At work!

Opportunity takes flight

/0 Comments/in /by

Matthew Smith is a Director of CEH (Dapto) Pty Ltd, an Illawarra and Sydney-based firm of land and mine surveyors. An aerobatics pilot in his spare time, with several state and national championship titles to his name, Mr Smith and colleague Robert Dickers, a former long-haul freight pilot, have embraced a new way to fly with the introduction of the company’s first Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS).

CEH Survey hopes that RPAS will replace traditional survey methods for large scale surveys and stock pile volumes. “I think there will always be a place for total stations and GNSS, however for some applications RPAS enables us to capture comprehensive data considerably faster and more safely,” Mr Smith said.

The company purchased its first RPAS solution, a MAVinci SIRIUS Pro, in December 2015. “Although I’d been keeping an eye on developments in the industry, it was only when I heard about this RPAS that didn’t require ground control that my interest was piqued,” Mr Smith said.

The SIRIUS Pro is a fixed wing RPAS that is specifically designed for surveying purposes. With an on-board GNSS receiver and MAVinci Connector base station, the SIRIUS Pro effectively puts ground control points in the air, saving time, increasing safety and enabling surveys of hazardous and hard to reach areas.

Mr Smith is impressed with the data the SIRIUS Pro captures. “Not only can we survey right to the edge of high wall faces and other areas that can’t be captured on foot, but we also survey the entire site, not just the specific points we need.

“Clients love the fact that we can deliver a complete data set of the site, it’s a powerful visual tool as well as an accurate historical reference for the project at that time,” he added.

Steady as she goes 

Mr Smith recommends choosing a professional standard solution to others looking to invest in a system. “The SIRIUS Pro takes incredibly clear pictures, which translates to very accurate data, and that is due to its in-flight stability, not the camera,” he said.

“Stability is the key differentiator: the SIRIUS has powerful inertial measurement units that enable it to compensate for wind and other environmental factors, which results in fewer distortions in the data.”

CEH Survey averages accuracies of 3 GSD (Ground Sampling Distance). “Our clients have been very happy with the accuracy of the results,” he said.

In addition to its accuracy, Mr Smith explained that the SIRIUS Pro was also built to withstand the harsh environment of mining and construction sites. “It is tough enough to land on the hard rock surface, so it’s ideal for our work.” 

Data take off

Acceptance in the industry is becoming more widespread, although Mr Smith explains that it is taking time. “As with any new technology, it takes time for it to be fully trusted and with RPAS in particular, it requires a different understanding of how to manage and represent the data it captures.”

CEH Survey is actively involved in the development of Propeller, a new collaborative software platform that delivers web-based access to orthophotos and Digital Surface Models (DSMs). It also enables users to layer data sets and alter layer opacity to monitor changes and progress over time.

“Propeller is a great tool because it is web-based, so clients don’t need to get approval from their IT departments to install new software and they don’t need to upload or download large amounts of data. It’s secure, it’s affordable and it removes a lot of the hassle of sharing and working with large data sets.”

Experience helps

Whilst learning how best to use the data took a little time, learning to fly the aircraft did not. “There aren’t many surveyors who come with as much flying experience as Matt and Rob,” said Gavin Docherty, Position Partners RPAS Product Manager. 

The MAVinci SIRIUS Pro can operate in fully automatic mode or pilot-assisted manual mode, with the option to switch between modes during a flight without having to abort the flight plan.

“When in manual flight mode, you could tell straight away that they’re pilots and they bring their own piloting style to flying the RPAS,” added Mr Docherty. “As an aerobatics pro, Matt pushes the system and can manoeuvre it on a 10-cent piece, whereas Rob takes wider turns and lines it up to land as though he’s flying a commercial plane.”

After retiring as a long-haul freight pilot, Mr Dickers completed his survey degree at the University of NSW, where he wrote a thesis on the quality of drone survey data. He also teaches as a flying instructor in his spare time.

“I suppose our experience helped to make on-boarding with RPAS a pretty straightforward process,” Mr Smith said. “Position Partners’ service and support also helped, the system was delivered very quickly and we started our training that same day. It was all very efficient and easy.”

