GPS World

Category: Mapping

  • Esri releases Sentinel-2 Image Services through Living Atlas

    Esri is releasing Sentinel-2 Image Services to all Esri users for no additional cost.

    According to the company, Sentinel-2 is an Earth Observation Satellite that provides multi-spectral imagery for any location in the world at 10-meter resolution. Currently in beta, the service is updated daily with new imagery for all ground locations every five to seven days.

    The Sentinel-2 Image Services provide temporal, multi-spectral imagery of the entire globe for improved monitoring of agricultural and forest conditions, monitoring of land cover changes, and to assist with natural disaster management.

    Sentinel-2 is part of Copernicus, the world’s largest single Earth observation program directed by the European Commission in partnership with the European Space Agency.

    Esri makes the multi-spectral data quickly accessible using ArcGIS Image Server and publishes an image service through the ArcGIS Living Atlas of the World, hosted on the Amazon Web Services Infrastructure.

    The service includes all Sentinel-2 imagery going back 14 months, enabling change to be easily reviewed. Image analysis can be run directly on the service to create indexes displaying properties such as vegetation health or soil moisture as well as quantifying the changes over time, for better understanding of the environment.

    “We are committed to helping our users discover, explore, and better understand our changing planet,” said Jack Dangermond, Esri founder and president. “Pairing Sentinel-2 imagery with our ArcGIS Image Server provides a powerful platform for in-depth analysis which can inform meaningful action.”

    Sentinel-2 multi-spectral imagery can provide better visualization and understanding of catastrophic events such as Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano, the company said. The ability to use imagery of the volcano along with other spatial data, such as digital elevation models, provides an unprecedented opportunity to help predict lava flow direction and provide advanced notice to those who may be in danger.

    Sentinel-2 can also help provide understanding of the conditions that lead to fires such as this past winter’s Thomas Fire, which is California’s largest wildfire on record. The Thomas Fire burned more than 280,000 acres and triggered massive mudslides. Visualizing factors, such as periods of increased moisture contributing to more lush vegetation followed by hot and dry weather, can help predict future wildfires and mitigate their effects in the future.

    The Sentinel-2 imagery is available through the Living Atlas, the foremost collection of geographic information from around the globe. The Living Atlas is included with all ArcGIS online subscriptions. It is comprised of maps, apps, and data layers that support the work of thousands of Esri users around the world. Full service access, including a rolling 14-month archive of the Sentinel-2 data, is now available to all Esri ArcGIS users.

  • TerraGo launches reconnaissance app in NGA GEOINT store

    TerraGo launches reconnaissance app in NGA GEOINT store

    Image: TerraGo
    Image: TerraGo

    TerraGo, a provider of dissemination and collaboration software for defense and intelligence agencies, has announced the availability of R3 for immediate download in the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency’s (NGA) GEOINT App Store.

    R3 is a mobile data collection and collaboration app customized for the missions of reconnaissance, response and recovery. Designed for the most challenging missions and environments, R3 lets users keep working offline and off the grid with customizable workflows for security, humanitarian and disaster relief programs, the company said.

    “R3 enhances situational awareness, search and rescue, damage assessments and recovery efforts,” said Scott Lee, director of federal programs at TerraGo. “It really gives users the best of both worlds with mobile technology that can go anywhere, and will also work even when the network doesn’t.”

    Image: TerraGo
    Image: TerraGo

    Designed with a simplified user interface, R3 provides a robust standalone capability for a variety of field-based collection activities. Users can access custom basemaps from numerous GIS, map and imagery sources including GeoPDF, ArcGIS, USGS and GXP, while collecting and exchanging location-tagged notes using smart forms, photos, videos and audio files.

    Pre-loaded forms are available for structured assessments, and users can connect to a secure server to create unique mission packages and enable synchronous collaboration. R3 supports important standards like OGC GeoPackage interoperability and sharing geospatial assets among mission partners.

    Registered GEOINT App Store users can download TerraGo R3 for iOS here. The Android version is complete and coming soon, the company added.

  • Auto-scanning total stations working on China’s expressways

    Spectra Precision‘s Focus 35 robotic total stations are helping build the world’s largest expressway network. For instance, the Focus 35, with its time-saving automatic scan template, is checking the cross-section quality of the twin Nan Kunshan tunnels for the new six-lane Shazhan S14 regional highway.

