Topcon GRS-1 Part of Vegetation Management Solution

Topcon Positioning Systems (TPS), Aerotec, LLC and Laser Technology, Inc. have created a joint vegetation management solution designed to allow utility foresters to easily use GPS to identify and locate conductor-vegetation clearance problems much faster and more accurately than current alternative methods.

Aerotec created the electric power transmission right-of-way vegetation management application to run on Topcon's GRS-1 hand-held GPS receiver with data input from Laser Technology's laser rangefinder.

Jim Dow, CEO of Aerotec, said, "Our goal is two-fold. We increase the level of accuracy and completeness of the forester's initial Lidar violation inventory. With Topcon's GRS-1, we put the tool and the solution directly into the hands of the forester for subsequent in-the-field inspections, thus vastly extending and increasing the value and benefits derived from the initial Lidar violation inventory work."

By taking Lidar data results to the field, the vegetation management solution is designed so users can accomplish tasks including:
- Inventory quality assurance Lidar violations;
- Specify violations that need immediate attention;
- Audit completed fieldwork;
- Perform follow-up inspections throughout succeeding years of the management cycle; and
- Handle customer and regulatory issues either in the field or office.