TREKK Live Long and Prosper

I have been a surveyor for almost four decades. I, like most of you, have seen technology advance at an unprecedented pace. Where we have been and where are we going in the engineering surveying world of data documentation through a technological mindset? Technology isn’t from the imagination to make our lives harder.  It comes from the concept of making our lives easier…. more profitable…. more precise.   This is change.   When it comes to apprehension what we are really talking about is change. What happens to people when they are overwhelmed by change and how we adapt to it.  So, if we dare to dream we must dare to accept. To go where no man has gone before…

Visionary, Gene Rodenberry dared to stretch the imagination of the future. Growing up as a kid working cattle one of the popular television shows at the time was Star Trek. Imagination of technology then was the communicator you hold in your hand (although some of you are still holding on to the old flip phone technology). No one flipped a phone like Captain Kirk. Uhura had a communication device in her ear that today we call hands-free calling. We are exposed to 3000 messages daily. This over-stimulation of sensory levels increases distortion, how we perceive reality and how we think. To compensate for this psychologists say we must increase the level of accuracy to process information. In short, the more rapidly changing the environment the more information the individual needs to process in order to make effective rational decisions.

Terrametrix is facing change. In my early days of surveying we took a shot every 25’ and that information was considered gospel, unchallenged. Dead reckoning is a good example of antiquated field approaches. Although it was not wrong, it did not result in a complete representation of the real environment being documented. Today, technology allows us to acquire enough accurate information to access it when we need it, how we need it and where we need it. It started with a vision. When we started Terrametrix as a safer way to collect survey-grade data and keep our crews safely out of the red zone the long-term goal was to find a company with the same commitment to safety. Even when the technology like mobile LiDAR is proven, the concept of changing a mindset can be convoluted. Some change we accept more readily than others because the need is greater than the apprehension. Safety is a forceful driving component for anyone involved in the AEC world and our new company TREKK Design Group gets it. Like anything else filling a need drives innovation. As early as the 1980’s the VanGuard 2000 came out of the need to keep the surveyor safe along the roadside. The Gene Rodenberry vision of the mobile mappers today is terrestrial mobile LiDAR.

As Terrametrix we had the LiDAR technology to accomplish our safety goal, now we have the horsepower to fully deploy the technology. When departments across multiple platforms use the same data the costs of acquiring that data is reduced.  It’s a simple financial plan. "Map it once use it many times" was introduced by Congressman Doug Lamborn (R-CO) intended to streamline federal bureaucracy dealing with map making. Currently, more than 40 different federal agencies have geospatial activities. Advances in mapping technology and demands for mapping products have created greater demand in the federal government for geospatial services. However, the coordination between agencies often fails to produce the best information for the best price. Frequently, multiple federal agencies will request mapping of the same area at the same time, wasting federal resources, and taxpayer dollars. TREKK is leading the way by example as a forward thinking multi-disciplined, women owned civil engineering firm. Our team is excited to be the in-house provider of LiDAR. It should be an exciting new enterprise.  See you on the TREKK side!

The Tree that Owns Itself – No Good Deed Goes Unquestioned

Just a short walk from my hotel during the GURISA Conference in Athens, Georgia located at the top of the steep hill where Dearing and Finley Streets intersect stands a stately 350-year-old white oak*. Protected since the early 19^th century, University of Georgia professor, Colonel William H. Jackson, deeded the tree, its autonomy and apparently, the love and devotion from childhood memories to Georgia residents and the land within eight feet of it on all sides. He was determined to protect it—forever.

A tree that owns itself? Located in a street right-of-way with a lost deed? As a land surveyor, naturally I have questions.

For a deed to be properly executed, certain acts must be performed to create a valid conveyance. Ordinarily, an essential element of execution is the signature of the grantor in the proper place. It is not necessary, however, that the grantee sign the deed in order for it to take effect as a conveyance. Generally, state statutes require that the deed be signed in the presence of witnesses, attesting to the grantor's request.

There is a process to reading and interpreting a deed. Many deeds were made without the benefit of a title opinion, survey or an attorney. They, like the tree that owns itself, were simply made by one of the parties to the transaction. The tree pays no taxes, is protected by the community and rests secure in its own enclosed garden-type lot. The original deed is lost to history, but a plaque at the foot of the tree reads:

“For and in consideration of the great love I bear this tree and the great desire I have for its protection for all time, I convey entire possession of itself and all land within eight feet of the tree on all sides – Wiliam H. Jackson

Whether the tree owns itself or not doesn't really matter. The tree, probably the most unusual property holder in the world, and the entire Dearing Street Historic District were added to the National Register of Historic Places as an important historic site in 1975.

