BIM 360 Layout is designed to provide vertical construction contractors the ability to connect the coordinated model to the field layout process — helping to increase job site productivity, while improving the accuracy of staked or installed building components.
“We are committed to the interoperability between our products and Autodesk software making workflows increasingly simple for common customers,” said Ray Kerwin, director of global surveying products. “Now operators taking advantage of the iX series’ smoothest and most accurate prism tracking ability can also layout or QA/QC (quality assurance/quality control) with the BIM 360 Layout app.”
With the addition of the iX series, operators now have a choice of instruments in the Sokkia family with BIM 360 connectivity, including the SX total station series.
Lockheed Martin is set to launch the WorldView-4 high-resolution imaging satellite for DigitalGlobe aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket on Sept. 16. WorldView-4, also built by Lockheed Martin, will capture photos and data about Earth.
With the WorldView-4 satellite, DigitalGlobe more than doubles its ability to deliver images of Earth at 30-centimeter resolution — sharp enough to identify the make of an automobile. WorldView-4 will orbit the Earth every 90 minutes, capturing 600,000 square miles of imagery everyday.
Artist’s rendering of the DigitalGlobe WorldView-4 satellite in orbit. (Image: Lockheed Martin)
Rocket/Payload: Atlas V 401 flying the WorldView-4 mission for customer DigitalGlobe.
Location: Space Launch Complex 3 East at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California.
Date/Time: Friday, Sept. 16, 2016
Launch Time: The launch window opens at 11:30 a.m. PDT and closes at 11:44 a.m. PDT. Separation occurs approximately 20 minutes after liftoff.
Mission Description: This mission will deliver the WorldView-4 satellite into a 617 km, sun-synchronous orbit for DigitalGlobe, the global leader in earth imagery and information about our changing planet.
By leveraging DigitalGlobe’s advanced constellation scheduling system to operate in concert with WorldView-3, WorldView-4 will more than double DigitalGlobe’s coverage of the world’s highest-resolution 30 cm commercial satellite imagery.
Once launched, the satellite will orbit earth every 90 minutes, traveling 17,000 miles per hour and capturing as much as 680,000 square kilometers of the Earth’s surface daily (18 terabytes) – the equivalent of the land area of Texas.
Also aboard the launch will be seven U.S. Government-owned CubeSats that will be deployed after separation of the WorldView-4 satellite.
Launch Provider: Lockheed Martin Commercial Launch Services is the exclusive provider of Atlas V rockets to all non-U.S. government customers. With dedicated launch sites and unparalleled orbital insertion accuracy, Atlas V is unmatched for performance, reliability and schedule assurance.
Updates: To keep up-to-speed with updates to the launch and learn more about the WorldView-4 mission visit www.lockheedmartin.com/worldview4.
Topcon Positioning Group announces the release of two new mapping kits for its Sirius Pro fixed-wing unmanned aerial system (UAS). The kits are designed to produce the most accurate solutions for automated mapping of construction sites, building facades, mines, quarries, disaster areas — and more without regard to terrain.
Both systems include an enhanced MAVinci Desktop Flight Planning software upgrade.
The first new package — Sirius UAS City Mapping Kit — includes a Fuji X-M1 8 mm lens designed to better capture urban surroundings.
“It allows the image capture of vertical facades such as buildings, infrastructure and construction sites,” said Charles Rihner, vice president of the Topcon GeoPositioning Solutions Group. “The upgraded flight planning software optimizes the planning, preparation and processing to automatically produce a textured 3D model. Additionally, the kit allows the acquisition of 3D models and orthophotos when flying below 50 m altitude,” he said.
The second new package — the Sirius UAS High Resolution Mapping Kit — comes with a Fuji X-M1 27-millimeter lens. “This package allows the collection of images at the highest possible resolution for applications such as construction site monitoring, survey and mapping topography,” Rihner said. “It allows operators to obtain higher resolution images at the same altitude as compared with a standard lens.”
