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A Publication for Surveying and Mapping Professionals

Issue 2010-1

Surveying the World’s Longest Tunnel

Bay Bridge Slide

Scanning on the High Seas

Peru’s Camiara Road Project

INSIDE:Welcome to the latest issue of Technology&more!

Trimble Engineering & Construction5475 Kellenburger Rd.Dayton, OH, 45424-1099Phone: 1-937-233-8921 Fax: 1-937-245-5145Email: T&[email protected]

Published by: Editor-in-Chief: Omar SoubraEditorial Team: Angie Vlasaty; Lea Ann McNabb; Heather Silvestri; Eric Harris; Susanne Preiser;Emmanuelle Tarquis; Grainne Woods; Christiane Gagel; Lin Lin Ho; Bai Lu; Echo Wei; Maribel Aguinaldo; Masako Hirayama; Stephanie Kirtland, Survey Technical Marketing TeamArt Director: Tom Pipinou

Dear Readers,

Welcome to the first issue of Technology&more for 2010. In this exciting issue, you’ll find a variety of innovative projects our customers are involved in around the globe. Each of these projects—and many others—demonstrate the maximum efficiency and productivity gained through the use of Trimble® technology. You’ll read about a surveying project for the world’s longest high-speed railway tunnel in Switzerland; a challenging road alignment project in the mountains of Peru using Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), optical and scanning technologies; how the Victoria Police used real-time GPS mapping and GIS technology to assess bush fire damage after Australia’s worst natural disaster

last year; and an exciting new Geospatial Technology Program developed by a northern California High School that’s helping students get on the Geospatial career path.

In addition, you’ll read about new opportuni-ties in monitoring, one of the profession’s growing disciplines. At the center of today’s work environment, monitoring solutions can help companies intelligently manage the work they already have and offer opportunities to grow new business, with both existing and new clients.

The Trimble Dimensions China User Conference was held in December 2009 in Beijing. With education as the focus, Trimble Dimensions China provided two days of keynote

speakers and over 100 technical sessions with more than 1,750 in attendance. This year, join colleagues and peers at the Trimble Dimensions International User Conference, scheduled for November 8–10, 2010 at the Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. Dimensions is a respected and popular worldwide venue for surveying, engineering, construction, mapping, GIS, geospatial and mobile resource management professionals to advance their understanding of today’s positioning technology. Don’t miss Trimble Dimensions 2010! See www.trimbleevents.com for more details.

Finally, if you have an innovative project you’d like to share, we’d like to hear about it: just email [email protected]. We’ll even write the article for you. We hope you enjoy reading this issue of Technology&more.

Chris Gibson

© 2010, Trimble Navigation Limited. All rights reserved. Trimble, the Globe & Triangle logo, GPS Pathfinder and TSC2 are trademarks of Trimble Navigation Limited or its subsidiaries,registered in United States Patent and Trademark Office. Connected Site, CU, FineLock, GX, HYDROpro, Integrated Surveying, Juno, ProXT, RealWorks, SureScan, Survey Controller, TerraSync, VRS, VX are trademarks of Trimble Navigation Limited or its subsidiaries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners..

Cover shows surveying and supervisory staff from Swiss firm terra vermessungen ag discussing details onsite in the new Swiss Alps railway tunnel. Photos on cover and pages 2-4 by Bernd Schumacher.

Chris Gibson: Vice President, Survey Division

Switzerland

Peru

Pg. 2

Pg. 6

Australia Pg. 10

Germany Pg. 18

-1- Technology&more; 2010-1

There was no rest on Labor Day for a four-person crew from Northern California’s R.E.Y. Engineers—they spent the entire long U.S. holiday weekend monitoring what may have been 2009’s most impressive infrastructure project. Along with Mammoet (the Dutch firm famous for moving heavy

things), C.C. Myers, and the California Department of Transportation (CalTrans), the R.E.Y crew slid a 3,300-ton, 86-m-long (283-ft) piece of the double-decker Bay Bridge over a 30.48 m (100 ft) gap—on rails 45.72 m (150 ft) above the ground—into its new permanent position. Tolerances were less than five millimeters throughout, and when the slide was complete, the new section of bridge had been placed within 6.4 mm (1/4 in), at all corners, of the design intent.

The Labor Day slide was part of a massive, ongoing seismic retrofit of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge. A similar slide had taken place in 2007, but this one was higher and heavier, and segment deformation (not just movement) was being monitored. “We knew that tracking any two points would tell us position,” said R.E.Y. Engineers, Inc. Partner Jim Brainard, PLS, “but we needed a lot more information to be sure about deformation.” R.E.Y. used Trimble HYDROpro™ Navigation Software to synthesize data streams from eight Trimble total stations—four Trimble S8 Total Stations and four Trimble SPS 930s. In 2007, the new bridge segment had been pushed in one-meter (3.28-ft) increments, then measured; then the hydraulic jacks were adjusted for the next incremental push. This time, jacks pushed continuously, so monitoring data had to be gathered and processed continuously and presented on one screen for Mammoet operators.

“I usually use HYDROpro to guide and track marine construction,” says Lou Nash of Measutronics, who adapted HYDRO-pro for this job. “In those applications the dynamics of moving platforms are usually a challenge. Here, the dynamics—the rate of movement—wasn’t such a challenge, but the tolerances were much tighter.”

Each total station was fitted with a Trimble TSC2® Controller. The controllers were connected by BlueTooth to a computer running HYDROpro and specialized presentation software to get all the data on one screen.

The system proved itself immediately on the day of the slide when the original Bay Bridge section was cut out and jacked up for removal. At about 2.54 cm (1 in) of lift, R.E.Y. surveyors detected deformation in the southeast corner and identified a stuck area that needed to be cut free. And as the new segment was moved in, the system measured no significant deformation; jack operators were able to keep all four corners on planned trajectory to avoid binding.

Big, innovative projects like the Bay Bridge slide will always require new ideas…but it’s nice to know that existing tools can be adapted to get the job done.

See feature article in POB’s January issue: www.pobonline.com

No Rest onLabor Day


Cover Story

Occupying the primary north-south transit corridor in Switzerland, the New Rail Link through the Alps (NRLA) is a key component in Europe’s growing

network of high-speed railways. When completed in 2017, the NRLA and its high-speed AlpTransit trains will cut the travel time between Zurich and Milan by more than 25 percent. The centerpiece of the new system is the Gotthard Base Tunnel. At 57 km (35 mi) long, it’s the longest tunnel in the world.

