New Technology Acquisition

The use of hand-held lidar traffic enforcement technology marks a shift from traditional observation-based practices to more advanced technology-supported tailgating detection methods. Each TruVision unit, provided by Laser Tech, features pinpoint, long-range speed detection, and the ability to calculate the time and distance between vehicles. The built-in high-resolution camera equips operators with visual evidence of unsafe following distances and other driving infractions.

Training and Implementation

Members of Mississippi’s Department of Public Safety participate in hands-on field training with newly acquired TruVISION lidar units.

Training sessions started on March 10, 2025, and concluded on April 4, 2025. A team of traffic safety experts from Laser Tech traveled to Mississippi to conduct the training. The sessions included classroom-style lessons on lidar as a tool for traffic enforcement and hands-on practice with the TruVISION’s camera and Distance Between Cars (DBC) feature, which is specifically designed to help operators detect, enforce, and reduce tailgating. Participants used real highway traffic to sharpen their skills in speed and following distance detection.

Future Impact on Road Safety

Mississippi’s Commercial Transportation Enforcement Division (CTED) and Highway Patrol (MHP) are ready to deploy their newly acquired tailgating detection lidar devices. Key metrics such as CMV crash and traffic fatality numbers will be closely monitored to assess the impact of this initiative. Laser Tech remains committed to supporting these professionals in their mission to enhance road safety for all drivers.

We are grateful to the Mississippi Department of Public Safety for their cooperation in creating this press release. To learn more about the department’s mission, visit https://dps.ms.gov. For media inquiries, contact Bailey C. Martin at bmartin@dps.ms.gov.

About Laser Tech

Laser Technology, Inc. is a Colorado-based manufacturer devoted to the design and manufacture of innovative laser-based speed and distance measurement instruments to address real-world needs and applications, including speed enforcement, forestry, mining, utilities, and GIS positioning. Visit lasertech.com for additional information. 

The post Mississippi Department of Public Safety Partners with Laser Technology, Inc. to Enhance Road Safety appeared first on Laser Tech.

Answer: Traverse into the RTK-denied area with a GNSS receiver, TruPulse^® rangefinder, and MapStar^® TruAngle^® II to position assets via Laser GIS^®.

LaserGIS System with a Trimble receiver, TruPulse 200i laser rangefinder, MapStar TruAngle II encoder, and a tablet.

Our traverse workflow helps you easily position hard-to-reach assets, often located in tight urban alleys, parking garages, or underneath a dense canopy. The hardware involved allows you to overcome RTK signal issues while achieving better accuracy than GNSS alone could offer. After starting with a known azimuth derived from GNSS or other control points, the MapStar TruAngle’s turned angles provide azimuth measurements with ±0.1° accuracy. TruPulse rangefinders capture distance measurements with accuracy up to ±4 cm (1.6 in).

This modular workflow uses the LaserSoft^® MapSmart^® app to integrate any brand of GNSS receiver. Collect only the points you need to map, add attribute data, and export ready-to-use files right from your tablet or mobile device. If you’d like to add this workflow to your app, our SDK for the TruPulse lasers and TruAngle II allows for easy integration.

Below is a step-by-step breakdown of how it’s done. After that, you can find an instructional video and typical accuracy data. First, let’s get familiar with some key terms that help describe the process.

Traverse Method Key Terms:

Hidden Asset: Any object or specific point that needs to be positioned within an RTK-denied environment. Some common examples include gas or water meters, valve markers, and other access points or property indicators.

Backsight Point (BP): Your first location. This requires a GNSS signal and a clear line of sight to your Occupy Point.

Occupy Point (OP): Your second location. This requires a GNSS signal and a clear line of sight to your Backsight Point and nearby hidden assets.

Control Point (CP): Any additional location, often within the RTK-denied environment, with a clear line-of-sight to your previously used location and nearby hidden assets. A GNSS signal is not required.

CP1 requires a clear line of sight back to your OP. CP2 requires a clear line of sight back to CP1. CP3 requires a clear line of sight back to CP2, and so on.

LaserGIS^®  System (LGIS): The mapping bundle used for this method, which includes a GNSS receiver, a TruPulse rangefinder, a MapStar TruAngle II encoder, and the LaserSoft MapSmart app for data collection. Typically, users mount their hardware onto a survey pole.

How to Use the Traverse Method to Accurately Position Assets in RTK Denied Environments

Before you get started, measure instrument heights for your GNSS receiver and TruPulse rangefinder. Log the values in your data collection app or mapping program.

Traversing to an Occupy Point

1) Occupy a convenient Backsight Point (BP) and log its position with your GNSS receiver. You might want to use a specific object, like a sign or post. If nothing is available, station a reflective target at the BP before moving to your Occupy Point (OP).

