GPS World

Tag: imagery

  • Intermap Technologies Announces Orion Platform, A Software-Driven Spatial Data Platform

    Intermap Technologies announces the launch of its Orion Platform, a Software-Driven Spatial Data Platform. The Orion Platform is designed to allow governmental entities to manage a country’s entire spatial data infrastructure program from one unified control point. Around the world, governments are increasingly using geospatial data to manage infrastructure, weather related risks, agriculture, excavation, national security, and much more.

    During 2013, Intermap has announced initial phase contracts involving Orion Platform installations in two countries, totaling approximately $16 million . The Intermap Orion Platform becomes officially available today.

    According to the announcement, Intermap’s Orion Platform addresses the geospatial data management cost and complexity challenge by enabling customers to choose the products and services that are right for them based on their scope, budget, and timeline. Intermap manages and delivers a multitude of fused geospatial datasets and their associated analytics in a simplified standard format.

    OrionSolutionsArchitecture

    Two years in the making, Intermap’s Orion Platform is unique in several ways:

    • Immediate delivery of 3D business Intelligence (3DBI) applications using NEXTMap World 30 data anywhere in the world
    • Converts and presents all types of geospatial data in a common format for a consistent and easy management
    • Provides a common programming interface so that software applications have a standard approach to access and manipulate the geospatial data to quickly derive answers

    “Intermap’s Orion Platform is now the fastest “on-ramp” to the geospatial superhighway for governments around the world,” said Todd Oseth, Intermap president and CEO. “Orion has been two years in the making and represents the sum of Intermap’s strategic plans driven by the convergence of our proprietary data fusion techniques, web-based applications, and rising government mandates for on-demand analytics.”

    Intermap’s Orion Platform has five integrated layers:

    1. Geospatial Services: Auditing and custom data collection
    2. Foundation Data: Seamless, off-the-shelf, high-resolution elevation data
    3. Data Fusion: Robust integration of multiple datasets into one homogeneous data specification
    4. 3DBI: Web-based applications for both GIS and non-GIS professionals
    5. Platform Delivery Services: Array of SaaS-based and LAN-based delivery methods

    Oseth continued, “For instance, some customers need immediate access to terrain data for their area of interest, and for that we offer NEXTMap World 30. Other customers require a custom data collection of their country’s water drainage basins including rivers, lakes, and coastlines for weather related risk management and for that we offer our custom geospatial services. And still other customers require the integration of multiple elevation datasets with high-resolution imagery and weather data, and for that we offer a combination of geospatial auditing, data fusion, web-based applications, and cloud-based or LAN-based hosting. The Orion Platform does it all quickly and at the industry’s best price points.”

  • Google Announces Maps Engine API

    Google announces the Google Maps Engine API, allowing developers to bring the power of Maps Engine into their own applications. With a single map, an organization can locate underground pipelines, decide on the best place to build their next store, or inform customers about cell phone coverage areas.

    Google_map_engine_infographic_FINALrevisedCMYK-01

    According to the announcement, Maps Engine lets organizations use Google’s fast and reliable cloud infrastructure to layer their data on top of a Google Map and share their custom-made Google Maps with employees, customers or the public-at-large. At the push of a button an organization can share their maps internally or publish them on the web, making it easy to access their data from anywhere.

    The API provides direct access to Maps Engine for reading and editing spatial data hosted in the cloud. With the API, organizations can develop on any platform – web, Android, iOS and server-to-server – and build applications like store locators, crowdsourced maps or crisis-response maps. For example, FedEx.com uses the API to query its more than 50,000 retail locations and IRIS creates applications for utilities to track underground pipelines.

  • MicroSurvey Releases Software for Leica Nova MS50

    MicroSurvey, the maker of MicroSurvey CAD and the MapScenes System, announces the release of three new software versions optimized to make full use of datasets from the new Leica Nova MS50 MultiStation. MicroSurvey CAD Ultimate 2013, MicroSurvey CAD Studio 2013 and MapScenes PointCloud 2013 provide complete point cloud and Leica Nova MS 50 support in an intuitive interface that allows users to quickly and easily integrate 3D point cloud data into their workflows, the company said.

