Leica Geosystems has been working with progressive surveyors to get real time market feedback on its Viva system.

Leica Geosystems, in cooperation with Geomatic Resources LLC, has been working with progressive surveyors to get real time market feedback on its Viva system. Viva tightly integrates GNSS receivers, total stations, laser scanners, data collectors, and other essential measurement technology by providing common system interfaces, interchangeable batteries, and consistent point management across all types of work and equipment. The two firms recently worked with Frontier Surveying Company, a Fort Worth based firm specializing in gas field support, to bring Leica Viva to the highly competitive Barnett Shale region.

The Barnett Shale is a geological formation that may contain up to 30 trillion cubic feet. But the gas is difficult to extract, and much of the Barnett Shale lies beneath Fort Worth, Texas, one of the largest metro areas in the United States. Sharp increases in natural gas prices have made extraction economically feasible, and the Fort Worth area is currently experiencing one of the world’s great energy booms. From a surveyor’s point of view, the two biggest sources of work are the boundary work associated with gas extraction pads, and support surveying for pipeline construction. Leica Viva has been outstanding in both areas, according to Senior Project Manager Allen Peloquin. “There are a lot of firms chasing this work,” he says, “and we depend on outstanding technology for a competitive edge. Upgrading to Viva has definitely been a good move for us.”

Peloquin says that Viva’s GNSS receivers, which are optimized for network RTK, have been especially reliable. They come equipped with modems and radio systems to take advantage of SmartNet, a subscription based service offering GNSS Network RTK corrections throughout Texas, operated by Leica Geosystems. The network coordinates feeds from more than 90 Leica Geosystems receivers in Texas-there are more than 30 stations just in the North Texas area, providing continuous network RTK corrections to all GPS brands on the market. “We have a base and rover for all seven crews,” says Peloquin, “so we can always work, whether or not we’re in the network’s area of coverage. But most of our bases are now working full time as rovers.”

“GNSS capacity has made a big difference for us,” he adds, “We’ve had jobs in the past where we lost money because we couldn’t get lock-that doesn’t seem to happen anymore. In fact, sometimes I’ll be in the truck and the ‘little lady’ (the Viva’s voice notification recording) will speak up from the back and tell me we have lock. It’s impressive.”

By extending the reach of GNSS work, and smoothly tying together all aspects of survey work, Leica’s Viva ISS has helped Frontier to grow rapidly and gain market share in the highly competitive extraction industry.

For additional information about Leica Viva, click here

For additional information about Frontier Surveying click here. 

Read more about Leica Geosystems and Frontier Surveying's work in the Barnett Shale region in this month's POB cover story,  "Addition Through Extraction."