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A Publication for Surveying and Mapping Professionals

Issue 2012-1

Cal Stadium Renovation Dulles Metrorail Megaproject

Studying Shifting SandsPreserving Ancient Artwork

Trimble Engineering & Construction10355 Westmoor DriveWestminster, Colorado 80021Phone: 720-587-6100 Fax: 720-887-6101 Email: T&[email protected]

Published by: Editor-in-Chief: Shelly NoonerEditorial Team: Angie Vlasaty;Lea Ann McNabb; Omar Soubra; Heather Silvestri; Eric Harris; Kelly Liberi; Susanne Preiser; Christiane Gagel; Lin Lin Ho; Bai Lu; Echo Wei; Maribel Aguinaldo; Stephanie Kirtland, Survey Technical Marketing TeamArt Director: Tom Pipinou

Dear Readers,

It’s hard to imagine, but this issue of Technology&more begins our eleventh year of bringing you articles about our customers' innovative surveying projects around the world. From our first issue in 2002 to today, Technology&more seeks to showcase projects that demonstrate the enhanced efficiencies and expanded capabilities that can be gained through the use of Trimble® technology solutions. As always, we hope that the articles will provide useful ideas and information that will benefit you and your business today—and tomorrow.

In this issue, you can learn how 3D scanning created a complete record of the before—and after—configuration of the University of California football stadium during a major renovation project; GNSS and GeoSpatial solutions aided the early recovery efforts in the city of Christchurch, NZ, following a disastrous series of earthquakes; integrating optical and GPS/GNSS surveying gear enables one person to measure and record the often rapid changes in the coastline of South Wales in the UK; all aspects of construction for a major Metrorail extension proj-ect near Washington, DC, were controlled through a Trimble Connected Site™ solution; “pre-surveying” helps speeds track laying in central Germany; and 3D scanning makes it possible to accurately record 40,000-year-old cave artwork in Spain.

In all of these projects, Trimble solutions, whether incorpo-rating GNSS, Optical, Spatial Imaging, GeoSpatial, GIS or VRS™ technologies, helped users do their jobs faster and more efficiently—and in some cases, do work that literally couldn’t have been done a few years ago.

You’ll also learn how progressive surveying professionals are utilizing specialized application software tools for Trimble surveying systems. The Trimble Access™ Software Development Kit (SDK) enables software developers to meet specific localized customer needs by developing application-specific software solutions. Trimble Access SDK offers surveying professionals a variety of customizable opportunities, allowing them to perform projects faster, more easily and more productively.

If you’d like to share information with Technology&more readers about your own innovative project, we’d like to hear about it: just email [email protected]. We’ll even write the article for you.

Be sure to mark your calendar for the Trimble Dimensions International User Conference, which will be held November 5–7, 2012, at the Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.A. Nearly 3,000 surveying and construction professionals attended Dimensions 2010. We hope you’ll be able to attend this year: Dimensions 2012 promises to be another powerful experi-ence, providing extensive educational options, unmatched networking opportunities—and a whole lot of fun.

And now, enjoy this issue of Technology&more.

Chris Gibson

Chris Gibson: Vice President, Survey Division

INSIDE:

© 2012, Trimble Navigation Limited. All rights reserved.Trimble, the Globe & Triangle logo, GEDO, GeoExplorer, Path-finder, Ranger, RealWorks, TSC2 and TSC3 are trademarks ofTrimble Navigation Limited or its subsidiaries, registered inUnited States Patent and Trademark Office. Access, BusinessCenter, Connected Site, CU, FX, GeoXR, GeoXT, GX, IntegratedSurveying, NetR9, POS LV, ProXH, Survey Pro, VRS, VRS Now, and VX are trademarks of Trimble Navigation Limited or itssubsidiaries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Cover Image by Tom Pipinou. Thanks to KOREC for initially developing the Studying Shifting Sand article.

U.S. Pg. 4

Spain Pg. 14

Germany Pg. 12

Welcome to Technology&more: More Than a Decade of Worldwide Projects

New Zealand Pg. 8

-1- Technology&more; 2012-1

Surveying Wind Farms

The rugged terrain of the Appalachian Mountains in Pennsylvania and West Virginia can present chal-lenges to travel and commerce. But the high ridges

contain an important opportunity for new projects and revenue: they are ideal locations for wind power. Accord-ing to the U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory, wind in southwestern Pennsylvania can provide more than six percent of the state’s existing electricity needs. And the region generates more than electricity—in 2010, observers reported that Pennsylvania’s wind power industry supported more than 3,000 jobs in manufacturing, construction and operation of the state’s wind farms.

From its offices in Pennsylvania and Maryland, CME Engineering LP provides services for wind farm develop-ment in southwestern Pennsylvania and West Virginia. CME Project Director Dan Llewellyn said that wind farms call for a range of surveying skills. A major portion of each project is cadastral work to create maps and descriptions for the easements and rights of way that host the turbines, access roads and power lines. Additional work includes construction surveys for road improvements to handle the long trailers hauling turbine blades and towers to the ridge tops. Post-construction surveys include as-built locations of transmission towers and other facilities.

The difficult terrain demands a variety of surveying techniques and tools. CME Engineering Technician Asa Maust uses Trimble R8 GNSS with a Trimble TSC3® Controller running Trimble Access Software for both static and RTK surveys. Whenever possible, CME

utilizes the KeyNetGPS Real-Time Network (RTN), based on Trimble VRS technology, for its RTK work.

“Because of limited cell phone service in many areas, we often use the Trimble HPB450 radio modem for RTK,” Maust explained. “We use repeaters to carry the RTK signals into the deep, narrow valleys.” In areas where total stations are needed, CME technicians set control with GNSS and use a Nikon DTM-332 Total Station to run traverses between the GNSS control points. Roughly 60 percent of control is set using static methods, with the remainder placed by RTK. Most work is done with a precision of 3 mm (0.01 ft).

While the required precision varies, Maust said that wind projects have short construction cycles that require flexibility and quick response. He cited West Virginia’s Pinnacle Wind Farm, which has 23 turbines and will supply power for 14,000 households. Construction began in spring 2011 and the farm was in full production by the end of 2011. Two CME crews used static GNSS to establish more than 100 control points for construction, aerial photography and cadastral surveys. CME also provided surveying for roads, turbine foundations and transmission lines.

Work on the wind projects is not letting up. Like many states, Pennsylvania has voter-approved requirements for increased use of wind and other alternative energy sources. It’s an important opportunity, and surveyors with flexible tools and techniques will be well positioned to meet the demand.