The Swiss surveying company terra vermessungen ag is providing a variety of surveying services in the northern sections of the Gotthard tunnel. The diverse work, demanding requirements for precision, and difficult working environment present unique challenges for the surveyors and their equipment.

One of the biggest hurdles comes from the narrow sight lines in the tunnels. When sighting in a tunnel, it is common to have multiple prisms visible in a total station’s field of view. Manual observers can distinguish the desired target from the others but this approach is too slow for the project’s needs. To solve the problem, terra vermessungen selected the Trimble S8 Total Station. The 1” robotic instrument combines precise measure-ment with Trimble FineLock™ target technology to provide automatic pointing and fast, high-accuracy measurements in the confined spaces.

High-Precision ControlTwo giant tunnel-boring machines (TBMs) are at work on the project, each capable of excavating up to 40 m (130 ft) per day. To keep the machines moving, the surveyors maintain and expand the tunnel’s network of control points.

The surveyors extend the networks by about 200 m (660 ft) at a time. For each new control point, crews install threaded bolts into the tunnel walls or floor. Extending the control network usually requires three instrument setups over two hours, in which the Trimble S8 makes multiple measurements to approximately 25 targets.

The measurements are collected using Trimble Survey Controller™ Software running on a Trimble TSC2 Controller, then downloaded and analyzed in the jobsite office. To verify the internal accuracy of the measurements, surveyors compute an adjustment using an unconstrained network, and then use a Helmert transformation to move the unconstrained network onto the existing tunnel control. Maximum residual errors must not exceed one millimeter. The new points will serve as control points until the TBM moves ahead. Then they are replaced with new points during the next network extension cycle.

Surveying the Longest Tunnel in the World

Profile check in the tunnel access section using a Trimble S8 Total Station.


Deformation MonitoringTunnel construction sometimes causes alterations by changing loads in the surrounding rock. The resulting deformations occupy relatively small areas called convergence zones, and typically occur in known fault zones or areas with visible cracks or falling rock. Surveyors monitor these areas by collecting periodic cross-section measurements.

Initially, the behavior of the deformation is not known, so the surveyors need a flexible and expandable approach to monitoring the convergence. They can start with conventional measurements using the Trimble S8 and TSC2. If necessary, the team can convert to an automated monitoring system, remotely controlling the Trimble S8 to take continuous observations without the need for a surveyor at the instru-ment. Once the rate of deformation subsides, the crews can resume conventional methods of monitoring.

Solving an Explosive ProblemTunnel sections that are short or have irregular cross-sections are often constructed using the blast and muck method. In this approach, a jackhammer bores holes several meters into the heading face. The holes are filled with explosives and are fired simultaneously.

Immediately after the blast, the tunnel face is littered with rock material and access to the face is prohibited until the rock is stabilized. However, the tunnel crew is in a hurry to remove the rock material, and the heading foreman wants to know immediately if further blasting will be needed to achieve the required profile. Each blast creates a new cavern 2 to 5 m (6 to 16 ft) deep and accurate surveying is needed before any decisions can be made.

For this work, terra vermessungen uses a Trimble VX™ Spatial Station and a “motorized laser” approach. The Trimble VX is attached to the tunnel wall approximately 100 m (330 ft) behind the heading face. The crew uses the free stationing routine in Trimble Survey Controller to determine the instru-ment’s three-dimensional position in the tunnel coordinate system. Information on the tunnel’s design alignment and profile are stored in the Trimble TSC2.

Soon after a blast, the heading foreman uses the robotic function and red laser of the Trimble VX to measure numerous locations on the face. The measured points are compared to the design stored in the Trimble TSC2, and any deviation from the required profile is displayed on the control unit. Urs Müller, survey engineer for terra vermes-sungen, said that the video capability of the Trimble VX is

Concrete transport train in the tunnel.

Measuring profiles directly behind the TBM’s head enables TBM guidance to be checked independently.


especially useful. “In the poor lighting conditions, they really appreciate the video display,” he said. “It helps the foreman know he is pointing to the correct spot.”

Every few days, surveyors check the measurement con-figuration and the quality of the free-stationing solutions. When the tunnel advances by 50 m (164 ft), the instrument is moved ahead to a new position. For the tunnel-driving crew, the main benefit of this approach is that the head-ing foreman can quickly measure the results of each blast.

According to Müller, the Trimble technology has lowered the cost of surveying on the blast tunnels. It lets them use their surveying team more efficiently at each heading face and has eliminated delays in waiting for qualified staff to arrive.

Scanning with Trimble VXDuring the excavation process, tunnel walls are sprayed with shotcrete. After the first application of shotcrete, the surface of the tunnel is measured for quality assurance. To do this, the Trimble VX Spatial Station is set to auto-matically measure profiles at intervals of 1 m (3.3 ft) over portions of tunnel 60 m (197 ft) long, collecting points every 50 cm (20 in) on each section. The resulting profiles are stored in the TSC2, and the process to capture and store 61 profiles takes less than one hour. The construc-tion teams use the data to optimize the inner concrete formwork. Müller said that optimizing the concrete thickness to 3 cm (1 in) leads to savings of one cubic meter (1.3 yd3) of concrete for every one meter (3.3 ft) of tunnel.

Setting-Out UndergroundOne of the most demanding setting-out projects is the alignment of the TBMs. Each TBM is more than 400 m (1,300 ft) long, and the concrete blocks that support it must be placed accurately. Working beneath the machine, surveyors install profile points on the tunnel walls at intervals of 10 m (33 ft). Each TBM advances approximately 30 m (98 ft) per day, and crews need to set out six points at a time.

To locate the profile points along the fluctuating tunnel walls, the crews use the Trimble S8 and Trimble Survey Controller routines for tunnel setting-out. The Trimble S8 automatically turns to the correct direction and makes iterative measurements until the appropriate point is found on the tunnel wall. It then shines a red laser dot on the point. The surveyor marks the spot with a rock anchor and records the point for analysis and quality assurance. Typically, it takes less than one hour to set up the instrument and set six points into the tunnel walls.

As Gotthard construction progresses, terra vermessungen will continue to keep their Trimble systems busy. For the TBMs alone, terra vermessungen will set out approximately 7,000 points. Müller is pleased that the new technology has repeatedly proven its value. “After a few hours, the skeptical attitude of the heading foremen changes,” he explained. “And after a few days, they do not want to continue without it.”

Scanning the shotcrete surface using a Trimble VX Spatial Station. Checking the inner concrete formwork using a Trimble S8 Total Station.

Northern portal structure of the 57-km-long railway tunnel near Erstfeld, Switzerland.

Mounting bi-reflex targets for convergence monitoring.


