Release notes 6.6

Introduction

This section  summarizes information on new features, the latest product information, and installation and upgrade procedures for Trimble^® 4D Control™ version 6.6.

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.

For further support information, please visit the Product Information webpage.

New features in T4D v6.6 enhancing user experience and improving data insights

Introducing 3D Viewer offering a new view angle to data monitoring    

One of the primary objectives of any monitoring system is to understand movements and respond promptly when they exceed limits. T4D offers various ways to present movement data to stakeholders, including tabular views, different types of charts, maps, and more. In this release, T4D introduces an innovative 3D Viewer functionality. This feature allows users to visualize sensors and their displacements in 3D space, either directly on a 3D model represented as a TrimBIM file, or independently if a model is not available. This provides a more intuitive and comprehensive understanding of movement data.

The 3D Viewer offers a variety of powerful features tailored to provide better insights into movement and displacement. Key functionality includes:

• Movement analysis with or without a model - link sensors to a model for a comprehensive visualization of sensor distribution and movement from various angles in the 3D space. Alternatively, if a model is unavailable, visualize sensors and vector displacements independently as a stand-alone representation in the 3D space.

• Charting in the 3D Viewer - directly view sensor movement history as charts within the 3D Viewer, providing valuable insights into patterns and trends over time.

• Screenshot capture - easily take screenshots of specific views in the 3D Viewer. This feature is perfect for documentation and sharing critical perspectives with stakeholders.

• Adjustable displacement vector scaling - fine-tune the representation of movement in 3D space by customizing displacement vector scaling, ensuring clarity during movement analysis.

About TrimBIM File Format

TrimBIM is a file format developed by Trimble to optimize upload/download times and facilitate seamless model interaction. TrimBIM (*.trb) efficiently stores 3D BIM/Civil geometry and attributes, providing fast in-memory random access and offering a smarter way to work with model data. It significantly accelerates model-based processes and enables the same model to be used across different Trimble applications. With the T4D 6.6 release, the TrimBIM file is now also supported in T4D for visualizing sensors and displacements in 3D space. To ensure accurate sensor placement on the model, the TrimBIM file must be in the same coordinate system (public or local) as the T4D project.

Creating a TrimBIM File

Trimble develops, implements, and maintains the TrimBIM file format, utilized across various Trimble software applications such as Trimble Connect, Trimble Business Center (TBC), Quadri, Tekla, and Trimble Access. To learn how to create a TrimBIM file from Trimble Connect visit the 3D Viewer section in the T4D Web Help portal.

Visualizing a Model in 3D Viewer

To visualize sensors and displacements on a 3D model, open the 3D Viewer in T4D Web from the Terrain View menu. Here, previously analyzed models are listed and can be selected and revisited. If an update to an existing model in a 3D space is necessary, use the edit button to replace the model or change the name.

3D Viewer landing page

Users can also visualize sensors and vector displacements without the model, displaying them in an empty 3D space to help visualize the movement in 3D space.

Sensors and vector displacements in 3D space

Add a new model to a project easily: upload a model and save it using a customizable or the default name (original model name). Once uploaded, view the model in 3D alongside project sensors without any other configuration. For positional sensors, vector displacements are also visualized, enhancing the overall movement analysis.

3D Viewer Functionalities

The 3D Viewer provides multiple functionalities designed to help users understand movement. To quickly orientate the model as desired, icons on the bottom left offer different model views: top, bottom, left, right, front, back, and axonometric. In this panel, users can fit the view to the model's coordinate limits. This is particularly useful to exclude sensors outside the model from the view.

On the left side of the view, sensors are listed with the option to filter them. Users can select a sensor from the list to open the sensor information window with the latest available data. A sensor can also be selected directly on the model and the selected sensor is marked yellow. Multiple selection is possible. The “eye” icon hides or displays the individual sensors and the “chart” icon next to it opens the specific sensor chart.

The chart opens below the model and allows to monitor the values over time. Adjust the time window using the time/date slider or insert values manually. Hovering over a specific value displays the values for that time stamp.

3D Viewer

Settings button, on the top right side of the screen, allows further adjustments to the model and sensors.

• TimBIM Model - Allows you to hide or show the model

• Displacement Vectors - Toggle the visibility of displacement vectors.