Older residents of Cwm Ivy in South Wales remember tossing pennies from the cliffs above the coastline onto anchored boats below. Today, the edge of the sea has slipped out nearly 500 m (1,640 ft), and where there was once deep water is now sand dunes.

Studying Shifting Sand

Wetland hydrologist Charlie Stratford is studying those shifting dunes and one of his key research tools to record the land’s movements is the Trimble S3 Robotic Total Sta-tion. Using optical as well as GNSS surveying techniques, Stratford and his research crew are able to monitor and survey this dynamic site using Integrated Surveying™ techniques.

Stratford works for the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (CEH) and collaborates with the British Geological Survey (BGS), both part of the Natural Environment Research Council, to study freshwater ecosystems and their interac-tion with the atmosphere.

The dunes and salt marshes are located on the Gower Peninsula in Swansea, on the north coast of South Wales.

Managing Change with ChangeThe South Wales site is of particular interest to the Centre because it is constantly changing; one storm can remodel vulnerable parts of the coastline overnight, while over many years erosion can significantly alter the land’s contours. As the landscape changes, the water in the wetland becomes transformed as well. The salt water loses its salinity, enabling new plant and animal life to inhabit the area.

“Few landscapes can exist as freely and as independent from human intervention as the one we are seeing in South Wales, and that makes it particularly significant and exciting for us,"

Stratford explains. “This is a dynamic ecology that really is doing its own things and the key to observing, monitoring and understanding these changes—in fact, the linchpin in our research—is reliable topographic survey data.”

The joint CEH/BGS team aims to monitor the South Wales site over the next 5–10 years and wanted to upgrade their equipment and take advantage of any relevant technologi-cal advances since their last purchase.

Stratford planned to carry out most of the survey work using optical surveying methods which would also sidestep any problems caused by carrying out GNSS surveys in a forested area near the site, located in the Whiteford Burrows National Nature Reserve. Also, he hoped to do most of the surveying himself, so he needed lightweight, portable gear. His choice was a Trimble S3 Robotic Total Station and Trimble TSC2® Controller using Trimble Access Software.

On the GNSS side, the upgrade included a Trimble R8 GNSS System to enable surveys to pick up both GPS and GLONASS satellite signals to capture the data he needed, even in the ever-changing coastal dune site.

So that Stratford wouldn’t have to re-measure things or use permanent markers, he also chose to use the Trimble VRS Now™ Network subscription service providing instant access to RTK corrections throughout the UK.



“This is an evolving site so permanent markers may be buried by sand orwashed away during storms,” explains Stratford. “The obvious solution was the R8 GNSS which, on the one hand, would take away a whole layer of uncertainty for us and on the other, provide us with excellent mapping functionality and the ability to do repeat surveys.”

Integrated SurveyingThe idea of Integrated Surveying is to seamlessly integrate GNSS or GPS receivers and optical total stations so that surveyors see them as a com-bined system. The field controller and software provide a common file and interface to GNSS/GPS and conventional survey instruments.

In Stratford’s case the key to the seamless connectivity of the two systems is the Trimble TSC2 Controller using Trimble Access Software. With this system, Stratford can simply toggle between optical and GNSS data col-lection while the Trimble Total Station and GNSS Rover are both active.

“If sand hills compromise our line of sight with the optical instrument, or heavy tree canopy affects our GNSS signal, we simply push a button and switch over,” Stratford said.

“The TSC2 controller connects with the two systems at the same time. It’s a simple process that has increased our productivity enormously; depending on the task, by 50 to 100 percent compared to using our old systems individually—it’s fantastic.”

“In many cases the robotic total station has turned our surveys into a one-person operation, freeing up the second site-surveyor to carry out other pressing work while the reflectorless option allows us to get a general feel for heights of dune ridges which is particularly useful. The VRS has also worked well. Some of these coastal areas are very challenging but with IntegratedSurveying we are always confident of getting good data.”

Using the Trimble R8 to position the total station, Stratford carried out a resection to establish himself on the Ordnance Survey grid and was ready to go. Having a choice of GNSS or optical instruments provides positions always recorded to a six-figure OS grid value, which in turn can cut back on any post processing and give Stratford maximum flexibility for his surveys.

Once data are collected they are downloaded back at the office and Trimble Business Center™ Software is used to display the data or to over-lay collected data on to Google aerial maps. Additional analysis can be carried out in Esri ArcGIS software.

Stratford concludes, “Spatial analysis is the key to our team truly under-standing the changes. We’ve still a long way to go with this project but already, using overlays of our collected data, we can look back at old aerial photographs and identify clear differences between then and now. We expect to repeat our surveys annually, possibly more if we know a major storm has taken place, and build up a time series of topography. Through continued training we will ensure that we are taking advantage of the full functionality of our survey instruments and our project will continue to benefit as a result."

See feature in GeoConnexion’s October 2011 issue: www.geoconnexion.com


Tucked into the hillside at the mouth of Strawberry Canyon on the campus of the University of California at Berkeley (UCB), California Memorial Stadium—known simply as Cal Stadium—is considered one the most beautiful settings in college athletics. Since it opened in 1923, the stadium, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, has

welcomed hundreds of thousands of fans to UCB football games and other events each year. But after nearly 90 years of service, Cal Stadium needs an update. The stadium has fallen behind the standards for services and facilities available at other large university stadiums, and will receive improvements including a new press box and renovations to concourses and concession areas. In addition, the playing surface will be lowered and new seating will provide better sightlines for spectators.

While the modernization is important, the primary reason for the upgrade comes from deep below ground. Cal Stadium sits astride the Hayward Fault, an active geologic fault that runs through the Berkeley area. Much of the renovation in-cludes improvements that will reduce damage and protect human life in the event of an earthquake.

UCB is home to strong academic programs in geophysics and engineering, and the university’s professors and scientists played an important role in developing ways to incorporate the best concepts of science and engineering into the new facilities. Rather than try to resist the motion of an earthquake, modern structures are designed to move with the quake. The new press box was designed to rest on its own pre-stressed concrete support walls and shock absorbers. It is structur-ally isolated from the rest of the stadium and can sway up to 30 cm (12 in) in a large quake. At the ends of the stadium, seating sections were removed and rebuilt as floating surface-rupture blocks that will allow the stadium to flex and move with even large-scale earthquakes.

Stable Footing at Berkeley’s StadiumA major renovation of the football stadium at the University of California – Berkeley will provide protection against earthquakes.

COVER STORY

Chad Mathias (left) and Devin Finn conduct measurements at Cal Stadium. Finn's Trimble S6 provides control points for the Trimble GX used by Mathias.