Surveyors are used to facing challenges but consider a few of these: It’s the dead of winter (average temperature is –10°F or –23°C) in central Albert, Canada, when the

largest highway project in the region in decades is initiated—and survey and design must be completed by spring, just a few short months away.

Landmark Surveys Ltd, a surveying firm local to the project in Red Deer, Alberta, is up for the challenge. Along with Landmarks’ unique mobilization solutions and extensive transportation surveying experience, the firm is using a full spectrum of Trimble robotic total station, Spatial Imaging, and GNSS gear to supply predesign data to the prime consultant, Los Angeles-based engineering firm AECOM.

“To complete the survey on time with only a few short windows of better weather and minimize lane closures we need more than just cutting-edge solutions,” says Landmark founder Murray Roddis. “We need razor’s-edge solutions: we only get one shot at this.”

Red Deer is Alberta’s third largest city, situated along the Queen Elizabeth Highway (QE2) at the center of a rapidly growing region of oil, grain and livestock production between Edmonton and Calgary. The growth of Red Deer County’s “Gasoline Alley” defies current economic trends. While funding belts may be tightening, the region’s transportation needs have continued to grow, increasing their need to save costs through innovation.

The project will widen QE2 from five to eight lanes, upgrade two interchanges and convert two bridges to on/off ramps. To provide enough survey details over a broad corridor to accommodate possible design changes, Landmark is taking a multifaceted approach including aerial lidar of the outer “green” areas; GNSS observations of hard surfaces using the local Trimble VRS™ Network; robotic total station observations; selective scans of interchanges with Trimble VX Spatial Stations; and ground-based lidar scans of bridges with a Trimble GX™ 3D Scanner.

To increase its crews’ mobility, Landmark developed a fleet of “6x6” All-Terrain-Vehicles (ATV’s) customized to accommodate their high-tech gear and meet weather and terrain challenges. With Trimble R8 GNSS Receivers mounted on trucks, crews use the CanNet VRS Network (Landmark sponsors a nearby station) for shots on existing highway surfaces. GNSS units are also attached to the poles of fully robotic Trimble VX Spatial Stations that also run two Trimble Integrated Surveying™ rods each.

Managed as a Trimble Connected Site™ project, control and data are exchanged instantaneously with team members across the site, as well as with the design team in other cities. Crews can also connect to live product and configuration support with Trimble Assistant running on their data controllers.

Landmark Surveys Ltd. will continue applying its “razor’s-edge” tools and methods in the subsequent construction and as-built phases of this project; check back for future updates.

Sharpening the Razor’s Edge inAlberta's “Gasoline Alley”


It’s not easy to get around in the Jorge Basadre province of southern Peru. Located in the sparsely populated Tacna region along the border with Chile and Bolivia, the area extends from sea level up to over 5,000 m (16,400 ft), and both the climate and terrain are difficult. Most travel takes place on

unpaved roads that pass through steep, mountainous terrain and narrow, winding valleys.

The area’s economy depends on adequate transportation. Local farmers grow fruit trees, oregano and other basic crops; and the Toquepala copper mine—one of the area’s key employers—produces thou-sands of tons of ore each year. A key part of the region's transportation system is the Camiara Road, which connects the town of Camiara with the Toquepala mine and the town of Mirave. The 120-km (75-mi)-long road is laced with the steep grades and sharp curves common to the region. In order to meet the needs of the agricultural, mining and commercial traffic, the road needs significant improvements.

The District Municipality of Ilabaya, working with the Peruvian Ministry of Communication and Transport and the mine’s owner, decided to invest in a feasibility study and subsequent implementation of improvements to the Camiara Road. An important part of the project is a bypass proposed to run south and east of the Toquepala mine. The 17-km (11-mi) bypass would provide a shorter, safer route between Camiara and Mirave and also reduce traffic at the busy mine.

COSAPI S.A., a Peruvian engineering and construction company, established an alliance with Geo Systems S.A.C., a Trimble distributor in Lima, to work on the project. The planned alignment for the Toquepala bypass started at an established road, but soon moved into undeveloped terrain. There was no accurate topographic information available, and road construction engineers needed detailed maps to develop a

Surveyors in Peru Use Trimble Technology toComplete a Challenging Road Project

High Places, High Productivity


design. The two firms collaborated to conduct a topographic survey of the proposed bypass. The rugged, inacces-sible landscape would make surveying difficult and dangerous.

Crews began the field work in December 2008. Their objective was to survey the proposed alignment of the bypass using plans provided by the engineers. The survey requirements called for accurate profiles and detailed topographic maps.

Integrating Powerful TechnologiesIn planning the work, the survey teams decided to take advantage of several different Trimble surveying systems. “We are always looking for new technologies and workflows,” said COSAPI Engineer Henry Serrano. “This was an ideal project to integrate the different surveying technologies.”

To establish primary control, the team used Trimble R8 GNSS Receiver Systems with Trimble TSC2 Controllers running Trimble Survey Controller Software. Initially, the surveyors established a GNSS reference station close to the project site. The point was surveyed with static methods and connected to the Peruvian Geodetic Network using a SIRGAS (South American Geocentric Reference System) station in the city of Tacna, roughly 90 km (56 mi) to the south.

With the base station in place, the surveyors used their Trimble R8 GNSS Systems to set pairs of intervisible control points every 3.5 km (2.2 mi) along the route. They installed a total of 12 points, which provided the basis for closed polygonal traverses used to establish the alignment. The crews ran conventional traverses between the pairs of control points, setting five new points between each control pair.

For the traverse measurements, the COSAPI team used Trimble S6 Total Stations with Trimble CU™ Controllers also running Trimble Survey Controller Software. In order to meet the required accuracy, they made multiple measurements of each tra-verse leg and then processed and checked their results each day. The GNSS points achieved positional accuracy of at least 1:100,000, and all of the traverses closed with accuracy better than 1:10,000.

With the traverses in place, the crews could work to collect topography and other information. Instead of the slow process of measuring individual points on cross sections, the team used a Trimble GX 3D Scanner and collected thousands of individual points at each location. The topographic scans were taken from setup points approximately 200 m (660 ft) apart. Each scan covered an area 100 m (330 ft) on a side. The surveyors used Trimble SureScan™ technology to automatically measure points in a 50-cm by 50-cm (1.6-ft by 1.6-ft)

grid. In a typical day, the team could complete about 20 stations with the scanner and advance approximately 1.5 to 2 km (0.9 to 1.2 mi) along the alignment.