• Sensor Icons - Show or hide sensor icons.

• Sensor Visibility - Toggle between two sensor visibility options. When "Sensor always visible" is enabled, sensors will be displayed regardless of the view. If disabled, sensors that are, for example, beneath the model will not be visible in specific views, such as the top view.

• Take a Screenshot - Capture the current view of the 3D model. To take a screenshot, click on the screenshot icon in the 3D Viewer. The screenshot will be taken and saved locally.

Toggle and adjustment options

In addition, use the adjustment sliders to change the model transparency, the sensor icon size, and the vector displacement scale factor.

Displacements use a color-coded visualization and the vector size to indicate the severity. Edit the following display parameters of the legend:

• Minimum displacement threshold - displacements below this threshold are not shown.

• Maximum displacement threshold - displacements above this threshold appear in red at maximum length/size.

• Unit of measure and decimals – change the unit and number of decimals displayed.

For 3D visualization and positional sensors, sensor data is in 3D format and uses both height and 2D measurements to calculate displacement. Displacement visualization uses an arrow, with the length and color indicating the severity of the displacement.

Vector Displacement Scale Factor

Introducing Data Maintenance tailored to improve data quality

Faulty data in monitoring projects can arise from various sources, including backsight targets with poor quality being measured, backsight points missing in a measurement round leading to ppm correction changes, disturbance or positional change of a backsight point, but it can also be a user or instrument error that leads to erroneous data. In most cases, these issues result in spikes, outliers, or data not appearing in charts, analyses, trends, or to be shared with stakeholders. To address this, T4D now offers an option to remove erroneous data as part of the newly introduced 'Data maintenance' workflow.

Data Maintenance workflow

Data maintenance starts by selecting the sensors for the deletion of data. Various filters, such as text search, filter by sensor group, or filter by sensor type, help to narrow down the affected sensors. A specific filter allows users now to filter all targets measured by the same total station.

Once all relevant sensors are selected, the user confirms this, and T4D identifies other sensors, like calculation or virtual sensors, that are using data from the initially selected sensors as a component. In a next step, affected sensors are suggested, and the user can select the data to be deleted.

Once confirmed, the next window offers graphical support to identify the erroneous data directly from the chart for every sensor selected in the previous steps. Use the sliders in the chart to define the area with data to be deleted. Selected data in one chart applies to all other ones. It is possible to exclude a sensor with the ‘Delete button’ next to the sensor name on the chart. Additionally, the user can insert values directly to define a more precise time range. Once the selection is confirmed, a window summarizes the process and prompts the user to confirm again to execute the data deletion.

Selecting the time range to be deleted

Recalculations following Data Maintenance

For erroneous data, not only direct sensor observations and their components in virtual or calculation sensors have to be deleted during data maintenance, but also corresponding calculations. This includes observation reductions, which represent a summary of observations for a particular sensor and data type over a particular reduction period, as well as velocities. After a successful data maintenance, both the observation reductions and velocities are recalculated.

Tracking Data Maintenance

If data maintenance has taken place in the past, a record will be visible in the list, allowing users to revisit it and see details about the time of execution, how many sensors are affected, time range, who initiated the process and the current status. Here is also where the Log file can be accessed with additional information describing the steps of the whole process.

Data maintenance records

It is also possible to undo executed Data Maintenance by clicking on the 'Restore' button. This action restores the data to its state prior to execution and is also logged accordingly.

T4D Maps Page can now be utilized in projects using a Local Coordinate System

The ability to visualize sensors and their movement on the map significantly improves insights to make decisions. With this version, map view can be used not only when the project is in a defined grid coordinate system but also when the local coordinate system is in use, increasing software usability and flexibility when setting up the project.

T4D now offers the possibility to place the sensors with defined local grid coordinates on the map, and a great part of that process is automated. After opening the map page, an instruction dialogue opens that informs the user about the sensor visualization and map configuration. After placing the sensors (usually two but this can vary depending on the sensor geometry) on the map, T4D calculates approximate parameters and can automatically place other sensors with a fitting projection. In case of a mistake, the user can cancel and retry, edit the values, or manually move the sensor.