2) Station your LaserGIS System (LGIS) at the OP and log its position with your GNSS Receiver. The workflow captures a Reference Azimuth between your OP and the BP.

3) Use your TruPulse rangefinder to put the BP target into your rangefinder’s crosshairs. Fire the LGIS to align it with the Reference Azimuth.

You can now use your rangefinder to collect coordinate data for hidden assets within sight of your OP. Keep your LGIS steadily stationed at the OP, sight in on a hidden asset, press the fire button, and repeat as needed. Asset locations will populate your map file as a new point each time you press the fire button.

Traversing to Control Point 1

4) If you have more hidden assets to map, station a reflective target at your first Control Point (CP1). Keep your LGIS stationed at the OP and aim ahead to CP1. Put the reflective target into your rangefinder’s crosshairs and press the fire button to log CP1 on your map file.

5) Station a reflective target at your OP and move your LGIS to CP1. Aim back at the OP, put the reflective target into your rangefinder’s crosshairs, and zero your encoder. This establishes a new reference azimuth.

6) Use your rangefinder to collect coordinate data for hidden assets within sight of CP1.

Traversing to Control Point 2

7) If you have more hidden assets to map, station a reflective target at your second Control Point (CP2). Keep your LGIS stationed at CP1, aim ahead to CP2, put the reflective target into your rangefinder’s crosshairs, and fire to log CP2 on your map file.

8) Station a reflective target at CP1 and move your LGIS to CP2. Aim back at CP1, put the reflective target into your rangefinder’s crosshairs, and zero your encoder. This establishes a new reference azimuth.

9) Use your rangefinder to collect coordinate data for hidden assets within sight of CP2.

Rinse and Repeat

Continue traversing with additional control points until all hidden assets in the RTK-denied area have been positioned onto your map file. 

How To Maintain High Accuracy in RTK Denied Locations Instructional Video

The video below breaks down each step with visuals that complement your understanding of the workflow. Our LaserSoft MapSmart app is the featured data collection software. Please reach out if you want our Traverse Workflow added to your app. Contact info@lasertech.com to receive our SDK.

Typical Accuracies to Expect

The typical accuracy for this workflow depends on your hardware and the distances between your LaserGIS Traverse System and each asset. Here are the typical accuracies to expect when using current hardware:

LaserGIS System Hardware: TruPulse 200x laser rangefinder and MapStar TruAngle II angle encoder

Typical Accuracy: 4cm/2in to targets at a 50m/150ft distance 8cm/3in accuracy to targets at a 100m/300ft distance

LaserGIS Traverse System Hardware: TruPulse 200i or 360i and MapStar TruAngle II

Typical Accuracy: 8cm/3in to targets at a 50m/150ft distance 15cm/6in accuracy to targets at a 100m/300ft distance

The post High Accuracy in RTK Denied Locations: Traversing with LaserGIS® appeared first on Laser Tech.

We reached out to see if he might participate in a quick Q & A on the matter. He agreed but asked to check back in after spending some time with his L2 out in the field. A few months later, after a busy season working with PK sound systems for companies like BNE Productions and OnStage Systems, we heard back. To our delight, Aaron shared that his rangefinder had become “a critical time saver” on the job.

Q&A with Aaron Zuber: TruPulse^® Rangefinder User and Audio Engineer for Zipper Touring LLC

How do you use your TruPulse rangefinder, as an audio engineer and in your personal life?

Aaron Zuber, audio engineer, uses a TruPulse L2 rangefinder to gather angle measurements from afar.

As an audio engineer, it is my job to deploy and operate sound systems for concerts and music festivals. Properly hanging line arrays has a lot to do with getting the angles right. I use the TruPulse L2 to do so. I take measurements in each new venue and analyze the spaces where I’m going to deploy sound systems. With the rangefinder at my side, I can accurately determine the ideal positioning of speakers pretty quickly. This saves time while ensuring that my work helps bring a precise and clean sound performance to the show.

Once my speakers are in the air and hanging on chain motors, and I’ve figured out the height they can live at, the next task is deciding how far away I want them to point. If I don’t have any delay hangs, I’ll walk to the very back of the crowd space. There, I will shoot the top cabinet of a line array with my TruPulse L2, to get an angle measurement. The result I get will tell me if any angle adjustments are needed for the top box to be pointed directly at me. For example, if I take a measurement and get +3.0 degrees, I know the top box needs to be adjusted -3.0 degrees. Then I can make the actual adjustments and use my L2 to check again until everything lines up the way I want it to.

