59The Global Magazine of Leica Geosystems

2 | Reporter

Dear Readers,

In traditional project management managers have to

consider three constraints: Finance, Human Resour-

ces and Time. If you decrease one, you increase the

need for the others. If a project has to be finished

sooner than planned, you need more money. Or

more staff. Or maybe more of both.

Time is money – a truism we all know from our daily

work. We at Leica Geosystems want to provide our

customers with products and solutions that enable

them to do their job more productively, more effec-

tively, in less time and with lower manpower require-

ments – but with no concessions in terms of quality.

You can find one very impressive example of how our

customers save time and money starting on page 19:

Australian customer Sinclair Knight Merz (SKM) has

standardized its national survey services equipment

portfolio, and now completely relies on Leica Geo-

systems’ products from total stations to laser scan-

ners. SKM surveyors benefit from a short learning

curve, ease of use and minimized risk of errors – and

so do SKM’s customers.

Productivity paired with quality – in addition to the

projects highlighted in this edition of the Reporter,

you can also see the outcome of our recent efforts

at Intergeo 2008 in Bremen. We would be pleased to

welcome you to our booth in Hall 5!

Enjoy reading!

Ola Rollén

CEO Hexagon and Leica Geosystems

Editorial

Imprint

Reporter: Customer Magazine of Leica Geosystems

Published by: Leica Geosystems AG, CH-9435 Heerbrugg

Editorial Office: Leica Geosystems AG,

CH-9435 Heerbrugg, Switzerland, Phone +41 71 727 34 08,

reporter@leica-geosystems.com

Contents responsible: Alessandra Doëll

(Director Communications)

Editor: Agnes Zeiner

Publication details: The Reporter is published in English,

German, French and Spanish, twice a year.

Reprints and translations, including excerpts, are subject to

the editor’s prior permission in writing.

© Leica Geosystems AG, Heerbrugg (Switzerland),

September 2008. Printed in Switzerland

Cover: The "Spiegelsee" (Mirror Lake) at the

Berchtesgaden salt mine, © Emanuel Raab

CO

NTEN

TS In the Kingdom of White Gold

Mission Service

Leica ADS40: 700 people saved

The Great Ancona Landslide

World's Largest Trimaran

Laser Dots and Lines for Living History Recording World Heritage

Excavating in the Brisbane River

Standardization: Strong Return on Investment for SKM

City-Tunnel Leipzig

A City on the Move 3D Measuring for Building Refurbishment

Documenting a Subsea Tunnel

Training & Service in Guatemala

Terrain Measurement in Japan

Accuracy for the Agriculture Industry

03

06

08

09

12

14

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19

22

25

28

32

34

35

35

>>

In the Kingdom of White Gold

by Agnes Zeiner

Museum? Tourist attraction? High-tech mine?

The Berchtesgaden Salt Mine is something of all

of them. The show mine attracts around 400'000

visitors per year. Every day, the 28 solution min-

ing boreholes produce about 2'000 cubic meters

of brine, which yields over 530 tonnes of high-

value raw salt. And for surveying specialists,

too, the salt mine is a fantastic journey through

time.

Wolfgang Lochner, Mining Surveying Manager and

leader of the five-person strong surveying team in

the Berchtesgaden Salt Mine, knows that not only is

his workplace especially exciting; it is also extremely

beautiful. When he is not actually underground, he

has a direct view of the Watzmann, the third high-

est mountain in Germany: “Who else can say that?”

Berchtesgaden is one of the last working salt mines

in Germany. It began in 1517 with the founding of

the Petersstollen works by Prince Provost Gregor

Rainer. “The Celts knew about salt production and

salt has been mined in neighboring Bad Reichenhall

since prehistoric times. In Berchtesgaden too, there

had been earlier salt mines, but it had to wait until

1517 and Gregor Rainer to make salt mining its major

activity,” recounted Lochner as he delved into the

area's treasure trove of history. Since then 100 km of

mining tunnels have been driven into the mountain.

The earliest plans he has been able to lay his hands

on stem from the mid-1800s. “But the first survey

maps had already been drawn by the 16th century!”

Despite this long tradition of mining here, he has

no need to worry about the salt running out any-

time soon: the deposits for the next 30 years have

been identified, it is known that there are sufficient

deposits for a further 100 years, and experts esti-

mate there is capacity for the next 300. Each year

approximately 600 meters of tunnels are driven and

28 solution mining boreholes worked through about

30 km of open caverns (tunnels) – with each of these

works having a useful mining life of about 30 years.

The Global Magazine of Leica Geosystems | 3

Drawing of the Dietrich plant at the Berchtesgaden salt mine from 1855.

4 | Reporter

One centimeter per day

Berchtesgaden produces brine, a liquid solution con-

taining the valuable raw salt. This brine is transported

along a pipeline to the salt works at Bad Reichenhall.

There the solution is heated until all that remains of

the Berchtesgaden brine is pure food-grade salt. Each

cubic meter of brine contains up to 26.5 % salt. “Wet

salt mining, the process we use here to extract our

salt, is relatively expensive,” explains Lochner. The

salt is not in discrete blocks in the rock; it must be

washed out by the introduction of fresh water. “This

takes place in the wet mining works: we pump drink-

ing water quality water from above into the works to

wash out the salt, which then, in solution form, sep-

arates from the lighter fresh water, because of the

higher density of the brine. Then the salt water can

be brought to the surface and pumped into the pipe-

line using a submersible pump.” What sounds simple

is actually quite a lengthy process – the water level

rises by only about 1 cm per day in each wet mining

works. At the same time a typical wet mining works

is about 125 m long, 65 m wide and 120 m high.

Laptops and Lederhosen

Mine surveying, taking measurements underground,

is almost as old as mining itself. “Today our main

tasks revolve around monitoring the existing tunnels

and works, taking measurements for tunnel driving,

general underground surveying and – above ground

– surveying for building construction and for man-

agement of the salt work's land and real estate,”

explains Wolfgang Lochner. “This makes my job

very stimulating – it encompasses practically the

whole spectrum of engineering surveying: we are

never bored!” It includes surveying and drawing up

the existing excavations; surveying, monitoring and

recording the mining works; planning and setting out

the drives; surveying during driving, similar to tun-

nel construction, and surveying and plotting ground

movements. “The accuracies we can achieve today

are less than 1 mm standard deviation in leveling

underground, approx. 0.5 mm standard deviation in

leveling above ground and less than 15 mm position-

ing accuracy in the network of control points in the

underground control network,” adds Lochner.

Our mining surveyors work closely with in-house and

external geologists, as well as cooperating with the

national mining authorities. “This is why we need to

maintain two data systems: on the one hand we still

keep existing drawings of the local mining authority

up to date by hand using ink, pens and color washes

on paper. But of course we use modern CAD draw-

ings for our own design and record drawings. Thus

the turn of phrase 'Lederhosen and laptops (old and

new)' is very apt,” points out Lochner with a smile.

Old and new in peaceful coexistence greet visitors

to the Berchtesgaden Salt Mine. And not only in the

show mine, where around 400'000 visitors from all

over the world can experience the subterranean

world of salt mining on the newly opened salt time

travel tour. There are also glass display cabinets con-

taining modern instruments like the Leica TPS1200

as well as old mining surveying instruments such

as an alidade dating from the mid-19th century and

a Wild T2 theodolite. These Wild instruments were

manufactured from 1926 to 1996 by Wild Heerbrugg

(today Leica Geosystems).

From Reichenbach to Leica Geosystems

Lochner and his team also rely on a mixture of old

and new: on the one hand the latest technology,

such as the Leica DINI03 digital level, total stations

Leica TCRA1100 and System 1200, or the Leica DIS-

TO™ laser distance meter. But on the other hand

they still find some ancient instruments indispens-

able, such as the suspended mine surveying com-

pass that has been used in virtually unaltered form

since 1897 and has only recently been replaced by a

specially designed digital compass with a Bluetooth®

interface link to a portable computer. “Most of the

instruments, like the tasks we perform, have changed

over time – in earlier days, mining surveyors worked

underground with alidades and goniometers, while

today we have digital levels and total stations. But

some can simply never be replaced,” maintains Loch-

ner. “Some of the oldest instruments were made in

the Reichenbach workshops in the 1800s.” These

masterpieces of technology are naturally no longer

in use but: “They continue to work perfectly – the

advantage of mechanical devices!”

The process of mining also has some older devices that

are still essential today. For example, the “Röhrlkas-

ten”, a wooden box that provides a simple way of

measuring the flow of water through the solution

mining works to an accuracy of <1 %. “A 1756 model,

precise and with no signs of wear,” laughs Lochner.

Next to it stands – as if from another world – an ultra-

modern computer cabinet with contents controlled

from above ground through fibre-optic cables.

Although the past is still very much alive, Wolfgang

Lochner's thoughts are directed towards the future.

His team has recently carried out trials with Leica

Geosystems high definition scanners, the results of

which are currently being evaluated. Underground

survey information is presently captured as level and

positional data but not yet as 3D models. “This is

certainly adequate to create a reference to the above

ground surveying but we have even higher aims!”

