The UK Construction Blog

SiteMaster Elevation
Photographic Facade Survey

SiteMaster Elevation - surveying to precise exterior views
Save Time and Money - Now you can produce Elevational Drawings from Photographs

Photographic Facade Survey

SiteMaster Elevation is an independent add-on for SiteMaster. You can benefit from photogrammetric procedures by determining detailed measurements from freehand digital photographs or scanned images.

SiteMaster Elevation requires only one rectangle with two known side lengths for calibrating an image plan. The software lets you measure and draw a building in 2D with added height information on floors, openings etc.

It saves the exact measurement results by redrawing the image with points, lines, rectangles, polylines, arcs and circles. SiteMaster Elevation transfers drawing elements with state-of-the-art technology to your CAD system, e.g. or SiteMaster Building. After completing your measurements you can generate a report list of all measurements and areas. The results can be exported in excel lists.

Processing digital photographs of the building’s facade in SiteMaster Elevations allows you to enhance your project into a full 3D plan with precise exterior views. You can exchange drawing files between SiteMaster Elevation, SiteMaster (and other solutions) using the .FLX (PowerCAD) and .DXF file formats.

Download a FREE trial of Sitemaster Elevations software

Sitemaster Elevations screenshots

Sitemaster Building

Sitemaster Building software the Professionals choice - The mobile solution for Professional Building Surveys and Fast CAD Drawings carried out On Site in Real Time. Draw fast and accurate walls (as single or double line), windows, doors and symbols rectangular and circular columns, recesses, ,chimneys, ducts, room areas, volumes, perimeters and much more.

For professional building surveys

The extensive features of SiteMaster Building are especially interesting for users that need to create and deliver professional Fast CAD drawings.

The layer management supports the combination of several floor plans in one single file. Heights of rooms, openings and symbols can be recorded and exported. Lasered distances are recorded in the background and saved on an extra layer for proofing purposes.

Survey Methodology
Surveys are conducted using a hand-held Laser Measure (Leica Disto A6, Leica Disto D8, Leica Disto D3aBT or a Hilti PD38) coupled via ‘Bluetooth’ technology to a hand-held microcomputer a Viliv X70 tablet.

This approach, which produces the CAD drawing during the survey process, allows us to establish and accurately check all building dimensions while on site. Significant improvements in survey quality are gained using this equipment when compared with traditional survey methods.

Check measurements are taken to ensure accuracy Gone are the days where two men would hold a sagging tape measure from one end of the room to the other, that old method is history! There are NO more return visits to site due to blunt pencils and inaccurate paper documentation, NO guesswork, NO wrong data documentation NO sagging tape measures.

Click here to book a FREE demonstration

Download a FREE trial of Sitemaster Building

Sitemaster Building screenshots

The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) has been confirmed as Event Partner at the new Built Environment Solutions and Technologies Show (BEST)

With over 45,000 members worldwide, the CIOB is considered the international voice of the building professional, and joins a prestigious roster of partners already committed to the BEST show, which includes Dyson, Barratt Homes, Birmingham Local Education Partnership, Network Rail, Crossrail, BAA and Land Securities.

BEST, which replaces Interbuild Specifier and incorporates the Infrastructure structure show, takes place from 18-20 October 2010 at the NEC in Birmingham.

As the built environment’s new trade event, BEST offers visitors the opportunity to view and purchase new products and technologies from across each of the main construction markets.  A highlight of the event is the six free seminar programmes, covering topics including retrofit and low carbon, as well as innovations within the residential, education and commercial property sectors.

Saul Townsend, Press & Communications Manager at the CIOB commented, “The CIOB is delighted to be a partner of the BEST show and we are looking forward to engaging with our members and other professionals in the industry on a number of key issues. Not least the low carbon agenda which despite the downturn in the economy is still a vital topic for the built environment. The BEST show is an ideal platform for us to exchange knowledge and to hear new ideas.”

Chartered member status is recognised internationally as the mark of a true, skilled professional in the construction industry and CIOB members share a common commitment to achieving and maintaining the highest possible standards within the build environment.

The CIOB will also participate in the show’s Low Carbon themed seminar programme, with Vice President, Alan Crane, speaking on Monday 18 October. Through his presentation, ‘Calculating carbon footprint – how realistic and accurate can you be?’, Alan will review the results of the CIOB embodied carbon study, and its implications.

Entry to BEST is free for those who register in advance (saving £20) when using priority code ECIB at www.best-show.co.uk/register

For a full exhibitor list and seminar programme visit www.best-show.co.uk

National Tool Hire Shops is one of the UK’s leading tool and equipment hire specialists - nationwide.

With a wide range of professional and DIY grade tools all ready to hire same or next day, you can be sure to get the right tool for the job. No matter if you’re a business or home user, National Tool Hire Shops can supply the very best equipment at the most competitive rates. From Carpet Cleaners to Mini Diggers, Wall Paper Strippers to Concrete Mixers – National Tool Hire Shops has over 2000 products ready to hire with all the accessories, consumables and safety gear to get the job done quickly and safely.

