layout staking improvements - amazon s3 · fieldgenius 2012 staking improvements introduction we...

FieldGenius 2012 Staking Improvements

MicroSurvey Software Inc.

March 13, 2012

© 2012 MicroSurvey Software Inc. of 38

FieldGenius 2012 Staking Improvements

Introduction We have made the focus of these staking improvements centered

around utilizing the staking list. Users typically get paid based on

how many points they stakeout in a day, so we have kept that in the

front of our minds while designing these improvements to our

staking routines.

New Workflow The intended workflow will be for the customer to import an ASCII

file of points into a new project in FieldGenius. This file will

automatically be added to the staking list because the survey role of

To Stake Out was selected during import. The user will then work

from the staking list. When the Use Staking List check box is

enabled, the staking module will no longer look in the points

database for any points to stake out, but will only look in the staking

list. The nearest point will always be presented as the next point to

stakeout.

When a point has been staked out and it’s survey role has changed,

the point on the Map View will change appearance (look greyed out

with an inverted triangle). Users will easily see what has been laid

out and what remains.

We have added the ability for the user to disable the dialogs between

the staking out a point and having the next point presented to stake

out, thus speeding the time between laying out points.

This guide This guide will walk you through the new work flow and highlight

changes and improvements to FieldGenius. To best demonstrate

this we will start a project from scratch, import an ASCII file of 13

points, and stakeout some of these points. We will see the new

nearest point functionality in action.

I used the desktop version of FieldGenius to demonstrate our

improvements.

Continued on the following page


FieldGenius 2012 Staking Improvements, continued

Provided file I have included a ASCII file of 13 points to stakeout. The file is

called Job1.csv. You are welcome to use this file as you work

through this guide.



ASCII Import We will launch FieldGenius and create a new project. We will then

import an ASCII file of points into FieldGenius. We will import the

file called Job1.csv.

Step Action Display

1

From Project Manager dialog:

Tap on the New Project button.

This takes us to the Create New Project

screen.

2

In the Create New Project screen:

Enter a name for the project in

the Enter project name field.

In this example we will call it

Job1.

Press the OK button when

finished.

This takes us to the Job Review dialog.




Step Action Display

3

In the Job Review dialog:

Here you have an opportunity to select

an Automap Template file or change the

Raw Data file. We will leave these as

the defaults.

Tap on the Continue button.

This takes us to the Unit Settings dialog.

4

In the Unit Settings dialog:

These are the default units for

FieldGenius.

Tap on the OK button unless

you have a need to change these

values.

This takes us to the FieldGenius

Assistant screen.




Step Action Display

5

In the FieldGenius Assistant screen:

In this example we will be stating

coordinates that are scaled to the ground

and therefore a coordinate system is not

required.

Tap on the No button.

This takes us to the Instrument Selection

screen.

6

In the Instrument Selection screen:

In this screen we can select or create

instrument profiles. In this example we

will use the Total Station Demo profile.

Select the Total Station Demo

instrument profile.

Tap on the Connect button.

This takes us to another FieldGenius

Assistant screen.




Step Action Display

7

In the FieldGenius Assistant screen:

We are prompted if we would like to

create a new point to use as a set up

point. Since we will be importing an

ASCII file, we won’t create a point here.

Tap on the No Button

This takes us to the Map View screen.

8

In the Map View screen:

Since we want to import an ASCII file

of points, we will navigate to the ASCII

import dialog.

Tap on the Main Menu button.

This takes us to the Main menu.




Step Action Display

9

In the Main menu:

Tap on the Import/Export

button.

This takes us to the Import/Export

screen.

10

In the Import/Export screen:

Tap on the ASCII Coordinate

File Import button.

This takes us to the Import Coordinate

File screen.




Step Action Display

11

In the Import Coordinate File dialog:

Press the Browse for File…

button to navigate to the file you

wish to import.

Note: I have already browsed for the

file to import and that is displayed in the

File Name field.

Select the field delimiter of your

ASCII file in the Field

Delimiter field. In this example

the delimiter is a comma.

Select the file format of your

ASCII file. Consult FieldGenius

help or the manual for an

explanation of the file formats.

In this example we will be using

the Standard format.

Select To Stake Out as the

survey role in the Assigned Role

field.

Decide whether you want to

write an SP (Store Point) record

to Raw file. In this example we

will write to the Raw file.

This step continues on the following

page.




Step Action Display

11

This step continues from the previous

page:

Why do I want to write an SP record to

the raw file?

