GPS World

Tag: mobile mapping

  • GeoMobile Innovations hosts ‘Evaluating the Mobile GIS Landscape’ workshop

    Mobile GIS expert GeoMobile Innovations is hosting an Evaluating the Mobile GIS Landscape workshop on Jan. 14, 2016. The inaugural course will provide an extensive overview and best practice assessment for those seeking solutions in an often confusing menu of choices for Mobile GIS.

    The workshop, which will be conducted via live instruction at GeoMobile’s headquarters in Corvallis, Oregon, will be led by GeoMobile’s Technical Director Craig Greenwald. Greenwald is a highly experienced ESRI/Mobile GIS expert and software developer, the company said.

    When asked about the impetus for the class, GeoMobile President Rich Ash responded, “We are hearing about a lot of confusion in the Mobile GIS marketplace. There are many new offerings being aggressively marketed to organizations and it can be tempting to jump in to a new tool without a clear line of decision making. Advancements and new options are exciting, but Mobile GIS tools are not a one size fits all proposition; professional organizations need to adequately assess their project needs, considering multiple criteria.”

    Evaluating the Mobile GIS Landscape is a consultative workshop that is proposed to offer meaningful real-world information without the sales pitch, the organizers said. It will help an organization assess appropriate GIS workflows and ask meaningful questions about deploying software and hardware tools suitable for their projects.

    Lead instructor and mobile GIS software developer Craig Greenwald emphasized his approach in the workshop is helping students in seeking practical solutions. “Having provided consulting and professional software services to organizations large and small, I’m often brought in after decisions have already been made about software and hardware,” Greenwald said. “By being proactive, we can save folks headache and expense in having to make significant adjustments mid-project. The beauty of this course is in that in a short, focused period of time, each student will have a chance to assess their own requirements and we will take them through a decision-making worksheet “

    The class is $195 per participant and includes lunch. More information and a downloadable registration form is available at the event website, or by email if requested from [email protected].

  • New TIMMS 2 a Maneuverable Indoor Mapper

    Timms-From-the-angle-WTrimble has introduced its next-generation Trimble Indoor Mobile Mapping Solution (TIMMS) that produces fast and accurate maps of difficult-to-navigate indoor spaces and translates them directly into 2D and 3D models of structured interiors.

    TIMMS 2 is a fusion of technologies for capturing spatial data of indoor and other GNSS denied areas, the company said. It provides both lidar and spherical video, enabling the creation of accurate, real-life representations of interior spaces and all of their contents. The maps are geo-located, meaning that the real world positions of each area of the building and its contents are known and can be easily placed and oriented in a wide area model.

    TIMMS 2 is smaller, lighter and more easily maneuverable than its predecessor. It can negotiate tight corners, closets and catwalks, and can be carried up and down staircases where no elevator is available for travel between building levels.

    “The new Trimble Indoor Mobile Mapping Solution has been designed with greater emphasis on ease of use. It is very easy to maneuver, lift, ship and operate,” said Louis Nastro, director of Land Products at Applanix, a Trimble Company. “Our extensive experience with a broad range of projects with the previous generation TIMMS has led to a number of enhancements in data collection, processing and workflow management — making an indoor mapping project a seamless experience for users both pre- and post-mission. Whatever the building type and shape, TIMMS 2 can deliver exceptional results, both in accuracy and ease-of-use.”

    Building on the success of the first-generation solution, TIMMS 2 also provides improved software workflow to manage the complete process from collection through post-processing to model production. Fully compatible with POSPac MMS, Applanix’ post-processing suite, TIMMS data can be presented in a variety of ways, including integration into Trimble Business Center and other infrastructure management or CAD packages.

    Because of its increased efficiency, speed and ease-of-use, TIMMS 2 is an effective and high-productivity indoor mapping solution for buildings and facilities of all shapes and sizes, according to Trimble, including large or small areas, multi-level, industrial or commercial spaces. Users can obtain holistic 3D indoor geospatial views of all kinds of infrastructure including public buildings (government offices, schools, hospitals); industrial facilities (factories, warehouses); transportation hubs (airports, train stations); retail spaces (malls, concourses); entertainment venues (theatres, auditoriums, sound stages); and residential property (especially multi-occupancy high-rise buildings).

