Gexcel’s 4D Inspector will be officially presented to the South American market during MundoGEO, to be held in Brazil May 5-7.
4D Inspector software can remotely manage any Focus3D laser scanner and run an automatic 3D monitoring session of buildings and infrastructures. 4D Inspector automatically transfers the scans to a remote PC where automatic deformation check runs and alarm emails can be sent to the site managers.
If required, 4D Inspector can also control a protective enclosure (ScanArmor) that can protect the Focus3D from damages.
The 4D Inspector+ScanArmor system has won the FARO Asia Pacific Product Innovation Award 2014. Designed for real-time monitoring of indoor application, 4D Inspector is has easy-to-use interface and installation procedures, according to maker Gexcel Software Solutions.
Gexcel will provide will provide an interactive demo at its booth, #187, at MundoGEO.
Modern layer management and enhanced real-time shadows based on daytime and location are available in the latest release of CityEngine.
The release of Esri CityEngine 2015 allows GIS professionals, architects, planners, and urban designers to create 3D city models faster and share them easily via ArcGIS Online. These new features open the use of 3D models for every day, real-world simulation, emergency response, urban planning, and entertainment scenarios.
“CityEngine 2015 is faster, sports higher-quality visuals, and introduces an innovative and unique 3D design experience. The latter is possible with Procedural Handles, a novel user interface for the intuitive editing of 3D models. We worked very hard on this and are excited to release it,” said Pascal Mueller, director of the Esri R&D Center, Zurich AG.
Companies like Esri partner SmarterBetterCities use CityEngine to help clients view and investigate building development proposals in a true 3D environment.
“CityEngine provides decision makers with the opportunity to do more advanced planning than when they are using a typical CAD or spreadsheet system,” said Antje Kunze, CEO, SmarterBetterCities. “We are now able to help our clients better visualize rules and regulations and perform analytics that no one has been able to address in the past.”
Advancements from user requests—including a modern editor for managing layers, real-time shadows based on daytime and location, faster data export, and improved publishing workflows—have been implemented. More information can be found in the release notes.
“With CityEngine 2015, we made a huge step forward in user experience and speed, resulting in less coding and more designing,” said Dominik Tarolli, director of international business development for 3D geodesign at Esri.
CityEngine 2015 is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux platforms. A free 30-day trial with full export capabilities can be downloaded at esri.com/cityengine.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has selected Harris Corporation for an eight-year, single-award indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract with a potential value of $238 million to design and implement a system that will disseminate real-time, comprehensive weather pictures to all aviation users across the National Airspace System.
The Common Support Services–Weather (CSS-Wx) program will help minimize flight delays and cancellations by providing additional weather data with increased accuracy to more aviation consumers, supporting real-time operational planning and decision-making.
“About 70 percent of flight delays are caused by weather,” said Carl D’Alessandro, vice president and general manager, Civil Programs, Harris Government Communications Systems. “The enterprise-wide, data-sharing design of the CSS-Wx solution will reduce these delays, saving the FAA and flying public precious time and money.”
The Harris CSS-Wx system is scalable, with Open Geospatial Consortium standards for common weather formats, and highly advanced geospatial- and temporal-based filtering methods to process meteorological data. It applies expertise the company has gained from work on mission-critical weather programs for the FAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Department of Defense.
Harris has a long history of developing and integrating system solutions for the FAA in support of the National Airspace System (NAS). The company is the prime contractor for the FAA Telecommunications Infrastructure (FTI) program, which provides critical voice, data and video communications for NAS operations and mission support functions. FTI securely connects more than 4,500 national and international FAA and DOD facilities, manages over 26,000 services, and supports more than 50,000 users. Other FAA programs developed by Harris include:
The Weather and Radar Processor, which provides weather processing dissemination and display capabilities to air traffic controllers in the en-route air traffic control environment;
Datacomm, which provides air-to-ground digital data link networks to connect FAA air traffic control sites and data communications-equipped aircraft;
The NAS Voice System, which provides a secure, IP-based voice network for critical communications between air traffic controllers, pilots and ground personnel nationwide;
The Operational and Supportability Implementation System, which serves the General Aviation community in Alaska by providing weather briefing and flight planning services; and
The National Air Space Enterprise Messaging Service, which will provide the FAA with the network-centric, collaborative information-sharing capabilities afforded by System Wide Information Management.