    MicroSurvey CAD Ultimate 2013, a complete desktop survey and design software solution for surveyors, contractors and engineers, provides a field-to-finish CAD survey solution with the Leica Nova MS50 MultiStation. Users can import datasets from the Leica Nova MS50 complete with all TPS measurements, pictures, points and scan data. For users who need to enhance their data visualizations with fly-through movies and animations, MicroSurvey CAD Studio 2103 includes all the functionality of MicroSurvey CAD Ultimate plus a powerful animation module capable of creating movies.

    MapScenes 2013, a powerful drafting, point cloud data visualization and animation tool for forensic investigators, accident scene reconstructionists and other public safety professionals, now includes the ability to take advantage of the rich 3D datasets captured by the Leica Nova MS50 MultiStation, MicroSurvey said. MapScenes 2013 lets the user quickly and easily draw in the point cloud view for extremely fast, accurate linework as well as use the scan data from the Leica Nova MS50 in animations for accurate and compelling reconstructions.

    MicroSurvey CAD Ultimate 2013, MicroSurvey CAD Studio 2103 and MapScenes 2013 are available as optional software packages with the Leica Nova MS50 MultiStation. For more information, visit www.microsurvey.com or www.mapscenes.com.

  • Leica GeoMos Scanning Works with MS50 for Deformation Monitoring

    Newly released Leica GeoMoS 6.0 software includes automatic scanning and deformation analysis integrating the new Leica Nova MS50 MultiStation to scan areas of inaccessible manmade and natural structures. The monitoring data is also processed automatically with the new n.Vec technology implemented by Leica Geosystems. Color-coded, visualized 3D deformation clouds enable easy analysis and interpretation of movements so users can make the right decisions to rectify static problems or protect peoples’ lives.

    Leica Geosystems announced  version 6.0 at a media event held during the HXGN Live conference in Las Vegas today.

    Leica GeoMoS Scanning is an automatic scanning solution fully integrated into Leica GeoMoS Monitoring Solution. This ensures fast integration with existing Leica GeoMoS projects and an easy start for new users, Leica said. In addition to total stations, GNSS, tilt and geotechnical sensors, highly detailed scanning can now be added to the automated measurement cycle. The new scanning module is easy to configure and provides the complete workflow for automatic acquisition and processing of the data to visualize deformations and to notify key personnel in the case of an event. With Leica GeoMoS Web, the data can be accessed anywhere at any time.

    Leica GeoMoS 6.0 enhances conventional monitoring methods with automatic scanning of surfaces with the Leica Nova MS50 MultiStation. Used for inaccessible places or locations where prisms cannot be installed, e.g. a road cover, a roof, a pipeline or a natural structure, Leica GeoMoS real-time scanning solution monitors any deformation and makes sure that no movement is undetected. The big advantage of using the Leica Nova MS50 MultiStation is that it combines laser scanning and prism monitoring, and therefore the measurements to stable control points guarantee highly accurate setup corrections, including orientation and translations. Additional imaging functionality complements the set by providing yet another information source for better deformation analysis. The implemented scan wizard allows the image-assisted definition of scan areas using different parameter settings and different scan result types. Once defined, the scan area can be scanned manually and via the automatic measurement cycle.

    Leica GeoMoS 6.0 enhances conventional monitoring methods with automatic scanning of surfaces with the Leica Nova MS50 MultiStation.
    Leica GeoMoS 6.0 enhances conventional monitoring methods with automatic scanning of surfaces with the Leica Nova MS50 MultiStation.

    The new scanning feature uses all current automatic functionalities such as automatic measurement cycle scheduling, real-time notification via e.g. SMS/email, automatic limit level check, etc. In addition, the embedded point cloud and image viewer assures powerful 3D visualization of all results using color-coded deformation clouds with a fully traceable history of deformations of the scanned area.

    The new n.Vec technology in Leica GeoMoS 6.0 provides automatic scan cloud processing to deliver the real-time information about deformations. The data can quickly and easily be interpreted for informed decisions. Leica Geosystems’ unique n.Vec processing technology uses normal vectors to determine movements in man-made and natural structures through color-coded deformation maps. The deformation maps are created by comparing normal vectors from a reference epoch and the current epoch. To ensure maximum deformation interpretation quality, in an iterative and fully automatic procedure, n.Vec removes non-surface related scan artifacts to ensure uncontaminated surfaces and hence correct normal vectors.

