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Exporting Data for Visualization in Trimble

SiteVision

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 About this tutorial

About this tutorial

Trimble SiteVision uses the SiteVision integrated positioning system combined with a
user-supplied phone with Google Play Services for AR to produce a hand-held high-
accuracy outdoor augmented reality system. SiteVision enables users and clients to
easily understand information such as new designs or existing underground services by
seeing it in true-life scale on their hand-held device in the context of existing
surroundings.
The SiteVision AR exporter enables you to export points, CAD objects, lines, surfaces,
and areas from your project to Trimble SiteVision via Trimble Connect. The instructions
for using this exporter are provided in the "Export Trimble SiteVision AR Files (.jxl, .trb,
.vcl)" topic in the TBC Help.
This tutorial explains how to use other various TBC tools and exporters to export a
georeferenced PDF landscaping plan, a surface, and control data to SiteVision for
viewing on the real-world site, as shown here.

Note: If you need additional help at any time you are using the software, press F1 to
display the online help.

Step 1. Open the project

For this tutorial, you will use the project file Exporting Data to SiteVision.vce.

Note: The downloaded ExportingDataforVisualizationinSiteVision folder contains this

PDF file, the Exporting Data to SiteVision.vce project file, and a Data folder from which
you will import a PDF file into the project.

1. In TBC, select File > Open.

Exporting Data for Visualization in Trimble SiteVision 2

 Step 2. Import the PDF file

2. In the Open File dialog, browse to

..\ExportingDataforVisualizationinSiteVision\Exporting Data to SiteVision.vce and
click Open.
The project includes imported survey control points and office-entered reference
points to which you will georeference a PDF image of a landscaping plan that has
been drawn to scale. It also includes an imported surface on which to drape the
image in SiteVision.

The project file is read-only. You can perform the tutorial steps without saving the
project file. However, if you are interrupted while performing the tutorial, you can save
it with a new name by selecting File > Save Project As. Then, you can re-open the
project to continue the tutorial at a later time.

Step 2. Import the PDF file

In this step, you will import a scaled landscaping plan contained in a PDF image file.
1. To import the PDF image into the project:
a. In the TBC ribbon, select Home > Data Exchange > Import.
b. In the Import pane, navigate to
..\ExportingDataforVisualizationinSiteVision\Data.
c. The Bellbird Landscape Plan.pdf file is displayed in the Select File(s) list.

Exporting Data for Visualization in Trimble SiteVision 3

 Step 2. Import the PDF file

d. In the Settings: DPI drop-down list, select 600.

e. Click Import.
The imported PDF displays in the Plan View and the Place Image command pane
automatically displays.

The Place Image command enables you to import an image into the Plan View,
making it visible without having to georeference it. In doing so, you can scale and
rotate the image using one of the various methods available. This is useful when you
need an image to perform operations that are not geodetically-dependent, such as
performing a quick takeoff, for which location-specific information is not available.
For this workflow, you will be using the Georeference Image command rather than
the Place Image command.
2. Close the Place Image pane.
The PDF plan no longer displays.
To make it easier to georeferencee the PDF plan image, you will hide the surface.
3. In the TBC ribbon, select Home > View > View Filter Manager. Then, uncheck the
Surface check box

Exporting Data for Visualization in Trimble SiteVision 4

 Step 3. Georeference the PDF image

Step 3. Georeference the PDF image

You will now georeference the PDF image to the reference points in the project so that
it displays at the correct location and scale in the real world.
1. To georeference the imported PDF plan image:
a. In the TBC ribbon, select CAD > Images > Georeference Image.
The PDF reappears along with the Georeference Image command pane.

b. In the Georeference Image pane, click the Add button to add a new point A for
the georeferencing computation.
c. With the cursor in the Pixel field, click on the PDF plan as shown here to select
the image pixel on the PDF that you want to map to a reference point in the
Plan View.

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 Step 3. Georeference the PDF image

In this case, click where the lines meet in the northwest corner of the plan, as
shown here.

d. With the cursor in the Location field, click point NW Cnr in the Plan View.

This maps the new point A to point NW Cnr for georeferencing.

e. Click the Add button a second time and map the new point B (northeast corner
of the plan) to the NE Cnr point, as shown here.

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 Step 3. Georeference the PDF image

f. Click the Add button a third time and map the new point C (southeast corner of
the plan) to the SE Cnr point, as shown here.

Exporting Data for Visualization in Trimble SiteVision 7

 Step 3. Georeference the PDF image

g. In the Georeference Image pane, click the Compute button to re-compute the
project with the new changes.
The PDF image aligns correctly with the selected points, indicating it has been
properly georeferenced and scaled. This ensures the PDF plan will display in the
correct location at the correct scale when viewed in SiteVision.
h. Close the Georeference Image pane.

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 Step 4. Trim the PDF image

Step 4. Trim the PDF image

In this step, you will create a polyline boundary around just that part of the PDF image
you want to visualize in SiteVision. Then you will remove that part of the image that is
outside the boundary so that it does not display (for example, the "Plant Key" table in
the plan).
1. To create the image boundary:
a. In the TBC ribbon, select CAD > Lines > Polyline.
b. Without changing any properties, click in the Next point field and then click in
the Plan View to "draw" a border on the PDF plan image as shown here.