The tradition of salt mining has shaped life in the

region over many centuries. The salt time travel tour

in the Berchtesgaden Salt Mine brings this history

to life for everyone with the help of state-of-the-art

entertainment, edutainment and infotainment tech-

nology. An exciting visitor guide system, active and

interactive control modules, lighting installations,

sensing experiences and educational exhibits take

the visitor through a completely new subterranean

experience.

Further information:

Salzbergwerk Berchtesgaden

Bergwerkstraße 83

D-83471 Berchtesgaden, Germany

Phone +49 (0)86 52-6002-0

Fax +49 (0)86 52-6002-6,

www.salzzeitreise.de, info@salzzeitreise.de

Opening hours:

1st May to 31st Oct. 2008: 09.00 to 17.00 hrs*

2nd Nov. 2008 to 30th April 2009: 11.30 to 15.00 hrs*

(* last admittance)

This underground world

is open to everybody

The Global Magazine of Leica Geosystems | 5

6 | Reporter

by Agnes Zeiner

Leica Geosystems instruments and solutions

are in use with our customers in all parts of

the world. At the same time we are committed

to providing the best support and service – no

matter where the customer and instrument are

located. A balancing act that our Central Tech-

nical Services Team and its partners perform

every day.

In the office of Peter Ammann, Manager of Central

Technical Services (CTS) this morning the blinds are

pulled half-way down as protection from the bright

Swiss summer sun. “In the afternoons it can be

almost unbearable in here,” he laughs – no special

treatment for the manager of this 30+ strong CTS

Team.

Ammann is a missionary. Not in the religious sense,

but in the sense of his job, for all too often the duties

of his team are equated with repairs. But technical

service is only one part of the range of services that

Leica Geosystems offers its customers. “We also

define the framework for the scope of these ser-

vices, ensure that it is implemented and continuously

Mission Service

monitor performance. The time it normally takes a

customer to decide on a Leica Geosystems instru-

ment is actually very short. But in the years that

follow he will work with this instrument, upon which

often his livelihood will depend. Therefore we are

doing the right thing by focusing our efforts on this

latter period,” explains Ammann.

The customer obtains a complete solution com-

prising product and service: With Leica Customer

Care Packages, short CCPs , each customer can be

offered a service package that corresponds exactly

to his requirements – anything from a simple soft-

ware update package right up to a “Gold Package”

with comprehensive hard- and software service and

extended warranty.

Leica Geosystems and its partners maintain a total of

over 200 certified service centers worldwide. Every

three years, these centers are audited to ensure that

the specified standards are being observed. This

task is performed during a service audit as part of

the quality assurance system. “These audits are also

used as an opportunity to discuss any issues with

our partners, since this is a way of bringing about

improvements in working processes, e.g. by mak-

CTS staff member Guido Grossmann ajusting a Leica

TCP1205+ total station.

ing small changes in infrastructure or investment.

And that has a direct effect on the throughput of

instruments received for servicing and repair,” adds

Peter Ammann.

How to ensure that all our customers – wherever

they may be in the world – receive the same service?

Not so simple, admits the head of CTS. “We are of

course often out in the field to see that our service

standards are kept universally high. And our part-

ners also invest a great deal.” He leads us through

to a large room – a workshop, we assume. Ammann

laughs: “No, it's a training room. Every new techni-

cian appointed by a Leica Geosystems service part-

ner comes first to us here in Heerbrugg, Switzerland.

Here the technicians learn about all our instruments,

so that servicing can take place locally without any

problems and the customer receives his instrument

back as quickly as possible. Our experienced techni-

cians also become involved when Leica Geosystems

brings a new, innovative product to market.” For

this knowledge gained from servicing is first hand

information, which then flows back into new product

developments.

“Factors such as Customer Care Packages, the assured

quality in our certified service workshops and contin-

uous education of our globally active service techni-

cians create trust. And if our customers trust Leica

Geosystems now, they will decide in our favour in the

future too,” says Peter Ammann confidently.

The Global Magazine of Leica Geosystems | 7

8 | Reporter

Leica ADS40: 700 people saved by Rüdiger Wagner

700 people could be saved in Cao Ping after their

message “SOS700” was discovered in imagery

collected with a Leica ADS40 airborne digital

sensor.

In the aftermath of the devastating May 12th earth-

quake in Sichuan, China, local authorities coordinat-

ing disaster relief efforts required a fast, accurate

and comprehensive overview of the damage and the

affected areas. Following a request from the Chinese

Academy of Science (CAS), Taiyuan Aero Photography

Co. Ltd immediately agreed to dispatch their Leica

ADS40 digital airborne sensors to Chongqing near

Chengdu in the Sichuan province. Starting on May

13th, fifteen flights were undertaken in the earth-

quake area, taking full advantage of the efficiency

of the Leica ADS40 sensor system. Supported by

Leica Geosystems staff, terabytes of continuous high

quality image data were acquired and processed on a

daily basis and sent overnight to local authorities and

the President’s Office for analysis and updates.

On May 16th, after processing a flight undertaken

earlier that day, Leica Geosystems’ support staff

sent the corrected image data to the China Central

Government Earthquake Salvation Centre for inspec-

tion. Whilst analyzing the image strip, staff attention

was drawn to a sign stating “SOS700” on a rooftop

in the village of Cao Ping near Yingxiu town. Although

nobody in the Salvation Centre immediately under-

stood the message, a rescue team was quickly dis-

patched to the village. Upon arrival in Cao Ping, the

rescuers encountered seven hundred villagers with-

out food and water, many of them wounded.

Says Sam Chen, Vice President of Leica Geosystems,

China: “This is truly a case in which the superior Leica

ADS40 sensor technology helped save lives. At Leica

Geosystems we are honoured that in a combined

effort with our customers and local authorities, we

could assist our people and our country in this time

of need. Using our technology we will continue to

help rebuild the lives of our people in Sichuan.”

The discovery of the villagers’ colourful call for help

was only made possible by the unique performance

features of the Leica ADS40. The state-of-the-art

line sensor technology of Leica ADS40 permits fast

data collection of large areas with equal resolution,

in all multispectral bands and without loss of quality

or information. In combination with a fast and simple

workflow, the Leica ADS40 delivers real production

efficiency when time is of the essence.

About the author:

Rüdiger Wagner is Product Manager Airborne Sensors

at Leica Geosystems in Heerbrugg/Switzerland.

The Great Ancona Landslide

by Carlo Bonanno and Massimo Magnani

On 13th December 1982, a very large zone of

the city of Ancona was devastated by a huge

landslide, affecting 11 % of the urban area.

Homes and infrastructure were seriously dam-

aged, about 3’000 people had to be evacuated.

The railway and state highway were blocked,

and water and gas supplies interrupted. After

years of study authorities decided that consoli-

dation was not a feasible option. This was due

to both the cost and the environmental impact,

which would have devastated the areas’ natural

character. Therefore, the City Council decided

to ensure the safety of the local population by

designing and installing a complex integrated

monitoring system to provide constant control

of the landslip area.

The affected area of Ancona consists of an entire

hillside, approximately 341.5 hectares in total. It

ranges from an approximate height of 170 metres

above sea level down to the sea itself. During the 15

days prior to the landslide on 13. December, 1982,

the rainfall in the area was not exceptionally high

in absolute terms but was persistent. This caused a

significant rise in groundwater levels.

In response to the landslide, a series of specific laws

were passed at both a regional and national level.

This enabled the allocation of funds needed for the

emergency operations, as well as to complete the

clean-up and rehabilitation of the affected area and

provide aid to the local people.

After the initial emergency operations, a detailed

study was done of the landslide area, in order to

draw up a plan for the repair or reconstruction of the

affected homes. Preparation of a plan for continuous

monitoring of the landslide area using geodetic and

geotechnical instrumentation also began. This was

used as the basis for a Civil Defence Emergency Plan. >>

The Global Magazine of Leica Geosystems | 9

View of the "Great Ancona Landslide" today.

10 | Reporter

The Monitoring Plan was subdivided into 2 parts; the

first of these, relating to the geodetic instrumenta-

tion, was put out to tender in 2006. The contract

was awarded to Leica Geosystems Italy for the sup-

ply and installation of a high-precision continuous

integrated topographic monitoring system.

In association with the Ancona City Council engineers

installation of the monitoring system began at the

end of 2006 and was completed in the summer of

2007. In October 2007 local and national govern-

ment representatives officially presented the system

to the public. This coincided with the system start-

up and calibration stage. This stage, currently still

underway, has enabled those responsible to analyse

the main results and to use them as a basis for set-

ting the alarm thresholds in the Civil Defence Plan.

Three steps for maximum safety

Due to the large area to be monitored and the com-

plex morphology of the landslide zone, the system

was designed on the basis of three monitoring levels.

The first (alarm) level is comprised of three main

stations outside the landslide area each with a

robotic total station, dual frequency GPS and dual

axis inclinometer .

The second level is comprised of five monitoring

stations inside the landslide area, with identical

instrumentation.

The third level is comprised of a network of 26 sin-

gle frequency GPS sensors and 200 prisms installed

on homes, with all prism points measured by robot-

ic total stations.