There are times when you may want to

reprocess your survey data but using an

altered control coordinate. You can not

unless they were written to the raw file

so it is not a bad rule of thumb to do.

Leave the Overwrite Existing

Coordinates field unchecked as

we are using a new job with no

points in it.

Press the Import button.

This takes us to a report screen

explaining how many points were

imported.

12

In the report dialog:

We see that 13 points were imported.

Tap on the OK button.

This returns us to the Main menu.




Remember Up to now we have connected to the total station demo profile and we

have imported an ASCII file of points to use to setup on and practice

staking out.

We will now setup our total station on point number 9, backsight a

north direction, and stake out a few points.

Step Action Display

13

In the Main menu:

Tap on the Map View button.

This takes us to the Map View screen.

14


We see the 13 points we just imported.

Let’s setup our total station on point 9

and backsight a north direction.

Tap on the Select Mode button.

This takes us to the Select Measure

Mode screen.




Step Action Display

15

In the Select Measure Mode screen:

Tap on the Occupy Point

button.

This takes us to the Orientation Setup

screen.

16

In the Orientation Setup screen:

We see the blue text Dbl Click in the

Occupy Point field. This indicates that

more information is available if we

double-tap on this field. So let’s do it.

Double tap on the Occupy Point

field.

This step continues on the following

page.




Step Action Display

16

This step continues from the previous

page:

After double-tapping on the Occupy

Point field we see a new drop-down

menu with different means of selecting

an occupy point.

Key Pad Entry: If you know the point

number of the point you wish to set up

on then select this and then key in the

point number.

Point Select – Map: Select this to

choose your set up point by tapping on it

using the Map View.

Point Select – List: Select this if you

want to pick your point from the list of

points in the points database.

Point Select – New: Use this if you

want to manually enter a new point and

its coordinates.

In this example we will select Point

Select – Map to select point number 9

to set up on.

Tap on Point Select – Map.

This takes us to the Select Point screen.




Step Action Display

17

In the Select Point screen:

I have already tapped on point number 9

and we see it has been selected because

of the orange dot on point 9 and in the

Point ID field we see a 9.

Tap on your occupy point.

Press the Select button.

This returns us to the Orientation Setup

screen.

18

In the Orientation Setup screen:

Enter an instrument height in the

Instrument Height field. In this

example we will leave it at 0.0.

Select what you wish to

backsight in the Backsight

section. In this example we will

backsight a direction of north.

Enter a backsight direction in the

Backsight Direction field.

In this example we will skip using a

target height.

Tap on the OK button.

This returns us to the Map View.




Step Action Display

19

In the Map View:

We see an instrument setup icon and

orientation at point number 9. We now

need to complete our setup by taking a

backsight observation. Since we are

only back sighting north, we don’t need

to make a distance measurement so we

will tell FieldGenius that we don’t wish

to measure a distance.

Tap on the Measurement Mode

button.

This takes you to the Backsight Measure

Mode screen.

20

In the Backsight Measure Mode screen:

Since we are back sighting a north

direction, we don’t need to measure a

backsight distance.

Tap on the Angle Only button.

This returns us to the Map View screen.




Step Action Display

21

In the Map View:

We now see that the Measurement

Mode button now displays BS (Angle).

Tap on the Measure button.

This takes you to the Manual

Observation Input screen.

22

In the Manual Observation Input screen:

Since we are back sighting a north

direction, we will use the values

displayed in the image to the right.

Enter 0°00'00" in the

Horizontal Angle field.

Enter 90°00'00" in the Vertical

Angle field.

Tap on the OK button

This takes us to the Orientation Results

screen.




Step Action Display

23

In the Orientation Results screen:

We see our orientation results.

Tap on the Accept button.





So what have

we done? To recap, we have created a new project, selected the Total Station

Demo instrument profile, imported an ASCII file of points, set up our

instrument on one of the points in this file, and back sighted north.

We are now ready to stake out. There are different ways to access

staking but we will do it straight from the Map View screen.

Step Action Display

24

Continuing in the Map View:

Let’s start the staking process.

Tap on a point in the Map. In

this example, let’s tap on point 8

(in the lower-left corner of the

map).

Notice the display changes and we now

see the Point Toolbar at the bottom of

the map. Also, point 8 has an orange

dot indicating it is selected.

Tap on the Stake icon.

This takes us to the Point Staking

screen.