“We decided to use the Trimble GX scanner because it provides a better definition of the land,” said Serrano. “It’s especially useful in difficult areas such as very steep slopes. Our client needed the digital terrain model (DTM) with a wide width of 300 m (1,000 ft) on each side of the alignment, so surveying with the scanner was much faster than using a total station.”

To make the work go even faster, members of the field party were assigned to separate jobs. One person was in charge of the scanner, while another handled the GNSS measurements. A two-person crew operated the total stations to establish control and setup points for the Trimble scanner. A small group of auxiliary surveyors and field staff provided backup and logistical assistance.

Because of the difficult and remote terrain, the surveyors decided to camp along the project route. At the end of each workday, they set up a campsite and downloaded the day’s data for processing and quality analysis. A portable generator provided electricity to power their laptop computers and recharge batteries for the surveying equipment. The surveyors processed the GNSS baselines using Trimble Business Center Software. All of the other survey data (total stations and 3D scanner) went into Trimble RealWorks™ Software, where it was combined with the GNSS results to provide georeferenced information. “It was easy to integrate the data from our different survey instruments,” said Serrano. “We could confirm that we had all the needed information each day, and prepare the results for delivery to our client.”

Meeting Multiple ChallengesThroughout the project, the surveyors encountered punishing working conditions. The mountainous terrain was rocky and inhospitable. During the day, high altitude (2,500 m or 8,200 ft), blistering sunshine and temperatures above 30°C (86°F) made work difficult. At night, the altitude caused temperatures to quickly drop below 10°C (50°F). Midway through the project, the surveyor responsible for operating the scanner suffered a leg injury. The team was far from any medical assistance, so the injured surveyor had to be treated on site. He managed to continue working, and after a few days recovered to walk comfortably.

The Trimble systems provided significant advan-tages to COSAPI and their client. By integrating the data from the Trimble R8 GNSS, Trimble S6 Total Station and Trimble M3 Mechanical Total Station with the data from the Trimble GX 3D Scanner, COSAPI developed a work methodology that was more efficient than their competitors.

The team surveyed the entire 17-km length of the project in just 14 days, delivering survey and DTM information that met the client’s requirements. They were able to complete the work in 40-percent less time and with 20-percent lower cost than other approaches. “The project results were faster, safer, more economical and with higher precision than with conventional surveying,” Serrano said. “And when the project moves into the construction phase, we expect to use Trimble surveying technology for that as well.”



A New Use for an Old MineFor more than 120 years, the limestone quarry and cement plant has been a fixture in Martinsburg, West Virginia.

The plant’s three rotary kilns—each over 137 m (450 ft) long—produce clinker, an intermediate product in the cement-making process. The clinker is stored and later pulverized and combined with additives to make various

types of cement.

In 2006, the plant’s owner Essroc began a three-year project to replace the old kilns with a single, high-efficiency unit and to construct new production facilities, material storage and pollution controls.

To keep the plant operating during construction, Essroc needed a temporary location to store clinker. They decided to use three caverns created during limestone mining on the site nearly 100 years ago. For production and financial control, Essroc needed to know how much clinker had been moved in or out of the caves.

John Mettee, PLS, of Frederick Ward Associates (FWA) in Bel Air, Maryland, was in charge of measuring and computing the volumes. Knowing that conventional surveying methods such as cross sections would not be cost-effective, Mettee selected the Trimble VX Spatial Station for the project. “We attended conferences to get a basic understanding of the technology,” Mettee said. “We liked the VX because it combined scanning and imaging with the ability to do conventional surveying tasks.”

The Trimble VX uses the same data controller (Trimble TSC2 with Trimble Survey Controller Software) as FWA’s other Trimble surveying equipment, and the

field crews quickly learned to use the Spatial Station. Mettee said they use the instrument every day for scanning or conventional surveying work.

High-Speed Measurement The plant’s heavy equipment must stop work when the surveyors are in the caves, so speed is essential. The FWA crew used the Trimble VX and traditional traverse methods to carry control into the caves. They could scan all three caves in a single day, gathering 5,000 to 10,000 points in each visit. The crew used the high-resolution camera in the Trimble VX to take photos that Mettee used to visualize the caves and combine the scans into a single point cloud.

Mettee used Trimble RealWorks Software to process the data. “Registering scans is easy, because all the setup points are tied together in the field,” he said. “I used the built-in tools in RealWorks to compute the clinker volumes.”

Mettee described the transition to Spatial Imaging. “In the field, we learned how to plan our setups to capture the needed data and to augment the scans with pho-tos. The survey workflow makes it easy for the crew.” With the Trimble VX in a mainstream role, FWA will continue to push technology forward.

See feature article in POB’s November 2009 issue: www.pobonline.com


Saturday, February 7, 2009 will forever be known as Black Saturday in Victoria, Australia. In the midst of a 10-year drought, a record-breaking heat wave

descended upon the state, with temperatures exceeding 45° C (113° F), breaking all-time record highs in some cities.

Under these severe weather conditions, fallen power lines, lightning strikes and tossed cigarette butts sparked multiple fires across Victoria, which were fanned by gale-force winds blowing in excess of 120 km (75 mi) per hour, carrying fires across the state. The fires—some of which burned for 29 days—destroyed 2,029 homes and killed 173 people, making this the deadliest natural disaster in Australian history.

In the wake of the disaster, Victoria Police (VicPol) began the daunting task of assessing the damage and counting fatalities. However, as they moved through areas where familiar landmarks such as street signs, mailboxes and homes were reduced to smoldering rubble, it became clear that existing search procedures wouldn’t work.

“It was clear almost immediately that we would need to call in reinforcements to help with our effort, and that we would need to find a more sophisticated way of locating and recording our findings,” said Acting Senior Sergeant Greg Barras with VicPol. “Assistance was requested from the Australian Capital Territory Emergency Services Agency, which deployed its newly formed Mapping and Planning Support (MAPS) team to help us.”

The MAPS team consists of government and private-sec-tor professionals who specialize in GIS and volunteer to respond to disaster management operations. The MAPS unit is the only organization in Australia that serves in this important role.

Working with consultants from ESRI and software devel-opers from Maptel, and using handheld computers from Trimble, the expanded team began compiling a sophis-ticated technology solution that would meet the state’s

needs for assessing the damage quickly and efficiently under extreme conditions.

The team loaded ArcPad 8 mobile GIS software from ESRI onto Trimble Juno™ SC handheld computers with inte-grated GPS capabilities and a built-in 3.5G cellular modem for high-speed internet connectivity worldwide. Maptel developers quickly wrote a custom ArcPad applet that would enable crews to access VicPol’s standard damage assessment form in a digital format automatically linked to parcel data on the Trimble Juno SC handhelds.