Each station in the 1st and 2nd level network was

installed on reinforced concrete piles. Each pile is 1

meter in diameter, sunk into the ground to depths

varying from 10 to 25 meters, with about 3 meters

above ground level. Each concrete pile has a Leica

TCA2003 robotic total station installed on top.

The AX1202 GPS antennas together with the Leica

GRX1200 GPS receivers were installed by means of

stainless steel posts, 10 cm in diameter, with variable

heights. Each station was completed with wiring for

communication and power supply.

The 3rd level network stations, were created by

installing single frequency GPS antennas and solar

panels on the roofs of private homes. Each station

was wired to protect the power supply and installed

in positions allowing easy access for possible mainte-

nance work. Approximately 200 prisms were installed

on the homes in the area, for measurement by the

seven Leica TCA2003 robotic total stations.

No significant movements by May 2008

The system runs automatically and is managed by

the Control Center in the City of Ancona, about 3 km

from the monitoring area. A WLAN – HyperLAN main

communications line provides complete and continu-

ous real-time control of all the field sensors. The

Control Center has a network of computers running

Leica GeoMoS and Leica GNSS Spider software. The

software controls the sensors and performs analy-

ses of the acquired data. Custom software modules

were specially developed for the management of the

alert, pre-alarm and alarm thresholds and the subse-

quent triggering of warning systems to protect the

population. Remote access to the system is possible

via the Internet to enable relevant personnel to man-

age and oversee the system at any time.

The Leica TCA2003 robotic total stations perform a

measuring cycle to the prisms every 4 hours. The

GPS receivers record measurement sessions lasting

6 hours, with a 15 sec. acquisition rate. Analysis of

the results obtained between October 2007 and May

2008 revealed that no significant movements of the

structures in the risk area occurred. One year after

the start-up of the surface topography monitoring

system, the engineers in charge have been able to

analyse the first results. This period of fine-tuning

of the system has been fundamental in allowing

the definition of the alert, the pre-alarm and alarm

thresholds.

Future implementations

The tender for the second functional stage of the

monitoring project includes supply and installation

of underground geotechnical sensors and extremely

high precision surface dual axis inclinometers. The

combination of different sensors and technologies

allows for the most effective monitoring of complex

gravitational phenomena, such as the Ancona land-

slide. This will allow the landslide phenomenon and

its evolution over time to be studied by analysing the

acquired measurements. Therefore helping to make

targeted, effective planning of any future consolida-

tion work possible.

In Ancona, the local government and local population

have taken an active approach to living with a huge

landslide. This new philosophy is a fresh, dynamic

response to a complex problem: the solution moves

beyond the usual static concepts of ordinary engi-

neering solutions, unfeasible or unaffordable in this

case, while simultaneously reducing the risk level for

the people living in the affected areas.

About the authors:

Massimo Magnani is Engineering & Solutions Sales

& Technical Support, Carlo Bonanno is Engineering &

Solutions Sales Manager. Both work at Leica Geosys-

tems SpA in Italy.

7 Leica TCA2003 robotic total stations

7 Leica GRX1200 L1/L2 GPS sensors

26 Leica GX1210 L1 GPS sensors

230 Monitoring prisms

40 Power supply systems

Installation "Great Ancona Landslide“

1 WLAN – HyperLAN communications system

1 Center for Real-Time Control and Management of

the Monitoring System, with Leica GeoMoS and

Leica GNSS Spider software

The Global Magazine of Leica Geosystems | 11

12 | Reporter

World's LargestTrimaran

by Hélène Leplomb

With a wealth of experience acquired through

the construction of a long line of racing boats,

the Banque Populaire has gained considerable

notoriety in the field of sailing. The “Sailing

Bank” is staying its course with a new challenge:

the construction of the world’s largest trimaran

– the Banque Populaire V. Designed with the

aim of beating the major sailing records, it con-

sists of a forty-meter-long central hull, floats

measuring thirty-seven meters in length and a

forty-five-meter mast. The “Sailing Bank” has

chosen the French company Ecartip to measure

and test the manufactured parts using a Leica

Geosystems 3D laser scanner.

Technological choices are essential in the race for

performance. Consequently, for the structure of

the Banque Populaire V, the technical team relied

on tried-and-tested technology: a layer of Nomex

(strong synthetic fibres in honeycomb structure)

between two layers of carbon. There was a risk that

the components of this immense prototype would

warp during this process due to the heat. That is why

Olivier Bordeau, a member of Team Banque Populaire

and responsible for monitoring compounds, called

on Ecartip, a company originally consisting of land

surveyors, but now also working in the shipbuild-

ing industry, to measure and test the boat’s compo-

nents using a 3D laser scanner. The aim was to test

the deviation between the manufactured parts and

the theoretical digital model in order to identify any

distortion and to take appropriate action to ensure

that the performance of the boat complied with the

initial plan.

Scan of the hull and floats

Two employees at Ecartip were called upon to scan

the different components and process the data on-

site in order to save time. During these operations,

Eric Rabaud, project leader at Ecartip, appreciated

the full dome of the Leica HDS3000 laser scanner:

“The full dome meant that the bottoms of the hulls

could be scanned quickly and with no restrictions

by placing the scanner on the ground. Without this

characteristic, we would have had to raise the floats

and that would have been impossible!”

The thirty-seven-meter-long floats required 10 scan

positions each. These multiple scans enabled Ecartip

to obtain a level of precision of ± 4 mm in assem-

bling a scatter plot and ± 2 mm in modelling. Ecartip

could therefore provide sections, 3D views, reports

presenting the deviations obtained and verification

plans in order to check the conformity of the boat’s

The Global Magazine of Leica Geosystems | 13

components. By modelling the hulls, they were able

to define the real axes and planes of symmetry of the

boat. The different parts of the boat could therefore

be repositioned precisely taking into account the dis-

tortions observed and the mechanical characteristics

of the boat. This precision operation was decisive in

positioning the centreboard well, foils, rudder blade

and other parts of the boat.

Finding himself five days ahead of schedule, the

leader of Team Banque Populaire was entirely con-

vinced: “Before, we didn’t know why the boat was

pulling more to the right or to the left – we used a

plumb line and a decameter to check the manufac-

tured parts. This technology allows us to save time,

increase the reliability and precision of the measure-

ments and, above all, correct the axis of symmetry

before the launch!” exclaimed Olivier Bordeau.

Providing help in assembly

Assembling this type of component is not easy and

precise positioning is essential. In the past, the com-

ponents were guided into position on the central hull

using a projection on the ground, a plumb line and a

spirit level. This meticulous work could take days to

be completed. Then the part in question would be

cut and positioned and these operations would be

repeated until it was perfectly fitted.

Already won over by the service provided by Ecartip,

Team Banque Populaire decided to test the assembly

of the arms on the central hull using a Leica HDS3000.

Eric Rabaud identified the zone to be cut on model

elements of the boat before marking the outline on

the hull using a theodolite. “We are used to work-

ing with a safety margin”, explains Olivier Bordeau.

“Initially we didn’t want to take the risk of cutting

exactly along the outline…” However, from the very

first cut, the team had to accept the obvious: the

outline was perfect. As a result, the scanner moni-

tored the entire progression of the boat’s assembly,

providing invaluable aid in assembling the hulls and

positioning the foils.

This first 3D laser scan service has revolutionised

measurement techniques in the field of racing boats:

“In the past, there was no real culture of measure-

ment in this domain, it is a revolution in our measure-

ment system”, confirms Olivier Bordeau. The test and

assembly operations took only a third of the time

allowed for in the very tight construction schedule

for this prototype, enabling the installation of the

elements on the central hull to be adapted to ensure

optimum geometry of the boat.

The availability and commitment of Ecartip were

greatly appreciated by Team Banque Populaire, who

will be sure to contact Ecartip when they make future

modifications to the boats in the fleet of the “Sailing

Bank”. For his part, Eric Rabaud from Ecartip could

feel the team spirit which reigned around the boat,

giving him the feeling that he too was part of this

great adventure.

About the author:

Hélène Leplomb is responsible for Marketing at Leica

Geosystems in France.

Type: Crewed Oceanic Maxi Trimaran

Skipper: Pascal Bidégorry

Length: 40.00 m

Breadth: 23.00 m

Displacement: 23 t

Draught: 5.80 m

Clearance: 45 m

www.voile.banquepopulaire.fr

www.ecartip.fr

Banque Populaire V

14 | Reporter

by Daniel Stettler

High on a sunny slope on the Eastern border

of the Engadin Valley in the Swiss Canton of

Graubünden is a small mountain village, home

to 175 people. Its name is Tschlin. The economic

prospects of this village would be bleak, were

it not for a spirit of enterprise and innovation

among its people. But no change without chal-

lenges: How can you stem the demographic

bleeding of a dying town and sustain a viable

population by providing young families with a

livelihood? How can you restore and maintain

the iconic buildings without turning them into

museums? How can you adapt historic farm

houses to become vacation homes without los-

ing the village’s character?

Tschlin is a perfect example of a European moun-

tain village in transition and was chosen to serve as

a case study for architecture students at the Uni-

versity of Washington in Seattle. As initiator of the

study, I came here with a group of students to spend

the summer of 2007 to lend a hand in addressing

the village’s challenges. For two months we engaged

in a number of concrete projects intended to help

the community in its planning for the future. Some

Laser Dots and Lines for Living History

instruments from Leica Geosystems played an impor-

tant role in this effort.

