GPS World

Tag: GIS software

  • Topcon upgrades MAGNET Collage for UAV and GIS data

    Photo: Topcon
    Photo: Topcon

    Upgrade to MAGNET Collage Web includes with new deliverable options.

    Topcon Positioning Group has upgraded its MAGNET Collage Web, a web-based service enabling the sharing and collaboration of UAV and scanning data sets.

    MAGNET Collage Web version 1.3 allow operators to work with more types of data with greater flexibility, including the ability to import BIM models, as well as CAD and GIS data.

    MAGNET Collage Web and MAGNET Collage desktop software meet the demands of a diverse user-group. The latest update is designed to address an increasing need from the vertical building construction market segment to work in a single-software environment with BIM, scanning and UAV datasets.

    “Now operators can view and publish BIM models, along with other data types, directly through the web browser to be sharable with more versatility,” said Alok Srivastava, director of product management. “MAGNET Collage Web can be used to overlay as-built laser scans and design data to visualize proposed changes and detect construction issues. The software supports OBJ, FBX and 3DS formats.”

    The upgrade to MAGNET Collage Web also includes new direct publishing functionality for CAD and GIS data files through the browser.

    “Operators can now overlay 3D point clouds and reality models with CAD and GIS design data, including support for DXF, SHP, KML, GML and GeoJSON formats,” said Srivastava.

    The upgrade to MAGNET Collage Web also introduces advanced sharing controls including the ability to fully customize layer visibility, appearance, window layout, feature selection and camera position.

    “The updated customization controls allow operators to share and present their projects exactly the way they mean to with a multitude of viewing options, allowing specific features to be highlighted as necessary,” said Srivastava.

    Additionally, MAGNET Collage Web can now be accessed through the Topcon “Blue Bar” that allows direct access to the service from any Topcon website. The universal account and application management toolbar is embedded at the top of Topcon web pages.

  • NavVis now uses SLAM to remove point cloud artifacts

    The latest software release for the SLAM-based NavVis M6 Indoor Mobile Mapping System (IMMS) automatically detects and removes point cloud artifacts, including moving objects in static scenes, the company said.

    This image shows what an object looks like where the laser beam has hit an edge, before and after the algorithm has been applied. (Image: NavVis)
    This image shows what an object looks like where the laser beam has hit an edge, before and after the algorithm has been applied. (Image: NavVis)

    NavVis is a global provider of indoor spatial intelligence solutions. The latest IMMS release removes artifacts from point clouds during the post-processing of scan data.

    Fringe points and dynamic objects are two common types of point cloud artifacts that affect all 3D laser scanning devices. Fringe points arise when a laser beam hits the edge of an object as well as its background. This scattered beam ultimately appears as a “fringe” around the edge of the object in the point cloud.

    The second type of point cloud artifact results when dynamic objects, such as humans walking through a scan, are captured by the laser scanner and then appear as artifacts in the point cloud.

    A point cloud before and after the algorithm has been applied to a dynamic object. (Image: NavVis)
    A point cloud before and after the algorithm has been applied to a dynamic object. (Image: NavVis)

    According to the company, the NavVis M6 IMMS is a simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM)-based system that uses laser scanners to capture a high volume of measurement points of an environment. As SLAM-based mobile mapping systems move through the environment while scanning it, objects are observed from multiple different angles and positions.

    With the latest software update, the algorithms applied during the post-processing of scan data use those multiple observations to detect whether measurement points actually exist in the physical space. If it is determined that the point does not exist and is instead resulting from the laser beam hitting an edge or an object moving through the space, this point is automatically removed.

    The result is a much cleaner, crisper point cloud that requires less clean up time in point cloud editing software and that is easier to use for applications such as BIM modeling, the company said.

    “We have been working hard to develop a very precise SLAM technology that significantly improves the quality of point clouds captured by a mobile device,” said Georg Schroth, NavVis co-founder and CTO. “As this latest software feature shows, SLAM offers a lot of potential for laser scanning and AEC professionals who are looking for technology that not only speeds up the capture of data but also delivers high quality point clouds. We see a lot of potential in this technology and look forward to sharing future innovations.”