The construction manager and general contractor, Webcor Builders, was required to preserve the stadium’s massive west wall and minimize disruption and environmental impact. Webcor selected F3 & Associates to provide survey-ing services for the project. One of the first activities was setting control and defining a center point and axis for the stadium coordinate system. F3 Principal Sean Finn said that F3 surveyors used a Trimble 5700 GPS System and Trimble 5601 DR200+ Total Station connected to Trimble Ranger® Handhelds running Survey Pro™ Software to establish dis-crete targets on the stadium wall and set control points around the stadium perimeter. After tying the stadium to the control and making measurements to the existing walls, F3 worked with design and construction teams to make a col-lective decision on the location of the stadium center point. “It was complicated,” said Webcor Project Manager Victor Elliot. “We’re located on the fault and obviously there has been a tremendous amount of movement over the years. We are tying into an existing stadium and it was critical that we knew the point of origin. Sean and his surveying technology made it possible.”

Surveying and Scanning on the Construction SiteDuring demolition, stadium seating and structural compo-nents were removed, exposing the interior of the stadium’s west wall. F3 survey crews used a Trimble GX™ 3D Scanner to scan the newly exposed surfaces immediately after excava-tion. The crews used the scanner’s survey workflow to tie into the stadium control, ensuring that the data matched

previous scans. While the Trimble GX conducted 360° scans, the F3 crew used a Trimble FX™ 3D Scanner to capture de-tailed scans in critical areas. By using the two scanners in a complementary fashion, the surveyors optimized the time spent on data collection. In the office, dedicated technicians used Trimble RealWorks® Software to combine the scans and model the columns and other components of the wall.

Keeping the scans precisely on the control network is a ma-jor part of the project’s success. Over the course of the work, F3 teams have collected more than one hundred individual scans; each scan is precisely registered into the stadium control network. The result is a single 3D point cloud of the entire stadium, consisting of upwards of a billion points. The combined data of the two scanners provides a good picture of the stadium as well as the ability to zoom in on areas where more detail or dense data is needed. “That’s the beautiful part of scanning within a project datum,” Finn noted. “You can scan something and it drops right into the point cloud.”

Campus officials were adamant about keeping the look and design features of the original stadium. Meeting this requirement called for detailed measurements and data on the existing structure. Accurate information was especially important in areas where new construction tied back into the original 1923 design. It was, Finn said, an ideal fit for scanning. For example, several sections of the stadium wall contain windows that are more than 7.6 m (25 ft) high. To fabricate new glass for the windows, glazing contractors need


A gap in the stadium wall reveals the displacement caused by motion of the Hayward Fault. New construction will allow the stadium to move with the Fault's motion.


precise dimensions of the window openings. When the wall is fully exposed, the tops of the window openings can be up to 21 m (70 ft) above the ground. The F3 crews used the Trimble FX to scan each win-dow opening, eliminating the need for scaffolding to measure the windows. F3 technicians created 3D models of the window openings and delivered fully dimensioned 2D drawings to the glass fabricators.

The scanning data has a long lifetime. Following the initial deliverable, it’s common for a client or subcontractor to request additional information or detail. Rather than sending a survey crew back to the site, Finn can turn to the point cloud and extract new information from the existing models. It’s an important time saver, and is especially valuable in providing information about objects that have been concealed by subsequent construction. Webcor’s Elliot recalled an occasion when an architect needed additional information related to clearances for egress. “They asked for very specific locations and elevations of existing conditions,” Elliot said. “The beauty of the scan was that when we needed more information, F3 had the ability to just pull it up from the scan rather than have to revisit the site.” As sta-dium construction progressed, F3’s tasks evolved to include as-built documentation. They used Trimble FX and Trimble CX scanners to measure the new press box and club level, capturing data on the steel and concrete structural elements.

Cal Stadium illustrates how F3 combines Trimble technologies to produce speed and precision. For example, they created a procedure that uses total stations as a quality check for the scanning. On each scanning task, crews use a Trimble S6 Total Station and direct reflex measurements to measure a number of discrete points in the scanned area. The office technicians bring the total station data into Trimble RealWorks to conduct additional checks and quality control. “The combination of scanning technology and surveying is the way it should be,” Finn concluded. “It takes a surveyor to orient a scan to a specific location on the earth. In the end, I believe that scanning should and will become an everyday part of survey life. I fully expect the scanner to become just another tool on the survey truck.”

This article is an update to the feature article in POB's October 2011 issue: www.pobonline.com

Top: Sean Finn approaches the stadium entry. Scan-ning provided precise measurement of the archway without need for scaffolds or lifts.

Bottom: F3 surveyors prepare a scan using the Trimble FX. They used the data to prepare detail drawings for fabricators and designers.


Restoring ArchesIn December 2008, a routine inspection of the Chaudière Bridge linking Ottawa, Ontario and Gatineau, Quebec

revealed structural cracks in two of the bridge’s masonry arches. Because the Chaudière Bridge is a crucial inter-provincial connector, Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) determined that both arches

needed substantial rehabilitation.

The project provided engineering and logistics chal-lenges. Because of the 180-year-old bridge’s historical significance, its original structural characteristics need-ed to be preserved, and traffic demanded that restoration occur without completely closing the bridge or impacting the Ottawa River. Engineering teams developed a plan to install pre-fabricated concrete support panels into the arches, and PWGSC awarded the construction contract to Peter Kiewit Sons’ Infrastructure Group (Kiewit). Denis Dubois arpenteur-géomètre inc in Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville, Quebec, was selected to provide surveying services.

The restoration required detailed measurements of the existing structure. “This work is ideal for 3D scanning,” Dubois explained. “It’s a challenge to capture the precise shape of an arch. Site access was difficult, and conven-tional total station surveys would be time-consuming and could not produce a comprehensive view of the arches.” The measurements needed to be absolutely cor-rect. Once the panels were fabricated and delivered, they could not be changed.

To gather the information, Dubois combined GPS and 3D scanning to create a georeferenced 3D model of the arches. After establishing five control points via RTK GPS, the team used a Trimble VX™ Spatial Station to conduct the scan. Occupying the GPS points along the river, they collected 80,000 individual 3D points in roughly five hours. The points, spaced 5 cm (2 in) apart, were measured with a precision of 3 mm (1/8 in) and tied

to the local geodetic coordinate system. In the office, the surveyors used Trimble RealWorks Software to integrate the scans and deliver 3D surfaces in DXF format to the client.

