MOBILE SURVEYING VEHICLE PLATFORMS

The GeoProfiler™ systems are available in several vehicle mounted configurations: (1) the CS9350 portable module that attaches to the front or rear of industry standard trucks or van; the system attached via a Class III towing receiver (rear mount) or with supplied adaptor hardware (for front mounting), (2) the CS8750 lightweight platform configured by SSI onto an Ingersoll Rand Club Car XRT950 industrial utility vehicle, and (3) custom attachment hardware built by SSI to attach the system to customer specified lightweight or high speed vehicles.  All configurations are powered by the host vehicle’s standard 12 volt power supply, with no auxiliary wiring or power devices required.  The distance measurement interface attaches to the host vehicle by way of supplied collets that can be attached to multiple vehicles.  All wiring and tools to mount and calibrate the system are supplied.  The core components are portable and, with quick-release hardware, the system can be moved among several host vehicle platforms.

An in-cab workstation is supplied with a choice of a Toughbook 19 or Toughbook 31 computer.  The GeoProfiler™ can be safely operated by the vehicle’s driver or passenger.  The military specification Toughbook computer serves as the operator interface device for all applications—calibration, collection of data for surveys and smoothness, and data analysis and reporting.  Touch-screen controls and menu-driven software ease operator training and recurring work with the system by non-dedicated personnel.  CAD design and machine control software can also be installed on the Toughbook, or the GeoProfiler’s™ data transferred to other computers for use in external applications.  Field data collections with the GeoProfiler™ can be accomplished with a cost effective, one-person operation.  The topography data can be quickly shared with other users for use on desktop computers or other GPS instruments.

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RAPID SURVEYING & TOPOGRAPHY MAPPING

The SSI GeoProfiler™ system streams high frequency GPS coordinates with RTK corrections (either a dedicated static base with RF or UHF radios or via cellular SIMM card from a network of associated reference stations).  The corrected GPS is combined with cross-slope readings and multiple tracks of longitudinal surface data from the inertial profiling system.  The result is GeoProfiler’s™ unmatched capability to quickly survey large areas and to generate more accurate, denser surface topographies than conventional survey instruments alone.  The GeoProfiler™ is supplied with SSI’s suite of custom software applications for system setup, calibration, data collection (both survey and ride quality), data analysis/reporting, and data conversion to standard civil engineering industry formats (PNEZD, PLLHD, GPGGA). Each software module is easily accessed on the Windows based Toughbook computer from the top level menu, as shown below:

SSI Profiler Software Suite – System Calibration, Data Collection, Data Analysis & Reporting Options

System configuration and calibrations are easy with separate computer instructed routines for each operation.  Push-button choices pull up subroutines for entering the necessary parameters for the system’s instrumentation as configured onto the end-user’s vehicle.  Precision calibration tools and guided software routines provide for fast and exacting calibration of each of the system’s core sensors.

Survey / Profile System Setup and Calibration Options

Using SSI’s easy DataCollector software, the operator can quickly and automatically capture dense, high resolution topography data.  During data collection, the on-screen display shows GPS positions, GPS quality (corrected vs. lost corrections), vehicle speed and stations (chainage), and real time profile traces.

Sample Active Screen While Collecting Data

While the raw data is collected at a native 1 inch (25 mm) sampling interval, the topography data can be output in wider intervals as selected by the user.  The system post-processes the raw data sets into surface topographies according to user configurable parameters.  Users can specify the output format, increase the spacing interval between the survey points, extract portions of a collected surface, or merge multiple surveys into a single surface.  The topography data files can be easily read into design or machine control software applications.  Here the data can be for road design, profile optimization, volumetric calculations or other outputs defined by the user.  With the speed of the GeoProfiler™ data collection, more frequent surveys can be conducted for more project data, tighter management, reporting and cost control.

The GeoProfiler™ data has been repeatedly compared to independent reference data from conventional survey equipment.  The GeoProfiler™ is capable of generating a more repeatable and denser surface topography in a fraction of the time required by conventional land surveying methods.  The figures below illustrate a comparison of a surface collected by the GeoProfiler™ as compared to a conventional survey of the same surface.  Repeat collections with the GeoProfiler™ often compare with the reference data to within 0.02-0.05 feet at any point along or across the surface.  Predictably, the quality of the data comparisons is affected by the nature of the test surface (significant curvature or short wavelength changes in grade affect accuracy) and the manner operation of the GeoProfiler™ (inexact calibrations or faster speeds degrade the accuracy of the surface topography).

GeoProfiler™ System Data vs. Survey Comparison Data (0.02’-0.05’ Difference in Most Areas)

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GEOPROFILER™ DATA FOR SITE DESIGN & MACHINE CONTROL APPLICATIONS

The GeoProifler’s™ surface data can be output in standard survey formats for use in CAD applications for site preparation according to user specified design criteria (such as cut and fill areas), and automatic jobsite grade planning).  Supported formats for converting the surface terrain data include PNEZD, PLLHD, GPGGA, Excel and CSV/text. With the dense terrain data generated by the GeoProfiler™, users can achieve greater precision when applying project design criteria within their existing civil engineering software.  Repeat surveys can be quickly undertaken with the GeoProfiler™ to monitor progress of the project surface throughout construction to completion. 

