Nate,
I (We) have been using the system (Triumph LS & T2) for five days now.
I have collected Utility System Features, Staked a line between two points, Staked individual points, Collected a Trajectory (every 10 meters on a icy, snow covered ranch road in the cab of a UTV while my employer was practicing his drifting technique), Loaded imagery, points, lines, taken some pictures, imported and exported various file types (The PDF report is awesome!), and am beginning to understand the logic and organization of the software.
There are times that I feel I am trying to take more than one step at a time, but I have done that most of my life, and I have a really ugly nose because of it.
The "Not for beginners." remark was not meant in any derogatory fashion. I am simply amazed at certain things the system does, so is my employer. The price you have to pay is the time it takes to learn its capabilities. Time can be a precious commodity. It is a good thing I am an insomniac!
So here are some things I have experienced with the system.
We were unable to import a DWG, and a DXF file containing linework generated using Microsurvey MSCAD. This happened several times.
I took the data, ran it through QGIS, exported it as both a shape file, and a DXF file. Both file types imported without issue, but I need to get more familiar with the labeling of the features. The map was cluttered with redundant labels. (I am very strong on the GIS side, and somewhat weak on the CAD side.)
We also ran the troublesome files through Global Mapper, and exported them as DXF files, once again the files imported without issue.
We are trying to find the source of the trouble with the MSCAD files.
We also saw a myriad of undesired lines connecting the points to what we believe were the reference station, or possibly Point # 1. We aren't sure but there were a bunch of triangles composed of green lines filling the screen until we zoomed in on a point or smaller area. We will figure this one out, simply user error, and lack of familiarity.
My lack of familiarity with the logic and use of pages made for a few difficulties, but it was a lesson well learned.
Profiles for various types of surveying is a great thing! We have created several, along with using those already established.
Things that I have not discovered but would like to see if they are not available.
An external means of creating point, and line styles other than from a cad system.
Enumeration of the point styles and the ability to create a code list, shape tag and attributes using a CSV file, or through the importation of a Shape file or SQLITE/Spatialite database.
The ability to read a QML file or .SHX file containing point or line types/styles. (Sorry, my GIS is showing, as is my affinity for QGIS, even though I am fluent in ArcGIS, Manifold, Mapinfo/Mapbasic, and Maptitude)
I am going to try to push the system very hard in the near future.
I have worked on projects in the past that had over 100,000 locations to be surveyed, each location had an eight digit identifier. Several hundred square miles of surveying, and mapping involved. (Okay, I will admit it, I am a doodlebugger on occasion)
I would like to see how the system handles a project of this nature.
Beyond that, I am a big fan so far!
Thanks!
Regards,
Jon