After comparing the point cloud to previous engineer-ing data, Kiewit Project Engineer Robert Cornell was confident they had the spatial and positioning informa-tion to build the arch panels. “I was surprised by how Denis used the VX to shoot the bridge with that amount of precision,” Cornell said. “The point cloud gave us the confidence to design and build our pre-fabricated panels with assurance that we could successfully complete this project.” Dubois said that the precision measurements and dense data were the keys to success. The data revealed irregularities in the arches that conventional surveying might have missed. “We produced better in-formation in less time,” Dubois explained. “Without the scanning functionality, fieldwork would have stretched for many days, and produced less detail.”

Seven months after the initial survey, twelve 20-ton concrete arch panels were ready for installation. Dubois’ survey team returned to the site, this time using the Trimble VX as a robotic total station to set control and align rails used to move the panels into place. Less than two years after the discovery of the deteriorating arches, the restoration was complete and all four lanes of the Chaudière Bridge were re-opened to traffic and pedestrians.

See feature article in POB's June 2011 issue: www.pobonline.com


Surveying Sunken Suburbs in Christchurch’s “Orange Zone”

After the June earthquake, engineers divided Christ-church into four zones representing whether repair and rebuilding were viable: green—yes; red—no;

orange—need more data; and white—not yet mapped. Approximately 9,000 properties comprising the orange zone needed to be quickly surveyed to better determine whether they were “red” or “green.” For many of these properties, the main problem was land sinkage resulting from liquefaction—some land had sunk by up to 1.5 m (4.9 ft), making it less able to support construction. Engineers required survey data to understand what would be needed to bring land back above the flood level—and to determine whether it was worthwhile economically to do so.

Tonkin & Taylor, Ltd, geotechnical consultants working for the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA), awarded the Orange-zone survey contract to Paterson Pitts, providers of land survey and resource management services to New Zealand’s Otago region. GeoSystems New Zealand, Ltd, provided nine additional surveying systems comprising Trimble R8 GNSS Rovers and Trimble TSC3 Controllers running Trimble Access Field Software. The company’s iBASE Network, based on Trimble VRS technology, has reference stations installed inside and outside the quake zone and provided control; access to the network was free for all surveyors during the initial recovery period.

Due to the large surveying area, time constraints and num-ber of surveyors from different companies, the project’s success relied on all data being consistent. “We couldn’t afford to have any mistakes,” said Paterson Pitts Project Manager Mike Botting. “People’s livelihoods and properties were at stake.” To ensure that consistency, GNSS surveying expert Reece Gardner of 3D World in Christchurch defined all surveying procedures for the project. Gardner was also responsible for processing, quality checking and ensuring data completeness.

Up to 20 surveying teams were on the ground each day; at peak demand, the iBASE network reached a record number of concurrent users. Surveyors focused on the

Earthquake Recovery inIn the pre-dawn quiet on September 4, 2010, New Zealand’s second largest city, Christchurch, was struck by a magnitude 7.1 earthquake—with thou-sands of aftershocks following the quake since then. In particular, a magnitude 6.3 quake on February 22, 2011 resulted in 181 fatalities and wreaked havoc on buildings, city infrastructure and land already

vertical movement of each property, taking measurements every 10 m (32.8 ft), or 8 to 10 measurements per property. They also measured from the berm and, if possible, the centerline of the street, which typically didn’t move as much as the surrounding land. Most points gathered were GNSS measurements, with GLONASS satellites proving especially valuable in areas of tree canopy. The internal modem on the TSC3 controller also made data capture easier because no external call phone was required to access the network.

The project was completed in just two weeks due to the streamlined project processes and team efficiency. “It was just basic survey work, but at such a large scale—over 860 ha (2,125 acres)—that the VRS network and the speed at which we could operate made a significant difference,” said Botting. “Teams could go straight to a site and start surveying in a couple of minutes thanks to the network.”


Post-Quake 3D Scan Aids in Christchurch Cadastral Recovery

Within hours of the February earthquake, Christ-church’s central business district (CBD) was cordoned off behind army barricades as strong

aftershocks continued to bring down city buildings. A team of spatial imaging experts ventured into this virtual war zone to capture 3D data of the damaged city.

Through GeoSystems New Zealand, Ltd, Trimble offered its MX8 Mobile Spatial Imaging System with an operator to the government agencies responsible for all spatial data. The offer was immediately accepted.

The Trimble MX8 system was installed on GeoSystem’s Business Development Manager Martin Hewitt’s SUV. A “pod” on the vehicle’s roof held two scanners, installed at 270° to each other, and four cameras—three facing forward and one rear-facing. A rack of computers running Trimble Trident Data Capture Software was installed where the passenger seat had been. An Applanix POS LV™ System, using its integrated combination of inertial, GNSS and distance measurement technologies, provided precise position and heading information under even the toughest conditions.

With the assistance of the Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management, the three-person spatial imaging team gained entry to the CBD after an intensive introduction that included briefings on safety procedures plus hazards such as major aftershocks and sinkholes. Still, the team was in for a shock. Says Hewitt, “It was eerie and so surreal.” Even though Hewitt is a Christchurch local, with familiar buildings now crumbled it was often difficult for him to determine where he was apart from the GNSS data.

Christchurch, New Zealandweakened by the September quake. Although smaller in magnitude, the February event was shallower and harder, and produced one of the world’s highest recordings of peak ground accelera-tion at 2.2g. Yet another major quake, a magnitude 6.4 on June 13, 2011, significantly set back the city’s recovery.

Data capture was completed in just two days, even though debris and other obstacles limited driving speeds to about 20 km (12 mi) per hour. Trimble's Montreal office then postprocessed the data, using control data from a Trimble NetR9™ Reference Station in Geosystem’s iBASE Network.

To make the CBD safe for rebuilding, numerous damaged buildings have been rapidly demolished and cleared. This process has eliminated many survey marks, making re-measuring property boundaries extremely difficult. Additionally, the physical boundary of many commercial properties came down to the occupation on the site as the primary definition of the property. When buildings were cleared away, those physical occupations were lost.

“Thanks to the scanning operation, we have a unique 3D model of the CBD accurate to around 5 cm (2 in),” says Hewitt. “And it’s available for use by anyone who requires it for the recovery process, future development, or for a historical point of view, potentially making the Trimble MX scanning data critically important in the cadastral recovery process.”


Thanks to the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project, work is underway to extend Washington’s Metrorail rapid transit system to provide rail service to Dulles. When complete, the Metrorail extension will serve the airport and the large em-ployment centers of Northern Virginia. Construction began on the project’s first phase in March 2009, with completion planned for 2013. The lead contractor on Phase 1 is Dulles Transit Partners, LLC (DTP), a team led by Bechtel.

Everything about the project is tight, including the site, schedule and budget. According to DTP Survey Manager Joe Betit, PLS, the scale and complexity of the project requires advanced surveying technology and rigorous survey tech-niques, tied together with well-defined processes and rapid, reliable communications.

