With several new TS16 total stations on order, Nakamura worked with Hurley to be one of the first companies in the U.S. to obtain the new technology. He also developed a plan to systematically upgrade his other equipment as the track- ing capabilities were expanded to other models. “We wanted to have something to at least be able to try to find our equip- ment if it was stolen,” he explains. “But even more than that, we wanted law enforcement to be able to catch the thieves so it would deter future thefts.” Rapid Equipment Recovery Proves LOC8’s Value Ultimately Nakamura was hoping to avoid a situation that would require using the tracking service. But then came a fateful day in December 2020, when he got a call early one morning from his crew chief. Someone had broken into the crew chief ’s detached garage overnight and had taken one of the company’s total stations packed in its case, in addition to a number of personal items.
With a reputation for seamlessly handling complex infrastructure projects, 1 Alliance Geomatics has played a significant role in a number of major projects in the Pacific Northwest. The company has standardized on Leica Geosystems technology because of its quality, reliability and efficiency, as well as exceptional support. The development of the LOC8 technology was one more example.
“We wanted to have something to at least be able to try to find our equipment if it was stolen. But even more than that, we wanted law enforcement to be able to catch the thieves so it would deter future thefts.” –Jason Nakamura, PLS
Nakamura pulled up the LOC8 website and immediately saw the location data. Local law enforcement was able to use that information to quickly recover the equipment from the backyard of a house, where it had been hidden under a boat. A quick check-in with a local Leica Geosystems service center confirmed the equipment hadn’t been tampered with, so 1 Alliance was able to put it right back into use. “We had already been talking about what a great technology LOC8 was; this situation proved it,” Nakamura says. “Without LOC8, that total station would have been gone, and we would have been without the technology while going through all the insurance claims. We would have had to rent equipment to keep our projects on track. Instead, we recovered the equipment right away.” Widespread Adoption Provides Business Benefits As tracking technology becomes standard on survey equipment, Nakamura is optimistic about the impact it will have on the business of surveying. “LOC8 is a huge benefit for insurers because it will lead to more recoveries and fewer
claims, which will lower their costs,”he says. “It will also de- ter thieves from stealing the technology because it’s go- ing to be much more dangerous for them and no longer a lucrative market. Over time, these trends should help drive down the costs of insurance for surveying firms.” Even more important is the added confidence it brings to the firm. “Our strategy is to invest in the best technology to enable our employees to be efficient and effective and provide the highest level of excellence for our clients,” Nakamura says. “But at the end of the day, we have to be able to protect that equipment to stay efficient. LOC8 is a great investment–minimal dollars, maximum protection.” To learn more about LOC8 and other solutions to maxi- mize your surveying potential, get in touch with a survey- ing and engineering expert at Leica Geosystems.
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June 2021
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