Archaeologist breaks old ground in new ways with GPR technology

/0 Comments/in /by

Hans-Dieter Bader is an archaeologist with 30 years’ field experience. Originally from Germany, where he completed his training, Dr Bader has worked in New Zealand for more than 20 years with occasional projects taking him across the pond to Australia.

Dr Bader specialises in geophysical mapping of archaeology sites, having purchased his own geophysical survey equipment 12 years ago.

“I believe I am the only contracting archaeologist to own this technology,” he said, adding, “I normally use a Fluxgate gradiometer to map what lies beneath the surface of the earth. In the past I have also used soil resistivity and soil conductivity.”

Recently, Dr Bader’s work has focussed on locating ancient Maori gardens in Auckland, dating between 200 and 600 years old. The project involved working in a volcanic field and Mr Bader found that to get more comprehensive results, he needed to complement his geophysical survey equipment with ground penetrating radar (GPR).

“The magnetic response from the geology of the site made getting reliable results with the geomagnetic technology a challenge,” he said. “To catch the drawback I hired a US Radar Q5C GPR from Position Partners New Zealand to help fill in the gaps and get a complete picture of the area.”

Dr Bader is thought to be the first archaeologist in New Zealand to deploy both geomagnetic methods and GPR together on the one site.

To identify the Maori garden sites, Dr Bader looks for fine grade changes in the soil layers. “In normal terrain you would expect to see topsoil and subsoil beneath it, whereas in Maori garden locations there is a middle layer of planting soil,” he said. 

“The GPR shows exactly where these differences in soil layers are to help me identify the gardens accurately. The radar also picked up areas near to the gardens where Maori people made pits to store kumara underground.”

Although Dr Bader has had some experience with GPR technology in the past, he found the US Radar system particularly user friendly. “I would say it is the ideal solution for a novice or occasional user, it is extremely easy to operate and it also delivers very accurate results,” he said.

“It is fully self-calibrating and you see live results on the screen as you go, which makes it easy to know that you are capturing everything you need,” he added. “I also liked the fact that I didn’t have to use any additional software, I could simply save the data as a JPEG file without having to export and import between platforms. The file is then displayed in its geo-rectified position in GIS software and can be compared to the elevation model of the landscape and other geophysical survey results.”

When researching which GPR would best suit his needs, Dr Bader explained it was a simple decision: “All of the suppliers in New Zealand only hired their systems with an operator, which was firstly not what I needed and secondly, too expensive.”

Through Auckland-based Optical Services, which has an alliance agreement with Position Partners, an Australian company with a branch in Christchurch, Dr Bader discovered he could hire just what he needed.

“I knew that Optical Services offered a wide range of survey equipment, but I only recently discovered its partnership with Position Partners, which offers a broader range of geospatial solutions,” he said.

“I have to say the process was a dream from start to finish – I simply picked up and dropped off the GPR from Optical Services here in Auckland, and the system worked perfectly to give me the results I needed. Overall the setup was very efficient and well organised.”

Dr Bader is pleased with the results he has achieved using both geomagnetic methods and GPR. “Combining the two technologies and layering the data has given me very accurate results,” he said. “Working in areas that have been occupied for such a long time is challenging, however these methods have enabled me to identify the Maori garden sites with relative ease.”

 

Student tradies complete Roar ‘n’ Snore pods for Melbourne Zoo

/0 Comments/in /by

Chisholm building students  constructed and installed 24 timber pods for Melbourne Zoo’s Roar ‘n’ Snore facility, which enables visitors to experience the zoo in the evening (when many of the animals are at their most active), before retiring to a pod for the night.

“This is the largest external construction project we have completed at Chisholm and it was a great challenge for our apprentices and pre-apprentices to rise to,” Mr Malcolm said.

Start to finish, the project took 18 months to complete and involved some 150 students in total. “We got as many people involved as we could so they could all benefit from exposure to the construction process. The zoo paid for the materials and we provide the workforce, so it’s a great way to give back to the community and also train the next generation. We had VET students, high school kids, apprentices and pre-apprentices all making a contribution.”

Mr Malcolm said that the work was challenging in different ways, from project management through to the design of the pods and lastly their installation.

