HERE Technologies is collaborating with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to offer developers access to an array of location services through the recently launched AWS Serverless Application Repository.
Through the collaboration, HERE and AWS are increasing the speed and ease in which developers can access and integrate core location services into their applications.
Because HERE location services are available in the AWS Serverless Application Repository, developers can rapidly deploy AWS Lambda into their own AWS account that serve as proxies to HERE location services, and thus allows for a microservices approach to calling the HERE locations services. This approach also provides developers with benefits from Amazon API Gateway and AWS Lambda capabilities such as cache, throttling and authentication.
Developers on the AWS Serverless Application Repository have access to a suite of HERE location services, including:
map images and tiles
geocoding
positioning
routing
road toll costs
road traffic conditions
public transit information
weather conditions.
With credentials from developer.here.com, developers can access the location services on the AWS Serverless Application Repository, now available in Preview.
A roundup of recent products in the GNSS and inertial positioning industry from the May 2022 issue of GPS World magazine.
SURVEYING
Measurement Workflows
Field-to-office inspection with survey-grade accuracy
Photo: Trimble
Trimble Access field software now connects with Infotech’s Appia service to streamline the workflow from survey to construction. Aimed at the inspection process for civil infrastructure projects, the software provides high-accuracy measurement workflows for daily work reports and inspection reporting for engineering, construction and public agencies. By streamlining the connection between data collected by Trimble GNSS rovers and simultaneously syncing Trimble Access, Infotech Mobile Inspector and Infotech Appia, inspectors can now complete their daily work reports more efficiently in the field and reduce errors. With manual processes removed, inspectors can more accurately represent infrastructure assets.
For surveying, mapping and construction professionals
Photo: CHCNav
The i83 GNSS receiver is powered by a multi-band GNSS receiver, iStar technology, and a calibration-free, high-end inertial measurement unit (IMU) for faster and reliable field GNSS surveying. The third-generation high-gain antenna with advanced CHCNAV iStar algorithm improves GNSS satellite signal tracking efficiency by more than 30%. The i83 GNSS receiver features 1,408 GNSS channels for high performance across GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo and QZSS constellations. Its onboard GNSS technology delivers centimeter-level positioning, maintains reliable fixed real-time kinematic (RTK) accuracy, and collects points faster than previous models, even in demanding conditions. The i83 receiver’s built-in IMU automatically compensates for pole tilt. In less than 5 seconds, the 200-Hz inertial module is initialized to ensure survey-grade accuracy over a pole-tilt range of up to 30 degrees. Productivity is dramatically increased, RTK usability greatly improved, and potential human error reduced, whether you are an engineer, site foreman or surveyor.
Simplifies surveying with both GPS and total station
Photo: Carlson Software
SurvPC Hybrid+ is a module for SurvCE version 6 software that enables surveying with mixed brands of GNSS receivers and total stations. SurvCE is a data-collection software package from Carlson Software. SurvPC Hybrid+ provides driver support for numerous devices, allowing the surveyor to interface with both types. Features include Follow Me, Smart Lock, Smart Staking, Cross Check, Backup Tracking, Hybrid-Resection, Auto-Localize, and Easy Setup Wizard.
SurPad 4.2 is designed to help surveyors work efficiently at all types of land surveying and road engineering projects in the field. It runs on eSurvey handhelds, Android smartphones and tablets, and third-party Android devices. It integrates with professional receiver control, point collection, stakeout, geographic information system (GIS) data collection, road measurement, road design, cross-section measurement and railway stakeout. SurPad 4.2 provides multiple operation and communication systems, has mapping and CAD functions, and has a coordinate system. It also includes a survey mode encompassing topo, control, quick point and COGO civil engineering programs.
The Leica AP20 AutoPole provides tilt compensation, automatic pole-height readings and unique target identification for automated total stations. It combines an intelligent sensor module with the AP Reflector Pole and operates with existing Leica Geosystems’ automated total stations to create a solution for autonomous workflows. Tilt compensation decreases measurement time and increases flexibility and safety on site by enabling measurement of points in inaccessible or risky locations. By updating the pole height automatically in the field software, the system ensures that the height on record is always correct.
