Riga, Latvia, (June 11, 2012) – The Latvian State Forest Service (SFS) recently evaluated four leading brands of GNSS handheld mapping devices in a head-to-head comparison that included rigorous field trials, financial cost and technical specifications. The Ashtech MobileMapper 100 achieved the best results in all comparisons, according to an SFS spokesperson.

SFS inspectors carried out the field trials over three days in three different Latvian forest test areas. Sixty percent of the measurements were done in SBAS mode and forty percent in real time DGPS. All test reference points were positioned in extremely difficult GNSS reception areas using land survey total stations. The MobileMapper 100 won the field trial competition, and the final results showed the MobileMapper 100 delivered the most stable performance across all the test locations and conditions, including dense and experimental forests and under different weather conditions. “In addition, the MobileMapper 100 provided all the necessary functionality at the best price,” said the SFS spokesperson.

Based on all the comparisons, SFS purchased 262 MobileMapper 100 units from Spectra Precision Ashtech distributor Envirotech, Ltd. Envirotech Ltd., headquartered in Riga, is Latvia’s leading developer and supplier of GIS/GNSS solutions and technologies. The company is the official distributor of Spectra Precision Ashtech products and sole authorized distributor of ESRI software and offers certified training in ArcGIS software in Latvia.

About SFS
The SFS is a state administration civil institution, within the Latvia Ministry of
Agriculture, responsible for pursuing a unified forest policy, controlling observance of the provisions of statutory acts, implementing support programs, and ensuring the use of sustainable forest management practices in all of Latvia’s forests.

About the Ashtech Brand
Recognized as an industry leading brand, Ashtech has been developing GNSS technology for more than 25 years. Ashtech is the creator of BLADE technology, which is a unique method for using multiple GNSS constellations for high-accuracy positioning. Ashtech also introduced the MobileMapper series of products for GIS and mapping, as well as the ProFlex™ 500 and ProMark™ series, including the ProMark 500, ProMark 200 and ProMark 100, a well-recognized GNSS land survey product line currently on the market.
Following the recent acquisition of Ashtech by Trimble, the Ashtech teams, GNSS solutions portfolio and distribution networks are now part of the Spectra Precision Business. The Ashtech brand has a worldwide presence and is located in Carquefou, France, with offices in Beijing, China, and Singapore, as well as affiliates in Santa Clara, Calif. and Moscow. For more information on Ashtech, visit www.ashtech.com.

About the Spectra Precision Brand
Spectra Precision has long been an established brand, known for delivering quality products to the construction market. Focusing on the specific needs of the conventional surveying market, the Spectra Precision brand offers a complete product portfolio including Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), Global Positioning Systems (GPS), optical total stations, data collection hardware, field and office software, as well as a wide range of construction tools.

Spectra Precision surveying equipment is an economical choice that utilizes technologies for optimal efficiency. With convenience and reliability as the foundation of the Spectra Precision brand, it is an ideal choice for value. The Spectra Precision brand is backed with the strong technical support that users have come to expect from a quality name in surveying and construction.