    Maps and models of these spaces can be used for activities including revenue management and space planning; emergency preparedness and disaster planning; and historical building conservation and preservation. In addition, the base map provides a platform on which building owners and managers can serve location-based services.

    Manufactured and sold by Applanix, TIMMS 2 indoor mobile mapping solution is available in the first quarter of 2016.

    Below, Eric Liberty of Applanix, a Trimble company, gives an overview of Applanix’s POS AV, POS AVX 210 and TIMMS indoor mobile mapping system at INTERGEO 2015, which was held Sept. 15-17 in Stuttgart, Germany.

  • INTERGEO 2015: Applanix Features Mobile Mapping and Positioning Products

    Eric Liberty of Applanix, a Trimble company, gives an overview of Applanix’s POS AV, POS AVX 210 and TIMMS indoor mobile mapping system at INTERGEO 2015, which was held Sept. 15-17 in Stuttgart, Germany.

    POS AV is a hardware and software system specifically designed for direct georeferencing of airborne sensor data.

    The POS AVX 210 is a GNSS-inertial solution designed for mapping with small and medium format cameras. The positioning components are now smaller and integrate MEMS technology.

    TIMMS (Trimble’s Indoor Mobile Mapping System) captures spatial data of indoor and other GNSS-denied areas of all sizes and locations, according to Trimble. It provides both LiDAR and spherical video of a facility, enabling the creation of accurate, real-life maps or models of interior spaces.

  • Mobile Surveying Solutions from Teledyne Optech Shown at INTERGEO 2015

    3D point cloud collected at highway speeds.
    3D point cloud collected at highway speeds.

    The latest solutions by Teledyne Optech for the productive and accurate collection of spatial data will be on display at INTERGEO 2015, taking place Sept. 15-17 in Stuttgart, Germany — including a new solution for survey-grade mobile mapping.

    At booth C4.019 in Hall 4, Teledyne Optech will present the latest addition to its high-powered Optech Lynx mobile survey systems. The new model is designed for both efficient asset collection and the delivery of engineering survey-grade results, giving operators flexibility for multiple types of jobs. Teledyne Optech will also demonstrate how the advanced features of Optech LMS 3.0 improve collection and processing efficiency by enabling access to survey control.

    Several other Teledyne Optech systems will be at the booth, including the Optech Galaxy airborne mapper. Visitors can take the opportunity to see how Galaxy vastly improves survey efficiency and consistency in variable terrain by letting surveyors ignore multipulse blind zones and keep their swath and point density on the ground constant with its PulseTRAK and SwathTRAK technologies. Forestry and coastal data from the Optech Titan will also be available, with Teledyne Optech experts ready to explain the new techniques that surveyors, government agencies and academics have developed to take advantage of its revolutionary multispectral lidar technology for topo/bathy surveys, land classification and biomass estimation.

    The CZMIL Nova System is designed for airborne coastal and marine mapping.
    The CZMIL Nova System is designed for airborne coastal and marine mapping.

    Groups interested in surveying deeper in turbid waters than any other airborne lidar can also drop by the booth to hear more about the Optech CZMIL Nova. Even smaller organizations with limited budgets can now make use of CZMIL Nova, thanks to redesigned hardware that lets it survey from aircraft as small as a Piper Navajo, plus the ability to rent the sensor and its HydroFusion workflow through the CZMIL Project Program.

    For smaller scale projects, Teledyne Optech will display integrated solutions using the flexible Optech ILRIS terrestrial lidar scanner: Users can rapidly survey open pit mines by combining ILRIS with photogrammetry from the new geo-XR6 UAV, constantly monitor dangerous areas for landslides with the Gexcel OPMMS solution, or even survey harbors above and below water simultaneously with an integrated ILRIS/Seabat sonar system.

    Visitors interested in improving productivity and safety in underground mining can see the Optech Cavity Monitoring System (CMS) V500 in action and try out its new integrated camera, georeferencing tools and more.

  • Topcon Tech Used to Digitally Preserve Japanese Heritage Site

    SOGI_3_Topcon-O

    Data from Topcon’s participation in the digital preservation of the historic Sogi hydroelectric plant in Japan was unveiled at a special event in Bonn, Germany, in conjunction with the UNESCO World Heritage Committee meetings, held June 15-25. The committee examined proposals to inscribe 36 properties on UNESCO’s World Heritage List.