     

  • Manual of Photogrammetry, Sixth Edition Now Available

    The American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS) announces the Manual of Photogrammetry, Sixth Edition is now available for purchase through the ASPRS Bookstore.

    ASPRS announced that under the leadership of J. Chris McGlone, PhD, CP, as editor-in-chief and George Y.G. Lee, Ph.D., technical editor, the manual covers photogrammetry in depth, as well as its constituent technologies, providing the student, practitioner, or researcher with a single valuable reference resource.

    The topics addressed within the manual include:
    • Mathematics: the perspective geometry which underlies the imaging process and its current usage in computer vision, the statistical modeling of measurement error, and the basic photogrammetric operations of resection, intersection, and triangulation, coordinate transformation
    • Image acquisition: the physics of optical systems and imaging chips, digital airborne and satellite sensors
    • Digital photogrammetry: image processing, computer vision, and their applications in photogrammetry
    • Photogrammetric operations: flight planning and GPS/INS utilization
    • Photogrammetric products: standard product types and formats and their associated accuracy standards
    • Current applications: mobile mapping vans, close-range industrial photogrammetry, space measurements, and forensic photogrammetry
    • Bibliography: each chapter has an extensive bibliography to guide further study

    ASPRS reports that these topics are covered by contributing authors who combine years of experience with many aspects of photogrammetry and familiarity with the state-of-the-art; many of the authors have been pivotal in defining the current state-of-the-art of digital photogrammetry.

    The overall outline of this sixth edition is slightly modified from that of the fifth edition. The emphasis is again on digital methods and products, while material on film cameras and analog plotters has been deleted. The mathematical content has been further expanded, especially the treatment of replacement sensor models, along with discussions of digital image processing and computer vision algorithms.

  • Aibotix Announces UAV Partnership with Leica Geosystems

    Aibotix GmbH, maker of a new generation of vertical take-off and landing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), announced that Leica Geosystems, a global leader in capture, modeling and visualization of 3D spatial information, has licensed the Aibotix X6 for worldwide distribution. Aibotix X6 features advanced, multi-sensor, intelligent guidance systems that make the X6 the safest and easiest to operate commercial UAV.

    AibotX6
    Aibot X6

    According to the announcement, UAVs are becoming increasingly important in many of the applications served by Leica Geosystems’ solutions. These include agriculture, asset & facilities management, cadastral mapping, disaster & emergency management, engineering, environmental, forensics, general industrial, mining, and public safety. Unrestricted positioning of various measuring technologies will spawn new applications as the full potential of this transformative UAV technology unfolds.

    “For many critical applications, access is risky, impossible or simply too time consuming using conventional methods or platforms,” said Rüdiger Wagner, General Manager of Solutions at Leica’sGeospatial Solutions Division. “We chose Aibotix because it is one of the best aerial platforms available for safe, reliable maneuvering of important payloads, not only in tight spaces,” he added. “This UAV mirrors the high standards for which our brand is known, making it the right choice for global distribution now. Going forward, I am confident that Aibotix with their strong product roadmap and skilled team are well positioned to keep leading the market with true innovations. That’s just what we need as we continueto think forward.”

    Joerg Lamprecht, managing director of Aibotix, said, “Leica Geosytems is synonymous with spatial information products, and an ideal partner for distribution of our UAVs. This is exciting teamwork from two companies that deliver pioneering solutions to difficult problems, especially when one has been doing so for nearly 200 years. Existing segments will be benefit and new markets will be discovered as great products from Leica Geosystems reach new heights in more places on Aibotix UAVs.”

    Under this arrangement, Aibotix reports that it remains an independent company with direct sales and additional distribution channels in other markets. Information about Aibotix X6’s performance specifications is available at www.aibotix.com.

