Precision Mapping in Motion
How EPA Transformed Surveying with the Trimble MX50
Eugene Pretorius and Associates (EPA), a mine surveying company headquartered in Middelburg, South Africa, is a longstanding industry player known for integrating cutting-edge technology into its surveying workflows. With extensive operations in coal mining and additional projects spanning hard rock, aggregate, and quarry environments across the country, EPA specialises in volumetric, topographic, engineering, aerial, hydrographic, and rehabilitation surveys. Accuracy, speed and integrity are the pillars of the company’s offering, which is why its transition to the Trimble MX50 mobile mapping solution marked such a pivotal upgrade in its operations.
Why the old system had to go
The MX50 system replaced EPA’s ageing Lynx mobile mapping solution, a system initially acquired in 2011. After over a decade of service, the Lynx had reached end-of-life due to complexity and technical limitations. It was cumbersome, difficult to install across various vehicle types, and required significant IT knowledge to operate effectively. As the demands of EPA’s surveying clients grew more stringent, it became clear that a newer, more agile solution was required. The Trimble MX50 offered just that: a high-spec, user-friendly system that seamlessly integrated into existing workflows while improving the quality and usability of captured data.
“The old Lynx system had just reached the end of its life — it was bulky, outdated, and more complex to install. The MX50 isn’t just a new version; it’s a completely different class of system,” Willie Scholtz, Managing Director and Chief Surveyor at EPA explains.
Fast and accurate data collection is at the heart of EPA’s mission. With multiple clients and stringent reporting deadlines – particularly during month-end reconciliations – there is little margin for error.
EPA’s month-end deliverables, for example, are often compiled across a week and a half of intensive data capture and processing. With stakeholders ranging from site-level teams to company shareholders, the quality and timeliness of the data carry high reputational value. The MX50’s plug-and-play simplicity played a critical role in supporting these time-sensitive operations. Thanks to exceptional support from OPTRON and Trimble, EPA’s team were able to seamlessly integrate the system onto their vehicle and complete a full project from capture to final output with ease.
Custom mounting for maximum efficiency
Unlike its predecessor, the MX50 is more compact and modular. Its bracket can be permanently mounted, while the sensor unit can be detached with ease. EPA went a step further and designed a mounted solution for the sensor, allowing it to be raised or lowered as needed, while also protecting it from environmental damage during transport.
Steven Jonker, Geospatial Supervisor at EPA elaborates, “We built a custom canopy and mounted the MX50 on a trolley jack inside the bakkie. When we get to site, we just lift it up through the roof and support it — it’s neat, protected, and avoids any weather or clearance issues.”
This innovative approach not only preserves the equipment from elements like dust or flying stones but also prevents accidental damage when entering low-clearance areas. Importantly, this new configuration significantly reduces setup time, which in turn limits on-site disruptions and enhances safety.
He adds, “The sensor unit weighs only 23 kg, and the whole setup is plug-and-play. That’s a huge shift from the old gear — no more bolted-on boxes or permanent fixtures.”
The Trimble MX50 is securely mounted on a robust, custom-built platform that allows the sensor to be raised during operation and lowered during transport. This design shields the system from environmental damage while ensuring ease of deployment and removal. Inside the mobile unit, a compact, plug-and-play setup featuring the Trimble MX Scan PU and control interface. The user-friendly configuration enables efficient field operation while the enclosed design ensures durability on the move.
The system is currently used around two to three times per month, primarily for road engineering projects, though EPA is also exploring its full potential in mining environments through R&D initiatives.
A typical road project might involve scanning a 50-kilometre stretch at speeds between 60 and 80 km/h – the sweet spot EPA has identified for maintaining data quality without sacrificing efficiency. Though the system can operate up to 110 km/h, the team prefers this moderate range to balance fidelity and speed. In a four-hour session, they can capture an entire dual-lane route including crossroads, a feat that would previously have taken far longer using traditional methods.
Cutting costs, not corners
The MX50 had an immediate financial impact. Significantly cutting on-site time and reducing the need for multiple survey crews led to cost savings for EPA customers. Traditional survey methods often required extended hours in the field and significant manpower to collect the necessary data. Now, a single operator can complete a 50-kilometre road survey in just a few hours, without interrupting traffic or production.
As Willie put it: “With this system, we’ve eliminated the need for repeated site visits. The crews no longer have to physically run cross-sections in traffic or spend hours setting up — it’s one drive-through and we’ve got everything we need. That’s not just safer, it’s a serious cost saving.” Steven adds enthusiastically “We’re getting 10mm combined accuracy at 30 metres, with 240 scans per second – that level of detail across a 50-kilometre road in just a few hours, is game-changing for us.”
The system’s core strength lies in its ability to collect vast datasets with high precision. “It’s equipped with dual laser scanners running up to 960 kHz, delivering 240 scans per second — plus, a 360-degree field of view. You’re collecting millions of points in just minutes,” he adds.