“When we first began our damage assessment efforts, we sent teams of police out with binders of paper forms to fill out, but our paper process was time consuming, error prone, and inefficient,” said Barras. “The Trimble Juno SC handheld was found to be more suitable for the task. We were able to enter and update information electronically, and then use the internal 3.5G modem to send and receive that data in real time to and from the rescue coordination center while still in the field.”

Victoria Police Use Real-time GPS Mappingand GIS Solution to Speed Assessment of

Bush Fire Damage


Outfitted with full protective gear, shift after shift scoured the devastated region using the Trimble Juno SC hand-helds to navigate to each location, where ArcPad software was used to update the parcel data.

Field workers relied on the handheld's drop-down menus to quickly and easily enter attribute data such as GPS loca-tion, what types of buildings were found, their condition and other details. A text edit function made it easy for workers to enter more detailed notes, such as where heavy equipment would be required to assist with cleanup.

Using the Trimble Juno SC’s integrated 3.5G cellular modem, field workers could transmit information back to the GIS server in Melbourne with the push of a button and move on to the next location. This allowed for real-time updates on the GIS server, enabling search teams across the entire region to see updates from each property on the GPS handhelds instantaneously.

An Internet map viewer made it possible for both field and office workers to watch parcels change color as a property’s search was completed and the field officer synched his data with the GIS server via the real-time connection provided by the Trimble Juno SC handheld’s internal modem. In the command center, officials could see immediately if a parcel had been skipped and could send the nearest team back to complete the search.

VicPol estimates that the real-time GPS mapping and GIS solution enabled search teams to complete the entire project in one-third the time it would have taken with the manual, paper-based system.

“The technology solution was unbelievably efficient,” said Barras. “By the time the project was complete, we searched 5,781 properties, conducted 3,352 separate searches on buildings, sheds, vehicles, and water tanks, took 9,600 photos using georeferenced cameras and sent 1,539 geo-referenced records from the Trimble handhelds to the GIS server without a single problem.”

Although the fire caused widespread devastation, the technology provided a swift and efficient damage assessment solution. The VicPol plan to continue using the Trimble Juno SC handhelds and are looking for new ways to apply the technology in other police duties.

“We’ve just touched the tip of the iceberg when it comes to using mapping and GIS technology,” said Barras. “We’re looking at implementing an enterprise GIS system and have already started using the Trimble Juno SC handhelds in police patrols, investigations, and other daily work. There’s no doubt this technology made our jobs easier following the bushfires, and I’m certain it’ll make our daily operations more efficient as well.”

Trimble Juno SC handheld shows actual screen shot from Victoria fire assessment project.


From the early 1800s until the 1970s, Duluth, Minnesota was one of the United States’ most active industrial areas. One legacy of that period has been

high concentrations of toxic industrial chemicals on the banks of the St. Louis River—the area is now a state and federal Superfund site known as the St. Louis River/Interlake/Duluth Tar Site (SLRIDT). Industrial chemical remediation is always difficult; it’s especially complicated at SLRIDT due to the river’s current, waves, freeze/thaw and other natural forces. The remediation that began in 1992 has been largely successful, but a residue of toxins unavoidably remains. Containment, not removal, is the SLRIDT remediation endgame.

The current strategy is to “cap” existing wetland soils with a “three-layer cake” of dolomite, placed in two 15–23 cm (6–9 in) layers, a geotextile root barrier and a top layer of red sand. To work as intended, coverage had to be consistent and thorough. Duluth-based AMI Consulting Engineers was hired to monitor the capping work.

The area being capped was more than 90 acres of mostly submerged land. Work was done primarily by a combina-tion of wading and working from boats. Project specs called for monitoring points placed on a 7.5-m (25-ft) grid, and elevation had to be measured at least four times at each point: once on the original ground for a reference and once after each layer went down. Real-time monitoring was important because layer thickness was important: dolomite layers had to be at least 15 cm (6 in) thick to

be effective, but no more than 23 cm (9 in) thick to avoid heavy patches that would disturb contaminated soil. The project was a little like a dynamic topographic survey, with surveyors scrambling to track a changing landscape.

AMI used from three to five crewmembers for the work using two Trimble R8 GNSS and two Trimble R6 GPS Re-ceivers to do RTK surveying; a Trimble R6 was set as base station with the rest used as rovers with the Trimble TSC2 Controller and Trimble Survey Controller Software.

In addition to recording elevations with GNSS receivers, the AMI team also took core samples at each point, a procedure that was challenging in its sheer repetition. For each core, the crewmember had to bend over, ram a clear PVC tube into the mucky soil, extract it and note the layer depths—thousands of times, twice or more for each point.

Working in concert with earthmoving equipment, the AMI crew worked 12–16 hour days for most of the summer of 2009, ultimately taking thousands of shots. Daily data uploads allowed prime contractor Shaw Environmental to verify that layers were put down properly.

The precise, tedious work was the critical last phase of a successful, multi-year project that should protect St. Louis River wetlands for decades to come.

See feature article in POB’s March issue: www.pobonline.com

Putting a Lid on It


When modifying existing oil platforms to increase production, engineers need detailed models of the facilities. Trimble scanning technology

keeps projects on track with fast, accurate information.

Facing increasing demand for oil worldwide, petroleum producers are seeking new ways to increase the output of existing facilities. In West Africa’s Gulf of Guinea, Sofresid Engineering was conducting a design and installation study for increasing the capacities of two production platforms for their customer, an oil extraction company. Sofresid’s engineers needed to ensure that everything would fit into the platforms’ limited space.

When Urbica Sales Engineer and Project Manager François-Xavier Eeckman arrived on site, he faced numerous challenges. The platforms were crowded with people and machinery and production could not be interrupted. With no up-to-date drawings available, it was clear that 3D scanning was the only way to provide an accurate picture of the platform and all equipment.

The Urbica team first establishing a series of reference points as control for all scans. They then utilized the 3D scanners, digitizing all production equipment on each platform’s four levels. In the most cramped interior spaces, Eeckman used two Trimble FX 3D Scanners to produce dense, high-precision point clouds at short ranges. Exterior areas called for longer-range scanning; the team used a Trimble GS200 3D Scanner to scan the helideck (helicopter landing pad) as well as the entire installation from an adjacent platform. The oil platforms presented a challenging environment for precise measurements. “There was very little room for us

to set up our instruments,” Eeckman said. “The continuous operation of the platform caused a lot of vibration.” The surveyors also had to deal with the constant movement of personnel as well as unpredictable weather.

