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Updating Autonomous Start to an Updating Autonomous Start to an RTK Field SurveyRTK Field Survey

September 2009Oscar R. Cantu’

September 2009

• For access to previously offered webinars and supporting documentation, please go to:

Updating Autonomous Start to an RTK Field Survey

Topcon University FTP SiteTopcon University FTP Site

ftp://TUlive+topconuniversity.com:[email protected]

ftp://TUlive+topconuniversity.com:[email protected]/

September 2009

• Project scenario, described• TopSURV Survey Configuration to support a Real Time Kinematic

(RTK) field survey while also logging a static file• Quick vocabulary review of Real Time Kinematic (RTK) field surveys• Review of Field Sketch for project site and surrounding area• Process description, From the Field to the Office

• Start an RTK field survey from an Autonomous Position while also logging a static file

• Collect Field Data with Rover• Stop Static File within Base Receiver


Agenda Agenda –– Part IPart I

September 2009

• In Topcon Tools office software:– Import static data from receiver– Import TopSURV job from controller

• Submit static file to the National Geodetic Survey (NGS) Online User Positioning Service (OPUS)

• Receive and interpret NGS OPUS results• Inverse of field measurements both before and after implementation

of NGS OPUS Results• View field data within Google Earth• Update an Autonomous Start to an RTK Field Survey• Update all Rover observations, inverse check


Agenda Agenda –– Part IIPart II

September 2009


ScenarioScenario• Part of the scope of work is to offer a

final deliverable with field work shown in a State Plane Coordinate (SPC) system.

• However, it is not convenient to physically setup the mobile base receiver over a benchmark with published values.

• The intent is to keep the mobile base receiver within close proximity of the project site to deter theft.

September 2009


ScenarioScenario• Through the choices made within a

TopSURV Survey Configuration, we will purposefully do two things at the same time:– Start a Real Time Kinematic (RTK)

field survey where the mobile base receiver is broadcasting corrections from an Autonomous Position.

– Also log a static file in the mobile base receiver during RTK data collection with the intent of post processing later.

September 2009


ScenarioScenario• When field work is completed, we will

send the static file that was logged in the mobile base receiver to the National Geodetic Survey (NGS) Online Positioning User Service (OPUS).

• Using Topcon Tools office software, the initial Autonomous Position will be updated with this OPUS derived result.

• Both the base position and all rover observations will then be updated.

September 2009


• The following will show and describe the settings necessary within a TopSURV survey configuration to support a Real Time Kinematic (RTK) field survey where the option to log static files is enabled.

• In the follow example, antenna and radio types will be shown for a Topcon GR-3 mobile base and rover system with Digital UHF radios.

TopSURV Survey ConfigurationTopSURV Survey Configuration

September 2009


• To create / modify a Survey Configuration within TopSURV, tap the Configure icon and select Survey.

• Within the Survey Style screen, you have options to create a Survey Configuration to support either GPS+ or Total Station (TS) hardware in the field.

• Tap the triple dot button to the right of GPS+ Config.


September 2009


• You can either use the My RTK template to start with and then modify or you can Add a new Survey Configuration from scratch. Let’s make a new one.

• Tap the Add button. Declare a descriptive name for type of equipment and type of survey.

• Ensure to check on the Post Processing option.


September 2009


• Declare a Base and Rover manufacturer of Topcon.

• Select a Receiver Model and Antenna Type is set to GR-3.

• For this specific example, a two meter fixed height tripod will be used in the field. Therefore the measure method is Vertical with an Antenna Height of 6.562 feet (2.0 meters).


September 2009


• It is common to declare a File Name option of Default. This will result in the static file being named in the convention of:

• The Logging Rate option is a user preference. To conserve file space and optimize satellite tracking, it is common to log static files at a 15 second recording interval.


log yyyy mm dd_hh mm ss.tps

September 2009


• Shown here are common settings for a Topcon GR-3 mobile base receiver with Digital UHF radios.


September 2009


• Now everything that was asked of you for the mobile base receiver will be asked of you for the rover receiver.

• Shown above are commonly used settings.


