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."
Gas Field Project Uses Leica Viva
August 23, 2010
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