    Excavation under Nankun Mountain for the twin tunnels, each 4.1 kilometers (km) long and each capable of carrying three lanes of vehicular traffic, began in September 2016.

    In the current second phase of construction, the Focus 35 is being used to gather data that will be used to compare the as-built tunnels to the design specifications to determine what adjustments to the tunnel surfaces may need to be made.

    The Focus 35 was selected for the scanning work because it offers a streamlined and efficient workflow that yields significant time-savings, the company said. The workflow of a conventional total station requires time-consuming manual scanning followed by export to a separate post-processing function after which a DXF file is generated.

    The Focus 35, with its Trimble Access Tunnel software, saves significant time because it automatically scans and directly generates DXF reports for submission to the contractor to check over-break and under-break values, the company said.

    When completed, the new six-lane 800-km Shazhan highway will connect Shantou and Zhanjiang, two important coastal cities in southern Guangdong province. The contractor for the Nan Kunshan tunnels is ChangDa Highway Engineering Co. Ltd.

  • The evolution of remote sensing platforms

    Drones and robots complement traditional platforms, delivering insights in unique use cases.

    Guest column by Mike Fuller

    Geographic surveys have changed in the last 150 years. What started with early film cameras strapped to hot air balloons, kites and homing pigeons has advanced — both in terms of sensors and the platforms on which they’re deployed. These innovations — which include drones and robots — are changing the way we can collect data, enabling us to gather greater detail and providing richer insights about the world around us.

    These nascent platforms are set to explode in popularity. The global market for remote sensing platforms will more than double in the next four years. It’s projected to reach more than $21 billion by 2022, driven in large part by use of drones, according to an October 2017 report from MarketsandMarkets.

    Despite the anticipated growth in drone and robot usage, they will not replace traditional remote sensing platforms such as airplanes, satellites and vehicles. The new technologies bring with them some limitations with regard to the number, size and weight of sensors they can carry, capture rates, area covered and and line-of-site restrictions.

    As a result, drones and robots will offer new capabilities that complement the traditional platforms and provide greater geographic detail, as well as the ability to be quickly deployed and constantly monitor areas where humans cannot routinely go.

    How far we’ve come

    To understand how far geographic information system (GIS) mapping and remote sensing technology has come, it’s important to consider how it started. Inventors in the 1800s relied on early film cameras and somewhat unreliable, imprecise airborne platforms — such as hot air balloons, pigeons and kites — to conduct land surveys and do surveillance.

    The introduction of a new kind of “bird” — the airplane — opened up new opportunities in the 1900s, supporting the use of more accurate aerial photography for reconnaissance and mapping.

    Satellite technology launched remote sensing into space in the 1970s, supporting the collection of detailed multispectral data that led to improved understanding of minerals, soils, urban growth, agriculture and other geographic features.

    Even though the technology has become more sophisticated, GIS professionals still leverage data from many of these historical platforms:

    • Manned aircraft – planes and helicopters
    • Satellites – high-resolution satellites and cubesats
    • Terrestrial – survey vehicles and handheld devices

    But — much like the impact of airplanes and satellites — we’re on the precipice of another significant milestone for remote sensing. Marked by use of burgeoning drone and robotic technology, this new technology will complement traditional platforms and deliver more insights than ever before possible.

    Rise of drones and robots

    Drones and robots are the newest remote sensing platforms catching the eye of the GIS community. Not only are they cool and cutting-edge, they open up a new class of use cases that were previously not possible with traditional aerial survey methods. They offer new opportunities to monitor remote areas, and their form factors and cost enables a higher frequency of data collection compared to aerial survey.

    Because of their unique features, users are envisioning how these platforms can be implemented for remote sensing in many fields, such as energy, oil and gas, aviation, forestry, transportation, emergency management, and natural resource preservation and restoration.

    When the frequency of data from these platforms is coupled with analytics and cloud infrastructure, it is possible to acquire, analyze and act in ways that were not possible before.

    Keep in mind, though, that each technology comes with trade-offs. Users should assess their goals, and weigh these factors, to determine if drones or robots will deliver the results they wish to achieve. Let’s take a closer look:

    Drones

    QuantumSpatial_sensor-uav-WDrones are capable of delivering ultra-high-resolution data, with ground sample distances (GSD) of 1 cm and accuracy of under 5 cm. However, accuracy is highly variable; it can vary based on the drone model, terrain and software used to process the collected data.