INSITE Data Reviewer moves geospatial data validation to the cloud, giving key stakeholders the ability to collaborate in real time. The third module in the INSITE Lifecycle suite of products, INSITE Data Reviewer provides reviewers real-time access to aerial imagery, lidar data and geographic information system (GIS) layers via the cloud to standardize quality control. This increases data validation speed and reduces costs of geospatial projects. The INSITE Lifecycle suite combines Project Tracker, Data Delivery and Data Reviewer modules through which users can see their projects executed on a map, from data acquisition through processing.
Eos Laser Mapping for ArcGIS is now available on Android devices. It allows mobile crews to capture high-accuracy laser offsets directly into ArcGIS Field Maps with Arrow Series GNSS receivers. The solution combines technology from geographic information system (GIS) provider Esri, laser rangefinders from Laser Tech, and Eos’ own Arrow Series GNSS receivers. The release supports three workflows: standard laser offset (range-azimuth), range-range (range-intersect) and range-backsight (a total station-like method).
The MV60 micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) accelerometer delivers high performance and reliability in a small, rugged and low-cost package. The MV60 measures the acceleration experienced by an object during movement and is designed for use in inertial measurement units and navigation systems deployed on land, air and sea vehicles to measure velocity. It has a compact footprint of 1.2 square inches and shock survivability of up to 5,000 g. It also offers bandwidth of greater than 300 Hz — important for environmentally demanding missions.
Receivers support Japan’s cm-level augmentation service
Photo: Septentrio
Three multi-frequency GNSS receivers now support the Centimeter-Level Augmentation Service (CLAS), receiving the L6 signal that transmits high-accuracy corrections from Japan’s QZSS constellation. The mosaic-CLAS receiver is in a small form-factor suitable for high-volume industrial applications. The AsteRx-m3 CLAS OEM board combines PPP-RTK CLAS with dual-antenna heading functionality. The AsteRx SB3 CLAS features a ruggedized IP68 enclosure to protect it in harsh environments.
The S1-V300 medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial system (UAS) prototype is based on the Saker MALE UAS design that achieved operational capability in 2020. The prototype features a new design and a more powerful heavy fuel engine with 260 HP, offering greater speed, payload and endurance of 28 hours with a range of 4,020 km. The aircraft features unique UAVOS avionics solutions and a redundant flight control system that will enable complex missions, including overland and maritime intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions. The improved S1-V300 prototype is equipped with both line-of-sight and beyond-visual-line-of-sight (BVLOS) datalink systems for over-the-horizon operations. It can be integrated with multiple ISR sensors, including electro-optical infrared cameras and a synthetic aperture radar that offers all-weather, day/night performance for a wide-area search capability.
Dragonfish Lite and Pro now available in United States
Photo: Autel Robotics
The rugged Dragonfish UAVs are capable of vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) with both multi-rotor and winged flight, with an endurance of up to 180 minutes. They are suitable for professional applications such as energy, mining, defense and surveillance. Maximum winged flight speed is 30 m/s (108 km/h, 67 mph), and maximum video transmission range is 30 km (18.6 miles) with a base station. The aircraft can make a smart decision to either land or return to base in case of issues such as loss of GPS signal, loss of operator communications, or low battery power. The tilt-rotor system will automatically transition to multi-rotor mode if adverse conditions cause fixed-winged flight to stall or become unsustainable. The Dragonfish battery, barometer, positioning system, compass and inertial measurement unit all have backup modules to ensure flight safety.
The SureCam connected dash camera system now features a method for capturing video footage from SureCam cameras using Geotab’s telematics device and rule-based system. This results in a seamless display of video within the MyGeotab platform. The enhanced SureCam fleet video solution leverages Geotab’s numerous data-based rules, such as improper seat belt usage and speeding. It also uses G-force triggered alerts that detect unsafe driving behaviors and automatically captures video footage that can be reviewed later. A new Video Request feature in GeoTab enables fleet managers to preview and download additional SureCam video, enabling them to investigate call-ins and other minor incidents that may not have been triggered by an event-based rule.