On the extraction platform, numerous gas compressors caused intermittent and significant vibrations. The structure of the platform vibrated by several centimeters in places, precluding any usual 3D scan. Thanks to the speed of the Trimble FX Scanner and its "customizable" setup, the team managed to carry out very short stations (< 3 min) in between vibrations.

The Urbica team applied leveling control to smooth deviations caused by platform vibration. They then collected data from 180 different setup points on both platforms, gathering approximately 7.5-billion 3D measurements. With an overall density of 500,000 points per cubic meter, scan quality was comparable to 3D digital photography. “We worked on site for five days,” said Eeckman. “We had no problems with the scanning and data, and production was never interrupted.”

Using the scanning data, engineers could inspect the platforms in three dimensions and develop improvement plans. Technicians created detailed 2D drawings, up-to-date isometric drawings of pipe work and an exhaustive inventory of the equipment in place. “The three Trimble scanners gave us complete satisfaction,” said Eeckman. “We were pleased with their accuracy, speed of operation and reliability, and Sofresid Engineering and the final customers were satisfied with the deliverables."

Scanning Mission on the High Seas


Surveyors don't need advanced tools to see changes on the horizon for their industry. While the economic slowdown has meant challenging times today, many indicators show increased opportunities in the future. So the question is not whether there will be jobs for surveyors, but whether the increasing need for technologically proficient surveyors and

geospatial professionals will be effectively met. Today, one Northern California high school is ready with an answer. Armed with the latest Trimble technology, two Piner High School science teachers are getting students out of the classroom and into the field to practice science, not just learn about it. And they may help change the face of GIS and surveying in the process.

Kurt Kruger and Kristi Erickson, science and technology teachers at Santa Rosa's Piner High School, wanted to get students on their feet actually doing science instead of just sitting in a classroom "listening to teachers talk, reading books and doing problem sets," says Kruger. With its combination of cutting-edge technology and growing number of field applications, GIS and surveying was a natural solution to the problem. They set out to introduce a new discipline into Piner's curriculum, the Geospatial Technology Pathway (GTP).

Now, two years into the first three-year GTP cycle, Kruger and Erickson are exhausted but exhilarated. Still in "building mode," they are working hard to get the word out and raise money for the tech-heavy program. Current inventory includes a TrimbleGPS Survey System, Nikon DTM-322 5" Total Stations, Trimble Juno ST and Juno SB GPS Handhelds, Trimble GPS Pathfinder® ProXT™ Receivers, Trimble TerraSync™, and Trimble GPS Pathfinder Office Software.

A New Generation ofGeospatial Professionals

Northern California High School Prepares Students for Careers in Survey and GIS

Piner High School students Clemencio Lopez, Joe Kearns, David Henderson, Lauren Durling and Travis Scaife with the GTP’s Trimble equipment.


Even at this early stage, the teachers say the program is a success: from first-year geocaching projects to introduce GPS applications, to the anticipated third-year field-work with professional surveyors, Piner's GTP has already succeeded in getting kids into the field solving real problems. And the geospatial community is taking notice.

From the start, Piner's program has been a team effort: local professors, professional surveyors and the Trimble community have all supported this one-of-a-kind program. Local survey firms including Ray Carlson and Associates, Inc., and Cinquini & Passarino, Inc., are active in the program, offering training sessions, use of advanced Trimble GNSS surveying equipment and a commitment to provide staff surveyors as mentors for third-year GTP students. The City of Santa Rosa has also supported the program with geospatial data and maps for the program; and the Sonoma County GIS Director has helped Kruger and Erickson with curriculum and GIS questions that have come up during the year. California Survey and Drafting Supply (CSDS), which donated the Trimble GPS survey system, has given the teachers training on the use of the technology, and Trimble representatives recently spent a day in a local park working with the kids as they learn Trimble TerraSync Software.

But even with all this professional support, the program would be nothing without the kids.

Long before the program began, Piner kids were included in planning the new pathway, says senior (final year) and GTP student Lauren Durling. Durling was invited to sit on the board that analyzed the viability of the GTP. Kruger says, "If the kids hadn't shown enthusiasm for the program, we might never have gotten off the ground." Today, Durling is in her second year as a GTP student, and spends her days mapping the campus and learning the technology. Though she kind of "fell into" this class, Durling has developed a love for maps as a means of

solving real-world problems. Classmate Travis Scaife was encouraged to sign up by his dad, who works in underground construction. As a self-described "tech nerd," Scaife says he's in it for the technology.

Scaife spent a recent day mapping the trees on campus. He says it was a surprise how easy it was to learn the technology. Initially intimidated, he found it "pretty easy to catch on" with the Trimble devices. Durling was surprised as well, that it was so much fun. "The hands-on stuff is really cool, and the teachers are really cool too," she says. "They don't follow us around all day. They give us the GPS units and say, 'Go get your data!'"

Building on the experience of mapping campus features, the students will be using the new total stations to fulfill a service project at a local creek in need of restoration. They'll set accurate boundaries and create precision maps of the creek—all with the goal of solving a real problem for their community. How many class assignments can you say that about?

Piner's immersive GTP is already unique in the country, but Kruger and Erickson are not ready to sit back yet. They are currently working with the district on designs for a $3-million geospatial science center that will include a new GIS lab, along with a wealth of geospatial/environmental research technology. GTP students are expected to participate in the preliminary site surveys in support of licensed surveyors.

For Erickson and Kruger, what began as a passion to teach real-world science has become a pathway to careers for their students in a changing and growing field. Armed with the knowledge of traditional survey and mapping skills, the foundation of any geospatial application, they will have a huge advantage in the workplace no matter what path they pursue.

See feature article in American Surveyor's February issue: www.amerisurv.com

Piner High School students Lauren Durling and Travis Scaife learn to use the Trimble R8 GNSS Receiver.

Students Travis Scaife, David Henderson and Joe Kearns learn to use the Nikon DTM-322 5" Total Station.


An aging bridge. An open pit mine. An underground construction project in a dense urban setting. All of these projects have potential for movement—and all of them present tremendous opportunities for surveying professionals to predict, prevent and make

sense of that movement through monitoring, one of the profession’s growing disciplines.

Finding New Opportunitiesin Monitoring

As the new year and the next decade begin, those in markets served by the surveying profession report being unsure of what the future will hold; in addition, they don’t expect a rapid rebound. Across the board, however, there is agreement that businesses can get ahead in this economic climate by looking toward areas of growth, taking advantage of new technologies and focusing on creating new opportunities. With a monitoring solution by Trimble, firms can do all these things by employing the advanced tools they need to make sense of movement in real time.

