How to reliably capture accurate survey data and transform it into intelligence for increased productivity and improved decision making.

KOREC works with a number of utility and fibre companies who have adopted a digital approach to their field data collection and data handling workflows. These companies are now reporting significant benefits from accurately capturing survey data across four main areas; plan, design, build and operate & maintain.

KOREC specialises in tackling the challenges that can impede productivity in all of these stages:

PLAN & DESIGN: Using mobile mapping to enhance productivity for survey, planning and design services

Jorvik Design Group has revolutionised its data capture operations through its investment in a KOREC supplied, vehicle mounted mobile mapping system. Their Trimble MX50 system delivers a very accurate point cloud of the environment along with complimentary immersive imagery and enables Jorvik to create extremely accurate designs without time consuming and labour-intensive site walkovers.

KOREC worked closely with Jorvik to create an enhanced workflow so that clients can now provide a boundary map and all relevant UPRNs (Unique Property Reference Numbers) along with a  request that Jorvik plans a design for that network. An initial survey is then driven with the MX50 system mounted on Jorvik’s Land Rover Defender.

Having access to a current, high-accuracy, 3D point cloud means that the Jorvik Design Group can now provide an even better service for its clients through the provision of an accurate 3D point cloud data set for measurements related to costing; a faster design service based on correct asset location and a fully up to date, accurate map of all their assets at the job’s conclusion.

CONSTRUCT: Utility construction company working on new build site

Working on new build sites, the installation of utilities is based on designers’ detailed line drawings rather than OS MasterMap data which has yet to be created for new developments. However, digitising these line drawings to take into the field, sometimes up to 6,000 in a single project, is extremely problematic due to the density of the information contained.

In order to create a new digital workflow, KOREC’s software division, K-MATIC, worked with the client to create an easy drag and drop solution which allows for the easy transfer of these large files from the office on to field devices.

CONSTRUCT: Utility installation company seeking a digitised workflow for greater efficiency and faster payment

KOREC was approached by a company that wished to become more efficient in the field, collecting as-built information. The company required better than 10cm positional accuracy on each connection (as per UK legislation) and also wished to document each connection with attribute information fed live to a secure cloud-based portal. This would enable them to provide proof of connection and bill weekly for work done.

KOREC supplied the company with Trimble Catalyst, a low cost GNSS option (with a choice of subscriptions for different accuracies) and  KOREC Capture field data software designed to run on standard smartphones or loggers.

OPERATE & MAINTAIN: a network operator pre-empting potential problems and minimising risk

A utility company has to maintain an existing network including pole inspection and vegetation encroachment across the network. The company approached KOREC who undertook a mobile mapping survey through its Professional Services division. This data, once processed, was analysed with automated routines for poles that were not in the existing inventory and also locations where vegetation could encroach the network and impact connectivity. This allowed them to better manage their assets and foresee potential issues.   

Visit KOREC on stand 33b at Connected Britain or look out for our exhibition presentation

To learn about the mobile mapping aspect of this project as well, visit here

This case study is all about how KOREC’s clever field data capture app and a Trimble Catalyst cm accurate, low-cost GNSS have enabled National Highways to achieve the same amount of defect work in just one shift whilst saving around £20k on each 5km stretch of carriageway.

The digital revolution has taken hold on virtually every aspect of our lives and each day we witness technology branching out across all sectors and industries as they seek to raise productivity and streamline processes. Whilst the transport industry has in general profited from the digital revolution, specific areas such as highways maintenance are lagging behind, often still using pen and paper methods for data collection and analysis . This is something that National Highways is seeking to rectify with an innovative programme designed specifically for the concrete roads sector.

National Highways is investing £27.4 billion in the strategic road network (SRN) between 2020 and 2025 with digital data and technology being critical to its main objective, namely providing safer, smoother and more reliable journeys for its customers. Consequently, National Highways has been developing methods to enhance delivery efficiency and improve data quality to support long-term decision making.

Over the past three years, KOREC Group has been working closely with National Highways (and its delivery partners, identifying innovative new methods that can reduce both the cost of the works and the impact of construction on roads users and communities. These methods include mass data collection (mobile mapping), digital twins, IOT, augmented/mixed reality, cloud platform (KOREC Portal), machine learning and of course, field data capture (KOREC app).

The introduction of the Trimble MX50 system will play a large part in enabling the Jorvik Design Group to provide a tailored survey and design service. This will  maximize efficiency throughout their telecoms build and network deployment process.