    SOGI_2_Topcon-WLocated in Isa, the Sogi power plant was constructed in 1909. At its height, the hydroelectric plant generated 6,700 kW of power. The Sogi plant closed in 1965 with the construction of the larger Tsuruda dam downriver. The new dam caused Sogi to flood seasonally, endangering the unique representation from the Meiji industrial revolution. 

    Considered a significant contribution to the Meiji industrial revolution, the plant was mapped as part of the CyArk 500 Challenge — an international project to digitally preserve and create awareness of some of the world’s most significant cultural heritage sites.

    The Sogi site was recorded in 3D by an international team using the latest Topcon geopositioning technologies including the GLS-2000 scanner, the IP-S3 mobile mapping system, and aerial mapping solutions.

    “We are proud to have provided our technology and resources to the Sogi project,” said Eduardo Falcon, Topcon executive vice president and general manager of the GeoPositioning Solutions Group. “As a global company headquartered in Japan, we particularly understand the importance of this site and appreciate the CyArk efforts to digitally preserve it for future generations. The Sogi hydroelectric plant was a pinnacle of the industrial ingenuity of the period, and we are honored to have this opportunity to link our technology with the technology of the past.”

    The National Congress of Industrial Heritage, in collaboration with the Japanese government, nominated the Sogi plant to the CyArk 500 Challenge in December of 2014. Topcon teamed with CyArk and the National Congress to develop a three-dimensional map of the site for future preservation and visualization.

    CyArk archived the captured data and used it to build an interactive online map of the site to promote the preservation and study of Japan’s industrial heritage.

    “We are very excited for the digital preservation of the Sogi hydroelectric plant,” said Ben Kacyra, CyArk founder. “The CyArk 500 strives to connect the international heritage community in an effort to preserve and experience incredible places in a way previously impossible.”

    SOGI_1_Topcon-W

  • Point Grey Adds High-Resolution Model to Grasshopper3 Camera Line

    Grasshopper3 GS3-U3-120S6 models by Point Grey.
    Grasshopper3 GS3-U3-120S6 models by Point Grey.

    High-performance digital camera maker Point Grey has added a new 12 MP CCD model to its Grasshopper3 USB3 Vision camera line. With high-resolution CCD image quality, high-dynamic range, and USB 3.0 interface, the Grasshopper3 is suited for a variety of demanding applications including industrial inspection, 3D scanning, microscopy and mobile mapping.

    The Grasshopper3 GS3-U3-120S6 models are based on color and monochrome versions of the 1-inch Sony ICX834 global shutter CCD sensor, which features 3.1 micron pixels and 4242 x 2830 image resolution running in dual-tap at 7 FPS. The ICX834 device uses Sony’s EXview HAD CCD II pixel architecture with improved quantum efficiency and near infrared response (NIR).

    EXview HAD CCD II also enables smaller pixel sizes while maintaining excellent imaging performance. This allows the high-resolution ICX834, with its 1-inch optical format, to be integrated into compact C-mount cameras like the Grasshopper3, and used with smaller, lower cost C-mount lenses.

    Grasshopper3 Like all Point Grey USB 3.0 cameras, the Grasshopper3 uses a proprietary USB 3.0 link layer and frame buffer-based architecture for optimal performance and reliability. The Grasshopper3 uses an advanced image processing pipeline to enable color interpolation, look up table, gamma correction, pixel binning and USB3 Vision support.

    “We’re excited to continue expanding our Grasshopper3 USB3 Vision family with even higher resolution sensors,” says Michael Gibbons, Director of Sales and Marketing at Point Grey. “This new 12 MP Grasshopper3 camera is Point Grey’s highest resolution machine vision camera to date. The ultra HD 4K Sony ICX834 CCD sensor achieves a higher sensitivity in the near infrared range (NIR) and offers better price performance than other high resolution cameras on the market.”

    The Grasshopper3 GS3-U3-120S6 is list priced at $3695/€2795 and is available to order now from Point Grey, its network of distributors and the online store (for North American, EU and Australian customers).

  • Boundless Releases OpenGeo Suite 4.6 to Improve Performance

    Boundless, a provider of spatial IT solutions, has released OpenGeo Suite 4.6, the newest version of its powerful enterprise geospatial software platform.

