Bluetooth-Enabled Laser Devices Team with PocketPCs for Site Surveying Solution

[Ekkie Tepsupornchai]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.windowsfordevices.com/news/NS9988373614.html' target='_blank'>http://www.windowsfordevices.com/ne...9988373614.html</a><br /><br /></div><i>"GiveMePower has released a version of its mobile device drafting software that creates AutoCAD-compatible building surveys and inspection drawings with the help of a Bluetooth laser range finder. PowerCAD SiteMaster 2 creates precise drawings up to 10 times faster than traditional measuring tape and paper methods, according to the company.SiteMaster uses a Leica DISTO Plus Bluetooth wireless laser to acquire measurement data in a 'point-and-shoot' mode of operation. The resulting measurements are sent to a Windows Mobile Pocket PC or smartphone, or to a Windows XP Tablet PC."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/GiveMePower1-thm.jpg" /><br /><br />I've seen demonstrations of extremely high-grade laser instruments to help recreate entire factories into AutoCAD systems. This is really some incredible technology that has not only simplified the process of performing site-surveys, it has also greatly reduced the margin of error involved to just fractions of what it was before. This GiveMePower device is not quite on the same level of what I've seen, but I could still see this being useful for the homebuilder, landscape/structural architect, real estate agent, etc.

[SrSketch]

We announced this device's availability in March of 2004. I promised Jason that PocketPCThoughts would get "the scoop" - being first to report it. I designed the device along with the engineers at Leica GeoSystems around the needs of the real estate valuation and inspection industries and we wrote the communication that facilitates developers being able to interact with the DISTO™ Plus. Our "teaser" application, PlusDraw™ is included with the device but is not intended for serious use by a professional - i.e. it is just meant to show that the device can be used to drive a Pocket PC, WinCE or other WinXP type device (Tablet PC, TouchPad, etc.) to draw/display while measuring. I believe you may download PlusDraw™ from www.disto.com and see what I mean. You do not need the DISTO™ Plus to use the program, however. Our more full-featured applications for our target industries can be seen at www.apexwin.com and has an approximate user base of 20,000 users. Developer editions and/or "tools" are available for those who may wish to add sketching/calculating capabilities to their own industry specific applications. For more information on how various people are using this device, the MobileAppraiserGroup forum on Yahoo! is a good place to visit. That forum currently has approximately 1,000 active users, mainly appraisers, but also including others who perform similar measuring, calculating and "take off" tasks. Hope this info is helpful. I don't want this to sound like a "plug" for our software - I just wanted to let people know this isn't really NEW - it's a variation of something others have already done, just in a slightly different market niche. GMP has some great products, but they certainly didn't invent or create this stuff.

[Ekkie Tepsupornchai]

Randall, This is terrific information. Thank you. I'll actually visit your forum site soon as I have some interest in the applications of your product myself.

[SrSketch]

Ekkie:

Thanks for the kind words. I was hoping that what I posted did not come out the wrong way. I mean for my information to be helpful to others and not so much to push our own products. As I tried to say, I designed this device and we developed the communication, both for our own customers' needs AND to make it available to other developers who might want to address their customers' needs.

Anyway, the forum I was mentioning is not "ours" - I am simply a member there. It is run by an appraiser, but there are also architect type members and other who do mobile "inspection" type activities. The forum can be found at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MobileAppraiserGroup/

Sorry if I did not insert that URL correctly. As you might see, I am not a big contributor to these forums.

If you wish to contact me, as an "official PPCT", I am guessing you have access to my email address, so please feel free to contact me if I may be of any assistance in getting you more involved with these targeted mobile forums. Our market niche is small, but enthusiastic and we would welcome someone like you to contribute and also keep the people on these other, more generic forums up to date on what we're doing.

Regards,

-Randall Garrett-

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[dshkipin]

As a field measuring professional and a General Partner at Prime Edge As-Built Services (http://www.primeedge.com) use of lasers such as Disto, Leica, Hilti and others has been given for many years. With the technology advances in “Palm” type devices, emerged PowerCAD and later direct input via Bluetooth connection got added as an option to Disto and some others. In my experience, this technology is quite useful for certain applications only. Type of project where direct input from distance measuring tool becomes efficient is usually an as-built of an existing office space, where basic information needs to be verified such as wall lengths, reflected ceilings plan layous, electrical outlet locations and others. When existing CAD files are available for use, Disto Blutooth combined with PowerCAD technology allows direct and, more importantly, instant understanding of the space and project in general. However, in my own experience, it is an absolute agony and a general inefficiency to work with PowerCAD and Disto while creating as-built CAD files from scratch. After numerous attempts our company found it to be more effective in using a somewhat a “hybrid” combination of using “Disto-Excel” link while sketching. Data gets transferd into AutoCAD application using PrimeLink, a simple software tool developed by our company. In a nutshell, technology is still new and definitely has a long future ahead of itself. Feel free to play with it, I think they will give you a free trial.

Dmitry Shkipin, Associate AIA
Prime Edge AsBuilt Services
www.PrimeEdge.com
www.AsbuiltEdge.com