Release notes 6.3

This document contains summary information on new features, latest product information, updates as well as installation and upgrade procedures for Trimble^® 4D Control™ version 6.3.

Introduction

Trimble 4D Control (T4D) enables automated movement detection with confidence for surveying and construction professionals supporting informed decisions about infrastructure. T4D provides benefits in four core areas:

• Sensor management and data integration providing support for GNSS, total station, geotechnical, vibration and environmental sensors.

• Geodetic processing and adjustment to deliver the most accurate and reliable information from the combination of sensors through network adjustment and integrated processing engines.

• Analysis and visualization through a set of comprehensive visualization, charting and analysis tools providing real-time updates.

• Alarming and reporting leveraging conditional and project specific alarming and defined user roles providing up-to-date notification to key stakeholders.

New Visual Inspection Feature

Leveraging from the SX high resolution imaging capabilities, T4D introduces a new visual inspection feature. Automatically taken images are visualized next to observation time series allowing users to visually inspect movements or displacements.

Automated Target Image Capturing

Images can optionally be taken with every round measurement. The feature is enabled per target at the site setup dialog and is applicable to both prism targets and DR targets.

The video dialog automatically opens up when enabling the option in order to set an appropriate zoom level used in subsequent round measurements.

Site Setup dialog of T4D with new Target Image option

In order to avoid taking images that cannot be used for visual inspections (e.g. images taken at night), a time range for which images shall be taken can be specified.

Image time range properties of T4D Data Collector module

 

Visual Inspection at T4D Web

T4D introduces a new visual inspection section under the Charting and Analysis main menu at its web application. Automatically or semi-automatically captured images are visualized next to associated observation time series allowing a user for interactive visual inspections of target measurements.

Side-by-side comparison mode of two images

The visual inspection page provides intuitive workflows and an easy to use feature set.

Time and Sensor Selection

• Filter controls to narrow down list of sensors

• Visualization of observation time series and images for a specific target by selecting the sensor from the sensor list

• Intuitive date range selection by dragging time slider handles on both sides and moving narrowed time range selection

Image Selection

• Easy navigation for measurement points using the displacement chart

• Various cross-links to visual inspection page from e.g. charts page  

• Selected timestamps indicated by colored vertical lines

• Immediate visualization of related images above the displacement

• Image borders follow same color scheme allowing clear identification between image and observation

• Measurements without associated images represented with an empty circle at the observation time series

• Images without associated observation represented with a black dot

Image Analysis

• Various different image comparison modes for intuitive image analysis

  • Side by Side - Images are shown next to each other

  • Slider - Images are overlaid with a slider to reveal the one or the other

  • Fade - Images are overlaid with a slider which is used to change the opacity of the top image resulting in a fading effect from the one to the other

Slider comparison mode of two images

Vibration Sensor Support

With the addition of vibration sensor support T4D addresses a wide range of applications in civil engineering, where vibrations are required to be monitored due to regional or national standard directive. This especially applies to transportation infrastructure and structural monitoring projects.

Vibration monitoring devices typically record data in a configured low interval which is also referred to as background data. On top of that thresholds can be configured, that when exceeded automatically trigger a vibration event recording.

T4D supports the visualization of time series of background velocity measurements and allows drilling down into the velocity measurements of vibration events to further analyse its waveform.

Using its well established alarming capabilities T4D alarms on high vibrations that exceed set threshold levels and thus allows for taking action in time in order to avoid structural damages.

Supported Sensors

T4D supports two different vibration sensor types from Syscom Instruments, a leading supplier of vibration and seismic monitoring equipment for civil engineering, strong motion and safety industries.

The supported devices support trigger based event and/or continuous background recording modes and offer efficient vibration solutions for different measurements in the civil engineering surveys like industrial vibrations, construction site monitoring, tunneling, rail and blasting monitoring.

Both the MR3003C and the ROCK are compact and reliable vibration measurement systems with a rugged design that allow for easy configuration and control.

 

Device name	MR3003C	ROCK
Key characteristics	4G embedded modem Embedded web server Direct SFTP transfer (Syscom Cloud Service not required) High end device for most accurate applications	Requires subscription to Syscom Cloud Service for sensor configuration Operable in a cable-free manner Integrated battery Integrated modem Solar version available

For further information on Syscom Instruments as well as the supported vibration sensors, please refer to the Syscom Instruments website.

Sensor Connection and Prerequisites

Vibration sensors are connected to T4D through an SFTP connection. The MR3003C has an built-in SFTP client, which sits in the Syscom Cloud Service in terms of the Rock, that must be configured so data is pushed to the appropriate SFTP server. 

A new Vibration Gateways tab at the administrative section of T4D Web allows to configure the connection to the used SFTP server.

Vibration sensor connection settings

With regard to the configuration of vibration sensor themselves, the configuration that takes place outside of T4D, some important information must be taken into account:

• The time must be set to UTC.

• Background data upload must be enabled.

