Oregon GPS (GNSS) Users Group

Today, as I write this I am in Bend, Oregon. I had the privilege of traveling from East Texas to this beautiful mountain valley to demonstrate the Javad Triumph-LS to the Oregon GPS Users Group. (At the meeting they voted to change their name to Oregon GNSS Users Group).

First, I have to say this is a very fine organization. It's composed of GNSS users, mostly surveyor from what I could see, with serious participation and involvement from the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) and the NGS state advisor, Mark Armstrong. ODOT provides a very well maintained GNSS network: ORGN. These individuals meet twice a year to discuss all things GPS. At this meeting, there were presentations on ITRF compared to NAD83, the ORGN and the Oregon Coordinate Reference System (which has been recently updated to include low distortion projections for the entire State of Oregon). I truly appreciate seeing geospatial professionals with a passion for learning and improving their services. I was able to meet John Minor, a member of this forum and devoted volunteer for many years to OGUG. I also met Shelby Griggs and Scott Freshwaters whom I've known for years on the internet and was now able to meet in person.

I was there to demonstrate the Javad Triumph-LS. There was a course of 11 points that were surveyed by RTK connected to the RTN. Two points were in challenging canopy and were placed by total station from points in the open.

I created a base point using the RTN and then setup the Triumph-2 on this point so that I could demonstrate beast mode and post processing using my own base. The first point was under dense maple tree canopy. I set the LS to require 20 independent fixes with a minimum of 3 minutes observation and a validation (new fix) at the end (all with a minimum of 2 engines required). The first attempt at this point required 13 minutes. I was also collecting raw data with this point. The second attempt required only 3 minutes and 4 seconds. This was back to back.

I then collected a point in the open and demonstrated stake out using the customizable white boxes on the display (ahead/back and left/right) which relies on the internal compass and I showed them Guide which also relies on the internal compass and allows the user to navigate to a point without requiring the user to know where North is. (Sounds funny until you try to stake out something with RTK when it's cloudy and there are no reference objects nearby from which to orient).

The first session ended for lunch and I post processed the results. DPOS nailed them and was in substantial agreement with RTK.

In the afternoon I observed the point under the maple canopy again. It required 12 minutes and 45 seconds this time. I then went to the second canopy point which was under some pine trees. It required 4 min 11 seconds. We then looked at stake out (I was with a different group) and showed them Guide. When the session ended, I post processed this session as well. Both points processed very well.

My results (differences are from coordinates provided by OGUG secretary Chris Munson who used a Trimble 5800 connected to the OGRN with 2 180 second observations - points under canopy were determined by total station from points in the open):

CP6 (781seconds)
First Observation:
RTK
N -0.117'
E +0.018'
U +0.245'

PPK
N -0.047'
E +0.016'
U +0.256'

CP6 (195 seconds)
Second Observation
RTK
N -0.007'
E +0.012'
U +0.205'

PPK
N +0.012'
E +0.020'
U +0.165'

CP6
Third Observation (765 seconds)
RTK
N -0.063
E -0.00
U +0.096

PPK
N -0.06
E +0.017
U +0.252

CP7 (251 seconds)
RTK
N +0.138'
E -0.013'
U +0.022'

PPK
N +0.154'
E -0.008'
U +0.050'

CP4 (181 seconds)
RTK
N +0.066'
E +0.022'
U +0.047'

PPK
N +0.068'
E +0.012'
U +0.062'

A Trimble representative was also there and I am told he was also able to collect good positions on these canopy points as well with an R10.

I tagged this photo with CP7 under the pine trees with some of the good people that attended.
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It was a great experience and uplifting to me as I truly appreciate committed professionals.