September 2009


• Again, it is common to match the Raw Data Logging settings from the base receiver for the rover receiver.


September 2009


• Within the Init (Initialization) Times screen, it is common to declare 120 minutes (two hours) for all satellite counts or Numbers of Space Vehicles.

• This will result in TopSURV offering a warning if the static file in the base receiver is stopped prior to two hours of data logging.

TopSURV Survey ConfigurationTopSURV Survey ConfigurationFrom NGS Website: OPUS provides three distinct processing softwares optimized for different data types:

STATIC: For OPUS static processing, your data file must contain at least 2 hours but not more than 24 hours of data. RAPID-STATIC: For OPUS rapid-static processing, your data file must contain at least 15 minutes but not more than 4 hours of data, with all four observation types (L1,L2, P1 (or C1), and P2) present at each epoch used. KINEMATIC: Not yet available.

September 2009


• From these screens forward, choice are customizable per user preference.



September 2009


• From these screens forward, choice are customizable per user preference.



September 2009


• Done. Tap the OK button to return to the TopSURV main menu.

• Within the Survey Configuration that you have just made, you are now ready to begin a field survey with a Topcon GR-3 with Digital UHF Radios mobile base and rover system.

• The Configuration also supports the option of logging static file(s).


September 2009

Any questions?Any questions?

September 2009


• Within the Survey / Topo screen, you will always see your “health bar” across the top showing your rover receiver’s current Communication Status, Solution Type, Real Time Precisions, and Satellite Count.

Quick Vocabulary ReviewQuick Vocabulary Review

September 2009


• Autonomous Position – Standalone. Having nothing to do with anything else. TopSURV will show your raw (uncorrected) position.

• Precisions will vary depending on how many satellites are being tracked; typically around the 4 feet horizontal / 6 feet vertical range.


September 2009


• Float Solution – Only achievable by a rover receiver that is actively receiving corrections from a broadcasting base receiver or from a Real Time GNSS Network. If you have a Float solution, you instantly know that you can “hear” your base / reference station.

• However, you are either too far from the base, are not tracking enough satellites, or are moving too fast. Real time precisions usually hover around the sub foot level.


September 2009


• Fixed Solution – The rover receiver is tracking and using (initialized to) five or more satellites that are also being tracked by the base receiver.

• Precisions are typically less than 0.10 foot horizontal / 0.15 foot vertical or better.


September 2009


Field SketchField Sketch

Autonomous Position

Corpus Christi Bay

Project Site

Project Site

September 2009


AH1683

Autonomous Position

Corpus Christi Bay


Project Site

September 2009


AH1683

Corpus Christi Bay

• The intent is to setup the mobile base receiver at a random location for project site convenience, theft deterrence, and optimal radio coverage.

• Since this is a random location, the field survey will have to be started with an Autonomous Position.

• For training purposes, we will also observe a nearby National Geodetic Survey (NGS) benchmark with the rover receiver.

Autonomous Position

Project Site


September 2009


• The process will be to setup the mobile base receiver at a random location.

• Using TopSURV, start a Real Time Kinematic (RTK) field survey with an Autonomous Position.

• Through the TopSURV Survey Configuration, the mobile base receiver will also log a static file while the rover is collecting real time data.

Field Book

• Initially, all rover observations will be “off” by the amount of error reported by the mobile base receiver’s Autonomous Position quality.

• Depending on the number of satellites observed at the time, this can be anywhere from 3 to 15 feet horizontally and 5 to 20 vertically.


September 2009


From the Field to the OfficeFrom the Field to the Office• After the field survey is completed, all data will be

downloaded into Topcon Tools office software, both the TopSURV job of all rover observations and the static file that was logged in the mobile base receiver.

• The static file will be sent to the National Geodetic Survey (NGS) Online Positioning User Service (OPUS) for processing.

http://www.ngs.noaa.gov/OPUS/

September 2009


September 2009


• Tap the Mode icon from the main menu to establish a wireless Bluetooth communications connection between your field controller and the mobile base receiver.

• Check the Bluetooth box to begin the process. Choose your base receiver and tap the Select button.