Momentum IoT’s long-life Eagle 1 tracker works without external power for more than six months after a single charge. The device switches on-the-fly between narrowband internet of things (NB-IoT) and LTE Cat-M. The Eagle 1 leverages Telit’s dual-mode ME310G1 module, which delivers low power consumption in a small footprint. The Eagle 1 detects movement with a built-in accelerometer. Using movement and signals from its GPS receiver to determine vehicle trip starts and stops, the device can go into hibernation mode during periods when the vehicle is not in use, further reducing power consumption. Applications include garbage and storage bins, portable toilets, roll-off containers, message-boards, coolers, and other equipment typically stationed in non-powered, remote places for extended periods.
Leica Geosystems, part of Hexagon, has introduced Leica Pegasus TRK, a reality-capture mobile-mapping system that features artificial intelligence (AI), autonomous workflows and intuitive interfaces.
The Pegasus TRK features an AI-enhanced camera and automatic camera calibration. To comply with privacy regulations, its AI can identify and blur identifiers, such as people and vehicles, in real time.
Features include advanced dynamic laser scanning and an expandable imagery system for recording, measuring and visualizing environments. It also increases productivity with automated, intelligent workflows.
Light enough to be operated by one person, the Pegasus TRK is user-friendly, able to be used by professionals new to the technology. Its reliable, high-quality deliverables serve the needs of technical experts in various industries, including surveying, transportation and utilities.
The Pegasus TRK solution enables long-range mobile mapping for applications in asset management; road construction; rail and critical infrastructure; oil, gas and electricity industries and more. The system also is suitable for creating high-definition base maps for autonomous vehicles.
The Pegasus TRK connects with the new powerful Leica Pegasus FIELD software for fully autonomous and secure data collection and route planning in the field. It also connects with Leica Cyclone Pegasus OFFICE for seamless input into post-processing and publishing workflows.
“The Pegasus TRK solution is the most efficient mobile mapping product we’ve tried so far,” said Raymon Somford, CEO and owner of Rise3D. “It is lightweight and easy to use, guiding our team through the process of data collection. Its sensors that trigger automatically avoid missing details. We can achieve quality images regardless of the conditions, making mobile mapping almost effortless.”
“The Pegasus TRK solution offers flexibility, true-to-life image clarity and best-in-class accuracy while making mobile mapping more accessible and easier than ever before,” said Christian Schäfer, business director, Mobile Mapping at Leica Geosystems. “There is a growing demand for more autonomy. This solution raises the bar in data collection with automated route planning, guidance and collection processes that increase efficiency, improve data quality and reduce project costs.”
The Pegasus TRK will be a featured Tech Highlight at Hexagon’s flagship digital-reality solutions conference HxGN Live Global in Las Vegas, which takes place June 20-23.
Auterion has introduced new capabilities for high-precision mapping missions and automated, end-to-end data workflows to make mapping more efficient, reliable and powerful across industries.
Unveiled at AUVSI Xponential 2022, updates to the Auterion OS serve enterprises with diverse use cases that need component and payload flexibility, alongside a centralized and streamlined software workflow.
Advantages for customers include:
Availability of precise mapping data in real time and automated processing that enables fast decision-making, saving time, ensuring consistency and reducing human errors.
Standardized process across any Auterion-powered vehicles, bringing an improved user experience, reducing training time, and affording easy scaling of operations.
Connectivity that enables automated end-to-end workflows with no need for manual data transfer, and integration with third-party data-processing software such as Esri Site Scan or Propeller.
“The mapping and workflow features included in this latest release of Auterion’s software focus on use cases from our enterprise customers,” said Markus Achtelik, vice president of engineering at Auterion. “We’re making sure that workflows are thoughtfully designed to meet customer needs and that the data they require is collected, automatically processed and streamlined through Auterion’s software platform for immediate use and longer term analysis.”
Auterion’s new platform capabilities are achieved through the enhancement of tightly integrated components. For example, the ground control app provides precise mission execution with fully integrated control of payloads, such as the Sony α7R IV camera. Then, capture and storage of geotagged images on the drone occur in real time.
Next, image data correction and processing happen seamlessly. This kind of automated workflow illustrates Auterion’s commitment to building efficient operational solutions for enterprise-ready drones, the company said.
“Auterion’s software is updated with its expanding open ecosystem in mind,” added Achtelik. “That gives customers the best options on the market, offering greater flexibility and choice to meet enterprise quality, scale, and regulatory needs.”
