Point of Beginning articles from January 2009

Point of Beginning archives from January 2009

What business are you in? When you've been successful in a certain niche for a number of years, it's easy to fall into the trap of defining yourself and your business by that success.(editor'spoints)
January 1, 2009... But what do you do when that niche suddenly disappears, as it has for many businesses over the past few months? As the economy has taken a nosedive, many people have been frantically trying to figure out a survival plan. The economists and news...

Capturing new opportunities: the 2008 Leica Geosystems user conference highlights practical applications for advanced data capture technologies.(conferenceRECAP)(Conference news)
January 1, 2009... EVENT: 2008 Leica Geosystems HDS and Airborne Sensor Worldwide User Conference HOST: Leica Geosystems LOCATION: San Ramon, Calif. DATES: Oct. 26-30, 2008 NUMBER OF ATTENDEES: 400+ FUTURE DATES AND LOCATION: TBA A...

Strategies for success in 2009 and beyond: equipment dealers, surveyors and other professionals offer their advice for weathering the recession.(Merrick and Co.)(Keystone Associates LLC)
January 1, 2009... Success used to be measured in a months-long backlog of work and double-digit profits. These days, many firms are struggling simply to keep enough work in the pipeline to stay afloat. Cutbacks and layoffs have become the norm in virtually every...

Controlling the sway: modern total stations and GPS technology streamline construction of the Pitt River Bridge.
January 1, 2009... When the new Pitt River Bridge opens to traffic later this year, this CA$198 million (approx. US$167 million), seven-lane cable-stayed structure, which connects the British Columbia cities of Pitt Meadows and Port Coquitlam, will support more...

Flood control from the air: advances in LiDAR data collection technology improve flood management in the Red River Basin.
January 1, 2009... The Red River flows northward at a minimal slope as it traverses the relatively flat terrain between North Dakota and Minnesota. As the snow melts and the rains begin each spring, the rising water challenges the river's capacity. At least once...

Recession-proof surveying: the popular press is printing a lot of advice about how you can insulate yourself from the recession.(professionaltopography)
January 1, 2009... The writers often encourage you to get into a business or a profession that some sage person has determined is immune to the recession. If you already work in or own a surveying business, this advice may not seem very useful. But some of the...

LiDAR planning. Like all other types of mapping projects, proper planning is critical to the success of a LiDAR project.(fromthegroundup)
January 1, 2009... The decisions made in the planning process have a significant impact on the accuracy and usefulness of the elevation surface. These decisions must be made carefully given the inverse relationship between accuracy, point density and cost....

Ambiguity is the key. It has often been said that intent is "king" in the conveyance of real property. If intent is king, then ambiguity is the key to the kingdom.(traversingthelaw)
January 1, 2009... We've covered ambiguities in this column before, but the subject bears repeating because it is absolutely essential to the proper interpretation of deeds. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Ambiguity First, what I am talking about when I say...

Topcon Positioning Systems (TPS).(new&notable)
January 1, 2009... TOPCON POSITIONING SYSTEMS (TPS).introduced the FC-2500 field controller with a rugged waterproof design. With increased storage to 256MB RAM, 2GB of flash storage memory and a 624MHz XScale processor, the FC-2500 is designed to speed data...

Applanix.(new&notable)
January 1, 2009... APPLANIX launched POSPac Mobile Mapping Suite (MMS) 5.2, the latest release of its GNSS-aided inertial post-processing software for mobile mapping and surveying applications. New functionality includes full land-based mobile mapping support for...

Magellan.(new&notable)
January 1, 2009... MAGELLAN introduced Real Time Data Server (RTDS), a PC software that enables land surveyors to use GNSS equipment to build a direct IP RTK corrections server. The RTDS software collects corrections sent by a GNSS base station and acts as a...

Riegl.(new&notable)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... RIEGL introduced the VQ-480 high-precision scanner. The VQ-480 provides high-speed noncontact data acquisition using a narrow infrared laser beam and a fast line-scanning mechanism. The high-accuracy laser range is based on Riegl's unique echo...

SECO.(new&notable)
January 1, 2009... SECO introduced the SECO GPS Antenna Platform for network reference station installers. The SECO GPS Antenna Platform (#2072-40) enables installers to evaluate a site for multipath before committing to a permanent installation, or it can be...

Carlson Software.(new&notable)
January 1, 2009... CARLSON SOFTWARE introduced Carlson Business Suite (CBS), a complete business management software solution developed with input from experts in the surveying and engineering fields. Featuring project dashboards, smart charts, real-time visual...