The DTP surveyors draw from a variety of positioning tools. Optical instruments include digital levels, total stations and 3D scanners. Each technology offers unique strengths, and Betit’s team is skilled at selecting the best approach for each task on the project. Surveyors and contractors use GNSS for site positioning, including a Trimble GNSS Reference Station and Trimble GCS900 Grade Control Systems for machine control. The surveyors use GNSS RTK for preliminary layout, and for staking pilings to support structures and excavations. When they are too far from the DTP GNSS reference station,

they connect to the KeyNetGPS, a RTN based on Trimble VRS technology. As construction progresses to the steel and concrete phases, the surveyors turn to Trimble total sta-tions and digital levels. The project calls for more than 5 km (3 mi) of elevated track in each direction (inbound and outbound), which requires precise measurements and positioning of piers and guideways to make sure every-thing fits correctly.

Monitoring is a big part of DTP surveying activities. Many of the excavations are along highway medians or in developed areas, and must be monitored to ensure that existing struc-tures aren't subsiding or slipping into the new construction.The team monitors active excavations once a day, issuing alerts if they detect movement in excess of 6 mm (1/4 in). “High-precision instruments and EDMs are critical to our mode of surveying,” Betit said. “For much of the optical work, our crews use Trimble S6 or S8 Total Stations, or a Trimble VX Spatial Station.” A Trimble GX 3D Scanner col-lects information for quality control, volume computations and excavation monitoring. Control for the positioning work comes from a network of 2,000 reference points, previously surveyed and established, alongside the project corridor; the surveyors perform resections to establish instrument coor-dinates. Behind the scenes, a common database for project information helps prevent systematic positioning errors.

New Connections to Washington’s Airport

Located in the Northern Virginia suburbs west of Washington, DC, Washington Dulles International Airport is the largest and busiest airport in the Washington/Baltimore area. In 2010, it handled more than 23.7 million passengers and the bulk of the region’s international flights. But for passengers, traveling between downtown Washington and the Dulles airport

is a 48-km (30-mi) trip that requires a taxi, bus or car, and can take an hour or more depending on traffic. But a new transit option is coming soon.


The Connected SiteThe project has introduced challenges beyond the physical needs of construction machines and materials. DTP needs to move a large amount of information among the job’s offices, trailers, machines and personnel. To accomplish this, the project utilizes a com-munication system integrated with DTP’s secure Information Technology (IT) network. Creating the Trimble Connected Site for the Dulles project required strong collaboration between Trimble and DTP to ensure security, reliability and performance. “The key to suc-cess was open communication of the goals and system requirements between DTP and Trimble,” said DTP Senior Project IT Manager Misha Nikulin. “The collaboration addressed substantial technical issues as well as strate-gic business IT concerns.”

Many of the site’s communications needs are handled using wireless technologies. DTP installed radio-frequency (RF) communica-tions equipment at fixed locations along the alignment. In other areas, trailer-mounted, solar-powered wireless access points ensure signal strength and extend secure IT wireless service to the ends of the project corridor. GNSS corrections and two-way machine control data are carried by the DTP network between the GNSS base station and Trimble access points, where it switches to Trimble communications equipment for delivery to the construction machines. “It’s a very complex, two-way communication system,” Betit said. “A construction machine is basi-cally like a printer in one of our offices—it’s treated like a device inside the DTP network.” Job files, work requests and monitoring data move quickly and seamlessly. The system also transmits GNSS data for single-base RTK positioning using the project’s reference sta-tion, and provides the wireless internet link needed to access the KeyNetGPS RTN.

DTP’s instrumentation and two-way com-munications network is especially important in troubleshooting. The system makes it possible to observe machine operations, and even capture as-built information in real time. If there is a suspected problem, office technicians can look at the design models onboard a particular machine and can push a new model into the field when needed. The survey crews use the project’s wireless system

in the field as they work on their laptop computers. They have direct access to the project IT network, and can obtain and deliver up-to-date plans and survey data.

The site’s connectivity and attention to detail have paid off. As part of the project’s quality assurance, DTP crews conduct post-construction as-built surveys when a construction stage is completed. The as-builts are compared to the design, and any differences must be resolved by adjusting the alignment of the track to be laid on the concrete structures. Betit said that there has been no need for any revisions. “We put a lot of effort into our survey control and processes,” Betit said in discussing the success, “and we use state-of-the-art equipment. This has been a major savings for the project."

See feature article in POB's January issue: www.pobonline.com


The need for speed and ride comfort for both passen-ger and freight operations puts high demands on the fundamental elements of railway infrastructure—the

roadbed and tracks. Roadbed and track quality must be established during initial construction and maintained over time. This involves proper ballast laying and grading, sleep-ers (ties) positioning, and, especially, ballast tamping and compressing for exact rail positioning. Since much of the work—whether new construction or routine maintenance—depends upon accurately establishing or verifying the track position, high-accuracy survey technology is critical.

Pre-Surveying Helps Keep Railroads on

Track

Track Renewal in Central GermanyIn 2011, Germany’s primary railway service provider Deutsche Bahn AG awarded a contract to Spitzke SE, one of Ger-many’s biggest rail infrastructure companies, for a track-renewal project in the state of Hessen. The project required replacing the existing sleepers and rails along roughly 8 km (5 mi) of the route between the towns of Sontra and Cornberg. Part of a main north/south line, the route is used primarily by freight trains as well as regional and night passenger trains.

As a first step, a track-renewal train replaced the old sleepers and rails with new ones. Next, the approximately placed track was precisely aligned, both horizontally and vertically. For this, Spitzke SE used a Stopfexpress 09-3X tamping machine from Plasser & Theurer. These huge, rail-bound machines raise the track by the required amount, compress the ballast beneath every sleeper using hydraulic tamping picks, and perform the lateral alignment during the same run. The amount of horizontal or vertical correction required depends on the track deviation from its specified position after track-laying or ballast maintenance work has been done. This deviation is determined by a process called pre-surveying.

“Before starting any tamping run, the pre-surveying pro-cess precisely captures the current track position in order to determine the deviation and to obtain the right lifting and displacement values for the track,” explains Spitzke SE Surveying Engineer (Dipl. Ing. (FH)) Falko Soffner, in charge of pre-surveying tasks for the Sontra/Cornberg track renewal project.