Amapping service provider birthed during the 2014 Ukraine conflict is tracking the current war through crowdsourced photos, Tweets, posts, news and other channels.
The Live Universal Awareness Mapwas founded by a team of software developers and journalists to inform the world about the Ukraine conflict. By viewer request, it quickly expanded to cover other regions, including Syria, Israel-Palestine and “Islamic State war” news. Today, it covers more than 30 regions and topics, offers translations in several languages, and can be used on mobile browsers via its own Android and iOS apps.
The independent global news and information site is dedicated to factual reporting of important topics such as conflicts, human rights issues, protests, terrorism, weapons deployment, health matters, natural disasters and weather-related stories from a vast array of sources.
Its map-centric approach to the organization of information allows viewers to quickly find relevant stories in geographies of their interest. Events are archived, and can be reviewed for analysis or historical trends. “Through our big-data analysis methods, we aim to help predict and prevent future conflicts, minimize the impact of disasters, and assist travelers around the world in making conscious decisions about their security throughout their journeys,” the service states.
Liveuamap uses proprietary software tools, such as artificial-intelligence web crawlers, to find newsworthy stories. These sources are then forwarded to a group of expert analysts for fact checking. In the final step, editors decide which facts and stories should be displayed on the map to minimize spam.
An improvement under development will enable viewers to create and manage their own maps.
A roundup of recent products in the GNSS and inertial positioning industry from the April 2022 issue of GPS World magazine.
OEM
GNSS+5G Antenna
9-in-one combination antenna with dual-band GNSS
Photo: Taoglas
The Taoglas MA990 Guardian antenna is a 9-in-1 combination antenna with dual-band GNSS (L1/L2) and globally supported cellular (5G/4G). It has been designed to support emerging market demand for modules that cover specific 5G/4G bands. Two of its eight cellular MIMO antennas cover from 600 Mhz to 6,000 MHz, while another two are optimized for 3,000 MHz to 6,000 MHz to cover high-band 5G and C-band/CBRS applications. The customizable antenna is designed to operate on all global carrier networks and is future-proofed to work with the latest 5G routers on the market. Housed in a low-profile, robust, IP67-rated waterproof, adhesive-mount external enclosure, the MA990 is designed for space-constrained, mission-critical applications, including asset and vehicle tracking, first-responder vehicles and high-definition video sources such as surveillance cameras.
The Boreas fiber-optic-gyroscope inertial navigation system (INS) is an ultra-high accuracy, strategic-grade INS offering a reduction in size, weight, power and cost. It is based on Advanced Navigation’s new digital fiber-optic gyroscope (DFOG) technology. The Boreas is targeted at applications requiring always-available, ultra-high accuracy orientation and navigation including marine, surveying, subsea, aerospace, robotics and space. It delivers strategic-grade bias stability of 0.001 deg/hr. This allows it to achieve ultra-high roll/pitch accuracy of 0.005 degrees and heading accuracy of 0.006 degrees. The Boreas allows for full independence from GPS with dead-reckoning accuracy of 0.01% of the distance traveled with an odometer or Doppler velocity log. In addition, the Boreas features ultra-fast gyro compassing, taking only two minutes to acquire heading in both stationary environments or on the move. Gyro compassing allows the system to determine a highly accurate heading of 0.01 degrees secant latitude without relying on magnetic heading or GPS.
Seven new GNSS active ceramic-patch antennas support global GNSS applications including GPS, Galileo, GLONASS, BeiDou, NavIC and QZSS systems in the L1/E1/B1, L2/E5/B2B, and L5/E5/B2A bands. Each antenna integrates a high-gain low-noise amplifier (LNA) and right-hand circular polarization (RHCP) to provide a high-performance solution for GNSS signal reception. Each active GNSS antenna has either a 60-mm or 100-mm coaxial cable terminated in a MHF1/U.FL-type plug (female socket) connector. They also meet the need for multi-band L1/L2, L1/L5, and L1/L2/L5 GNSS offerings.