Challenging measuring conditions

One of our projects was to make an accurate inven-

tory of the existing buildings in Tschlin. This called

for making precise drawings of the current struc-

tures and public spaces of the village as a base for

future planning. As simple as this may sound, the

steep topography of the community combined with

the irregular shape of buildings created challenging

measuring conditions. It would be cumbersome and

unsafe to attempt the use of ladders with primitive

measuring equipment such as poles and tapes. The

well known Engadiner house with its complex form

and vast size only compounds the problem. Leica

Geosystems’ lasers allowed us to measure these

buildings safely from the ground.

We used three specific instruments, the Leica

DISTO™ A5, Leica DISTO™ A8 laser distance meters

and the line laser Leica Lino L2. The Leica DISTO™

A5 and A8 served to take overall height and distance

measurements while the Leica Lino L2 set horizontal

and vertical reference lines. The Leica DISTO™ A5

proved to be the most reliable in taking point-to-

point measurements. As a basic measuring device

the simplicity of the instrument was very welcome.

But at critical times of low light and long distance,

the Leica DISTO™ A8 offered an additional feature.

It has a digital viewfinder that allows zooming into

the target in three stages and to precisely locate the

measuring point.

Fast and accurate measurements

Due to the village’s topography the measuring plane

was not always plumb and leveled. Therefore the

trigonometric functions in the Leica DISTO™ were

not applicable at all times. Here the Leica Lino L2

was a real asset. In fact, it turned out to be an essen-

tial piece of equipment for our purposes. The self

leveling function made what would be a constantly

tedious and time consuming task fast and easy. The

instrument provided accurate level and plumb lines

that when photographed and assembled digitally,

created grid lines on the building facades. These

grids were vital to the reconstruction of these build-

ings as line drawings.

In order to document our proceedings with photo-

graphs, including grids from the Leica Lino L2, and to

increase our productivity, we quickly decided to work

also by night. The villagers were surprised to see

us working in the dark as we determined this to be

the most efficient way to take the measurements. It

occasionally called for some explanation when locals

were perplexed by the red gridlines on their homes.

They were relieved to discover the next day that the

lines were no longer there.

Inside measurements during summer 2008

By the end of the summer 2007 thanks to the effi-

ciency and accuracy of the Leica Geosystems’ instru-

ments, our team of six had been able to fully measure

and draw thirty buildings in Tschlin. This data collec-

tion continued during the summer of 2008. Indeed,

new students from the University of Washington have

started to make additional measurements inside the

buildings this time. The Leica Lino L2 has been most

useful in determining horizontal and vertical lines

inside the old Engadiner houses where few things

are plumb or level. The Department of Architecture

at the University of Washington expresses its sincere

gratitude to the Leica Geosystems team and looks

forward to working with their instruments on this

project for several more years.

About the author:

Daniel Stettler works as an architect in Seattle, is a

lecturer at the University of Washington Department

of Architecture, and Director of the Studio Tschlin

The Global Magazine of Leica Geosystems | 15

16 | Reporter

Recording World Heritageby Paul Burrows

CAP, the Cyrene Archaeological Project, is devot-

ed to recording the remains of the Greco-Roman

city at Cyrene in Libya and is a joint venture

between Oberlin College (USA), the University of

Birmingham (UK) and the Department of Antiqui-

ties (Libya). The site is part of the Green Moun-

tain Conservation and Development Area, which

was recently established by the Libyan govern-

ment under “The Cyrene Declaration”. CAP’s aim

is to record the standing structures and bur-

ied features within this UNESCO World Heritage

Site in a systematic, traceable and comprehen-

sive method using a combination of land-based,

aerial and sub-surface measurement techniques

– amongst them a Leica ScanStation and a Leica

HDS6000 scanner.

Nestled in the heart of the University of Birming-

ham is VISTA, the Visual and Spatial Technology Cen-

tre, part of the Institute of Archaeology and Antiq-

uity (IAA). This archaeological group is committed to

the capture, analysis and preservation of 3D data

through the creation of digital environments, with

data capture projects ranging from object to land-

scape modeling.

VISTA has been in existence since 2003 and has nur-

tured relationships with universities and professional

institutions around the world. These global ties have

supported large open-ended research projects which

require dedicated teams of highly skilled experts using

the latest technology to capture data – this is where

Leica Geosystems High Definition Surveying™, ter-

restrial total stations and GPS (TPS/GPS) technology

have been utilized by VISTA to achieve an accuracy of

data collection thought near impossible a few years

ago. “Our aim as an historical group is to capture and

integrate all data types with cutting edge technology

into the largest volumetric and sub-surface model

ever captured for archaeological purposes,” says

“Our aim as an historical group is to

capture and integrate all data types

with cutting edge technology into

the largest volumetric and

sub-surface model ever captured

for archaeological purposes.”

Prof. Vince Gaffney, head of the

VISTA group Chair in Landscape

Archaeology and Geomatics.

Prof. Vince Gaffney, head of the VISTA group Chair in

Landscape Archaeology and Geomatics.

VISTA and the CAP project

As one of the best funded groups in Europe, VISTA

was well placed to take part in the CAP project. The

2007 season was undertaken between the 17th and

28th June and the Leica HDS6000, in conjunction

with an external camera solution, was used to record

data from several key sites. In addition, a Foerster

magnetometer array, combined with a Leica SR530

differential GPS solution, was used to carry out the

vast geophysical survey.

The Leica HDS6000 was chosen as it represented the

most advanced phase-based scanning technology on

the market. “The unit performed excellently in unsea-

sonably high temperatures of over 35 °C whilst its

relatively light construction and high battery capac-

ity meant the unit was highly mobile – it can be worn

in its transport case like a rucksack too”, stated Dr.

Helen Goodchild, Project Geomatics Manager.

Using both the Leica HDS6000 and the pulse based

scanner Leica ScanStation, over 120 scans were car-

ried out over the two week period and over 150 GB

of data were collected, representing billions of sur-

vey points. Registration was carried out using Leica

Cyclone Register and the data was geo-referenced

using GPS data control-points acquired with the Leica

SR530 DGPS base station and rover.

Full 3D surface models

The data acquired by the Leica HDS6000 has been

used to generate animated fly-throughs, 2D sec-

tions and slices of the data for interrogation. Full 3D

surface models have also been generated that have

helped aid the investigation and provide an irreplace-

able document of the area. In addition, the data has

been incorporated into the VISTA GIS software suite

alongside GPS, Magnetometry, GPR and environmen-

tal survey data so it can be analyzed in context.

Birmingham Archaeology is a long standing user of

Leica Geosystems survey technology, so its foray

into the world of High Definition Surveying is a natu-

ral technological progression. Without the use of the

Leica HDS6000 or Leica ScanStation, the CAP team

would not have been able to capture the data from

ancient standing structures with the same level of

detail in such a short period of time.

VISTA is currently working with IBM (UK) in developing

procedures for the analysis, manipulation and display

of these types of datasets using Birmingham’s Blue-

BEAR, one of the largest University computing facili-

ties in the UK (www.bear.bham.ac.uk).

About the author:

Paul Burrows is Project Engineer for High Definition

3D Laser Scanning at Leica Geosystems in the UK.

The Global Magazine of Leica Geosystems | 17

18 | Reporter

Excavating in the Brisbane Riverby Stefana Vella

Clean water is a precious commodity – espe-

cially when there just isn’t enough. Unfortu-

nately this is the case in the eastern parts of

Australia which have been experiencing signifi-

cant drought over the last two years. As part of

an overall plan to forestall the effects of any

future drought, and to buffer the effects of

the current one, the Queensland Government’s

Western Corridor Recycled Water Project was

implemented. When it is constructed, it will be

the largest recycled water scheme of its kind in

the southern hemisphere – no small feat.

Caldme Excavation Pty Ltd., specialists in long reach

excavation and under water work, was involved in

this project as a subcontractor. The challenge was to

excavate a 60 m outfall pipe with three diffusers that

was installed at the Goodna Waste Water Treatment

Plant – in up to 14.5 meters of water in the Brisbane

River. An important requirement was the ability to

operate in all tide conditions, to maximize the time

available to complete the vital works.

Caldme turned to the Leica Geosystems 3D GPS sys-

tem to simplify an otherwise difficult excavation.

With a Leica 2D MC300 DigSmart system already per-

manently installed on their Hyundai R290LC-7 LR long

reach excavator, Caldme simply rented the 3D GPS

system from Leica Geosystems distributor CR Ken-

nedy for the duration of the project. The systems

integrated smoothly, made the low visibility of the

work far less of a problem and sped up the progress

of the job.

The excavator worked from a spud-anchored barge

supplied by QPort Marine Services, and the GPS sys-

tem was used to assist the tug in positioning the

barge for work. This simplified the barge set-up and

provided significant time savings. The primary aim of

the work was to construct a level pad on the bed of

the river and install the diffusers in a sarcophagus.

The scope of work also included placing rock armor,

and shaping the river bank with a 1 in 4 slope.

