Last night was our local chapter meeting. I arranged for Juan de Dios Barrios, MS, GISP and Dr. Pete Dailey to speak and answer questions about some new technology and research they are doing at Rahall Transportation Institute (RTI). Juan is the manager of geospatial systems at RTI; Dr. Pete is a researcher as well as the developer/administrator of the CORS network in West Virginia.
The use of the UAV in conjunction with real-time VRS networks is seeing some exciting results. 2 cm pixel ortho-photography with lidar capabilities will drastically reduce field time on large projects. The accuracy these small planes are producing is absolutely amazing. They also mentioned some of the technology being developed for “smart” traffic signals and other transportation related technology.
Once the cost comes down on these UAV’s, they will be common tools for surveyors in the near future.
One thing I don’t understand is the resistance by some people in our profession to new technology. One of the older gentlemen in our chapter, after the guests left, said, “That ain’t surveyin’”. What is so bad about something that is going to make our life easier and allow us to earn more money?
The future for geospatial professionals looks bright indeed.
The response of the older gentlemen is of no surprise. Most if not all that participate on this board are progressive and at the very least stay informed on new technologies even if they don't use or own it.
I sell and try to provide to those who will accept it newer technologies and training but I do run into the roadblock of those who don't want to change what they are doing even if you can show them they can make more money or save time. When someone doesn't want to change they won't. Sometimes its just because they are close to retirement and I can understand but don't think it is good practice for a business if it is continuing into the future.
I'm not only talking about those that are older but it does seem that they are the ones that you hear this type of response. Everyone should stay up with technology if only to help the Survey Industry become a more respected profession and to project to the public that we have more to offer as a business.
Not to side with the older gentleman, but to add to his comment, (tongue in cheek)
GPS "That ain't surveyin'!"
Driving a truck to work, in stead of an ox cart "That ain't surveyin'!"
Using an gas powered hammer drill "That ain't surveyin'!"
Finding a bathroom, instead of a tree "That ain't surveyin'!"
It will never stop!
N
It seems to me that acceptance by the surveying community isn't what's standing in the way of widespread use of UAVs for remote sensing; safety and privacy concerns appear to constitute much larger obstacles. As I understand it, the FAA currently prohibits commercial use of UAVs in US airspace, though it's working on regulations that will allow them. And the limited use of UAVs by government agencies -- particularly law enforcement -- in the US has already spawned lots of discussion about legislation and litigation dealing with the privacy implications.
I think the day when a small surveying firm can buy and operate a Gatewing in this country is quite a ways off.
Jim, I believe those FAA restrictions have just been lifted.
I agree with you Jim that it may be several years before UAV's are common among small firms. However, this is not just about UAV's; other technologies are resisted as well.
I am not trying to "pick on the old guy", I have learned much from my older mentors and still have much to learn from them, but it is usually these gentlemen that are set in their ways and resistant to change. That's not always a bad thing but when these same gentlemen are in a position of influence and it begins to affect others then it becomes a problem. These are usually the same surveyors that are charging $200 for a boundary survey and $125 for an elevation certificate.
Not yet, but it seems to be heading that direction. At the moment, only government and universities can operate them. 2015 is the date I heard for commercial use.
> Jim, I believe those FAA restrictions have just been lifted.
We'll not be able to earn more money because of this technology. Sure, those that go there first will earn more money for a short time, but before long, everyone will have to adapt just to earn the SAME money. Let me put it this way, do you think surveyors, in general, make more money now than they did when transits and steel tapes were the standard equipment?
> ...do you think surveyors, in general, make more money now than they did when transits and steel tapes were the standard equipment?
Absolutely. If not, they're doing something wrong. Getting the job completed quicker is more of a value to your client, therefore you charge more.
Change is a fact of life and those who are good at it tend to be much more successful. I remember when data collectors like SMI first started being used and the pushback from the older guys was tremendous. I think many saw them as a threat to the three man crew, with them typically being the third man who operated the field book, so to speak.
I would personally love to have the opportunity to try one out on a large topo and would even actively seek jobs where such equipment would be crucial.
Technology is awesome.
The people who charge by the hour will not benefit. With that mentality, you should type invoices on a typewriter so you can make more money doing busy work.
Along the same lines, I read where some idiot wrote how it would be great if lightsquared killed gps, then he could spend a lot more time on the job and bill more fees. That's anti-American as far as I'm concerned.
The rest of the world won't go backwards.
> We'll not be able to earn more money because of this technology. Sure, those that go there first will earn more money for a short time, but before long, everyone will have to adapt just to earn the SAME money. Let me put it this way, do you think surveyors, in general, make more money now than they did when transits and steel tapes were the standard equipment?
[the Men Anonymous pledge, or the Man's Prayer]
I'm a man, but I can change, if I have to, I guess.
-Red Green
> > ...do you think surveyors, in general, make more money now than they did when transits and steel tapes were the standard equipment?
>
> Absolutely. If not, they're doing something wrong. Getting the job completed quicker is more of a value to your client, therefore you charge more.
You don't understand my point.
New techologies always benefit those firms that incorporate it first. As time passes, the pricing for the service tends to go back to the point where the practitioners earn the same money.
Also, I'm not too sure that surveyors now have a higher standard of living than they did back in the 60's and 70's.
> The people who charge by the hour will not benefit. With that mentality, you should type invoices on a typewriter so you can make more money doing busy work.
>
> Along the same lines, I read where some idiot wrote how it would be great if lightsquared killed gps, then he could spend a lot more time on the job and bill more fees. That's anti-American as far as I'm concerned.
>
> The rest of the world won't go backwards.
>
> > We'll not be able to earn more money because of this technology. Sure, those that go there first will earn more money for a short time, but before long, everyone will have to adapt just to earn the SAME money. Let me put it this way, do you think surveyors, in general, make more money now than they did when transits and steel tapes were the standard equipment?
I'll chalk you up as another one that doesn't understand what I wrote.
If I went back to a typewriter, I would be losing money, because the cheapness of the typewriter would quickly be offset by the labor expense.
Look at other fields. Does an auto mechanic today have a higher standard of living today than years ago because he now has computers? How about lawyers? They can pull up limitless amounts of case law with the click of a button, but I'll bet that they don't have a higher standard of living than they did 50 years ago.
In the end, the consumer is the one that benefits from technology advances, because the practitioners have to compete with each other, and if you are using GPS to survey, but figuring your time based on using a transit and a chain, you won't get any work, because no one uses a transit and chain anymore.
“That ain’t surveyin’”
He's right, of course.
Pretty fancy measurin' , though.
🙂
Don
“That ain’t surveyin’”
Touche
“That ain’t surveyin’”
Some day the UAV will have more robotic and surveying capabilities.
The UAV will be loaded with the calculated coordinates and fly out to
the survey site and locate the corners and flag the corners. As the
system finds more and more corners, the UAV will calculate adjustments
between the found coordinates and the calculated coordinates in order
to better find the other corners. The UAV will have a built-in magnetic
sensor for locating pipes or rods.