About the Trimble MX50

The Trimble MX50 is avehicle-mounted mobile LiDAR system suitable for companies, such as Jorvik Design  Group, who wish to expand their offering to include precise, high-volume data capture technology. The system delivers a very accurate point cloud of the environment along with complimentary immersive imagery and will provide Jorvik with the ability to create extremely accurate designs without time consuming and labour-intensive site walkovers.

Enhanced workflow

KOREC has worked closely with Jorvik Design Group in the creation of an enhanced workflow that will enable it to complete design jobs far faster and more accurately through the use of the high-precision, current, 3D point cloud data collected by the MX50. Previously, the company worked from Google StreetView where asset data could be outdated or inaccurate. This older data often required time consuming back-and-forth site visits from surveyors for asset checking purposes before network design could begin.

With the new enhanced workflow, clients provide a boundary map and all relevant UPRNs (Unique Property Reference Numbers) and request that Jorvik plans a design for that network. An initial survey is then driven with the MX50 system mounted on Jorvik’s Land Rover Defender.

QGIS integration

Under the guidance of Jorvik Design Group Network Planner, Mahmoud Ali, the point cloud is then processed and split into smaller jobs for the design team. A KOREC developed portal and plug-in allows the MX50 collected data to be automatically loaded as a layer for immediate use in their QGIS.

This easy integration routine means that the initial design can be viewed on top of the point cloud in a pre-defined layer. The same data can then be worked on all by all Jorvik designers simultaneously.

Client benefits

Having access to a current, high-accuracy, 3D point cloud means that the Jorvik Design Group can now provide an even better service for its clients through the provision of:

Accurate 3D point cloud data for measurements related to costing

A faster design service based on correct asset location

A fully up to date, accurate map of all their assets at the job’s conclusion.

If you’d like to find out more about the Trimble MX50 Mobile Mapping system, please contact your local KOREC consultant, or use the details below;

info@korecgroup.com

Call UK Sales: 0345 603 1214

Call Ireland Sales: 01 456 4702

For anything else, view our contact page.

On a recent mobile mapping mission, KOREC employee Graham Beckford was lucky enough to pass not one, but two pre-historic jewels in England’s crown – Stonehenge and the Uffington White Horse.

Despite dull and grey conditions, there was no missing the new Professional Services vehicle as it drove up alongside the ancient stone circle – one of Europe’s most recognisable and oldest monuments built around 5,000 years ago.

Mounted on top of the car is the Trimble MX9, a LiDAR based mobile mapping solution which rapidly captures pointclouds and images for highway surveys. A mobile mapping device such as the MX9 can be driven at normal speeds to capture survey data without the disruption of road closures.

Inclement weather persisted for Graham’s mission as he passed from Wiltshire and into Oxfordshire, specifically the Vale of White Horse to photograph the 3,000 year old hill monument – just visible in the background of this photograph.

Have you been on any mobile mapping adventures recently? Why not submit your pictures to our monthly KOREC Photo Competition by emailing marketing@korecgroup.com.

If you’d like to find out more about mobile mapping, our professional services division or anything else do not hesitate to contact us.

How KOREC are powering a Guinness World Record breaking attempt

Ian Williams is a man on a mission. Over the weekend of 7-8^th August, he’ll be attempting to smash the Guinness World Record for the furthest distance travelled in a go kart in 24 hours, at the Teesside Autodrome British 24hr Challenge.

The current record stands at 945 miles, while Ian hopes to smash through the 1,000 mile (1600km) barrier – as well as raising £15,000 for charity in the process.

So how do you go about planning such an exhausting mission? Well first things first, Ian (not to mention Guinness) needed to know the precise distance of the track to be driven – which is where KOREC come in.

Whilst the official track length is stated as 2.1km, Ian needed a precise measurement – both to satisfy the stringent demands of Guinness, and to pace his race.

Ian searched around local survey companies before he was advised that KOREC might be able to assist with obtaining an accurate track measurement. Never ones to shy away from a challenge, we immediately knew this was a job for the MX9 and the Professional Services team.

Flash forward to 1^st July, and our team met with Ian trackside. It took a matter of minutes to drive the race-day circuit layout in the MX9 scanning vehicle, capturing millions of measurements of data points of both track position, and elevation.

The data was processed back in the office, producing a dense 3D point cloud of the circuit, allowing for a centre-line to be produced – which came in at 1.64km in distance – almost half a kilometre shorter than the stated distance.

0.5km may not seem much to you or me, but when you’re planning to drive over 1000 miles, it works out at an additional 214 laps of the circuit – knowledge that means the difference between success and failure.