2. To remove the parts of the image outside the boundary:

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 Step 5. Create a plotbox

a. In the TBC ribbon, select CAD > Images > Add/Remove Image Boundaries.
b. In the Target images list, check the check box for the PDF image.
c. Click in the Clipping boundary field and select the newly created polyline
border.
d. Click the Add button.
The PDF is trimmed as shown here.

e. Close the Add/Remove Image Boundaries pane.

Step 5. Create a plotbox

You will now create a plot box you will use to export the PDF image.
1. Press F12 to open the Command Pane, and select the CreatePlotBox command in
the list.

2. In the Plot scale field, enter 200, which matches the scale of the plan.
3. Click in the Plotbox width field, and then click on either side of the plan (slightly
wider than the plan edge) to specify the width.

Exporting Data for Visualization in Trimble SiteVision 10

 Step 5. Create a plotbox

4. Use the same method to specify the Plotbox height.

5. Click in the Location field, and then click in the black area just off of the southwest
corner of the plan.
6. With the cursor in the Rotation field, click in the black area just off of the northwest
corner of the plan.

You can see the new plotbox node in the Project Explorer. (There is no need to click
the Add button, which enables you to create another plot box.)

7. Close the Create Plotbox pane.

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 Step 6. Capture and save the PDF image

Step 6. Capture and save the PDF image

In this step, you will capture the PDF image and save it along with associated coordinate
data.
1. In the TBC ribbon, select CAD > Images > Capture Image.

2. Click the Browse button located to the right of the File name field, and change the
file name extension in the Save as type drop-down list to PNG (.png).

The recommended image capture resolution depends on the paper size:

For this tutorial, the paper size is A3, so you will select 120 DPI.
3. In the Resolution drop-down list, select High resolution (120 DPI).
4. Select the newly created plot box in the Select plotbox drop-down list.
5. Click the Apply button.

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 Step 6. Capture and save the PDF image

Three new files are created and stored in the project subfolder
..\ExportingDataforVisualizationinSiteVision\Snapshots. The PGW file provides
coordinate information for the associated PNG image file. The KML file is a Google
Earth Pro map file.

Although the KML file is not required for this workflow, you will open it in Google
Earth Pro for this tutorial to verify that the PDF was exported correctly.

Note: Before performing this step, ensure the Google Earth Pro desktop software
application is installed on your computer.

6. Browse to the project subfolder

..\ExportingDataforVisualizationinSiteVision\Snapshots and double-click Exporting
Data to SiteVision-000.kml.

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 Step 7. Export a surface TTM file and JobXML file

7. In TBC, close the Capture Image pane.

Step 7. Export a surface TTM file and JobXML file

In this step, you will export the surface in the project (which you hid earlier) to a TTM
file that can be imported into SiteVision. The PDF image will be draped over this surface
when viewed in SiteVision. You will also export a JobXML file containing point and
coordinate system data.
1. To export a surface TTM file:
a. In the TBC ribbon, select Home > Data Exchange > Export.
b. In the Export pane, select the Construction tab and select TTM exporter in the
list.

Exporting Data for Visualization in Trimble SiteVision 14

 Step 7. Export a surface TTM file and JobXML file

If you had already created a project for this tutorial in Trimble Connect, you
could opt to export the TTM file directly to the Connect project. However, since
you have not yet created a project in Connect, you will export the TTM file to
the project folder, which is the default location. Also, you will not change the
TTM file name, which must match the name of the JobXML file you will create
next.
c. Uncheck the Close command after export check box.
d. Click Export.
The new TTM file is saved in your project folder with the same name as the project.
2. To export a JobXML file:
a. In the Export pane, select the Survey tab and select Trimble Field Software
exporter (jobXML) in the list
b. Click the Data: Options button and select Select All.
c. Check the Close command after export check box.

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 Step 8. Upload files to Trimble Connect

d. Click Export.
The new JXL file is saved in your project folder with the same name as the project.

Step 8. Upload files to Trimble Connect

Now you will copy the files required by Trimble SiteVision to a new project folder in
Trimble Connect, where they can be easily accessed from the field.
If you do not already have a Trimble Connect account (you can try it free) or you already
have an account and just need to log in, visit Connect.Trimble.com.
Once logged into Trimble Connect, do the following:
1. Navigate to your region and click the New button.

2. In the New Project window, enter SiteVision Tutorial in the Name field. (Do not
make any other changes.) Then click Submit.

Exporting Data for Visualization in Trimble SiteVision 16

 Step 8. Upload files to Trimble Connect

3. In Windows Explorer, browse to the project folder

..\ExportingDataforVisualizationinSiteVision\Exporting Data to SiteVision.
4. Drag and drop the files Exporting Data to SiteVision.jxl and Exporting Data to
SiteVision.ttm to the Connect project folder.

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 Step 8. Upload files to Trimble Connect

5. In Windows Explorer, browse to the project subfolder

..\ExportingDataforVisualizationinSiteVision\Exporting Data to SiteVision\Snapshots.
6. Drag and drop the files Exporting Data to SiteVision-000.pgw and Exporting Data to
SiteVision-000.png to the Connect project folder.

All of the files required by SiteVision are now accessible in Trimble Connect.

Exporting Data for Visualization in Trimble SiteVision 18

 Step 9. View the PDF plan in SiteVision

Step 9. View the PDF plan in SiteVision

Following are screen images from Trimble SiteVision showing the PDF image projected
on the ground to scale in its real-world location. This view allows you walk through the
site and see where each object in the plan is located. See Trimble SiteVision
documentation for more information on visualizing data in the field.

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 Step 9. View the PDF plan in SiteVision

This completes the tutorial.

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