Does anyone have a lead on a good software or app for recording sanitary/storm mh, pipe dips and attribution.?ÿ All the location data is in the data collector for the most part but looking for a medium other than writing all these in a field book to provide to the CAD drafter?
Thanks
For manhole surveys, we've used Trimble Access to record all of the attributes that would later be utilized in a GIS.?ÿ TBC has a feature definition manager to create the attribute fields with drop-downs.
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@andrewm I second that. You can create a Survey Style in Access to add as many attributes as necessary.
We've tried the attribute data in Access, but found pencil and paper the easiest.?ÿ The issue with the attribute data is it typically requires you to input the data once the position is collected.?ÿ This can be a pain for invert data located in the roads, or just having to walk back and forth to get the pick to open the structure.?ÿ I prefer to just have the crew paint the point # next to the structure after they locate the position, and come back at the end to measure the inverts with standard form we've created.?ÿ It seems to go faster to measure all the inverts at the same time, than during the course of the topo.
With that said, attribute data can be really useful if you set up CAD to import the additional columns of data gathered outside the typical PNEZD.?ÿ We typically use attribute data to record depth of utilities marked in the field.
I am following this thread with some interest.
I prefer to do structure measure downs first thing, right after I roll up to the job.
1. It gets the nasty out of the way early.
2. It often Identifies that one more structure upstream or downstream that I would have missed otherwise.
If we are measuring at the end, we just bring the DC and edit the attributes of the points. If running in a geodetic based system, use the onboard GNSS to navigate to point, gets us close enough to confirm point number which is usually painted by crew anyways.
I like using dropdown lists with typical sizes and one "see notes" value for oddball situations. Goes a lot faster than typing in sizes, pipe material, etc.
C3D custom point file formats are awesome if used with custom attribute labels. Far less work in the office, with only a little extra time in the field...
@andrewm Thank you sir. We use Access and this is the route we are heading
@rover83 I agree with your methodology. We also collect everything and go back after to collect the attributes. The 2nd trip seems wasteful but opening structures at the time of survey is not always possible safety wise.
