Leica GKP100 – Captivate Keypad: Innovation for Various Applications
Since its inception in 2015, Lecia's Captivate surveying field software has revolutionized how surveyors and GIS companies work in the field with GNSS smart antennas, total stations, multistations, Leica's AP20 AutoPole, and other professional measuring equipment.
Although digital tablets are another excellent tool for recording and viewing data at a work location, typing on touch screens is far from ideal, especially when you consider the meticulous nature of your work. Tablets can be especially tricky to work with when performing calculations or coding.
When your business is all about precision, you can't afford to be stuck using equipment that may contribute to errors or worrying about the manual dexterity of the person working that day.
Key Features of the Leica GKP100 – Captivate Keypad
The Leica GKP100 combines the practical function and user-friendliness of a keyboard. It is lightweight (0.342kg or 0.75lb) and convenient for the typing process we're all used to. The unit measures 178mm (length) x 113mm (width) x 32mm (height) for trouble-free handling and storage.
Not only does it nicely integrate with the Leica hardware and Captivate software systems you're working with, but it is also adaptable to your work style. Whether you prefer the feel of a touchscreen, a keyboard, or a mix of the two for your data entry purposes, this handy unit makes life easier for seasoned pros and newbies just entering the industry.
There Is No Touchscreen Display
If you already use products from Leica Geosystems, you may be familiar with the Leica Captivate CS20 Field Controller and its 5-inch high-resolution screen designed for surveying professionals.
With the Leica GKP100, there is no touchscreen display built-in. You may be wondering, how exactly is this an advantage?
The Leica GKP100 is compatible with the CS30 (7-inch screen), CC180 (8-inch screen), and the iCON CC200 (10-inch screen). This flexibility lets you opt for the touchscreen of your choice. Complex renderings are much easier to see and work with on larger screens.
Whichever screen you prefer, the Leica GKP100 works seamlessly with the Leica Captivate software and its 3D viewer. Captivate enables quick inspections as you drag your finger along the display screen to analyze 3D renderings. With its ergonomic design and versatility, the rugged Leica GKP100 keypad will enhance your fieldwork by allowing you to type with the same ease.
Customizable Keys
Busy measurement professionals will appreciate the option of creating keyboard shortcuts for their assignments. Each Leica GKP200 features a QWERTY-style keyboard layout with enhanced function keys (F1 - F12), which permit the creation of special alternate commands. The designated hot keys and favourites menus are simple to apply with just a few quick steps.
Wireless Connectivity
Incorporating wireless connectivity via Bluetooth, the Leica GKP100 connects easily to smartphones and tablets for the fast, efficient transfer of measurement data. Captivate software offers a variety of apps for conducting all types of assignments.
Long Battery Life
The Leica GKP100 includes a 3.6V. 3200mAh (11.5Wh) Li-Ion rechargeable battery embedded within the keypad's design. With several weeks of battery life on a single charge, operators can navigate work sites comfortably all day without stressing about running out of power.
Applications of the Leica GKP100 – Captivate Keypad
Designed for measurement professionals in every sector who utilize Leica's Captivate field software, the Leica GKP100 is another practical tool in Leica Geosystems' growing arsenal of measurement products. It's a simple concept flawlessly designed to simplify everyday work tasks.
Surveying
Leica Geosystems' intuitive software and designated app selection have facilitated greater on-site productivity for surveying professionals worldwide. The Leica GKP100 extends the brand's usability with in-hand convenience.
Today's surveyors often require more than the standard measuring components to do their jobs. They also require computers for referencing plans and documenting their work. The Leica GKP100 ensures surveyors have all the tools they need at their disposal.
Construction
Whether you're constructing roads, railways, tunnels, or giant office towers, checking as-built progress and alignment, computing slopes and volumes, coding and storing measurements, or establishing survey control points, everything you do requires accurate documentation. And when you're working around heavy machinery and busy sites, it's easy to get distracted.
With a Leica GKP100, you have even greater control over the technology when outside. Using tablets in the cold while wearing gloves is hardly ideal. Touchscreens are much less responsive when subjected to rain or snow, which makes data entry even more of a challenge. Civil engineers, construction company owners, and surveying crews love this unit's hands-on control in all types of weather.
A workable connected keyboard saves time and limits your documentation input to a single device rather than relying on pens and paper, calculators, laptops, personal smartphones, etc.
Mapping and GIS
In simplest terms, a Geographic Information System (GIS) is a computer system that produces digital maps. It captures, manipulates, analyzes, and manages geographical data based on assessments at locations.
Collected information is used to understand patterns. One common use is comparing the effects of human activity on the surrounding features of the land and vice versa. The potential for this form of spatial technology is vast, especially for construction development planning and scientific studies.
In addition to their analytical minds and location assessments, GIS technicians require excellent database management and administration skills. In this respect, the Leica GKP100 empowers those in the field with the best tools for documenting information about each location in a more natural, intuitive way.
With the tablet-only solution, a pop-up keyboard takes up a lot of real estate on the screen when completing data entry. This inconvenience isn't just distracting; it can hinder jobsite progress. Having a keypad like the GKP100 eliminates these issues.
Utilities
When it comes to asset management, including electricity, telecommunications, gas, and water, you want the most accurate technology available for detecting underground utilities and mapping purposes. The Leica GKP100 complements your tracing and cable avoidance practices by allowing you to add additional information to your reporting with minimal effort.
No matter where you find yourself on the job, you never want to experience technical difficulties. With the Leica GKP100, you can draw on the power of tablets with “more horsepower" to support more intensive computations and CAD software. Now, you can improve the performance of a tablet without sacrificing the superior input you get with a keypad.
The Leica GKP100 Captivate Keypad - A Versatile and Innovative Device
Unlike messaging a friend on a smartphone that may contain the odd typo, the information you enter on a touchscreen while on the job can dramatically impact the validity of the work. The fallout from incorrect entries could lead to legal disputes, zoning problems, and construction delays, necessitating the duplication of work efforts and other costs to resolve those discrepancies.
Having convenient keyboard functionality at your fingertips enables more precise control and accuracy, which ultimately protects your company's reputation. People's tendency to make typos on smaller touchscreen keyboards is precisely what the Leica GKP100 keypad is designed to prevent.
If you're interested in adding to your Leica Geosystems equipment list, get in touch with the sales team at Spatial Technologies. We are Western Canada's trusted source for engineering and surveying technology, machine control systems, measuring instrument software, and essential construction work accessories.