Importing .prj files into CAICE

Moderator: Carlson Support

Importing .prj files into CAICE

Postby estan1965 » Sat Feb 24, 2007 12:54 am

BELOW IS AN E-MAIL I SENT TO CARLSON REGARDING IMPORTING DATA INTO CAICE.

About 9 months ago, we purchased 3 Carlson Explorer II data collectors and
1 Allegro CX data collector. I use the Allegro CX data collector.
These are the software versions I use to collect and import/export data.

Carlson X-Port Version 4.0.1 11/01/06
SurvCE Version 1.65 12/05/06

At the time, we were doing projects for the Texas Department of
Transportation. TxDoT requires us to collect data and import the data into
CAICE Software. This means we have to use an SDMS processor to take a .prj
file and create a .cal file. So what I was doing was opening the .rw5
Carlson file and using X-Port to create a .prj file by selecting "Tools -
Export Raw Data - SDMS - Export SDMS" in the X-Port utility. However, we
had numerous problems with how the .prj file was being created because
information vital to proper import into CAICE was missing. After numerous
e-mails between Paul Carlson and myself, and a couple of updated versions
of X-Port, the issues were never resolve, so we shelved our new data
collectors. Recently, I've had some time to install the newest releases of
your software and "play" around with it in our parking lot. I sent an
e-mail to Paul Carlson asking him if everything had been fixed and he
replied "I did a little checking to make sure what I am about to say is
correct. There were some changes made recently (the last 6 months) that
eliminate the editing of the PRJ file after it is created. It is
important to note that everything is assuming a transfer from Carlson to
the PRJ file and in to Caice or Geopak. I spoke with a client who has
been using it and says it works as it is supposed to and processes with no
errors.".

I don't know which client he spoke to, but I assure you, there are still
problems with the creation of the .prj file.

When we use our older Husky data collectors and process the data using an
SDMS processor, the following tags are created below, which are correct.

AC:OS
PN:6766
XC:2153779.941
YC:13842563.592
ZC:1185.057
IH:4.8600
AC:BS
PN:3047
XC:2153518.515
YC:13842314.958
ZC:1173.367
HZ:0.0000
VT:91.4824
DS:360.980
SH:5.1700
AC:SS
PN:11895
FE:OE
FG:1204
GM:P
PD:1line
HZ:36.3615
VT:93.5118
DS:90.140
SH:5.0200

The AC:OS and AC:BS tags each have there northing, easting, and elevations
placed below the point number tag. THESE COORDINATES ARE CRITICAL IN ORDER
FOR THE SDMS PROCESSOR TO CORRECTLY CREATE THE .CAL FILE. If these
coordinates are not placed at this point, the SDMS processor prompts me
for the coordinates. Yes there is a way for the SDMS processor to look for
the coordinates in a .ctl file, but this adds another step to the process
and what if there are additional control points that were set within the
prj file? I would have to process the coordinates in X-Port and then
create a .ctl file, which again, is an extra step. There is also a problem
with X-Port in how it creates the .ctl file which I will get into later.

Below is how X-Port creates the .prj file.

AC:OS
PN:10
XC:2239369.669
YC:13812692.546
ZC:810.463
IH:5.3100
AC:BS
PN:11
AZ:132.0818
HZ:0.0000
VT:89.4709
DS:73.039
SH:5.0000
AC:SS
PN:100
FE:CHK
FG:11
GM:P
HZ:0.0002
VT:89.4712
DS:73.040
SH:5.0000

Do you see how there are no coordinates below the tag reading PN:11? In
one of the X-Port "fixes" that Paul Carlson sent me, they had a series of
tags at the top with all of the control points and coordinates. This does
not work! The tags must be placed as shown in the first example. There's
another issue you can see in how X-Port created the .prj file. Do you see
below the tag that reads "PN:11" how it inserted a tag which reads
"AZ:132.0818"? What this tag does when it's imported into CAICE is to
rotate point 11 around point 10 132degrees 08 minutes 18 seconds. THIS TAG
READING "AZ:132.0818" CANNOT BE IN THE .PRJ FILE, PERIOD!

The other issue I alluded to earlier is something I noticed about how
X-Port creates a .ctl file. It puts in the wrong coordinate for my
backsite. It appears as though the coordinate is based on the horizontal
angle, vertical angle and slope distance from when I check my backsite
when I setup, when actually it should be the actual coordinate of the
point from the control file.

These are the coordinates from my control file.

11,13812643.5446,2239423.8269,811.0158,RTK:60D

These are the coordinates from the .ctl file created from X-Port.

AC:OS
PN:11
PD:RTK:60D
XC:2239423.82936
YC:13812643.54307
ZC:811.04601

So now if I import this coordinate into my CAICE database the coordinates
are different than the true, original coordinates.


Look, I know you guys have a lot of data collectors and software programs
that you have to do all of this code for, but we payed for these data
collectors with the promise of everything working seamlessly with our
software. I spent a long time at first trying to figure out workarounds
and get the data into CAICE properly, without success. The new data
collectors aren't saving us any time. In fact, they're costing us more
time and money than our older data collectors. And they've been sitting on
the shelves for the last 9 months.

There are a lot of companies in the San Antonio area who have to do TxDot
work using CAICE software and I hope that if these issues get resolved, it
will benefit all of us.

I would really just like to get this stuff resolved. The data collectors
have a good interface and seem very straightforward and easy to use.

Please feel free to call me on me cell phone or e-mail me. I am more than
happy to send you raw files, the SDMS processor or anything else you need
in order to get this fixed.

Thank You,

Eddie Stannard
GPS Coordinator
The Schultz Group, Inc.
2461 Loop 337
New Braunfels, Texas 78130


##-----------------------------------------------##
Article posted with CarlsonSWNewGroups
http://CarlsonSWNewGroups.sourceforge.net
Share your knowledge in... carlson.survce
##-----------------------------------------------##
estan1965
 

Return to SurvCE General

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users