Trimble Business Center

Processing TerraSync SSF Data

www.trimble.com

© 2020, Trimble Inc. All rights reserved. Trimble and the Globe & Triangle logo are trademarks of Trimble Inc. registered in the United States and in other
countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
 About this tutorial

About this tutorial

Trimble Standard Storage Format files (.ssf) are used by Trimble GIS mapping field
software such as Trimble TerraSync to log continuous GNSS and feature data. This
tutorial explains how to import an SSF file into TBC, along with an appropriate
reference/base station RINEX file, and perform post-processing of the continuous GNSS
data to create a trajectory that accurately positions the recorded feature points and line
work.
After processing, the features can be fully explored and edited as necessary using TBC's
powerful feature management tools before exporting to another system. This helps
minimize the need for multiple post-processing software packages when working with
TerraSync files.

Note: If you need additional help at any time you are using the software, press F1 to
display the online help.

Step 1. Create a new project

1. On the Trimble Business Center Start Page, click the New Project button to display
the New Project dialog.

2. Ensure <Blank Template> is selected in the list, and click OK.

The Plan View displays in the Trimble Business Center window.

Processing TerraSync SSF Data 2

 Step 2. Verify project settings

You can perform the tutorial steps without saving this project file. However, if you
are interrupted while performing the tutorial, you can save it and then reopen it to
continue at a later time.

Step 2. Verify project settings

In this step, you will verify that the project is correctly configured to (1) process
continuous vectors in the SSF file in a trajectory and (2) use the appropriate GIS
processing type.
1. In the Quick Access Toolbar (located at the top of the Trimble Business Center
window), select Project Settings.
2. In the Project Settings navigation pane, select Baseline Processing > General and
verify the Store continuous as trajectory setting is set to Yes.

3. In the Project Settings navigation pane, select Baseline Processing > GIS Processing.

Processing TerraSync SSF Data 3

 Step 3. Import data

The following processing types are available for GIS data imported in TerraSync SSF
files:
 Automatic Carrier and Code Processing - The GNSS data is both code processed
and carrier processed using data from each specified base station. The results
give one averaged code-corrected position and one averaged carrier position for
each original GNSS position. The best position of the two corrected positions is
used as the final corrected position. This is the default setting, which you will
use for this tutorial.
 Code Processing Only - The GNSS data is code processed using data from each
specified base station.
 Carrier Processing Only - The GNSS data in the session is carrier processed using
data from each specified base station to produce a carrier float solution.
4. Ensure the Automatic Carrier and Code Processing processing type is selected, and
click OK.
You are now ready to import data into the project

Step 3. Import data

The downloaded ProcessingTerraSyncSSFData folder contains this PDF file and a Data
folder. In this step, you will import into the project the following two files from the Data
folder:
 CATHEDRAL.ssf - This SSF file contains GNSS and feature data collected in the field.
 VGTU171K.17o - This RINEX file contain reference/base station data to be used for
processing. Although you can typically download base station data applicable to
your location using the Internet Download command, this unique RINEX file is
provided with the tutorial package and can be easily imported along with the SSF
file.
1. In the TBC ribbon, select Home > Data Exchange > Import.
The Import pane opens in the right side of the Trimble Business Center window.

Processing TerraSync SSF Data 4

 Step 3. Import data

2. In the Import pane, click the Browse button .

3. In the Browse for Folder dialog, browse to ..\ProcessingTerraSyncSSFData\Data
and click OK.
The content of the Data folder displays in the Select File(s) list in the Import pane.

4. In the Select File(s) list, select CATHEDRAL.ssf and VGTU171K.17o, and click the
Import button.
The Receiver Raw Data Check In dialog displays showing the selected files. The
GNSS data in the SSF file will be imported as a continuous segment that, when
processed with the base station data, will produce a trajectory.

You can select any of the tabs in the lower portion of the dialog to verify the import
information is correct, and make changes as necessary. For example, you could
correct the antenna height or measurement method displayed on the Antenna tab
or change the receiver type selected on the Receiver tab.

Note: For instructions on editing antenna types, measurement methods, and

measured values, press F1 to display the "Check-In Raw GNSS Data" online Help
topic.