Optech will be exhibiting its latest lidar and imaging solutions at the Unmanned Systems 2015 Conference in Atlanta, Ga., May 4-7, at the Teledyne Booth 2311. Optech’s solutions include a fully implemented lidar/camera workflow for UAV operations, as well as other airborne, mobile and stationary sensors.
Visitors can drop by the booth to learn more about Optech’s UAV solution, which combines the rugged Optech ILRIS terrestrial laser scanner and the new Optech XR6 photogrammetry small UAV with an integrated software workflow. The solution merges aerial camera imagery from the UAV with high-resolution data from Optech lidar to deliver comprehensive, georeferenced and highly accurate 3D planimetric data. The ILRIS lidar system can also be operated remotely through a web interface.
For advances in airborne sensing and surveillance using mid-size to larger UAVs, Optech will discuss the features of the compact Optech Galaxy lidar system and its PulseTRAK technology, which ensures a continuous operating envelope and steady point density even in rugged terrain, vastly simplifying mission planning, and eliminating “blind zones” — overcoming a long-standing limitation inherent to lidar sensors lacking PulseTRAK technology. Galaxy is compatible with all Optech mounts for integrating digital metric cameras, enabling clients to customize their solution with the right mix of LiDAR, multispectral, LWIR, MWIR and RGB sensors for their application.
Optech will also be showcasing the Optech Titan, a commercial multispectral airborne lidar, which accomplishes highly automated land classification using its separate 532, 1064 and 1550 nm laser channels, and performs combined topographic/bathymetric mapping down to a depth of 15 meters in clear conditions.
Visitors who need rapid coastal monitoring and object detection will be particularly interested in the new Optech CZMIL Nova, Optech’s upgrade of the award-winning CZMIL airborne bathymetric mapper. CZMIL Nova maintains its predecessor’s sensing power, including its unmatched turbid water penetration, while boosting installation flexibility and cost savings with a more efficient laser and much lighter hardware, facilitating operation in smaller aircraft.
UAV Solutions will display its new fixed-wing unmanned aerial systems (UAS) at AUVSI’s Unmanned Systems 2015 show, to be held May 5-7 in Atlanta.
In booth 1109 the company will introduce the Talon 120LE, a lightweight hand-launched air vehicle, and the Sidewinder, a high altitude, multi-fuel, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) asset. The Intruder UAS, a multiple intelligence gathering platform with a gross take-off weight of 850 pounds, will be located in booth 2303.
With a wingspan of 12.5 feet, the Talon 120LE is a 16-pound electric UAS that may fly for nearly 2.5 hours. The system was created with open architecture software and hardware components for future flexibility. The company recommends the Talon 120LE for inspecting crops, surveilling power lines or conducting search and rescue missions. Its payload capacity is 2.5 pounds.
The jet powered Sidewinder UAS flies at high altitudes and operates in a low vibration environment ideal for ISR payloads. The Sidewinder can use various heavy fuels including diesel, kerosene and Jet A. It has a wingspan of 16 feet and a payload capacity of 10 pounds.
UAV Solutions’ new Intruder is capable of operating at higher density altitudes. It also is able to collect information via satellite communication, signals intelligence, communications intelligence and imagery intelligence. It has retractable landing gear, and the agnostic center-of-gravity mounted payload location accommodates up to 100 pounds.
Along with the UAS the company is showing, it also will feature its multi rotor UAS — Phoenix 60, Phoenix 30 and Phoenix 15 – as well as the Dragon View camera sensor.
Dragon View sensors can be integrated onto unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), antenna towers, buildings or other structures to provide day and thermal imagery, video recordings, object tracking and geolocation data. The sensors are lightweight, mechanically and digitally stabilized gimbals with electro-optical and infrared cameras.
They also can easily be mounted onto UAVs, antenna towers and other structures for police organizations.
Skip Miller, UASUSA’s founder and CEO, stands with with the Tempest ET.
UASUSA will unveil its payload advancements in booth 631 at AUVSI’s Unmanned Systems 2015, held May 5-7 in Atlanta.