  • Blue Marble Releases Global Mapper 14.2

    Blue Marble Geographics announces the release of Global Mapper version 14.2. This update to the company’s desktop GIS software offers many new and improved features and functions. Some of the major improvements include several scripting updates, improved Volume Measurement tools, new right-click option to the vector data Search dialog, many LiDAR enhancements and of course many new formats. Blue Marble’s geospatial data manipulation, visualization and conversion solutions are used worldwide by thousands of GIS analysts at software, oil and gas, mining, civil engineering, surveying, and technology companies, as well as governmental and university organizations.

    GlobalMapper_Augusta_LiDAR

    According to the announcement, the Global Mapper 14.2 release introduces many scripting updates and additions, including support for calculating attributes, splitting layers, interactively prompting users for files and folders, to name just a few. Global Mapper is a great tool for behind the scenes processing, whether it is simply batch data conversion or complex extract, transform and load processes such as attribute or geometry merging, clipping or editing. Users can find scripting samples with Global Mapper documentation, with the ability to edit and create them in any text editor. To make this work more easily, Global Mapper workspace files also can be saved as scripts.

    The company reports that the 14.2 release also includes many LiDAR enhancements such as search by elevations and the ability to color by return value, which allows users to easily see when there are multiple return values. This feature is excellent for performing vegetation analysis. There are also new point loading slider bar and reporting tools for point cloud density. 14.2 also has improved import and export options as well as support for exporting point clouds to DXF and DWG format files. 14.2 also introduces support for the new MrSID format files and exporting XYZI (XYZ + Intensity) files, typically from LiDAR data.

    “Certainly we are focused on continuing to expand our support for LiDAR and more geospatial formats,” stated Blue Marble President Patrick Cunningham. “But this release has some great new scripting capabilities and we like to remind our users that Global Mapper is a powerful extract, transform and load tool as well.”

  • Revised Kentucky and Tennessee USGS Maps Reveal New Design

    The United States Geological Survey announced that US Topo maps now have a crisper, cleaner design – enhancing readability of maps for online and printed use. Map symbols are easier to read over the digital aerial photograph layer whether the imagery is turned on or off. Improvements to symbol definitions (color, line thickness, line symbols, area fills), layer order, and annotation fonts are additional features of this supplemental release. Users can now adjust the transparency for some features and layers to increase visibility of multiple competing layers.

    USTopo

    According to the announcement, the new design is launched on new US Topo quadrangles for Kentucky (671 maps) and Tennessee (694 maps), which replace the first edition US Topo maps for those states. The replaced maps will be added to the USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection and are also available for free download from The National Map and the USGS Map Store website.

    “The new Kentucky and Tennessee US Topo maps demonstrate our commitment to improving the product design to meet our users’ needs”, said Mark DeMulder, Director of the USGS National Geospatial Program. “I encourage you to download these maps, compare them against the previous US Topo map and drop us your comments on the US Topo map product. Your input is important to us.”

    US Topo maps are updated every three years, with the initial round completed last September. Maps for Hawaii are currently in production with Alaska production starting later this year.

    Re-design enhancements and new features:

    • Crisper, cleaner design improves online and printed readability while retaining the look and feel of traditional USGS topographic maps
    • New functional road classification schema has been applied
    • A slight screening (transparency) has been applied to some features to enhance visibility of multiple competing layers
    • Updated free fonts that support diacritics
    • New PDF Legend attachment
    • Metadata formatted to support multiple browsers
    • New shaded relief layer for enhanced view of the terrain
    • Military installation boundaries, post offices and cemeteries

    US Topo maps are created from geographic datasets in The National Map, and deliver visible content such as high-resolution aerial photography, which was not available on older paper-based topographic maps. The new US Topo maps provide modern technical advantages that support wider and faster public distribution and on-screen geographic analysis tools for users.

    The new digital electronic topographic maps are delivered in GeoPDF image software format and may be viewed using Adobe Reader, available as a no cost download.

  • Autodesk to Acquire Tinkercad

    Autodesk has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Tinkercad, an easy-to-use browser-based 3D design tool. The addition of Tinkercad to Autodesk will help broaden the popular Autodesk 123D family of apps and supports Autodesk’s vision to help anybody imagine, design and create anything. The acquisition will also revive the Tinkercad service and community, despite a previously announced shutdown by its founders and creators.