I spend a decent amount of my off time at the shooting range. I’ll bring my L2 out there with me too! At its core, shooting is about distance and angles, and I’ve found that the TruPulse L2’s accuracy and range outperform many of the rangefinders marketed toward the hunting and shooting crowd.

What are the TruPulse L2’s best features as a rangefinder for audio engineers?

My favorite feature about the TruPulse is the inclinometer. With that built-in sensor, the rangefinder gives me easy answers to complex distance questions by simply pointing and shooting. The number one thing I consistently get the most use out of is capturing the critical speaker angle measurements mentioned earlier.

Working the festival circuit means that you’ll spend a lot of time either getting cooked in the sun, rained on, or trudging through mud. There is even some snow here and there. With this in mind, IP ratings are one of the first things I look for when researching new devices. I appreciate the ability to continue my work despite weather conditions. Not having to worry about the durability of tools I’ve invested in is a huge relief. The L2’s IP67 rating gives me that confidence, making it another favorite feature.

Compared to before, has adding the TruPulse L2 to your toolkit changed your workflows?

Saving time is important on any job site. In my case, this is especially true since my deadlines are tied to the arrival of many thousands of people who will be hearing the results of my work. Knowing that all these people have been looking forward to the event is extra motivation for me to get things done right and on time.

Aaron Zuber calls his TruPulse rangefinder “a critical time saver for any audio serious system engineer”

As mentioned, when I’m planning a deployment before a show, a major task is deciding where to aim the boxes. You can use prediction software to help, but like everyone who’s dealt with show advancing will tell you, what you see when you show up isn’t always the same as what you’ve been led to expect. Some distance references aren’t accurate enough, the max trim height of your line arrays might have changed, hang points might be further apart from each other than anticipated, crowd space might be longer, shorter, or wider than expected, and so on. My L2 rangefinder makes it easy to check these measurements. I quickly walk around and confirm all distances and angles that I need, then update my showfile, and get to work.

Have you found any more uses for your TruPulse L2 than you originally anticipated?

I initially just bought the L2 rangefinder to give me angles for the top boxes of my hangs. Now, I find myself taking all sorts of measurements with it. A laser tape comes in handy for short-distance measurements that require the utmost precision. But for anything over 100 feet, it’s much easier to grab the L2. Anyone who has used a laser tape tool knows that the dot can be difficult to see in sunlight. It’s also challenging when the object you’re trying to hit is far away. Meanwhile, looking through the L2’s eyepiece with 5x magnification and aiming the crosshair directly at your target takes those struggles out of the whole process.

Would you recommend the TruPulse L2 rangefinder for audio engineers?

Yes! The TruPulse L2 is an excellent rangefinder for audio engineers. I would even call the rangefinder a critical time saver and a necessary tool for any serious audio system engineer. As a rangefinder and inclinometer, my TruPulse L2 easily gets me the information I need for a successful deployment. On top of that, the quality of life upgrade that it brings is something I won’t quickly forget. I’m reminded of this every time I pack my rangefinder for a work trip.

The post Rangefinder for Audio Engineers: A Critical Time Saver appeared first on Laser Tech.

“Aloha–I’m writing to inquire about having one or both of my 2 LTI Impulse lasers repaired. These were purchased back in 2001 and/or 2002. I have been using both regularly for the past 20+ years in archaeological fieldwork in China and more recently South Africa.”

The message comes from Christian E. Peterson, PhD, Department of Anthropology Professor at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. Along with the service request, he also describes how the Impulse rangefinders help with plane table mapping processes. Novatr describes plane table mapping, or plane table survey, as “the simultaneous observation and plotting of field conditions on paper by a surveyor. The plane table is a flat, leveled board mounted on a tripod that serves as the drawing surface. This eliminates the need for intermediate calculations and allows surveyors to visualize and map the area in real-time.”

Attendee at the 2022 Oregon Logging Conference poses with their trusty Laser Tech Impulse rangefinder, a discontinued Laser Tech product known for its ruggedness and longevity.

As we help Dr. Peterson find the best path forward, we can’t resist asking if he might share more about himself and the type of archaeological site mapping fieldwork his Impulse units have seen. To our delight, he agrees, giving us a look into the history of some classic and well-traveled Laser Tech gear.

A Little History on the LTI Impulse

The original LTI Impusle was released in 1995 as a 2nd generation version of the Criterion 400. The Impulse kept most of the Criterion 400’s capabilities while introducing a more compact design and providing a more affordable price tag. Both of these early Laser Tech ruggedized rangefinders were exceptionally popular with forestry professionals thanks to their accurate measurements, robust nature, and long lifespans. You may recall another Impulse appearance on our Professional Measurement blog, which told the story of our team somehow finding a way to fix up a 26 year-old Impulse 200. The big takeaway is that it’s not uncommon for Impulse units to get 20+ years of field use under their belt.

