Customers who plan to work with radio transmitting equipment between 13th March and 30th April 2018 in Brisbane, the Gold Coast and parts of Northern NSW, please take note of strict embargo rules released by ACMA for the Commonwealth Games.

Click here for a map of the exclusion zone: http://archive.acma.gov.au/webwr/_assets/main/lib410206/brisbane2.jpg 

No new Fixed Site Licences in the exclusion zone will be granted until after the Games.

Under the embargo, any licences that are issued for Queensland-wide, NSW-wide or Australia-wide must not operate radio transmitting devices or cause interference within the exclusion zone during this time.

Importantly, existing Fixed Site Licences are unaffected by the embargo as their frequency usage has been factored into the spectrum plan for the event.

Customers can apply for an exemption to the embargo if they feel their activities will have limited to no effect on the Games and they have supporting documents to this effect. Lowering transmission power is one way to increase the chances of an exemption being granted.

If you have any projects in the exclusion zone during this period, contact Position Partners to discuss subscription options for the AllDayRTK CORS Network service. AllDayRTK is unaffected by the radio licensing embargo and can deliver Network RTK positioning to your survey and machine control assets.

For further details on the frequencies affected and their respective exclusion zones, click here to download the guidelines.

For help with your radio licensing requirements, contact your local Position Partners branch for assistance.   

In light of the recent announcement of an Australian Space Agency, Martin Nix and Peter Woodgate, who are both members of the space advisory group to the Government, share some insights into how space has become crucial to the country’s short- and long-term prosperity.   

Australia’s ongoing social, environmental and economic well-being depends on continued and cost effective access to satellite data. Position, navigation and timing data is becoming increasingly central to personal navigation and planning as individuals are now connected at all times via their smartphone. At an industry level, such data ensures the ongoing economic productivity of a growing number of sectors including transport, logistics, mining and agriculture.

Earth observation data helps us to understand weather predictions, droughts, bush fires, urban development and future planning needs.

Satellite communication technologies, including broadband, enable Australian citizens and businesses to conduct essential business and access critical services such as emergency transport.

Examples of space assisting Australia’s wellbeing

February 20, 2015 marked the first time on record that two storms of Category 4 or greater intensity had struck the Australian coastline on the same day.

The Bureau used MTSAT-2 data which fed into Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) models for analysis and forecasting. MTSAT-2 provides a full disk scan every hour, which during cyclone development improves nowcasting, cyclone positioning and intensity estimation for subsequent alerts and evacuation planning.

Four months later Japan’s Himawari-8 satellite became operational – rather than a full-disk scan of the Earth every hour from the MTSAT-2, this new satellite completes the same task in just ten minutes!

From weather to civil infrastructure, another example of our increasing dependence on the use of satellite data is the development of high accuracy GNSS positioning machine control for earthmoving equipment.

Slew control is a recent addition to excavator machine control that expands on the usual productivity benefits of machine control systems by preventing the excavator arm and bucket from swinging over an invisible vertical boundary line.

In this case the slew boundary is the edge of the road widening.  It permits traffic to safely travel along the existing road corridor without collision with an accidental operator error that may cause the bucket and arm to swing over the road.

It shows another step towards safe autonomous construction machines of the future and the importance of satellite infrastructure in building our transport, work and living environments.

What is critical infrastructure?

Critical infrastructure is defined as ‘those physical facilities, supply chains, information technologies and communication networks which, if destroyed, degraded or rendered unavailable for an extended period, would significantly impact the social or economic wellbeing of the nation or affect Australia’s ability to conduct national defence and ensure national security.’ It includes services that we all rely on: energy, water, communications, transport, food, health, banking and finance.

Civilians and corporations rely on the Government to engage on any issues that could impact critical infrastructure either positively or negatively and to ensure that risks are minimised. Government is therefore a key stakeholder in assisting critical infrastructure providers to increase organisational resilience and ensure continuity of services to businesses, governments and the community at large.

