GISCafé industry predictions 2024 – Trimble

By Boris Skopljak, VP Survey & Mapping and Building Construction Field Systems,  Trimble

Boris Skopljak

Continuous improvement of connected workflows will yield measurable benefits to users in the areas of efficiency, accuracy and communication.

Thanks to advances in technology, more data is being collected at higher accuracies in less time than ever before, resulting in opportunities to leverage rich geospatial information for new applications in diverse industries, providing detailed analysis to support better decision making.

Improvements in computing power, broadband speed and data collection technologies are driving the connection of physical and digital workflows like never before. This evolution is facilitating the seamless transfer of information between stakeholders and is more timely and complete, increasing productivity, amplifying sustainability efforts and opening doors to new business opportunities.

1. Continued Growth in Reality Capture

Reality capture solutions will continue to drive the democratization of geospatial data by improving quality and reducing time to collect information. Advanced 3D scanners and mobile mapping systems are significantly impacting the capabilities of the surveying and mapping industry, resulting in larger data volumes and greater detail and accuracy. Reality capture is fundamental to the idea of a “living digital twin,” enabling more informed decision making based on the complete understanding of the status of an asset.

We are witnessing an increasing number of “fit for purpose” reality capture solutions, products that range from traditional tripod-based laser scanners, UAV photogrammetry and LiDAR solutions, vehicle-mounted mobile mapping systems, and handheld and backpack-based solutions. The data collection platform and technology continues to be simplified, opening opportunities for more widespread adoption and data use. This access is achieved by increasing edge and field computation. For example, 3D laser scanners today like the Trimble X9 have in-field registration capabilities, simplifying in-office processing. What is not going to change is the continued need for surveyor expertise to integrate datasets together and to deliver the accuracy and precision that their clients expect.

This is where we see office software making the processing, storing, sharing, visualization and analysis of large datasets increasingly straightforward. Platforms like Trimble Business Center (TBC) office software allow users to combine data from a wider variety of sensors, reducing costs and increasing the overall reliability and robustness of the deliverables. Platforms capable of integrating data from multiple applications and data sources lead to more accurate, comprehensive results, and allow users to choose from a combination of tools that work for them.

2. Model-Based Workflows

The connected digital environments, including a BIM and digital twins, thrive on model-based information and parametric or intelligent data, where data has context beyond its xyz location. As a geospatial industry, we are moving toward object vs. geometry-first thinking. That means we are no longer staking a point, line and a polygon, but rather an object (i.e. bridge pylon, walls, or slabs) with associated properties and attributes. This “radical” shift is yet another way to speak the language of our customers and work on their terms.

Processing capabilities of field data collectors like the Trimble T10x have a similar computation power to what we have on our desktop computers, and the Trimble TSC5 and TSC7 are getting close. This allows users to work with much larger models, with better graphical and 2D/3D map interfaces in the field. This includes the ability to perform in-field calculations and move some of the office processing and decision making to the field when appropriate. In applications like shotcrete spraying in tunneling, pouring concrete or fabricating, a field operator can now perform inspection analysis before leaving the site.

3. Connectivity

We are evolving toward a true connected experience where technology is in service to people and processes. Construction projects are increasingly challenging, leaving no room for error or rework for companies that are often operating on very low margins. By better connecting all project stakeholders, companies are able to coordinate activities and BIM processes more efficiently, offering owners higher visibility and confidence to keep projects on time and on budget.

Better coordination between field and office users improves communication and delivers workflow efficiency. Connecting field users with the design ensures that teams have access to the latest design, eliminating manual data transfers and reducing costly rework. Stronger connectivity between multiple offices will accelerate timeframes for project deliverables. And perhaps most important for the geospatial industry is the potential for connected workflows to better communicate the value of geospatial data and services across all industries we serve.

We finally have technology and tools that are enabling connectivity and interoperability. For example, Trimble Connect plays a key role in the future of connectivity as it provides a common data environment (CDE) for model-based collaboration across a project lifecycle. With advanced devices in the field automatically connected to the CDE via the cloud, data is efficiently communicated and made accessible to the appropriate stakeholders to support collaboration. Interoperability is increasingly more efficient through cloud APIs and manufacturers working together to enable seamless data flow across multiple environments, from conceptual to constructible design, field solutions to construction management, ERP and operations and maintenance systems.

4. Artificial Intelligence (AI)

AI was undoubtedly the topic in the brightest spotlight in 2023, and considering the opportunities ahead, it will keep increasing in relevance for years to come. More advanced hardware has given customers the ability to acquire and store huge geospatial data sets, and now AI is helping them to more efficiently  extract the maximum value. AI dramatically accelerates activities such as point cloud classification and feature extraction to turn data into actionable information at record speeds. AI is a great help to automate repetitive steps and processes, enabling  survey and mapping professionals to focus more on the value adding activities of interpreting, analyzing and certifying the quality of deliverables.

At Trimble, AI is embedded in our technology across multiple portfolios and sectors, allowing our internal teams and our customers to speed up laborious, tedious tasks and spend more time on human-based analysis. For example, AI in TBC delivers pavement condition reports from mobile mapping data,uses drone data to quickly perform stockpile volume calculations, and  even enables customers to train their own datasets to deliver AI optimized results for any local or  project-specific needs.

5. Business Model Transformation

Innovation across technology and business models is enabling survey and mapping professionals access to the technology on their own terms. The capital-intensive purchase of high-end systems creates a barrier for entry for professionals and projects that would benefit from accessing the technology. In addition to traditional options of buy, rent or lease, we are seeing an evolution in businesses now offering OPEX-based models such as on-demand, subscription, and pay-per-use, supporting companies with seasonal workforces, consumption variabilities (data used or area covered), as well as offering performance-based and productivity-based models.

For example, the Trimble Catalyst GNSS receiver with DA2 antenna provides a low-cost entry point for precise positioning, offering “position as a service,” where customers can get access to the relatively inexpensive GNSS antenna hardware that they can use with Trimble software or their own field software. Users can also subscribe to the level of accuracy they want to receive from Trimble correction services enabling flexibility in scaling operations to match the required application.

Rest assured, 2024 will not be boring when it comes to geospatial technology and evolution. We are very fortunate to be part of an industry that is constantly evolving and improving. Geospatial data is at the center of connecting the physical and digital worlds. Combined with technology advancements, we can be very optimistic about the future and opportunities ahead of us.

Boris Skopljak is Vice President of Survey & Mapping and Building Construction Field Systems at Trimble. Boris joined Trimble in 2011 and has held various product management and business area leadership roles. Having grown up in the surveying industry, Boris has practical survey experience from the US and Croatia. He holds a Geodesy dipl.eng. degree from the University of Zagreb, Croatia, and an MSc. in Geodetic Science from the Ohio State University.

Category: Industry Predictions

This entry was posted on Thursday, January 18th, 2024 at 2:04 pm. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.