but as an example, a drone can help our teams safely get video or photos of places that are difficult to see.” said David Eberhart, ADOT state bridge engineer. The drones will go into service later this year, after selected ADOT employees go through training in order to be certified as drone pilots. “Drones will play a role in surveying areas near state highways where rock fall or ground movement are potential hazards,” said J.J. Liu, manager of geotechnical services for ADOT’s Bridge Group. “We’re focused on the safety of the traveling public in monitoring such locations. A drone can collect photos and other information across a larger survey area while helping to keep engineers or geologists out of harm’s way.” In addition to the eight new drones, ADOT has already been using one
drone since last year for a variety of purposes, including surveying a section of State Route 88 northeast of Apache Junction damaged by storm runoff last year. Drone video gathered by ADOT’s Engineering Surveys Section assisted agency staff in preparing for a repair project last fall. The Arizona Council for Transportation Innovation this spring approved the use of $18,100 in federal funds and $4,525 in state matching funds for the new ADOT drones. The council was formed in 2012 as part of a FHWA program to implement innovative and efficient investments in transportation infrastructure. Informat ion provided by the Amer ican Associat ion of State Highway and Transportat ion Off icials (www. transportat ion.org) and the Ar izona Department of Transportat ion (www.azdot .gov).
Field data management Trimble announces a new controller and software for land and construction surveying.
Trimble’s new TSC7 Controller provides a tablet experience with a physical keyboard and a sunlight readable 7-inch touchscreen that supports pinch, tap, and slide gestures. Users can interact with the TSC7 intuitively, zooming, panning, and selecting items on the large touchscreen. Front- and rear-facing cameras allow users to video conference from the field for on-the-job support, and capture high- definition videos and images that provide context to data and clients. The TSC7 also leverages the power of Windows 10 Professional, driven by an Intel Pentium 64-bit quad-core processor. The processor and operating system can process data in spreadsheets and run office software programs. An ergonomic form factor, IP68-certified rugged design, and optional, user-interchangeable modules make the TSC7 a flexible solution for all surveying applications, Trimble said. Trimble also announced a new version of its field software, Trimble Access 2018. The software features a new user interface and graphics capabilities for enhanced workflows for field surveyors. According to the company, Access 2018 has been redesigned with more intuitive menus and screen navigation to take advantage of the TSC7’s 7-inch touchscreen and computing power, while leveraging software workflows, which include applications for general survey, roading, tunnels, and pipelines. Access 2018 also integrates with the Trimble Sync Manager application to enable cloud-based data management between the office and the field. Surveyors can download preconfigured jobs in the field with DXF maps and CSV files linked, ready to start surveying. Sync Manager also integrates with Trimble Business Center software and is compatible with other industry office software platforms.
Trimble TSC7 Controller
In addition to the TSC7 Controller, Trimble is also releasing two new rover systems for civil engineering and construction applications — the Trimble Siteworks Positioning System for Construction Surveyors and the Trimble Siteworks Positioning System for Supervisors. Both systems feature new Trimble Siteworks Software, tailored for construction workflows. Completely redesigned from the ground up, Siteworks Software features a new interface that is optimized for ease- of-use and productivity. The Trimble Siteworks Positioning System for Construction Surveyors is comprised of the Trimble SPS986 GNSS Smart Antenna, the TSC7 Controller, and Siteworks Software. The Trimble Siteworks Positioning System for Supervisors is comprised of the SPS986 GNSS Smart Antenna, the Trimble T10 Tablet, and Siteworks Software. It enables construction supervisors to run full office software packages, including Business Center - HCE and Microsoft Office, and to work with data and 3D models in the field without carrying a laptop.
Informat ion provided by Tr imble (www. tr imble.com).
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csengineermag.com
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