Recognising that owners and operators of critical infrastructure are best placed to manage risk to their operations, the Australian Government generally takes a non-regulatory approach to critical infrastructure. Its focus is to develop strong business to government partnerships instead.

However, certain sectors of critical infrastructure are regulated to strengthen security of specific assets and to comply with international law and treaty obligations. Examples include health care, banking and finance and food production.

Establishing an advisory group to Government

In 2002, following the Bali bombings in Indonesia that killed 202 people, of which 88 were Australians, the Government established a Critical Infrastructure Advisory Council (CIAC). The CIAC developed a Critical Infrastructure Strategy to maintain the continued operation of Australia’s critical infrastructure in the face of all hazards. 

Under the co-ordination activities of the Attorney General’s department, the Trusted Information Sharing Network (TISN) was established as Australia’s primary national engagement mechanism for business-government information sharing and resilience building initiatives.

The TISN provides a secure environment in which critical infrastructure owners and operators across eight sector groups meet regularly to share information and cooperate within and across sectors to address security and business continuity challenges.

The sector groups of the TISN include banking and finance, communications, energy, food and grocery, health, transport and water services . In addition, there are specialist forums (Cross-Sectoral Interest Groups) which assist in the exploration of cross-cutting issues, and a Resilience Expert Advisory Group which has a strong focus on organisational resilience.

Coordination and strategic guidance for the TISN is provided by the Critical Infrastructure Advisory Council (CIAC). CIAC consists of the Chairs of each of the TISN groups, senior Australian Government representatives from relevant agencies, and senior State and Territory government representatives.

Space as a major contributor to critical infrastructure 

A Space Community of Interest was later established in 2014 under the CIAC’s Cross-Sectoral Interest Groups. Formed to bring together interested parties from industry, academia and government, the Space Community of Interest explored vulnerabilities arising from space dependencies and developed options to mitigate risk.

In 2015, the Space Community of Interest developed a (restricted) risk management plan and a first pass analysis of risks associated with Australia’s dependencies on space-based assets, including communications, positioning, navigation, timing and earth observation activities.

Last year, in 2016, a dedicated Space Cross-Sectoral Interest Group was established to facilitate greater understanding among Trusted Information Sharing Network sector groups of the essential services that space-enabled services provide to Australia’s critical infrastructure.

Its membership comprises people with expertise in satellite services for PNT, earth observations and communications.

The Space CSIG’s overall objective is to systematically examine and document the risks to the critical infrastructure and their supply chains, for each TISN area, that relate to their dependence on space-based assets. The report that will result from this work will be used by the Critical Infrastructure Advisory Council and other key bodies, to plan for improved resilience across each TISN area.

What progress has been made?

Building on the work of the Space Community of Interest Group, the Space CSIG has met twice so far and planned workshops with each of the sector groups to:

• Identify essential services that are provided by space
• Assess the potential impact of any major disruptions
• Develop resilience strategies for the space sector
• Develop resilience strategies for the individual sector group

The information shared in these workshops will establish detailed recommendations for the rollout of Australia’s Space Policy. Although the focus of the agency will no doubt be on upstream applications in terms of the country’s contribution to space infrastructure, risk management and optimisation for downstream applications affecting critical infrastructure sector groups are essential to ensure Australia’s long term prosperity with space.

A number of Position Partners geospatial product and business development specialists attended the recent INTERGEO conference and exhibition in Germany. Gavin Docherty, our RPAS Product Manager, even got to fly the Intel Falcon 8+ in the drone demo area!

Positioning Group featured the concept of “The Intersection of Infrastructure and Technology” at this year’s INTERGEO exhibition — exploring the current and future demands on the infrastructure sector and how Topcon technology can increase productivity.
 
“Across the globe, infrastructure development and management of aging infrastructure assets is placing a huge demand on construction professionals,” said Ian Stilgoe, vice president GeoPositioning Europe for Topcon Positioning Group. At the event, Topcon focused on sharing products and solutions designed to enable the efficiencies required to meet the huge pressure in this sector.
 
