Tools of the Trade August 2010

Update Your Profile.

In This Issue

Upcoming Events

Monthly Chuckle

Tech Corner

Tips & Tricks

Industry News

Quick Links

Knowledge Base
Events
More About Us
Blog
Past Newsletters

Class

Events for August & September

Keep an eye on our website or email me for more details on the classes coming.

Webinars:

SurvCE GPS - August 12

DEM files - August 19

Live:

HDS Scanner (Austin)
Construction Field Day (Grapevine)
Field-to-Finish (Austin)

Authority

A Texas Department of Water representative stopped at a ranch and talked with an old rancher. He told the rancher, 'I need to inspect your ranch for your water allocation.'

The old rancher said, 'Okay, but don't go in that field over there.'

The Water representative said, 'Mister, I have the authority of the Federal Government with me. See this card? This card means I am allowed to go WHEREVER I WISH on any agricultural land. No questions asked or answered. Have I made myself clear? Do you understand?'

The old rancher nodded politely and went about his chores.

Later, the old rancher heard loud screams and saw the Water Rep running
for the fence and close behind was the rancher's bull. The bull was gaining on the Water Rep with every step.

The Rep was clearly terrified, so the old rancher immediately ran to the fence and shouted out.....

"Your card! Show him your card!"

Leica ScanStation C10

Tools of the Trade August 2010

Greetings!

I looked at the calendar and did a double take! Is it really August already? This means the kids are heading back to school, football is around the corner, and we have made it through half of this year.

We have a few on-line and live classes and seminars coming up this month and next. While some dates have not been set we should have them updated on our web page soon. Please keep an eye on the website and our calendar for updated information.

So what is new with you? Over the last year we have seen many of our clients find new and inventive ways to sustain or even grow their businesses. What have you been doing to keep busy and perhaps even grow?

We have let our changes take somewhat of an organic approach. Just kind of let things happen. It is funny that the things keeping me the busiest these days are the things that got us started back in 2007.

I think business is somewhat like water. You can build a concrete diversion and force the water to go where you want it, but sometimes you are more successful letting it go where it wants to go naturally (I think I may have even read that on the box for Carlson's Natural Regrade software).

We have received a high demand for custom training (some of our on-site consulting/training even qualifies for CEUs), as well as consulting services that include data prep. With companies trimming down we are finding a bigger demand to create points, build 3-D models, and even calculate quantities. The biggest addition to this is the ability to process Point Cloud Data! I will have more information on this on the web as we progress.

So, until next month, stay cool, stay safe, and be well!

Sincerely,
Paul M. Carlson
CDS - President

"The shortest distance between two points is under construction."

~Noelie Alito"

Tips & Tricks

You always suggest LandXML for data transport, but are there other options available for going in and out of Carlson Survey (or other Carlson programs)? Specifically something in the "RAW" format? What about something universal like FBK which can be exported out of almost any program.

LandXML is my almost one stop answer for data transfer because it is so all encompassing and so universal. For survey angles and measurements however you are correct in looking for another source. What makes the FBK file so great is that it is the raw data. One of the things that I like about Carlson is their flexibility and their multiple options to get things done. I have put together a short video that shows how you can import an FBK file into a Carlson RW5 file. You then reduce the raw measurements which creates the CRD file and then points are drawn using the CRD file.

The points can be drawn through several methods, including Field to Finish. While I DID use Field to Finish, I did not focus on F2F in this video. I will also mention that this is a file from a client and has been unedited for the purposes of this video. I will be posting a blog that shows some ways to clean the file up for a good field to finish process. Click here to watch the video on how to import an FBK file..

To learn more about how CDS can work with you on this or other training/consulting projects call our office or email me directly at pmcarlson@carlsonds.com.

Industry News

Leica PowerDigger 2D - the highly flexible excavator guidance system (Heerbrugg, 29 July 2010) Leica Geosystems announces its next-generation 2D cutting-edge guidance system for excavators. Leica PowerDigger 2D expands Leica Geosystems' patented unique PowerSnap concept, providing total flexibility and interchangeability of machine control panels and sensors between machinery such as excavators, dozers and graders. Read more.

Carlson Software 3rd Annual User Conference, Nov. 7-10 The 3rd annual event, which was previously held in the spring, was moved to the late fall time slot to enable those attending to have the chance to work with Carlson's 2011 office software release prior to arrival so they could come armed with specific questions and requests to further their understanding and use of the upgraded products. Read more.

Trimble Second Quarter 2010 Revenue $333.4 Million, Up 15 Percent; Non-GAAP EPS $0.42, Up 35 Percent SUNNYVALE, Calif., July 27, 2010 /PRNewswire via COMTEX News Network/ -- Trimble (Nasdaq: TRMB) today announced revenue of $333.4 million for its second quarter ended July 2, 2010, up approximately 15 percent as compared to revenue of $290.1 million in the second quarter of 2009. Read more.

New Ambiguity Resolution Method for GNSS Attitude Determination Precise GNSS attitude determination is based on the GNSS carrier phase measurements. In order to benefit from these precise measurements, the unknown integer number of cycles needs to be resolved. For attitude determination applications, the process of integer ambiguity resolution largely benefits from the inclusion of a priori baseline length constraints. Read more.

Sokkia Renews the Automatic Level Lineup OLATHE, Kan. - June 23, 2010 - Sokkia Corporation announced the release of the new B series automatic levels - B20, B30 and B40 - that replace the previous lineup of the B and C series. Read more.

Former Jefferson County Commissioner Gary White Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison TUSCALOOSA-A federal judge today sentenced former Jefferson County Commissioner Gary White to 10 years in prison on 2008 convictions for accepting bribes from a sewer contractor whose company had about $50 million in contracts with the county, announced U.S. Attorney Joyce White Vance and FBI Special Agent in Charge Patrick Maley. Read more.

© 2007-2010 Carlson Desktop Solutions. All rights reserved. All trademarks are property of their respective owners. The information in this mailing, along with any Materials (including, without limitation, white papers, press releases, data sheets, product descriptions and FAQs) is the copyrighted work of CDS and/or its suppliers and is protected under U.S. and worldwide copyright laws and treaty provisions. CDS grants you permission to copy such Materials so long as each copy (i) is solely for informational, non-commercial use in support of CDS products or services and is not modified or revised in any manner (ii) plainly displays all copyright and other proprietary notices, and in the same form and manner as on the original. For more information visit the Terms of Use section of our website.