For this tutorial, this information is correct and does not require changes.
5. Click OK.
6. In the Projection Definition dialog, click OK.
The SSF points and linework and the base station are displayed in the Plan View.

Processing TerraSync SSF Data 5

 Step 3. Import data

7. Zoom in on the SSF data in the Plan View.

The linework resulting from line and polygon feature points is displayed. Standalone
SSF feature points are displayed as well (for example, points representing trees and
lightpoles). The intermediate points used to construct the linework (labeled in the
format #,## in the Project Explorer) are hidden. To display the hidden points, you
must show the SSF layer, which is hidden by default.
8. In the Trimble Business Center ribbon, select Home > View > View Filter Manager.
9. In the View Filter Manager, check the CATHEDRAL.SSF check box in the Layers list
to display the points used to construct the linework in the Plan View.

Processing TerraSync SSF Data 6

 Step 3. Import data

10. Uncheck the CATHEDRAL.SSF check box in the Layers list to hide the points in the
Plan View.
Note that a Media Files node is displayed in the Project Explorer (select Home >
Data > Project Explorer). Nested beneath it is a node for each of the photo images
imported into the project as a referenced feature attribute.

You can right-click any image node and select Properties to display the Media File
Properties pane. Then you can click the media file Play button to view the image in
your default media/graphics application.

Processing TerraSync SSF Data 7

 Step 3. Import data

To make it easier to view an imported photo image in conjunction with the point to
which it was assigned as a feature attribute in the field, you can assign the image to
the point in TBC using the Assign Media Files command.
11. To assign a photo image to a point in the project:
a. Right-click the point 4 node in the Project Explorer and select Properties.
You can see in the Feature Attributes section of the Properties pane a feature
attribute reference to image IMG_000313.jpg.

Processing TerraSync SSF Data 8

 Step 3. Import data

b. Right-click the point 4 node in the Project Explorer and select Assign Media
Files.

c. In the Assign Media Files dialog, select IMG_000313.jpg and click OK.

A new media folder is displayed with point 4 in the Project Explorer and in the
Plan View.

Processing TerraSync SSF Data 9

 Step 4. Process the trajectory

d. Double-click the new media folder to display the Media Folder Properties pane.
Then click the media file Play button to view the image in your default
media/graphics application.

Step 4. Process the trajectory

In this step, you will process the continuous GNSS data together with the base station
data to create a trajectory that accurately positions the recorded feature points and line
work.
1. In the Trimble Business Center ribbon, select Survey > GNSS > Process Baselines.
The Process Baselines dialog displays showing the progress of the process.
When processing is complete, the processed trajectory is displayed in the list.

The Solution field shows how many epochs were processed out of the total
available. In this case, 100% of the epochs were processed successfully. Note that
because the processing results will be stored as a single trajectory in the project, no
values are displayed in the precision fields, as would be the case if you were
processing individual baselines.

Processing TerraSync SSF Data 10

 Step 4. Process the trajectory

2. To view accuracy statistics, residuals, and other information about of the process,
do the following:
a. Click the row selector/edit button located at the left end of the single row to
select the session.
b. Click the Report button to open the html-based Baseline Processing Report in a
browser window.
c. In the Baseline Processing Report, click the Sessions Details link in the left
navigation pane to display processing details for the session.

You are now ready to save the newly processed trajectory in your project.
3. In the Process Baselines dialog, click the Save button.
The project is re-computed with the newly created trajectory. Each of the points
displayed in the Project Explorer now includes a post-processed coordinate.

Processing TerraSync SSF Data 11

 Step 4. Process the trajectory

4. In the Project Explorer, right-click point 1.1 and select Point Derivation Report to
view the differences between the real-time raw position and the post-processed
position.

You can see the resulting feature line work in the Plan View.
Before processing:

Processing TerraSync SSF Data 12

 Step 4. Process the trajectory

After processing:

5. To view the trajectory:

a. Right-click the newly created trajectory in the Project Explorer and select
Properties.

6. In the Properties dialog, change the Display Mode to view the various options. Then
change it back to Hidden.
Trace mode:

Processing TerraSync SSF Data 13

 Step 4. Process the trajectory

Points mode:

Vectors mode:

Processing TerraSync SSF Data 14

 Step 4. Process the trajectory

This completes the tutorial.

Processing TerraSync SSF Data 15