    The form factor of many drones also limits the ability to do multi-sensor flights. A drone typically can cover no more than a few square miles per day with a visible or multispectral camera, compared to manned aircraft that span hundred of thousands of acres a day carrying hyperspectral, lidar and orthophotography devices simultaneously.

    Because they can be deployed quickly, and on a daily basis, drones offer a cost-effective, practical approach for covering small areas compared to other aerial survey methods. But drone usage currently faces a significant impediment.

    Current regulations require operators to maintain sight of the devices during all flights. These line-of-site restrictions limit the distance a drone can go on each flight, and require operators to change locations multiple times for a single survey. As a result, frequent revisits can be labor intensive.

    Battery life also plays a role in the usability of drones. Most commercial drones can fly for only about 45 minutes, despite continued improvements in battery technology. Combined with the line-of-site restrictions, battery life impacts the amount of territory drones can cover. Most can handle only a few square or linear miles during each flight, making helicopters or airplanes better suited for projects that span hundred of miles or more.

    Despite some of the drawbacks, drones are proving ideal in many use cases — from damage assessment and power restoration after hurricanes to data collection for hydraulic modeling, stream restoration design and aquatic habitat assessment.

    For example, drones equipped with bathymetric and terrestrial laser scanning sensors are ideal for supporting riverine mapping applications. In these cases, drones offer an effective alternative when the waterway cannot be accessed, or it is too dangerous to use ground- or water-based survey methods for collecting channel geometry.

    Robots

    QuantumSpatial_sensor-lidar-robot-WRobotic platforms are flexible, enabling users to attach a variety of sensors, including thermal cameras, lidar and sniffers for natural gas or other hazardous material. They are rarely hampered by payload restrictions, like drones.

    And, with programming, robots can return to their chargers when their batteries dip below a certain threshold.

    Like drones, there are many potential applications for terrestrial remote sensing robots. One use is for precision agriculture to test soil, water and plant health.

    Many utilities are expressing serious interest, too, for robots. These robots can include onboard spectral, thermal and lidar sensors, precision navigation and hazard cameras to perform fine-scale spatial mapping and can acquire a wide array of data from electrical substations.

    In this scenario, the robotic platform could detect physical and spectral changes, identify objects, monitor corrosion, detect liquid and gas leaks, and conduct thermal monitoring. Using this model, utilities could track substation environments remotely, saving time associated with physical inspections and enabling earlier detection of potential problems.

    Systemwide approach required

    Traditional remote sensing platforms — airplanes, satellites and vehicles — will continue to play an important role in GIS mapping. Drones and robots give us new tools that will have a dramatic impact on the amount of detailed geographic information collected.

    For these new platforms to be used effectively as complements to traditional platforms, the industry must adopt a systems approach that takes into consideration a number of factors:

    • The end application
    • The sensors and acquisition protocol that will collect data at the precision required by the end application
    • The actionable analytics that need to be extracted from the data
    • How the data and insights integrate with the business processes used for decision making.

    By taking this approach, those who work in a variety of fields can gather the insights they need to do their jobs more effectively and efficiently, while leveraging the unique strengths offered by these emerging platforms.

  • Septentrio to supply Asterx-m2 receiver for Delair UX11 mapping drone

    Septentrio to supply Asterx-m2 receiver for Delair UX11 mapping drone

    GNSS receiver manufacturer Septentrio has been selected to supply its high-precision AsteRx-m2 GNSS OEM receiver module and PPK library for use with Delair’s UX11 professional mapping drone.

    The UX11 is a lightweight, beyond-visual-line-of-sight (BVLOS)-ready fixed-wing mapping drone.

    The combination of on-board processing capabilities, real-time control and centimeter-level precision make it a cost-effective solution for large area surveying and mapping, Delair said.

    The Delair Septentrio UX11 mapping UAV. (Image: Septentrio)
    The Delair Septentrio UX11 mapping UAV. (Image: Septentrio)

    By employing the latest high-specification photographic, sensor and communications elements, Delair has kept the weight of the UX11 — including payload — down to 1.4 kilograms (3.1 pounds).  Among other design innovations, this allows the UX11 to cover 200 hectares (500 acres) in a single one-hour flight, delivering mapping with ground sample distances below 1 centimeter per pixel (0.4 in/px) with accuracy down to 1.27 cm (0.5 in).

