Connected Construction

Topcon Europe Positioning has released its new DL-500 series digital levels. The new Topcon DL-500 is said to implement the world's first Wave-and-Read technology. "This feature provides an additional survey style option that allows a rod person to wave the staff back and forth, instead of keeping the staff plumb," said Ian Stilgoe, geomatics business manager of Topcon Europe Positioning.

Trimble Dimensions 2009 takes a hard look at opportunities in a tough economy If attendance is the standard by which user conferences are measured, then Trimble Dimensions 2009 should be considered a success. The conference, which took place from 23-25 February at the Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas, USA, hosted more than 2,400 attendees, slightly exceeding last year. The strong attendance, in the face of global economic concerns, was seen by Trimble CEO Steven Berglund as a show of support for the company's tech

Modern satellite technology is making life easier for everyone on the construction site and in the office. Most major equipment manufacturers are now integrating GPS machine control systems into the design of excavators, bulldozers, pavers, and motor graders. For stake-less work it is a major component for automatic grading, surveying, and excavating systems, with contractors and construction companies using GPS machine control systems to improve operations.

The Skanska Balfour Beatty Joint Venture has been selected by Autodesk to receive an Autodesk BIM Experience Award.

Leica Geosystems says that its new Viva TS12 performance robotic package offers a comprehensive package of surveying solutions.

Fugro Aperio is launching its SCANNER survey service, which it says offers competitive, efficient and dynamic highways data collection to assist road agencies and local authorities in reporting to National Indicators.

Savoy Computing in the UK has been quick to launch a new version of its AutoTrack swept-path analysis software to take advantage of the latest AutoCAD 2012 platform.

British scanning company 3D Laser Mapping is hoping to benefit from a £3 million ($5 million) fund announced recently by the UK government for police forces to purchase laser scanning technology for accident recording and investigation.

New advanced software is being released for use by those involved in highway design as Adrian Greeman reports. The growing importance of BIM, building or project information modelling, as a design and construction process, and not just 3D modelling, is the driving force for the latest 2012 versions of Autodesk's comprehensive range of software for civil engineers. This is reflected in a new packaging of its various software tools into suites (along the lines of Microsoft's office suites) tailored to variou

GPS technology offers contractors many benefits and product offerings are growing more diverse, Mike Woof reports. The benefit of GPS technology for the construction industry cannot be overstated.