Map page with the configuration information

More sensors after initial placement can be added, allowing for further refinement of transformation parameters, leading to improved sensor placement accuracy. After a sufficient number of sensors is placed, an automated sensor placement option becomes available, offering to place sensors based on a calculated approximation. A Manage Locations section provides a status of the number of unplaced, user-defined, and approximated sensors. Finally, a reset function enables users to clear all placed sensors, facilitating a fresh start for the sensor placement process.

Approximate projection available after placing sensors

Select 'Continue' to proceed with the placement of more sensors on the map, to improve the transformation parameters. The button Place Approximated Sensors runs the automated sensor placement.

The Manage Locations button provides information about the number of unplaced, user-defined, and approximated sensors. The 'Reset' button removes all sensors from the map so that the sensor placement can be started from the beginning.

The user is notified, if not all sensors can be placed on the map based on the calculated projection. This happens due to a suboptimal geometry of already available sensors. Unplaced sensors are automatically filtered in the sensor list and can then be placed manually on the map. Alternatively, the placement process can be repeated based on a different sensor distribution.

With this release, this new feature introduces changes to the existing sensor location workflow:

• Coordinate editing restriction - Positional sensor coordinate editing (Target and GNSS) is no longer allowed during sensor creation or editing.

• Decoupling of coordinate updates - Updating geographic coordinates (latitude/longitude) by moving the sensor on the map will no longer trigger automatic updates of the grid coordinates. This is due to the fact that latitude and longitude values are used for display purposes only.

• Removal of the Location Edit button - The Location Edit button has been removed from the Sensor View Page. Sensor location editing is now performed exclusively in the sensor editing workflow.

Coordinate Exporter module now supports ISE and GNSS results

The Coordinate Exporter module now supports the export of results (coordinates in the selected coordinate system) generated by both the Integrated Survey Engine and GNSS engines (RTK and Post Processing). Users can configure the upload to a specific location (e.g. a SFTP server) at defined intervals for further use.

This feature applies to both T4D Advanced and T4D Intermediate editions, as GNSS processing is enabled in these versions. It is particularly beneficial for intermediate users, where the processed data is typically integrated into other applications.

Selecting Integrated Survey and GNSS engines in Coordinate Export module

Support for MPS566 GNSS receiver

T4D v6.6 introduces support for the GNSS receiver MPS566. This receiver is designed for harsh environments and has a weatherproof, high-impact-resistant housing. Its high reliability makes it ideal for monitoring applications. The dual-antenna support allows the connection of two GNSS antennas to monitor two GNSS points with a single receiver. This capability is particularly useful for applications such as bridge monitoring or building construction.

Customized monitoring configuration can be purchased to be used in combination with the device.

 

Trimble MPS566 GNSS receiver

Support for new Trimble GNSS Meter

This new 6.6 version of T4D supports the new Trimble GNSS Meter, powered by Worldsensing. GNSS Meter is a new tool designed for mining, construction, and infrastructure industries, tailored to minimize the risks associated with land instability throughout a project's lifetime. It offers a user-friendly setup and an intuitive interface enabling rapid deployment of a high number of sensors with minimal training, making it highly scalable. It leverages wireless IoT technology to minimize infrastructure costs, eliminating the need for extensive cabling and reducing maintenance expenses.

For more details about the device, please visit the website or refer to the spec sheet.

Trimble GNSS meter

Low-cost GNSS featuring RTK technology

Trimble GNSS Meter features multi-band Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) technology and edge processing. A base station must be installed on a point with known coordinates where no movement is expected. The base plays a pivotal role in the network since, as it tracks satellite signals to determine any discrepancies caused by atmospheric interference or other distortions, which are then sent to rovers as correction data. Rovers, as opposed to base stations, are installed where movement is expected and needs to be monitored. There is no information about the rovers' exact position, so they use corrections received from the base station to correct errors in the satellite signals, making it possible to calculate accurate and reliable positions on the device. The RTK corrections are received via LoRa (Long-Range) communication, and the GNSS Meter then transmits sensor data and performance statistics to the Trimble gateway using the same principle. The gateway uses an available internet connection (cellular or ethernet) to send the data to CMT Edge, from where it is transmitted to T4D. Since the GNSS Meter communicates measurement messages via Trimble Gateway, data injection in T4D has not changed compared to the existing workflow used for geotech sensors such as tiltmeters or data loggers. After the connection to the Gateway in T4D Web is established, available sensors are displayed. If GNSS Meters are available, they and the appropriate data types can be selected for import as sensors in T4D Web.