“Every QGIS user now has access to the vast volumes of mobile mapping data,” said Peter Bonne, CEO of Orbit GT. By connecting to Publisher, the QGIS user has access to spherical imagery and point-cloud data of unlimited volume and size onto their desktop.
With the Orbit GT plugin for QGIS, the use of native Mobile Mapping content becomes easy, the company said. Any challenge of volume and performance is tackled by the Orbit Publisher. Users can measure, copy any measurement into QGIS, and overlay QGIS features on the Mobile Mapping imagery.
Phase One Industrial has introduced its Phase One 4-Band Solution, which incorporates an innovative batch-processing tool that automates and simplifies the four-band aerial image generation process.
Adding a fourth band of near infrared (NIR) image data to three-band color (RGB) image data yields multispectral information useful in vegetation studies — in applications ranging from crop metrics for optimization, to vegetation health, environmental contamination and city observations for green site monitoring.
Synchronized Phase One metric aerial cameras.
The solution is composed of two synchronized Phase One metric aerial cameras mounted side by side on a specially designed base plate, a Phase One iX Controller and Phase One iX Capture software.
Images are captured in NIR and RGB bands simultaneously, and processed automatically to generate distortion-free images and perform fine co-registration of the pixels from NIR to the RGB images — including processing different image sizes — with seven different output options, including multispectral CIR images.
Complementing the solution’s software functionality, the use of two separate cameras to support higher system sensitivity permits operators to separately control capture settings so that they can operate under a wider range of lighting conditions.
“We very easily installed the cameras into the gyro mount, and all power and communications were automatically configured with the iX-Controller,” said Peter Bochmann, operator of Aerial SurveyS GmbH. “The output four-band images were incredible, showing an area of forest vegetation straight-away that needed attention; we would not have seen this detail with RGB images alone. The flexibility of the solution is also great, since you can combine any two Phase One metric medium-format cameras and accomplish multiple jobs without changing the setup.”
The Phase One 4-Band Solution offers a variety of benefits:
100MP sensors for RGB and NIR images, no NIR up scaling is needed;
CMOS sensors for maximum sensitivity;
Post processing is automatic, using the solutions’ iX Controller along with iX Capture;
Automatic individual aperture control and auto exposure mode is available for both cameras;
Direct connection to GNSS/IMU systems; coordinates are stored inside the EXIF data of each image to speed later post-processing;
Also available with 80MP RGB and 60MP Achromatic Sensors.
Esri customers in the United States can now purchase Septentrio’s Altus NR2 high-accuracy GNSS receiver, according to an announcement today from the two partner companies.
The open-architecture Altus NR2 is fully compatible with Esri’s new version of Collector for ArcGIS, giving Esri users a powerful combination for GIS data gathering in applications requiring centimeter-level positioning, the companies said in a news release.
The intuitive web interface built into the NR2 allows for easy receiver configuration for Collector for ArcGIS using a standard web browser so that no additional device is needed to configure the receiver.
“This new reseller agreement builds on our longstanding strategic alliance with Septentrio to develop high-accuracy GNSS/GIS solutions optimized for easy integration with our ArcGIS Online platform,” said Jeff Shaner, product manager. “The Altus NR2 GNSS receiver, coupled with Collector for ArcGIS, provides a seamless solution for high-accuracy, offline field data collection using the ArcGIS platform.”
“We have worked closely with Esri to ensure our new-generation GNSS receiver technology integrates smoothly with Esri’s new high-accuracy Collector for ArcGIS,” said Neil Vancans, vice president of Septentrio Americas. “Our open architecture enables Esri users to record important parameters like height, horizontal coordinates, error variance and other attributes in the field using their familiar Collector workflows.”
The Altus NR2 offers advanced features such as dual cellular antennae with automatic switchover, built-in Wi-Fi, hot-swappable batteries and open architecture to Esri ArcGIS Online. It has been thoroughly tested with the new high-accuracy version of Collector for ArcGIS.