  • Hexagon presents GEOINT solutions at defense conference

    Hexagon’s Geospatial division, which offers high-performance geospatial solutions, showcased its defense solutions at DGI 2019, which took place Jan. 28-30 in London.

    DGI is Europe’s largest annual gathering dedicated to high-level discussions addressing the major challenges of the defense and government geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) community.

    The theme for this year’s conference is “Source, Analyze, Automate, Share,” and will provide senior defense leaders with opportunities to learn about new developments and innovations in geospatial data gathering and analysis.

    Whether for planning military operations, analyzing intelligence or determining responses to a natural disaster, Hexagon’s Geospatial division’s innovations shorten the time between data acquisition and real-time information delivery, driving mission success through actionable decision-making.

    Located at stand 8, Hexagon’s exhibition at DGI includes solutions from the Power Portfolio, M.App Portfolio and Luciad Portfolio, which improve data integration, access and delivery across the GEOINT enterprise. The following are some of the innovations that will be on display:

    • Machine Learning Processes Massive Amounts of Data: Understanding the situation on the ground starts with geospatial intelligence. Attendees will learn how ERDAS IMAGINE’s machine learning algorithms can be trained to process massive amounts of data, taking the load off analysts and freeing them up to do the work that humans do best.
    • M.App X: Rapidly Exploit Imagery: This cloud-based exploitation for defense and intelligence enables System Integrators to provide tools for the exploitation of imagery and the creation of intelligence and reports for their defense customers.
    • Command and Control: Providing true situational awareness in action, Luciad offers 2D and 3D integration of all data into one visualization tool, including full support for symbols and tactical graphics of the latest military symbology standards.

    “With the traditional battlefield expanding beyond land, sea, and air to the electronic, cyber, and social media arenas, today’s global defense and intelligence agencies operate in high-stakes environments where mission success comes down to accessing, analyzing, and sharing real-time visualization data,” said Mladen Stojic, Hexagon’s Geospatial Division president. “We look forward to showcasing our cutting-edge data analytics and visualization solutions that enable success in today’s multi-domain frontier at DGI 2019.”

    Hexagon Geospatial’s Director, Defense Sector, Tony Wheeler will also give a presentation on “A Tiered Approach to Analysis — Enabling the COP User,” on Tuesday, Jan. 29, from 2 to 2:20 p.m. The session will explore how technology can enable military staff to better exploit information — creating a new tier of analytical capability to augment that of dedicated intelligence organizations.

  • Topcon upgrades MAGNET Collage Web with new deliverable options

    Topcon Positioning Group has upgraded its MAGNET Collage Web, a web-based service enabling the sharing and collaboration of UAV and scanning data sets.

    MAGNET Collage Web version 1.3 is designed to allow operators to work with more types of data with greater flexibility, including the ability to import BIM models, as well as CAD and GIS data, the company said.

    MAGNET Collage Web and MAGNET Collage desktop software meet the demands of a diverse user-group. The latest update is designed to address an increasing need from the vertical building construction market segment to work in a single-software environment with BIM, scanning, and UAV datasets.

    “Now operators can view and publish BIM models, along with other data types, directly through the web browser to be sharable with more versatility,” said Alok Srivastava, director of product management. “MAGNET Collage Web can be used to overlay as-built laser scans and design data to visualize proposed changes and detect construction issues. The software supports OBJ, FBX and 3DS formats.”

    The upgrade to MAGNET Collage Web also includes new direct publishing functionality for CAD and GIS data files through the browser.

    “Operators can now overlay 3D point clouds and reality models with CAD and GIS design data, including support for DXF, SHP, KML, GML and GeoJSON formats,” said Srivastava.

    The upgrade to MAGNET Collage Web also introduces advanced sharing controls including the ability to fully customize layer visibility, appearance, window layout, feature selection, and camera position.

    “The updated customization controls allow operators to share and present their projects exactly the way they mean to with a multitude of viewing options, allowing specific features to be highlighted as necessary,” said Srivastava.

    Additionally, MAGNET Collage Web can now be accessed through the Topcon “Blue Bar” that allows direct access to the service from any Topcon website. The universal account and application management toolbar is embedded at the top of Topcon web pages.

