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Keep up to date with the latest from Equator and the HD mapping world
Create a 3D Terrain in Rhino From Contours
Create a 3D Terrain in Rhino From Contours Learn how to create a topographic surface using an AutoCAD Drawing File in 3 easy steps: 1. Source Contour Data 2. Import Contour Data into Rhino 3. Run the Patch Command to create a 3D Surface Find Contours for your site Step 1 Source
How Ryan’s Foodscape Designs Flourish with Better Contour Mapping in Equator
How Ryan's Foodscape Designs Flourish with Better Contour Mapping in Equator About Ryan Albritton: Design and Foodscape Manager Company: Custom Foodscaping (https://www.customfoodscaping.com/) Location: St Louis, Missouri Ryan Albritton Meet Ryan: edible landscape and permaculture design expert Custom Foodscaping helps residential and institutional clients design and create edible landscaping and permaculture on their properties. As a
How Steve Brings His Favorite Places to Life in Vivid 3D Using Topographic Data from Equator
How Steve Brings His Favorite Places to Life in Vivid 3D Using Topographic Data from Equator About Steve Moseley: Civil Engineer, Artist, Builder Location: Waukee, Iowa, USA Steve creating the wood blank that he will carve the terrain model from Meet Steve: a civil engineer by day and a DIY enthusiast by night Steve Moseley
How Clint Speeds Up Drainage Assessments and Real Estate Decisions with Better Topo Data
How Clint Speeds Up Drainage Assessments and Real Estate Decisions with Better Topo Data About Clint Karsetter: Principal, Owner Company: CK Civil Engineering LLC Location: Fayetteville, Arkansas Meet Clint, Owner and Chief Engineer of CK Civil Engineering Clint, the Owner and Chief Engineer of CK Civil Engineering LLC, runs a civil engineering firm serving commercial
How Rebecca finds archeological discoveries faster with LiDAR and Equator
How Rebecca uncovers hidden history with Equator and LiDAR! About Rebecca: Founder, Principal Investigator and Executive Director Organization: Smyrnéa Archaeological Research Institute (SARI) Location: Florida Meet Rebecca! Rebecca is the founder, principal investigator and executive director of Smyrnéa Archaeological Research Institute (SARI) in New Smyrna Beach, Florida (pictured here with Vice President of Research
How Tom Accelerated Real Estate Development and saved $30,000 using Equator
How Tom Accelerates Real Estate Development and saved $30,000 using Equator About Tom: Director of Real Estate Development Location: Kentucky Tom’s Challenge: Finding Accurate and Timely Data Tom works as the Director of Real Estate Development at an engineering consultancy in Kentucky. The engineering consultancy does everything from purchase negotiation, to building design to their own steel
Create Topography in Revit
Create Topography in Revit Learn how to create a 3D Terrain in Revit using an AutoCAD (.dwg) file Background: What is Revit? Who uses Revit? Tutorial Step 1: Source Topographic Data Tutorial Step 2: Link AutoCAD (.dwg) File to Revit Tutorial Step 3: Create Toposurface in Revit Tutorial Extra: Label Contour Lines in Revit Background:
Equator Secures SDTC Funding
Boosting Sustainable Infrastructure Design Efficiency: Equator Secures SDTC Funding Example of a sustainable infrastructure project (Bioswale SWM Installation) that relies on high-resolution data and collaboration (source). Background Equator was founded with a mission to revolutionize the way sustainable infrastructure is designed. We aimed to empower city builders worldwide to share data and designs in real-time, facilitating informed
How to Import a Point Cloud into QGIS
How to Import a LiDAR Point Cloud (.LAZ) into QGIS QGIS version 3.25 (released in 2021) and subsequent versions has a feature that allows you to import LiDAR point clouds (LAZ files) into QGIS without needing a third party extension. Definitions Source LiDAR Point Cloud Data Import LAZ Into QGIS View as a Map Based on Attributes (i.e. Height, Classification, and Eye Dome Lighting)
How to Convert LAZ to LAS
How to Convert LAZ Files to LAS Files Definitions Source LAZ File Convert LAZ to LAS Definitions Point Cloud - A point cloud is a set of data points representing 3D shapes or objects in a physical 3D space. They contain the most reliable 3D data possible. Click Here for Point Clouds LAS File - .las is a
LiDAR Myths
LiDAR Myths Exposed Six Common Myths and Misconceptions about LiDAR Collection and Data Explained Myth 1: More points are always better In reality, it depends! More points mean higher cost, slower processing and larger datasets so it’s important to know what is required for job and weigh the factors! When are more points typically better: In a densely forested area
Discover the HIDDEN Accuracy of Your LiDAR Data
Discover the HIDDEN Accuracy of Your LiDAR Data Mastering LiDAR Quality: A Quick Guide to Understanding Metadata and Accuracy It all starts with the USGS LiDAR Quality Levels This legend appears on Equator's interface when you turn on the Elevation Products. But what does it mean? The varying quality levels (QL) are defined by the
GIS in Transportation: The Future is Here