The GeoProfiler’s™ surface data can also be used for material movement or placement with numerous brands of existing machine control hardware.  In addition to compatible data, the core survey components from the GeoProfiler™ system can be detached and reconnected to numerous types of equipment for use with machine control systems.  For further information on machine control capabilities available from SSI click here.

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PICTURES

HARDWARE FEATURES

•Inertial profiling system complies with industry and DOT specifications (ASTM E950 Class I profiler; AASHTO M328, R054 and R056-057; Tex-1001-S, State DOT and Transport Ministry requirements).

• GeoProfiler™ system combines single, dual or triple track inertial profile data with cross-slope and RTK corrected GPS instrumentation.  GeoProfiler™ hardware available in numerous configurations (lightweight, high speed, and custom). For vehicle platforms, see SSI High Speed Profiling Systems or SSI Lightweight Profiling Systems.

•Inertial profiling system data collected simultaneously with cross-slope and differential GPS data (with L1/L2 corrections from static base via RF/UHF radio or via broadband SIMM card from associated network of reference stations).

•OEM integration of rover GPS and slope instrumentation with inertial profiling system electronics for simultaneous data collection.  Inertial profile data and GPS data available in separate or combined data files.

•Numerous models of survey GPS hardware supported.  Contact SSI for model compatibility and extent of development needed for integration.

•Panasonic Toughbook military specification rugged computer with touch screen controls are supplied as a standard item.  The typical model supplied is a Toughbook 19 or Toughbook 31, with an Intel Core i5 processor, 2-4GB RAM, shock mounted 160-320GB hard drive, wireless LAN, and a Microsoft 7 Professional Business operating system.  For detailed computer specifications available from SSI’s Toughbook website, Click Here.

•CS9350 portable high speed GeoProfiler™ system configures onto the front or rear of standard trucks and vans.  SSI supplies necessary adaptor hardware for attachment of system to customer vehicle.

•The CS8750 lightweight GeoProfiler™ is preconfigured onto an Ingersoll Rand/Club Car XRT950 industrial utility vehicle.  The XRT950 has an all-aluminum frame and a 400cc gasoline engine.  Pedestal mounted Toughbook computer supplied with system fully configured and ready to operate.

•Height measurements using Class IIIb laser designed specifically for road profiling applications.  Single point or wide-footprint (Roline or equivalent) sensor configurations available.

•Spatial-based longitudinal sampling, default sampling interval is 1 inch (25 mm).

•Longitudinal distance recorded by non-contact optical encoder with rated error of 0.1% or less.

•Cross-slope sensor resolution = 0.03ş.  Cross-slope measurement accuracy:  ~ +/- 10 mils (0.01 inches)(individual collections).

•GPS sampling:  configurable 5-20Hz.  RTK corrections by RF/UHF radio or cellular SIMM card with reference network.

•"All-in-Cab" data collection, analysis and reporting system.  Perform all operations without leaving the driver’s seat!

•Guaranteed to equal or exceed performance of commercially available mobile surveying or inertial profiling systems.

•Inertial profiling system guaranteed to comply with commonly used agency specifications, test methods and certification requirements.  For detailed Specifications and Proof of Performance on the inertial profiling equipment, click on these links:  SSI High Speed Profiling Systems or SSI Lightweight Profiling Systems.

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SOFTWARE FEATURES

•Feature rich, simple Windows software routines for system setup, data collection, analysis and reporting.  Menu-driven prompts ease training and operation.

•Software designed for ease of use by operators without extensive computer experience. SSI Profiler software with integrated routines for system calibration, data collection, data analysis and data conversion.  All software customized for operation in a Microsoft Windows operator interface with Touchscreen controls on Panasonic Toughbook rugged computers.

•Rapid, on-screen GPS data collection allows for frequent, accurate project site surveys.  Use data in CAD software to design the site and check the progress.

•Software provides both automatic and manual (static) procedures for capturing and recording surface topography data.

•DataCollector software simultaneously collects inertial profile, slope and corrected GPS survey points.  Each data file can be used for both (i) ride quality and localized roughness reporting under DOT requirements, and (ii) survey topographies for CAD design and machine control.

•One-touch data export routines for translating topography data to design compatible formats (e.g. PNEZD, GPGGA, Excel, TXT, CSV) for use in civil engineering design software and machine control applications.

•Topography data supports immediate analysis of current pavement grades, flexible design parameters, and for fast, efficient grading and staking applications.

•Significantly more accurate than aerial topography or conventional land surveying methods.

•System portability and speed enables efficient support of multiple projects at significantly lower cost.

•All software features licensed for use on rover unit and desktop/office computers.

•Inertial profiling system provides instant on-screen results for ride quality results[IRI (International Roughness Index), MRI (Mean IRI for dual wheel tracks) HRI (IRI based on half-car model), PI/PRI (Profile Index or Profilograph Ride Index), RN (Ride Number)]. 

•Precise determination of areas of localized roughness (separate templates for “must-grind bumps” and dips areas) with length and peak amplitude dimensions reported.  Adjustable templates for rolling straightedge.

•Data is fully compatible with FHWA ProVal software (ERD and PPF formats supported).

•For detailed Specifications and Proof of Performance on the inertial profiling equipment, click on these links:  SSI High Speed Profiling Systems or SSI Lightweight Profiling Systems.

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