Resources Links For AGTEK GPS Users
RTK Mission Planning, Autonomous Usage, Computer Accessories, & Services
GPS Satellite Availability and RTK Mission Planning
GPS product manufacturers provide free mission planning tools to forecast satellite availability
for a project's geographic location before going to the site and setting up a GPS system.
The Topcon® Standalone Mission Planning Tool and
GPS+ Almanac data files are
still available here.
Trimble® offers GNSS Planning Online and a mobile-friendly version is available here. Trimble's older Planning Software and Ephemeris
data files are
still available here (a PDF file containing good instructions on how to
install and use the old Trimble planning software may be
available here).
GPS (and Optical) Topographic Survey Data Collection Tips
One of our previous seminar attendees (Zach Pieper with Quantum Land Design) has produced a pair of
video tutorials providing some excellent tips for those that are new to collecting GPS/optical topographic
survey data: The
first video includes topo data collection examples for a commercial site, a stockpile and a road
(cross-section shots for the road); the
second video addresses topo data collection for several over-excavation examples and ends with a brief
discussion on the preferred PNEZ ASCII text export format for collected topo survey data.
Trimble Business Center Viewer (Free File-Transfer Module)
A "Viewer" version of
Trimble Business Center is available at no charge and it can be used to generate
Trimble machine control files from AGTEK surface data. AGTEK Technical Support
has produced a step-by-step
training video (Priority Support ID/Password required) that covers exporting AGTEK
surface data for Trimble and using Business Center to import AGTEK data and
write out the Trimble machine control files. If you're unfamiliar with Business Center,
Trimble's
TBC Viewer Tutorial may be a helpful reference (a valid email address is required
for registration and viewing of the tutorial).
Did you know that you can use your AGTEK earthwork modeling and takeoff software to
perform real-time autonomous GPS site inspections? AGTEK's 4D (and
3D Versions 1.40+) modeling and takeoff software can be used with a laptop or tablet
computer (if a cheap, off-the-shelf Autonomous GPS receiver is installed) to walk or drive
a job site with horizontal reference to the AGTEK surface model and color cut-fill map.
Although it lacks RTK-mode precision, Autonomous-mode GPS requires fewer satellites and will
often work under site conditions where RTK-mode is unavailable. When using the AGTEK 3D/4D
software this way on a job site, the horizontal positioning functionality is similar to that
of AGTEK's dedicated Autonomous GPS
SmartPlan,
SmartDirt and
SmartTrack mobile apps, but the Smart apps provide many additional functions so be sure
to take a look at AGTEK's Smart mobile apps if you want to go "all in" with Autonomous GPS site
inspections. (Tip: if you're not using AGTEK 4D products, you can still collect, save and
process Autonomous GPS track data with third-party products like GPS2CAD and
ExpertGPS Pro.)
Field Computing Devices and Accessories
There are lots of useful accessories available for the laptops, tablets and smart
phones used in the field with AGTEK's applications (if you're looking for reviews
of ruggedized computing devices, take a look at
Tablet PC Magazine) ...
Screen Protector: BodyGuardz
offers screen protectors for smart phones (and some Topcon/Trimble handhelds);
NuShield
offers screen protectors for PDAs, tablets, and laptops (plus some Leica/Topcon/Trimble handhelds);
OtterBox
offers screen protectors for smart phones and iPad tablets.
Ruggedized Case: Kensington
offers rugged cases for tablets; OtterBox
offers rugged cases for smart phones and iPad tablets.
Wireless Mouse: A wireless mouse like Kensington's
SureTrackTM Any Surface Bluetooth® Mouse
is cable-free and works on virtually any surface (shirt, pants, truck seat, etc.).
Flexible or Foldable Keyboard:
A flexible keyboard
is portable, resists water and dust, conforms to uneven surfaces (like the hood or
tail gate of a truck), but lacks the tactile feel of a traditional keyboard; a
foldable keyboard
is portable and provides the tactile feel of a traditional keyboard.
Get a Bluetooth version of either type for easy pairing with your tablet or smart phone.
Third-Party AGTEK Modeling Services
Too busy to build a GPS machine control model (or complete a dirt takeoff) with
your AGTEK software? Use
this list
of AGTEK consultants to find a service provider that can help.