*The original tree became diseased and was blown down in a windstorm on October 9, 1942, and a new tree was grown from one of its acorns.  The Junior Ladies Garden Club grew a sapling from one of the tree's acorns and planted it on the same spot October 9, 1946. The tree's property rights have never been challenged.

See more at: http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/11703#sthash.1DpTiF5L.dpuf

RMS Titanic

By Michael R Frecks, PLS

Face it, sometimes your accuracy just hits the iceberg. We have seen error reports within .011 of a foot and we’ve seen them crest near 0.080 of a foot. The key to obtaining LiDAR accuracy is understanding the components.

When I speak to surveyors about the acronym RMS (Root Mean Square) error reports I often feel like a captain on a sinking ship.  ESRI’s definition is cumbersome: “A measure of the difference between locations that are known and locations that have been interpolated or digitized. RMS error is derived by squaring the differences between known and unknown points, adding those together, dividing that by the number of test points, and then taking the square root of that result.” The question is… Known and unknown to who?

Think of it this way:  RMS error is the difference between collected LiDAR measurements and traditional collected control points. Where your accuracy can tank is when you have an outlier in the LiDAR data set, not unlike a transposed coordinate number in the field book. But many other variables can affect the accuracy of the RMS error report.

In February of 2009, we scanned a highway in Minnesota using the DOT’s control points. The RMS error was off by inches. Unacceptable even by traditional standards. Sifting painstakingly through the data by both the DOT and my Terrametrix technicians, it was determined that we were seeing frost heave. The control was set in warmer fall conditions and the scan was performed in the winter. Learning curve and when we proved that point we were all amazed at being able to see this movement.

In the winter of 2016, Terrametrix mobile LiDAR collection on a mile-long interstate viaduct in the Northern mid-Atlantic region resulted in a RMS error of .060 compared to 64 control points ranging in a .090 high and .11 low on the bridge.  Control set on hard ground at the approaches had an .013 RMS error against 34 control points ranging .037 high .034 low. The RMS error report comparisons were showing bridge load. Control was shot during rush hour; our scan was performed at the peak of heavy traffic load on the bridge.  Control was set on the bridge mid-span and not as requested over the piers. You could tell because the error at each point was directly related to how far the control was from a pier with the greatest errors being near mid span.

A 2.9-mile road course at Watkins Glen in the fall of 2014 resulted in a RMS 0.012 range .023 high to .021 low against 15 control points every quarter mile. Not bad for an end deliverable used for re-pavement on a historical race track. Another DOT project in the fall of 2015 involved 10.6 miles of interstate. With 101 control points the RMS error was 0.014; ranging  .039 high to .030 low. These are typical RMS highway reports using mobile LiDAR.

I must warn anyone that boasts you don’t need survey control with LiDAR is like telling you the ship is unsinkable. What is your quality check? Control is…. will be… and always has been… minimum standards and prudent operating procedure for land surveyors. Occupy the point. Also, be warned if the RMS error is too good. Anyone who comes up with a zero RMS error has adjusted the LiDAR data to the control point. Plain and simple. Every component of measuring has error, the GPS has error, the scanners have error, the rodman may have had a bad night. (Come on, we’ve all been there). If your RMS error is zero head for the life boats.

"Please stay on the line. Your call is very important to us."

Tis the season for customer service. From that turkey hotline, to downloadable instruction manuals, to that grumpy overworked support tech on the other end of the phone. More than ever we are aware of how good a company is by their ability to communicate their services and product.

Why do we need customer service? What is good and what is bad? How can we tell?

I often laugh when I am engaged with a representative who tells me their company has 24/7 customer support as a selling point for their product. The humor I feel is if the product is so good why the need for extensive support? I understand the need for a supportive subsystem that is available at all times however, I believe in a more upfront offensive strategy of communication.

Often times in our technology keeping the advantage results in a closed system of information. That can be detrimental to your clients understanding of the process and often the request for deliverables. Learning how to manage project owner expectations is crucial to building a mutually beneficial venture. In order to address owner expectations, it is important to first understand how expectations are defined.

One struggle the mobile mapping industry faces is addressing owner expectations within an industry that is not fully defined or understood. Innovative technologies often take time to mature and gain acceptance. The accuracy of the technology is still being defined by the accuracy of traditional survey control which may or may not be as accurate as the accuracy standard of the project. The Everett Rogers Diffusion of Innovations Curve explores the much-hyped tipping point of new innovation to set it apart from being a trend to acceptance.

There are five important areas of communication that serve offensive customer service:

Knowledge. The client must be aware of the technology or innovation and understand how it functions. In my industry mobile mapping is just getting through the early phases of adoption. Therefore, a multitude of expectations are being communicated, but they tend to lack context. The good news is many more of the people I speak with have at least heard about the technology. 