To perform pre-surveying work, Spitzke SE uses the Trimble GEDO® CE Trolley System. This track measure-ment system consists of two lightweight trolleys, each of which can be easily moved along the rails by the surveyor or assistant. One trolley is equipped with a Trimble S-series Total Station, while the second carries a fixed prism. The trolleys also have sensors to measure the distance between the rails, the cant (superelevation) and other values. All the data is transferred wirelessly to a Trimble TSC2 or TSC3 Controller, which calculates the track deviation from the specified position. The trolley system, combined with Trimble GEDO Vorsys, Trimble GEDO Office and Trimble GEDO Tamp software, provides railway-level ac-curacy with operational speed and flexibility.

Measurements are made using control points typically installed in each catenary support. The total station ac-curately measures the distance and the height difference to the control point and sends the data to the TSC2 (or TSC3) controller. The measurement is repeated at the next catenary support. The prism trolley is then moved

All photos by Bernd Schumacher


back to the position captured at the first support, and the prism's position is measured. This creates an optical chord between the measured coordinates. When the prism trolley is moved along the track, the total station exactly follows the prism displacements and records any track deviation from the optical chord. The data is im-mediately evaluated by the TSC2 and used to calculate the actual position data.

Since the full set of alignment data is stored in the TSC2, the vertical and horizontal shifts, the gauge and cant (superelevation) values, as well as all the significant points where the track geometry changes can be seen at any time. This is a big advantage over other methods which require manual calculation of the actual values. Because the surveying work is often performed very shortly before the tamping machine starts working, decisions on the tamping run parameters, such as the amount of ballast required, must be applied on short notice. Having accu-rate data readily available as early as possible makes the construction manager’s life a bit easier.

A Quick Alternative to Manual Pre-SurveyingThe Trimble GEDO CE Trolley System offers significant advantages over conventional surveying technology for rail applications. Manual pre-surveying is a very lengthy and labor-intensive procedure, involving manual sight-ing, calculation and marking of data on the track. A well-organized and experienced team of three persons can survey approximately 600 m/hr (0.37 mi/hr) in one pass, but needs three passes to collect the full amount of information.

By comparison, the trolley system requires only a two-person crew and one pass to collect all the data, moving at speeds of 1,200 m/h (0.75 mi/h) to 1,500 m/h (0.93 mi/h). This results in staff costs about six times lower than with manual pre-surveying. In addition, the trolley system’s measurement speed reduces the amount of expensive tamper time and the digital capture, trans-mission and calculation of data eliminates numerous potential sources of human error.

“The time needed for pre-surveying is particularly sig-nificant, because it must be done so often. Track renewal requires three successive tamping runs; pre-surveying is essential before each,” explains Soffner. “At completion, a final check measurement must be carried out, and about six weeks after opening the line to traffic, another tamping run requires pre-surveying as well. Obviously, there are numerous reasons to carry out pre-surveying as quickly as possible, and the Trimble GEDO CE Trolley System helps us to reach maximum efficiency.”


More than 40,000 years ago, humans living in Europe left evidence of the beginnings of society and culture. In addition to the everyday rigors of hunting, gathering and simple survival, the prehistoric people began to document their lives and environment. Some of this documentation remains today, in the form of drawings and pictographs in the caves

where the people lived. This early artwork—typically on cave walls or other large natural facades—is known as parietal art.

In the Catabria region of the Principality of Asturias in northern Spain, two caves—La Lluera and El Pindal—are home to an array of paintings, inscriptions and sculptures created dur-ing the Paleolithic Era. The region is designated as a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Part of this designa-tion calls for local organizations to preserve the artifacts and conduct scientific research that protects the sites and shares the historical information. In support of this effort Ramón Argüelles, a student at the University of Oviedo, conducted studies and surveys of the artwork in the La Lluera and El Pindal caves.

Ancient ArtisansParietal art provides important clues to how humans lived during the Paleolithic Era. It often depicts the animals en-countered by the humans as well as outlines of human hands and fingers. Artists used chisels, scrapers and other stone tools to produce drawings and diagrams that have lasted for millennia. They created colors by mixing local minerals with animal fats, applying the color to the walls using fingers or brushes made from plant fiber or bundles of hair. The art in

the La Lluera and El Pindal caves consists of drawings of fish, aurochs (an ancestor of modern cattle), deer, horses, goats—and possibly a mammoth.

The art in the two caves is interesting because it is three-dimensional. The ancient artists combined carving with painting to create images of animals. They prepared the work surface, sometimes by fashioning a chiseled “canvas” on which they then painted the figures. In other works, artists incorporated the rock’s natural texture into the drawn or chiseled figure. The most notable art in La Lluera is called the Gran Hornacina, a natural cavity that Paleolithic artists stained with ocher stripes mixed with gray-blue accents. In one location, the artists engraved a panel 3 m wide and 1 m high (9.8 by 3.3 ft). It contains the most beautiful images of the cave: a group of six or seven aurochs and a horse. The animals appear to be descending a hill, surrounded by natural furrows in the stone wall. Archaeologists estimate that the Gran Hornacina art was created between 16,500 and 21,000 years before present times (BP). The El Pindal art was done between 12,000 and 14,500 years BP.

Preserving Ancient Artwork

Technology&more; 2012-1-15-

Capturing Underground ArtThe traditional approach to documenting cave art includes conven-tional surveying combined with graphic and textual documentation. Terrestrial photogrammetry has been used to document cave art; it can produce high-quality 3D models. But precise metric studies have often been limited by the location of the cave art. The artwork in El Pindal is roughly 240 m (790 ft) inside the caves. Access is only by foot, and even that is challenging. Total darkness, high humidity, low tem-peratures and irregular, unstable footing combine to create a difficult environment for precise location and documentation of the artwork. Even simple photography of 2D parietal art requires heavy camera equipment and extensive lighting. Capturing the 3D artwork in La Lluera and El Pindal is even more challenging; researchers must pay close attention to lighting and camera positions to accurately capture the scene. In recent years, 3D scanning has emerged as a valuable tool for archaeologists. The scanners can collect precise, detailed data on the surfaces to create 3D models and images.

To conduct the scanning, Argüelles selected a Trimble VX Spatial Station. He determined that the Trimble VX was the best option to collect the information needed to accurately depict the artwork. This included tightly spaced 3D points as well as high-resolution digital images. The compact size and light weight of the Trimble VX made it easier to carry into the rugged caves, and the instrument could readily withstand the cold, wet conditions deep underground.

To capture the Gran Hornacina in La Lluera, Argüelles completed scans from two locations, collecting more than 87,000 individual points and 18 digital images with the Trimble VX. In El Pindal, Argüelles scanned three different panels, gathering more than 55,000 points. In addition to the internal camera of the Trimble VX, Argüelles used a digital SLR camera specially equipped for the difficult lighting conditions. Argüelles paid special attention to the positioning the instrument in the cave; he needed to gather complete information and prevent any voids in the scanned data. In order to capture the detail of the rock surface, Argüelles set the Trimble VX to collect points with spacing of 1 mm (0.003 ft).