• Background vibration files must contain peak vibration measurements.

• Background (BMR) and Event files(XMR) must be written in ASCII format

Data Analysis and Visualization

Vibration Background Data

T4D Web allows a per sensor and per sensor axis visualization of background data time series. Peak velocities from the background data are visualized at a constant time interval, depending on the configuration at the vibration sensors.

Background vibration data chart

If the configured thresholds were exceeded in the selected date range peak velocities of a vibration event are also visualized.

Background vibration data chart including a vibration event in the selected date range

Vibration Events

Vibration event data visualization and analysis is supported by a new Vibration Events section at T4D Web. Recorded events of all vibration sensors for a selected period of time are listed in a tabular view.

Vibration events can be filtered by certain parameters (e.g. peak velocity, duration, etc.) and allow for an easy identification of particular vibration events or for comparing different peak vibration measurements.

Tabular overview of vibration events

Vibration event raw files can be downloaded as well as the vibration event charts can be easily accessed from here. The visualized waveforms per vibration event and per vibration sensor axis (x,y,z) allow for more detailed event analysis and assessment.

Vibration event waveform

Vibration Event Alarming

Alarms can optionally be enabled on the vibration sensors themselves by defining a set of thresholds for each axis and specifying a list of alarm recipients (email).

For more granular alarming T4D offers the configuration of different severity levels. 'Attention' and 'warning' notifications allow for more sensitive threshold settings compared to the alarm thresholds and for leveraging the T4D alarm event acknowledgement feature. In this case defined recipients receive vibration related notifications based on the evaluation of peak vibration/background data.

New Trimble 4D Control Access Edition (T4D Access)

The core of Trimble Monitoring is the Trimble 4D Control software. In addition to the current four editions of the software, a new edition Trimble 4D Control Access is now available (T4D Access). T4D Access is a cost effective entry point for new semi-automated monitoring customers and available as perpetual and 1-year termed license. 

The new edition streamlines the workflow for semi-automated monitoring where no automated data acquisition is required. Monitoring tasks are performed in the field on a regular basis utilizing Trimble Access Monitoring  and round measurements (jxl files) are imported to T4D afterwards.

 

All T4D charting, analysis, alarming, and project management capabilities are available with T4D Access. Customers are able to leverage all total station related features of an automated system while data is collected in a semi-automated method and thus no total station sensor nodes are required.

 

In case of increasing project demands T4D Access enables a smooth transition into a fully automated monitoring system by upgrading to T4D Advanced. The upgrade includes the ability to view previously collected semi-automated data in the same graph as the automated collected data.

 

Sensor Management and Data Integration

Vaisala WXT536 Weather Station Support through Trimble Gateway

A weather station delivers important variables for an automated monitoring system. A very commonly used weather station solution on the market is the Vaisala Weather Transmitter WXT530 series.

 

The Vaisala WXT536 model of this series is now supported through the geotechnical gateway workflow which significantly simplifies the related setup and configuration.

Vaisala Weather Station WXT536

 

Connected to a Trimble digital data logger and a Trimble Gateway the following WXT536 data is continuously transmitted to Trimble 4D Control and available for advanced analysis and alarming:

 

Rain Gauge

• Cumulative total rainfall (mm)

• Rainfall per hour (mm/hr) - Represents the accumulated amount of physical rain that has fallen in a 60 min period.

• Rainfall per day (mm/day) - Represents the accumulated amount of physical rain that has fallen in a 24 hr period.

• Rainfall intensity (mm/hr) - A very critical variable is the rainfall intensity in particular in terms of slope stability monitoring. Although measured in mm/hr it is not representing hourly rainfall but it is the amount of the rainfall over a shorter period of time.

Rainfall data charts of Vaisala weather station

Weather Station

• Pressure (hPa)

• Relative humidity (%RH)

• Temperature (°C)

• Wind direction (Deg)

• Wind speed (m/s)

Weather station charts (excluding rainfall data)

 

Comprehensive Analysis and Visualization

Enhanced and Reworked Webcam Support

The webcam support has been extended in order to support a wider range of webcams as well as the existing implementation has been revisited and improved in terms of existing configuration options.

T4D Web HTTPS Compatibility

The recommendation is to host T4D Web on secure sockets (HTTPS). By adding a relay service to T4D, video streams of connected webcams are now automatically exposed in HTTPS which ensures they can be viewed by T4D Web regardless whether it is hosted on HTTP or HTTPS.

RTSP Protocol Support

T4D Web adds a new connection mode for also viewing webcams that expose their video stream in the RTSP protocol. RTSP video streams compressed in the format H.264 are supported. The new RTSP connection mode allows users to enter the url and the credentials of the associated webcam.

New RTSP connection mode

Optionally, both MJPEG and RTSP video streams can be optimized. Lowering the frame rate, quality and/or resolution reduces the system load and network traffic between the browser when viewing webcams in T4D Web.