20+ Years of Archaeological Site Mapping with Rugged Impulse Rangefinders

Christian E. Peterson, PhD, prepares a plane survey table in the field. Photo by Michelle van Aswegen

By Christian E. Peterson, PhD, Department of Anthropology Professor at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa – Written February 2025

Since the beginning, I’ve found that using my Impulse rangefinders for plane table mapping is an easy and effective option. My advisor introduced me to Laser Tech rangefinders in graduate school. Since then, I have used them continuously in my archaeological field research.

At this time, I’m still using a pair of Impulse units manufactured back in 2001 and 2002! These units are only now approaching the end of their impressively long use lives. It hasn’t been easy for them either.

Both have experienced sustained use in a variety of different locations, often under less-than-ideal conditions. They’ve traveled with me to places like northeastern China and South Africa. When I finally retire them, I’ll be upgrading to the TruPulse 200i.

I use my Impulse rangefinders to record the spatial extents and distributions of ancient remains across the surfaces of archaeological sites. Once a staple of archaeological fieldwork, plane table mapping has been largely supplanted in recent decades.

Christian E. Peterson, PhD, looks through his Impulse rangefinder. Photo by Michelle van Aswegen

Nowadays, you’re far more likely to see expensive, overengineered, and unduly complicated Total Station and DGPS mapping solutions. I find this trend to be unfortunate for a few reasons. For starters, setting up a rangefinder-assisted plane table mapping is a much less laborious option.

The same goes for moving your setup to a new location. It’s also a far simpler and faster method for collecting data of a sufficient resolution. On top of that, it’s much less expensive than a Total Station or the combination of a DGPS receiver and rover. In my opinion, both of those options are overkill for most archaeological purposes.

The Typical Setup

With my typical setup, an Impulse rangefinder functions as an ersatz alidade. The vertical bracket that came with the unit mounts to a flat aluminum bar to form the base of an inverted “T”. Knurled knobs are installed at either end to aid with tabletop positioning. Most local machine shops can build a setup like this for you.

I like to use compact, lightweight, wooden plane tables with a sturdy tripod. Vintage ones, produced for the U.S. Geological Survey, are my favorite. I place a large sheet of metric graph paper on top of that plane table, then grab my architect’s ruler and a pencil, and I’m ready to go.

Impulse rangefinder mounted onto a plane survey table. Photo by Michelle van Aswegen

Using rugged rangefinders instead of a traditional alidade helps speed up my data collection process. It eliminates any need for me to use a rodman or perform trigonometry. It also greatly improves the accuracy of my horizontal and vertical measurements, especially over longer distances.

I’ve found the Impulse rangefinder excellent for contour mapping and plotting within a local grid of a few hundred meters or less. I like that there’s no data to download or backup daily. Plus, the paper maps can be quickly and easily digitized once fieldwork is done.

Elephants, Giraffes, and Buffalo, Oh My

South Africa’s Kruger National Park is the most challenging environment in which I’ve used my Laser Tech rangefinders. The archaeological site mapping projects we’re currently working on are littered with Iron Age artifacts and other remains, which is great. However, the mopane trees that have since colonized the area pose serious line-of-sight problems. This requires frequent movement of the plane table to map everything.

Complicating matters further is the need to stay close to my teammates and our game guards. This is because of the numerous elephants, giraffes, buffalo, zebra, antelope, lions, and other wild animals that freely roam the park. Sometimes they even like to visit us on-site! It makes for a fluid situation where we often pack up and quickly move the station to another location. Fortunately, my rugged rangefinders make it easy to acquire and reacquire occupation points that we can continue mapping near.

Christian E. Peterson, PhD, maps an archaeological site with his rugged Impulse rangefinders and plane survey table. Photo by Michelle van Aswegen

The post Rugged Rangefinders Provide 20 Years of Site Mapping appeared first on Laser Tech.

Some assets are located in hard-to-reach or dangerous locations. Whether these assets are on roadways, dangerous or steep terrain, or private property, you’re better off keeping your distance. Instead of physically occupying the positions of assets like these, and grabbing coordinates with your GNSS receiver, use laser offset workflows to stick to safe and convenient locations only.

Understanding the Workflow

This laser offset workflow requires you to choose and occupy two separate Control Points. You’ll want a clear line of sight between Control Point 1 (CP1) and Control Point 2 (CP2). Try to create an equilateral triangle between CP1, Cp2, and the asset you will be positioning onto your map file.

