Kent.
Graham is a Fellow of the Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors and is President of The Survey Association, the trade body for commercial survey companies in the UK. The team are established users of laser scanning technology, most recently adopting the FARO Focus 3D Laser Scanner to expand their laser scanning expertise.
Graham’s blog:
As technology advances further in any industry, workforces improve and efficiency comes along for the ride. In terms of surveying and geographical landscaping, this is no exception.
What has really taken off, however, is three-dimensional capturing and imaging.
A natural transition, 3D is fast becoming the best way of visualising data. In the past, numerical values and measurements were displayed in charts and blueprints in a two-dimensional way, despite describing a 3D building or landscape. By turning to 3D laser equipment, and with the new ability to then illustrate in this manner too via 3D computer aided design, we can create a more accurate and visually valuable document.
Not only are there clear benefits to three-dimensional projects, but 3D Business Information Modelling (BIM) is to be made compulsory for all public projects by 2016, setting a certain standard for other areas to aim for. This should raise the bar for the industry and make surveying a more productive area, minimising 2D illustrations. Although they have their use, 2D modelling can result in vital elements becoming lost in translation.
3D laser scanners not only provide beneficial applied measurements, but they can do so in an effective manner. Technology is now faster and more advanced than ever, meaning that collecting data is less time consuming. The FARO Focus 3D Laser scanner for example, can take readings accurate to the nearest millimetre whilst only taking a few minutes to capture over a large area.
With less time wasted on gathering numbers, there can be a larger time allowance for analysis and visualisation of this data.
In fact, thanks to detailed images of complex environments, there has certainly been a level of improvement over the past few years in terms of conception and imaging.
Particularly in the case of public buildings where approvals and multiple checks much be made before any building work can be signed off, 3D is a real game changer. Thanks to the 3D data from laser scanning, alongside 3D augmentation within BIM, you can really gather a sense of the architecture of a potential building as well as its location, position within an area, and its spatial dimensions. With improved visualisations, probable problems can be detected and dealt with at an earlier stage accounting for a more productive process.
In a similar fashion, documentation thanks to 3D laser scanning is of great assistance to forensics and accident investigations where time is really of the essence. In these instances, where accuracy is vital, the precision of the lasers is beneficial for insurance purposes as well as reference in police investigations.
Three dimensional lasers work by co-ordinating thousands of laser points around a designated area. These points communicate with one another to form a ‘point cloud’ which is then later given surface texture and colours to appear more realistic and three-dimensional. This data can of course be used to make two-dimensional images or models also, allowing for different options where relevant.
It’s fair to say that the effect of 3D laser scanning is a good one. Not only is it increasingly the quality and the speed at which we can carry out project analysis, but it will do the same for other companies too meaning the overall output from surveying is better. Whether it is topography, geotechnical surveys or planning permission, we can ensure the highest standard possible thanks to improved technology.