ONVIF Webcam Discovery

T4D supports ONVIF Device Discovery that detects webcams available on the local network, enables automatic information retrieval and thus allows for easier webcam setup.

Note that only webcams in the local network are detected that support ONVIF discovery.

Video stream optimization settings

List of successfully tested webcams

Manufacturer	Model
Hikvision	DS-2CD2025FWD-I
Provision-ISR	I4-310IPHVF
Provision-ISR	I3-310IPH04
EzViz	Husky C3W*
Samsung	POE SNH-V6430BN*
Foscam	FI9803
Foscam	FI9902P
INSTAR	IN-2905-V2
INSTAR	IN-9008FullHD
INSTAR	IN-9020FullHD*

*ONVIF Discovery not supported

Extended Calculation Sensor Capabilities

Edit of Existing Calculation Sensor Definitions

The used formula of a previously configured calculation sensor can now be changed.

Calculation sensor formula update (message)

Calculate History for new Calculation Sensors

When adding a new calculation sensor a user can decide whether the calculation shall be applied to existing data of its input sensors too (historic backfill).

Calculate history feature

Improved T4D Web Security

The accounts page of T4D Web provides the following optional settings that address network security aspects:

 

• T4D Web password strength enforcement

• Auto Lockout configuration

• Enforce session timeout

New web security setting at T4D Web

Conditional Alarming and Reporting

Coordinate Exporter supports Unique Identifier 

A new feature is available with the Coordinate Exporter module that lets a user optionally enable the output of a unique identifier. When the setting gets enabled at the module properties a user must still specify the installation name as the unique identifier consists of the following information:

 

• Installation name (configurable)

• Configuration name of Integrity Monitor module

• Point name

Properties of Coordinate Exporter module

Exported csv file with unique point name column

Resolved Issues

• The underlying technology used for the T4D Web report generation has been updated which addresses situations where reports are generated with no content.

• Further stability improvements in terms of reading in geotechnical gateway sensor data have been added. This particularly applies to when one single geotechnical sensor connected to a gateway temporarily does not deliver data.

• The synchronization tab when configuring a calculation sensor is not available anymore for single sensor inputs in order to avoid any unnecessary delays.

• An issue with analysis live updates associated with no data analysis series has been fixed.

• It is ensured windrose labels are inside the widget borders at composite views.

System Requirements

Supported Operating Systems

Trimble 4D Control version 6.3 supports the following operating systems:

• Windows Server 2019 (October 2018)

• Windows Server 2016 (September 2016)

• Windows 10

Supported SQL Servers

Trimble 4D Control version 6.3 supports the following Microsoft SQL servers:

• SQL Server 2019

• SQL Server 2017

• Azure SQL Server

Supported Browsers

Trimble 4D Control Web is tested on the latest versions of Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and Microsoft Edge. Microsoft Internet Explorer is being retired by Microsoft and is no longer supported by Trimble 4D Control Web.

Deployment and Installation

Download of Trimble 4D Control

The installer of Trimble 4D Control version 6.3 is available for download from the Trimble Monitoring website (monitoring.trimble.com). Some additional information on the installer:

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

• Depending on the software edition that is selected, the installer downloads only the required installation files.

• The installer offers a “Download Media” option for an offline installation on a different server that has no internet access. In this case the installer downloads the entire set of installation files for all software editions.

• The Trimble 4D Control Access, Trimble 4D Control Field and Trimble 4D Control Geotechnical software editions include an automatic download and installation of Microsoft SQL Express 2019.

New Installation

To install Trimble 4D Control version 6.3, please perform the following steps:

1. Run the Trimble 4D Control installer executable.

2. Select the Trimble 4D Control software edition you have a license for.

3. Wait for the installation files to be downloaded.

4. Follow the instructions of the installation wizard.

Additional Information:

• Make sure you have your Microsoft SQL database administrator credentials available if you install the Intermediate or the Advanced Edition of Trimble 4D Control.

• Microsoft Chrome is a prerequisite for generating T4D Web reports and therefore is automatically installed together with T4D if not available yet on the appropriate server. 

Version Upgrade of an Existing Installation

If an SX instrument is connected to Trimble 4D Control, make sure to update the Settop M1 firmware version to v4.3 or later in order to benefit from the SX imaging support in Trimble 4D Control v6.3.

To update the software from a previous version to version 6.3, please perform the following steps:

1. Ensure that the existing installation of Trimble 4D Control is running on version 6.2. If not, please update to version 6.2 first.

2. Back up all Trimble 4D Control configuration files (*.tde) using the “ConfigurationImportExport” tool that is available from the Trimble 4D Control Server installation directory.

3. Create a database backup (*.bak) using the Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio

4. Run the installation of Trimble 4D Control version 6.3. The installer automatically detects and uninstalls version 6.2, before proceeding with the installation of version 6.3.

For more information, please contact monsol_support@trimble.com.

Release notice

This is the December 2021 release (Revision A) of the Trimble 4D Control Software Release Notes. It applies to version 6.3 of the software.