“There are a lot of constraints when working with the zoo, everything has to be thought through and planned meticulously to ensure there’s minimum impact to the animals and the environment,” he said. “For example, we needed to ensure the timber was harvested from sustainable forests and we needed to seek special approval to use lasers on-site.”

When it came to the pods’ construction, Mr Malcolm said that it was good to expose the students to structures that are very different to those you’d find on a typical building project.

“The designs were quite complex and contained a lot of non-standard angles, so we used the PLS HVL-100 line laser to set out the design from an AutoCAD file on a large table,” he explained. “The laser made it easy to ensure that all the components were measured correctly.”

To assemble the pods on site, the students used a Topcon RL-VH4DR and a PLS HVL-100. “All 24 pods needed to be installed on different levels, but with the Topcon laser we just set it up in the middle of the site and then we could make sure everything was set out correctly. The laser has such a good range we didn’t even have to move it,” he said.  

When choosing which lasers to use, Mr Malcolm relied on his own industry experience and the advice of other teachers. “I’ve worked in the building industry for more than 30 years and Topcon has always been the best brand,” he said. “Also, we can ask the whole network of TAFE institutions which tools are able to survive in the world of students – they have to be extremely durable because kids are brutal.”

Mr Malcolm said the PLS and Topcon lasers they used for this project were ideal. “They are very intuitive and although the students aren’t using them to their full capacity, they pick up on how to operate them very quickly,” he said. “Both lasers are excellent quality, which is what we needed on a long-term project such as this with so many students involved.”

The use of lasers and basic levelling is an essential part of the curriculum for carpentry, joinery and construction. “It’s important that our students learn their trade using the latest technology,” Mr Malcolm said, adding “you don’t see spirit levels on jobsites these days, everything is set out with lasers.”

Chisholm TAFE is looking forward to the next challenge with the zoo. “It is always very rewarding for everyone involved and next time we will also include some of the students in project management, which will be a great step for them towards obtaining their Certificate IV.”

 

3D visualisation adds impact for forensic engineers

/0 Comments/in /by

FARO Handheld scanner

Dr Shane Richardson is the Managing Director and Principal Forensic Engineer for Delta-V Experts, a Melbourne-based company that specialises in forensic engineering and safety solutions for the road transport and mining sectors.

“Our work is primarily conducted for lawyers and insurance companies as part of existing or anticipated legal proceedings,” Dr Richardson explained. “We conduct a thorough damage analysis of the vehicle(s) involved in the incident so that we can build a report that is based purely on the facts and analysis of what happened.”

In addition to road traffic and mining incidents, Delta-V Experts also offers safety solutions, including its award-winning Rollover Protection Systems (ROPS) for light vehicles, trucks, buses and mining machinery.

Recently, the company invested in new 3D handheld laser scanning technology to create an accurate point cloud of each vehicle. “Previously, we used a total station to take a series of measurements, which gave us the information we needed but nothing more,” Dr Richardson said.

“With the new FARO handheld scanner, we get more information than we actually need, however we can do so much more with it. Being able to provide a 3D model of the vehicle(s) involved is very powerful, it helps to portray the story to the client and potentially the court,” he added.

Unlike a total station that provides point-to-point measurements, the FARO Freestyle3D handheld scanner can deliver a full 360 degree data set. “Once you have a point cloud of the vehicle, you have a complete data set that you can refer back to or check a different measurement whenever you need to. Whereas if a point was missed during the initial survey with a total station, you’d have to set it up again and re-measure it.”

In addition to the detailed data sets provided by the scanner, Dr Richardson also explained that there are significant cost and time savings to each project. “There needs to be an economic advantage to technology to make it viable and the handheld laser scanner has significantly reduced our turnaround time during the data capture phase of a project,” he said.

“Now we are able to scan three cars in an hour, a task that would have taken  a fully day with a total station.”

When asked why Delta-V Experts opted for the FARO Freestyle3D, Dr Richardson said it was a combination of ease-of-use, functionality and local support. “I think the FARO handheld scanner is the easiest to use on the market and it comes as a complete, compact package,” he said. “It is so easy to transport, set up and use compared with a total station, which is heavy and cumbersome.”