    “Tinkercad is a natural extension of the Autodesk 123D family as well as our other apps and services for consumers, as it is already used alongside Autodesk products”
    “We are excited to have reached an agreement with Autodesk that will provide a solid home and bright future for Tinkercad,” said Kai Backman, founder of Tinkercad. “We found in Autodesk a shared vision for empowering students, makers and designers with accessible and easy to use software, and with their global reach and expertise in democratizing design, we’re confident in their ability to introduce Tinkercad to new audiences around the world.”

    According to the announcement, Autodesk intends for the Tinkercad service to remain available as part of its consumer portfolio. The company also intends to incorporate elements of the Tinkercad technology and user experience into the Autodesk 123D family of products as part of its ongoing effort to make 3D design easier and more accessible to everyone. The transaction is expected to close within the next 30 days.

    “Tinkercad is a natural extension of the Autodesk 123D family as well as our other apps and services for consumers, as it is already used alongside Autodesk products,” said Samir Hanna, Autodesk vice president, consumer products. “We look forward to welcoming the Tinkercad community to Autodesk and to continuing their mission of accessible 3D design for all.”

  • Spatial Energy, Geoimage Partner for Australian Energy Industry

    Spatial Energy has signed a partnership agreement with Geoimage, headquartered in Brisbane, Australia. According to Spatial Energy, the partnership will build capacity and expand access to greater spatial content within the oil and gas industry in Australasia, enhancing the capabilities of Australian customers who operate nationally and globally and allowing them to derive more value from their existing and new geospatial datasets.

    Spatial Energy provides, hosts and disseminates spatial imagery and derived content to the oil and gas industry through its online system Spatial on Demand. Geoimage is a provider of satellite imagery and processing services to the mining, oil and gas, and engineering sectors in Australia. Through this partnership, Geoimage augments its existing capabilities by providing Australian customers with the hosting and dissemination technologies that Spatial Energy brings, offering local expertise and services to global customers operating in the Australian region. This will bring new products, capacity and technology to the Australian energy sector, allowing customers to extract even more benefit from their imagery and derived spatial data layers, the companies said.

    “By bringing together two culturally and technically similar organizations to better service the energy market in Australia, Geoimage and Spatial Energy will better meet the needs of both our customers. We are very excited to introduce the Spatial on Demand online hosting and delivery facility to Australian customers,” said Wayne Middleton, CEO of Geoimage Pty Ltd.

    “By offering new technology, services and high value content coverage globally and for Australasia, we see our partnership providing both of our customer bases with better services, and increased content, access and collaboration capabilities to help them solve their exploration and production challenges,” said Michael McCarthy, Vice President Corporate Development of Spatial Energy.

  • MDA to Develop Monitoring Plan to Track Illegal Discharges of Oil from Vessels

    MDA’s Information Systems group has signed a contract valued at $1.7 million with the U.S. National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF). NFWF is working to protect delicate ecological environments by funding a satellite monitoring pilot program designed to detect illegal discharges of oil from vessels operating in the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and to reduce the number of those incidents.

    The United States’ EEZ is the largest in the world, spanning three oceans, the Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean Sea. It routinely has thousands of vessels traversing its area. With remote locations that are difficult to access, massive areas to monitor, and thousands of vessels to screen, deterring the illegal dumping of oil by boats at sea is a significant challenge. To help solve this problem, NFWF has partnered with MDA to develop a comprehensive satellite-based solution for marine environmental monitoring.

    Building on extensive global experience providing ship and oil detection, MDA’s RADARSAT-based wide area monitoring solutions form the core of the initiative and are ideally suited for this type of program, MDA said. To complement the RADARSAT-based solutions, MDA has assembled Automatic Identification System (AIS), Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and optical satellite sensors from the leading geospatial providers to deliver a versatile solution for maritime domain awareness.

    The monies for the monitoring program originated from community service funds directed to NFWF following to a sentence issued in the successful prosecution of an environmental crimes case involving the illegal dumping of oil from vessels, the bypassing of onboard pollution prevention equipment, and improper oil record-keeping. Over the course of the 18-month program, MDA and NFWF, in consultation with the U.S. Coast Guard, will coordinate to develop a detailed monitoring plan. In executing this plan, MDA will identify possible oil pollution sources. Trained analysts will review the satellite-based information and produce a report with the analysis of location, timing, amount, and source (naturally occurring seep vs. vessel-sourced oil).