The new Trimble RTK high-accuracy GPS positioning system will be available through UASUSA. It covers up to 2,300 acres per flight for photo mosaic and mapping missions with manufacturer specified sub-centimeter accuracy.
UASUSA also modified its leading aircraft, the Tempest, to create the Tempest ET. The new aircraft has added payload storage interchangeable in the wing tip extensions, yet still offers the same level of stability, endurance, efficiency and aesthetics as the Tempest, UASUSA said.
The Tempest ET is designed for magnetometer use in the mining industry and offers interchangeable regular, extended and payload tips. With its 10- to 15-pound payload capacity, it may carry the Phoenix Aerial LiDAR system to cover large areas and create survey-grade point clouds.
DroneDeploy, a start-up provider of cloud-based software solutions for commercial drone operations, has launched its mobile app. The app automates drones and receive real-time, reliable, detailed aerial maps and images. Also, through a partnership with DJI, DroneDeploy’s software is now offered on the DJI Phantom 2 Vision+, making it available to end users in agriculture, real estate, mining, construction and other commercial and consumer industries.
DroneDeploy’s new mobile software lets users control drones and cameras while in flight, and is the first solution to process data, information and visuals in real-time. The solution makes simple, real-time mapping, with guaranteed accuracy and one-click automated results, available anytime, anywhere.
“DroneDeploy has created a custom mobile application for the DJI Phantom 2 Vision+ that provides a remarkable live mapping platform, autonomous flight, and aerial data capture capabilities,” said Eric Cheng, general manager, DJI San Francisco and director of aerial imaging, DJI. “We are proud to partner with DroneDeploy, and are excited about the future of autonomous aerial imaging platforms.”
Using the DroneDeploy app, farmers and agronomists can now quickly assess and diagnose crop health, detect field variations, categorize yield zones and analyze NDVI outputs for smarter farming decisions. Construction and mining operators can easily generate high-resolution 3D or digital elevation models of sites and structures, and analyze plan progress to eliminate inconsistencies.
“The introduction of our mobile application marks a first in the adoption of drones for commercial use. DroneDeploy makes it possible for users without any training to access and employ drone-based aerial imagery and mapping. Our mobile app is faster, more affordable, easier and more accessible than any other solution on the market today,” said Mike Winn, DroneDeploy’s co-founder and CEO.
DroneDeploy will be exhibiting at booth 2048 at the AUVSI’s Unmanned Systems 2015, held May 5-7 in Atlanta.
INTERGEO 2015 will offer a new Interaerial Solutions hub in Hall 8 of Messe Stuttgart in response to the rapid development of the unmanned aerial systems (UAS) market sector. The hub, or platform, includes a forum and a flight zone in a designated outdoor area. INTERGEO 2015 takes place Sept. 15-17 in Stuttgart, Germany.
“Compared to the presentations at INTERGEO 2010 alone, the proportion of UAS manufacturers and service providers from this sector grew continuously to over 10 percent of exhibitors in 2014. Our Interaerial Solutions platform provides a clearly structured showcase for visitors and users,” said Olaf Freier, CEO of INTERGEO organizer HINTE GmbH.
The Interaerial Solutions hub is a response to the rapid development in data acquisition, analysis and applications for unmanned flight systems. The new partnership with the German-speaking Unmanned Aircraft Vehicle Association — UAV Dach — underlines INTERGEO’s commitment to remaining the leading trade fair in the German-speaking region for UAS manufacturers and service providers, organizers said.
INTERGEO was the largest UAS trade fair in the German-speaking region in 2014, with around 70 manufacturers of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and service providers offering UAS-based applications.
CHC has launched the LT500 series of handheld GPS receivers. The LT500 series LT500N /LT500T/LT500H covers three accuracy ranges from sub-meter to centimeter accuracy and is a cost-effective full GNSS positioning solution for survey, construction and GIS professionals.
Powered by the Windows Embedded Handheld 6.5 operating system, the LT500 is accurate, rugged and versatile, CHC said. User productivity is enhanced with the built-in gyroscope, an innovative laser plummet for positioning the accurate handheld receiver over a point, an E-compass for showing the direction and G-sensors for leveling.