  • Esri relaunches ArcGIS for Developers with commercial app deployment

    Enhancements include flexible pricing and easier app deployment experience

    Esri has implemented major changes to ArcGIS for Developers, providing an enhanced mapping experience that the company says is more accessible and affordable.

    These changes include a new pay-as-you-go plan for all of Esri’s location-based services, a decrease in the price of routing transactions and a new commercial app deployment experience for developers, the company said.

    ArcGIS for Developers. (Photo: Esri)
    ArcGIS for Developers. (Photo: Esri)

    This new experience brings the power of mapping to all developers and provides greater simplicity and flexibility. Esri has introduced a new monthly payment structure for the Builder plan in its developer subscription. The Builder plan is now offered at a monthly subscription rate of $125.

    Esri has also introduced a 10 percent discount on existing annual Builder plan subscriptions. Customers who currently have an annual Builder plan subscription can continue to pay annually or switch to paying monthly.

    “In addition to our existing subscription plans, we have introduced a new pay-as-you-go model that enables developers to pay only for services and transactions that they use,” said David Cardella, Esri product manager for developer technologies. “Developers can now access dozens of different maps from our Living Atlas, store their data securely, route, and geocode, as well as create and deploy apps with much greater ease and efficiency.”

    Esri has additionally included a commercial app deployment license in all paid developer subscription plans (Builder plan and higher) at no additional cost. The price of routing services has also been reduced from $4 to $0.50 per 1,000 routes. This price decrease is applicable to all ArcGIS users, including the developer community.

    ArcGIS for Developers offers a full suite of developer tools and development resources to build mapping and analytics solutions to support business needs. Developers use ArcGIS APIs to create location-based web and native applications for desktop and mobile devices.

    The new enhancements and changes now give developers greater freedom to build, manage, and deploy apps as quickly as possible by allowing them to use the specific tools they need, when they need them, priced to fit their individual needs.

  • Hexagon Geospatial releases Luciad Portfolio update

    Logo: HexagonHexagon’s Geospatial Division has released V2018.1 of the Luciad Portfolio. According to the company, V2018.1 focuses on further expanding 3D capabilities and includes additional data formats and standards for users in military and maritime domains.

    To accomodate organizations’ expanding geospatial data, LuciadFusion added a RESTful API to automate the entire process of data crawling.

    As a part of the update, LuciadFusion and LuciadLightspeed, the server and desktop solutions, have added support for the E57 point cloud format and automate point cloud data optimization through the Tiling Engine API. LuciadLightspeed now includes inland electronic navigational charts and updated support for military symbology with the U.S. Department of Defense Joint Military Symbology Standard and the NATO Joint Military Symbology Standard APP-6D icons.

    In addition, LuciadRIA now allows users to draw a multitude of complex lines and military tactical graphics in 2D and 3D in the browser.

    “The additional 3D capabilities of Luciad V2018.1 support our vision for a smart digital reality, empowering users to unlock the power of advanced geospatial analytics and visualizations,” said Mladen Stojic, president of Hexagon’s Geospatial Division.

  • Boundless receives nod from U.S. Army for desktop GIS software

    Certificate of Networthiness accreditation affirms U.S. Army’s use of Boundless Desktop for battlespace awareness in warfighter missions.

    Boundless Desktop has received the U.S. Army Certificate of Networthiness (CoN), an accreditation that ensures the product meets Department of Defense (DoD) and Army guidelines, regulations and requirements. The CoN verifies compliance with stringent DoD and Army requirements for security, sustainability and usability.

    Boundless Desktop is a native, cross-platform desktop geospatial information system (GIS) built upon proven open source software, including QGIS, PgAdmin, Qt Designer and GDAL/OGR. The product builds maps, manages data, models and analyzes, and disseminates results with users globally.

    Desktop is used to conduct geospatial analysis to include creation of common operating pictures, route and area analysis, and other geospatial intelligence operations.

    Desktop integrates government and geographic standards for cartographic styles and rules, combines and models spatial data in ways that generate new insights through workflow modeling, provides analytical tools and scripts for terrain and data analysis, and provides access to various open source formats for data and product sharing.

    Federal agencies are collecting and storing more location data and imagery than ever before, and timely and accurate geospatial intelligence is critical to making decisions that impact safety, security and quality of life. Public accountability means that agencies must be mindful of directing costs away from necessary tasks.