To perform the Distance Distance workflow, you only need Bluetooth-compatible TruPulse laser rangefinder and a GNSS receiver. You achieve offset positioning capabilities by recording two shots to the asset. This is where the two Control Points come into play. After recording your first shot, from CP1, and your second shot, from CP2, the final step is to tell the Connect App which direction you moved when heading from CP1 to CP2. This method is especially useful when your only Laser Tech gear is a Bluetooth-enabled TruPulse rangefinder. You do not need a compass or encoder to perform the Distance Distance workflow.

Performing the Workflow

Make sure the LaserSoft Connect app is installed on your Android device. Open up ArcGIS Field Maps and head into your profile settings. Once there, tap the Offset option and select Laser Tech Connect. Next, tap on Provider and select Integrated. This video demonstrates these first steps in action with a screen recording that you can follow along with:

Here is how to perform the Distance Distance offset method with the LaserSoft Connect App and ArcGIS Field Maps:

1. Choose a CP1 location and occupy its position.
2. Start a point in ArcGIS Field Maps, tap the three dots icon for more options, and select Offset From Location. This launches LaserSoft Connect.
3. Connect your TruPulse laser rangefinder to the app via Bluetooth and establish a GPS connection.
4. Tap the Distance Distance option.
5. Measure and enter your Antenna height and Laser Height.
6. Use your GNSS receiver to record CP1’s position.
7. Use your TruPulse rangefinder to record a shot to the asset.
8. Move to Cp2 and record its position.
9. Use your TruPulse rangefinder to record a second shot to the asset
10. Tap Next, then use the arrow icons to tell the Connect app which direction you moved when heading from CP1 to CP2.

This video demonstrates each step in action, along with a screen recording that you can follow along with:

In that video, we use the TruPulse 200i laser rangefinder and a Trimble receiver. You are not limited to these devices. Any Bluetooth-enabled TruPulse rangefinder will work. You can also use any GNSS receiver. The LaserSoft Connect app is available in the Google Play store for free. Contact our team if you have any questions.

The post Using Distance Distance Offset Method with LaserSoft® Connect™ appeared first on Laser Tech.

Thanks to Tim, we were lucky enough to get an up-close look at how our UltraLyte lidar devices are used to monitor pit lane speeds.

UltraLyte Used for Pit Lane Speed Monitoring at Bathurst 12 Hour

The Bathurst 12hr is a huge international event. Each year, the race brings fans and competitors to the Mount Panorama Circuit. Most agree that this is Australia’s most iconic race track. The Bathurst 12hr attracts some huge international driver names, including Valentino Rossi and the Van Der Linde brothers. Many of Australia’s best home-grown drivers participate as well. It is a grueling 12-hour endurance race that features some of the world’s fastest GT Cars. Manufacturers like BMW, Ferrari, Porsche, and McLaren all take part.

It turns out that these classic Laser Tech lidar devices are used at almost every race meet in Australia. That includes smaller local events to huge international events like the Grand Prix and the Bathurst 12hr. While this might be news to some of us, Motorsport Australia has used UltraLyte devices for decades. They’ve been tackling a few different tasks the whole time too. First and foremost is helping to maintain safe pit lanes. Pit lane teams use their trusty UltraLyte units to monitor the speeds of competitor drivers in the pit lane. Of course, safety is a concern here. It doesn’t require a vivid imagination to picture what can go wrong if a driver enters the pit lane at dangerous or out-of-control speeds. At the very least, the UltraLyte helps crews see the danger coming and act accordingly.

Although pit lane speed limits vary by race, 80 km/h is a common standard. You’ll find that used at most Formula 1 events and Repco Supercars Championship races. As mentioned, safety is a primary concern here. Another is to confirm that no drivers gain any unfair advantages. Along with fines, punishments for a pitlane speed limit infraction add a penalty to the racer’s time. Tim notes that these penalties can reach up to five minutes. SuperCars.com reports that “Drivers will have 15 seconds to reduce their speed to a maximum of 80km/h and engage the FCY/SC speed limiter. Speeds will be monitored and any car exceeding 80km/h will be reported to the stewards.”

We take pride in seeing our UltraLyte devices used for pit lane speed monitoring. Their continued use is a living testament to the reliability and durability we build into all our products. Thanks to Tim, we can share several up-close looks at the UltraLyte in action at the 2025 Bathurst 12 Hour.

The post UltraLyte Monitors Pit Lane Speeds at 2025 Bathurst 12 Hour appeared first on Laser Tech.

What is Filter Mode

When a TruPulse® user turns on Filter Mode, the laser’s sensitivity is reduced, so it only detects measurements returned from a reflector. For this mode to work effectively, a mechanical receive foliage filter must be used in conjunction with it. This feature is most commonly used to shoot through brush.