It makes sense that demand for monitoring is rising— not just because of the potential growth foreseen in the energy and infrastructure sectors, but also because monitoring is at the center of today’s work environ-ment, on projects both large and small. Monitoring systems detect motion, helping ensure that workers remain safe and equipment is protected; provide data, reducing risk by educating those involved about a structure’s behavior; and keep projects in compliance with regional regulations and contracts that often call for monitoring. By providing precise, reliable measurements combined with data management and

analysis, a Trimble monitoring solution helps companies intelligently manage the work they already have and offers the opportunity to grow new business, with both existing and new clients.

Monitoring is a key focus for Trimble’s Survey Division. Product Manager Derek Miles, an expert on the com-pany’s monitoring solutions, said that decision is logical because of foreseen growth in market demand that could be addressed by the surveying community. Demand is increasing for monitoring solutions for large construc-tion and tunnel projects in densely populated places such as Europe, where damage mitigation—monitoring to detect movement or settling in the buildings above an underground project site, for example—is imperative.

Worker safety is critical in areas with open pit mines in North America, South America, Australia and South Africa, where pit walls are made steeper to maximize production in the mines. “In the mining application, you always expect things to move, but [the question is] at what rate,” Miles said. This is but one crucial question concerning movement. Others include: In what direction? Is it accelerating? Is it what is expected?


Effective, Integrated ChoicesTrimble monitoring solutions help companies best take advantage of emerging monitoring opportunities, starting small and growing according to need. The tools have been used on notable projects around the world and interest in the technology is growing.

During construction of the Pitt River Bridge in Vancouver, Canada, surveyors used Trimble Total Stations to monitor deformation of the existing structure, as well as movement in the new towers, while the new bridge was being built. The quality assurance surveyor for the new Green Point Stadium in Cape Town, South Africa,

relied upon high-precision Trimble S8 Total Stations and Trimble field software to ensure the accuracy of the stadium’s structural elements.*

In Zurich, Switzerland, where a new underground railway is taking shape just a few meters below historic buildings and structures, 45 Trimble S8 Total Stations are measuring every 30 minutes; measurement data are then automatically checked against the predefined thresholds for motion or subsidence. And on the Tolt Dam in the Seattle region, Trimble GNSS sensors and software are poised to detect movement in the dam or surrounding areas and send data to system operators in downtown Seattle for review and analysis.

Easy EntryIn recent years, advances in positioning and measuring technology as well as computer networks and com-munications technology have enabled Trimble to create a product that fits the demand for more automated monitoring solutions. The newest version of Trimble 4D Control Software allows customers to better manage and ensure the accuracy of data collected by combining GNSS and optical total stations on a single project. It marks the first time Trimble has integrated total station and GNSS technology into a single software application for monitoring that—by putting these technologies together—requires just one system to do all the work, not two.

The newest version of Trimble 4D Control also includes improved support for Internet communication and, with Trimble GNSS added, better capabilities to inte-grate data from multiple sensors, Miles said. At a large excavation project, for example, Trimble GNSS receivers monitor not just individual points with long-range accuracy, but also the stability of total station control points to ensure stability of the optical monitoring solution. If movement outside an acceptable range is detected, Trimble 4D Control Software immediately sends alerts to those who need to know, helping them take immediate action.

Now, more than ever, new technology presents surveyors with new opportunities. Trimble’s monitoring solutions make it easy for companies to make a meaningful impact on the market and expand to accommodate new business, adding more components as needed. Industry experts agree that successful companies won’t sit around and wait for the market to recover—they’ll seek out and create new opportunities for themselves. Monitoring is an area just waiting to be tapped. Are you ready?

*Green Point Stadium is a semifinal venue for the 2010 World Cup South Africa in June.


Jerusalem’s Starry Sky

Seventy years after one of the darkest times in Germany’s history, starlight is pouring into a new synagogue that replaces one destroyed just prior to World War II.

Located in northwest Germany near Hannover, Herford is a beautiful town with a population of 67,000 and a history dating back more than 1,200 years to its founding by Charlemagne. On the night of November 9, 1938, also known as Kristallnacht (Crystal Night), Herford’s synagogue was one of the many synagogues and other buildings burned to the ground throughout Germany by the Nazi Party.

For the next 70 years, the site lay in waste until the town’s growing Jewish community decided to build a new place of worship in the same location. Keeping the historical significance of the site in mind, the community designed a two-story, Neo-Gothic style synagogue heavily influenced by the original architecture. On November 9, 2009, exactly 71 years after the building’s destruction, the Jewish community was to take over the completed structure.

At an early stage in the planning, the community had asked to have a starry sky—more specifically, the November starry sky above Jerusalem—mapped on the ceiling of the synagogue hall. This was deemed appropriate for the consecration and the request was passed on to Bernhard Brauner, an amateur

Bernhard Brauner (left) marked the stars' positions on paper and Günter Stückmann (right) transformed the positions to the three-dimensional room of the synagogue. Photo by Ralf Bittner.


astronomer who oversees the observatory in the Friedrichs-Gymnasium (high school) in Herford. Brauner approached Günter Stückmann, also from Herford and the director of the nearby City of Bielefeld’s surveying office, and asked him to collaborate on the surveying to make the project a reality.

A Challenging TaskThe task was more challenging than it appeared. The team, which consisted of Brauner, Stückmann and Bielefeld surveyor Ulrich Gaesing, needed to transfer the hemispherical map of Jerusalem’s starry sky to the barrel-shaped ceiling of the synagogue. Like most experts, though, they knew it wasn’t possible to authentically map the stars of the hemisphere onto a barrel-shaped vault. Distortion-free mapping of stars is only possible in the center of the room, as the distortion becomes greater and greater towards the perimeter.

Using a Trimble total station, Gaesing and Stückmann precisely measured the dimensions of the hall on the second floor. These dimensions included the layout as well as the height of the hall and the radius of the ceiling. To their surprise, they discovered that the ceiling was not shaped exactly in a semi-circle, but that 54 cm (21 in) in height was missing from the radius, so that it was merely a segment of a circle. Nonetheless the hall was measured almost exactly to the millimeter so the dimensions could be precisely recorded. The floor space had a length of 12.485 m (40.96 ft) and a width of 6.90 m (22.64 ft). The maximum height was 5.70 m (18.70 ft).