The LT500 series is competitively priced and comes with several bundled software programs, including SurvCE, DigiTerra, MapCloud and other third-party software.
“CHC’s LT500 series is our brand-new GNSS handheld, which has amazing features and specifications. It meets more customers’ needs with more options and affordable prices,” said George Zhao, CEO of CHC. “The introduction of the LT500 demonstrates CHC’s commitment to provide the GIS community with a full spectrum of rugged, cost-effective professional GPS handhelds.”
The LT500 series features these specifications:
1-GHz high-speed CPU with 512-MB RAM and 16-GB flash memory built-in
Compare pre- and post-earthquake imagery from Airbus Defence & Space to explore damage around Nepal. This map includes several bookmarks to help users navigate around key points of interest and landmarks that were damaged or destroyed.
Users can interactively explore demographic information about the people affected by the earthquake. The map fuses demographic data with the Shakemap from USGS to provide estimates about the population in each shake zone. Click a zone on the map to see how many people live in that area.
Compare pre- and post-earthquake imagery from Airbus Defence & Space to explore damage around Nepal. This map includes several bookmarks to help users navigate around key points of interest and landmarks that were damaged or destroyed.
Users can interactively explore demographic information about the people affected by the earthquake. The map fuses demographic data with the Shakemap from USGS to provide estimates about the population in each shake zone. Click a zone on the map to see how many people live in that area.
Aeryon Labs, GlobalMedic and Monadrone are working together to deploy three unmanned aerial systems (UAS) in Nepal to help locate earthquake survivors. The drones are outfitted with thermal cameras and the Aeryon HDZoom30 camera, which has an extended zoom, to look at targets from more than 1,000 feet away.
On Saturday, April 25, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Nepal — the largest quake in 81 years in the region. More than 4,000 people have died, with death tolls expected to rise as the rubble is cleared.
In response, Aeryon Labs deployed three of its sUAS (small UAS) and a qualified Aeryon pilot to the affected region. Aeryon is collaborating with partners GlobalMedic and Monadrone to provide aerial support to international disaster relief teams on the ground.
The Global Medic UAV team responded immediately to the crisis in Nepal. “sUAS provide us the unmatched capability to get onsite and into the air immediately to start determining how and where to provide support to the people,” said Rahul Singh, executive director of GlobalMedic.
Damage to, or the complete loss of, fundamental infrastructure such as airstrips and refueling facilities can make manned aircraft operations in disaster relief scenarios very challenging. Sending rescue workers into damaged structures, or rubble piles, to search for survivors also puts them in harm’s way. sUAS enable ground-based rescue teams to collect critical visual intelligence and deploy rescue resources quickly, carefully and exactly where they are most needed, the companies said.
The Aeryon HDZoom30 is a fully-integrated, ruggedized, high performance electro-optical camera payload for UAS.
The Aeryon sUAS being sent to Nepal are equipped with thermal cameras to help locate survivors by detecting body heat, as well as the companies newest imaging payload, the Aeryon HDZoom30, which can be used at extended distances to zoom in to see a target with clarity and detail. For example, operators are able to recognize a face from more than 1,000 feet (300 meters) away. The team will also undertake aerial mapping of the affected areas, building 2D and 3D maps, so that further response efforts can be planned.
“At Monadrone, we see sUAS as mission-critical tools that not only support day-to-day military, police and fire department needs, but can also play a vital role when disaster strikes,” said Robin Morris, director at Monadrone, Monaco. “The images the Aeryon sUAS will capture will enable the creation of up-to-date maps required to aid the disaster relief in Nepal.”
Aeryon sUAS were also deployed in the aftermath of the August 2014 landslide that devastated the region along the banks of the Sunkoshi River in northern Nepal. Despite the high altitude of Nepal, which is challenging for many aircraft, and the rugged terrain, Aeryon sUAS proved effective and more than up to the task.
“UAS are uniquely able to provide immediate support for disaster relief, like the earthquake in Nepal, helping rescue teams search more effectively, efficiently and safely,” Dave Kroetsch, president and CEO of Aeryon Labs, told AUVSI News. “It’s an honor to see the technology you create make such a difference. We are privileged to be able assist the aid workers who are helping the people of Nepal.”
