Release notes 6.1

This document contains summary information on new features, latest product information, updates as well as installation and upgrade procedures for Trimble® 4D Control™ version 6.1.

Introduction

Trimble 4D Control is a fully-scalable software solution for monitoring applications. Options range from simple manual monitoring operations to complete automated 24/7 real-time monitoring systems. The software manages, processes and stores data from optical total stations, GNSS receivers, and geotechnical sensors.

Trimble 4D Control provides automated movement analysis and visualization so you can easily manage your monitoring sites. It is the core of a monitoring project because it controls the measurements, manages and analyzes the data and alerts, delivering the data you need to make timely decisions.

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Preliminary Remark

If the Settop M1 is used to connect a total station with Trimble 4D Control, make sure you update the Settop M1 firmware to version 4.0 or later before upgrading to this software version.

New Features

Software Implementation

Cloud-based hosting in Microsoft Azure

Trimble 4D Control now fully supports installations on a virtual machine in Microsoft Azure. Having the option to host Trimble 4D Control in the cloud brings the following advantages to users:

  • Ease of getting started with monitoring with cloud deployment

  • Eliminates need to buy dedicated server hardware

  • No need to have multiple physical servers for different installations

This support bulletin summarizes a lot of relevant information. Make sure you familiarize yourself with its content before running this type of installation.

Automated HTTPS configuration

The process to enable Trimble 4D Control Web for secure network communication has been streamlined. Up to now a user of Trimble 4D Control Web had to manually configure IIS for HTTPS access. Having an automatic HTTPS/HTTP redirect configuration feature as part of the installer sets the standard on how HTTPS is configured for Trimble 4D Control and makes the software easier to set up.

You must purchase an SSL certificate from a certificate authority like Comodo or DigiCert before you can enable HTTPS for your site.

Sensor Connectivity and Configuration

Using Trimble Vision with Settop M1 connection

The Data Collector module used to manage a total station now has the ability to run in a passive file-based mode in combination with the Settop M1. At the same time users still benefit from all advantages of controlling the total station via Trimble 4D Control.

The new advanced communication mode of the Data Collector module provides the following benefits when using the Settop M1:

  • Instrument can be actively be controlled through on board camera from Trimble 4D Control

  • Target positions with defined coordinates can be imported from csv file streamlining addition of new targets

  • Streamline total station operations by using a single module (Data Collector) for any total station connection

For further information on how you can convert an existing Data Receiver module to a Data Collector module and how you can ensure to benefit most from this new feature, please read through this bulletin.

No instrument connection required for opening Site Setup dialog

The site setup dialog of a Data Collector module can now be opened without the requirement of getting connected to the instrument first. This allows you to update or verify the point list and the station setup mode much quicker and is a significant time saver. 

For any tasks that require a remote control, like performing a reference measurement, the dialog allows you to connect to the instrument by clicking on the connect icon. 

Bulk sensor creation at T4D Web

Trimble 4D Control Web now has the ability to add multiple manual sensors at once versus one at a time. When uploading a xlsx file that contains a list of sensor names and associated locations in N,E,H or Lat/Long, these sensors are now automatically created and thus is a big time saver.

Data Integration

Upload of Coordinates at T4D Web

It is now possible to upload coordinates of any sensor type through the web application of Trimble 4D Control. This feature enables adding and combining manually derived sensor coordinates with data from automated sensors.

Data Exchange with Monitoring field software

This integration requires Trimble Access (TA) Monitoring version 1.1.2 or later.

Offline Import/export workflows

  • A site setup performed by the Monitoring field software can now be directly imported into Trimble 4D Control (.tamsetup file extension).

  • Likewise, point information available in Trimble 4D Control (Data Collector module) can be exported to be used with the Monitoring field software.

Site Setup transfer through Settop M1

The site setup transfer feature requires Settop M1 firmware version 3.1 or later.

If a site setup is transferred onto the Settop M1 from TA Monitoring, this information will automatically be made available to Trimble 4D Control. All site setup related settings are adjusted accordingly and no further configuration work is required (e.g. station setup type, scheduler settings, etc.).

See this bulletin for more information.

Geodetic Processing and Adjustment

Export of Coordinates in one file per Processing Result

The Coordinate Exporter module now allows to generate a separate file per processing result from each associated Integrity Monitor module instead of getting all results in one file only.

This additional option that increases flexibility and streamlines integration workflows with other software packages.

Resolved Issues

  • Correction of some French translation errors

  • Fixed issue with Microsoft Bing maps key validation on https

  • Removed white spaces in analysis report layout

  • Fix related to Coordinate Exporter time zone setting 

  • Deleted monitoring projects at Trimble 4D Control Web are no longer taken into account

  • Fixed issue with duplicate data type components for some geotechnical sensors at the sensor page of Trimble 4D Control Web.

  • An issue with an automated total station reset after a compensator calibration has been addressed. 

  • It is ensured smtp server settings at Trimble 4D Control Web are saved

  • Fixed an issue with velocity calculation introduced with version 6.0

Software Installation and Deployment

System Requirements

Supported Operating Systems

Trimble 4D Control version 6.1 supports the following operating systems:

  • Windows 10

  • Windows Server 2016 (September 2016)

  • Windows Server 2019 (October 2018)

Supported SQL Servers

Trimble 4D Control version 6.1 supports the following Microsoft SQL servers:

  • SQL Server 2016

  • SQL Server 2017

  • SQL Server 2019 RC

  • Azure SQL Server

Trimble highly recommends using a full Microsoft SQL edition that is not subject to limits in memory capacity. This is in particular critical for monitoring systems with multiple sensors and processing engines.

Software Installer

The installer of Trimble 4D Control version 6.1 is available for download from monitoring.trimble.com.

New installation

The installer of Trimble 4D Control version 6.1 works as follows:

  • It is a single installer for all available software editions of Trimble 4D Control (Field, Intermediate, Advanced).

  • It only downloads the required installation files according to the software edition being installed.

  • The installer offers a “Download Media” option to download the entire set of installation files for all three software editions for an offline installation at a later stage.

To install Trimble 4D Control version 6.1 on a server with an internet connection, please perform the following steps:

  1. Run the new installer.

  2. Select the software edition you would like to install.

  3. Wait for the installation files to be downloaded.

  4. Follow the instructions of the installation wizard.

If you are installing T4D Intermediate or T4D Advanced, make sure you have your database administrator credentials available during the software installation process.

Upgrade Procedure of an existing installation

If the Settop M1 is used to connect a total station with Trimble 4D Control, make sure you update the Settop M1 firmware to version 3.1 or later before upgrading to this software version.

To update the software from a previous version to version 6.1, do the following:

  1. Ensure that the existing installation is version 6.0.

  2. Back up all Trimble 4D Control configuration files (*.tde) as well as the Microsoft SQL Server database content (*.bak).

  3. Run the installation of Trimble 4D Control version 6.1. The installer automatically detects the installed version 6.0 and first uninstalls the existing software version. The latest version of the Trimble 4D Control will then automatically be installed.

For more information, contact monsol_support@trimble.com.

Release notice

This is the December 2020 release (Revision A) of the Trimble 4D Control Software Release Notes. It applies to version 6.1 of the software.