Mapping the Night SkyBrauner mapped all 248 fixed stars onto paper; Stückmann, using Microsoft Excel software, then transferred them into the three-dimensional local coordinates of the synagogue. “Using the Trimble total station, we could station ourselves at four different positions in the hall so that we could accurately map the stars as laser points,” Gaesing said. These points were mapped on the plasterboard panels of the barrel-shaped ceiling without slipping intersections. All 248 stars, as well as the room's corners, were stored in the instrument to enable the total station to be exactly positioned. They used a pencil to make the crosses on the plasterboard panels so the marks wouldn’t be seen. Within three hours, all stars were marked and numbered.

“Several times we marked an already marked star from a different instrument position and were amazed at the precision with which it came to the existing penciled cross,” Stückmann said.

The next step was drilling holes for LED lights so the plasterboard panels could be covered with textile. The drill holes were made visible to the electricians by large

construction projectors positioned on the reverse side of the barrel vault. The lamps were fitted in 4 different intensities: 64 stars would shine dimly, 65 stars would be slightly brighter, 76 even brighter, and 43 stars would shine brightly. In this way an exact reproduction of Jerusalem’s starry sky was created both in layout and in luminosity. The community’s wish was fulfilled.

The final cost of the new building was around €1.5 million (US $2.15 million) and was funded equally by the Herford council, the Jewish community and the state of North-Rhine Westphalia. The surveying work was pro bono.

“It was an interesting geodetic task,” Gaesing said. More importantly, though—and apart from the technical aspect—it offered the opportunity to acknowledge the Jewish community and the challenges of their past.

Harry Rothe (left) and Ruben Heinemann of the Herford Jewish community point to the new ceiling, which depicts the November starry sky above Jerusalem. Photo by Kiel-Steinkamp.

Herford Synagogue photo by Ulrich Gaesing.


Photo Contest

This issue’s Honorable Mention winners will each receive a limited-edition Trimble watch:

Winter SurveySurveyor Gernot Ludwig of Keypro Oy took this re-markable image while surveying underground cables of the electric power network in Helsinki, Finland. Ludwig shot the image at 4:56 pm in mid-January while surveying in the eastern part of Helsinki near Itäkeskus. “The sun had already set and it started to snow,” said Ludwig, who adds he didn’t do any addi-tional creative work on the photograph. “The red light beam from the Trimble S6 Total Station suddenly became visible by reflecting on snowflakes.” Keypro is a provider of network information systems and materials; the company also surveys underground electrical wiring in Helsinki. The surveying is continuous work throughout the year whenever a part of the cable network is built or repaired; Keypro crews use the Trimble S6 combined with the Trimble R8 GNSS Receiver and the Trimble TSC2 Controller to survey the wiring. The survey information is used to update the electrical network map of Helsinki.

Location, Location, Location Surveyor Victor Alvarado of Geo Systems Ingenieria S.A. in San Isidro, Peru, sent this beautiful image* while using a Trimble GX 3D Scanner to survey the location for a potable water treatment plant in Arequipa, Peru.

*This photo was also used in the Trimble 2010 Survey Calendar for April.

One of our most popular features, the Technology&more photo contest continues to draw in colorful and interesting images from around the world. These winning photographs come from Peru and Finland. First place—and a Trimble 4-in-1 all-weather jacket—goes to Frédéric Bernard of the Urbica Company for his

photo "3D Laser Team at Work." You’ll see the photo on page 13 and the back cover.

Note: The Technology&more photo contest is open to all non-professional photographers. All photos that show Trimble equipment will be considered in the contest.


Trimble Dimensions China 2009

More than 1,750 people attended the first Trimble Dimensions China User Conference in December 2009. The Conference theme, “Steered by Technology,

Exploration has no Boundaries,” highlighted the accomplish-ments of Chinese explorers past and present. Held at the JiuHua Resort & Convention Center in Beijing, the Conference included two days of keynote and technical sessions, as well as hands-on training, exhibitions and demonstrations.

At the keynote sessions, presentations focused on the con-nection between the work of 15th Century Navigator Zheng He and China’s recent Shengzhou manned space flights. Trimble President and CEO Steve Berglund told the attendees that the upcoming Chinese Beidou satellite positioning system is symbolic of China’s technological development. He pointed out that for the past five years China has been one of the world’s most active innovators, establishing permanent GNSS network infrastructure as the basis for continuing development. Later, Trimble Vice President Bryn Fosburgh described the rapid pace of change in positioning technology and Trimble’s commitment to providing solutions tailored to meet local needs.

Other keynote speakers illustrated the importance of explo-ration in China. Ian Hudson, a researcher who contributed to the book “1421: The Year China Discovered America,” described evidence of Chinese expeditions that reached the Americas, Australia and Antarctica long before European explorers. Long Lehao, a renowned academic and leading designer of the Long March 3A launch vehicle, discussed China’s current work in space exploration.

With more than 100 technical sessions presented, education was the primary focus at Trimble Dimensions China 2009. Sessions were organized into tracks that allowed individuals to concentrate on a particular application or solution.

Topics for session tracks included: Emergency Relief; Airports and Highways; Railway Solutions; Surveying; Utilities; Mapping and GIS; GNSS Infrastructure; Mobile Mapping; and Construction.

Conference attendees showed strong interest in the technical sessions; most rooms were filled to capacity. Trimble users and customers presented more than 70 percent of the technical sessions, describing applications and projects in China that use Trimble technology. Additional sessions and workshops by Trimble experts provided information and updates on Trimble systems including Trimble GNSS, total stations, Spatial Imaging, wireless communications and field and office software.

Trimble Dimensions China also included an outdoor train-ing area for demonstrations of Trimble Surveying Systems and hands-on sessions with Trimble Site Positioning and Machine Control Systems. In addition, a Partners Pavilion showcased the complete suite of Trimble solutions. The Conference closed with a gala dinner and entertainment for all attendees.

Beijing Surveying & Mapping Design Institute Vice Dean Zhang Fenglu summarized his experiences at Trimble Dimensions China 2009. “This Conference helped us learn the latest technologies and solutions from Trimble and establish contacts with our counterparts from home and abroad,” he said. “We appreciate the Conference organizers’ efforts in making this event available.”

Trimble’s User Conferences continue to grow and attract in-terest around the world. The next event, Trimble Dimensions 2010, will take place in Las Vegas on November 8–10, 2010.

See www.trimbleevents.com for details.

Photo ContestEnter Trimble’s Technology&more Photo Contest!

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The winners of the Trimble Photo Contest receive Trimble prizes and the photos are published in Technology&more. This issue's first place winner is the "3D Laser Team at Work" photo submitted by Frédéric Bernard of the Urbica Company.

Honorable mention winners are published on page 20. Send your photo at 300 dpi resolution (10 x 15 cm or 4 x 6 in) to [email protected]. Make sure you include your name, title and contact information.

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