The FARO Freestyle3D comes with a Microsoft Surface Pro 3 tablet, which enables real-time visualisation while scanning, along with FARO Scene software for post processing the data. The scanner, tablet, calibration plate and extension cable are all packaged into a tough Peli case for easy transportation.

“The Freestyle3D was the right fit for our work in terms of the resolution and range that it has,” Dr Richardson said. “We can scan as much or as little as we need to and it is quick to process so that we can begin using the data immediately.”

Local support from FARO’s Australian distributor Position Partners was also key in the decision-making process. “It was very important to us to have local support and a good relationship with the supplier,” Dr Richardson said. “We didn’t want to purchase a system from overseas and then be left without support and I’ve been very impressed with the level of service we’ve received from Position Partners.”

One of the biggest advantages the handheld scanner gives Delta-V Experts, Dr Richardson explained, is a point of difference from other service providers. “We are Australia’s largest company in our field of expertise and the scanner gives us the option to go one step further with the reports we deliver. We can provide clients with an accurate 3D model to assist with visualising the scene, or potentially even a physical miniature of the crash site through the use of a 3D printer, which could be helpful during legal proceedings.”

“The addition of this technology has been a terrific asset to our business,” Dr Richardson concluded.

 

 

Achieving 2-3 millimetre tolerances with Topcon mmGPS

/0 Comments/in /by

Grader hire contractor Brett Chivers is consistently achieving better results than competitors using total station positioning thanks to Topcon’s unique GNSS and laser transmitter technology, mmGPS.

Mr Chivers first adopted Topcon’s unique mmGPS solution seven years ago and says he hasn’t looked back since. “I first used it while working on the Bendigo Freeway in Victoria and a colleague recommended I purchase a system, not just for the technology but also because of the backup support provided by Topcon’s Australian dealer, Position Partners,” he said.

“I purchased a system and went on to win more work for a later stage of the same project. Once a client sees the system’s performance and the results it can deliver, there’s no going back,” he added.

Topcon mmGPS is the only system of its kind worldwide that utilises a combination of GNSS positioning and a high precision laser transmitter to achieve +/- 3 millimetre accuracy for fine grading, kerbing and slipform paving applications.

Unlike a total station setup, which can be used to achieve similar accuracies, Topcon mmGPS does not require users to complete resections every day, enabling the grader to continue working without interruption.

“The only time a total station setup will win over the Topcon mmGPS system is when the job requires working under a dense tree canopy or under cover when you can’t receive GPS signal,” Mr Chivers explains. “Other than that, I don’t think it can be bettered.”

Mr Chivers is proud to be a self-sufficient contractor that is able to setup and check his work without needing the help of surveyors. “All I need is the design files loaded onto my machine and access to the network and I can set up my laser and get to work,” he said.

“The surveyors are very impressed with the levels I can achieve with this system as it’s always well within their benchmark of 4 millimetres.” he added.

In the seven years he’s been using the technology, Mr Chivers has developed his own unique way of checking levels without using a GPS rover or relying on a surveyor. He explains that the key to success lies in taking the time to setup and check your position and calibration regularly.

“I check my benchmarks against a couple of RL points a few times a day using the blade of the machine rather than a rover,” he said. “You do get a bit of variation in the satellites throughout the day as they rotate around the earth, so I verify my position information at around 10am, lunch time and then again at about 3pm.”

Using a block of concrete or a pit lid as an RL point, Mr Chivers positions the grader blade on the point to check horizontal and vertical levels and account for any variation in satellite positioning.

“If the height is a little out, I simply go into the machine setup settings on the Topcon control box and edit the height so that it’s right,” he said. “I find using the blade of the machine so much more accurate as you have a more solid reference point to check against, whereas a rover might sink into the ground a little and be a few millimetres out.”

Mr Chivers also takes the time to calibrate his machine sensors a couple of times a day to ensure they are working at optimum performance. “If I notice that one side of the blade is cutting a little deeper than the other, I’ll quickly recalibrate the system to make sure the settings are all correct.”

“Regular position checks and calibrations are essential to getting the best results from the system. It doesn’t take long to do them and it saves a huge amount of time in the long run as you are grading accurately the first time and eliminating any rework,” he added.