Septentrio’s advanced RTK engine delivers unbeatable accuracy at centimeter-level for GIS professionals in urban and regional planning, transportation, water industry, real estate, forestry, telecommunications and other sectors. The NR2’s integrated communication systems make for fast and easy field work. The Bluetooth module enables rapid data streaming into Collector. The built-in GSM/GPRS modem provides robust access to RTK data corrections, while the Wi-Fi provides access to Septentrio’s intuitive web user interface for easy status monitoring and straightforward configuration.
The Arctic SDI Board, — which includes mapping executives from Canada, Kingdom of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden and the U.S. — met June 14-16 in Anchorage, Alaska, to further develop a robust Arctic Spatial Data Infrastructure.
The Arctic SDI is a cooperation based on a Memorandum of Understanding signed by the eight National Mapping Agencies and is intended to ensure Arctic geospatial data is easier for users to access, validate and combine.
Erosion and climate change along Alaska’s Arctic Coast. (Photo: USGS)
A spatial data infrastructure (SDI) provides tools for data distributors to ensure geospatial data is easier for users to access, validate and combine with other data. Important data sets are produced and distributed by many stakeholders — in the public and private sector — and most of it can be geographically referenced.
“It’s important that scientists, resource managers, decision-makers and citizens can discover, access and use trusted data to conduct research, make informed decisions, and respond to emergencies in a changing Arctic,” said Kevin Gallagher, the USGS associate director for core science systems and current Arctic SDI Board chair. “The Arctic SDI initiative brings together geospatial experts and scientists in a voluntary cooperation between these country’s national mapping agencies in direct support of the priorities of the Arctic Council and other important stakeholders.”
The Arctic SDI cooperation has built a foundation on which important strategic work is being conducted by lead countries through several working groups in alignment with the five-year Arctic SDI Strategic Plan 2015-2020 adopted last year.
Polar bear mother and two cubs on the Beaufort Sea ice. (Photo: USGS)
The Arctic SDI Geoportal, launched in 2014, includes a continuously updated, harmonized pan-Arctic basemap using data delivered by the individual countries and national mapping agencies. Together they are working to increase the number of national authoritative datasets available through the Geoportal. The basemap, geoportal and access to data are continually being improved.
Additionally, an Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) Arctic Spatial Data Pilot, sponsored by Natural Resources Canada and the USGS is underway to test interoperability of standards, increase the inventory of available Arctic data, and advance the understanding of best practices for distribution and sharing of data by showcasing the value of a standards based, data rich environment.
In 2009, the Arctic Council Senior Arctic Officials gave unanimous formal support to the Arctic SDI initiative and while the Arctic Council represents its primary stakeholder group, the Arctic SDI is aligned with the global, regional and national geodata context, including:
The United Nations Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management (UN-GGIM),
The Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS),
The European Commission’s Infrastructure for Spatial Information in the European Community (INSPIRE)
The U.S Federal Geographic Data Committee National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI),
and Canada’s Spatial Data Infrastructure (CGDI).
Additionally, the work adheres to Open Data principles, including facilitation of open and interoperable data based on OGC and ISO standards, specifications, architecture and software.
Arctic SDI Working Groups are continuing communication and outreach with stakeholders, especially the Arctic Council Working Groups, to advance understanding of data sharing and management techniques, and best practices to improve data access and availability. This work also includes development of communication materials, user guides and a manual.
Additionally, elevation experts from the national mapping agencies have been cooperating with the National Science Foundation and Polar Geospatial Center to provide data and expert reviews in support of a high quality Pan-Arctic Digital Elevation Model being developed in support of a U.S. Chairmanship Arctic Council Initiative.
Pokévision, a third-party app for the viral mobile game Pokémon Go, uses Esri’s location-based data and mapping platform ArcGIS to help players of the game find Pokémon around them.
Pokévision helps Pokémon Go players hunt more strategically by displaying location changes and time spent in each place; the length of time in a given location depends on the rarity of the character.
A web map powered by ArcGIS services, Pokévision shows all Pokémon near user-requested locations. When visitors type an address or drop a pin on the map, Pokémon are displayed in real time.
