Surveying technology today has advanced in many ways. Not only can measurements be accurately made with numerous types of instruments, but attention is increasingly turning toward integration of those measurements with others workflows.
It is hard to determine the exact point where surveying starts and ends today. Construction and design planning begins early, land management tasks must be considered, legislation is involved and building practices are considered from the beginning.
Total Stations often include a reduced need for many setups and are able to capture more data from individual locations. Leica Builder Series total stations are an example of this. Furthermore, these instruments include advanced functionality to enable captured data to be uploaded and downloaded, that information later transferred to building designers in DXF formats./p>
Trimble has advanced the concept of a 'Connected Site' whose individual digital survey instruments located across jobsites can be integrated together, allowing for the seamless movement of surveying data. This idea is expanded further through the ability to upload that data into construction equipment for road building, construction sites and grading, for example. Ashtech's new ProMark 500 GNSS solution not only allows for combined GPS / GLONASS measurements, but the instruments contain a high level of interoperability for working with others base stations. Additionally, the captured data can be used in Carlson Software 3D applications.
Gone are the days of simply capturing data alone. We expect more. That data must go somewhere and most manufacturers today are developing technologies that enable the data to move and be used in other workflow applications.
Movement of data can include other technologies. Therefore, it is not wholly surprising that many manufacturers are also involved the development of LIDAR, remote sensing, laser and GIS technologies too. Other developments in the building design area are now starting to include architects, land planners, engineering and design people at the same time. All of these changes are opportunities for surveyors and survey technology manufacturers.
Source: ASM Magazine