Mr Chivers also takes great care of his laser transmitter and has it regularly calibrated at Position Partners’ Sydney service centre. “The laser is a high precision, sensitive instrument and short of putting a seat belt on it in my car at the end of the day, I make sure it’s well looked after.”

For technical help, Mr Chivers uses Position Partners’ remote support service, Tokara Link. This enables Position Partners technicians to login to the machine’s control box remotely to change settings, update software and troubleshoot without having to visit the machine in person. The small Tokara Link modem also enables Mr Chivers to connect to a GPS network on site without any additional hardware.

“Tokara Link is fantastic if I ever do run into technical difficulties, as I don’t have to wait for someone to come out on site and help me. The support team gets back to me very quickly and has me back up and running in no time. I couldn’t ask for better,” he said.

 

 

A Point Cloud of Difference

/0 Comments/in /by

Specialising in commercial upholstery and soft trim solutions for the heavy transport, automotive and indoor sports industries, Rae-Line is a Melbourne-based, family-owned company with more than 50 employees.

Brett Vorhauer is the second generation owner and Managing Director of the firm, the son of Ray and Mary Vorhauer who founded the business in 1972.

“We have been supplying and fitting the interior trims for Kenworth trucks Australia-wide for more than 40 years,” Mr Vorhauer explains. “Other clients include Iveco, Spotless and the Bounce indoor trampoline centres.” Rae-Line has also supplied canvas seating and seat covers for automotive companies including Toyota and Isuzu.

Recently, Rae-Line invested in the latest 3D laser scanning technology to increase efficiency, reduce costs and offer a point of difference to its clients. “We’re bringing today’s technology to a trade that is based on traditional manufacturing techniques,” Mr Vorhauer said.

The company purchased a FARO Freestyle3D handheld laser scanner, which enables designers to create a 3D point cloud of the area that needs to be upholstered in minutes. With an accurate 3D model of the area, precise measurements can be taken to build a CAD drawing using SolidWorks manufacturing software.

“The majority of our clients do not provide CAD drawings for their projects, so traditionally we would pattern out the design manually,” Mr Vorhauer explained. “This process is time consuming and expensive, as with complex designs it is often a case of ‘trial and error’ before we can get it right.

“To give an example, when fitting out one of the Bounce centres we measured an area three times and made the padding three times, because only on the third time were the measurements right. With the scanner, we can take an exact model of the area we need to fit, eliminating human error. Plus, we have a historical record if we have to re-upholster in the future.”

The ability to provide clients with a 3D model of the job and a CAD drawing of the design is another advantage. “Our clients are pleased that we are taking initiative in this area and offering this as an additional service. It gives us a point of difference and shows that although our trade is a traditional one, we still embrace technology and innovation.”

Mr Vorhauer said the company will also offer scanning as a service to other businesses, which may lead to further opportunities together in the future. “We’ve had some interest from companies that may not have the capacity to invest in a system but could benefit from the technology. It could open up the door for us and diversify our service offering,” he said.

Reducing company overheads and mitigating risk was also a deciding factor. “For our automotive work, we only have one qualified motor trimmer who has the skills to pattern up seat upholstery from scratch. He is a great employee and our clients love his work, however it exposes the company to risk because if he’s unable to work we have no-one else that can fill in on his behalf.”

The FARO Freestyle3D enables Rae-Line to transform the work and services they are providing to fulfil motor trimming tasks. “The scanner turns our upholsterers into skilled CAD-operators, who achieve a more accurate and traceable result in a fraction of the time,” Mr Vorhauer added.

“Each new project adds to a library of information that future jobs and employees can benefit from, plus tasks can be shared amongst the team and any changes made with ease. Use of this technology shoots the company’s manufacturing into the 21st century and will help to protect jobs in Australia.”  

The handheld scanner saves considerable time on the job, Mr Vorhauer said. “Although we’re still in the early days of using this technology and finessing the workflow, I estimate it will reduce the design process from at best a two-day job down to a six- to eight-hour process.”

