Michael Gabrielse is the founder of Acer Forestry Solutions, LLC and a TruPulse 360i user. When we asked if he would participate in a Q&A about how the 360i is performing out in the field, he didn’t just agree; he sent us a video. In the video, he uses each prompt to review the rangefinder from his perspective as a forestry professional.
Here is his TruPulse 360i user review, broken down question by question.
Hey Laser Tech, this is Michael Gabrielse, I’m in the northeastern region. I own Acer Forestry Solutions. What specifically do I use my TruPulse 360i for?
You can check out Acer Forestry Solutions on LinkedIn to connect and see what Michael’s company is up to. You’ll see “Growth Through Service” in their bio, for Campus and Community Urban Forestry, Tree Inventory/Survey, Forestry and Wildlife Management, and more. After introducing himself, Michael set up our second question.
I use it mostly for tree inventories. Mapping-grade RTK GPS, usually about sub-foot (accuracy). I can get, with offset, about 8-inch accuracy, to the center of the tree. Not next to the tree, walking half of the satellite connections, and having to stand there for a long time.
He mentions RTK-grade GPS, with 8-inch accuracy. In several environments, which include but are not limited to forests with thick canopies, this is better accuracy than GPS alone can provide. He also describes a major benefit of using a TruPulse 360i for single-shot laser offsets: saving time by positioning multiple assets from the same spot before having to move your receiver to a new location.
Traditional methods meant walking your GNSS receiver up to each asset in your project and acquiring a good signal each time. TruPulse 360i rangefinders eliminate that need. Instead, you acquire one strong signal and use your 360i to map every asset within a clear line of sight. This is made possible, at a one-shot-per-asset cadence, by the 360i’s distance-azimuth offset workflow.
Michael goes on to mention a few other uses for his rangefinder.
Occasionally, I’ll pick up overhead electric or other things for a point of reference as well. Or I’ll just use it for getting the height of a tree or something like that, if I’m actually doing some timber.
The TruPulse 360i’s built-in height and 3D missing line routines make quick, accurate work of tasks like these. Michael has known this about our tools for some time, as we find out with the next question.
Did it replace any tools in my kit? The old one! The ruggedized TruPulse 360R that was kind of falling apart, honestly. And I also left my employer, so I didn’t have it anymore.
He refers to the TruPulse 360R unit, the legacy rangefinder that the TruPulse 360i has replaced. When you compare the two, a lot of their functionality is the same. The major difference between them is the 360i’s integration of user feedback. Michael goes on to describe some of these new features as favorites a little later in the video. First, we learn more about how a TruPulse 360i impacts his workflow.
Here’s the third question: How has the rangefinder changed my workflow? It hasn’t changed my workflow because I had the old unit. But for a little while, I had to go without it. Without it? Significant decrease in productivity. Down to 60% of the productivity I was used to. This baby increases my productivity in the field by 67%.
Hearing that our tool is helping a professional like Michael boost field productivity by 67% is exactly what we like to hear. Part of our mission statement is to “equip professionals with smart measurement solutions.” In our opinion, productivity boosts are an essential part of any “smart” tool. Some other requirements are user-friendly features and designs, which Michael discusses next.
What’s my favorite feature on the rangefinder? It makes me money. What’s my second favorite feature on the rangefinder? The readout is a heck of a lot better than it used to be.
More music to our ears! Not just the efficiency boost, but also that the 360i’s updated display provides a notable improvement over its predecessor. We listened to users and responded with a new display that restructures the layout and cuts down on scrolling by showing more data with each measurement. Check out this clip for a closer look at what Michael is talking about.
I like that when I adjust for my not-great vision, I don’t have to choose between the readout or the crosshairs. I like that it uses AA batteries now.
Adding the focus ring and switching to AA batteries are two more TruPulse 360i updates that were 100% user-feedback driven. We also listened to what you had to say about the navigation structure and buttons. Michael also points to these updates as improvements over the previous TruPulse 360R.
I like that the buttons are more straightforward, especially with a specific menu button and a check button. I find it slightly more intuitive.
Would I recommend it overall? Absolutely! It’s a game-changer for my workflow. If you have somewhat decent visibility, even if you don’t have visibility, clear a sight path (and) let your rod be in the middle of 5 different trees. You can get those 5 trees (while) this thing is locked on accuracy. It’s chillin’!
It’s probably a good thing that Michael doesn’t mention dangerous terrain. Fortunately, it doesn’t seem like that’s an obstacle he runs into. For others, the freedom to choose your own locations provides an alternative to traditional methods that would force you to put yourself in a dangerous situation. So long as the asset is within sight, TruPulse rangefinders provide this freedom through laser offset workflows.
On the other hand, Michael is clearly enjoying the productivity benefits of laser offsets. He goes into more detail on how offsets help foresters specifically.
You don’t have to upset the balance of accuracy and re-acquire those satellites next to the trees (that are) blocking the satellites, while (your GNSS receiver) is immediately next to the trees. And then just tell your client, “Oh, well, half-meter accuracy is normal.” No, it’s not. Not with this. I get better accuracy, faster, and I make more money. And it’s a market differentiator.
Trees and forest canopies are common culprits of signal issues. So it makes sense that a forester could see each signal acquisition as a potential headache. We’re happy to hear that a TruPulse 360i provides the medicine. Still, a lack of headaches only means so much without a quality Return on Investment, which Michael makes a point to address without being prompted to.
I would say this unit will pay for itself in productivity in three jobs. So, within two months of owning it.
Check out Forestry Inventory: How the TruPulse® 360i Improves the Workflow on Timberline for more information on how the next-generation 3D rangefinder is a game-changer for professionals like Gabrielse.
We want to thank Michael for sharing his story with us. Tell us your story so we can learn about you and what you do! We love to share success stories like these and show off the great work you’re doing.
The distance-azimuth laser offset workflow that Michael utilizes is available in ArcGIS Field Maps at no additional cost, for use with a TruPulse 360i and any GNSS receiver.
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