“When we created Pokévision, we chose Esri ArcGIS almost immediately because it was the only option that was able to scale at the rate we were growing,” said the Pokévision founder Y. Liu. “Using Esri alleviated many of the concerns we had with scaling, and helped us to quickly and seamlessly keep pace with our growing user base.”
Pokévision had 20 million unique users in the first five days and is growing. Its peak usage exceeded 320,000 visitors with map requests reaching into the tens of millions.
Pokévision developers chose Esri for its open-source, mobile-friendly interactive mapping capabilities. The developers first built the locator for a few friends, but the tool was so popular it quickly went viral. Within hours of creation, Esri experienced double the normal hit rates, and use of interactive maps used to display Pokémon rose by more than 30 percent.
“The ArcGIS Online platform is designed to scale in high-performance, high-growth environments,” said Paul Ross, product manager for ArcGIS Online at Esri. “Even large data sets at high volume can be handled in real or near real time, as happened with the Pokévision locator.”
Developers can bring the Pokévision location to their apps using ArcGIS regardless of their experience in creating geospatial applications. Web, mobile, and desktop apps can incorporate the same mapping, visualization, and analysis that hundreds of thousands of organizations around the world rely on every day.
A new world of opportunities for drone operators will open on Aug. 29 when the new small drone rule for non-hobbyists becomes effective. To enable people to take advantage of the new rule, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has provided the following information on the required aeronautical knowledge test.
Under the new rule — also known as Part 107 — the person actually flying a drone must have a remote pilot certificate with a small unmanned aerial system (sUAS) rating, or be directly supervised by someone with such a certificate.
To qualify for the certificate, you must either pass an initial aeronautical knowledge test at an FAA-approved knowledge testing center or have an existing non-student Part 61 pilot certificate. If you are qualifying under the latter provision, you must have completed a flight review in the previous 24 months and must take an FAA UAS online training course. The Transportation Security Administration will conduct a security background check of all remote pilot applications before issuing a certificate.
The report also provides suggestions for how local governments can craft their own drone ordinances to encourage innovation while also protecting their cities.
In 2015, world sales of drones hit 4.3 million. Cities are using drones in a variety of ways, including for law enforcement and firefighting, as rural ambulances, and for inspections, environmental monitoring and disaster management. Commercial uses include precision farming, aerial photography, and — in the near future — package delivery.
“This report serves as a primer on drones for local officials,” said National League of Cities (NLC) CEO and Executive Director Clarence E. Anthony. “Whether they are revolutionizing search and rescue capabilities or helping realtors show off their homes, drones are lowering the cost and increasing the reach of airborne services. As our skies are becoming more crowded, cities must be able to decide how and when they want to see drones used in their communities.”
According to NLC, city officials must tackle three spheres of drone activity: private use, public use and commercial use. “To protect communities, promote innovation and avoid preemptive regulatory action, cities should focus on the following issues when enacting a drone related ordinance: using land use and zoning powers to designate when and where drones may take off, land and operate, as well as any operational limitations or criteria; creating an ordinance that punishes operators for operating an unmanned aircraft in a manner that recklessly endangers persons or property while considering appropriate enforcement infrastructure.”
The National League of Cities (NLC) is dedicated to helping city leaders build better communities. NLC is a resource and advocate for 19,000 cities, towns and villages, representing more than 218 million Americans. www.nlc.org
Cityworks has released Cityworks 15.1, making the care of critical infrastructure, capital assets and property easier and more straightforward.
Cityworks 15.1—Platform 4.1 introduces Cityworks “apps” — functional applications that run parallel to the platform, providing faster updates for fixes and new functionality.
Cityworks 15.1—Platform 4.1 includes updates to Cityworks AMS and PLL, Web Services (APIs) and Storeroom, as well as the release of the Cityworks apps. As part of the enhancements to the core functionality, Cityworks AMS now provides more robust options and methodology for inspection data as well as a new design for comments to support extended functionality, formatting and preferences for end users.