Since the sensitivity is reduced, the rangefinder ignores non-reflective targets like leaves and branches. Install a reflector at each measurement’s intended target and use Filter Mode to bypass potential obstructions. The two most typical spots where users install reflectors are on tree trunks and cell towers.

Turning on Filter Mode typically limits a TruPulse rangefinder’s maximum effective range to 350 feet. This assumes that the reflective target has a 3-inch diameter. Stay within this range for optimal accuracy.

Filter Mode Instructions for TruPulse 200x, TruPulse L2, TruPulse 200i, and TruPulse 360i

How to Attach the Foliage Filter

Attaching the Foliage Filter will always be the first step, no matter which rangefinder you use. Press the Foliage Filter into your rangefinder’s receive lens cavity. See the images below for reference on where the receive lens is located on the TruPulse 200x, TruPulse L2, and TruPulse i-Series.

You can use our website to request a Foliage Filter. Choose “Foliage Filter with Tether” from the Product dropdown menu. Make sure to list your TruPulse model in the Message section. Once your foliage filter is attached, instructions vary a bit from laser to laser.

TruPulse 200x Instructions

This video shows you how to find, activate, and use Filter Mode with a TruPulse 200x.

Here are the instructions:

1. Press and hold the Display/Menu button, then press either Navigation button until you see “FiL”
2. Press the Display/Menu button, then press either Navigation button to toggle between “Off” and “On”.
3. Press the Fire button to accept your selection
4. The filter icon will display on your ready-to-measure screen if Filter Mode is active. See the image below for reference.

Scope shot of the TruPulse 200x ready-to-measure screen with Filter Mode active

TruPulse L2 Instructions

This video takes you to the 8min37sec of our TruPulse L2: Basic Training video, where Derrick Reish explains how to find, activate, and use Filter Mode with a TruPulse L2.

Here are the instructions:

1. Press and hold the Display/Menu button, then press either Navigation button until you see “FiL”
2. Press the Display/Menu button, then press either Navigation button to toggle between “Off” and “On”.
3. Press the Fire button to accept your selection
4. The filter icon will display on your ready-to-measure screen if Filter Mode is active. See the image below for reference.

Scope shot of the TruPulse L2 ready-to-measure screen with Filter Mode active

TruPulse i-Series (TruPulse 200i and TruPulse 360i) Instructions

This video takes you to the 1min55sec of our TruPulse i-Series Training video, where Derrick Reish explains how to find, activate, and use Filter Mode with a TruPulse 200i or TruPulse 360i.

Here are the instructions:

1. Short-press the Menu button until you see “target”
2. Press either Navigation button to scroll through the options until you see “FiLt”
3. Press the Fire or Select button to accept your selection
4. The filter icon will display on your ready-to-measure screen if Filter Mode is active. See the images below for reference.

Scope shot of the TruPulse 200i ready-to-measure screen with Filter Mode active

Scope shot of the TruPulse 360i ready-to-measure screen with Filter Mode active

Contact our team if you have any questions about how to use a foliage filter and filter mode with your TruPulse rangefinder.

The post How to Use the TruPulse Filter Mode Option appeared first on Laser Tech.

Some assets are located in hard-to-reach or dangerous locations. Whether these assets are on roadways, dangerous or steep terrain, or private property, you’re better off keeping your distance. Instead of physically occupying the positions of assets like these, and grabbing coordinates with your GNSS receiver, use laser offset workflows to stick to safe and convenient locations only.

Understanding the Workflow

This laser offset workflow requires you to choose and occupy both a Backsight Point and an Occupy Point. You’ll want a clear line of sight between each point. If you have precise, RTK level GNSS accuracy, these two points don’t need to be more than 50 meters apart. Increase the distance between your Backsight Point and Occupy Point as your GNSS accuracy drops from RTK quality into less precise territory. Your Backsight Point should be away from the asset(s) you’ll be positioning. The Occupy Point should be near the asset(s).

A TruPulse laser rangefinder, MapStar TruAngle encoder, and GNSS receiver are required to perform the Distance Angle workflow. This method equips you with 3d mapping capabilities by first establishing a known location at the Backsight Point. After that, the final steps are recording a second position at the Occupy Point and capturing a reference angle to the Backsight Point. Then, you can use your TruPulse laser rangefinder to position all the assets within sight of your Occupy Point. Since the TruAngle encoder is immune to magnetic interferences, this method is especially useful in urban locations and other areas prone to interferences.