    Boundless provides federal agencies with enterprise-grade, fully supported versions of proven open source software along with reliable, expert help from feature development to production support. Interoperability is built right in, ensuring that geospatial data and analysis is accessible across agencies and divisions, the company said. Open source technology offers the flexibility needed to leverage geospatial data now and when needs or demands change. Expenses are predictable and manageable, freeing resources for mission-critical operations.

    “The use of automated data analysis and analytical tools is essential for developing situational awareness and a common operating picture of battlespace in our warfighter missions,” said Jason Lee Smith, security specialist, Counter Explosive Hazards Center, U.S. Army Fort Leonard Wood. “Timely and accurate geospatial intelligence provided by Boundless allows us to make mission-critical decisions that impact safety and security, and the software’s flexibility and interoperability means that we can consistently rely on it both in our day-to-day operations and when there are spikes of activity.”

    “Boundless is committed to delivering open and scalable GIS solutions that empower our users to understand the world around them through geospatial intelligence,” said Andy Dearing, CEO, Boundless. “The Army CoN assures that Boundless Desktop is safe, sustainable and easy for federal agencies to use, and we’re proud to have achieved this validation for our solutions in the federal government space.”

  • Global Mapper SDK updated for greater geospatial intelligence

    Version 20 of the Global Mapper Software Development Kit (SDK) is now available, along with the accompanying Lidar Module SDK. Mirroring the most important capabilities of the desktop version of the software, the powerful developer’s toolkit provides software engineers with the means to embed the latest geospatial technology into their custom applications, according to software maker Blue Marble Geographics.

    An elevation contour image in Global Mapper SDK. (Screenshot: Blue Marble)
    An elevation contour image in Global Mapper SDK. (Screenshot: Blue Marble)

    Among the highlights of the version 20 release are dramatically improved vector data performance in both the 2D and 3D environments, updated 3D mesh rendering with colors now displayed in the 2D view, and faster display and export of online tiled datasets, the company said.

    For more than 25 years, Blue Marble’s affordable, user-friendly GIS software has been meeting the needs of users in industries including software, oil and gas, mining, civil engineering, surveying and technology companies, as well as government departments and academic institutions.

    The Global Mapper GIS application can display, convert and analyze virtually any type of geospatial data. The Global Mapper SDK and Lidar Module SDK provide software developers with a toolkit for accessing much of this functionality from within an existing or custom-built application.

    The SDK also enables the creation of custom toolbars and extensions to enhance the data processing and analysis functionality of the standard version of Global Mapper. This capability allows in-house developers to create a unique version of the application to meet their specific needs or for software companies to build custom products for commercial distribution.

    The functional highlights of the latest version of the SDK effectively illustrate the continued evolution of 3D GIS technology and Blue Marble’s commitment to providing a superior data processing engine for managing, visualizing and analyzing increasingly large 3D datasets. Such is the case with the improvements that have been made to the display performance of vector files with faster rendering in both 2D and 3D Views.

    The display of 3D meshes or models, such as those created in Global Mapper’s Pixels-to-Points tool, has been improved with the photo-realistic colors now displayed in the top-down view. Online data processing has also seen improvements with significant speed increases when loading and exporting tiled data sources.

    Additional upgrades to the SDK functionality include improved box resampling of color images, especially those with palettes; several new supported formats, including Cyclone PTX and Autodesk Recap (RCP and RCS) point clouds; new projections and datums, including GDA2020 (Australia) and TUREF (Turkey); and support for Intermap’s online NextMap worldwide elevation dataset.

    For users of the Global Mapper Lidar Module, the version 20 SDK release also introduces a wealth of new and updated functionality. Point clouds can now be thinned, from both a 2D and 3D perspective, reducing file size and improving efficiency; a gridded layer can now be created from the classification values associated with lidar points; and a new scripting option has been added to apply colors to a point cloud from underlying imagery.

    “The Global Mapper SDK has become one of the most important components of Blue Marble’s suite of geospatial products,” stated Patrick Cunningham, Blue Marble President. “Motivated by the rapid emergence of the desktop software as a major player in the GIS industry, developers are increasingly turning to the corresponding SDK to leverage the software’s powerful geoprocessing tools in a wide variety of third party applications. The improved data handling capability of the version 20 release demonstrates our commitment to providing tools that work efficiently with even the largest datasets.”