The Pulse-40 inertial measurement unit (IMU) is a tactical-grade IMU designed for high performance in harsh conditions but miniaturized for applications where precision and robustness matter in all conditions. Use cases include warfare systems, satellite communications, robotics, lidar devices, gimbals, cameras and inertial navigation systems (INS). The Pulse-40 IMU provides six degrees of freedom. It integrates micro-electromechanical (MEMS) three-axes accelerometers and gyroscopes in a unique redundant design that allows the device size to shrink while pushing performance to its maximum. Among the performance specifications, the Pulse-40 features excellent gyro and accelerometer bias instability of 0.8°/h and 6 µg respectively, enabling long dead-reckoning and maintaining excellent heading performance. With sensors featuring extremely low vibration rectification error (VRE), the Pulse-40 can sustain high vibration environments, up to 10 g root-mean-squared. An embedded continuous built-in-test ensures data reliability during operation, a key parameter for critical applications. Features include 12 grams, 0.3W power consumption; ultra-low noise gyro (0.08°/√h) and excellent gyro bias instability (0.8°/h); high-precision accelerometers (6 µg); MIL-STD 810-qualified for shocks and vibrations; high bandwidth (480 Hz) and high data rate (2 KHz); highly tested and calibrated from –40° C to 85° C; and no export restrictions.
Adds online services for field surveying and mapping
Photo: CHC Navigation
LandStar version 7.3.7 adds cloud-based services and remote support features to simplify surveyors’ daily tasks. Online data storage and file sharing greatly facilitates interactions within a company and between field operators. LandStar 7’s remote assistance feature allows support personnel to take control of the field crew’s devices. Users simply provide a remote code to grant control of their data controller and be guided efficiently to the solution. The new version of LandStar 7 further improves support for CAD files and operates faster when importing 20MB DWG or 200MB DXF basemap files. Users can directly click on points, lines and blocks to stake out. In addition, object symbols and colors are displayed in the same way as in the original CAD design, making it easier for users to identify them.
Uinta is now available for devices running on Android. This is particularly valuable for workers who prefer to use an Android tablet or smartphone as a data collector. Uinta’s intuitive and customizable user workflow makes land measurement and asset mapping easier for data collection in the field. Uinta can now be used on a range of smartphones and tablets, including Juniper Systems’ Cedar CT8X2 and Mesa 3 rugged tablets running on Android. When using Juniper’s Geode GNSS receiver and running Uinta on an Android phone or tablet, users create a total mapping solution. They can collect high-accuracy GNSS data on the Geode, record the data in Uinta software, and see the data on a mobile or tablet. The intuitive software includes project templates that can be modified to meet individual project needs. Uinta is commonly used in utility mapping; commercial and agricultural irrigation; industrial asset inspections and rounds; and numerous environmental sciences in forestry, wetlands, wildlife and vegetation mapping.
Visualize the present and simulate the future of Scottish cities
Photo: Bluesky
Scottish cities Edinburgh and Glasgow have been added to the growing coverage of MetroVista 3D city models. The data is available as ultra-high resolution 5-centimeter aerial photography with 16 points per meter (ppm) lidar. The data also is being processed to create a fully rendered mesh model suitable for use in a range of GIS, CAD and modeling software packages Acquired using the Leica CityMapper aerial sensor that simultaneously captures vertical and oblique imagery together with high-point density lidar, MetroVista data is becoming increasingly popular for smart city applications. Providing a geographically accurate and detailed 3D representation of the urban environment, MetroVista data provides insight for applications such as urban design, defense and security modeling, insurance assessments and utility and telecom planning.
WindNinja is a high-resolution wind modeling app created for firefighters who need to quickly compute and visualize wind direction and speed simulations. The simulations provide them with situational awareness, help keep them safe, and help them conduct work such as burnout operations. The mobile app, developed using ArcGIS AppStudio from Esri, provides high-resolution, near-surface wind forecasts that include wind speeds and directions displayed on a map. The user selects an area of interest of 50 square kilometers or less, names the simulation, chooses a forecast duration of up to 15 hours, selects whether to receive an email or SMS notification when the simulation is ready to view, and then submits the request. The user also can select from a variety of basemaps and turn on data layers — vegetation, atmospheric, oceanic, land-surface imagery — collected by NOAA satellites.
