Basic Functions. The program is able to remotely: - manage all the system parameters of the PPM box. - execute the sensor tuning process

Transcription

1 PPM Utility Program Our PPM system has originally been designed with a basic human-interface made of an integrated LCD and keypad but it can now be remotely controlled from a Windows-based PC through any type of serial link. This program runs on Windows-based systems (XP, W7, W8.1) to manage the system resources and remotely control a PPM system box loaded with the MarkVIB version of Firmware. It is able to control and manage any PPM MarkVIB configuration (Basic LCD-based or Blind configurations) by connecting to its specific serial control link. For all types of PPM configuration, the program remotely manages the system parameters and the Survey Grid files. For Blind systems (no integrated User interface device), it is also their unique but comfortable and sophisticated User Interface. This case is especially designed for underwater survey systems. The basic serial link uses an USB converter cable but it can also optionally be equipped with a Bluetooth module to connect the PC to the PPM box wirelessly. This last option allows for example to use a Win8.1-based 8" tablet to control the PPM in realtime during a survey session. For underground surveys, this allows the PPM box and the sensor to be carried in a backpack leaving the hands of the operator free to operate the tablet.

2 Basic Functions The program is able to remotely: - manage all the system parameters of the PPM box. - execute the sensor tuning process - download and burn new versions of PPM firmware program on the flash memory - Geo-referencing geographical maps.

3 Remote Control Functions The program is also able to control the PPM during real-time survey sessions. During these sessions, it records, displays and plots results as well as the navigation support data over the survey area. Underground survey example Underwater survey example

4 same survey with geo-referencing This program provides a GPS navigation support to follow a predefined grid of survey lines or to easily return to places of potential targets detected on the plots. This is the window used to that purpose: This is the same navigation support as displayed on a small tablet in vertical orientation

5 Post-processing Functions The program is now able to completely take care of all the post-processing tasks required to interpret survey results. It replaces and very much extends the functions given earlier by both the GNUPLOT-based process and the SURFER program. It does the following: - For session files captured in GPS mode with a base station recording the fixed GPS data using any NMEA capture program (even any terminal emulator), it converts the NMEA data stream into MarkIV-specific format and it calculates and records the GPS-corrected results. - For session files captured in GPS mode in differential configuration (with a base and a mobile stations), it calculates and records the GPS and field gradient corrections to eliminate the daily field variations and most of the GPS inaccuracies. - For sessions files captured in multi-line mode in differential configuration (with a base and a mobile stations), it calculates and records the field gradient corrections to eliminate the daily field variations. - Sessions files may now be captured in multi-line mode covering any type of convex polygonal survey area. - For sessions files captured in multi-line mode without GPS in real-time, it calculates the geo-referencing from three GPS reference points of the survey area and converts all the relative coordinates into GPS coordinates.

6 - For any finalized and corrected grid-shaped survey file, it interpolates the valid measurement points and generates color-scaled grid maps (previously generated by SURFER). This can be executed on survey files with relative coordinates (base 0,0) or WGS84 or UTM coordinates.

7 - From a grid map, automatically detects, marks and lists potential targets.

8 - Generates KML files from Grid files.