Posted on Tue, Dec 18, 2012
It's nice to be in the news. The following is from geodatapoint. Thanks!
Faster Safer Cheaper Inventories for Electric Utilities by Linda Duffy
Field workers in the utilities industry periodically have to do inventories of everything related to a utility pole: what is attached to the pole, how high up the attachments are on the pole, how low the wires are sagging, and how close vegetation or other hazards are to the poles and wires. This type of audit can involve communications, electricity and cable equipment. With 160 million telephone poles in the U.S., that translates into a lot of time, effort and money.
Over time, poles are stressed by wind, ice, and the weight of wires; loading assessments determine whether the pole is at risk of failing. Utilities are increasingly aware that preventive maintenance is more cost effective than making repairs after a storm has knocked out power for thousands of homes and businesses. Added pressure has come from the U.S. federal government, which has mandated maintenance programs for high voltage lines and imposed hefty fines for non-compliance. Utilities are attempting to “storm-harden” the most crucial portions of the distribution system to better withstand hurricanes and other weather-related hazards, and to comply with regulations.
Using traditional methods, including a laser finder, GPS equipment, measurement rods and a digital camera, a two-person crew is able to collect data for about 20 poles per day. Collecting information on thousands of poles can take months unless you have unlimited staff and equipment. Field work can also be dangerous due to the close proximity to traffic, and errors can be made in the transcription process back in the office.
To alleviate these problems, an all-in-one handheld unit has been developed by ikeGPS, a mobile GIS solutions provider based in Wellington, New Zealand. “ikeGPS addresses the largest hurdles that utilities face in their field work,” explained Ron Elsis, vice president product management at ikeGPS. “We have simplified the process by combining high accuracy real-time GPS, a laser range finder, a digital camera, a 3D compass, and measurement and workflow software in one tool. By implementing a remote data collection solution, productivity increases, safety of field crews improves, and 100 percent electronic data ensures accurate measurements and photo-verifiable results.”
A suite of software relates specifically to electric utility applications, such as pole audits and vegetation management, as well as applications in other industries. For example, high consequence areas (HCA) along gas pipelines often need to be monitored for vegetation encroachments or other hazards. The remote data collection capability allows crews to measure targets without needing to access private property or difficult terrain.
CN Utility Consulting, headquartered in Sebastopol, California, tested the ikeGPS technology on a right-of-way tree assessment project that required determining GPS location and measuring tree height, diameter at breast height, crown width, conductor height, span distance, and the distance from the tree to the closest utility line. The company’s analysis showed that using the ikeGPS improved field production by more than 50 percent, and the firm forecast a $100,000 savings in labor costs over three years.
Field workers at Henkels & McCoy, a major engineering and construction firm in the U.S., tested the ikeGPS solution in the City of Riverside, Calif., to conduct a joint attachment audit on 3,000 utility poles. They estimated that using traditional data collection methods would take over 30 weeks; with the ikeGPS, they finished in less than 14 weeks. The increased productivity allowed them to meet a tight deadline and schedule additional work during the extra time.
“Electric outages can be costly to individuals and businesses and damaging to the overall economy,” said Elsis. “It is in the best interest of utilities to protect the distribution system by finding faster, safer and cheaper methods to conduct accurate audits that support ongoing maintenance.”
Want to learn more? Click below to see how our customers are achieving their return on investment.
Posted on Thu, Oct 20, 2011
Compass calibration is important to keep your ike in top form. Overtime metallic parts inevitably become magnetized to some degree. These magnetized parts can impact the accuracy of the ike digital compass. This walkthrough will explain step-by-step how one performs the calibration. We recommend you do this often especially when traveling. Give us a call or send us an email if you have any questions.
Posted on Wed, Mar 09, 2011
Communications Infrastructure Companies routinely conduct utility pole audits in the U.S., where thousands of poles must be measured accurately and safely. Utility companies require detailed assessments of the locations, heights and attachments for each pole. Each survey requires 100’s of man days in labor. Infrastructure and engineering companies are looking for ways to streamline operations and reduce cost while maintaining crew safety. ikeGPS provides a cost-effective solution. This video show how easy and safe it is to use ikeGPS to measure the heights of utility pole attachments from a stand-off position.
Key reasons communications infrastructure companies select the ikeGPS unit
Portable, rugged all-on-one mobile gis data capture device- Integrated GPS, laser range finder, 3D compass and high resolution camera with onboard PDA computer and GIS software
- Point-shoot-download, easy to operate workflow
- Measurements are recorded digitally
- Document and annotate locations with geo-tagged images
- Image measurement software (available)
- Sub-meter GPS accuracy (available)
Key benefits for communications infrastructure companies
- Measurement time is reduced by up to 80% – 5 minutes/pole reduced to 1 minute/pole with ikeGPS
- No mistakes in the field or in back office post-processing
- Verification is significantly faster
- Collection process now requires only one person
- Accurate location, physical dimensions, and photo is captured by a single unit
- Permanent record with GPS coordinates is created
>> Download a free industry brief on using ikeGPS in Utility Pole Audits
Posted on Tue, Feb 08, 2011
Surveylab recently joined the ESRI Partner Network at the Silver level. ESRI Partners "become part of a well-defined global program with specific eligibility requirements and product quality standards and a wide range of resources and benefits". Partners learn firsthand about ESRI's technology development and program initiatives. They also gain access to a global community of GIS experts and developers where they can collaborate and share ideas.