The field data was downloaded from the Trimble CU™ Controller directly into Trimble RealWorks Software. Argüelles used the software to register the scans and manage and visualize the dense data sets. He created both mesh and rendered 3D surfaces, and then added the digital images to produce detailed orthophotos of the artwork. The 3D models can be loaded into the Trimble RealWorks Viewer for use and analysis by researchers around the world. The data can be used for multimedia animations and to build perfectly scaled 3D replicas of the artwork. With the successful completion of the work at La Lluera and El Pindal, Argüelles is now conducting further research in the use of 3D scanning for mining and other underground applications.


Customizing Trimble Access

There’s a new way to improve surveying performance and productivity in the field. The Trimble Access Software Development Kit (SDK) enables software developers to create customized applications and make them available for sale through the Trimble store. The SDK provides a focused, step-by-step approach to developing and integrating

new modules into Trimble Access Field Software. The result? Streamlined workflows, new applications and customized solutions that provide a tight fit to the needs of surveyors and their clients.

Trimble users have put the Trimble Access SDK to work around the world. In China, a special application created for electric utilities makes field computations and stakeout faster and easier. A developer in Spain used the SDK to implement trigonometric leveling functionality for Trimble total stations. Another developer has created an automated process for setup and orientation of a total station that matches a required workflow. Other examples include applications that simplify data collection procedures to enable non-trained surveyors to follow basic survey processes.

The Trimble Access SDK was developed to meet the increasing volume and variety of specialized applications for Trimble surveying systems. According to Jason Rossback, Trimble’s third-party solutions manager, the SDK is a professional-grade tool for use by distributors, end users and other developers familiar with Microsoft Visual Studio and C++ programming. It provides a platform to enable surveyors to use Trimble surveying instruments and systems to address specific customer or project requirements. And it paves the way for Trimble systems to be used as the positioning components for integrated systems involving other third-party solutions or hardware. The customized approach can simplify field operations and increase surveying productivity.

Trimble Access SDK consists of software, documentation and support that enable a software developer to create applications that are integrated into Trimble Access software.

The SDK software components include:• An applications programming interface (API), which allows a user-generated program to interact with Trimble Access and utilize the program’s general survey functions;• A Trimble Access emulator, which increases programming productivity by providing a convenient, immediate tool for testing new code, and;• Sample source code, which the developer can study and modify to create new applications.

In addition to these software components, the Trimble Ac-cess SDK includes a dedicated program of technical support. As developers create their new applications, they can tap into the knowledge of Trimble specialists and software developers.

SDK users also have access to an organization within the Trimble Connected Community™ where they can exchange information with Trimble experts and other developers.

When using the SDK, a developer gains access to the power-ful functions built into Trimble Access. An application can incorporate the Trimble Access library of calculations, data management, forms and displays into a customized workflow.

As a result, the new application can have the same look and feel of other Trimble Access modules. Because the SDK handles all interfacing with Trimble surveying instruments—including GPS/GNSS receivers and total stations—the developer can concentrate on the application and workflow. Developers can save time by utilizing existing functions in

All photos by Bernd Schumacher


Trimble Access. For example, by using existing routines for instrument setup and orientation, coordinate system computations and coordinate geometry, a programmer can avoid months of work.

“The bottom line for the developer is significant time savings and shorter test cycles,” Rossback said. “It’s a powerful tool for users to have customized applications that are tightly integrated with their Trimble hardware and software.” He noted that most customized applications create standard Trimble Access job files that operate seamlessly with Trimble Business Center desktop software and the Trimble Connected Community.

Rossback expects the number of customized applications to grow. Disciplines such as archaeology, forensics and oil and gas exploration require specialized procedures for surveying, and are likely areas for developers to use the SDK. Rossback pointed out that Trimble developers used the SDK to create the new Land Seismic module for Trimble Access, and significantly reduced the time needed to develop and test the new module.

Sharing the WealthSome developers may wish to share—or sell—their applications, while others may want to provide applications only to in-house users. To address these needs, all applications created with the Trimble Access SDK are delivered via the Trimble Access Installation Manager (TAIM). Trimble provides the developer with control over the distribution and use of customized applications, prevent-ing unauthorized use. It also ensures a smooth process to install and license custom applications onto Trimble controllers. To assist in distributing an application in multiple countries, the Trimble Access SDK uses the same language translation tools as Trimble Access. When an application is completed, developers can translate it into different languages. Developers can create new applications for a single user, a group of users, or for distribution around the world. During development, developers can collaborate with Trimble’s software experts for detailed, high-level technical support. Trimble tests the applications to confirm that they can be deployed via TAIM to function on the desired hardware.

Some organizations want custom applications but don’t have the programming capability. To assist these groups, Trimble has identified a number of qualified developers (known as Trimble Access Development Partners) capable of creating customized applications using the SDK. Interested firms can contact Trimble (see web link below) for assistance in getting their solution developed by a Development Partner.

Trimble Access applications operate on all platforms supported by Trimble, including the Windows and Windows Mobile environments. They can run on the Trimble TSC2 and Trimble TSC3 Controllers, Trimble Tablet, Trimble CU and onboard the Trimble M3 Total Station. The SDK is also supported on the Trimble GeoExplorer ® GeoXR™ Network Rover. Field data created using Trimble Access can be shared using Trimble Access Sync and the Trimble Connected Community. For more information, visit www.trimble.com/developer.


GIS Technology Vehicle: “Superhero”

By day, the GIS Technology Vehicle supports asset mapping; by night, the vehicle serves as mobile command center for public safety operations in

Monroe County, NY.

In 2008, a suspected drug dealer fled into one of Monroe County’s many wooded wetland areas. Winter snows covered the maze of frozen marshes and ponds, making pursuit dangerous for law enforcement personnel. The suspect’s body was found in the marsh the next spring. Officials in the county’s Department of Environmental Services (DES) believed the manhunt could have ended differently if their vast GIS and GNSS resources could have been put into the hands of public safety personnel onsite. The idea for a mobile GIS vehicle was born.

Monroe County, New York, is home to 750,000 residents liv-ing in 19 towns, 10 villages and the state’s third largest city, Rochester. More than a decade ago, the county launched an enterprise GIS based on the concept of two-way data sharing among the county and local governments. From the start, the county adopted Trimble GNSS technology to collect asset information to populate the GIS.