Intelligent control system meets urban transport requirements
Photo: Xiaoan Technology
The AT-MX intelligent control system for shared electric bicycles uses the latest ultra-low-power u-blox M10 GNSS technology to enhance the positioning performance of their fleet for improved compliance with increasingly stringent Chinese policy requirements. The growing popularity of shared micromobility solutions for short-distance urban travel has led municipal authorities around the world to introduce new legislation to mitigate their perceived negative impacts, for instance, with restrictions on where users can drive and park their vehicles. Meanwhile, vehicle operators and maintenance personnel need to efficiently locate vehicles requiring maintenance and gather reliable vehicle usage data to balance bicycle placement and operational safety. Enforcing regulatory compliance and optimizing operations both require the safe, accurate and efficient bicycle positioning solutions.
Ensures safe operations through reliable, robust and continuous positioning
Image: Hexagon
SPAN technology delivers a deeply coupled GNSS and inertial navigation system (INS) that provides robust, reliable and continuous centimeter-level positioning for operators to maintain safety and maximize uptime. Now available for the dynamic positioning of vessels, the GNSS+INS solutions can bridge outages in GNSS tracking and through short periods of radio-frequency interference, jamming or spoofing. It provides vessels with an added layer of resiliency and achieve continuous centimeter-level accuracy across all conditions. SPAN GNSS+INS technology is compatible with commercial inertial measurement units (IMUs) and scalable with the LD900 GNSS receiver, Quantum visualization software and APEX correction services. Features include continuous centimeter-level positioning made more robust and reliable through enhanced GNSS tracking and deep coupling of inertial measurements; rapid reacquisition of GNSS signals after outages or interruptions through a deep coupling process; constant monitoring of GNSS absolute positioning combined with heading, velocity and attitude measurements; and added positioning redundancy with system robustness against potential signal outages, interference or disruptions.
Ibtechar, one of Qatar’s top providers of practical innovation and turnkey solutions, has developed a drone tracker and a GPS-based system that ensure the safety and security of critical infrastructure, VIP residents, national borders, and military facilities. The customized solution is made by a Qatar-based team of researchers and technologists with extensive knowledge and expertise in applied research and counter-drone systems. It aims to secure airports, power lines, and other vital assets that can be targets for drone attacks. Prototypes have gone through 487 flight tests in 19 locations, as well as 676 drive and walk tests. Features include compatibility with GPS, GLONASS and BDS; real-time tracking, popup notifications and SMS alerts; smart geo-fencing; drone whitelists/blacklists; base-station triangulation (cell ID); IMU, tilt, vibration sensor, and NFC; and offline mode. The new tracking system can identify the operating drones by displaying the drone itself, its serial number, the commercial frequency used, and motion details (speed, altitude, azimuth, path, etc.).
DroneDeploy lets users capture, process and analyze data in one platform. Users can create high-resolution 2D and 3D interior and exterior maps and models accurate to between 1 cm and 5 cm. It is designed for individuals, teams or enterprises and is suitable for all use cases and industries. However, primary markets include agriculture, construction, mining, energy, roofing and inspection. Features include Mobile Flight App to capture images directly from
an iOS or Android device; Live Map to create real-time, sharable
2D maps; Autonomous Flight to preprogram routes; as well as
360 Walkthrough for a 360-degree, virtual tour through a 3D model of a site. Industry-specific features are available, such as Plant Health to help farmers measure crop health and viability.
A sample image from Orbital Insights showing classes of military aircraft at a base. (Image: Orbital Insights)
Orbital Insight will integrate Satellogic’s high-resolution multispectral imagery, hyperspectral imagery, and full-motion video into its GEOINT platform
Geospatial intelligence company Orbital Insight has partnered with Satellogic, a leader in sub-meter resolution satellite imagery collection. The partnership will integrate Satellogic’s high-frequency, high-resolution collections of satellite imagery and full-motion video into Orbital Insight’s platform and offer customers better access to high-quality data, improve the revisit rate, and reduce the cost of running analytics.
Satellogic designs, manufactures and operates its own constellation of Earth observation satellites. It has 22 operational satellites in low Earth orbit with plans to launch up to 12 additional satellites by the end of the year. The company aims to expand its constellation to more than 200 satellites by 2025 for daily global coverage of the entire surface of the Earth.
Orbital Insight’s flagship GO platform combines information from the world’s sensors to analyze economic, societal and environmental trends at scale and support activity-based intelligence. Commercial businesses and government agencies use the self-service platform to synthesize answers to critical questions about what’s happening on and to Earth.