GNSS Meter working principle

For assistance and additional information on GNSS Meter installation, please refer to the User Guide provided with the device.

Comprehensive data delivered by the GNSS Meter

The GNSS Meter, as a multisensor device, delivers multiple data types but is treated as a single sensor in T4D.

Data that can be read in T4D v6.6 includes

• 3D coordinates (WGS84) for the time windows of:

  • 1-hour - the last available coordinate result derived from RTK fix measurements of that hour

  • 6-hour - coordinate result derived from RTK fix measurements of the last 6 hours

  • 24-hour average - coordinate result derived from RTK fix measurements of the last 24 hours

• Tilt meter readings

• Temperature data

• Epochs (Samples)

  • 1-hour - the number of RTK fixed measurements in the last hour

  • 6-hours - the number of 1-hour results with RTK fixed measurements that are used for the 6-hour result calculation

  • 24-hours - the number of 1-hour results with RTK fixed measurements that are used for the 24-hour result calculation

All coordinates share the same timestamp, as new readings also trigger the recalculation of the 6-hour and 24-hour averages. Since the device reports coordinates in WGS84 by default, a coordinate transformation to grid coordinates is performed in T4D, ensuring coordinate system consistency within the project.

Available GNSS Meter data during T4D import

Licensing requirements

GNSS Meter is a multisensor device equipped with a GNSS board and tilt and temperature sensors. Due to its broad capabilities beyond GNSS, it is classified as a geotechnical sensor within the Trimble T4D ecosystem. This classification requires a geotechnical node to work with T4D.

Improvements

New icons in T4D Web

Version 6.6 introduces new sensor icons, bringing a refreshed look and feel to T4D Web. These new high-resolution SVG icons offer improved and smoother interactions, enhancing the overall user experience.

Examples of new icons

Geotech node default number increased from 5 to 10

Regarding smaller-scale project requirements, the number of default Geotech nodes included in T4D Advanced and Geotech editions has been increased from 5 to 10. This change applies to new T4D Advanced and T4D Geotech Edition licenses.

Analysis charts and reports enhancements

The normal analysis chart has been re-written in order to achieve faster performance. This applies both to charts in the web interface as well as reports. The following analysis types remain unchanged:

The following analysis types remain unchanged:

• Comparative Bar

• Tabular Analysis

• Windrose

• Cross Section

The analysis report has been updated, and the data is now pulled from the database using a faster, more efficient logic. Charts in the analysis report are generated using new technology, allowing for substantially faster rendering. The resulting "Scalable Vector Graphic" format improves user interaction, such as zooming in and out, providing a better visual experience. This leads to charts in analysis reports being created more quickly and presented more effectively during user interaction.

Charts for all other analysis types still use the existing technology.

In addition to charts and report updates, Excel exports are now generated using the new data layer for all analysis types, enhancing overall performance.

Updated help content link in T4D Web

Trimble Field Systems has released a central information location Trimble Field Systems Help Portal about using Trimble field system products, including field, office, and cloud software, as well as data collectors and GNSS receiver system hardware. This includes the T4D Web Help portal. A direct connection to the portal has been established within T4D Web, providing easy access to additional information, support, and assistance while navigating T4D Web.

T4D Help Portal button in T4D Web

Trend and velocity calculations now possible using coordinates

Version 6.6 introduces enhanced analytical capabilities leveraging coordinates as a data type. You can now perform trend and velocity calculations using coordinates, enabling you to track movement patterns, analyze changes over time, and gain deeper insights from location-based data.

Resolved Issues

• Active Directory access issue for T4D Admin Web - Resolved issue where a defined Active Directory (AD) user did not have rights to access T4D Admin Web.

• RTCM decoder update - The RTCM decoder has been upgraded and its data stream decoding capabilities have been improved.

• SQL Server issue affecting chart display - Resolved issue on the SQL Server side, causing charts not to be displayed in specific cases.

• Modification in sensor locations - After importing new Geotech Gateway sensors or Vibration Gateway sensors, the T4D database now stores the location for each sensor separately, which allows for editing the location coordinates of each imported sensor individually without affecting the other.