Although the excavator was operating at its maxi-

mum depth, the Leica Geosystems 3D GPS system

allowed Caldme to complete the work well within the

required tolerance, and in around half the allotted

time. When limitations occurred due to reach, the

barge, guided by the excavator’s GPS, was reposi-

tioned to allow the excavator to complete the work.

Despite the work being classified as high risk, it was

completed without a single scratch to the pipeline or

any Lost Time Injury.

About the author:

Stefana Vella is Business Development Consultant

and Marketing Manager for Machine Automation at

C.R. Kennedy, Leica Geosystems’ distribution partner

in Australia.

Surveying the historical Port Arthur penitentiary, Hobart, Tasmania, with Leica HDS and Leica TPS units.

Standardization: Strong Return on Investment for SKMby Alison Stieven-Taylor

Known for its leadership and innovation in spa-

tial information products and services, Sinclair

Knight Merz (SKM) is once again forging a new

path – this time in the delivery of its spatial

services. On a scale not often seen in Australia

SKM has standardized its national survey ser-

vices equipment portfolio after entering into a

significant contract with Leica Geosystems Aus-

tralian distributor CR Kennedy.

This ambitious project, which has seen the company

replace its entire survey equipment catalogue with

new Leica Geosystems equipment and firmware, has

enabled SKM to realize a new level of interoperability

and efficiency by working on a common platform.

Leigh Finlay, Spatial Manager New South Wales and

SKM Practice Leader for Surveying, explains: “The

decision to standardize our survey services equip-

ment portfolio was really influenced by two main

factors – the issue of operator familiarity with the

various brands we were using, and the need to >>

The Global Magazine of Leica Geosystems | 19

20 | Reporter

update aging equipment.” The fundamental reason-

ing behind the plan was to try and achieve a level

of standardization across the country to remove

the barriers that prevent the efficient movement of

resources, both staff and equipment, to areas where

the work is required.

“In addition, this approach has enabled us to lock in

an efficient national long term plan with a supplier

that delivers a clear and cost effective provision of

the most up to date and technically advanced survey

equipment that is updated on a regular basis. The

major beneficiary will be our clients”, Mr. Finlay said.

“When you have a variety of brands and a mobile

workforce you can’t always guarantee the employee

and the equipment will match. We don’t have the

luxury of learning on the job. Any time taken up with

familiarization becomes another operational cost.

We strongly believe these improved efficiencies in

delivering survey services will benefit our projects

and clients. We believe that by working with the one

brand and one supplier we can streamline our pro-

cesses, work more collaboratively across regions and

remove the barriers we had previously encountered

by having a range of brands.”

Technology, Service and Support

Mr. Finlay admits it wasn’t an easy sell internally with

various brand loyalties within the company. “It’s a

bit like trying to sell a Ford to a die-hard Holden fan.

There are those who would rather stick with an old

Holden than drive a brand new Ford.” The decision

followed a rigorous evaluation process of the various

distributors that involved SKM representatives from

all regions and also included an assessment of the

back-up service and ongoing support the respective

distributors were prepared to offer. At the end of the

day it came down to a very simple equation – lead-

ing edge technology combined with a comprehensive

national service and support package.

“Over the past decade technological developments

in the spatial survey sector have literally altered the

way we work. In my mind Leica Geosystems has really

Left: Robinson River, Northern Territory,

land lease survey for Australian Government.

Right: Hobart Smelter, Tasmania.

As the smelter could not be closed down the

Leica HDS6000 was placed in a specially built cage

and lowered into the smelter works.

28 Leica GPS1200 GNSS units

18 Leica TCRP1200+ Total Stations

12 Leica RX1250 T Robotic Control Units

7 Leica SmartStations

6 Leica DNA03 Digital Levels and

1 Leica HDS6000 3D Laser Scanner to

augment their existing Leica HDS3000 Scanner

www.skmconsulting.com

www.crkennedy.com.au/survey

The deal included

been the true innovator in survey technology. It was

the first to introduce barcode levels – a concept that

was totally out of the box. The recent introduction

of the Leica SmartStation, which combines both GPS/

GNSS and TPS into a single instrument, was another

major step forward and Leica Geosystems’ 3D laser

scanning technology has revolutionized the way we

capture data. We’ve been extremely satisfied with

the Leica Geosystems equipment and in particular

the Leica 3D laser scanner which has opened doors

enabling the expansion of our client base. Working

with Leica Geosystems technology enables us to

deliver above client expectations and meet our own

meticulous standards.”

Confidence to take on new projects

On the issue of service and support Mr. Finlay said CR

Kennedy went above and beyond the call of duty. “It

would be true to say we have enjoyed good relation-

ships with all our suppliers in the past. In this instance

CR Kennedy came through with an outstanding pack-

age to meet our needs. Their training, supply and

service solution gives us the confidence to take on

new projects knowing we are fully supported.”

CR Kennedy’s package also includes a rental agree-

ment which initially Mr. Finlay didn’t believe SKM

would require. But business has been brisk and SKM

is already taking advantage of its ability to hire addi-

tional equipment to supplement its own catalogue,

which is consistently in use. “We are already seeing

the benefits of standardization. The service offered

us by CR Kennedy combined with the fact that every-

one is familiar with the equipment means the spatial

group can react very quickly in the delivery of ser-

vices across all of SKM’s business units. It’s given

us renewed confidence in knowing that whatever

projects we take on we have the right combination

of skills, equipment and back up that enable us to

deliver on our promises.”

About the author:

Alison Stieven-Taylor is a Melbourne based journalist.

The Global Magazine of Leica Geosystems | 21

22 | Reporter

by Michael Amrhein, Guido von Gösseln

and Dieter Heinz

Ranked among the largest stub terminals in

Europe, Leipzig's main rail station is one of the

most important transportation nodes in Cen-

tral Germany's regional and long-distance public

transport system. The stub terminal certainly

offers travellers easy access and convenient

connections but its architecture makes changes

in the direction of travel very time-consuming

and takes up a much greater area than a through

station would. One of Germany’s most complex

tunnel projects shall end this situation: The

City-Tunnel Leipzig.

During the construction of the main station (1902-

1915), the possibility of a direct connection to

Leipzig's Bayerischer Bahnhof (Bavarian station) to

link the north and the south of the city was already

being explored, but two world wars prevented this

idea from being realised. With the establishment of

S-Bahn Tunnel GmbH (SBTL) in 1996, the City-Tun-

nel Leipzig project was resurrected and preliminary

investigations conducted into its feasibility and

financial viability. In 2003 a green light was finally

given for the works to go ahead.

The City-Tunnel Leipzig project (CTL) consists of

three sections: the entry section to the south of the

Bayerischer Bahnhof (Contract A); the main part of

project (Contract B) with two shield-driven tunnels

(each approx. 1'500 m) and 4 stations; and the third

section (Contract C) comprising the route under the

main station after which the tunnel emerges to con-

nect to the existing track system. The completion of

such a project represents an extreme challenge to all

engineers involved, especially if – as in the case of

the CTL – work is carried out below a city of half a

million people.

All surveying for the three contracts was under-

taken by Angermeier Ingenieure GmbH (Contract B

in a joint venture with Geodata ZT). This task also

included the relocation of the porticus at Bayerisch-

er Bahnhof. The relocation of this listed structure

City-Tunnel Leipzig

was necessary to build one of the four stations and

its progress was keenly followed by Leipzig's popula-

tion and media alike.

All the surveying work is based on surveying pro-

grammes in which all the geodetic tasks are precisely

described and specified. Approval is given by a rep-

resentative of the client, DEGES (Deutsche Einheit

Fernstraßenplanungs- und -bau GmbH). The scope of

the surveying programmes – there were more than

20 in all – makes clear the scale of this project and

impressively demonstrates the high demands placed

upon the work of the surveying engineers.

The geodetic network

The starting point for all measurements was the

highly accurate geodetic network provided by the cli-

ent. The basic network was made more detailed with

two further large networks extending over all the

works contracts, each surveyed in three separate

and independent surveying campaigns. The resulting

information was used to control the tunnel boring

machine (TBM) and the surveying for all the defor-

mation monitoring and construction setting out.

Positional surveying was performed using Leica TCA

2003 total stations in conjunction with GPH1-P preci-

sion prisms and GPS surveys (Leica GPS 500, Leica

GPS1200). Level surveys were carried out in 2 cam-

paigns using digital levels (Leica DNA03) using invar

staffs and the BFFB-levelling method. The network

survey data provided accuracies of approximately

1-2 mm in position and 0.5 mm in level.

The surveying tasks on the City-Tunnel Leipzig gen-

erally fell into one of two principle types. On the

one hand, there was surveying for construction and

the subsequent checking of the constructed works

against the drawings. And on the other hand, there

was surveying for the monitoring of movement and

deformation, since, with a project of this magnitude,

deformation at surface level and subsidence of build-

ings must be taken into account.

Minimising risk

The reduction of risk to a minimum was accomplished

using a comprehensive safety and monitoring con- >>

The Global Magazine of Leica Geosystems | 23

The tunnel boring machine just before deployment.

24 | Reporter

cept in which more than 60 buildings and items of

engineering infrastructure were precisely monitored

using tacheometric surveying and precision levelling.