Although no-one at Rae-Line had any previous experience with scanning technology, Mr Vorhauer said his employees had no trouble learning how to use the FARO Freestyle3D. “It is amazingly easy to use,” he said, adding, “it feels secure while you’re scanning as it’s strapped to your hand, but at the same time it’s compact and light so you can carry it on a plane as hand luggage. It takes no time to set it up and start using it.”

Mr Vorhauer said he was also impressed with the live scan viewing on the tablet. “People who are used to using technology like this may not think much of this feature, but it was amazing to watch a 3D model appear in real time and it gave us confidence in what we were doing.”

Rae-Line is impressed with the support they’ve received from FARO’s Australian distributors, Position Partners. “Position Partners has been great, they made sure the product was really going to work for our application by giving us a demo and doing a trial project to test out the workflow. It’s good to have local support on-hand if we need it.”

Although it’s still early days, Mr Vorhauer says 3D scanning technology could mean big things for Rae-Line. “I truly believe it has the potential to revolutionise our business,” he said. “Along with other complimentary services we could adopt in the future such as printed 3D models, it gives us a competitive edge and a means to increase efficiency and reduce costs on our projects.”

An accurate final resting place

/0 Comments/in /by

(From L-R: Frank Norton, Michael Wanrooy and Stuart Brown) 

Approximately four hours’ drive east of Mt. Isa lies the small town of Richmond in Queensland. On the western edge of town sits the Pioneer Cemetery, the final resting place for some 300 early Australian settlers according to Richmond Shire Council records. However these days only 35 or so headstones and grave markers are still standing and it is thought some of these may be placed inaccurately.

Members of the community and the Council were eager to locate the remaining plots without disrupting the area with excavations. There was concern that many of the burial sites could lie outside the boundaries of the cemetery and perhaps under a carpark which was built along with a perimeter fence some 10 years ago. 

The Council hired a Ground Penetrating Radar solution from Position Partners to enable them to accurately scan underground and locate additional burial sites.

Stuart Brown, Construction Sales Consultant for Position Partners, travelled to the site to assist the council conduct the scan.

“Using the US Radar Q5C GPR, we conducted a series of single scans and one 3D scan covering approximately 240 square metres of the car park,” he said. “In six hours, we had identified at least 20 additional burial plots, a sewer main and potentially another main line for the town.”

Although there was additional work to be done to map the surrounding area and locate the remaining burial sites, Mr Brown said the initial results were encouraging. “The GPR enables you to find the information you need very quickly, without any disruption to the site. It took six hours to collect the data and a further seven to analyse it and generate reports, so in a few more days we could map the entire area and give these early Australians a proper resting place.”

High voltage accuracy

/0 Comments/in /by

Established electrical & communications contractor Stowe Australia is saving time and increasing accuracy for asset location using Topcon GNSS.  

With a history that dates back to the advent of the electrical industry in this country, Stowe Australia was established in 1910 and is now a 1,800-employee strong, privately owned electrical and communications contractor with offices throughout the East coast.

Recently, the company’s Western Division (Penrith branch) invested in GNSS technology to improve accuracy for as-built asset location. Using a Topcon HiPer SR integrated GNSS receiver, complete with a Panasonic Toughbook field controller and MAGNET Field on-board software, Stowe’s electricians and civil workers are able to capture the as-built location data in the field for the team’s civil engineers to import into CAD drawings in the office.

Infrastructure Manager Brad O’Hara explained that bringing the work in-house helped to save time and increase efficiency: “Before purchasing our own GPS equipment, we would manually measure out the locations using tape measures based on boundary plans provided by surveyors,” he said.

“Alternatively, we would leave conduit in open trenches and book surveyors in to take the measurements and go back on site to finish the job afterwards. By taking the measurements ourselves we can save a lot of time and eliminate the rework.”

Mr O’Hara said that clients increasingly require higher accuracy for asset location, with a new tolerance level of 10 millimetres becoming commonplace. “It was important for us to find a reliable, easy-to-use solution that could deliver the required tolerances,” he said.

When asked how he came to choose the Topcon system, Mr O’Hara said: “I looked into a couple of cheaper brands but was unsure about the level of support we’d receive. I know the Topcon brand having used their laser levels in the past and knew that we would receive local support from Topcon’s distributor, Position Partners.”