Surveylab's ikeGPS mobile GIS solution allows simple integration with ESRI data capture applications (like ArcGIS™ & ArcPad™) providing the most effective and efficient means to capture geospatial data and imagery. ikeGPS integrates seamlessly with your workflow and the ESRI suite. This simple integration with data capture applications provides the most effective and efficient means to capture geospatial data and imagery.
Through the ESRI Partner Network, Surveylab will continue to develop new features and applications that improve the performance and usability of field GIS data collection, mapping and modeling. As ESRI adds new innovations to its product line, the ikeGPS system will continuously improve and add new features.
Please join us for our upcoming webinar "Improving Productivity With Integrated Remote Data Capture" on February 10 at 2PM EST.
Learn how the ikeGPS captures remote GPS locations, provides digital image verification and integrates a laser range finder, digital camera, GPS and digital compass in a single handheld device that provides mobile geospatial solutions that:
- Increase field productivity
- Create new measurement techniques for the GIS team
- Integrate the GIS database with the ever changing real world
- Enable innovative new field data capture applications
Posted on Fri, Feb 04, 2011
Last week GPS World presented a webinar entitled "Targeting Enterprise GIS: The Data-Capture Value Chain". Led by Rob Lorimer (contributing editor for Professional OEM) and ably assisted by Eric Gakstatter (contributing editor for Survey and Geospatial Solutions) the webinar covered a range of very relevant aspects of GPS-based data-capture for Enterprise GIS.
ikeGPS was specifically mentioned as a uniquely suitable device for data capture, combining GPS, camera, compass, inclinometer and rangefinder.
Very interactive, the webinar included four live surveys for the participants. Of particular interest for us here at Surveylab was the chart (shown in the webinar) listing the devices typically used in data capture. The results show that while GPS is the core device, more people are using complementary technologies in their data capture processes. Almost 15% of those surveyed now rely upon a solution that includes an inclinometer (such as ikeGPS). And with more than 60% saying a camera is part of their solution, I can see how geo-tagged images are fast becoming the standard.
Great webinar, Rob & Eric!
Image courtesy of GPS World.
Please join us for our upcoming webinar "Improving Productivity With Integrated Remote Data Capture" on February 10 at 2PM EST.
Learn how the ikeGPS captures remote GPS locations, provides digital image verification and integrates a laser range finder, digital camera, GPS and digital compass in a single handheld device that provides mobile geospatial solutions that:
- Increase field productivity
- Create new measurement techniques for the GIS team
- Integrate the GIS database with the ever changing real world
- Enable innovative new field data capture applications
Posted on Fri, Jan 14, 2011
Unless you’ve been sleeping under a rock lately, you know about location based systems and services. They take advantage of the GPS in your smart phone to locate your position and track you via a variety of apps and services available on your mobile phone and social networks.
Google Maps, for example can show you where you are on a street map and direct you to a desired location. Foursquare lets you “check in” at your favorite restaurant automatically (it knows where you are via GPS) and notify your friends via social media.
Isn’t this technology all we need to allow us to keep track of our whereabouts and locate other places via maps? Couldn’t this technology be extended to other applications, such as creating maps of buildings, bridges and hazardous objects?
The answer of course is “yes” provided that you are willing and able to physically occupy every object you want to identify and record on a map. See that mountain over there? Go climb it with your smartphone, then write down the position you get from GPS. Or how about that downed power line you want to locate and send to emergency crews? Want to go stand on that?
Here’s the rub. Location based systems require you (or at least your phone) to be there to get a GPS fix. That won’t work in most cases when you want to quickly create a GIS map of multiple objects, especially when it is difficult or even dangerous to occupy them. This is a job for mobile GIS.
By combining GPS, a laser range finder, a compass and a computer you can accomplish your mission
- The GPS locates your position
- The laser range finder computes the distance from your position to the object
- The compass computes the bearing (or direction) to the object
- The computer calculates the position of the object in map coordinates and transfers the data to a digital mapping (GIS) system
But isn’t it cumbersome and time consuming to carry around all of that equipment? Don’t I need a specialized truck to haul it and take readings? Wouldn’t that restrict me in rough terrain or over water?
Until a few years ago, the answer to all of those questions would be “yes”, but now there are handheld mobile GIS systems, such as ikeGPS, from Surveylab. Now it’s possible to go nearly anywhere and obtain GIS data quickly and safely with a handheld device. Better yet, the onboard computer makes ArcGIS maps from your collected data at the touch of a button.