Point Staking

Dialog Although this screen looks very similar to FieldGenius 2011, we have

added a lot more intelligence to it. The first new item in this dialog

that you have not seen before is the Do not show this screen again

check box. You can turn the display of this screen off so you won’t see

it again. We did this to quicken the staking process. There is also a

setting to turn this on or off in the Settings\Options\Staking section.

Questions: What happens if I enter an offset in the Design Point

Offset fields, and then turn off this display? I know I will mistakenly

stakeout a point in the wrong place because I only wanted to offset one

point, and I will forget to clear the offset fields for my next point. Will

I be staking these points in the wrong place?

Answer: Not if we can help it. If there is anything other than a zero in

these fields, we will always display this dialog even if you have it

turned off, and we did this for exactly the reason you mention.

Step Action Display

25

In the Point Staking screen:

Let’s stake out point 8. We see point 8

is in the Point ID field.

We want to use the staking list so

Ensure there is a check mark in

the Use List check box.

We also see the coordinates for point 8

displayed in this dialog.

Tap on the Stake Point button.

This takes us to the Staking Point 8

screen.




Step Action Display

26

In the Staking Point 8 screen:

Remember: If we were using a robotic

total station or GPS, we would not see

this screen and these values would be

automatically displayed on the Map

View screen.

Make note of these values.



27

In the Map View:

We see a Waiting For Measurement

text displayed. Notice that all of the

points are “greyed out” and the only two

displayed are our set up point (9) and

the point to be staked (8). Also the

Measurement Mode button informs us

that we are staking with the text Stk

Shot.

Press the Measure button.

This returns you to the Manual





Step Action Display

28


Enter the value in the

Horizontal Angle field that we

saw in Step 26.

Enter the value in the Vertical

Angle field that we saw in Step

25.

Enter the value in the Slope

Distance field that we saw in

Step 25.



How do I enter

the degrees

and minutes

symbols?

FieldGenius will automatically add them for you. In the above

Horizontal Angle field example, type this sequence of keys:

63 space 31 space 55 tab

(or 63.3155 tab)

And you will see 63°31'55" displayed in the Horizontal Angle field.




Step Action Display

29

In the Map View:

We see our In and Right directions are

almost zero and since they are within

our staking tolerance, they are coloured

green.

Tap on the Store Point button.


Results dialog.

30

In the Point Staking Results dialog:

What’s new with this dialog?

We added a Do not show this screen

again check box. You can also turn this

on/off in the Settings\Options\Staking

menu. Let’s place a check mark in this

box and see what happens.

Tap on the Do not show this

screen again check box to place

a check mark in it.

Tap on the Save Raw Data

button.

This returns us to the Point Staking

dialog.




Step Action Display

31

In the Point Staking dialog (as we saw

in Step 26):

Question: Why is point 11 displayed in

the Point ID field?

Answer: It is the next nearest point to

point 8.

Just for fun, let’s place a check mark in

the Do not show this screen again

check box.

Tap on the Do not show this

screen again check box.

Press the Stake Point button.

This takes you to the Manual





Step Action Display

32

In the Staking Point 11 screen:

Remember: If we were using a robotic

total station or GPS, we would not see

this screen and these values would be

displayed on the Map View screen.

Make note of these values (as we

did in Step 26).



33

In the Map View:


This returns you to the Manual

Observation Input screen




Step Action Display

34


Let’s make a bad measurement. Maybe

we are on the wrong point? Enter the

incorrect values displayed on the image

on the right.


Horizontal Angle field

displayed on the right

(63°00'00")


Angle field displayed on the

right (90°00'00")


Distance field displayed on the

right (31.000m)






Step Action Display

35

In the Map View:

Now we see that there is red text

indicating we are outside our staking

tolerance. But we didn’t see this and we

pressed the Store Point button anyway.

Tap on the Store Point button.


Results screen.

36

In the Point Staking Results screen:

Hey! Wait a minute. We turned this

dialog off in Step 30! What’s going on?

You are correct, we did stop this dialog

from being displayed, but FieldGenius

will always ignore that command when

you have exceeded your staking

tolerance. We don’t want you ever

staking out and storing a bad

measurement.

We will cancel this measurement and do

it properly.

Tap on the Cancel button.

This returns us to the Map View screen.




Step Action Display

37



This takes us to the Manual Observation

Input screen.

38


Go back to Step 32 for the correct values

to enter.


Horizontal Angle field

displayed on the right

(37°52'06").


Angle field displayed on the

right (87°51'45").


Distance field displayed on the

right (33.944m).