“With increasing population density compounded by urban growth and modernisation in developing regions, the need for new infrastructure is growing exponentially,” Stilgoe said. “A gap in the available budgets to pay for the required infrastructure and the available resources to design and construct can be addressed by increases in productivity and reduction of waste in global construction practices. Integrating smart technology into construction is the only feasible way to meet this need.”
 
Infrastructure was a topic that was explored in depth as part of a joint presentation between Bentley and Topcon in the Smart Cities Solution forum. Topcon also partnered with Solius at the event to showcase innovative technology using a virtual reality dome.
 
Other talks and demonstrations from the Topcon team explored RPAS inspection and monitoring, mass data collection, and BIM collaborative solutions for buildings, infrastructure and smart city models.
 
The Topcon booth showcased the latest technology including the Elite Survey Suite, Topcon Delta Solution deformation monitoring systems, data collection software advances for the SmoothRide™ resurfacing workflow solution, and a new web-based service for integration with the MAGNET® Collage desktop mass data processing software.

New web-based access to MAGNET Collage

Topcon Positioning Group has announced a new web-based service for integration with the MAGNET® Collage desktop mass data processing software — MAGNET Collage Web. The web-based service is designed to simplify collaboration and sharing of 3D point cloud data.
 
“MAGNET Collage Web offers a sleek platform, accessible through a web browser, that integrates with the MAGNET Collage Office version to allow professionals to publish and share their mass data maps in a user-friendly and intuitive 3D web-based environment,” said Jason Hallett, vice president of Topcon global product management. “The solution offers more universal access to point cloud models by eliminating the need for installed software with high-performance computing requirements.”
 
MAGNET Collage is designed to offer a “single environment” solution for professionals processing and publishing data from laser scanners, mobile mapping devices, modern paving scanners, and traditional surveying instruments.
 
Hallett said, “This new integrated web service features fast loading point cloud visualisation combined with unique high-fidelity rendering to reveal precision data on demand. 

Topcon and Bentley strengthen integration and roll out Constructioneering Academy

Topcon Positioning Systems and Bentley Systems have announced further collaboration across their software platforms, along with a new Constructioneering Academy that they plan to roll out worldwide with support from local distributors.

MAGNET – Bentley integration

The MAGNET Enterprise Data Manager is designed to allow operators to directly access Bentley ProjectWise data with MAGNET Field, MAGNET Office or MAGNET Enterprise applications.

“The updates are part of our commitment to working with third-party software applications, such as the Bentley offering, to provide efficient data exchange and a seamless workflow environment,” said Jason Hallett, Topcon vice president of global product management. “When connected to MAGNET Enterprise from MAGNET Field, you can directly upload and download data from ProjectWise, allowing surveyors or machine control model-builders upload or download iModels or other project file types.”
 
The integration is designed to simplify data transfer from design to field, with the unique ability to read and import only the data users need for their projects.
 
“It builds upon our industry-first ability to offer ‘round trip’ iModels — sending them directly to field operators who can use and update them directly on the jobs site, and then send the updated iModels from the field back to Bentley ProjectWise,” said Hallett.

Constructioneering

The Topcon-Bentley partnership has also expanded with the introduction of a Constructioneering Academy. Constructioneering refers to a process of managing and integrating survey, engineering, and construction data, to streamline construction workflows and improve project delivery.
 
“The future of construction automation continues to move forward today with efforts like constructioneering. Together with Bentley we are helping reshape the traditional surveying, engineering, and construction workflows,” said Ray O’Connor, president and CEO of Topcon Positioning Systems. “Our efforts are proving successful in several phases of project delivery, particularly in road resurfacing, but the opportunities to expand its benefits are tremendous. That’s a big driver for creating the Constructioneering Academy.”
 
Bentley Systems’ CEO Greg Bentley said, “The growing momentum in demand for infrastructure project delivery across the world, against finite resources including an aging construction workforce, makes ‘going digital’ imperative. We and Topcon, and early adopters of constructioneering over the past year, have become convinced that heavy civil construction can lead the way, starting by ‘industrialising BIM’ through digital workflows which make the work of surveyors, engineers, and constructors automated, continuous, and continuously more valuable, throughout the project lifecycle.

