Laser Scanning makes its mark in Melbourne’s largest rail project

Author: Tamara Stakic, Marketing Manager - Leica Geosystems, Australasia

Auspat Land Survey Australia(Auspat) is no stranger to servicing large multi-faceted infrastructure projects. The Australian engineering and infrastructure company has been engaged to provide surveying solutions on some of the largest and most significant infrastructure projects in Australia - from the M7 in Sydney, to Eastlink in Melbourne, the Gateway Duplication in Brisbane, the Superway in Adelaide and more recently Melbourne’s Metro Tunnel and Westgate Tunnel projects.

To deliver surveying and spatial solutions on the largest infrastructure projects in the country, Auspat recognises that digital and spatial technology innovation increases value to the client, enhances the quality and boosts productivity for project delivery. Utilising the latest technology allows Auspat to provide the best quality data and services to their clients.

Laying the foundation

The Metro Tunnel Project is the largest rail project in Melbourne, Australia since the City Loop was built in the 1970s. It involves building twin nine-kilometre rail tunnels and five underground stations from North Melbourne through to the Domain precinct, south of the CBD.

Auspat has been engaged on the project since 2018 and have been involved throughout many phases - from diaphragm wall (D-Wall) construction (Arden Station), excavation and early groundworks (station boxes and portals), tunnel entrance excavation, and station construction (Arden and Anzac stations).

团队最初部署了Leica Nova TS60和Nova MS50多阶段要在站点站点和门户网站上进入控制网络。目的是为这些站点建立主要的调查控制网络。对于AUSPAT的团队，必须使用可靠，准确的控制网络，并使用他们成功地在网站周围进行遍历的Leica Geosystems的总站。bob apple

在Arden上还使用了MS50群落来扫描和监视散装土方，以计算每日量并确保进行电台盒进行挖掘进行设计。

Seeing is believing

When commencing structural work and verification of design, theLeica ScanStation P40survey-grade laser scanner was deployed. The ScanStation P40 scanner allowed the team to capture quick scans of the site, easily register scans inLeica Cyclone寄存器（点云注册办公室软件）并导出用于使用的数据Leica Cyclone 3dr, to extract line work and surfaces.

Cyclone 3DR还用于使用点云数据和热图评估设计与设计的潜在偏差。

“我们的客户价值的视觉的热图,3 d数据deliverables and 3D models because it is easy to comprehend and it visually helps to determine and show potential deviations in a complex environment. Also, the point cloud data is highly accurate, and this quality gives the team at Auspat that extra confidence to deliver the perfect data to the client. This visualisation makes it easy for our clients to compare the built structures to the design and to identify any deviations that must be addressed. Another benefit is that we can export our scans in multiple formats that can be used by most of the CAD packages our clients and designers use,” said Mal Friel, senior surveyor Auspat.

A useful application of the ScanStation P40 laser scanner has been the ease and speed at which we can collect data in areas that would be challenging and time consuming using traditional methods.

“这些只是一些补充al value-adds that we can provide to our clients. Once they see the level of detail that a scanner can produce it becomes an easy decision for them. In a three-minute scan we can provide exactly what they required in their brief and even additional data that we didn’t initially set out to capture. This saves the team multiple site-visits,” explains Friel.

Scanning forward

Adopting laser scanning technology not only helped Auspat with deliverables but also helped them to meet project deadlines. Scanning technology allowed Auspat to complete their scans within five to 10 minutes per setup, with only one person needed to operate the scanner and without disrupting other project teams on site.

Auspat have been proud owners of the ScanStation P40 for over 12 months and haven’t looked back. With the addition of a scanner in their fleet, Auspat has expanded into additional services as well as being able to add value to their clients. With the ScanStation P40 scanner Auspat can now scan large areas and extract features or create a 3D DTM far quicker and with a higher level of detail than traditional feature surveys.

"Having the capability to scan has allowed us to carry out surveys in complex environments such as rail corridors and freeways without the need for track or lane closures, providing considerable efficiencies to clients", said Friel.

The adoption of scanning technology has made Auspat more efficient and in turn, they have been able to take on more feature survey work with consultancy and design agencies.

“More and more projects are asking for point clouds and clients are highly impressed with the data they are receiving, which greatly increases the likelihood of their repeat business.” said Friel.

The ScanStation P40 won over Auspat due to the familiar interface and easy adoption for the team. "Programmes such as the “Resection” and “Traverse” functions on the scanner allowed us to have increased confidence in our data", said Friel.

This meant that with the support and hands-on training from Leica Geosystems Australia distributorC.R.肯尼迪扫描专家Sam Hesper，Auspat的团队能够使他们的扫描项目启动并迅速运行，并有信心，支持只是一个电话。

We asked Mal if he had any advice for his peers or other companies thinking about adopting scanning technology. “Spend time understanding the client brief and focus on what’s most important to them. Don’t confuse the client with unnecessary data, present the most beneficial and useful deliverable that addresses the brief.”

What’s next for Auspat?

“我们已经看到，从预制码等扫描和无人机服务的需求增加，验证桥梁梁和检查模具，到大型的民用基础设施项目，要求我们捕获空中图像和批量的土方工程。

‘我们希望继续探索地理空间技术并扩大我们的能力。让Leica Geosystems和C.R Kennedy作为合作伙伴使我们可以访问硬件和软件的最新进展。

This ensures we will be able to keep offering our clients cutting edge solutions to their survey requirements,” said Friel.