Step Action Display

39


We now see the In/Out Left/Right

fields are coloured in green so this

means we are within our staking

tolerance (in fact they are all zero) so

let’s store this point.

Press the Store Point button.

This stores the point and opens the Point

Staking screen displaying the next

nearest point to stake out.




So what has

changed? We added toggles to allow the enabling/disabling of 3 dialogs (Stake

Results, Point Staking, and Store Stake Point – see image below and

on next page) that existed before. We were told that few people read

or use these dialogs so we now permit the user to disable them thus

decreasing the amount of button pushes between points and reducing

the time to stake the next point.

Each one of these dialogs can either be turned On/Off from within

the Settings/Options/Staking section or from the dialog itself. We

have added intelligence in the Point Staking dialog so that if any

character other than a null value or zero are in the Offset fields, the

dialog will be displayed no matter what is selected in the on/off

toggle.




So what has

changed?

continued

We added a Show Staked-Stored Points check box to allow the

user to view points on the map that have already been staked out.

We now allow the user to decide if they want their staked out points

to appear differently to points that have not been staked out yet with

the Fade Staked-Out Points check box.

If you want to store the newly staked out point along with its staking

deltas, place a check mark in the Store Stake Point check box.




Step Action Display

40

Map View Changes.

Take a look closer at the lower-left hand

corner of the map

I have provided a zoomed in view below

the main image.

Remember the first point we staked out

was point 8. Where is it?

It is now the “greyed out” triangle

beneath point 7.

This new display can be turned on or off

in the Settings menu (see the previous

section called “So what has changed?”

You should see a field called Fade

Staked-Out Points).

We wanted to make it very easy for the

user to see what has been staked and

what remains.




Review of

Dialog

Changes

Let’s go through some the dialogs that have been changed.

Description Dialog

Point Staking Results Dialog

1. We added a Do not show this

screen again check box. This check

box is over-ridden when the staking

tolerance has been exceeded.

Point Staking Dialog

1. We added a Do not show this

screen again check box.

2. This Do not show this screen again

check box is over-ridden when

either of the Design Point Offset

fields have anything other than a

zero value in them.




Description Dialog

Staking List Dialog

1. All points imported with the survey

role of To Be Staked get

automatically added to the Staking

List.

2. We changed the icon of the To Be

Staked points to a green check

mark. The previous red x we found

a little confusing.

3. The Stake icon appears for points

that have not been staked yet.

4. No other functionality has changed.




Description Dialog

Project/Settings/Options/Staking Dialog

We added:

1. the Fade Staked-Out Points check

box. When unchecked, Staked Out

points are displayed the same as To

Be Staked points.

2. the Display Point Staking Screen

check box. When unchecked the

Point Staking dialog is not

displayed between the staking and

storing of a point.

3. the Display Stake Results Screen

check box. When unchecked the

Point Stake Results screen will not

be displayed unless the staked point

exceeds the staking tolerances.

This continues on the following page.




Description Dialog

Continuing in the

Project/Settings/Options/Staking Dialog

We added:

4. the Store Stake Point check box.

Placing a check mark in this box

will store the point information

along with the raw data.

5. the Show Staked-Stored Points

check box. A new Survey Role has

been created called Staked and

Stored. We created this to allow

users to filter out points that they

have already staked out.

6. the Use Staking List check box.

When this is unchecked then points

in the Points Database are also

presented as points to be staked. We

recommended that this box always

has a check mark in it.




Description Dialog

New Instrument Profile Dialog.

We added this new dialog so that a user

will have a Cancel button when they

mistakenly press the Add button in the

Instrument Selection screen. Previously

if the user mistakenly pressed the Add

button, there was only one active button

and that was Save.

What happens if you mistakenly select

a point that has already been staked out?

We added the Stake Point Warning

screen.




Description Dialog

Previously in the Instrument Selection

dialog, no Instrument Type was selected

i.e. there was no radio button in any of

the choices.

We made this page always have an

active instrument selected to connect to.

What happens when the user stakes all

of their points?

They receive this updated warning

message.

We added the staking list text to provide

additional help to the user.




Description Dialog

In this display we see a Waiting for

Measurement… text AND the Store

Point button is greyed out.

In the past, the Store Point button was

active despite that there is nothing to

store. As you can see, this bug is fixed.

Alpha Characters

We added more functionality to this

dialog. In the past you just received the

warning message. We added the check

box at the bottom of the dialog so you

can now turn alpha characters on

directly from the warning message.

layout staking improvements - amazon s3 · fieldgenius 2012 staking improvements introduction we...

Documents