Bookmark us with:
Subscribe to the South Survey BlogAEC Magazine reviews the Orthograph Software and Leica Disto D3aBT - By Martyn Day, AEC Magazine
OrthoGraph Survey and Architect
Written by Martyn Day - AEC Magazine
Surveying is an essential part of our business but in Building Information Modelling (BIM) it would be good to get survey data that was a little more useful, writes Martyn Day.
There are many ways to capture an existing building: The tried and tested tape measure and notebook, a 'Disto', a 'total station' or even a 3D laser scanner. The method of measurement may vary but the end result of the traditional method has been dumb data or 2D plans which have to be redrawn in a Computer Aided Design system. OrthoGraph aims to change that. The software is a suite of Windows PDA-based building survey tools, which enable the on-site creation of accurate floor plans and 3D BIM models.
The Ipaq and Leica Disto made a great combination with OrthoGraph Survey to create CAD ready drawings, ready for sharing.
The OrthoGraph base platform runs on a Windows mobile device with a PC, in our test case it was a HP iPAQ and works with stylus input, or in tandem with laser Leica Distos (via a wireless Bluetooth connection), to capture accurate measurements. Using the stylus to sketch and laser accurately the mobile surveyor can generate the CAD floor plan at the same time as walking through the building.
There are, in fact, a number of variants of the program: OrthoGraph Survey, OrthoGraph Architect and OrthoGraph Inventory, each aimed at distinctly different users. OrthoGraph Survey is the full Monty and allows the creation of floor plans, elevations and cross-sections on small to large projects. Survey comes with a full PC-based ProjectManager utility that allows customisation of project templates and teamwork options.
OrthoGraph Architect is a limited version in that it caters for buildings that have less than 50 rooms. It comes with less project management options but it can still produce great floor plans and output to DWG. While OrthoGraph Inventory can be used to tag and capture assets or stock and even supports bar code scanners for fast input. The massive benefit of capturing all this important survey information in a ready usable format is in itself a huge productivity benefit and will save days over more traditional methods, which require additional off-site work.
Under test
I had never used a Leica Disto before and have to say it was incredibly impressive at how fast, fun to use and accurate it was. With a bit of practice even a complex room can be accurately measured within minutes.
The Leica Disto supports Bluetooth wireless and set-up in seconds to the HP iPAQ, enabling seamless measurement data transfer. As for the PDA, the HP iPAQ appears to be the 'last man standing' in that range of Windows mobile/CE PDAs. While it did the job admirably, it couldn't compete with the battery life, size and interface of the iPad. OrthoGraph Survey was pre-installed on the test HP iPAQ and once I had a Bluetooth synchronisation it was time to get down to some surveying.
The software interface is very basic and easy to understand. To start off, OrthoGraph doesn't just draw lines; it actually captures and documents the physical structure of the building, including floors or multiple buildings. Adding this user-defined structure helps break down the complexity in surveying a large building.
A full 3D BIM model created in seconds with OrthoGraph Survey.
Survey has a range of tools for traditional sketching and editing, although with the automatic Disto input a lot of this work is automated, or can be amended to the lasered result. The range of CAD tools on offer is frankly quite astounding for a PDA, with snaps, layers, curved walls, predefined window and door objects. Lines can be broken into segments and as a CAD user it was like having AutoCAD LT in your hand.
All the dimensions are displayed and the software will even provide immediate analysis such as the area and perimeter of each room. Just from a rough sketch of a room, even when complex, the corresponding Disto measurements can be brought in to give parameters to the drawing. As each element is worked through the system keeps the sketch consistent until it is completely defined.
With the latest version OrthoGraph has connected with BIM, namely with Graphisoft and it is an excellent ArchiCAD modeller. There is a free integration module that allows the mapping of OrthoGraph objects to Graphisoft library components, enabling the creation of a 3D model with all the correct walls, doors and windows within the walls. This process literally takes seconds to generate.
The HP iPaq running OrthoGraph Architect, the CAD tools enable fast sketching with the super accuracy of a laser Disto connected over Bluetooth.
Conclusion
In many ways Orthograph is ahead of its time. The PDA and surveying market must have considered this rocket science even only a couple of years ago. With the increased focus on refurbishment and renovation, together with a move to support 3D and Building Information Modelling, I would wager that OrthoGraph only now is its full benefits starting to be seen.
There has to be a decent alternative to hiring a 3D laser scanner that produces CAD-friendly data at the point and capture, and, in conjunction with ArchiCAD, this is it. It would be great to see OrthoGraph running with Revit and Bentley MicroStation too. OrthoGraph also needs an HP Slate or Apple iPad; surely these are the next evolutionary step for this great application?
Comments
At 16:58:16 on 04/08/2010 registry cleaner wrote:
Thanks for good news!
Add a Comment
Older Posts
Leica Geosystems TruStory - Leica Disto D5
Our customer writes a review on the Leica Disto D5 for Leica Geosystems TueStorys....
Our July 2010 Newletter
This month we have some fantastic offers on bundles for the Orthograph on-site floor plan solutions, as well as other great deals. To take advantage of these offers please call the office on 01200 429870.
Special Special offer
6 Beam line laser level the best offer yet
Newest OrthoGraphTM handheld surveying software released
The latest version of OrthoGraph's Windows Mobile surveying software has been released! Offering many new features, OrthoGraph is developing handheld-based surveying solutions and is on the cutting edge of the changing AEC market.
NEW Orthograph Software
The unique OrthoGraph software line enables the on-site drawing of the floor-plan of any real estate (including land plots, buildings, rooms or any other types of real estate) in an easy, fast and accurate way. The OrthoGraph's PDA (or Windows Mobile touchscreen smartphone) based system performs both graphic and alpha-numerical data gathering. Save time, money and effort!
GStar 2010 is nearly here
Due to the imminent arrival of GStar 2010 we are offering a FREE upgrade from 2009 to 2010 on EVERY purchase of a licence.
Exhibitions...Exhibitions...Exhibitions
March has seen a very busy month for us, with no fewer than three exhibitions....
NEW PRODUCT LAUNCH - B&W International Outdoor Cases
The outdoor cases from case specialist B&W International are developed for the toughest outdoor environments and have been tested under the most extreme conditions. They are designed for temperatures ranging from 40°C up to +80°C. The outdoor cases are Stackable; Watertight (Tested to a depth of 5 meters); Dust Proof; Chemical resistant; Corrosion proof; Crack proof (Tested by dropping a case from a height of 3 meters to a concrete floor); Virtually indestructible
Happy 2010!!!!
Here in sunny (or should I say snowy) Lancashire we have welcomed in the New Year and the New Decade with a lot of snow, freezing temperatures and frost.
Welcome to our New Website
Welcome to Our New Website and New Blog feature...the best way to keep up to date with whats new with South Survey Ltd.
