Topcon delivers end-to-end coverage for Parallax Consultants

Warkworth-based surveying and planning consultancy, Parallax Consultants, has been a Synergy Positioning Systems customer since 2008. The company’s range of disciplines is as wide as the territory its team members cover.

Field work in the Auckland, Kaipara and Rodney districts see Parallax’s staff operating in a variety of environments, completing land transfer, topographical, set-out and as-built surveys for a wide range of clients including commercial developers and private land-owners, along with local councils, Land Information New Zealand and NZTA.

A consistently busy portfolio of project work led company director Brendon Smith to consider purchasing a GNSS system back in 2008.

“We had used a variety of GPS brands in the past and the Topcon gear just seemed to be the most intuitive to use,” says Brendon.

“Eventually we decided to invest in our own equipment and I don’t think there was ever any question we’d go with any other brand.

“We saw Topcon as a real innovator in this space. Through Synergy Positioning, they were one of the first easily-accessible brands we encountered that could offer truly wireless equipment in the field, that didn’t require cabling or backpacks.

“And things have developed at pace from the initial RTK / Static GPS options, through to the use of Skynet and Magnet Enterprise. The ease with which we can turn around accurate data for our clients is really impressive, and we’re bringing a high level of technological ability to every job we do, regardless of the scale, which is a nice point-of-difference we can offer as a company.”

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Brendon says that, more than having the right tools for the job in the field, Topcon’s suite of data management software also ensures an end-to-end solution is readily available for organisations such as his.

“More than offering data capture in the field, Topcon now offers MAGNET Office software too, which helps us manage the way we record, store and distribute data. So, we now have Topcon MAGNET Field for all our surveying requirements, and Topcon MAGNET Office covering the production side of things.

“The fundamentals of surveying haven’t changed as such, but the way in which we are able to collect, reduce and deliver data certainly has. We have tools which allow us to see everything faster, and allow us to relay information to stakeholders in a more efficient and reliable way.”

Brendon says that having Synergy Positioning Systems as a technology distributor has also been crucial to the company’s experience using Topcon technology over the years.

“This is pretty rugged hardware, but damage occurs; with general wear and  tear from rain, dust and mud along with being pushed through vegetation, through to accidents from being dropped and knocked over from time to time, problems and breaks do happen, so it’s good to know we have effective and educated hardware and software back-up through Synergy.

“They’ve been representing Topcon through continual generational change and evolution for years now, so they really know the products they represent. They have a great knowledge bank, but they also have a direct line to the factory, so that’s good for our peace-of-mind as a company which has made a big investment in this technology,” he says.

More information on Topcon’s range of spatial surveying hardware and software can be found at www.synergypositioning.co.nz/products