Upon completion of the approximately 6 km long

project, it is estimated that up to 8'000 km of lev-

elling will have taken place. Compensation grouting

is used to counteract any building subsidence. This

process involves drilling horizontally under all build-

ing foundations from a total of 12 shafts. A cement

suspension grout is introduced into these holes to

stabilise the ground. If any subsidence occurs, the

buildings standing on this ground can be returned

to their original position by inserting further grout

into the holes. This system was used on 35 buildings

in total and over 1'350 hydrostatic levelling gauges

had to be controlled and monitored. These hydro-

static levelling systems were installed and continu-

ously maintained by Angermeier Ingenieure GmbH.

In critical situations they supply measurements every

45 seconds to a central analysis program. By the end

of the project over 400 gigabytes of data will have

been collected.

Tacheometric monitoring

A further highly sensitive area in the construction of

the underground station is the west wing of Leipzig's

The City-Tunnel Leipzig project is one of the most

complex tunnelling projects in the field of infra-

structure modernisation in the Federal Republic of

Germany. The requirements placed on the survey-

ing engineers, both from the engineering point of

view and in respect of the continuous responsibility

for protection against personal injury or death and

financial damages, are immense. For the inhabitants

of Leipzig and its visitors however, all this effort is a

small price to pay for safety.

High effort for safety

main rail station. A tacheometric monitoring sys-

tem consisting of 12 total stations (Leica TCA2003)

was set up to monitor the work. Measurements are

taken, processed and automatically evaluated every

hour. This enables estimates of possible deforma-

tions of the works themselves or loadbearing com-

ponents, such as roof supports, to be made at any

time. The system has about 200 deformation points

and 60 fixed points, all of which are fitted with Leica

GPH121 reflectors. High precision and fully automatic

operation is achieved by using more than 12 Leica

Geosystems total stations, which have already

proved to be very reliable. That this system does

not interfere in any way with the operation of the

station as far as the travelling public is concerned,

demonstrates the excellence of the concept and its

implementation.

About the authors:

Michael Amrhein (Managing Director), Guido von Gös-

seln and Dieter Heinz work for Angermeier Ingenieure

GmbH. The company's activities centre on the areas

of engineering surveying (tunnels, tracks), the design

and installation of systems for monitoring construc-

tion works and the geometric control of large infra-

structure projects.

by Vicki Speed

High above the streets of Manhattan there is a

new form of public servant dedicated to serving

and protecting the people, property and assets

of New York City. This servant works 24/7, never

asks for a raise and never takes a break. Its main

purpose is to continuously measure and monitor

any movement of buildings and structures that

might take place while heavy construction con-

tinues around the clock throughout the city that

never sleeps.

In the last five years, New York City has become one

of the most active construction zones in the world

– both above and below ground. In addition to the

very visible 16-acre World Trade Center rebuild, the

city is expanding its subway system with several new

lines while public and private developers construct

or renovate numerous commercial and residential

high-rise projects. Mega construction projects such

as these inevitably cause some shift in surrounding

structures. It is up to the New York surveying and

engineering community to manage and monitor this

movement to prevent disaster. Advanced laser-based

monitoring instruments offer a reliable, affordable

and continuous solution. In New York City, there are

currently over 40 automatic long-term movement

monitoring instruments working to provide engi-

neers, project managers, contractors and owners

with answers to the question, “Did it move?” and if

so, “How much, and when?”

South Ferry Terminal and World Trade

Center Rebuild: 24/7 Response

Part of the New York City subway system is the $490

million South Ferry Terminal project, located under-

neath Peter Minuit Plaza in Lower Manhattan, adja-

cent to Battery Park and the Staten Island Ferry Ter-

minal. Once complete in early 2009, this terminal will

accommodate 10-car trains and have multiple station

entrances, including escalators and elevators. Geo-

comp Corporation, a leader in real-time performance

monitoring of constructed facilities, is charged with

monitoring the underground and above ground

structures including many of the historic buildings

that are located throughout this southern portion

of Manhattan. The firm installed Leica TCA1800 total

stations on several facilities throughout the South

Ferry Terminal construction site.

A City on the Move

>>

The Global Magazine of Leica Geosystems | 25

Gerard Manley of Leica Geosystems discussing World Trade Project with Geocomp engineer.

26 | Reporter

According to Allen Marr, President of Geocomp, “We

use the tool’s Automatic Target Recognition (ATR)

capabilities to measure changes in target positions

located on existing structures to an accuracy of

1 mm. These instruments are workhorses, built to

withstand harsh environments with accuracy and

reliability. Some units were placed inside the exist-

ing tunnels where they had to operate while heavy

construction equipment created dust, dirt, grease

and moisture.”

Each instrument can be programmed to automati-

cally search and collect data on as many as 100 tar-

gets. On the South Ferry project, ten total stations

and hundreds of targets were used for this purpose.

The recorded data is collected and transferred in real

time via wireless radio to Leica Geosytems GeoMos

software at the Geocomp project site. Geocomp

interfaces the Leica GeoMos software with its iSite-

Central software to provide automated alert mes-

sages by email any time a measured value exceeds

a preset limit.

Another example is directly in the center of the World

Trade Center reconstruction site, where Geocomp is

monitoring an active subway tube while the earth

above and below is removed to make way for the

foundations of the new towers. Gerard Manley, Vice

President of Engineered Solutions at Leica Geosys-

tems, says, “It’s an amazing engineering feat to see

a New York subway that was once under ground, now

fully exposed and supported only by pillars. We are

monitoring this subway suspension as well as several

other locations within the World Trade Center site for

any sag or subsidence.”

From East to West

Manhattan’s Upper East Side, best known for its

high-priced high-rise real estate, internationally-

famous museums, and 843-acre Central Park, is also

undergoing extensive renovations, including the

construction of the new 2nd Avenue subway line to

relieve severe congestion on the subway and buses.

Wang Engineering is involved in monitoring many of

the buildings surrounding the 2nd Ave project. Again

Leica TCA1800’s and TCA2003’s are deployed on the

sides of buildings. The instruments’ lasers focus on

targets located on the sides of buildings up and down

2nd Avenue. Data is collected at a construction site

location then transferred to Wang’s headquarters in

Princeton, New Jersey for analysis and presentation.

Similarly, Tectonic Engineering and Surveying Con-

sultants P.C., implemented an unmanned geodetic-

level monitoring system in Queens to measure pos-

sible Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA)

subway system track shifts caused by the construc-

tion of a nearby commercial building and parking

garage. Of specific concern to MTA authorities was

deep foundation pile driving which causes impact

and vibration to surrounding structures, and thus

the potential for movement of nearby train tracks,

which could cause derailment.

The commercial building is located about 25 feet

from MTA subway tracks, a bridge and a highway.

Tectonic Engineering and Surveying Consultants

P.C. monitored the movement of the bridge, tunnel

walls and retaining walls during the nearby pile driv-

ing over the course of 15 months. The structural

monitoring network consisted of 32 prisms and a

TCRP1201 robotic total station with power search

and Pinpoint R300 reflectorless distance measure-

ment with a laptop running the Leica Geosystems

GeoMoS automatic monitoring software. The robotic-

capable total station and laptop were mounted on

a custom built pedestal permanently attached to a

concrete abutment of the bridge. A shed was built

around it for protection from the weather and secu-

rity. Michael Lacey, P.L.S., Tectonic’s Chief Surveyor

says, “The entire network was unmanned 24 hours

a day, 7 days a week, with the capability of checking

on required readings and managing the “raw” data

through our FTP site, from anywhere at anytime.

Even if the Internet signal went down, the GeoMoS

software continued to gather data from the prisms.

The entire monitoring effort was controlled by the

GeoMoS software on site using a laptop computer.”

On Manhattan’s west side along the Hudson River,

GZA GeoEnvironmental Inc., a premium geotechnical

engineering firm, is conducting structural movement

studies of buildings, existing tunnels and bridges in

advance of the underground construction that will

become part of the $2.1 billion expansion of the MTA’s

No. 7 Line subway extension, one of the larger con-

struction projects in all of Manhattan. These move-

ment studies allow engineers to develop a “baseline”

of data that represents existing conditions and alerts

all responsible parties in near real time using Web-

based data transfer and reporting systems.

The Big Apple and Beyond

“Structural monitoring data is the basis by which

industry professionals can ascertain overall struc-

tural movement, an integral part of most construc-

tion projects throughout New York City and around

the world,” concludes Leica Geosystems’s Manley.

“We currently have over 40 automatic total stations

operating in New York City. Surveyors and engineers

use them for everything from engineering analysis

to resolving legal disputes. The technology has gone

from ‘nice to have’ to absolutely required. We’ve

even seen construction completely stopped until our

instruments were put in place and collecting data

and providing protection.”

While the demand for the structural monitoring

systems continues to grow, developers continue to

advance the technology’s capabilities in terms wire-

less data options, ever-tighter accuracy, speed and

size. It’s fast become the most reliable way to watch

a city on the move.

About the author:

Vicki Speed is a freelance writer based in Dove Can-

yon, California. She specializes in the architecture,

engineering, surveying and construction industries.