Satellogic will provide high-resolution Earth observation data at vastly superior unit economics. This will allow Orbital Insight customers to increase the number of daily revisits on points of interest, see a more granular picture and get deep insights that were not possible before.
“Advanced geospatial analytics require access to high-resolution, high-frequency satellite imagery and simple tasking,” said Kevin O’Brien, CEO, Orbital Insight. “Satellogic is disrupting the industry with a cost-effective, vertically integrated business model. This approach aligns well with our philosophy of making geospatial intelligence efficient, intuitive, and simple so that our customers can get timely insights, make critical decisions, and respond faster.”
“Our mission is to enable greater access to critical Earth observation data. Working with Orbital Insight extends our reach, making our data available to more customers across diverse fields who need to know how the world around them is changing,” said Emiliano Kargieman, CEO and co-founder of Satellogic.
ComNav Technology has released a powerful and reliable UAV aerial mapping solution capable of centimeter-level positioning, providing high-precision photos and data for mapping professionals.
Based on the company’s K8 platform, the package consists of an E300 real-time kinematic (RTK) drone, flight-control software and an optional camera.
Featuring high accuracy, strong compatibility, long endurance, high performance and an easy workflow, the E300 drone package can meet the requirements of many different applications, including topographic survey, urban construction, forestry investigation, emergency rescue, 3D modeling, mining and surveying.
High Accuracy. The E300 RTK drone is embedded with a high-precision K8 GNSS module that supports GPS L1/L2/L5, BeiDou B1/B2/B3/B1C/B2a, GLONASS L1/L2, Galileo E1/E5-a/E5-b/AltBOC/E6 and QZSS L1/L2/L5. With Quantum III technology, the K8 GNSS module provides reliable and stable RTK positioning results.
The professional post-processed kinematic (PPK) software Compass Solution supports the full-constellation calculation, providing accurate positioning results.
RTK/PPK provides dual backup, one as a failsafe for another, to ensure acquisition of data. The built-in antenna further increases precision of photo position. EVENT synchronization technology can reduce camera trigger error and ensure high performance of the solution.
With its intelligent recognition algorithms, the E300 is able to capture high-resolution images consistently even in complex environments.Moreover, the E300 has a multipath redundancy design with key modules for safety.The solution can provide centimeter-level positioning results without ground control points, saving time.
Compatibility. Featuring a carrying capacity of 3 kg, the E300’s payload bay is compatible with a wide range of cameras, including C20, C50, LiAir VH2 and others. Payloads can be quickly and easily swapped in the field for maximum versatility.
Besides supporting standard NTRIP protocol, the E300 is compatible with all brands of base stations and continuously operating reference stations.
Long Endurance. The E300 is characterized by an ultra-efficient aerodynamic design. It reaches a 60-minute flight time without payload and 50 minutes with a basic payload, covering areas with a maximum 10-km radius per flight. In one flight, the E300 can map about 0.62 km² in 1.5-cm/px ground sample distance with one battery.
The E300 RTK drone features a simplified design for easy and rapid assembly within minutes while providing excellent stability and vibration resistance.
TomTom and SWARCO have entered a strategic partnership to enable customers to improve their mobility-management operations by using floating car data-based traffic services to complement physical sensor hardware already installed in the field.
The high-quality traffic services from TomTom, generated from millions of anonymously collected GPS data from apps, cars and devices, are now integrated and available for public entities via SWARCO’s urban mobility management suite MyCity. This data source will enable SWARCO to offer a high-value enhancement to the traffic information it already provides to its customers.
Benefits to MyCity customers include:
real-time travel times for user-defined routes
historical reports on travel time to enable data-driven decision making and impact analysis
triggering strategies based on real-time floating car data to automatically adjust signal plans, reroute traffic or take other traffic management actions
filling potential blind spots between existing roadside sensors to get a complete picture of the traffic situation.
The strategic partnership between SWARCO and TomTom also includes a joint thought leadership program to educate the market further, regular alignments about new features and product updates, and intensified collaboration on funded research projects.
Experts from both companies are available to take city officials, traffic managers, consultants and partners on a test drive of the newly available solutions as well as offer free trials.
