topic Re: Underground Utility Locator Equipment with GPS in AEC (Architecture, Engineering and Construction) Questions

Underground Utility Locator Equipment with GPS

cedwards8511 — Wed, 29 Mar 2023 20:15:12 GMT

Out utility locator staff is looking to replace its current equipment and has asked if there is anything available that can also record GPS/GIS data. I've searched around and found some locators that seem to have this capability, but I would like to know what others are using, to see what really works (or not).

Is anyone out there using a locator with built-in GPS and/or GIS?
What is the process you use to connect its data to your GIS?
What would you do different in the future.

Re: Underground Utility Locator Equipment with GPS

BillFox — Wed, 29 Mar 2023 23:13:23 GMT

maybe something listed here

https://eos-gnss.com/partners/hardware/utility-locators

Re: Underground Utility Locator Equipment with GPS

cedwards8511 — Thu, 30 Mar 2023 00:01:11 GMT

I was looking at EOS but think that there is too much equipment required. I don't think the field guys are going to want to wear all of that gear every time they go out.

I would be willing to get lower accuracy in exchange for a simpler rig. I like the idea of the all-in-one units like Vivax-Metrotech RTK-Pro. I just don't know enough about them. https://www.vivax-metrotech.com/vivax-product/vloc3-rtk-pro/

Re: Underground Utility Locator Equipment with GPS

LarryMasters — Tue, 04 Apr 2023 17:21:34 GMT

We purchased a couple of these locators recently. The GPS capabilities are simple to use and very impressive as far as accuracy goes. I have a monument that our guys shoot every morning with our Trimble units to make sure all the settings in Mobile Manager and Field Maps are good. The locator is just as good or better than those units. Our set up requires a cell service and RTK network to get the accuracy we are looking for. We like to keep everything within 4" and it will do that.

I can not answer for the quality of the locates as I have no used one in the field. It does have the capability to locate on several frequencies and settings to customize what you are looking for though.

Hope this helps.

Larry

Re: Underground Utility Locator Equipment with GPS

TylerJones — Thu, 16 Nov 2023 14:04:53 GMT

Hi Larry,

Just to clarify, are you referring to the Vivax system or the EOS? We've demoed the Vivax and I was very impressed with the accuracy as well. We compared data from Bad Elf Flex RTK and the Vivax. For utilities purposes it was great!

If you were referring to the Vivax, could you please explain your workflow for getting the locate data into the Arc universe. I am assuming there is some awkwardness because our Vivax Rep didn't have a ton of good answers about how to handle it. Feel free to direct message me if you want to talk about it. I work for a small water sewer system in the southeast.

Thanks!

Re: Underground Utility Locator Equipment with GPS

TylerJones — Thu, 16 Nov 2023 14:07:20 GMT

Thanks for the question!

I have similar questions and I am curious what, if any, system you decided on.

Best

Re: Underground Utility Locator Equipment with GPS

LarryMasters — Thu, 16 Nov 2023 15:17:34 GMT

Tyler,

They have their own web portal where the data is stored and you can bring it in using their map service. I am including their manual for that. It is isn't as automated as I would like, but it works. I got in touch with two of their guys; Matt Manning and Razvan Stefanoiu. They helped when things weren't going so well. All in all, it's like every other product entering the rest services world, starts slow, then gets better as customers needs are known. If I can help more, just let me know.

Good Luck,

Larry

Re: Underground Utility Locator Equipment with GPS

LarryMasters — Thu, 16 Nov 2023 17:55:30 GMT

Sorry, I forgot to clarify that we went with the Vivax Metrotech.

Larry

Re: Underground Utility Locator Equipment with GPS

TylerJones — Thu, 16 Nov 2023 20:21:05 GMT

Thanks so much @LarryMasters . This documentation and contacts should be super helpful! PREVIEW

Re: Underground Utility Locator Equipment with GPS

RWATT — Mon, 20 Nov 2023 15:23:38 GMT

We tried a 3D-printed bracket from Eos that joined a Eos receiver to a VM locator . It did work, but depended on a phone maintaining connections to the locator (Bluetooth), Eos Receiver (Bluetooth), RTK Corrections (Cellular), and the Eos Receiver maintaining satellite connections. This was too much setup, and the bluetooth was too finicky. We've gone with the VM RTK-Pro instead to great effect. Field users love that it's all physical buttons, so no need to take off gloves and fuss with touchscreens. We stream points in automatically and have field users add line features separately to indicate where desktop review is needed. The Eos phone support is awesome, but their system is really just three systems in a trench coat. The VM online system is terrible to configure, but a dream to work with in the field.

Good luck,

Robert

Re: Underground Utility Locator Equipment with GPS

TylerJones — Mon, 20 Nov 2023 15:55:15 GMT

Thank you for the help! @RWATT , we had originally looked at the VM but the call of the EOS distracted my supervisor. I’d rather suffer through configuring the VM on the front side than have my techs not use the EOS on the backside. Great advise from both you and @LarryMasters !!

Re: Underground Utility Locator Equipment with GPS

ArmstKP — Mon, 11 Mar 2024 16:09:17 GMT

@RWATT So does the portal send any data to an ArcGIS Online feature layer or do you have to export and append every time you do a new survey? Our organization would like the updates to be automatically sent and update an existing ArcGIS Online feature service........

Re: Underground Utility Locator Equipment with GPS

RWATT — Mon, 11 Mar 2024 18:50:01 GMT

Yep, the documentation was terrible but this is indeed what the sync function does. I hardly ever open the portal these days. It takes about 10-30 seconds from locator to field maps on a phone via VM portal and AGOL. I think it might even support deleting and editing, but we do those at the feature layer.

Re: Underground Utility Locator Equipment with GPS

ArmstKP — Tue, 16 Apr 2024 16:34:23 GMT

@RWATT Can you bluetooth from the GNSS RTK locator to Field Maps for location?

Re: Underground Utility Locator Equipment with GPS

RWATT — Wed, 17 Apr 2024 16:08:17 GMT

Not that I know of. Definitely a gap in the product, but the way it's set up (without Bluetooth) is so convenient for regular use.
We don't use it for walkbacks regularly, but we have devised a theoretical protocol by which a user could find a buried facility that has been GPSed.
They would take a point on a known object (manhole, utility pole, or just a mark of paint) using the metrotech and then in Field Maps measure the distance from there to the unlocated point.
Then, they could put all the digital tools away and pull a tape to find the facility. This might need to be duplicated to triangulate the exact spot.

There is also a way to send walkback points out of the VM web portal, but it seems incompatible with out existing point data collected elsewhere.

Re: Underground Utility Locator Equipment with GPS

LeviValdois — Fri, 08 Nov 2024 16:12:17 GMT

Subsite has a utility locator with RTK that maps directly into ESRI now. Pretty sharp