ikeGPS Ready for the 2012 Olympic Cycle Road Race and Torch Relay
Posted on Mon, Jul 02, 2012
In the news from our U.K. office, Mole Valley District Council in Surrey have recently selected ikeGPS to meet their mobile data capture needs – and assist in preparations for the Olympics!
Robert Steele, from the Mole Valley District Council, has been speaking with us about why he chose ikeGPS. “Not only does the ike300 hardware feature a sub-metre, real-time GPS, built in 300m laser rangefinder, 3D compass, 5mp camera, 3 inch LCD screen, ruggedised case and Windows Mobile 6.1 OS, but it also features by far the most simple and comprehensive suite of software available currently."
Mr Steele went on to say, "Creating custom workflows suited to different users of the device is a breeze and takes less than 5 minutes to create and deploy to the unit. These workflows can mandate collection of key asset information when, for example, surveying street furniture, trees, playground apparatus, litter bins, fly tipping, abandoned cars and other typical local authority duties. The workflows are an important part of ensuring an consistent, high standard of data capture quality for later analysis in our GIS."
A key virtue of the ikeGPS hardware was the ability to retrieve non-proprietary CSV, XML, JPG and KML straight out of the device without any transformation through desktop software. "This permits instant visualization in our MapInfo, iShareGIS, GoogleEarth applications, including the ability to consume XML straight into data workflows that automatically present data out to the public via our website," said Steele. "The convergence of technology in the way that SurveyLab have designed the ikeGPS means that less equipment needs to be taken into the field and more timely and efficient data capture can be done with the ease of operating just a single piece of hardware."
Additional features leading to the purchase of ikeGPS included, "the combination of a 3D compass, sub-metre GPS and laser rangefinder also lends itself to hundreds of new innovative applications, including perhaps the accurate measurement of graffiti coverage such that councils can better inform contractors of the scale of repairs required, or create 3D models of structures from laser and photographic data captured using the ike300.”
Mole Valley intends to use ikeGPS during the forthcoming London 2012 Olympic cycle road race preparations, which will pass through the district on 28th and 29 July 2012, including a punishing 9 lap section of Box Hill! We hope that ikeGPS lends itself to preparing a better, faster but safer road race for the Olympians, and may the best competitors win!
Photo credit: SNappa2006