These capabilities are critical in both open-cast mine surveys and road infrastructure mapping, where granular detail is essential for modelling terrain, inspecting features, and drafting engineering profiles.
Colourised clarity boosts client value
Crucially, the MX50 also includes a spherical camera system capable of capturing 30 MP immersive 360° imagery. This imagery is used to colourise the point cloud, providing contextual clarity to users during post-processing. Without the camera, the point cloud would only offer greyscale intensity values, but with colourisation, features like vegetation, road surfaces, and structural elements are rendered in lifelike detail.
This greatly aids interpretation and drawing, especially for CAD operators who may not have physically visited the site. Willie notes that in delivering road survey data to clients, this colourised data dramatically improves the quality and usability of outputs.
“The colourised point cloud changes everything. You’re not just guessing at what a grey dot represents — you can see the green of a tree, the grey of the road, the actual conditions on the day. It brings the data to life,” he explains.
Survey without stoppage
The MX50’s ability to operate without halting production was another game-changer. In mining environments, traditional surveys might require several minutes-long stoppages per site segment.
Willie elaborates: “In the past, we’d have to stop production for twenty minutes just to get one section surveyed. Now, it’s a quick drive-through — maybe a minute or two — and we’re out. That’s a huge difference in efficiency and safety.”
Field safety is further enhanced by the MX50’s remote operation capability. The control unit generates its own Wi-Fi network, enabling operators to manage the system via a tablet from within the safety of the vehicle cabin. The intuitive interface allows operators to use any smart device to check system readiness and trigger data capture. Even if a tablet fails, a mobile phone can step in as the controller, thanks to Trimble’s BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) compatibility.
Streamlined software, superior outputs
Processing the collected data is where the system truly shines. With Trimble Business Center (TBC) and Postpac, EPA benefits from an end-to-end software solution that streamlines data processing, alignment, and extraction. Unlike their previous workflow which relied on multiple disconnected software tools, TBC handles trajectory processing, point cloud registration, classification, and deliverable creation in a unified environment. The system supports accurate alignment of dual-head scanner data, minimising misalignment risks and reducing processing time.
“With TBC, we’re able to strike the right balance — enough detail to meet the spec without drowning the client in unnecessary data,” Steve says, and adds, “It’s all in one place, so the alignment, filtering, and deliverables are cleaner and faster than anything we used before.” This is particularly important given the high volume of data the system generates.
EPA is currently transitioning from Trimble Clarity to MX Publisher, which will improve their ability to share both point clouds and immersive imagery via browser-based platforms. Though sharing point clouds online
has been successful, limitations in image sharing under Clarity prompted the move to a newer platform that better supports their needs. This functionality is critical to collaboration, particularly when stakeholders are dispersed or unable to visit the survey site.
User-friendly even for the less tech-savvy
“The MX50 is hands-down the most user-friendly system we’ve worked with. Even some of our older team members who aren’t tech-savvy picked it up quickly — it’s intuitive, streamlined, and just makes sense out in the field,” Willie assures.
A traditional survey might have required users to be adept in FTP protocols and complex software environments, but the MX50 simplifies the process to the point where green-light indicators and intuitive software interfaces are sufficient to begin operations.
Steve notes, “With the MX50, you get three green lights and you’re good to go. There’s no fiddling, no guessing — it’s simple, clean, and it just works.” Even so, a basic understanding of surveying principles remains essential to ensuring that the right data is captured for the right purpose.
Training and support from OPTRON and Trimble were instrumental in the successful adoption of the system.
Two Trimble representatives even flew in from Dubai to provide on-the-ground training, ensuring EPA’s team were not only confident in operating the hardware but also in processing and delivering the data. This level of support significantly reduced the anxiety typically associated with adopting new technology and allowed the team to focus on using the system to its full potential.
Steven Jonker, Geospatial Supervisor at EPA (left) and Willie Scholtz, Managing Director and Chief Surveyor at EPA (right) review the final deliverables for their client – examining various views and sections while checking the alignment between the two scanner heads.
Looking ahead with clarity and precision
While the system isn’t without challenges – namely, the need to manage large volumes of data and correctly classify features during post-processing – EPA acknowledges that these are inherent in any advanced mapping solution. The key lies in understanding the project deliverables from the outset. Willie observes, “There are plenty of mobile mapping systems out there, but it really comes down to what you need to deliver. For us — detailed road and mining surveys that demand accuracy, speed, and visual clarity — the MX50 hits the mark every time.”
From reduced fieldwork and operational costs to enhanced safety and accuracy, the Trimble MX50 has reshaped the way EPA delivers its services. The system is not just a replacement for the old – it’s a substantial leap forward in mobile mapping technology, providing a robust and flexible solution tailored to the demands of modern surveying.
– Kim Kemp
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