A Russian short-range ballistic missile, believed to be an unexploded Iskander missile, was found near Kramatorsk, Ukraine, in this photo released March 9 by Ukrainian authorities. (Photo: National Guard of Ukraine handout via Reuters)
As a geopolitical and devastating humanitarian crisis unfolds in Ukraine, the HALO Trust is partnering with Esri to map unexploded ordnance as part of an immediate humanitarian response.
More than 10 million Ukrainians have been displaced by the war and many are forced to move across a landscape littered with unexploded rockets, bombs and landmines.
In response, Esri has committed its cutting-edge geographic information system (GIS) software resources, expertise and staffing in support of HALO’s mission in Ukraine.
The organizations’ collaboration will allow them to map areas contaminated with explosives so HALO can remove the hazards when conditions allow. This will provide safe land to house displaced families and clear routes for humanitarian aid to reach those in desperate need.
HALO is already using GIS to map the heaviest conflict zones, and the partnership with HALO will support planning for future clearance operations.
As experts in their field, HALO is the world’s largest humanitarian landmine clearance and weapons disposal organization, clearing more than 13.9 million landmines and unexploded ordinance across 28 countries torn apart by conflict.
In addition to technical expertise, HALO staff provide safety education for those in contaminated areas to avoid life-changing injuries and death, emergency medical aid, and humanitarian support for displaced persons as they face conflict, and in many cases are forced to flee their homes.
Esri has collaborated with HALO since 2008 helping to map war-ravaged regions where specific locational awareness of landmines and other hazards is necessary to protect the lives of people in those areas.
GeoCue, a U.S. LiDAR data technology company, has announced its latest True View 3D Imaging Systems (3DIS) product, the True View 645/650. Combined with GeoCue’s integrated data processing software suite, True View EVO, all GeoCue 3DIS products include the full post-processing software workflow, including direct integration with Applanix POSPac.
The survey-grade True View EVO supports the direct creation of many standard project deliverables including ground classified point clouds, surface models, contours, Digital Elevation Models (DEMs), volumetric analysis, wire extraction and similar products without the need for additional third-party software.
According to GeoCue CEO Frank Darmayan, the newest True View 645/650 includes a Riegl mini VUX3-UAV laser scanner and dual mapping cameras. This system delivers colorized LIDAR deliverables with accuracy better than 3cm RMSE for the True View 645, and better than 2cm for the True View 650.
The mini VUX-3UAV, a 360° rotating mirror scanner, increases the scanner frequency to 300 kHz and offers a unique mode where the 200,000 pulse per second scan rate is focused in a 120° cross-track field of view, providing significantly increased point densities in aerial mapping applications.
1Spatial is improving its platform, adding a new language option and user experience enhancements to its data submission portal 1Data Gateway.
Features in 1Data Gateway 2.5 are designed to make it easier for data contributors to submit their data. An Optional Data Submission feature allows contributors to submit exceptions to validations, and new integration with Esri ArcGIS Online adds a simple method of user authentication and authorization.
A new Welsh-language option and updated support for 1Integrate 3.2 are included. Areas improved include schema mapping, allowing contributors to see the target schema and easily select attributes from dropdown menus.
“This release is great for data contributors and streamlining our processes,” said Michael Martin, director of Consultancy at 1Spatial Inc. “We’re using new email notifications to receive an email upon successful submission, or for submissions that need my attention. Authenticating and authorizing via ArcGIS Online makes user-group maintenance easier, and the new Schema mapping is now also so much quicker, with easy selection of attributes from the target schema. Overall, this release is a huge time saver.”
“This new release comes with many improvements to the user interface,” said Ricardo Cifres, senior product manager for 1Data Gateway. “The possibility of copying assignments as well as deleting projects, specifications and assignments makes the administrators’ lives even easier, and new PDF reports provide clear and concise information. We’ve also continued expanding our localization options, adding Welsh language to support a national project, and we have more languages in the pipeline. 1Data Gateway truly brings our rules-based technology to a worldwide audience.”
1Data Gateway is used with 1Integrate to ensure compliance of data for use across the enterprise and provides automated data validation, cleaning, transformation and enhancement. It enables users to assess the quality of data to ensure it meets defined specifications and is fit for purpose.
