survey

GeoSystems' Christchurch office not affected
by fire at Trimble Navigation complex

GeoSystems is fully operational and, after restoring local GNSS correction services,
is working with Trimble to provide support, resources and assistance

GeoSystems New Zealand Limited, the New Zealand distributer of professional grade geospatial products developed by Trimble Navigation, can confirm that the fire which devastated the Trimble Navigation New Zealand Limited office overnight has not affected the GeoSystemsChristchurch office located in Riccarton.

"The GeoSystems management team and staff would like to express their sympathy for the losses suffered by Trimble New Zealand and its employees, but are thankful that all of the staff have been reported safe," stated GeoSystems' Business Development Manager, Martin Hewitt. "We are also keeping the injured firefighters in our thoughts and send our gratitude to the Fire Service personnel for their efforts to contain the blaze."

Hewitt further reassured customers, "The GeoSystems' Christchurch head office is operating as usual from Leslie Hills Drive, supplying local and national customers with new products, along with hire and loan equipment."

"The GNSS Base Station that supplies data for the Christchurch Southern Motorway Project, which had been operating from within the Trimble building, was lost in the fire but our Development Engineer, Jason Brice, was able to restore their GNSS correction services to a fully operational status by 11am using the Wigram Base both via radio and internet streaming to their Project Office."

The GeoSystems team is currently working with Trimble staff to provide support and resources to their researchers and developers in order to continue Trimble's immediate ability to supply new products and support services to customers in New Zealand and abroad until alternative premises for the Trimble staff are arranged.

Updates on the fire damage and future of the Trimble complex will be released directly from Trimble New Zealand, part of Trimble Navigation Limited -headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, as more information becomes available.

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GeoSystems New Zealand Limited - Founded in 1985, GeoSystems is the largest supplier of global positioning systems, measuring instruments and design software solutions in New Zealand. A registered Trimble and Garmin dealer, as well as an ESRI partner, GeoSystems has three national offices in Christchurch, Wellington, and Auckland.

The GeoSystems team specialises in the supply, support and implementation of applied spatial technology, including GPS, positioning systems and associated software, to surveyors, construction and mapping professionals. They combine knowledge of communication platforms, mapping, GPS, GIS and design software with professional knowledge and systems integration expertise. It is through this well-informed use of technology that GeoSystems supplies and supports innovative products and technologies to New Zealand professionals, enabling increased productivity.

Kiwi Ingenuity Competition

We know our customers aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty, but we’re also sure that there are clever customers out there who have found innovative ways to use today’s technology to boost their productivity and efficiency.

If you’ve been putting your Kiwi Ingenuity to use ---overcoming harsh terrain, pushing through challenging conditions or meeting strict precision requirements with a Trimble, Spectra Precision or Nikon product--- we’d like to hear how you did it!

Get the opportunity to share the success story with others in the industry and brainstorm options for other challenges you, or others, are facing. Be in to have your own 30 minute seminar slot for a bit of ‘show and tell.’

If you have used Trimble gear in a new or unique way to work with the situation at hand, we'd like to hear from you! Drop us a note at gt10@geosystems.co.nz with your name and contact details along with a short description of your innovation and include the following information:

• Product you used.
• Challenge or conditions your had to work in.
• Requirements you had to meet.
• How you made the product get the job done right?

Don’t miss this chance to have an open discussion about industry challenges and requirements and gain a FREE GT10 SEMINAR REGISTRATION for the venue closest to you.

Tasked with keeping a tight schedule, Fletcher Higgins Joint Venture (FHJV), principal contractor on Transit New Zealand’s upgrade on State Highway 2 from Dowse to Petone, selected Trimble software to manage all design and survey information on the project.

Commenting on the power and versatility of the solution provided by GeoSystems, project surveyor Charles Dunk said, “We used Terramodel and SCS Data Manager on the project to interpret and centrally store our design data, including DWG and MX Roads files. We were able to combine the different CAD files and create one ‘master’ design file along with a set of ‘base’ models that could be easily overlaid when required.”

GeoSystems Account Manager, Will Newall, felt that Terramodel was perfect for the job, “It can read virtually any file format available. Once imported, data can then be examined and analysed in 3D.”

Emphasising Terramodel’s flexibility, Dunk continued, “Each file was rotated and scaled for our site control so that all elements, for example bridges, drainage, and barriers, were in our site coordinate system. This led to easy grouping and transferring via SCS Data Manager, using Terramodel to export 3D DXF files for geometry strings, TTM files for surface models and CSV files for stations and points such as pile centres.” SCS Data Manager allowed Dunk’s chosen files to be synchronised automatically, ensuring optimum data flow both out to our Trimble survey equipment, and then back in for comprehensive reporting.

Dunk concluded by saying, “Terramodel was also used to design our temporary road alignments, allowing us to negotiate with Transit and stakeholders well ahead of the construction phase. Drawings and sections could be produced and batters set-out, helping with communication to third parties.”

Trimble software, as part of the complete Trimble solution, has enabled FHJV’s survey department keep the project ahead of schedule. Managers have been able to easily organise, monitor and control all data from a single point, which lead to increased efficiencies once the project commenced.