GIS-centric functionality has also been furthered to support population of GIS data across fields on service requests, work orders and inspections.
New functions related to Respond 1.1 include a standardized layout and design for ease of use and responsiveness across multiple devices. This version improves upon the initial release of Respond and provides a superior UI and design, as well as added functionality. The extended functionality allows users to create and edit work orders and inspections, and to edit service requests.
“We’re really excited that the new model of Cityworks apps will allow us to more efficiently and effectively provide improvements to our clients,” said Becky Tamashasky, executive director of product roadmap. “With this change, individual apps are able to be upgraded on a release cycle independent of the platform. This important improvement allows Cityworks to be more effective as we constantly work to upgrade the existing suite of products and provide expanded functionality as our users’ needs continue to grow and evolve.”
DigitalGlobe is supporting security at the Summer Olympics with its Rio de Janeiro Summer Olympic Security Package. The package provides international governments and security agencies with professional-grade imagery and information to enhance the safety of athletes, dignitaries and spectators.
The package includes cloud-based access to historical and near-real time high resolution satellite imagery, a robust data set describing the local environment, and a highly detailed Digital Surface Model (DSM) of Rio de Janeiro and the Olympic venues.
The imagery and imagery-derived products are information-rich and analyst-ready, allowing security teams to quickly unlock critical information and spend the bulk of their time analyzing the data, rather than searching for information, the company said.
“Global event security requires rapid access to current, accurate, and complete geospatial information for enhanced contingency planning, risk management, and emergency response,” said Daniel L. Jablonsky, DigitalGlobe General Counsel and General Manager for International Defense & Intelligence. “As a trusted partner, DigitalGlobe will help governments and security agencies be confident in their ability to keep their athletes and spectators safe during the Summer Olympic Games.”
Included in the Summer Olympic Security Package are:
Basemap +Daily
DigitalGlobe Basemap +Daily is a premier subscription service that provides historical and the most current imagery of Rio de Janeiro leading up to and during the 2016 Summer Olympic Games.
The Basemap +Daily service includes an online, historical foundation layer and the latest imagery collections from DigitalGlobe’s full constellation of imaging satellites, with resolution as sharp as 30 cm and terrain and perspective distortions removed to make for a suitable map base layer.
Users can view and download imagery within hours of acquisition to support a broad range of event security applications and ensure the protection of athletes, spectators and supporting resources.
Human Landscape
DigitalGlobe’s Human Landscape product delivers an intimate understanding of the local environment, including everything from details on transportation infrastructure, to population characteristics, to crime rates.
The Rio de Janeiro Olympic Security Package consists of more than 100 geospatial layers containing more than 80,000 features and 1.25 million building footprints extracted and compiled from DigitalGlobe imagery and publicly available data. The dataset provides a baseline of understanding that allows geospatial analysts to get a head start on pre-event planning, threat and risk assessment, and emergency response modeling.
The highly detailed database contains 600 percent more location-based content than public datasets, enabling analysts to quickly answer meaningful questions related to location, time, and context.
Vricon DSM
Vricon, a joint venture between DigitalGlobe and Saab, produces Vricon DSM from commercial satellite imagery with an automated 3D modeling technology.
Vricon DSM is delivered rapidly and with high precision over both urban and rural areas. It features 0.5 m post-spacing and 3 m absolute accuracy in all dimensions, enabling analysts to determine, for example, where helicopters can land, where radio communications are possible, and where lines of sight are clear or obstructed.
The package is designed for
Mission rehearsal and contingency (evacuation) planning
Situational awareness
Logisitics
Force protection
Personnel and civilian security
Cross-service collaboration
View-shed analysis and radio frequency (RF) propagation planning
Threat assessment and monitoring
Tipping and cueing
Anticipatory mapping
Velodrome, Carioca Arena 3, 2 and 1 and Future Arena (in the background), and the Olympic Tennis Center (on the right) at Barra Olympic Park. By André Motta/brasil2016.gov.br
