Mi-GPS is pleased to announce an alliance with TopCon GPS. We have been testing out the GRS-1 and have been very happy with the results.

The GRS-1 is an all purpose handheld GPS that is scalable to the users needs. It can be a handheld submeter gps for asset data collection or a full survey network rover used in design and survey work. It also has a 2MP camera embedded.

The biggest advantage to the GRS-1 that we see is the integrated modem. We can connect to either AT&T or Verizon's wireless network. Not only does the modem allow us to connect to GNSS RTK Networks (like MDOT's CORS network), but it will also allow us to connect to any other tool that is on the internet. We can get base maps from Google or Bing Maps. We can connect to ArcIMS or ArcGIS Server applications. Today we have smart phones, now we can also have "smart" gps data collectors with survey accuracy. Now that is MobileGIS!

Here is a promo video from TopCon:

Advanced Underground came to Mi-GPS to help them with their Michigan Department of Transportation work. Advanced has spent the last few years collecting sub-meter locations of catch basins along MDOT's roads, while also doing their vac-truck work of cleaning out the debris in the catch basins. They have been using a Ashtech MMCX with ArcPad to do the GPS work. They now needed an easy solution to update the existing GIS data base. Mi-GPS built a custom solution using ArcView and ArcPad.

Using ArcView and ArcPad, several scripts and forms were created to facilitate catch basin cleaning using previously created catch basin location data provided by MDOT.

First project data is prepped in ArcView, including the addition of tracking attribute fields in the catch basin file and clipping of MI Framework base map data to the relevant areas. All of the prepped data is then written to an ArcPad project file ready to be copied to an SD chip for use in the field.

ArcPad has been customized to simplify the navigation and data editing interfaces. New tools are added, for one-click attribute updating in the field (marking a catch basin as cleaned and/or damaged). Additionally, the ArcPad cartography reflects update status of the catch basin data for easier tracking. Custom forms allow for easy updating of additional attributes if needed, or if a catch basin needs to be added to the shapefile.

Once the field work is complete, additional ArcView scripts are used to compile the field edits from multiple GPS units into a single compiled dataset for return to MDOT and project documentation.

Magellan has announced that it is rebranding itself as Ashtec. This is an expected change, the Magellan name went away with the sale of the consumer division.

Long live Ashtec!