Persuasion. A favorable or unfavorable attitude toward the innovation needs to be addressed before the project or the sale. Change is never widely accepted and any pre-conceived ideas (good or bad) needs to be addressed up front. Typically, technology and innovations are presented in two classifications: evangelical and technical. Beware of the implication of smoke and mirrors. No technology is a complete solve all. Sometimes it is better to walk away from a bad fit project for the technology than to try and fit a square peg in a round hole. 

Decision. Deal with the person who will be engaging in the final choice to adopt or reject the technology or innovation. Emotional dissonance can create a conflict between what a decision maker actually feels and what the company is used to dealing with.

Implementation. The person who puts an innovation into use, the end user, will have expectations. There are most likely systems in place within their current workflow that are an underlying cause for concern or more importantly a process that is automatic. It is important to know when the atmosphere of the company is not acceptable to change of any kind. In this case persuasion will lead to increased bad customer support no matter how good the technology or innovation (you need to find the champion within their team). Teaching a dog new tricks comes with a steep learning curve.

Confirmation. Often times the person who evaluates the results of a technology or innovation will have many questions. It is important when you deliver the final product it comes with an evaluation by both parties. It is more productive to circumvent pre-conceived expectations to avoid conflict resolution. Once the bell is rung about ill performing technology or innovation it is difficult to un-ring the negative misinformation.

So, as we absorb the trappings of the seasons take a lesson from the folks at the Butter Ball turkey hotline… provide a good product that everyone can relate to. Make available an informed staff that can address up front issues. Accept the fact that it can be a daunting task to even the most experienced. And finally, be aware that a reputation for great product doesn’t leave a bad taste in anyone’s mouth.

What Is the Cost of Inexperience?

Often times what seems like a good idea may actually add restraints to the overall goals of the company or even the profession. The intellectual property of your workforce is a guiding factor in a successful project and the most valuable asset a company can have.  First off, when considering buying a scanner a company needs to recognize whether or not there is an adequate skilled workforce within the organization in which to maximize the investment.  Secondly, if there is a champion to head up the program. Technology gets lost very quickly without a champion or driving force behind it. I have seen this happen to numerous organizations in the past. Either the skill of the workforce is not in line with the new technology or the champion transfers to another department, leaves the company or just loses interest. No doubt the selling point by manufacturers is the ease of operation for both mobile and static LiDAR collection, however, what they won’t tell you is the experience needed to collect, process and extract data in an efficient and accurate manner. Proprietary accompanying software for such tasks can often add to the confusion. I have seen over and over after the purchase of a scan system that the learning curve can almost double the initial hardware and software purchase cost.  Do not discount the value a good service provider brings both in up-front getting your feet wet in the technology and easing your team into it.

A good service provider can act as a valuable advisor because of their ACTUAL FIELD experience. In this new world of the Internet, many people believe they can do many things on their own by watching a YouTube video and thus avoid the cost of hiring a professional.  Employers that continually train their employees can serve as a competitive advantage especially in the fast moving technology of 3D data. But, it can also misdirect focus, cause burn-out or misuse skills. Nonetheless training costs need to be factored into a purchase decision. Evaluating the tenure rate within a company is a good indicator of its internal health and the external draw by the competition.  Negative entropy of information and team building within an organization often occurs when skills are misused or misdirected. It will be increasingly more competitive to draw young talent to your team without reviewing what and how you are accomplishing goals within your company.

Exhausting resources not only affects moving the company forward but also in maintaining the status quo.  The time it takes to learn how to physically operate today’s static scanners is short.  Their setup and operation can be fairly quick and easy.  This often leads people to the decision that purchasing a unit may be better than hiring a service provider.  However, there are many more things that go into scanning than just learning which buttons to push to get the head spinning.  Without knowledge of basic survey principals, proper targeting, control and how to read, work with and interpret the scan data, there is a lot that can go wrong very quickly. Lean on the experienced service providers, after all, most of the older ones have walked where you are about to walk and can help you avoid expensive missteps.

Perception - Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds

"It's all in the mind.”  ― George Harrison

When the Fab four stepped off that plane in 1964 Americans weren’t sure what to think of that long hair and rebellious tone but that didn’t stop their popularity. The perception was so overwhelming it became the start of what was dubbed “The British Invasion”. 

Perception is a strange animal.

Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) / Unmanned Aircraft Vehicle (UAV) systems are a powerful new tool for surveyors but they are guilty by association merely through the confused used name drone. DRONE is an acronym for Dynamic Remotely Operated Navigation Equipment. The military Predator, debuted in 2001, became the first weapon in history whose operators could use it to stalk and kill a single individual on the other side of the planet much the way a sniper does, and with total invulnerability.  When the technology converted to a more consumer product the name carried over and so did the impression of invasive performance. These days, the word drone is used to refer to just about any kind of remote-controlled, unmanned aircraft. That could mean a consumer-grade quadcopter or a slightly more advanced octocopter. But it has a negative connotation. It hasn’t helped any that many of these quadcopters in the hands of amateurs have caused further negative impact on a technology that has proven a valuable tool for commercial use. Regardless of size, the responsibility to fly safely applies equally to manned and unmanned aircraft operations. What has happened is legislation and the FAA’s incremental approach failed to address the issues in a timely manner so irresponsible public use has given the UAS/UAV technology a bad name. It is a similar layman's perception of a surveyor referring to his survey instrument as a gun.

Capitol Records, hindered the Beatles' releases in the United States for more than a year by initially declining to issue their music, including their first three singles because they just weren’t sure of the image. Imagine the momentum and talent we lost during that period. Need I remind you how it turned out? 213 Songs*

My point, if you want to advance this technology stop referring to it as drones. Remove the negative perception by an uninformed public. It might help advance the technology to the positive tool it can be for land surveyors and other commercial applications.

·        Source   “The Beatles Complete Scores” By Hal Leonard Corporation, Copyright 1993.

Thumbing a Nose at Mother Nature: Survey at the Desktop GOT IT?

Mother Nature really pulled a joke on us this year. Up to 7 feet of snow blanketed parts of western New York, then flooding; Detroit already has seen its seasonal snowfall; Buffalo 8 feet of snow in one day; 80 percent of California is in either extreme or exceptional drought; lava flowing like molasses in Hawaii and in the Midwest where the temperature can swing in extremes of 100 degrees we do not welcome the frigid temperatures we have seen before Thanksgiving.

As a land surveyor in the Midwest we learn to acclimate to extreme weather, however according to Survival Magazine it is easier to acclimate to heat than it is to cold. Query any job description for a land surveyor and they all state “must be able to work in extreme weather conditions”.  After all, love of nature is one of the reason we land surveyors have chosen the profession we are in, to be outdoors.  The weather can affect a project in many ways: scheduling, budget, and equipment. Instruments have certain temperature tolerance ratings, and if operated outside that range, the accuracy of the measurement can be affected or the equipment can refuse to perform at all. Now add weather conditions to the additional duties of the principles and practices of land surveying; accurate arithmetic computations legible record results; making engineering sketches, maps and drawings; and reading and interpreting the engineering plans and specifications all while fighting the elements it becomes a mix for project breakdown.

It’s no wonder that recently included in the land surveyors job description is a prerequisite for “knowledge of principles, practices and materials that could include computer programs used in survey work”.  In my early days as a professional land surveyor it was challenging enough to apply the knowledge of land surveying to land surveying activities and techniques in adverse weather. Like the instruments we used where extreme cold weather or heat can affect the outcome so can the user.

The Famer’s Almanac gives us many euphemisms about the effects of weather…
“How slow is molasses in January?” Field productivity in extreme cold with layers of clothing all slow us down. Gloves can be a nuisance when attempting to push those little buttons on an instrument or take legible notes.

“How mad is a wet hen?” When rain or snow affects visibility it also become a safety issue especially on slick pavement. What affects the surveyor also impairs the traveling public and any surveyor will tell you a slick highway is not a place to be.  I guess it is one premise that led me to forming Terrametrix mobile mapping, you are inside a vehicle collecting the data plus the added benefit of a heater or air conditioner.

Out of the Red Zone is the driving safety for the land surveyor using mobile mapping. Traveling with traffic at highway speed obtaining hundreds of thousands of 3d measureable points per second is a much safer way to acquire as-built data. No longer does the surveyor need to fight traffic measuring bridges clearances or attempting to shoot cross sections on a busy stretch of roadway. An important part of any mission plan is to look at the weather forecast for any adverse conditions. The weather can determine if a project needs to be moved ahead of a weather event such as a snow storm or pushed back to miss a period of rain.  Once the mobile mapping data is collected faster between weather events the surveyor can then extract the data by walking a topo at the desktop out of harms way. It still takes the spatial recognition of the land surveyor and the mobile mapping data allows the surveyor to extract digital terrain models using cross sections at whatever interval the surveyor wishes or a grid at any interval as well. It makes it easy to create 25’ shots along a roadway and then have the ability to create a small interval grid at any interval in a flat area that needs a higher definition grid to show the contour line correctly. Again the keen eye of a surveyor knows where the digital terrain model needs information in order to correctly show the contours.   The only down side I see is we no longer have an excuse for snow days! We can stay in the warm and dry office and still walk the topo, now that’s efficiency.

Oh and by the way the Farmer’s Almanac predicts that this winter is expected to be another cold one in the eastern half to two-thirds of the nation with above-normal temperatures, on average, in the West.

SAFETY drives us, ACCURACY defines us, EFFICIENCY saves you