Just a random inquiry of thought really. With technology changing rapidly, and the need for precise measurements showing up in many different applications, I find myself curious what other applications could utilize the equipment that surveyors use. In my previous employment position with an engineering firm, I was tasked with "paying" for a Lidar scanner by keeping it busy. In that role I was always trying to think outside of the proverbial box, and cook up ideas that the scanner could be applied to. Of course most of the applications were surveying related, but a few were truly unique.
I attempted to assist a guy measure some existing tubing so that we could extract some information that would be used to help him better utilize a CNC bending machine. Although the results weren't quite what we were looking for, it was indeed an interesting attempt. We also tried to scan a dash panel for a boat interior, but with mixed results. Unfortunately the scanner I was using created to much "noise" to make the data set functional for such tedious detail. With the improvements that have been made since that time, I'm nearly certain that the scanner could now create a more useful deliverable.
I was logging some miles the other day, and I passed a very large car dealership. A very brief thought crossed my mind about the arrangement of the vehicles on the lot, and I wondered how much space is wasted with misaligned vehicles. While it would likely be less than cost effective, I could see some benefit to "laying out" the parking in a manner that would better utilize the spacing. I'm sure that car lots have a method in place, and it would likely be a moot point. However, just another random thought about how to apply a technology that we all know and love to a different part of the world.
Farmers use RTK GPS equipment so their crop rows are optimally spaced. End result is a few more rows of corn.
Indeed I forgot about the agricultural aspect. I used to be on a email list for Trimble's agricultural products, and didn't realize how far that technology application had progressed. Agriculture here in East TN isn't exactly a booming business, so my exposure is limited.
Although technology has probably changed over the years, I knew an A&P mechanic that had a Wild T2 with a small rotating vise clamp mounted to the bottom. And yes, its pivot point was the vertical axis, as near as I could tell. It was a machined part.
He used it to true the air-frames on aircraft he built/ rebuilt. When I saw it he had a jig set up and they were rebuilding the airfoils of a C-47. Pretty much used for line only (no angular measurements), but it kept things straight.
D. Duren, post: 373144, member: 11665 wrote: Indeed I forgot about the agricultural aspect. I used to be on a email list for Trimble's agricultural products, and didn't realize how far that technology application had progressed. Agriculture here in East TN isn't exactly a booming business, so my exposure is limited.
They also use it to restore irrigation ditches/canals and for mass grading.
I believe RTK enabled drone use is also becoming popular to measure crop health. The resulting data is loaded into a computer on the fertilizer broadcaster, which uses RTK to determine it's position relative to a model so that application rates can be adjusted in real time. Result is a savings in fertilizer and boosted yields.
Lots of crash scene surveying by law enforcement. Used to be total stations. I believe (with their decent funding), they have mostly gone to scanners.
I can think of a few:
Land surveying. Geodetic measurements. Construction--many aspects from earthwork to layout to skyscrapers. Geotechnical and structural monitoring. Track and field competition measurements. Topographic data-zillions of applications. Plate tectonics. Water and sewer systems. Forensics. Industrial plants. Agriculture. Mining (open pit and underground): mine design and construction, material quantities. Testing and calibrating Mars rovers. Forestry. Natural resource management. Environmental studies. Landfill management. Utility corridor inspection and maintenance. Seismic exploration and production (land and off shore). Leveling launch platforms for rockets. Reclamation. Shipbuilding. Aligning and monitoring conveyor belts. Archaeology. Geology. Aircraft and spacecraft manufacturing (and many other precise industrial measurements). Paleontology. Sea level monitoring. Railway track alignment and inspection.
This is just a quick brain dump; there are many more. These apps are generally around the traditional optical and GPS technologies. When we dial in lidar, IMS, photogrammetry, UAS, BIM, autonomous vehicles, etc, the list grows quickly. This business is awash in opportunity.