So, while you’re thinking about mobile GIS at your favorite Foursquare hangout, consider the possibilities now available with ikeGPS.
Want to know more about ikeGPS in action. Click here for some case studies.
Photo credit: BrennanMKE
Posted on Wed, Jan 12, 2011
Like any other technology, there are levels of sophistication available in mobile GIS systems that enable different kinds of data collection under different conditions.
- At the lowest level is a GIS system accessed in the field via a laptop computer. In this case data is collected using traditional surveying equipment or manual observations and transferred to the GIS software by an operator.
- The next level of sophistication is a GPS-based system that enables acquiring location data directly in the field and often allows wireless data transfer to a field GIS system.
- At the highest level is an all-in-one mobile GIS system that allows remote data collection and integrated transfer to an onboard GIS application.
What are the advantages of the higher level mobile GIS systems?
GPS Based Systems
Pros: Enables more rapid data acquisition than a simple field GIS system with traditional data collection methods. Newer versions have an onboard computer with integrated GIS application for direct data transfer and mapping.
Cons: GPS requires positioning the device at each location, which may be dangerous or physically impossible in rough terrain, urban environments or in disaster zones. There is no standoff capability for remote data collection.
All-In-One Mobile GIS System
Pros: A combination of GPS, laser range finder, 3D compass and onboard computer enables rapid data collection and full onboard integration with a GIS system even in rough terrain or dangerous situations due to its standoff capability. The added benefit of an onboard high resolution camera enables verification of location data and documentation of physical features on GIS maps.
Cons: Higher level mobile GIS systems are more expensive than their lower level counterparts. However device costs may be offset by gains in data collection efficiency and verification of data, especially in areas that are difficult or dangerous to access.
The ikeGPS system is an industry leading all-in-one mobile GIS system. To read more about ikeGPS in a variety of field applications, click here.
Posted on Mon, Jul 26, 2010
Surveylab’s Kuala Lumpur-based partner, DDSB (M) Sdn. Bhd. (DDSB), is a leading Malaysian IT company. DDSB was formed by experienced local professionals with consulting and multinational experiences, and has supplied ikeGPS solutions to utility and government customers for the past two years. Their display at this year’s Map Asia 2010 event will highlight the ability of ikeGPS to streamline GIS data capture, saving significant time and money. Lian Wah Seng, Chief Operating Officer, DDSB, remarked “ikeGPS is a simple and reliable tool for GIS data capture. Because of the integrated laser rangefinder, points of interest can be captured discreetly and safely from a distance meaning field staff don’t need to stand right on top of the asset.”
Map Asia is an international initiative aimed to allow the convergence, sharing and use of geospatial technologies. Surveylab and DDSB are pleased to be involved with Map Asia 2010. Contact DDSB for your own personal demonstration of ikeGPS technology at lws@ddsb.com.
Find out more at:
Posted on Wed, May 19, 2010
By Steven J. Whitmeyer, Jeremy Nicoletti, James Madison University, Dept. of Geology & Environmental Science, MSC 6903, Harrisonburg, Virginia 22807, USA; and Declan G. De Paor, Old Dominion University, Dept. of Physics, Norfolk, Virginia 23529, USA.
Geologic field data collection, analysis, and map compilation are undergoing a revolution in methods, largely precipitated by global positioning system (GPS) and geographic information system (GIS) equipped mobile computers paired with virtual globe visualizations. Modern, ruggedized personal digital assistants (PDAs) and tablet PCs can record a wide spectrum of geologic data and facilitate iterative geologic map construction and evaluation on location in the field.
http://bit.ly/9QvMWu
Posted on Tue, Sep 16, 2008
A New Zealand local authority recently made national headlines in its innovative use of Surveylab technology to simply record headstone location and imagery data. Almost 5,000 headstones and plaques were recorded in just a few weeks, and will be assembled into a single easy-to-use database for public use by the end of the year.
The simplicity of use made ike ideal for this initiative, originally proposed by Graeme Chamberlain of the Upper Hutt City Council. In one action, the headstone or plaque image and it's exact geographic location can be captured – there's no need to take an independent photograph and separate GPS fix which then require further management to link later. Later, users with their own GPS-enabled PDAs might be able to access the database and quickly locate a site of interest, based on the gravestone image or the location, or both!
ike, developed by Surveylab, is a powerful and unique device that enables field GIS data capture that is rapid, is safe and is verifiable. ike's innovative "point and shoot" laser GPS technology allows field users to remotely capture positional data and imagery for any target up to 1000 meters away, keeping the user safe and boosting efficiency while reducing field time significantly. ike represents outstanding new value in GPS technology.
Read more in this article, published in The Dominion Post, Tuesday 16th September 2008. Surveylab thank The Dominion Post for their permission to publish this article.
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