Performing the Workflow

Make sure the LaserSoft Connect app is installed on your Android device. Open up ArcGIS Field Maps and head into your profile settings. Once there, tap the Offset option and select Laser Tech Connect. Next, tap on Provider and select Integrated. This video demonstrates these first steps in action with a screen recording that you can follow along with:

Here is how to perform the Distance Angle offset method with the LaserSoft Connect App and ArcGIS Field Maps:

1. Choose a Backsight location and occupy its location.
2. Start a point in ArcGIS Field Maps, tap the three dots icon for more options, and select Offset From Location. This launches LaserSoft Connect.
3. Connect your TruPulse laser rangefinder and MapStar TruAngle encoder to the app via Bluetooth and establish a GPS connection.
4. Tap the Distance Angle option.
5. Measure and enter your Antenna height and Laser Height.
6. Record the Backsight Point’s location.
7. Move to your Occupy Point and record its location.
8. Use your rangefinder to aim at the Backsight Point, then zero your TruAngle encoder to capture a reference angle.
9. Use your TruPulse rangefinder to position asset(s) from your Occupy Point.

This video demonstrates each step in action, along with a screen recording that you can follow along with:

In that video, we use the TruPulse 200i laser rangefinder, MapStar TruAngle II encoder, and a Trimble receiver. You are not limited to these devices. Any Bluetooth-enabled TruPulse rangefinder will work. You can also use the original TruAngle MapStar encoder and any GNSS receiver. The LaserSoft Connect app is available in the Google Play store for free. Contact our team if you have any questions.

The post Using Distance Angle Offset Method with LaserSoft® Connect™ appeared first on Laser Tech.

Access the Press Release as a PDF

New LaserSoft Connect App Brings TruPulse Rangefinder Capabilities to all ArcGIS Field Map Users

The LaserSoft Connect app empowers ArcGIS Field Maps users to utilize TruPulse rangefinders as a means of sticking to safe and convenient locations.

ArcGIS Field Maps users can now build maps and perform accurately detailed data collection with the advantage of TruPulse rangefinders at their side. Every rangefinder measurement includes values for range and inclination. With 360 models, azimuth will also be measured. This data can calculate remote location coordinates for targets and remove any need for users to occupy a target’s location. Log your current position and then use your rangefinder to locate targets within a clear line of sight. Other applications of rangefinder data include height measurements and horizontal, vertical, and slope distance measurements.

“We proudly invite members of the Esri community to equip themselves with the free LaserSoft Connect app. Bridge TruPulse rangefinder capabilities with ArcGIS Field Maps to enrich project data and deploy the convenience of LaserGIS® offset positioning workflows with all types of GNSS equipment.”

– Steve Colburn, Application Training Specialist at Laser Tech

Laser Tech is proud to help Geographic Information System (GIS) professionals expand their ability to overcome signal issues, dangerous terrain, private property, and other potential mapping challenges. Along with these advantages comes the potential to boost efficiency in the field; the LaserSoft Connect app ensures all your equipment is LaserGIS®-ready by connecting the equipment you have with your TruPulse laser rangefinder. Rangefinder workflows speed project completion when you position multiple assets from a single safe location, cutting down on access and traverse time.

Visit LaserTech.com to review specifications and download the LaserSoft Connect app via the Google Play store.

About Laser Tech

Laser Technology, Inc. is a Colorado-based manufacturing and design company for innovative laser-based speed and distance measurement instruments to address real-world needs and applications. Laser Tech’s TruPulse® laser rangefinders allow field crews to accurately measure distance, height, and elevation safely and efficiently. When paired with Laser Tech’s LaserSoft® apps, professionals can easily streamline workflows and document every measurement captured. Learn more at www.lasertech.com.

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Respecting these minimum distances helps prevent excessive erosion, unnatural sun exposure, and other potentially destructive changes to the habitat. When foresters mark these protected zones, Laser Tech’s TruPulse® i-series laser rangefinders, the TruPulse 200i and TruPulse 360i, can be especially useful tools.

TruPulse 200i and TruPulse 360i forestry rangefinders are rugged and waterproof handheld devices designed to simplify life in professional measurement.

These next-generation professional measurement devices boast a rugged IP67 water/dust proof rated design. Their newly refined targeting capabilities make it easy to quickly capture accurate height, distance, and angle measurements. The TruPulse 360i’s built-in compass expands user capabilities with azimuth data. Both i-series rangefinders can achieve up to 0.1-meter distance accuracy within a 1,000-meter range. Measurement data is readily available for instant relay to smart devices via Bluetooth connection, doing away with any need to carry pen and paper.

Process for Marking Buffers

Two individuals work together to mark an SMA buffer zone. One, we’ll call them the Lead Forester, is equipped with a TruPulse rangefinder and a working knowledge of how to gauge high-water marks. The other, the Forester’s Assistant, carries tree marking materials like spray paint or flagging tape. This can be an intern or someone new to the forestry realm in general.

