Puerto Montt, Chile (August 7, 2015)— In the temperate rainforest of the Los Lagos Region of Southern Chile, where rainfall annually exceeds 1,500 mm and two thirds of the days are rainy, the dense forest canopy is a huge challenge for GNSS receivers. One survey firm, Motivazion, headquartered in Puerto Montt, a port city just below the rainforests, makes its living surveying under the densely canopied forest and rugged terrain. Motivazion works principally for hydropower development companies, surveying contours, cross sections, longitudinal profiles, as well as staking out proposed facilities. In an effort to ensure it was using the best GNSS receivers for the conditions, Motivazion recently conducted field tests to determine just which brand excelled.
Motivazion’s owner, Jorge Mesias, said he typically uses a combination of total stations and GNSS receivers for his work. “If understory performance could be improved, efficiency would increase dramatically and reduce the need for using the more time consuming total station,” said Mesias. “We had been having generally poor results with our current GNSS receiver, that’s why I decided to examine several additional competing brands,” he added.
Field tests were conducted in the nearby Lake Rupanco area near a small town of the same name. A light rain fell at all times during the two-day test. The test routine consisted of surveying a total of 21 points in two days. Results were compared to points established by a total station.
Base stations were set up in a small area cleared for the purpose and the rovers moved from point to point under the canopy. The SP80 achieved fixed solutions in less than three minutes 95 percent of the time. “The SP80 was the clear winner among the GNSS receivers as it achieved remarkable results compared to the benchmark total station results,” said Mesias. Geocom S.A., Spectra Precision’s dealer in Chile, provided the SP80 and technical support.
About Motivazion
The survey firm Motivazion Ltd. was founded in 2007 to provide technical consulting to foreign investors, particularly hydropower and other infrastructure developers. To achieve its goals in the complex surveying environment of southern Chile, Motivazion employs highly trained personnel and the latest GNSS technologies.
About Geocom
Headquartered in Santiago, Geocom S.A. has served the needs of Chile’s mining, construction, engineering, civil works and infrastructure industries since 1985 delivering comprehensive solutions in surveying, GPS, laser scanner and mapping systems
About the SP80 GNSS Receiver
The SP80 GNSS receiver uses Z-Blade processing technology running on a next generation Spectra Precision 240-channel 6G ASIC that fully uses all six GNSS systems: GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo, QZSS and SBAS. The unique GNSS-centric capability optimally combines GNSS signals without dependency on any specific GNSS system; allowing operations in GLONASS-only or BeiDou-only mode when needed. The SP80 also has a unique combination of communication technologies including an integrated 3.5G GSM/UMTS modem, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi connectivity, and optional internal UHF transmit radio. The cellular modem may be used for SMS (text message) and e-mail alerts as well as regular Internet or VRS connectivity. The SP80 can also connect to the Internet from the field using Wi-Fi hotspots, where available.
About the Spectra Precision Brand
Spectra Precision is an established brand known for delivering quality products to the survey and construction markets. Focusing on the specific needs of the conventional surveying market, the Spectra Precision brand offers a complete product portfolio including Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), optical total stations, data collection hardware, field and office software, as well as a wide range of construction tools. Spectra Precision surveying equipment is an economical choice that utilizes technologies for optimal efficiency. With convenience and reliability as the foundation of the Spectra Precision brand, it is an ideal choice for value. The Spectra Precision brand is backed with the strong technical support that users have come to expect from a quality name in surveying and construction.