Topcon’s HiPer SR is a compact, cable and antenna-free GNSS receiver that includes a built-in, patented Fence Antenna™ for advanced multipath rejection and precision measurements.

The Panasonic FZ-G1 toughpad is built to withstand the elements, with a 7-inch, easy-to-see touchscreen and Windows 8 operating system. Using MAGNET Field on-board software, Stowe employees are able to collect measurement points quickly and easily for use in CAD drawings back in the office.

To ensure the company was up and running with the new system as quickly as possible, a group of Stowe employees attended a one-day Campus training course at Position Partners’ Sydney training facility.

“The group included electrical engineers, project managers, electricians and civil works personnel,” Mr O’Hara said. “We wanted a range of employees to attend so they could understand how the system works and learn how to integrate it into their different workflows.”

The Topo Survey & Setout course is designed to take entry level MAGNET Field users with little or no experience and have them become competent users of the software. The training covers basic, daily survey tasks such as data management, equipment setup, software configuration and customisation, feature surveys and set-out.

“We found the training day to be really valuable and although it’s still early days for us using the new equipment, so far it has been straightforward and easy to use,” Mr O’Hara said.

“It is good to know that if we do run into any difficulty, we have the backup support of Position Partners when we need it.”

 

Capturing opportunity with scanning technology

/0 Comments/in /by

Adelaide-based survey firm is winning work across multiple industries after extending its services to include laser scanning using Topcon’s new GLS-2000.  

SKS Surveys specialises in construction, engineering and property surveying for customers throughout South Australia. Recently, the company invested in laser scanning technology to extend its service offering to new and existing markets, with a wide range of projects already completed and many more on the horizon.

Company Director and licenced surveyor Scott Bacchus explained the reasons behind investing in the technology: “We’ve been keeping track of developments in laser scanning in recent years and recognised that it’s now moved from emergence through to wider acceptance in the industry,” he said.

“Having missed out on a couple of projects due to not having the technology, we saw it was time to extend our services to include it and meet the demand.”

The company researched a range of laser scanners available on the market and opted for the new Topcon GLS-2000. “We were looking for a good all-rounder that could be used for large scale volume and topographic applications through to smaller scale, high detail projects,” Mr Bacchus explained. “The Topcon GLS-2000 fit the bill for us in terms of price and functionality, enabling us to offer scanning services to a broad range of industries.”

Topcon’s GLS-2000 is designed for internal and external scanning applications, with a range of up to 350 metres. It delivers a full-dome 360 degree scan is less than three minutes and offers signal processing including wave form for precision measurements.  

In the two months since purchasing their system, SKS Surveys has completed a number of projects for clients in the civil construction, engineering and property industries, including warehouse scans, building facades, pipe work and excavation scans.

“The excavation project was interesting as the client required volume data for the holes they needed to excavate, however there was a safety hazard as it was a landfill site and the material being excavated was unknown,” Mr Bacchus explained.

“Using the GLS-2000, we were able to deliver highly accurate volume data whilst scanning from a safe distance, eliminating the risk from potentially hazardous material,” he added.

Mr Bacchus said that setting up and using the scanner in the field was quick and easy. “Collecting the data is very straightforward, the challenge is what to do with the amount of data that’s captured,” he said.

“We are still developing the ideal workflow for our scanning projects, to deliver valuable products to our customers at the end of the process. Often the clients don’t have a clear picture of the results they want, whether its edge sets or a 3D model.”

The company has been outsourcing the post processing work to overseas service providers. “Post processing software is expensive and it takes training and expertise to get good results from it, so currently we prefer to outsource that aspect of the workflow,” Mr Bacchus explained.

Mr Bacchus said the company is excited by the prospect of using laser scanning technology in alternative applications such as Building Information Modelling (BIM) and monitoring. “A couple of years ago I would have said that BIM was just a buzzword and there was no viable workflow to deliver on it.”

“Now, however, I think it is definitely something that the survey industry must embrace and understand its role in. Whether it involves inputting, outputting or interpreting the data, surveyors have an important part to play and scanning technology is another tool we have at our fingertips for BIM applications.” 