    OpenGeo Suite 4.6 is open-source geospatial software that powers web, mobile and desktop maps and applications across large and small organizations. New capabilities and enhancements in Version 4.6 include:

    • Enhanced OpenGeo Suite Composer, which allows anyone to build and style maps by making it easier to add data to GeoServer, style layers, and publish to the Web. Originally released in OpenGeo Suite 4.5, the latest release of OpenGeo Suite Composer improves layer management, allows publishing to OpenLayers3 templates for easy website embedding, and makes it even simpler to use the YSLD syntax for styling. OpenGeo Composer is available to all OpenGeo Suite Enterprise customers.
    • Improved reliability, handling and security when executing geospatial analysis.
    • Multiple updates to rendering and tile design capabilities.
    • Numerous updates and bug fixes to all components to improve stability and reliability across the entire software stack.

    OpenGeo Suite Enterprise from Boundless is open source geospatial software designed for users with complex deployment requirements who want to build robust solutions for demanding production environments that often require features such as connections to enterprise databases, advanced runtime environments, or sophisticated clustering solutions in support of scalability requirements. Organizations with complex enterprise needs should no longer feel locked in to proprietary software with significant license costs in order to accomplish sophisticated projects, Boundless said.

    “Boundless is committed to making geospatial software that is open, readily available and easy to use for all business applications,” said Ann Johnson, CEO, Boundless. “OpenGeo Suite 4.6 is the next step in our continued efforts to add features, functionality and usability to meet the demands of our customer base.”

    Boundless offers a host of service packages and training to help customers and free users get the most from their OpenGeo Suite deployment. Boundless also supports a variety of deployment options, including on-premise and cloud environments such as AWS and Microsoft Azure.

  • DT Research Rolls out Mapping and GIS Tablets

    The DT391GS tablet.
    The DT391GS tablet.

    DT Research Inc. has launched a new line of rugged tablets with the GNSS modules for surveying and mapping applications. The DT391GS, DT395GS and DT307GS rugged tablets feature integrated high-accuracy GNSS receiver modules with built-in antenna for seamless data capture, the company said.

    Built to travel and provide reliable operations in the real world, the tablets are designed for field work in mapping, geographic information systems (GIS), and accurate synchronization, tracking and networking.

    The DT391GS combines a 9-inch sunlight-readable, capacitive touch display with an energy-efficient Intel dual-core processor in a compact, durable package. With the high-accuracy GNSS module options (Hemisphere or Trimble), the foldable antenna, and Windows or Android operating system. The DT391GS also offers protection in demanding environments with IP65 and MIL-STD-810G ratings for dust and water, and shock and vibration resistance.

    The DT395GS tablet.
    The DT395GS tablet.

    The DT395GS offers a 9-inch sunlight-readable capacitive touch screen, an energy efficient Intel dual-core processor, and a choice of Windows or Android operating systems. The GNSS positioning module has u-blox GNSS module. The IP65 rating, and military-standard MILSTD-810G and MIL-STD-461F ratings, as well as wide temperature range, make the DT395GS reliable even in harsh, mission-critical environments.

    The DT307GS GNSS tablet features a brilliant 7-inch capacitive touch screen and a quad-core, energy efficient processor with a built-in, high-accuracy u-blox GNSS module. The size and weight of the DT307GS make this tablet portable for long-term handling in the field, DT Research said.

    The DT307GS tablet
    The DT307GS tablet

    All of the DT Research Rugged GS Tablets offer hot-swappable batteries for continuous operation, enabling real-time project efficiency between staff in the field and in the office. With wireless support for Bluetooth, 802.11, WCDMA and HSPA+ connectivity and optional GSM networking, the tablets keep staff connected from any location.

    The DT391GS and DT395GS have Trusted Processing Module (TPM) encryption for security support, and a choice of Microsoft Windows Embedded Standard 7 or 7 Professional, or Android operating system making these tablets flexible to integrate with existing applications.

    An optional 5-megapixel camera offers another data capture tool to record visual information, and an optional 3G cellular data module provides data connectivity for navigation and real-time data transfer, DT Research said.

    The DT391GS, DT395GS, and DT307GS are available now, form more information, contact DT Research at [email protected].