  • SimActive software speeds large-scale photogrammetry project

    Photogrammetry software Correlator3D was used for a large-scale project by First Base Solutions, announced software developer SimActive Inc.

    The software allowed the processing of 50,000 large-format images at 200 megapixels, collected at a 10-centimeter resolution, on a single standard PC, the company added.

    The size on disk for each image was 765 MB, for a total of 40 terabytes of raw data. Aerial triangulation was performed and digital surface models (DSMs), digital terrain models (DTMs) and orthomosaics were created, leading to more than 100 terabytes of output.

    “We are impressed by the software speed and capabilities on large datasets,” said Brian Leggat, project supervisor of First Base Solutions. “Another advantage is SimActive’s support to quickly help us during our projects.”

    First Base has been a user of the software for more than 10 years.

    Photo: SimActive
    Photo: SimActive

  • Virtual Surveyor eliminates need for third-party apps for data processing

    Image: Virtual Surveyor
    Image: Virtual Surveyor

    Drone surveying software Virtual Surveyor now eliminates the need for clients to use third-party applications to prepare data for processing. Released this week, Virtual Surveyor 6.1 now handles on-the-fly projections that previously required a separate software package to set the data in the proper coordinate system.

    “We have developed a completely new project experience for users of UAV data,” said Tom Op ‘t Eyndt, managing director of Virtual Surveyor in Belgium. “Version 6.1 will save our customers time and money once spent converting their drone data for processing in Virtual Surveyor.”

    Virtual Surveyor bridges the gap between UAV photogrammetric processing applications and engineering computer-aided design (CAD) packages. The software generates an interactive onscreen environment with UAV orthophotos and digital surface models where the surveyor selects survey points and breaklines to define the topography, creating highly accurate topographic products for CAD input up to five times faster than otherwise possible.

    “Our value proposition has always been to enable surveyors to derive topographic information from drone data and deliver the light-weight meaningful CAD model that engineers need,” said Op ‘t Eyndt.

    Prior to Version 6.1, users always had to start from an orthophoto and digital surface model (DSM). Now, surveyors can drag and drop all kinds of files into Virtual Surveyor: points, raster, vectors and point clouds. The point clouds are converted to a DSM for manipulation and processing, dramatically accelerating the time required to generate the CAD model.

    “Not only is this faster, but it eliminates the expense of purchasing additional software,” said Op ‘t Eyndt.

    Some customers asked to work only with a CAD file, he explained. Although they work with drone data most of the time, they occasionally had to create a surface or contours from a traditional survey. They asked if this could be done in Virtual Surveyor as it would save them from paying for a subscription to a CAD software.

    Long-time Virtual Surveyor clients will find the entire project experience has been streamlined and improved with new capabilities in V6.1:

    • Start from any data set. Projects can now be initiated from Orthophotos, DSMs, Point Cloud or CAD files.
    • Convert coordinates on the fly. Users can input data in any coordinate system and convert it during processing to another system after the project has begun.

    Developers of Virtual Surveyor have also added these features to V6.1:

    • Automatic creation of section lines. V6.1 automatically generates sections from road surfaces to survey transportation routes in minutes.
    • Transparent layers. Users can add topographic or cadastral data to their project and view it through the orthophoto layer to annotate or draw boundaries.

    “Overall, users will experience a faster processing environment in Virtual Surveyor 6.1 especially during complex tasks, such as making terrain modifications or calculating volumes,” said Op ‘t Eyndt. “Our goal with this version has been to make professional land surveyors more efficient.”

    Current subscribers to Virtual Surveyor will see their software being updated automatically.

  • Hexagon’s M.App Enterprise update includes mobile workflow

    Hexagon’s Geospatial division released a new version of M.App Enterprise for 2018, M.App Enterprise 16.5. This privately hosted solution allows organizations to deploy Hexagon Smart M.Apps that dynamically address their location-based business problems, the company said.