    A 3G/4G network link to the UX11 allows the operator to assess in real time the quality and overlap of images during flight and make any necessary adjustments to the settings of the integrated camera.  This enables operators to collect as much aerial intelligence as possible in a minimum number of flights.

    The UAV also features BTOL (bird-like take-off and landing) for steep-climb take offs and descents in confined areas.

    The AsteRx-m2 delivers high-precision multi-frequency quad-constellation GNSS measurements for PPK (post-processed kinematic) for only 28 grams, and consumes very little power.

    The combination of high-quality camera images and GNSS measurements from the AsteRx-m2 allows Delair to offer its users PPK survey-grade ground precision down to 1 centimeter. With Delair’s PPK software, powered by Septentrio’s GeoTagZ PPK library, users only pay for the precision they need and on a flexible pay-as-you-go basis.

    “With the AsteRx-m2, we can offer wide-area coverage at ultra-high precision,” said Chase Fly, geospatial product manager at Delair. “The Delair UX11 sets a new standard of efficiency, cost and quality in a long-range UAV platform. The drone itself is truly state-of-the-art in its design and construction, and it enables industry-leading performance and flight range, as well as streamlined maintenance, advantages that all reduce costs.

    “The integrated processing capabilities are able to ensure image quality in real time and provide users with accurate results that shape critical operational decisions and strategies,” Fly said. “And it’s designed for flexible use in a variety of conditions and use models, further lowering TCO.”

    The AsteRx-m2 features Septentrio’s proprietary GNSS+ suite of positioning algorithms to convert difficult environments into good positioning:

    • LOCK+ technology to maintain tracking during the heavy dynamic vibration typical of UAV flights
    • APME+ to combat multipath
    • IONO+ technology to ensure position accuracy during periods of elevated ionospheric activity.

    The AsteRx-m2 also features AIM+ interference mitigation and monitoring system that can suppress the widest variety of interferers, from simple continuous narrowband signals to the most complex wideband and pulsed jammers.

    AIM+ can diagnose self-interference from other electrical or electronic devices onboard the UAV as well as mitigating external interference during operational flights.

    “Driven by the explosion in the number and variety of drone applications, drone technology has advanced leaps and bounds in recent years and Delair have been right at the heart of the action. With their focus on innovation and a commitment to providing the very highest quality products, Delair and Septentrio are true kindred spirits and we’re proud to be part of the UX11 project,” said Gustavo Lopez, product manager at Septentrio.

  • TerraGo adds time-series visualization to GeoPDF

    TerraGo has released TerraGo Publisher for ArcGIS version 7.4, which includes the ability to create and share GeoPDFs that convey important changes over time for an area of interest, with any type of map or imagery. The time-enabled visualization can animate geographic changes over time with interactive maps that can be shared with anyone using free Adobe Reader, the company said.

    “Our customers can share these time-series map layers as a universally available GeoPDF, enabling non-GIS users to measure past conditions, assess changes over time, analyze trends and even project future scenarios,” said Scott Lee, director of federal programs at TerraGo. “Time-enabled GeoPDFs can help deliver important geographic analysis to the widest audience possible, which is incredibly valuable for sharing information with policy makers, agencies, stakeholders and constituents.”

    Time-enabled, interactive maps can be used in any number of different geographic analysis use cases. Here are a few examples.

    • coastal populations impacted by rising sea levels
    • progress of recovery efforts for a hurricane disaster zone
    • forestry and environmental impacts due to policy change
    • shifting crime patterns in different types of city zones
    • satellite imagery showing impact of regional military conflicts on local populations

    Version 7.4 includes additional enhancements and improvements including support for ArcGIS version 10.6.0.

    TerraGo will also be showcasing the latest features at GEOINT 2018, the United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation Symposium, which takes place April 22-25 in Tampa, Florida.