The Global Magazine of Leica Geosystems | 27

28 | Reporter

3D Measuring for Building Refurbishment by Reinhard Gottwald and Thomas Knabl

In times of energy shortages and price increases,

more attention is paid to ways to exploit ener-

gy saving potential. The CCEM Retrofit Project

does exactly this in the building sector, an area

thought to offer major energy saving potential.

One approach to maximise saving potential is

to jacket old buildings with prefabricated ele-

ments. An indispensable step in the process is

highly accurate and reliable acquisition and pro-

vision of 3D planning data. This is where geo-

matics comes in, making an important contribu-

tion to future energy savings in buildings within

the CCEM Retrofit Project.

In mid-2006, a large joint project was approved in

the University of Zurich (ETH) “Competence Cen-

ter Energy and Mobility” (CCEM) under the title of

“Advanced Energy-Efficient Renovation of Buildings”

(or “CCEM Retrofit”) with research partners from 10

European countries. By the year 2050, over 90 per-

cent of the energy demand associated with buildings

will be caused by buildings constructed before 2000.

This shows that there is clearly an enormous energy

saving potential in the area of old buildings. Conse-

quently, the declared aim of the project is to work

with competent partners in industry to develop and

implement detailed concepts for the comprehensive

renovation of old buildings, especially blocks of flats

and other multi-family houses.

In order to reach the set targets (including 30-50

kWh/m² for heating, cooling and hot water, usage of

solar energy, good thermal comfort, noise protec-

tion), a basic renovation concept was drawn up that

included various inter-related, prefabricated reno-

vation modules (“retrofits”) for facades, roof, and

building services engineering.

A number of research partners including the Univer-

sity of Applied Sciences in Northwestern Switzer-

land and the ETH in Zurich came together to develop

the detailed concept and implement it on selected

objects. 20 industry partners are also involved in the

project, ensuring a multi-disciplinary, practical and

application-oriented approach to running the proj-

ect. With total costs of approximately 5 million Swiss

Francs (€ 3.1 million, US$ 4.3 million), the project is

due to be completed by 2010.

The idea seen through the eyes

of measuring technology

If we analyse the measurement technology process-

es currently associated with large construction and

renovation projects, we usually see that all of the

parties involved in the project either take the mea-

surements required for their specific portion of the

project themselves or arrange to have them taken.

The reasons for this lie predominantly in the current

legal situation, according to which planning institu-

tions accept no liability whatsoever for the dimen-

sioning of the basic planning, shifting responsibility

instead to the institutions carrying out the work.

On the other hand, there is also still a fundamental

lack of understanding about the possibilities offered

by precise three-dimensional measurements of such

objects with modern measuring technology and cen-

tral data management and usage.

Thanks to the consistent use of suitable 3D mea-

suring technology, corresponding processing of the

data and a central geometry data management sys-

tem, it is however possible to significantly reduce the

time, installation risks and costs whilst simultane-

ously significantly increasing the planning reliability.

Consequently this was proposed and implemented

for the acquisition and usage of the 3D geometry

information of renovation objects for the energy-

efficient renovation of old buildings in the CCEM Ret-

rofit Project.

The following are some of the objectives defined for

the “3D measuring technology” part of the project:

Development of a concept which ensures that suf-

ficiently accurate three-dimensional geometrical

data are available for a renovation project and can

be used as a reliable basis from the planning stage

through to production and assembly.

Definition of the required data quality, the data

volume and the interfaces for data transfer to sys-

tems that process the data further .

Development of a “toolbox“ for cost/benefit opti-

mised data acquisition and processing as well as

data management (flow of geometric data).

Description of the problem

When renovating a building with prefabricated retro-

fits (e.g. facade or roof modules including ventilation

and electrical installations), reliable measurement of

the building geometry and/or the actual inventory

is an indispensable basis for a smooth project flow.

Any construction plans or architect’s drawings which

are still in existence are generally not adequate.

This means that the facade structure, windows,

doors, balconies, roof, stairwell, apartments and sur-

roundings need to be measured. The required accu-

racy (1 σ) is around ± 4 mm in the window areas and

± 7 mm in the roof/facade area.

The measuring technology toolbox

A range of different sensors must be used to meet

the relatively complex and varied requirements in

terms of the 3D geometric representation of a reno-

vation object as cost-effectively as possible.

Terrestrial laser scanning (TLS): With terrestrial

laser scanning, the object geometry can be mea-

sured more quickly thanks to the ability to capture

complete areas and objects. The problems associ-

ated with TLS lie in the further processing of the data

and in object extraction.

Close-range photogrammetry: Close-range pho-

togrammetry is a good addition to terrestrial laser

scanning and offers a good alternative for building

façade pictures thanks to fast photographic data

capture. Here, it is also possible to take airborne

pictures with the aid of microdrones in order to add

additional perspectives to the terrestrial recordings. >>

The Global Magazine of Leica Geosystems | 29

30 | Reporter

Tachymetry, individual distances: For data

acquisition based on single points, classic electronic

tachymetry is still a useful tool. Here, the data can

be supplemented, simplified and accelerated with

the aid of numerous software tools. Handheld dis-

tance meters can also be used to supplement data

acquired with the above technologies, to generate

dimensions for checking, for individual supplemen-

tary measurements or measurements of partially

obscured objects.

Comprehensive and cost-benefit optimized object

capture is undoubtedly only achievable through a

meaningful combination and supplementation of

these technologies (measuring technology toolbox).

Initial experience

A typical multi-family building in need of renovation

was chosen as the first object for basic studies and

tests. The building was used for general testing of

the different methods, processes and instruments

and combinations thereof under proper application

conditions. The initial results and products were then

used for the detailed discussions and specifications

as well as to test processes with the project partners

involved. TLS was used to scan the facade, stairwell,

loft and selected inside rooms (a Leica HDS3000 was

used). These scans were supplemented with photo-

grammetric recordings (terrestrial, microdrone) and

single point measurements (total stations).

In the following we take a closer look at some of

the options and applications available with the de-

scribed toolbox.

Creation of a photographic overview: Removing

distortions in images through definition of a flat sur-

face in the image is a simple and time-saving method

to generate groundwork plans. The accuracy which

can be achieved depends to a very large degree on

the camera, its calibration and the deviation of the

facade’s surface from the defined surface.

Photogrammetric evaluation: Drone-based close-

range photogrammetry offers an additional way to

fill in gaps (e.g. roof surfaces, window sills and bal-

cony doors) sometimes caused by shading or areas

which are inaccessible for laser scanning. Initial

results have shown that this type of combination is

perfectly feasible. Due to the limited load capacity of

the microdrones, it was necessary to use a standard

commercially available compact digital camera. Con-

sequently the resolution is not sufficient for detailed

analysis (e.g. on windows) at present. In terms of the

image measurement accuracy, values of less than

one pixel can be achieved with the aid of self-calibra-

tion. The option of a combined evaluation with laser

scanning data should not be ignored either.

Laser scanning evaluation: Evaluations have

shown that terrestrial laser scanning is very well

suited to flatness analyses on facades (and possibly

roofs). The “generation of orthophoto” function also

"The strengths of geomatics lie in

the absolute and non-invasive

measurements. Working with

interdisciplinary teams of planers

and architects this can also help

overcome a lack of measurement

knowledge."

Professor Dr. Reinhard Gottwald,

Head of the Institute for Surveying and

Geo Information at the University of Applied

Sciences in Northwestern Switzerland

makes it possible to generate the initial basis for

planning quickly and easily. However, the time and

effort required to completely extract all of the nec-

essary geometric elements for a model is very high,

and depending on the product it can be many times

the time required for field recordings.

Laser scanning – reverse engineering: Reverse

engineering has long been used in the areas of

mechanical engineering, medicine and art. In the

process, existing or modelled objects (e.g. freeform

surfaces) are digitized so that they can be digital-

ly edited, adapted and manufactured. The effort

involved is significantly less than for the generation

of interactive 3D geometry models, and the infor-

mation density of the point clouds can be largely

retained. The accuracy which can be achieved with

this method is in the same order of magnitude as 3D

point determination and would therefore be immedi-

ately sufficient.

Conclusions and outlook

The requirements of all of the different parties

involved in the project need to be defined as accu-

rately and in as much detail as possible in the plan-

ning phase so that the costs and benefits of the cho-

sen methods of data acquisition and data processing

can be optimized in relation to the acquisition of the

3D geometry of the renovation object. Initial expe-

rience has shown that the object-based recording

method with TLS is suitable for geometric modelling

of renovation objects. The information density is of

particular interest, as it makes it possible to detail

a non-regular object – which is what most build-

ings are – and describe it with a sufficient level of

detail. Ultimately though, it will always be necessary

to combine different instruments from the toolbox.

The acceptance of centralized data access by all par-

ties involved in the project and the extraction of

the required data with suitable user-friendly tools

must be ensured. This is the key element which will

either make or break the project we have presented

in this article.

About the authors:

Prof. Reinhard Gottwald is the head of the Institute

for Surveying and Geo Information at the University

of Applied Sciences in Northwestern Switzerland, Col-

lege for Architecture, Construction and Geomatics in

Muttenz. Graduate engineer Thomas Knabl is a scien-

tific research assistant at the Institute.