Both team members carry two-way handheld radios. The Lead Forester works streamside. Splashes of water or even dropping their forestry rangefinder into the stream is not a worry thanks to the rugged and waterproof design. The assistant heads out into the brush, staying within a distance that is about as far out as the state regulations for SMAs call for. The Lead Forester uses their TruPulse laser to direct the assistant into this range. Ideally, and most likely, the assistant remains in sight of the Lead Forester.

With the rangefinder attached to a survey pole or tripod, the Lead Forester uses the first high-water mark as a point of origin. From there, they use the rangefinder’s 5x optical zoom to shoot out into the brush. It doesn’t take long to capture a distance measurement to a winning tree. This tree’s distance from the high-water mark is close to, but not less than, the SMA’s minimum required distance. Using the radio, they direct their assistant toward this winning tree and have it marked. The pair works their way down the stream repeating this process with full confidence in their measurements and markings.

If the personnel are available, a 4-person team could split into groups of two. Each group would have their own TruPulse rangefinder. Working both sides of the stream at the same time may present the most time-efficient workflow. If tasked with marking SMAs on your own, you could stay out in the brush and choose trees to stand next to while aiming the forestry rangefinder to the adjacent high-water line, marking winning trees along the way.

It is easy to keep a record of each tree’s geospatial location and distance from the bank. There is no need to write anything down by hand. The lead forester utilizes the rangefinder’s Bluetooth capabilities to relay measurement data to their preferred data collection app on a tablet or smart device. If using a TruPulse 360i, they can even keep track of the distance between each marked tree.

Forestry Rangefinder for Help with Everyday Tasks

TruPulse i-Series user sends rangefinder data to their smart device via Bluetooth connection.

The catalog of TruPulse-compatible data collection solutions is large and ever-growing. Some key examples include Esri ArcGIS Survey123 and ArcGIS Field Maps, along with Laser Tech’s own LaserSoft® MapSmart® app. In any case, a user will have the ability to build digital forms for each new project. Once out on the job, just tap on a customized field value, an example could be “Distance from Bank”, use the forestry rangefinder to obtain a measurement, watch the app auto-populate with rangefinder data, and repeat. These modernized workflows boost efficiency and consistency in all sorts of data collection and mapping projects.

Along with a TruPulse laser’s simplified point-and-shoot capabilities for horizontal, vertical, and slope distance values come built-in routines for measuring heights and point-to-point missing lines. Neither routine requires the user to occupy any object locations; in each case, targets only need to be within a clear line of sight.

The three-shot routine only requires users to capture one distance measurement to the target object itself. After this, the inclinometer sensor comes into play as angle measurements complete the workflow. This is particularly helpful when brush or other visual obstructions partially block a target object’s base or top. Just aim to the base, then the top, and disregard any obstructions.

Three-shot Height Routine Workflow:

• Shot 1: Horizontal Distance measurement to anywhere on the target object
• Shot 2: Angle measurement to the target object’s base
• Shot 3: Angle measurement to the target object’s top

Result: Height of the target object

With a TruPulse 360i, foresters can utilize the missing line routine to capture the distances between marked trees with two quick shots. This can help achieve consistent spacing and make sure that all distances between markers fall into regulation. The same feature can also determine slope grades, which is helpful since some states require adjusted minimum distances based on the steepness of surrounding terrain.

A TruPulse rangefinder and compatible GNSS receiver user heads out into the field to remotely position geospatial assets.

Two-Shot Missing Line Routine Workflow:

• Shot 1: Distance measurement to Point A
• Shot 2: Distance measurement to Point B

Results: Horizontal, vertical, and slope distance values between Points A and B

Too many assets make it difficult to capture coordinates via traditional methods, which require users to physically occupy the asset’s location with a GNSS receiver and survey pole in hand. In situations like these, your safety and efficiency can get a boost thanks to LaserGIS® workflows. By adding TruPulse rangefinders into the mix, you can pick safe and convenient locations to remotely position assets from. With a TruPulse 360i in your toolkit, this process can be as simple as standing at a choice location and firing the laser at your target object(s). Your GNSS receiver and forestry rangefinder will work together to do the rest.

Range-Azimuth Offset Mapping Method Workflow:

• Step 1: Occupy a convenient location and log your GPS location
• Step 2: Use your TruPulse 360i to start mapping all assets within a clear line of sight

For more information about Laser Tech and our products, head to lasertech.com/laser-distance-measurement. Dive into LaserGIS workflows, training, and compatible solutions by visiting lasertech.com/gis-laser-offsets. Check out our collection of product information and training videos that help get you ready for new levels of efficiency in the field at youtube.com/@LaserTechPro.

originally published at TimberLineMag.com on September 4, 2024

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