GPS World, February 2017

WATCH MARKET 2 Oregon Moves to Tablets for No Stake 3D ODOT inspectors Jorge Jimenez and Mike Stennett at Multnomah Falls preparing for a night time paving operation Photo Chris Pucci Zenith35 Pro Provides Updated Firmware FEBRUARY 2017 WWW GPSWORLD COM GPS WORLD 57 SURVEY T he Oregon Department of Transportation ODOT is embracing the growing trend in highway construction to go stakeless and push to full 3D design With more contractors using automated machine guidance applications ODOTs construction personnel are being asked to inspect projects with fewer stakes and visual indicators for line and grade Employees are seeking to use the same data and information to determine line and grade when building or fixing stretches of road To address this need rugged tablet maker DT Research worked closely with ODOT to design purpose built Inspector Positioning Tablets that run GPS locating and 3D modeling applications and take advantage of the Oregon Real Time GNSS Network MicroSurvey Field Genius surveying software is used to read XML files directly allowing the inspector to work with the same files that the contractors received from the roadway designers said Chris Pucci ODOT Construction Automation Surveyor The tablets enable ODOT to fully use its knowledge of the Oregon Real Time GNSS Network and expertise in surveygrade RTK GNSS to achieve accuracies of 005 feet The model DT391GS tablets have 9 inch touchscreens The tablets can be used as handhelds or with an external antenna and pole ODOT purchased one of four GNSS options offered by DT Research for the DT391GS tablets The options enable inspectors and construction crews to employ a combination of GPS locating and 3D modeling to guide construction workers The goal is to allow the inspectors to make the same checks they would have made if there had been traditional construction staking on a project not to make inspectors into surveyors Pucci noted A one day training is provided to train construction personnel before they are issued a tablet The tablets have been very well received by our construction inspection personnel he said The tablet project is now in the pilot phase with 20 tablets deployed to eight construction offices and more than 70 construction personnel having been trained We also just placed an order for 22 more tablets for the upcoming 2017 construction season Pucci said T he Zenith35 Pro GNSS receiver introduced in November 2016 by GeoMax has received a firmware update The update is for for NovAtels OEM7 Measurement Engine built into the receivers Update OM7MR0102SN0005 addresses a real time kinematic RTK network connection issue preventing reception of corrections when connecting to selected NTRIP networks in some countries Note that the receivers onboard firmware version remains unchanged at 201 The compact and fully ruggedized Zenith35 Pro has 555 channels Its multi constellation and multi frequency capability supports all satellite systems today and in the future The Zenith35 Pro incorporates Tilt Go functionality that allows useres to measure inaccessible points This significantly increases efficiency in the field since leveling time is eliminated Tilt and compass values for each measurement are stored for quality control and documentation purposes The unit is IP68 rated for water and dust and is shock protected GeoMax based in Switzerland is part of Hexagon