Have you become dependent on your UAV?
Flying drones for survey and mapping is becoming standard practice for engineers. What happens when your organization is suddenly dependent on the data your drone generates?
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Coordinate Systems 101
The basics of dealing with coordinate systems.
I conduct a lot of survey training for construction and mining clients. In every class I usually start off with a “Coordinate Systems 101” lesson. This is something most clients struggle with. I find that there are a lot of people running GPS survey and machine control systems that may not have a basic understanding for how the coordinate systems relate to their jobsites. There are also experienced surveyors that tend to make these topics overly complex for most people trying to understand the basics. Here are some basic coordinate system rules for clarity.
What Is a Pipe Laser?
The construction of underground pipes and tunnels requires careful planning and excavation. Pipes have to maintain a consistent grade along the length of the system. Crests and valleys in the pipe system can block or slow down the liquid flow inside, resulting in clogs that can be expensive to fix. To accurately set the grade of a pipe run, underground contractors use a piece of equipment called a pipe laser.
A pipe laser is a type of construction laser that is used to measure and determine the correct grade for pipes. Pipe lasers are used as a sort of electronic level. Essentially, this equipment shoots a high-powered beam of light at a predetermined angle to establish the appropriate grade of a construction project. In this guide, you can learn more about what a pipe laser is used for, how to use it and the types of pipe lasers available.
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Drones (UAV) for Mining 101
Often the most misunderstood but probably the most powerful use for flying drones is survey and mapping. Additionally, if you were to pick the perfect place to use UAV technology it would be a mine as drones allow you to cover larger areas of earth that are constantly changing.
A Guide to Machine Control
As a contractor, you know the difficulty of relying on eyesight to level your earthmoving project. For you to build a solid foundation, the ground beneath it has to be adequately compacted and leveled. But from the seat of a dozer or motor grader, it’s not easy to tell if the site is at the proper grade.
Coordinate Systems and the Construction Site
With the growing popularity of GNSS systems for machine control and site positioning in construction, there is a need for a basic understanding of coordinates. During daily operation, operators and grade checkers will not need to work with coordinate systems. However, having someone on site that has a basic understanding of coordinate systems can eliminate downtime and site errors.
How to Grade With Bulldozers
Knowing how to spread material with a dozer effectively can cut down on the time needed to complete construction projects. Mistakes made during land grading can set back jobs, costing the contractor and everyone on the construction team money. By using these tips and the right tools, you can learn to grade land correctly and efficiently and save time on building projects that require grading or spreading material.
High Accuracy Drone Mapping
I have been getting quite a few questions about what I call “Static” surveys since drone mapping has become a major part of many surveyor’s toolbox. I will start by describing the general concept of why you would want to use a Static base station. I will then describe how it works and finally get into some recommendations and specifics.
DJI PPK with Trimble Stratus for Mining
Developing a Solution
There are few places better suited for Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) than mining sites. In the United States, despite all the complex rules and regulations, it is the deliverables that are driving the use of UAS. Deliverables such as near real-time topography and imagery.