  • AUVSI Xponential preview: IMUs key to UAV imaging advances

    AUVSI Xponential preview: IMUs key to UAV imaging advances

    Phoenix Lidar’s Scout System features NovAtel SPAN GNSS/IMU equipment and a pinwheel antenna. Combined with Phoenix’s hardware and software, this lightweight UAV lidar system serves in agriculture, construction and other general mapping applications. Here the Scout is integrated with the DJI M600 Pro UAV. (Photo: Phoenix Lidar Systems)

    As a UAV flies, it is subject to roll, pitch and yaw movements, adversely affecting the high-definition imagery that industrial-grade UAVs are designed to collect. Three measures combat unwanted movement: a stabilizing gimbal, a high-quality GPS/inertial measurement unit (IMU) integration, and orthorectification of the data during post-processing.

    Imaging applications are driving all sectors of the booming UAV market. The increasing availability and variety of compact, robust, lightweight sensors, employing a range of super-resolution and often multi-spectral and hyperspectral technologies, continuously expand and improve UAV applications.

    Three companies exhibiting at the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International’s (AUVSI’s) massive Xponential show May 1-3 will showcase recent advances in this arena.

    Challenges of Airborne Imaging. Size and weight govern UAV deployment.Imaging sensors must fit compact payload bays. An integrated UAV solution will typically include an imaging sensor, a high-performance GPS/inertial measurement unit (IMU), and a data storage hub to collate streams of data from all connected instruments.

    Software geared specifically to flight supplies image orthorectification and manages sensor operation during the mission, enabling users to input GPS coordinates for sensor operation. Outside of defined coordinates, the sensor will not collect data, reducing the amount of data to store or transmit.

    Immediate or real-time processing and georeferencing of imaging products has always been key to defense and security applications; it becomes critical for precision agriculture, cartography, civil engineering, remote monitoring and surveillance, intelligent inspection, disaster preparedness and risk study, newsgathering, cinematography, tourism and even commercial advertising. A multisensor landscape view can improve a UAV’s ability to react intelligently without operator input.

    Integrated GPS/INS exhibitors at the Xponential show include:

    NovAtel (Booth 3219). The company uses a flexible technology platform and diverse OEM products, which include SPAN technology: tightly coupled GNSS receivers with IMUs for reliable, continuously available, position, velocity and attitude, to deliver its vision of assured positioning — anywhere.

    NovAtel offers TerraStar Correction Services to provide accurate real-time sub-meter or decimeter positioning around the world, anytime. Its Waypoint Inertial Explorer Xpress post-processing software provides the same core processing and utilities as Inertial Explorer along with simplified functions and workflows tailored for UAV markets and small project areas.

    VectorNav (Booth 2214). Engineers at Octopus ISR integrated the VectorNav VN-200 GPS/INS directly into the optical bench of a gimbal to deliver positioning accuracy under flight conditions such as high vibrations, accelerations and temperature fluctuations. The device flies aboard the UAV Factory’s miniature Epsilon series of gyro-stabilized gimbals, enabling the Precision Geo-Lock feature, which combines a GPS-aided inertial navigation system with dedicated software algorithms and payload operator software.

    The VN-200 features 16g accelerometers and 2000°/sec gyros in a postage-stamp-sized surface-mount device and a rugged package. Epsilon gyro-stabilized turrets are available with both VectorNav’s VN-200 single GPS-based INS solution and the VN-300 dual GPS-based INS.

    SBG Systems (Booth 2535). The company developed specific calibration procedures to provide reliable heading even when UAVs tilt. Magnetometer calibration can be processed in 2D on the ground, or in 3D in flight. Qinertia software enhances inertial navigation systems performance by post processing inertial data with raw GNSS observables.

    SBG Systems’ Ellipse 2 Micro high-performance inertial sensors reduces size and costs and for volume projects. It is available as an inertial measurement unit (IMU), or as an attitude and heading reference system (AHRS) or inertial navigation system (INS) running an extended Kalman filter, connected to an external GNSS receiver.

  • NavVis launches 6D SLAM indoor mapper

    NavVis-M6-indoor-mapper-WMapping company NavVis has launched the M6, a next-generation indoor mobile-mapping system that the company says can overcome the scalability and data quality constraints of reality capture technology.

    Surveyors and architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) professionals can now use reality-capture technology for large-scale indoor mapping projects. The M6 can be used for factory planning and creating and updating as-built BIM (building information modeling) models and construction monitoring.

    The NavVis M6 is an all-in-one system that captures 360-degree immersive imagery, photorealistic point clouds, Bluetooth beacons, Wi-Fi signals and magnetic field data.

