Racelogic Announces New Development in Indoor Positioning

Racelogic is launching a brand-new indoor positioning system, called VIPS, which is an advanced system for measuring real-time 3D position to an accuracy of ±2cm in areas where GPS is not available, making it an ideal tool for construction applications both indoors and in urban areas. The system has been designed for any application that requires accurate measurement and recording of 3D positioning and enables GPS based technologies to operate in GPS denied environments. The British developer of accurate GPS data-loggers, testing equipment and positioning systems will be presenting this cutting-edge technology at the upcoming London Build Show in Olympia... (read more)

2019-11-19 09:13:32

GNSS Receivers – Evolution or Revolution?

Past, Present and Future of Positioning

Satellite surveying… are there any industry professionals out there not using it on (almost) a daily basis? Over the last 30 years, GNSS has become the main positioning instrument for most applications, writes Huibert-Jan Lekkerkerk. Of course, there are still some exceptions where correct relative positioning is needed and dedicated optical systems such as a total station or level instrument are used, but even these are often set up over control points determined using GNSS techniques. This article investigates the developments in GNSS over the last decade and attempts to predict the future. Around a decade ago, a review of... (read more)

2019-01-30 08:43:20

Harxon Debuts Ruggedized Antenna HX-CVX600A for I-construction Machining Applications

The Harxon HX-CVX600A offers full support for reliable and consistent tracking of satellite signals including GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, Beidou, QZSS, IRNSS, SBAS as well as L-band correction services. It has a very stable phase centre that is based on multipoint feeding technology, exceptional low-elevation satellite tracking with symmetric radiation patterns, high gain with ultralow signal loss, as well as outstanding wide-angle circular polarization (WACP). The Harxon HX-CVX600A delivers remarkable positioning accuracy and provides end users with full control of the job site, enabling them to perform tasks more productively, meet tighter positioning specifications and avoid rework caused by inaccurate positioning.... (read more)

2020-05-11 02:41:40

The Geomatics Profession: Looking Forward to the Next Decade

As the years progress towards 2030, many challenges and opportunities may emerge for the profession across a wide spectrum of activities. The democratization of geospatial data and the rapid advancement of technologies to capture this data require a skilled labour force. Where will the surveyors, geospatial scientists and spatial data specialists come from? The UN’s growing awareness of the importance of our oceans and seas will hopefully develop further into real sustainable actions and outcomes which should require further reliable and cost-effective data acquisition and data management solutions. I believe the general levels of underinvestment in the offshore and hydrographic... (read more)

2020-03-03 10:01:28

The Evolution of the Smart Surveyor

5 Trends Affecting Surveying, Bringing about the Next-generation Surveyor

Surveyors are a versatile and flexible bunch. As the current COVID-19 situation has proven, this group, like others, has had to find new ways of operating. Even this article is an adjustment. Originally planned as a presentation, Sensor Fusion for the Smart Surveyor, for the International Federation of Surveyors (FIG) Working Week 2020, adapting to a new platform for information sharing is becoming the new normal. In FIG Commission 5 – Positioning and Measurement and FIG Commission 6 – Engineering Surveys, the focus is an ever-evolving adoption of new technologies and integrating methods with various instruments and sensors to help... (read more)

2020-05-08 02:17:02

How Rapid Scanning Provides Support During a Global Health Crisis

Geospatial technology can play an important role in the expansion of hospital capacity in response to the coronavirus pandemic. In this feature, David Fowkes, sales director at 3D mapping and monitoring specialist GeoSLAM, explains how the rapid surveying capabilities of SLAM technology can enable health officials across the globe to quickly and safely assess potential hospital buildings. Around the world we have seen unprecedented efforts to increase capacity in stretched health systems as a result of the spread of coronavirus. In Wuhan, China, the epicentre for the virus, the 269,000 sq ft, thousand-bed Huoshenshan Hospital, was built from scratch in... (read more)

2020-07-28 10:34:01

Leica Geosystems Launches New MultiStation

Leica Geosystems, part of Hexagon, has unveiled the new Leica Nova MS60. According to the company, the MS60 MultiStation brings sensor fusion to the next level by combining upgraded faster 3D laser scanning capabilities, GNSS connectivity and digital imaging with a highest-end total station. The MS60 features several laser scanning updates, including an incredibly fast scanning speed of up to 30,000 points per second, optimized scan area definitions, adapted scan managements, and an improved scanning path for zenith scans. The MS60 is also equipped with the unique AutoHeight feature, enabling users to save time by automatically measuring the instrument’s height... (read more)

2020-02-19 08:59:05

UAVs: Where to Focus on Next?

New Technologies Require New Knowledge and Regulations

In June 2018, RSPSoc's 'Photogrammetric Record' publication devoted 11 pages to determining which term they would use for drones. They ultimately decided on ‘unmanned aircraft system’ or ‘UAS’. However, the mere fact that this required 11 pages goes some way towards highlighting the complexity and cross-discipline potential that drones bring, not only to the remote sensing industry but also for multiple other uses, writes Peter Kinghan. Over the past decade we have seen a number of drone uses come through the tried-and-tested period, resulting in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) becoming a proven technology for a range of industries and professions,... (read more)

2020-02-10 08:38:39

Rapid Site Surveys Using SLAM Technology

Access All Areas: Geomatics Systems for the Future

The difficulties of undertaking geospatial surveys, particularly in unstable buildings or underground environments, are well documented. However, the pressure to collect accurate, real-time data within strict timelines has certainly intensified in recent years. With increasingly tight deadlines coupled with strict budgets, conducting surveys of hard-to-access sites can be a real challenge for engineering and construction firms. This article explains how new innovations in building information modelling (BIM) are providing an answer with the aid of simultaneous localisation and mapping (SLAM) technology. As engineering and construction firms grapple with issues such as skills shortages, robust safety regulations and fierce competition for contracts,... (read more)

2018-10-24 04:26:50

The Smartphone as a Professional Mapping Tool

To what extent will the smartphone become a professional mapping tool? Modern smartphones already contain many of the important functions to be used as mapping tools. However, whether they are suitable for use as such professionally depends not only on the built-in sensors, but also on the available computing power, RAM and data storage capacity. For data acquisition, a smartphone usually has two to three cameras, a GNSS sensor, an acceleration sensor and a gyroscope for positioning the system in 3D space. In addition, a smartphone has a magnetometer which displays the orientation or north direction by a compass, and... (read more)

2020-02-05 03:54:54