The Robert Bosch Tool Corp.
January 1, 2009... THE ROBERT BOSCH TOOL CORP. introduced the CST/berger CST-300R Series of electronic reflectorless total stations. The CST-300R models are easy to use and ideal for modern surveying, construction staking, mapping and GIS. Available in 2 models,...

Eagle Point Software Corp.
January 1, 2009... EAGLE POINT SOFTWARE CORP. released LandSketch, a software application aimed at reducing the time it takes to develop residential conceptual plans. With support for multiple imagery formats, LandXML and its connection to Google Earth,...

Growing to serve you better!(Allen Precision Equipment)
January 1, 2009... From all of us at Allen Precision, we hope you and yours enjoyed a blessed and happy holiday season. It is hard to believe that 2009 is upon us. A new year always brings new challenges, new directions and new plans for companies to consider....

Go with the winner: Carlson leads in surveying software.(Carlson Software)
January 1, 2009... If developing user-friendly, technically advanced surveying software were a footrace, you'd see Carlson Software way in the lead. The company got off to a fast start when Bruce Carlson, as a practising licensed surveyor, started writing...

Iowa DOT and Leica Geosystems to launch statewide RTK GPS Network.(Leica Geosystems)(real time network)(global positioning system)(Iowa Department of Transportation)(Leica Geosystems AG)
January 1, 2009... The Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) is implementing one of the world's largest DOT-owned statewide networks of GNSS continuously operating reference stations (CORS). Called the Iowa Real Time Network (IaRTN), this statewide real-time...

The latest GPS tools for simpler and less costly forest management.(Magellan)
January 1, 2009... Timber trespass can be a serious problem. But once a tree falls on a neighboring property, it is a little late to discuss property boundaries. Fortunately, property owners, timber companies and government agencies now have available new tools...

The new GSR1700 CSX expands survey potential with GNSS.(SOKKIA GPS)
January 1, 2009... Ready to tackle your next big project with maximum efficiency? SOKKIA's new GSR1700 CSX is eager to get started! This powerful single-frequency system provides exceptional GPS and Glonass support to produce outstanding results in any...

Continued innovation in 3D laser scanning.(Riegl USA Inc.)
January 1, 2009... Riegl is recognized as the performance leader in the mining, industrial process control, civil infrastructure and mobile mapping industries. Riegl's 3D terrestrial laser scanner business is based on the company's 30-year heritage in the...

New products-same precision and reliability.(Sokkia)
January 1, 2009... Surveyors worldwide rely on Sokkia for turnkey solutions. For more than 85 years, Sokkia's surveying instruments, GPS products and accessories have provided our customers with quality found nowhere else. With Sokkia products, you will be sure...

Celebrating 20 years of service.(SOUTH)
January 1, 2009... SOUTH has taken its place in the global market and will celebrate its 20th birthday in April 2009. As the largest surveying instrument and software company in China, SOUTH Surveying & Mapping Instrument Co. Ltd. integrates research, production,...

Topcon's "family" of products--a total solution.(Topcon Positioning Systems Inc.)
January 1, 2009... Topcon's suite of surveying products provides a total solution to meet the specific needs of surveyors and civil engineers. At Topcon, we call it a "family" of products--related and part of a complete system so work can be streamlined to...

Leaving CAD behind with the No CAD Zone.(Traverse PC Desktop)(Survey)
January 1, 2009... Remember When Surveying Was Fun? It Can Be Fun Again... TPC Desktop is not another CAD program. You won't find CAD tools to design a fighter jet in TPC Desktop. But then surveyors don't design fighter jets--we do surveys. What you will...

Integrating images into your surveying work flow.(Trimble)
January 1, 2009... New options in the Trimble VX Spatial Station provide the surveying community with a smart first step into spatial imaging. Surveyors now have the option to choose the level of imaging power that makes the most sense for their business. ...

Rugged instruments for real-life applications.(Tripod Data Systems)
January 1, 2009... Tripod Data Systems (TDS) designs and manufactures three models of data collectors--the TDS Ranger, Nomad and Recon. All meet military MIL-STD-810F and IP67 specifications, so you know they're rugged. In addition, TDS writes a variety of...

Launching a new series of total stations.(CST/berger)
January 1, 2009... The new CST/berger CST-300R Series Electronic Reflectorless Total Station is available this month from the Robert Bosch Tool Corporation. The CST-300R Series Electronic Reflectorless Total Station offers: * Availability in either a...