This article is the short version of a report in the

"Flächenmanagement und Bodenordnung" magazine.

The Global Magazine of Leica Geosystems | 31

32 | Reporter

Documenting a Subsea Tunnelby Frode Edvardsen, 3D-Drawing by Arild W. Solerød

The E18 Bjørvika project, scheduled to be com-

pleted in February 2010, will improve the envi-

ronment of Oslo’s inner city and enhance the

area around the new opera near Bjørvika har-

bour by moving traffic underground – and under

water. Part of this ambitious project is a subsea

tunnel – the first one ever built in Norway – con-

sisting of six 100 m long elements. The shape

of the tunnel is an additional challenge for the

engineers: each element is curved, and some of

them were built on a flat floor in the dry dock,

but will have to fall to the seabed to reach their

final destination. A case for Leica Geosystems’

High Definition Surveying™, as told by Frode

Edvardsen from contractor Skanska in Norway.

When completed, the Bjørvika tunnel will be 1'100 m

long with three lanes of traffic in each direction.

675 m of the project consist of a subsea tunnel – the

first one ever built in Norway, and one of the great-

est Norwegian contractor projects ever. It is made up

of 6 elements, each over 100 m long with walls 1 m

thick and roofs and floors 1.20 m thick. The elements

were pre-fabricated in a dry dock on the west coast

of Norway, and were towed to Oslo by sea.

As-built documentation of the elements

Following our customer’s demand for as-built docu-

mentation of the elements, we scanned the first two

elements with a normal total station. This took quite

some time and the resolution was not comparable

to a modern scanner. The horizontal surfaces were

scanned with the total station and vertical surfaces

were measured by single point lines.

For the next two elements, we relied on Leica Geo-

systems’ High Definition Surveying™ (HDS) technol-

ogy, since as-built surveying is easier to accomplish

with a laser scanner than a total station. At this time

(2006) we had just started using HDS technology

and did a complete scan of the inside and outside

of the two elements. In the course of a few days 35

scanning positions with high resolution were finished

with a Leica HDS3000 scanner. Lots of heavy scan-

ning equipment made the job difficult since the foun-

dations for the walls of the ballast tanks were under

construction at the time. These were 0.5 m high and

all of the equipment had to be dragged over each of

them. This meant about 60-70 kg had to be moved

from one scanning position to another.

The process for the last two elements was almost the

same, only here we started with the Leica HDS3000

scanner and ended with the Leica ScanStation 2.

Lars Gulbrandsen, HDS Sales Engineer for Leica

Geosystems Norway, drove all the way from Oslo to

Bergen (540 km) just to deliver the first ScanStation

2 in Norway. Working with the Leica ScanStation 2

was almost like working with a “greased up” Leica

HDS3000: much faster! Instead of 7-8 different full

FOV scanning positions per day, the capacity with the

ScanStation 2 expanded to 11-12.

Even though the Leica ScanStation 2 was the main

scanner on the job, ordinary surveying was used to

measure the targets because of narrow sights to the

fix points inside the elements. Since it is not possible

to measure single points precisely with the scan-

ner, a total station was used to measure the break

lines inside the elements. The mesh operation was

easier to accomplish with pre-defined break lines in

the post-processing phase.

Post processing

The difference between ordinary surveying and mod-

ern laser scanning is that the survey sites physically

have to be tided up before scanning to miminimize

“garbage points” that have to be edited out of the

point cloud afterwards. When a scene is scanned,

“everything” gets measured, so the scene should be

nice and clean. On the other hand the area often has

lots of scrap, scaffolding, lifts and machinery from

the building process. This can of course be tided up,

but normally there is no time for this. Another aspect

in editing is the concrete surface, if it is irregular it is

quite difficult to decide which points to remove and

which to leave in. All of this is a part of the rough

editing of the point cloud.

After surveying, the workflow continues with Leica

Cyclone semi automatic editing tools like “Region

grow – Smooth surface”, manual fencing around

unwanted points and of course the brilliant “Limit

box”. All of the redundant points are placed in their

own layers instead of being deleted. This gives the

operator a second chance to retrieve them if too

many points were removed from the point cloud.

About the author:

Frode Edvardsen is a MSc of Geomatics at Skanska

Norge AS survey department.

Length: 675 m

Width: 30-40 m

Average depth: 15 m

Weight: 37’000 tons per element

Concrete: 90’000 m³ total

Equipment used

Scanner: Leica HDS3000, Leica ScanStation 2

Field laptop: Panasonic Toughbook CF-19

Software: Leica Cyclone Scan/Register/Model

Totalstation: Leica TCRP1203

The Bjørvika Tunnel

The Global Magazine of Leica Geosystems | 33

34 | Reporter

by Agnes Zeiner

A comprehensive Peace Accord, signed on 29

December 1996, ended 36 years of civil conflict

in the Central American State of Guatemala. The

Accord’s land-related commitments included

establishing a cadastral-based land registry.

The “Guatemala Cadastre Project” fully relies on

Leica Geosystems’ products – and the ongoing

support of the Guatemalan distribution partner

Precision, S.A.

The promise of peace has provided Guatemalan soci-

ety with a point of convergence, opening spaces

for the Government of Guatemala to pursue fiscal,

institutional and legislative reforms. The “Guatemala

Cadastre Project” is a mixed credit program between

the Swiss and Guatemalan Governments, and has

been instrumental in the implementation of Land

Reform projects, of which several subprojects are

now in execution.

After purchasing Leica Geosystems’ total stations

and GPS instruments in 2002 (see Reporter 48), the

National Geografic Institute (IGN) and the Registro

de Informacion Catastral (RIC) now again rely on

Leica Geosystems’ instruments. Alfredo Bran, CEO

of Precision, S.A., Leica Geosystems distribution

partner in Guatemala: “The project contains differ-

ent groups of instruments from Leica Geosystems,

such as total stations, GPS/GNSS instruments, levels

and photogrammetric solutions. Now the Guatema-

lan Government has decided to install 14 Leica GNSS

Reference Stations to cover the entire Guatemalan

territory and lead the country towards the future of

geoinformation.”

The project includes a school for training in the next

two years. Technicians from the Registro de Infor-

macion Catastral and the National Geografic Institute

have already been and will be trained in the future by

Leica Geosystems and BSF Swissphoto AG. This is an

essential part of the project. Another reason for the

success is that Precision S.A. could guarantee ongo-

ing support, including a complete, certified workshop

with all the special tools and spare parts. Alfredo

Bran: "Our customers do not have to wait long for

the service and repairs of their instruments. That is

what has made us the market leader in Guatemala

for the past 40 years.”

Training & Service in Guatemala

The Global Magazine of Leica Geosystems | 35

A big Aerial Laser Measurement project, which

measured about a quarter of the whole country

(100'000 km²), took place in Japan from 2005 to

2007. Asia Air Survey took part in this project and

was responsible for one fifth of the specified area.

To complete and manage the large volume of mea-

surements effectively, the company decided to rely

on Leica Geosystems technology for the first time

and to be the first to use a Leica ALS50-II in Japan.

Amongst the terrain scanned was the Sameura Dam

in Kochi, one of the most important dams in Japan,

which often has drought problems. This impressive

Red Relief Image Map (RRIM) was generated using a

visualization technology developed and patented by

Asia Air Survey. Terrains such as mountain ridges and

valleys are clearly visible despite the lake being sur-

rounded by forest..

The image clearly shows the advantages of this new

technology:

Terrain is represented in 3D.

The image does not depend on the source of light

and there are no resulting shadow areas. Hence

the image can be viewed from all directions with-

out the possibility of a relief reversal.

Mountain ridges are shown in white and valleys in

black. Red density depends on slope; gentle slopes

are represented in light red while steep ones are

shown in dark red.

Red is used since it is the clearest color from an

ergonomic standpoint.

In Japan, data captured by aerial laser measurement

systems contribute mainly to disaster prevention.

Terrain Measurement in Japan

Leica mojoRTK revolutionizes the agricultural indus-

try with a new auto-steer system that provides

repeatable 5 cm RTK accuracy with 99 % reliability.

It is packaged in a console that is easy to use and

installed in about an hour into the tractor’s radio slot.

mojoRTK provides an affordable solution for farmers

who need to see repeatability pass to pass and year

to year. “We have virtually eliminated cab clutter and

developed a true plug-and-play solution that allows

farmers to install the console in their tractor quickly

and easily,” says Mario Hutter, European business

manager for Leica Geosystems’ Agriculture Division.

“The complete mojoRTK system also comes with a

cordless base station which can be mobile or fixed.”

Plus, with Virtual Wrench™, the agriculture industry’s

first remote service and diagnostic tool, support

technicians can view the same console screens and

Accuracy for the Agriculture Industrysettings the farmer sees in the cab. Technicians can

even adjust settings remotely to fix set-up problems

or train users.

www.leica-geosystems.com

Head Office

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Illustrations, descriptions and technical data are not binding. All rights reserved. Printed in Switzerland.

Copyright Leica Geosystems AG, Heerbrugg, Switzerland, 2008. 741802en – IX.08 – RVA

Leica Geosystems AG

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