Ascending Technologies pushes the boundaries of Unpiloted Aerial System (UAS) technology with the release of Trinity autopilot control. Developed as part of the E-Volo project, which saw the first piloted, automatic multicopter take to the air, Trinity was designed to deliver the safety required to put a person on-board an UAV – click here to watch the video! Trinity includes three Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs) that enhance in-flight performance, precision and safety. With triple redundancy, triple processing power and continuous position, altitude and orientation checks during flight, Trinity delivers unbeatable stability in the air. Built-in smarts such as automatic centre of gravity adjustment enable the UAV to compensate for changes in battery, payload or camera lens. New sensors and micro-processors
Australia’s mining industry contributes $121 billion to the country’s economy each year. Despite this huge figure, a report released in 2014 by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), Mining for efficiency, listed Australia as the second least productive mining region in the world, second only to Africa. Our mining boom of recent years set the scene for volume strategies that neglected true efficiency for people and equipment. Worldwide the industry’s open cut equipment productivity has declined by 20% over the past seven years despite the demand for increased volumes. As a result, Australia’s declining productivity is one of the most important challenges for our economy. Australia is the fastest growing nation in the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), with strong
Working in civil construction and mining can take you to some pretty remote areas of this great country. Here, we share the stories of two Aptella customers who have been on both the supporting and receiving end of the Royal Flying Doctor Service. Two longstanding Aptella customers, Gary McClure from Castlemaine, Victoria, and Peter Mitchell from Adelaide, have been on both the supporting and receiving end of the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) respectively and see it as a critical service for the civil construction and mining industries. A Flight for life Peter Mitchell, owner of contracting firm PDM Contracting, knows only too well the importance of the Royal Flying Doctors having suffered a heart attack while on
Get the job done quickly and easily in any environment! The Sokkia DX Robotic Total Station is the most efficient, reliable and cost-effective total station available on the New Zealand Market. Utilising Direct Aiming Technology, the DX Series provides simple operation without comprising on precision. “The DX robotic solution sets the standard for design, performance and price at the entry level of the robotic total station market”, said Denny Welch, Sokkia Survey Senior Vice President. Instead of manually sighting a prism, by using Direct Aiming™ auto-collimation Technology, an operator has the ability to control the instrument directly from the prism pole. This one-man operation capability enhances productivity and minimises personnel costs. The aiming technology also works in dim
South Australian contracting firm Morgan Earthmoving hasn’t looked back since introducing Topcon automatic machine control five years ago.  Specialising in all forms of civil and agricultural earthmoving applications, including sub divisions, site preparation and road construction, Morgan Earthmoving has 15 years’ industry experience and caters for clients throughout South Australia. Established 16 years ago by brothers Stewart and Rob Morgan, Morgan Earthmoving’s recent projects include wastewater dams for Mount Barker and Strathalbyn councils and most recently a considerable number of chicken farm sites throughout the South East of the state. “Chicken farms have kept us busy for the past three to four years,” Stewart Morgan said. “I have my pilot licence and it’s quite striking to see
Joel Seddon, Aptella’ National Product Manager – Machine Control, explains why machine control should be a high priority purchase. Australia’s Federal Government recently passed a new tax break for small businesses with an annual turnover of less than $2 million, granting an immediate tax deduction for any individual assets purchased that cost less than $20,000. There are any number of assets that a small business could put this new tax incentive towards, but below I will detail why machine control systems should be high on the list for any contractor that meets the criteria. Machine control systems are now required on almost all major civil projects across the country, which indicates that they are going to become increasingly more
Established electrical & communications contractor Stowe Australia is saving time and increasing accuracy for asset location using Topcon GNSS.  With a history that dates back to the advent of the electrical industry in this country, Stowe Australia was established in 1910 and is now a 1,800-employee strong, privately owned electrical and communications contractor with offices throughout the East coast. Recently, the company’s Western Division (Penrith branch) invested in GNSS technology to improve accuracy for as-built asset location. Using a Topcon HiPer SR integrated GNSS receiver, complete with a Panasonic Toughbook field controller and MAGNET Field on-board software, Stowe’s electricians and civil workers are able to capture the as-built location data in the field for the team’s civil
Adelaide-based survey firm is winning work across multiple industries after extending its services to include laser scanning using Topcon’s new GLS-2000. SKS Surveys specialises in construction, engineering and property surveying for customers throughout South Australia. Recently, the company invested in laser scanning technology to extend its service offering to new and existing markets, with a wide range of projects already completed and many more on the horizon. Company Director and licenced surveyor Scott Bacchus explained the reasons behind investing in the technology: “We’ve been keeping track of developments in laser scanning in recent years and recognised that it’s now moved from emergence through to wider acceptance in the industry,” he said. “Having missed out on a couple of