GIS for Transportation Introduction GIS, or geographic information systems, is a powerful tool that is increasingly being used in the transportation sector. GIS enables the analysis and visualization of spatial data, allowing for the integration of geographical elements into transportation planning and management. The benefits of using GIS in transportation are numerous, including improved efficiency, safety, and sustainability. Examples of how GIS is used in
LiDAR Data Processing: The Game-Changing Technology That’s Transforming Industries
LiDAR Data Processing Introduction LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) is a remote sensing technology that uses lasers to measure distances and generate high-resolution 3D maps of the Earth's surface. It works by emitting laser pulses and measuring the time it takes for the pulses to return to the LiDAR sensor after reflecting off of objects in the environment. By analyzing the returning laser pulses, LiDAR
The Importance of Land Surveying Accuracy: Why Every Inch Counts
Land Surveying Accuracy Introduction Land surveying is a crucial field that involves the measurement and mapping of land and other physical features. Accurate land surveying is essential for a variety of purposes, such as determining property boundaries, creating topographic maps, and supporting the construction of buildings and infrastructure. The role of accuracy in land surveying cannot be overstated. Factors that affect land surveying accuracy There
GIS – An Overview of Everything GIS
What software do I need to create a GIS? There are many different software options available for creating a GIS. Some of the most popular software programs include: Esri ArcGIS: This is a suite of GIS software products that are widely used in the public and private sectors. It includes tools for mapping, analysis, data management, and visualization. QGIS: This is
Everything You Need to Know about Drone Surveying
How to Perform a Drone Land Survey? A drone land survey involves using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) or drone to collect data about the land surface for the purpose of creating maps and models. Here is a general outline of the steps involved in performing a drone land survey: 1. Plan the survey: Determine the area to be surveyed, the
How to convert Lat Long to UTM
How to convert Lat Long to UTM? It is possible to convert geographic coordinates in latitude and longitude (lat/long) to Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) coordinates. UTM is a standardized coordinate system that is used to locate positions on the Earth's surface. To convert lat/long coordinates to UTM, you will need to know the longitude of the central meridian for the UTM
VVA (Vegetated Vertical Accuracy) vs NVVA (Non-Vegetated Vertical Accuracy)
What is Vegetated Vertical Accuracy (VVA)? Vegetated Vertical Accuracy (VVA) is a measure of the accuracy of a digital elevation model (DEM) in areas where the land surface is covered by vegetation, such as forests or grasslands. It is expressed as the difference between the true elevation of the ground surface and the elevation that is recorded in the DEM. The
Environmental Impact Assessments: Your Guide to Responsible Development
Environmental Impact Assessments EIAs: Your guide to responsible development Did you know that the concept of environmental impact assessments (EIAs) dates back to the 1960s? What is an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)? An environmental impact assessment (EIA) assesses the potential social, environmental, and economic impacts of a potential project. The purpose of an EIA is
What is NTRIP?
What is NTRIP? NTRIP (Network Transport of RTCM via Internet Protocol) is a protocol for transmitting Real Time Kinematic (RTK) GPS data over the Internet. RTK GPS is a high-precision GPS technology that can provide accuracy down to a few centimeters. NTRIP is used to transmit RTK GPS data from a base station to a mobile receiver, allowing the mobile receiver
Equipment Required to Complete a Topographic Survey
What Equipment is Required to Complete a Topographic Survey? A topographic survey involves collecting feature data for a plot of land, such as contours, elevations, and other physical characteristics. There are a variety of tools and equipment that are commonly used to complete a topographic survey, including: Total station: A total station is a surveying instrument that uses electronic distance measurement (EDM) to measure distances
What is Land Surveying?
What is land surveying? Land surveying is the practice of measuring and mapping the land surface. Surveying is used to determine the precise boundaries of a piece of land, as well as the location of natural and man-made features on the land. Surveying is typically performed by professional land surveyors, who use specialized equipment, such as total stations and GPS receivers,
How to Create Contours in QGIS from a DEM
How to Create Contours in QGIS from a DEM: Download DEM file Open the DEM in QGIS Run the contours process Step 1 Download DEM File Note: In this example, we use a DEM exported from Equator. 1. Visit Equator Studios and go to the Data Menu 2. Select Digital Elevation Model from the left-hand Data menu 3. Select
How Abel cut his proposal costs and sped up his projects with Equator
How Abel cut his proposal costs and sped up his projects with Equator About Abel: Senior Civil Engineer Location: Mexico City, Mexico Meet Abel Abel is a senior civil engineer based in Mexico. He works for a renewable energy company in Demark that specializes in solar and wind energy. His role is to do preliminary