“Also over the past year, we and Topcon have advanced our digital co-venture to jointly deliver constructioneering technologies through instant-on cloud services, federating our respective connected data environments and applications,” Mr Bentley added. 
 
“The benefits of constructioneering, with digital visibility into efficient and effective project outcomes, are so substantial that I believe civil infrastructure projects can finally become bankable, attracting abundant private financing to fill the funding gap. The results can be significant—improved overall economic growth and quality of life!
 
“The challenge in going digital, now, is to motivate and empower the historically conservative engineering and contracting firms, so that people and processes can catch up with constructioneering technology acceleration. We and Topcon enthusiastically accept this responsibility, and are pooling our experiences in promoting and sustaining digital advancement. At Bentley Systems, our Academy programs have helped major infrastructure owners to onboard their consultants, contractors, and supply chains into BIM and construction digital workflows which benefit every project delivery participant. Topcon has likewise invested in advancing people and processes, and we look forward to applying the same resourcefulness and creativity in collaborating for Constructioneering Academies, as we have already successfully shown in our joint technical endeavours,” he concluded.
 
Constructioneering enables engineers to begin work with an accurate 3D model of current construction site conditions (as captured by industry-grade RPAS photogrammetry and laser scanners) which then can be processed into engineering-ready 3D reality meshes (by Bentley’s ContextCapture software). Cloud services convey the engineers’ work directly to construction processes in the field.

The resulting digital engineering models work with the 3D machine control that guides construction machinery. Compared to traditional workflows between design and construction in which data in the digital engineering models is often lost and inefficiently recreated, constructioneering provides seamless integration for constructible models that offer real-time updates and data exchange for improved efficiency and cost reduction. Topcon and Bentley will collaborate to create the Constructioneering Academy curriculum which will be implemented through existing learning centers located in Livermore, California (Topcon), Houston, Texas, and London, UK (Bentley). In Australia, Position Partners is working directly with Bentley Systems to establish Academy facilities locally.
 

Position Partners to distribute the Polaris long range 3D laser scanner, along with Maverick and Lynx mobile mapping platforms, across Australia, New Zealand and PNG.

Geospatial solutions provider Position Partners announces a distribution agreement with Canadian-based mass data capture manufacturer, Teledyne Optech. The new partnership will see Position Partners distribute the Polaris series of long range scanners as well as Teledyne Optech’s mobile mapping solutions throughout Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.

“Teledyne Optech’s range of high accuracy, long distance scanners are ideally suited to the mining, engineering and construction markets, making them a great fit for our customers,” said Martin Nix, Position Partners CEO.

Teledyne Optech’s Polaris model is a terrestrial 3D laser scanner that can deliver high accuracy point clouds up to distances of 1.6 kilometres. Ideal for mining, civil engineering and other long range applications, the Polaris also includes a built-in camera for 360-degree photography and geo-referencing for survey information.

For mobile mapping applications, the Maverick is a uniquely portable system that weighs less than nine kilograms and can be assembled on any vehicle fitted with a roof rack or other suitable frame in less than 15 minutes. Unlike other solutions that require significant installation time and expertise, along with external computers to record data, the Maverick is an all-in-one setup that is ready to work in minutes!

For survey grade accuracy on vehicle mapping applications, Position Partners will also work alongside Teledyne Optech experts to deliver the Lynx advanced scanning and lidar mobile platform. This custom-designed solution offers the very highest standards of performance and millimetre-level accuracy. 

“The Polaris is an exceptional solution for precision long range laser scanning applications and the Maverick is ideal for customers that need a reliable, self-sufficient mobile mapping system that you can easily transport,” said Paul Malatzky, Position Partners Market Development Manager for Scanning Systems. “Teledyne Optech products complement our range of Z+F and Topcon scanning instruments to offer customers a reliable, high performance solution for every application,” he added.