    The NavVis M6 features a mobile lidar system that lets it scan up to 30 times faster than stationary devices, letting users capture up to 30,000 square meters in a day.

    Cutting-edge 6D simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) technology significantly improves the quality of data captured. Thanks to 6D SLAM, M6 continuously scans even complex indoor environments, including uneven surfaces or changing elevations such as ramps, open spaces or long corridors without compromising the quality of the data.

    M6’s innovative software is complemented by hardware features designed to improve the quality of data and ease of capture: four laser scanners with a range of up to 100 meters are arranged to maximize scan coverage, while six cameras automatically take high-resolution images during mapping. The innovative design of the M6 includes camera placement that keeps the operator in a blind spot.

    NavVis IndoorViewer software gives stakeholders access to the scanned environment through an interactive virtual building in their browser.

    “The NavVis M6 marks a quantum leap in indoor mobile mapping,” Felix Reinshagen, CEO of NavVis. “Anyone who needs to scan large properties, run repeated scans or would like to move into the field of reality capture will profit from the groundbreaking data quality.

    “With M6, users can now quickly capture large, complex indoor environments for typical tasks such as updating floorplans, documenting construction progress or creating as-built BIM models. At the same time, M6 captures the data needed to provide customers with additional deliverables such as browser-based immersive walkthroughs and indoor navigation,” Reinshagen said.

  • MicroStrategy 10.11 adds new capabilities

    MicroStrategy Incorporated, a worldwide provider of enterprise analytics and mobility software, has launched MicroStrategy 10.11, the newest feature release to the company’s MicroStrategy 10 platform.

    New capabilities in 10.11 include enhanced mapping for conducting geospatial analytics with Mapbox, a location data platform for mobile and web applications.

    Version 10.11 also introduces out-of-the-box visualizations, intelligent recommendations for content, prompts for dossiers and a native MicroStrategy Library app for smartphones.

    Library app. Users can now interact with data on dossiers via native apps optimized for iOS and Android smartphones. MicroStrategy customers can to operationalize the platform’s latest and modern interfaces with touch-optimized workflows on these handheld devices. Users can download the MicroStrategy Library app for iPhone by visiting the Apple app store or the MicroStrategy Library app for Android by visiting the Google Play app store, respectively.

    Geospatial services powered by Mapbox. MicroStrategy 10.11 introduces MicroStrategy Geospatial Services and delivers new mapping capabilities via a native integration with Mapbox. The new and enhanced map visualization is available for dossiers on all interfaces, including MicroStrategy Desktop, MicroStrategy Workstation, MicroStrategy Web, MicroStrategy Mobile and MicroStrategy Library.

    Users can visualize and analyze spatial data with advanced mapping capabilities, including intelligent clustering and aggregation, dynamic layers with interactive zoom and thresholds for attributes. This mapping service is available in addition to out-of-the-box Esri maps, and offers support for markers, bubbles and area types on a variety of map styles.

    Geospatial Services features include:

    • Vector maps that improve performance and response times by 300% over traditional tiled maps, including for millions of records.
    • Global postal and administrative boundaries that let users bin their data by geographies ranging from Indian postal codes to Chinese prefectures.
    • Map style options tailored to the user’s visualization, including basic, light, dark, streets, topographic and satellite maps.
    • Advanced clustering and aggregation capabilities to understand spatial trends in data beyond density.
    • Full control of data layers and levels of detail based on a map’s zoom level.

    Out-of-the-box visualizations. MicroStrategy 10.11 introduces three new visualizations that expand visual analytics capabilities for new use cases. With this latest release, users can plot and interact with data using waterfall, histogram and box plot visualizations, all of which are available out-of-the-box in all MicroStrategy interfaces.

    “We are extremely excited about the launch of version 10.11 and all of its powerful new features. Business teams can now confidently take the first step towards establishing an enterprise-wide, data-driven culture on their own,” said Tim Lang, senior executive vice president and chief technology officer, MicroStrategy. “Version 10.11 empowers teams with self-service data discovery and departmental analytics, while creating the foundation for governed data discovery at scale and enterprise-worthy analytics. The latest capabilities available in MicroStrategy 10.11 are central to MicroStrategy’s commitment to deliver the next generation of enterprise analytics and advance our goal of building the ultimate analytics platform for the Intelligent Enterprise.”