GPS Mission Planning

When undertaking GPS/GNSS Surveying it is a good idea to undertake some mission planning to check that you have adequate satellite availablity to allow completion of your task.  Trimble have Planning software which is ideal for this, there is a link below which will allow you to download then install this for your use.  The Almanac and Ephemeris files necessary are also available from the links below.  Happy Mission Planning.

Download the Trimble Planning Software:

Installation program for Planning software 2.74 (zip)

GPS Almanac in SFF file format
Glonass Almanac
GPS / Glonass Almanac in Trimble Planning file format

TRIMBLE R8 GNSS SYSTEM

A BASE AND ROVER RECEIVER FOR RTK GPS SURVEYING

The Trimble® R8 GNSS System is a multi-channel, multi-frequency GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) receiver, antenna, and data-link radio combined in one compact unit. It contains Trimble R-Track technology to support all GPS signals, including the new L2C signal and the coming L5 signal of GPS Modernization. It also supports GLONASS.

The Trimble R8 combines advanced receiver technology and a proven system design to provide maximum accuracy and productivity.

A Proven System Design

From the powerful Trimble field software to the receiver itself, the Trimble R8 GNSS system's overall design has been tried, tested, and proven. As a rover it is rugged, lightweight and cable free for unsurpassed ergonomics in the field. As a base it is flexible and also cable free: use the Trimble R8 as a base or rover according to each job's needs.

The Original Integrated Surveying Solution and Beyond

The Trimble R8 GNSS system is designed to support Trimble's original Integrated Surveying™ solution. Combine your GPS and optical data in one job file in powerful Trimble field software such as Trimble Survey Controller™. Transfer the job file seamlessly to your Trimble office software for processing.

Trimble R-Track Technology for Comprehensive GNSS Support

Powered by an enhanced RTK engine, Trimble R-Track technology supports GPS Modernization: the new L2C signals and the coming L5 band. As soon as they are transmitted, these new signals are capable of providing surveying professionals with real field benefits. Trimble R-Track technology also supports GLONASS L1/L2 signals.

GeoSystems currently has the following position available. 

Account Manager - Survey Division 

An exciting opportunity has been created in our Wellington office (in Tawa) to join our technical sales team.
 
This position will involve marketing the Trimble range of equipment and software that our company represents to the surveying industry including GPS, Robotic Total Stations, Scanning solutions and Technical Software.
 
Key Result Areas will include:

• Working with customers to enhance productivity
• Providing professional advice and solutions
• Managing the sales territory to agreed targets (territory is Lower North Island, Taupo South)

The person who will fill this position may already be involved within the surveying or civil engineering industry.  We are seeking a sales professional with Attitude who is results driven. They should be well organised, enjoy working with clients, positive and able to take some times complex problems and provide solutions. A high level of computer literacy is essential and experience with Trimble systems would be an advantage although full training will be provided to the successful applicant.
 
GeoSystems is an established company with offices in Auckland, New Plymouth, Wellington and Christchurch supplying Global Positioning Systems, Measurement Equipment and Technical Software Solutions throughout New Zealand and the South Pacific. This is an opportunity to be involved in some of the new technologies becoming established in the Surveying and Construction Industries.
 
An immediate start is available to the successful applicant. A company vehicle will be provided as part of the package.
 
Please forward your CV to: Account Manager, Geo-Systems Ltd, PO Box 33 970, Takapuna or email it to mark.green@geosystems.co.nz.
 
For further information please contact Mark.

Mark Green
mark.green@geosystems.co.nz
09 915 6761
021 373 535

Designed to create a virtual model for high precision short base line work across wide areas

Trimble's VRS™ (Virtual Reference Station) system uses the RTK solutions from the Trimble® RTKNet software and provides high-accuracy, real-time kinematic (RTK) GPS positioning for wider areas. The fixed VRS network is available at any time without setting up a base station and provides common control wherever you are in the network.

The VRS system is made up of the latest in GPS hardware, modeling and networking software, plus communications interfacing. Once set up, RTK roving receivers in the field have access to real-time network modeled corrections. In the field, you also have the reassurance of the built-in integrity monitoring system that warns if there are any problems with the data.

Designed for single site GPS reference station setup

Ideal for surveyors, engineers, mappers, and geomatics professionals, Trimble® GPSBase reference station software provides the base functionality for your fixed reference station solution. Designed for the setup of a single-site GPS reference station, this fully automated system operates continuously to provide either RTK or postprocessed data to GPS users within a local area. GPSBase is an affordable, flexible and easy-to-use solution that makes the setup of your fixed reference station quick and easy.

Scalable Fixed Reference Station

Part of the Trimble offering of scalable infrastructure solutions, GPSBase meets the needs of companies and organizations that desire the benefits of a single fixed reference station to serve their local area and be positioned to grow. Trimble provides a portfolio of infrastructure solutions to accommodate single reference stations, networks of reference stations, or VRS™ (Virtual Reference Station) solutions.