    M.App Enterprise is the ideal platform to monitor assets, evaluate changes and take action, with the new release now including a native mobile client. The mobile workflow enables managers to assign tasks to field workers when it’s necessary to act. With the new mobile application, the platform is available from anywhere, including areas without internet access.

    The new M.App Enterprise Studio comes with the Spatial Workshop user interface to manage spatial recipes. Its geoprocessing capabilities make it possible to make calculations with any type of geospatial data.

    Updates to the Feature Analyzer component, such as thematic cluster markers, tooltips for boundary data and the option to share your views according to user type, make it easier to interactively derive insights from a variety of data, the company said.

    The new product localization feature ensures that users are no longer lost in translation. New languages can be added to any local M.App Enterprise instance within minutes.

    “M.App Enterprise provides a unified geospatial enterprise platform enabling customers and partners to create vertical solutions for their markets and industry segments,” said Georg Hammerer, chief technology officer of Hexagon’s Geospatial Division. “M.App Enterprise perfectly fits into the movement to the cloud and the trend towards self-service BI.”

  • Bentley Systems releases open-source library, iModel.js

    Open-source JavaScript library for creating immersive connections to infrastructure digital twins.

    Bentley Systems has released its iModel.js library, an open-source initiative designed to improve the accessibility, for both visualization and analytical visibility, of infrastructure digital twins.

    iModel.js can be used by developers and IT professionals to quickly and easily create immersive applications that connect their infrastructure digital twins with the rest of their digital world, the company said.

    iModel.js is the cornerstone of Bentley’s new iTwin Services that combine iModelHub, reality modeling and web-enabling software technologies within a Connected Data Environment for infrastructure engineering.

    iModelHub manages an iModel as a distributed database with an intrinsic ledger of changes — enabling alignment, accountability and accessibility of its digital components — to form the backbone of an infrastructure digital twin.

    The iModel.js library is a comprehensive collection of JavaScript packages that build on the most open, popular and flexible standards for modern cloud and web development. It is written in TypeScript and leverages open technologies including SQLite, Node.js, NPM, WebGL, Electron, Docker, Kubernetes, and HTML5 and CSS. The same codebase can produce cloud services and web, mobile and desktop applications. The source code is hosted on GitHub and is distributed under the MIT license.

    With iModel.js, it is simple to create a web-based experience that shows interactive “nD” views (1D, 2D, 3D, 4D, etc.) of iModels that are assembled and synchronized from BIM files and other digital engineering models, as well as from data created directly with iModel.js.

    Those same views can also include digital (reality) context, real-time sensor data, and other data from enterprise sources and analytics. Since the iModel is synchronized by iModelHub, it always reflects the most recent updates from all project participants, who are thus able to visualize and analyze changes between points in time or between versions. Importantly, only users and applications authorized by the iModel owner, through iModelHub, are granted access through iModel.js.

    “iModel.js gives Hatch the ability to implement a stakeholder engagement technology that extends the iModelHub visionary technology,” said Johan Palm, program manager of digital project delivery at Hatch. “We can expose complex project information to a level that is accessible, consumable and extendable via the cloud and in context to the 3D model. Most importantly we can do so in a manner that embraces change as the project progresses. iModel.js aligns with Hatch’s internal development strategies as it is built on modern, highly portable web technology. Bentley is a key software technology partner on Hatch projects globally where our main objective is to provide a positive impact to our client’s assets and operations.”

    “The digital twin powered by iModelHub is efficiently improving project management, substantially reducing the waste of resources caused by site problems and will achieve digital handover after completion of the project for visual operations and maintenance,” said Cai Chengguo, chair and general manager at Shenzhen Expressway Consulting Group.

    “We firmly believe that iModel.js, and of course the foundation upon which it is built, is the most open, productive, intuitive and powerful development environment for capital projects and infrastructure assets, ever,” said Keith Bentley, Bentley Systems’ founder and CTO. “We’re excited to work with user organizations, strategic partners and third-party developers to build an open ecosystem around iModels to tap the vast potential of infrastructure digital twins. With iModel.js, the well-refined techniques of mainstream cloud and web development can leverage the physical and virtual reality in digital twins with near-zero impedance. By open-sourcing the libraries we use to create our iTwin cloud services, we expect to foster a substantial and vibrant ecosystem of innovation.”