    To see MicroStrategy 10.11 in action, users can register for the upcoming webcast Unveiling MicroStrategy 10.11, to be held Wednesday, May 16,at 2 p.m. EDT.

  • DT Research’s new military-grade tablet has RTK GNSS

    DT Research’s new military-grade tablet has RTK GNSS

    DT Research has released the DT301T rugged RTK tablet (DT301T-RTK), a lightweight military-grade tablet purpose-built for GIS mapping applications. It features real-time kinematic (RTK) satellite navigation to enhance the precision of GNSS position data.

    The tablet enables 3D point cloud creation with centimeter-level accuracy, meeting the high standards required for scientific-grade evidence in court.

    The DT301T-RTK is a rugged tablet with scientific-grade GNSS. (Photo: DT Research)

    The DT301T Rugged RTK tablet is military-grade with an IP65 rating. Because it’s lightweight, the DT301T can be used in the field, office and vehicles, the company said.

    A dual-frequency GNSS module is built into the tablet, which uses real-time reference points within 1–2-centimeter accuracy to position 3D point clouds created from aerial photogrammetry, using GPS, GLONASS and Galileo receivers. Users can measure with the RTK GNSS positioning directly using a foldable antenna or connect to an external antenna for more robust receiving and survey-grade precision.

    “We’ve seen a dramatic uptick in the need for rugged tablets to be purpose-built for a range of mapping uses across industries,” said Daw Tsai Sc.D., president of DT Research. “In designing the DT301T with RTK satellite navigation, we also took into consideration the other features and capabilities necessary within a rugged tablet to quickly and easily conduct forensic mapping, land surveying, e-construction, building information modeling (BIM) and other mapping scenarios.”

    The DT301T is compatible with existing GIS software for mapping applications and brings together the advanced workflow for GIS data capture, accurate positioning and data transmitting.

    Uses

    According to DT Research, the tablet can be used in a variety of scenarios.

    Forensic mapping. Public safety teams, investigators and crash reconstructionists can use the DT301T Rugged RTK tablet to accurately collect measurements that are scientifically defensible by using the real-time centimeter reference points to position 3D point clouds created from aerial photogrammetry or take stand-alone measurements.

    DT301T-RTK tablet during forensic mapping training. (Photo: DT Research)

    The results will have the precision necessary to stand up as evidence in court, said Andrew S. Klane, a former Massachusetts State Police Lieutenant who teaches Forensic Mapping and is now the chief operating officer at Forensic Mapping Solutions Inc.

    “As more drones are being used for mapping, there is a growing need for ground-control positioning devices,” Klane said. “By using a DT301T Rugged RTK Tablet in combination with a drone, users can more quickly and cost-effectively create a 3D model to deliver an accurate representation of the scene with scientific-grade tolerance that will hold up in a court of law.”

    It could also help clear crash scenes faster, restoring the normal flow of traffic on congested roadways, reducing secondary crashes and lowering the chance of first responders and other workers getting hurt while clearing the scene.

    Land surveying. Surveyors can use the DT301T tablet to measure the altitudes, angles and distances on the land surface so that they can be accurately plotted on a map to determine property boundaries, construction layout and mapmaking.

    E-construction. Construction workers can manage the collection, review, approval and distribution of highway construction contract documents in a paperless environment using the DT301 tablet.

    Building information modeling (BIM).  Architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) professionals can use the tablet to create 3D models to efficiently plan, design, construct and manage buildings and infrastructure.

    FEATURES

    The DT301T Rugged RTK tablet has been purpose-built for precision mapping in a variety of environments and includes the following features and capabilities:

