How to improve surveyor work? Modern technologies that save time

The work of surveyors has been associated primarily with measurements performed straight in the field for years. Although classical methods inactive stay the basis of many implementations, the improvement of technology has made any tasks possible present faster, more comfortable and with little squad engagement in field work. 1 of the solutions that is increasingly emerging in the geodesic manufacture are unmanned aircraft equipped with cameras, positioning systems and additional sensors. Their usage may be peculiarly interesting for companies that carry out quite a few measurements in vast areas, operate construction investments or request to regularly update documentation. How can fresh technologies be utilized in practice to facilitate surveying?

From field to data work

One of the top challenges in geodesy is the time needed to collect the right amount of information. With a tiny plot, classical measurement can be comparatively simple. The situation is different erstwhile respective twelve hectares, a large construction site or a long section of infrastructure request to be measured.

In specified cases it is not always essential to execute each measurement straight from the ground level. any data can be obtained from the air and then utilized for further development.

It changes the way you organize your work. alternatively of focusing solely on data collection itself, the surveyor may spend much of his time on analysis, control and preparation of final studies.

What takes time most erstwhile measuring?

Not all phase of surveying requires the same amount of time. In the case of larger investments, quite a few work can take on just moving around the field and reaching further measurement points.

The problem becomes even more apparent erstwhile the area is uneven, wet, heavy built or just very extensive.

Here, the technologies utilized in aerial measurements can be an interesting complement to the classical surveyor workshop. 1 duly planned action can supply a large amount of information about the full area, which can then be analysed outside the area.

So it is not about replacing conventional geodesy, but about a reasonable combination of different methods.

A high-resolution close-up image of a drone being programmed for environmental monitoring. a laptop displaying mapping software is connected to the drone, advanced technology in environmental data collection and analysis.

A large area does not gotta mean many hours in the field

Imagine a construction site that regularly changes the terrain. Excavations emerge, embankments appear, ground masses are moved, and subsequent investment fragments are gradually developed.

The conventional documentation of specified an area may require many measurements and repetitions of part of the work. However, utilizing a drone, the current image of the full area can be obtained regularly.

On this basis, spatial models, photographic documentation or materials can be prepared to compare the different stages of the investment.

For a surveying company, this means more flexibility. It is possible to respond more rapidly to the needs of the investor and to supply up-to-date information without performing full measurement by conventional methods.

When not only accuracy is important, but besides the actuality of data

In geodesy, accuracy is, of course, 1 of the most crucial criteria. For many investments, however, it is equally crucial to see how current data are.

Construction site can change from week to week. The stock of material may be different at the end of the period than at its beginning. The way in which the game can be arranged may besides change.

Regular usage of drones allows to make a kind of documentation of subsequent stages. The collected materials can then be compared and utilized to control progress.

Such an approach may be peculiarly useful for investments where time changes request to be documented.

Not only pictures – what can you get from the raid?

Taking pictures of a drone is only 1 component of the full process. Appropriately collected material can be processed into various spatial data.

Depending on the needs of the project, inter alia:

• orthophotomaps,
• 3D models,
• numerical terrain models,
• point clouds,
• surface models,
• photographic documentation and video.

This allows the same raid to have respective different applications. The material utilized initially for the investment documentation may later besides be utilized to analyse the site or prepare another study.

How can technology aid with earth masses?

One example where the difference in the organisation of work is peculiarly noticeable is the measurement of earth masses.

The heaps, excavations and embankments frequently occupy a large area and do not always have a regular shape. Their measurement so requires a adequate number of points to be collected in order to be reliable.

The data obtained from the air allows to make a spatial image of the area under study. On the basis of this, volume can then be calculated and time changes compared.

For companies that regularly execute specified measurements, this may mean a crucial improvement in the organisation of work.

Rough terrain? The advantage of the drone is peculiarly visible here

There are places where the problem is not only to measure, but to scope all the points that request to be investigated.

The steep slopes, wetlands, large water reservoirs or extended industrial areas can considerably prolong the work of the field team. In specified situations, the anticipation of collecting data from the air may limit the request to travel throughout the area.

This is not only applicable for the implementation time. A smaller number of hard work can besides improve the safety of the team.

A construction manager in a hard hat and reflective west uses a tablet to view a live feed from a drone flying over the building site.

Does a surveying company gotta buy their own drone?

That's 1 of the questions that may arise with the interest of drone technology. However, buying a device is only the beginning. Appropriate sensors, software, air raid planning experience and data processing cognition are besides needed.

Therefore, not all surveying company has to make its own technological facilities.

An alternate may be to order a part of the work of a specialized company that will collect the applicable data and transmit them in a form useful for surveyors.

This solution allows you to usage drone technology without having to bear all the costs of purchasing and maintaining your own equipment.

What does it look like in iWING?

An example of a company that uses drone technology in cooperation with the geodesic manufacture is iWING. The scope of implementation can be tailored to the needs of a peculiar task – from the acquisition of data from the air to its development.

Depending on the nature of the order, photogrammetry, orthophotomaps, terrain models and point clouds are used. This allows the surveying company to receive material that will then be utilized in its own development.

This approach is peculiarly useful erstwhile the company needs additional support for a peculiar project, but does not want to invest in its own drone facilities.

Technology makes sense erstwhile solving a circumstantial problem

The specified fact of utilizing a drone should not be the target. The most crucial thing is whether the technology actually improves the circumstantial phase of implementation.

In 1 project, the top value can be to rapidly collect data from a large area. In another, it will be more crucial to regularly paper the advancement of construction. inactive elsewhere it will be crucial to be able to measurement in a place that is hard to reach.

Therefore, before choosing a solution, it is worth determining precisely what we request and what effect we want to achieve. Only then can it be decided whether the usage of drones, photogrammetry, RTKs or another technologies will be justified.

Geodesy is increasingly based on efficient data management

Modern geodesy is no longer just working with measuring instruments in the field. The fast acquisition, processing and usage of spatial data is besides increasingly important.

Drones can be 1 of the tools that aid improve this process. They let you to collect information about large areas more quickly, make up-to-date documentation and limit any of the time-consuming field work.

For surveyors, this may mean that more orders can be executed without the request for proportionally expanding the time spent on field work.