Today, the DES’ GIS Division (GISD) supports nearly every county office with mapping services. The department decided to improve access to data collection and GIS capabilities for the entire 1898 km2 (733 mi2) county by taking the services on the road. Rochester’s Eastman Kodak Company made the concept a reality by donating a van.

Monroe County turned the van into a GIS Technology Vehicle by installing three workstations, ruggedized lap-tops, a 36-inch plotter, printers, a SmartBoard, big-screen monitor, radios and wireless communications equipment. The onboard computers use this communications link to access the enterprise GIS as well as the county’s GNSS base stations. During asset inventories, GIS feature layers can be updated from the field with data uploaded directly from the mobile GNSS receivers carried in the van. Data can also be broadcast to the county’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC).

The GISD rotates GNSS equipment from its main office to the vehicle, but it usually carries Trimble GPS Pathfinder®

Pro XR receiver backpack systems and newer GPS Path-finder ProXH™ receivers. These mapping receivers are used alongside Trimble GeoXT™ GNSS handhelds. The county has established three base stations including two Trimble R8 GNSS receivers. The survey rovers typically receive real-time corrections in the field through cell-phone connection, while data from the mapping receivers is post-processed in the vehicle with Trimble GPS Pathfinder Office software. In both cases, the GNSS data is differen-tially corrected before it reaches the enterprise GIS.

During the day, the vehicle works onsite at major en-gineering and construction projects, generating GIS maps of where utility assets and property boundaries are located. As construction progresses, crews capture as-built data with the GNSS receivers to instantly update the enterprise GIS. Accurate records of newly installed or relocated infrastructure are never more than a few hours out of date.

When not involved in a construction or repair project, the vehicle is dispatched throughout the county for asset mapping using the Trimble GeoXT GNSS handhelds. The vehicle was also used extensively during a county-wide project to extend fiber-optic cables to all towns and ham-lets. The GIS shows the field crews precisely where parcel boundaries are so that trenching on private property can


be avoided whenever possible. And if field crews must enter a property, they can address the homeowner by name when making the request—thanks to the GIS database.

DES Senior Operations Manager Steve Schwartzmeier likens the vehicle to a "superhero" that has one identity by day and another on nights and weekends.

“It’s used day-to-day for just about any mapping service you can imagine [related to] county maintenance, operations and construction,” Schwartzmeier said. “Then at night, we serve a completely different audience, bringing a full comple-ment of mapping capabilities to fire, police and Emergency Management folks.”

The vehicle is often requested by the Monroe County Director of Public Safety. These duties are typically divided into emergency and non-emergency assignments. The majority of the planned, non-emergency activities involve festivals and other public events that are likely to draw large crowds. The vehicle plays a critical role in coordinating public safety logistics in these situations.

At an annual air show, for example, the vehicle arrives in advance and its crew maps out the locations of vendor booths, power sources and staging areas, as well as public evacuation routes and emergency vehicle ingress/egress lanes. These points are added as layers to the GIS and maps are printed in the van for distribution to the public safety personnel who work the show.

At least once a month, the GIS Technology Vehicle is called to the scene of a rapidly evolving emergency. Recently, an escapee from a detention facility was eluding the state police. The van arrived just as the police lost their communications link to the EOC. They quickly moved to the GIS van for onsite command operations. GIS maps and color air photos of the area were printed onboard and circulated among the officers for use on foot and in the air. The result was an incident-free apprehension—a more positive outcome than the situation three years earlier that first inspired the van’s creation.

“The hard-copy maps we provided from our large-format plotter gave the officers a good feel for the surrounding terrain, and they made an apprehension within an hour or two,” said GISD Operations Manager Scott McCarty.

The GIS Technology Vehicle is a resounding success and is now in great demand county-wide. The van has saved thou-sands of personnel hours both in the field and in the office. Its greatest benefit is that it puts information—some of it potentially life-saving—into the hands of experts when and where they need it.

“We are able to get information out into the field,” said Schwartzmeier, “and good information supports better decision making.”

Photo Contest


Once again, we included our Trimble Survey Facebook fans in judging this ever-popular photo contest. After our editors chose

the three top photos, Trimble Survey Facebook fans chose the first place winner. First place—and a Trimble 4-in-1 all-weather jacket—goes to the Through the Fog image on page 21 and the back page. Our congratulations to all three winners for their creative photographs!

Be part of the action: check out our TrimbleSurvey Facebook page (www.facebook.com/TrimbleSur-vey) for the next issue’s photo contest contenders. For each contest we randomly select one of the Facebook voters to win Trimble-branded items. Join in the fun!

This issue’s Honorable Mention winners will receive a limited-edition Trimble watch:

A Royal SurveyGermany’s City of Bielefeld Surveyor Ullrich Gae-sing contributed this image taken during his survey at Sparrenburg castle, a Bielefeld landmark. Built about 1200 on a mountain in Teutoburg forest to defend the young town, the castle also boasts many underground pathways. Gaesing was working on a new map of the area surrounding Sparrenburg castle to show all the changes and archeological excavations in the area.

"A 'One-Man, One-Animal' Kind of Survey!" Studio Tecnico Topografico Surveyor Benedetto Domenico sent in this fun photo, which he shot using automatic self-timer mode. Domenico was completing a survey of a rural building near Al-benga in northwest Italy for inclusion in a cadastral map. Using a Trimble R6 GNSS System—both as a base and rover—and a Trimble TSC2 Controller, Benedetto worked in one-person mode. But while Benedetto was the only surveyor in the field, he soon found he was not alone: the structure was surrounded by several animals, including a donkey. Intrigued by the controller’s LED lights, the donkey ran away every time the controller

'beeped' (signaling a surveyed point), only to return immediately and show its interest in the survey—and Trimble technology. It was truly "a 'one-man, one-animal' kind of survey!" writes Domenico.

Through the Fog Bulgarian Surveyor Stoian Stoianov took this fascinating image above the city of Varna, Bulgaria (photo was taken on small hill about 19 km (12 mi) west of Varna—at 43°14'45.87"N 27°46'24.87"E). “We were making RTK measure-ments to create a 3D model of the terrain of the street network for several villages around Varna,” Stoianov says. “The model was used to design the plumbing and new roads between the villages. During the two-day survey there was a very dense fog, working conditions were very bad, but we got great results!”

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Photo ContestEnter Trimble’s Technology&more Photo Contest!

The winners of the Trimble Photo Contest receive Trimble prizes and the photos are published in Technology&more. This issue's first place winner is the Through the Fog photo on page 21. If you would like to enter the contest, just send a photo taken with an 8 megapixel (or greater) digital camera to [email protected]. Please make sure you include your name, title and contact information.

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