Start an RTK Survey from an Autonomous PositionStart an RTK Survey from an Autonomous Position

September 2009


• With a wireless Bluetooth connection made, tap the Setup GPS icon then select Start Base to start the process.

• By default, the Point Name will be Base1. Of course, you can change if you wish.

• Working your way down the screen, you will need to select from your Code Library the unique code for this point.


September 2009


• For this example, the code will be CP Control Point.• Again, since this mobile base receiver was setup at a random

location, you will need to use the Autonomous Position button.

• Once values are read in, tap the Stop button.


September 2009


• Prior to tapping the Start Base button, it is common to stop and note all setup information in your field book.

• Once documented, tap the Start Base button to have the mobile base receiver immediately begin broadcasting corrections from your Autonomous Position.


September 2009


• While still actively communicating to your mobile base receiver, from the main menu, tap the Setup GPS icon again and select Start Base.

• Notice that TopSURV reports the Duration Time that the static file has been logging in your base receiver at the bottom of the screen. This will be helpful later.


September 2009


• You are done with the base receiver.

• To let go of your Bluetooth connection between your field controller and the mobile base receiver, tap the Bluetooth toggle button at top center.

• Choose your Rover receiver and tap the Select button.


September 2009


• Tap the Setup GPS icon and select the Status option to check common communication settings.

• The intent is to see if the rover receiver can “hear” the broadcasting mobile base receiver and if it has achieved a Fixed solution.


September 2009



• Focus on the top four rows of Position Type, Common and Initialized Satellites, and Radio Link.

• Here you see that the rover has 100% reception from your broadcasting base and that there are 13 common and 13 initialized satellites, therefore your rover is in a Fixed solution. Ready to work!

September 2009


• From the main menu, tap the Survey icon and select Topo to begin taking field observations with the rover receiver.

• Recall that for this example, the mobile base receiver was started from an Autonomous Position.

• An observation will be made on the nearby NGS benchmark AH1683.

Collect Field Data with RoverCollect Field Data with Rover

September 2009


• The field observation on this benchmark will provide a check once the NGS OPUS derived solution is used.

• Since this field observation is to a published benchmark and involves the control of our project, we will increase the Number of Measurements to Average from 3 to 30.


September 2009


• Next, select from your Code Library what the unique Code will be for this field observation. For this example, we will use BM Benchmark.

• With the “bubble in the circle”, you are ready to tap the Start button to take 30 Fixed solution observations.


September 2009


• The Epoch Count will increment up until 30 measurements are taken.

• When done, we will check how “far off we are” from the published values of this benchmark to the Autonomous start field observation we have just made.


September 2009


• Without leaving the Topo screen, tap the Topcon logo at top left and select the Inverse option to be shown the distance between two points in your TopSURV job.


September 2009


• Declare the From Point and the To Point that you want to know the thee dimensional distance between.


September 2009


• Here, we see the resulting distances between the published values of the NGS benchmark AH1683 and the field observation made directly over it from an Autonomous start.

• Notice between them is a Horizontal Distance of 5.611 feet and Delta Height of -2.614 feet…we will see this again later.


September 2009


September 2009


• Field work with the rover receiver is now done. The next step will be to reconnect to the mobile base receiver via a wireless Bluetooth connection and stop the static file that is currently logging.

• Just as before, choose your base receiver and tap Select button, then go to Setup GPS to see setup options.

Stop Static File within Base ReceiverStop Static File within Base Receiver

September 2009


• Tap the Start Base icon to see the Duration Time that the static file has been logging.

• Notice that this file has been logging for 2 hours and 30 minutes. Excellent…this is thirty minutes longer than the NGS OPUS requirement.

• Next stop, Topcon Tools office software!

Stop Static File within Base ReceiverStop Static File within Base Receiver

September 2009

September 2009

……see you next week!see you next week!

Updating Autonomous Start to an RTK Updating Autonomous Start to an RTK Field SurveyField Survey

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Updating Autonomous Start to an RTK ... - Topcon … and Topcon Tools...Updating Autonomous Start to an ... log yyyy mm dd_hh mm ss.tps. ... now ready to begin a field survey with