Perth Operator winning awards for high quality work thanks to Topcon mmGPS

/0 Comments/in /by

The combination of decades of grader operating experience, plus Topcon’s millimetre GPS precision machine control system, recently saw Perth operator Jeff O’Donnell pick up an award on a major project for consistently achieving the best tolerances.

Jeff has been operating graders for over 35 years, and runs a fleet of four graders – two Cat 12Hs, a John Deere 770GP and a Noram M65 through his company J&J O’Donnell – with all four graders set up to run Topcon’s mmGPS and 3D-MC2 systems.

The work Jeff and his team carry out includes major road and rail projects, around Perth, as well as in more remote areas of the state.

Currently he and three of his graders are part of a fleet of around 40 graders working on roadworks for the New Gateway project at Perth International Airport.

Jeff has used Topcon machine guidance and control systems on his graders for many years, starting with System 4 and System 5 before becoming an early adopter of Topcon’s mmGPS about five years ago.

“When I first saw the mmGPS, I could see its potential straight away, and within three months, I’d bought my first system,” he says.

“Over the years, I’ve spent a lot of money and time getting them all running, but they definitely help the game, save a lot of money with no need for pegs.

“And this latest GX60 box for mmGPS is just perfect; you can calibrate it a lot easier so you can get your blade in exactly the right spot. And doing your offsets is just so much easier – you put it where it’s needed and away you go,” says Jeff.

“It’s a really good system; there’s nothing wrong I can pick with it. I’ve always been with Topcon, and they are good, very good.

“Our three machines on this site all have mmGPS with the new GX60 box on them – and my other two boys operating the machines here love the Topcon system as well, they know how good it is,” he says.

“A few of the graders on this project have got the Trimble system on them, and we can see that it’s just not nearly as good as our Topcon systems.”

Jeff and his team are doing the final trim and water binding work for the final road base surface, using material sourced from a local quarry.

“It’s our responsibility to mix the material and lay it out ready for compacting, then we trim it to the tolerances required.

“The tolerances my team has been achieving have been right on spec,” says Jeff.

“When the surveyors have been doing their as-cons, we’ve been consistently getting within 3 mm every time. We typically do ±3 mm, but here they like it to be 3 mm-high, so that’s what we give them.

“To achieve this, you need to have the experience and to know what you are doing, so you can put it in a bit high, then trim it down.

 “We also have to contend with the Main Roads inspectors, and for them it’s got to be 100% right. They check it all, and if it doesn’t come up to scratch, you have to do it all again.”

Jeff’s use of Topcon mmGPS on his grader – combined with his experience and understanding of the materials he’s working with – recently saw him win an award for the quality of his work at the Perth Airport project.

“So of about 40 graders on this site, I’ve been getting the best tolerances, and they recently gave me a big award in front of everyone, a nice cash reward and a proper plaque.

“We know we save them a lot of money by doing this right. If you get the tolerance 20 mm below the level, you’ve got to put a corrector in, and that costs a lot of money,” he says.

“In the whole time we’ve been here, I’ve only had one failure where we had to redo some work, and that was because the material wasn’t right.”

Jeff points out that experience and knowledge of material characteristics are still essential for successful grading.

 “We know how to mix material, and get it right first time; when you’ve been in this business for many years, you get to know your dirts, and how they will perform – and that experience you can’t buy.

 “You can’t just jump on a grader fitted with mmGPS and expect to be an instant expert,” he says.

“You have got to know what you are doing; it can’t be too wet or you’ll wait days for it to dry, too dry and it won’t pass the compaction test.

“You need the right amount of material, then once you roll it, it needs to be at 101% compaction; you have to have all these things just right before you trim it.”

Jeff is also finding Position Partners Tokara Link saves him a lot of time and lost production if there’s ever a problem.

“With this new Tokara Link, if something goes wrong, they can fix it remotely; they just send files out from the office. It works really well, it’s a very good system, especially if you are out in the bush, or you have a design fault, they can fix it straight away then and there.

“We’ve always been very happy with the service and support we get from Position Partners; it’s very good, 100%, spot on. You can ring them up any time, and they will come straight out if necessary.

“In particular, we find Bernard and Daniel Cecchele can solve our problems really quickly, which is great. I can’t speak highly enough about them,” he says.