Several events this past week have propelled GNSS and heavy construction / road building equipment into the limelight. As GNSS picks up steam there is a growing awarness that infrastructure development is expanding. Beyond equipment operation alone many other disciplines are beginning to see the benefits of tapping into the GNSS digital data flow.
With growth in China expected to grow at a blazing rate of 11% annually, development in that country is progressing rapidly. Growth of 5.2% for the year was announced in Korea this past week, not insignificant by any means. Meanwhile, the Southeast Asia Iron and Steel Institute are forecasting 5.2% growth across the region in 2010
This growth is giving rise to rapid infrastructure development, mining and transportation activity. That in turn is demanding greater amounts of survey related equipment. This past week has saw Trimble, for example, present several new GNSS Construction related products to the market to meet the challenge. Ashtech, recently rebranded, is also offering several GNSS machinery guidance and construction related products. In this case the hardware interoperates with Carlson's Grade software.
FIG President Stig Enemark was quick to point out at the recently held FIG 2010 Congress event that the organisation has achieved many goals. In the spirit of his words where he described the use of the term 'land professional' as compared to 'surveyor' one can imagine that this shift lends itself to understanding that machine data extends well beyond the construction site - it can be used for mapping, hydrology, planning and administration efforts too.
The evolution of the 'land professional' has particular promise when the GIS tribe, CAD tribe and surveyor tribe meet at a confluence and agree to pursue ways for extending valuable geodata useful to each of them. The members of the various social organisations depending upon these data don't care who owns it, only that it ultimately results in better water supplies, roads, safer buildings and more available food as well as safety and security.
The evolution of GNSS construction data can lead to many benefits. We need only imagine the possibilities for extending this valuable data and that often begins with connectivity.
Source: ASM Magazine