Not sure what you need to do the job? We can help!  Call the Hire Team today on 0800 142 2033

Moisture Meters- The Key Facts

The measurement and detection of moisture and the meters used is a complex and important topic that is frequently misunderstood.

This article will outline the differences between the concepts of  ‘moisture measurement’ and ‘moisture detection’ as well as explain the most appropriate type of meter to use in different situations.

Moisture Measurement In Timber

The most common material in which moisture content can be ‘measured’ by using a moisture meter is timber. The typical tool used for this purpose is the widely available pin type meter (also known as an electrical resistance/conductance and destructive meter).

These instruments work by reading across the two pins and detecting the change in resistance when they come into contact with the timber.Pin meters will give a pretty good indication of the moisture content of timber. They are made and calibrated to do this on particular species of timber for example, Douglas Fir. These instruments work because the conductivity of timber (also known as the density), is reasonably constant throughout different timber types and is proportional to the moisture content. As there are timbers which have different densities to that which the instrument has been calibrated to, most meters are supplied with a set of tables which give the adjustments which need to be made dependant upon the type of timber being tested.

Limitations Of Pin Meters For Building Surveys

As described above, the common pin meter has been designed for use on timber and not any other materials. This fact is often not appreciated by many users who rely on pin meters to ‘measure’ moisture content in other materials such as masonry, plaster or wallpaper. This is not actually possible as there are major variations in, for example masonry and therefore no consistency between any two samples from different sites. The same holds for most common building materials.

All a pin type meter can indicate, at best, is whether moisture may be present but they can not measure the actual level of moisture in the material. The danger of using a pin meter is that the instrument only reads across the very small area between the pins. This is not such a problem with timber due to the homogenous nature of it. However, when looking for moisture in an internal wall, it would be necessary to make many pin holes all over the wall in order to get a thorough indication of whether there is a presence of moisture. This is time consuming and leaves behind unsightly holes. When faced with tiled areas (such as kitchens & bathrooms) the pin meter can not be pushed through tiles and as a result no readings can be taken or at best only a surface reading is obtained. The presence of certain substances on the surface of the material being tested, such as condensation and salts, will also affect the readings.

Thank-you to Mobile CAD Surveying for allowing us to copy this from their site.

For more information of a similar nature to this above, pelase visit the Mobile CAD Surveying Knowledge Base

Viliv X70 Leather pouch - for the Viliv X70 Tablet PC’s The Pouch can be supplied as shown or with two pairs of straps

Leather pouch with holster setup for use as a surveying tool, we use the
Viliv X70 like this withn our Sitemaster Building surveying and drawing software
and as part of our Sitemaster Hardware and Software bundles

Mobile CAD Surveying have added the Viliv model tablets to their range of products. The Viliv X70 has been tested for sometime by them we are told with their award winning Sitemaster Building Software after the demise of the Q1 ULTRA that had been used for many years.

A spokesman from the Company told us the Viliv X70 Premium and EX 3G models were “outstanding value and have proved their worth during long ongoing testing on live and real time surveys”

“Over the next few days we hope to be adding more fromthe Viliv range to our product base” we were told.

Some of the accesories already avaliable for this particular model are:-

Accessories/Upgrades

Standard with Windows XP Home - upgrades available to Windows 7 - Starter - Home - Pro
Power adaptor
Standard battery
X70 EX Leather pouch
Multi TV  Out Cable
USB Cable
VGA Out Cable
X70 Car mount
X70 EX Cigar Jack

Viliv X70 EX battery

Spare 5.5hour battery for the Viliv X70 EX tablets now available

Mobile CAD Surveying Ltd have no added the popular Viliv X70 EX tablet to their range of mobile solutions for their award winning software, Sitemaster Building. The Viliv X70 EX is now availble as standard in their mobile surveying solution kit, their very popular Sitemaster Hardware and Software Bundle.

The Rotosure Classique are extra heavy duty measuring wheels suitable for a wide range of applications. They have a heavy duty oval cross section handle making it the most robust measuring wheels available. Perfect balance ensures accurate measurement while sealed roller bearings provide a smooth action against the measured surface providing precision.

Common Uses

Road Marking, Construction, Paving, Fencing, Pool Building, General Construction, Garden Layouts, Sports Fields, Factory Layouts, Property Assessment, Traffic Control, Insurance Assessments and many more to numerious to mention. Mainly used on uneven surfaces over long distances

Measuring Wheel 31-40M

Die-cast aluminium measuring wheel with rubber tread

• High stability and long life
• 5-digit counter made of wear-resistant plastic, easy to read
• Easy push button reset

Additional Features

• Die-cast aluminium wheel with rubber tread
• Folding handle
• Integrated kick stand

Applications

• Construction
• Land surveying
• Utilities