    • Dual-frequency GNSS module: GNSS L1 and L2 RTK that receives GPS, GLONASS and Galileo signals up to 372 channels with RMS 10 mm + 1 ppm accuracy.
    • High-performance CPU and Windows OS: Intel 6th-generation core i5 or i7 processor with Microsoft Windows 7 Professional or Windows 10 IoT Enterprise. Units come with either 8 GB or 16 GB of RAM.
    • Sunlight-readable display: A 10.1 inch LED-backlight, sunlight-readable screen with capacitive touch and 1920 x 1200 resolution.
    • Wireless connectivity: Long-range Class 1 Bluetooth powers connectivity up to 1,000 feet and 4G mobile broadband for LTE, HESPA+, GMS/GPRS/EDGE, EV-DO, Rev A and 1xRTT.
    • Storage: For field data collecting, the tablet can store up to 1 terabyte of data.
    • Military standards: The tablet is fully ruggedized to meet the highest durability standards with an IP65 rating, MIL-STD-810G for vibration and shock resistance, and MIL-STD-461F for EMI and EMC tolerance.
    • Battery pack: High-capacity hot-swappable battery pack delivers 60 or 90 watts for up to 15 hours of continuous mobile communications.
    • Accessories: Those available include external antennas, pole mount cradles, detachable keyboards, battery charging kits and digital pens.

  • Beta program opens for Pix4Dfields for agriculture

    Pix4D has announced Pix4Dfields, its first fully dedicated product for agriculture. A beta program to test the software is now open.

    Pix4Dfields is designed to give users fast and accurate maps while in the field, with a simple yet powerful interface fully dedicated to agriculture.

    “When we decided to create a fully dedicated product for agriculture, we wanted to go beyond the research and development and create a product that actually understands agriculture,” the company said in a press release. “So in July 2017, we opened a new office in Berlin fully dedicated to do exactly that: Understand the agriculture industry, listen to our users, and create a product that caters to all the main agricultural practices.”

    Pix4Dfields is equipped with fast processing that provides accurate and instant results and an easy-to-use interface with tools tailored to agricultural workflows.

    Pix4Dfields is currently available as a closed beta, which we are opening to select users to test it and provide feedback. The product will evolve at a fast pace with new and updated features being added with every new iteration, the company said

    Pix4Dfields is currently available for macOS only; the next iterations will include Windows support as well.

    To join the beta program or learn more, visit the website.

  • SenseFly and Trimble optimize workflow for geospatial drone operators

    SenseFly and Trimble optimize workflow for geospatial drone operators

    Photo: Sensefly
    Photo: Sensefly

    SenseFly is partnering with Trimble to optimize the drone mapping workflow for geospatial professionals.

    The new integration is designed to ensure a smooth end-to-end mapping drone workflow. senseFly operators can now, within the recently launched eMotion 3.5 software, transform a senseFly S.O.D.A. camera’s georeferenced imagery into an automatically collated project (in .jxl format).

    This enables the one-click import of drone imagery into the Trimble Business Center Aerial Photogrammetry module without the need for manual project creation and organization of images.

    The senseFly-to-Trimble mapping workflow includes:

    • planning and monitoring a senseFly S.O.D.A.-based drone flight (in eMotion 3.5)
    • downloading the drone’s images for one-click georeferencing in eMotion 3.5 (Flight Data Manager)
    • clicking to create a .jxl format mapping project
    • opening a project within the Trimble Business Center Aerial Photogrammetry module
    • processing the drone’s imagery to generate orthophotos, contour maps, point clouds, digital surface models (DSMs) and feature maps
    • analyzing and acting upon the data.
    Screenshot: Trimble
    Screenshot: Trimble

    “Making work easier and more efficient for geospatial professionals is the goal that drives every solution we develop,” said Jean-Christophe Zufferey, senseFly co-founder and CEO. “Therefore, we are excited to collaborate with Trimble on more tightly integrating our solutions, since enhancements such as this new eMotion-to-Trimble Business Center workflow do exactly that, ensuring that the transition from data collection to acting upon this data is as seamless as possible.”

    The senseFly S.O.D.A. is built for professional drone photogrammetry work. The 1-inch, 20-megapixel RGB camera captures sharp aerial images across a range of light conditions, allowing senseFly fixed-wing drone operators to produce detailed, vivid orthomosaics and ultra-accurate 3D digital surface models.

    senseFly S.O.D.A. is compatible with most senseFly fixed-wing mapping drones, including the large-coverage eBee Plus.

    Trimble Business Center allows surveyors and other geospatial professionals to combine aerial photography with data collected from GNSS receivers, total stations, 3D laser scanners and more, for a complete field-to-finish workflow. By combining imagery from unmanned aerial systems with ground-based survey data, users can visualize their project from both aerial and terrestrial perspectives, measure points within the images and create 3D models of the infrastructure and terrain.