Issue link: https://geospatial.trimble.com/en/resources/i/1397026
TRANSFORMING THE WAY THE WORLD WORKS When erosion damaged storm water control structures in an Oklahoma City neighborhood, engineers needed information on the conditions and materials in the affected area. Traditional point-based surveying would be slow and require field crews to work in hazardous conditions. By using 3D scanning and surveying workflows, crews produced information faster and with greater detail than could be achieved using total stations or GNSS. overview Location OKLAHOMA The problems arose with culverts and channels in the Thornberry Place subdivision. The city government contacted Smith Roberts Baldischwiler, LLC (SRB), a consulting firm in Oklahoma City, to provide surveying and engineering services. In one location, much of the erosion control below a bridge was washed out and flowing water had eroded beneath bridge support structures and the channel's concrete pavers. The erosion had exposed underground utilities and threatened further damage. In order to develop repairs and mitigation, engineers requested a detailed survey of the area. SRB Director of Surveying and Mapping Taylor Denniston knew that walking in the area with a prism pole or GNSS would be inefficient, especially considering the high level of detail required to analyze the situation and plan repairs. In addition to a surface model and map of existing structures and terrain, engineers needed to understand the location of the eroded earth and pavers. "Due to the extent of erosion and debris, a traditional surface model would not be detailed enough to reflect actual ground conditions," Denniston said. "We needed to classify and assign RGB values to the points, so engineers could understand the materials—what was block or debris, and what was existing ground." TRANSFORMING THE WAY THE WORLD WORKS Point cloud of the damaged drainage at the bridge. The Trimble SX10 removed the need for surveyors to walk in the hazardous area.