  • Topcon Updates 3D Mobile Mapping System

    IP-S3_Topcon

    Topcon Positioning Group has announced the latest edition of its 3D mobile mapping system. The IP-S3 ­is on display at the SPAR International 3D Measurement and Imaging Conference, held March 30-April 2 in Houston, Texas. The system employs the integration of an inertial measurement unit (IMU) and GNSS receiver with a vehicle’s onboard electronics to offer high-density mobile digital imaging.

    “The IP-S3 is more compact, lightweight, and scans at a rate of up to five times faster than previous models,” said Charles Rihner, vice president of the Topcon GeoPositioning Group. “Weighing in at 39 lbs. (18 kg), it’s light enough that a single person could mount it on a car, truck or SUV without any assistance from anyone else.”

    Scanning at 700,000 points-per-second, the rotating LiDAR sensor captures the 360-degree environment with 32 internal lasers. The IP-S3’s six-lens digital camera is designed to provide data-rich results with its 30 MP panoramic imagery.

    The system pairs with Topcon Mobile Master Field and Office software suite to perform all post-processing functions in a single application.

    “The software suite offers a complete all-in-one processing workflow, turning raw sensor data collected by the IP-S3 system into rich and precise point clouds and images,” Rihner said.

  • Leica Offers Next-Generation Mobile Mapping Platform, Pegasus:Two

    Leica Offers Next-Generation Mobile Mapping Platform, Pegasus:Two

    PegasusTwo_application-W
    photo: Leica

    Leica Geosystems has introduced its next generation vehicle-independent mobile mapping platform, the Pegasus:Two. By calibrating imagery and LiDAR point cloud data, the Pegasus:Two delivers highly accurate and economical geospatial data in a 360° spherical view while providing two methods for extracting data — either through LiDAR or via photogrammetry.

    With its enhanced sensor platform using six horizontal cameras, plus an optional rear camera and a skyward view camera, a single high-speed LiDAR sensor, and an external output for an additional sensor, the Pegasus:Two enables unlimited mobile mapping applications, from pavement analysis to geo-referencing railways systems, now possible within the same platform, the company said.

    From hardware to post-processing, Pegasus:Two allows economic data collection by balancing the largest pixel to sensor ratio on the market (5.5 x 5.5 µm), delivering extremely high image resolution, in a 4-MB camera and using a single low-noise, high-speed profiler. Users can download data via Wi-Fi or wired Ethernet, or even faster by using the latest USB3 interface, by means of a multi-core, industrial PC with 1-TB storage and a solid state drive, enabling longer missions. An optional rotation mount, designed specifically for the Leica ScanStation P20, also makes mounting the terrestrial scanner upside down or right side up while also enabling left or right rotation.

    The Pegasus:Two in its new streamlined housing with aerodynamic design.
    The Pegasus:Two in its new streamlined housing with aerodynamic design.

    Expanding on the success of Leica Geosystems’ mobile mapping software, the latest software now offers semi-automatic object extraction features, which enable easy-to-use two-click GIS metadata extraction or calculation of distances on-the-fly directly into ArcGIS for Desktop software.

    Leica Geosystems also introduces an external timing output and trigger signal for use with a variety of additional sensors, from a thermal camera, to ground penetrating radar, sonar, or even a pollution monitor. The External Trigger feature synchronizes time stamping and coordinates user data with one simple click, making 3D mobile mapping very user-friendly.

    Urban canyons. Equipped with the NovAtel’s ProPak6 high-precision receiver for the most demanding city or rugged environments, the Pegasus:Two offers users a truly global system. It is a future-proof investment that tracks signals of all available constellations, GPS, GLONASS, Galileo and BeiDou as well as L-band, SBAS, and QZSS band coverage to ensure the best signal even when moving through urban canyons. The system provides a low noise, 200hz Inertial Measurement Unit for tracking the vehicle path thereby ensuring data is positioned accurately.

    Aerodynamic design. The Leica Pegasus:Two mobile mapping system now comes with a new streamlined and compact look and continues to fit in only two travel cases. A convenient handle surrounding the unit enables easy mounting on and off your vehicles. The Pegasus:Two is a vehicle-independent system with a rechargeable 11 hour battery, and can be used on any moving platform.