    When man-made spills are identified, MDA’s maritime domain awareness solutions help authorities identify the source of the spill and the responsible operator. For vessels that are caught illegally polluting, the U.S. government can impose significant fines that will act as a deterrent. From the information generated by this program, monitoring baselines will be developed for future programs that are designed to help promote environmental compliance within the U.S. EEZ and to prevent these environmental crimes from recurring.

  • Autodesk Introduces ReCap, a Free Tool to Create 3D Images from Digital Photos

    Autodesk announces ReCap, a free, key addition to the complete 2014 portfolio of Suites which is a family software and services on the desktop and in the cloud to create intelligent 3D data from captured photos and laser scans in a streamlined workflow. Autodesk ReCap brings together laser scanning and photogrammetry into one streamlined process. In addition, it provides the visualization quality and scalability to handle extremely large data sets.

    AutodeskReCap

    According to the announcement, the Autodesk ReCap product line comprises two main offerings – Autodesk ReCap Studio and Autodesk ReCap Photo. Autodesk ReCap Studio makes it easy to clean, organize and visualize massive datasets captured from reality. Autodesk ReCap Photo helps users create high-resolution textured 3D models from photos using the power of cloud computing. Rather than beginning with a blank screen, Autodesk ReCap now enables any designer, architect or engineer to add, modify, validate and document their design process in context from existing environments.

    For example, a civil engineer can bypass an existing bridge or expand the road underneath digitally and test feasibility. At construction phase, builders can run clash detection to understand if utilities will be in the way. Urban planners can get answers to specific design questions about large areas, such as how much building roof surface is covered by shadow or vegetation.

    ReCap Studio is a data preparation environment that runs on the desktop. Users can import captured data directly into Autodesk design solutions, such as AutoCAD, Autodesk Revit, Autodesk Inventor, etc., to conduct QA and verification of data. The data can come from non-intelligent, black and white sparse point clouds to intelligent, visually high appealing content. ReCap Studio will ship in Autodesk product and suite installers or be available for free on the Autodesk Exchange Apps store.

    ReCap Photo is an Autodesk 360 service designed to create high resolution 3D data from photos to enable users to visualize and share 3D data. By leveraging the power of the cloud to process and store massive data files, users can upload images on Autodesk 360 and instantly create a 3D mesh model. ReCap Photo is available with Standard Suites entitlement and higher.

    Key features of Autodesk ReCap include:

    Visualize and edit massive datasets: On the desktop, ReCap users can view and edit billions of points to prepare them for use in Autodesk portfolio products to enable realistic in context design work
    Professional-Grade Photo to 3D Features: ReCap unlocks the power of ubiquitous cameras to capture high-quality 3D models, bringing reality capture within reach of anyone with a camera. ReCap supports objects of any size and range, full resolution for high-density meshes, survey points and multiple file exports.
    Photo and Laser: ReCap incorporates the best of both photo and laser data capture so that customers can use photos to fill in holes or augment laser scan data. Users can both increase photos scene accuracy with laser points and add photo-realistic detail to laser scans. Create point clouds from photos, align scans and photos and convert professional grade photo to 3D models.
    Autodesk continues to invest in developing sophisticated, easy-to-use reality capture technologies. The company has made several key acquisitions including Alice Labs and Allpoint Systems as well as applied its own research and development resources to accelerate the mainstream adoption of these technologies. As customers are looking for ways to easily and accurately capture the world around them, Autodesk ReCap streamlines Reality Capture workflows, making working with Reality Capture data easy, quick and cost effective.

    Autodesk reports that it combines laser scanning data and photogrammetry into one product family to address and streamline the entire workflow. Whereas traditional point clouds appear as dots, Autodesk technology can now visualize truly massive point clouds as realistic surfaces. Unique to Autodesk is that users can interact with these huge data sets doing CAD-like operations such as selection, tagging, moving, measuring, clash detection, and object extraction, all with native points. Laser scanning and photogrammetry are historically very expensive and data intensive. Autodesk’s goal is to democratize the process of reality capture so that anyone can capture the world around them to create high quality 3D models.