As well as providing these crucial measurements, the Professional Services team have generated beautiful 3D visualisations of the circuit, which have been incorporated into Ian’s marketing video – a vital piece of promotion for his charity drive.

Ian is hoping that his record attempt will raise £5000 each for his three chosen charities – Shelter, Papyrus (prevention of young suicide) and the Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance.

So how is Ian gearing up over these final weeks for this massive challenge?

“I’ll be focussing on building up my stamina by taking part in track days. I’m also conditioning my neck muscles, as they’ll be coping with around 70 tonnes of pressure over the 24-hour period. I’ve also upped my water intake, ensuring I am well hydrated, and getting used to a liquid diet”

(Ian won’t be consuming food during the attempt)

Whilst this is a solo attempt, Ian is far from alone. Upwards of 100 other racers will be on the circuit, with Ian hoping his kart’s bright livery will help him stand out from the crowd. He’s also got the support of the Haase UK Kart team, who have learnt him the kart, and his very understanding partner Alyona!

All of us at KOREC wish Ian the very best of luck in his challenge!

If you’d like to support Ian’s chosen charities, you can do so via his Justgiving page; https://www.justgiving.com/team/British24hoursolo

Article Links

Teesside Autodrome – British 24hr Challenge

Guinness World Records – Current World Record

Shelter

Papyrus

Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance

Customised reporting for different sectors, simplifying your workflows without compromising on detail

New partnerships with the biggest names in mapping, to help you discover #morethanamap

Stay tuned to find out more or contact us.

KOREC are delighted to today (11th August 2020) be announcing their new initiative, Meet the Experts, to further help and support their growing customer base.

The concept is to increase awareness and understanding of eight key business areas and solutions, which are;

• Laser scanning and Trimble RealWorks
• Mobile Mapping
• Trimble Business Center software
• Rail
• GIS & UAV Solutions
• Integrated Layout & Mixed Reality solutions
• Integrated Survey
• Monitoring

Each KOREC Expert has been selected for their specific experience, product knowledge, industry connections, and ability to share that knowledge with our customer base.

The initiative was launched with a introductory video interview with laser scanning expert, Melvin Penwill – watch the video here.

‘A’ road survey completed in safety, 20 times faster!

Out now, the July/August issue features a great story on how Anthony Lawton, Director at Academy Geomatics tackled a complex road survey using mobile mapping. KOREC Professional Services specialises in collecting and processing high quality data using the Trimble MX9 Mobile Mapping System.

Read the story in CES here

or the full KOREC case study here 

Combining high-quality performance, simple installation and easy operation.

KOREC, Trimble’s leading distributor in the UK and Ireland, has taken delivery of Trimble’s ‘New Generation’ MX9 Mobile Mapping System.

The MX9 will be available to KOREC customers either through purchase or as KOREC’s preferred system for undertaking large-scale scanning and mapping surveys on behalf of its clients through its services company, Professional Services (KPS).

The Trimble MX9 is a complete field-to-finish mobile mapping solution and has been developed to deliver survey-grade data and detail in an easy to use and install design.

Performance

The MX9 combines a vehicle-mounted mobile lidar system, multi-camera imaging and field software for efficient, precise and high-volume data capture, delivering up to 500scans/second. The end result is data of unrivalled accuracy, density and repeatability.

Ease of Use

The system weighs just 37kg and can be easily mounted on a range of vehicles in less than 12 minutes. Operation is through intuitive browser-based field software, accessible via most tablets or any notebook.

As a Service

KOREC Professional Services means every company can offer their clients mobile mapping surveys without a large capital outlay and staff training. Specialising in tailor-made mapping surveys for a wide range of applications including topographic, engineering, and asset management surveys for whole city centres and boroughs or smaller projects, KPS combines expertise with the highest quality of mobile mapping data achievable.

Mark Reid, Professional Services Director said, “Our aim is to expand our customer’s business by offering clients mobile mapping surveys, and all their benefits, without the need for a hefty capital outlay or training costs. KOREC’s acquisition of the MX9 means that we are equipped to offer the very best in precise, high-volume data capture, faster than ever before.”

Alan Browne, KOREC CEO said, “As a company that has already invested heavily in mobile mapping systems, the purchase of a Trimble MX9 was an easy decision to make because simply it places KOREC and K-SERVICES customers, at the cutting edge of mobile mapping technology – the potential is tremendous.”

For a sample dataset or to discuss a Professional Services project, please contact Mark Reid, KOREC Professional Services Director on 07423628529 or by email at mark.reid@korecgroup.com

For sales enquiries, please contact your regional KOREC sales consultant.

ENDS