    “The Leica Pegasus:Two platform is a unique complete solution,” said Stuart Woods, vice president for Leica Geosystems Geospatial Division. “By providing software and hardware designed to seamlessly work together, users not only receive the latest in mobile mapping technology but also optimal performance and faster workflows. By keeping the platform vehicle independent and adding new sensor options, we encourage our customers to find new ways, to try out different sensors, new revenue models, and new places to measure. ”

    Along with the Pegasus:Two, the advanced prototype, Pegasus:T2, a trolley based mobile system weighing less than 20 kilograms will also be on display at the HxGN LIVE 2014 Conference in Las Vegas.

  • Trimble Offers Software Updates to Simplify Geospatial Analysis

    Trimble announced today comprehensive updates to its powerful suite of geospatial office software, including Trimble Business Center, RealWorks and Trident solutions. Together, these updates provide increased data interoperability between Trimble office software platforms, enabling users to easily combine data generated through traditional survey methods, laser scanning and mobile mapping workflows, to produce richer and more intuitive deliverables, the company said.

    “Data interoperability across Trimble software platforms provide users with seamless and efficient workflows and the flexibility to focus first on the output needed for each job,” said Alain Samaha, business area director of GIS and software for Trimble’s Geospatial Division. “Whether it is a stakeout design or a precise as-built model, users can select the best software environment to get the job done right and deliver that information in the most useable format.”

    The announcement was made at SPAR International 2014, a conference for 3D data capture, processing and delivery technologies.

    Trimble Business Center Version 3.20. Geospatial professionals now have access to an improved processing and analysis experience. With an integrated and powerful new point cloud engine, users can visualize and edit large point clouds while simultaneously working with high- resolution imagery. Combining these rich data sets into a single workflow saves time and potential conversion errors.

    Trimble RealWorks Version 8.1. The latest release of Trimble RealWorks provides surveyors and laser scanning professionals with enhanced tools that make it easier to visualize and interpret scan data. Point clouds can now be easily colorized using high-resolution and High Dynamic Range (HDR) images from professional grade external cameras, significantly reducing measurement and modeling times.

    Trimble Trident Version 6.1. Mobile mapping professionals can now combine the rich datasets captured using spherical cameras with laser scanner and inertial measurements from the Trimble MX2, to easily determine the location of surveyed features and automatically classify imaged objects.

    The new office software versions are expected to be available in April 2014 through Trimble’s worldwide Geospatial distribution network.

  • iXBlue, Septentrio Create ATLANS-C for Mapping Urban Environments

    iXBlue, Septentrio Create ATLANS-C for Mapping Urban Environments

    The ATLANS-C position and orientation system.
    The ATLANS-C position and orientation system.

    iXBlue, a provider of navigation, positioning, and mapping solutions, has launched its new ATLANS-C position and orientation system, developed in close cooperation with Septentrio Satellite Navigation. The system is designed to provide continuous and accurate positioning in urban environments, where GNSS signals are obscured, intermittent, or possibly distorted by reflective surfaces.

    ATLANS-C benefits from the optimized integration of iXBlue’s fiber-optic gyroscope (FOG) based inertial navigation system (INS) and Septentrio’s multi-constellation GNSS receiver technologies. Experts from iXBlue and Septentrio worked closely to develop a “smart” coupling method that combines the advantages of the two companies’ technologies. The result is an easy-to-use, easy-to-integrate, and highly reliable INS-GNSS mobile mapping solution, the companies said.

    “The ATLANS-C development was a real team effort,” said Jan Van Hees, head of sales and business development at Septentrio. “Technical trials with leading customers have already demonstrated superior accuracy, continuity, and reliability of positioning and attitude data, even in the most challenging urban environment.”

    “The new system’s robustness, compact size, and improved urban-area performance uniquely address more complex mobile mapping market requirements. The ease of use, quick integration, and zero maintenance features are excellent values recognized by original equipment manufacturers (OEM) or mobile mapping system integrators,” explained Xavier Montazel, head of iXBlue inertial products division. “One of ATLANS-C’s many other advantages is its versatility, allowing the same equipment to be used for land and air applications. Configuration of the system is achieved through the use of iXBlue’s innovative web interface, utilized across the complete range of products.”

    ATLANS-C has no ITAR components inside, allowing fast and easy global export. Customers will benefit from the industry exclusive five-year warranty and a 24/7 support line. ATLANS-C is available today with a six-week lead time.