• Data Collector exception while processing GKA files - An exception was shown in case missing tilt information was reported by the instrument stopping the processing. This has now been fixed, and an error message containing the necessary information to allow processing is available.

• Site Setup not possible due to defective temperature cable - Resolved issue where site setup was not possible due to a defective temperature cable. It is now possible to perform site setup (measure new targets) in cases where the temperature cable is broken, using the default temperature from the properties.

• T4DDBImport Tool error - An error has been showing up during the data reprocessing workflow. This has been fixed.

• Active Directory (Admin) user analysis rights issue - An issue has been resolved to allow Active Directory users to make analyses public and interact with created analyses.

• Information storage in HistoryContMod table in T4D Server - previously, the T4D stored GNSS health information every second. The new update optimizes this by storing the information only when there is a change in the health status.

• Active Directory integration now supports LDAPS - You can now choose between LDAP and LDAPS for secure sign-in and user migration, aligning with your Active Directory security policies.

• Improved mm/m display for angular units - mm/m unit has been updated, making the previous recommendation of staying within a +/-10 degree range limit no longer applicable, thus allowing for more flexibility in angular measurements.

• Improved unit symbol consistency - the unit library has been updated where 'US Survey Foot' is now consistently denoted as 'us-ft', and 'International Foot' as 'ft'. This change standardizes unit symbols across all features that utilize these units.

Miscellaneous

To update to T4D version 6.6, the warranty must be valid until at least 31 December 2024. If you have any questions or need assistance with updating or licensing, please contact your local Trimble distributor.

System Requirements

Supported Operating Systems

T4D version 6.6 supports the following operating systems:

• Windows Server 2022 (end of support Oct 2031)

• Windows Server 2019 (end of support Jan 2029)

• Windows Server 2016 (end of support Jan 2027)

• Windows 11 (end of support Oct 2026)

• Windows 10* (end of support Oct 2025)

* Not recommended after October 2025, as Microsoft support for the operating system ends on October 14, 2025.

Supported SQL Servers

T4D version 6.6 supports the following Microsoft SQL servers:

• SQL Server 2022 (exp Jan 2033)

• SQL Server 2019 (exp Jan 2030)

• SQL Server 2017 (exp Oct 2027)

• Azure SQL (n/a)

Supported Browsers

T4D Web is tested on the latest versions of Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and Microsoft Edge. Microsoft is retiring Microsoft Internet Explorer, which is no longer supported by T4D Web.

Deployment and Installation

T4D Download

• The installer of T4D version 6.6 is available for download from the Trimble Monitoring website. Some additional information on the installer:

• It is a single installer for all available T4D software editions (Access, Field, Intermediate, Geotechnical, and Advanced).

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

• The installer offers a "Download Media" option for an offline installation on a different server without internet access. In this case, the installer downloads the entire set of installation files for all software editions.

• The T4D Access, T4D Field and T4D Geotechnical software editions include an automatic download and installation of Microsoft SQL Express 2022.

New installation

To install T4D version 6.6, please perform the following steps:

1. Run the T4D installer executable.

2. Choose the T4D software edition that matches your license.

3. Wait for the installation files to be downloaded.

4. Follow the instructions of the installation wizard.

Upgrade of existing installations

Before you update your T4D to version 6.6, contact your Authorized Trimble Dealer to check if your license is valid for T4D version 6.6.

To update the software from a previous version to version 6.6, please perform the following steps:

1. Ensure that the existing installation of T4D is running on version 6.0 or later. If not, please update to version 6.0 or later at first.

2. Back up all T4D configuration files (*.tde) using the 'ConfigurationImportExport' tool available from the T4D Server installation directory.

3. Create database backups:

   • *.bak using the Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio for SQL databases

   • MongoDB - Next to a SQL database T4D is based on another database management system called MongoDB that handles the organization of monitoring data. For further information on its backup, please refer to this bulletin.

4. Run the installation of T4D version 6.6 by clicking on the 'Upgrade' tile. The installer automatically detects and uninstalls version 6.0 or later, before proceeding with the installation of version 6.6.

   With version 6.6 the T4D installer automatically upgrades the MongoDB version to the latest version and ensures a seamless upgrade of T4D.

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

Release notice

This is the March 2025 release (Revision A) of the Trimble 4D Control Software Release Notes. It applies to version 6.6 and subsequent software updates.