UAS Captures 20cm-Resolution Data for 3D Model of Matterhorn

Engineers from senseFly have marked a new milestone in the history of surveying techniques by demonstrating that minidrone mapping technology is capable of producing a digital 3D model of the Matterhorn, one of the iconic peaks of the Swiss Alps, in 20cm resolution. The data was aquired during a total of 11 flights by several eBee minidrones flying concurrently and collecting over 2,200 images within just a few hours. In cooperation with partner Pix4D and through eBee’s image processing software Postflight Terra 3D-EB, a high-definition 3D point cloud was created made of 300 million points and covering an area of... (read more)

2013-10-15 09:15:43

Mapping with Digital Cameras

Accuracy and Efficiency Exceed Analogue

Over the period from December 2004 to 2008 the Institut Cartogràfic de Catalunya, Spain, took nearly 200,000 digital aerial images using two Digital Mapping Cameras (DMC) to replace analogue RC30 cameras. We discuss how the shift from analogue to fully digital workflow can improve accuracy and efficiency of production. View Larger Map In its role as overseer of cartographic production in Catalonia, the Institut Cartogràfic de Catalunya (ICC) flies an annual 32,000km2 (approximately 10,000 DMC images) at ground sampling distance (GSD) of 45cm; more than 500km2 at 7.5cm GSD is captured annually, covering urban areas (approximately 15,000 DMC images). Since... (read more)

2009-05-05 12:00:00

Brontopixels

Some years back I wrote in this column, “Today, Earth observation (EO) satellites are being constructed and launched at conveyor-belt speed.” This avowal was confirmed at the 14th Int’l Scientific and Technical Conference, ‘From Imagery to Map’, held recently in Hainan, China. To date over 200 optical EO satellites are in orbit, run by governmental agencies or private firms in over 30 countries, including former USSR country Kazakhstan. The republic has a GDP of less than USD250 billion and is home to 17 million inhabitants. It is working hard to create a national space industry and, with the support of... (read more)

2014-12-23 11:05:50

Large Update of HxGN’s Content Program in 2020

Hexagon Geosystems is updating three million square kilometres' worth of high-accuracy orthophotos, digital surface models (DSM) and stereo imagery of the USA and Europe in its Content Program library. Hexagon will upload 2.5 million square kilometres' worth of US aerial data to its Content Program, the largest library of high-accuracy airborne data. In Europe, 500,000 square kilometres' worth of data will be collected and added to the library. For the US, Hexagon is refreshing the data of previously captured states like California, Texas, Oregon, the Dakota’s, Nebraska and New Mexico. Accuracy is being improved up from 30cm resolution in wide... (read more)

2020-07-01 11:32:21

Commercial Distribution of WorldView-4 Satellite Imagery in Europe

European Space Imaging has announced that the company has started operations of its new ground station with access to the entire satellite fleet of its WorldView Global Alliance partner DigitalGlobe. The Munich-based company is now in the position to directly task five very-high-resolution satellites (GeoEye-1, WorldView-1, WorldView-2, WorldView-3 and WorldView-4). This speeds up the whole process of planning, collection, data downlink and delivery and allows European Space Imaging to quickly deliver satellite imagery products to WorldView Global Alliance customers in Europe, North Africa, CIS countries and the Middle East. WorldView-4, the latest addition to the DigitalGlobe satellite fleet, joins WorldView-3... (read more)

2017-04-18 03:30:34

Teledyne Optech Launches Airborne Lidar Sensor for Corridor Mapping

Teledyne Optech, the Canada-based advanced Lidar sensors company, has extended its Galaxy line-up to include the CM2000, a new sensor specifically designed for corridor mapping. With a true measuring rate of up to two million points per second, the Galaxy CM2000 delivers precise detail of fine corridor elements such as electric wires and conductors, distribution power poles, railway signs and cellular tower antennas, as well the ability to detect fine changes in the ground over time for pipeline monitoring. The CM2000’s adjustable field of view provides users with the flexibility to narrow the field of view to the exact width... (read more)

2020-08-11 11:23:01

Underground Mobile Mapping

Laser Scanning and Imaging of Corridors in Japan

Common mobile mapping systems heavily rely on positioning using GNSS. However, concrete, soil and other materials block GNSS signals, thus impeding their use when inspecting pipelines, subways or other underground corridors. Furthermore, such corridors are often narrow, which requires the system to be compact. Here, the author describes a platform equipped with laser scanners and a camera which has been developed in Japan for mapping a wide variety of narrow underground spaces. Regular inspection of underground corridors is important to detect deformations and damage. The success of above-ground mobile mapping systems (MMSs) triggered us to design an MMS for use... (read more)

2014-06-06 10:27:22

Bluesky Reaches Irish Aerial Survey Milestone

Aerial mapping company Bluesky has reported a successful 2015 flying season in Ireland. Having captured nearly 10,000 square kilometres of high-resolution aerial photography, the company is well on the way to achieving its ambitious plans to capture high-resolution aerial photography for the whole of the Republic of Ireland. Bluesky also announced the early take-up of its groundbreaking Irish datasets, with sales of aerial photography and detailed Lidar height models to early adopters including local government organisations, central government departments and commercial businesses. Bluesky originally launched its plans to capture high-resolution, leaf-on, aerial photography and colour infrared imagery for the whole... (read more)

2015-12-04 10:04:04

SXBlue GPS L1/L2 RTK Receiver

Geneq has launched an ultra-small SXBlue GPS L1/L2 dual-frequency GPS RTK receiver for high accuracy positioning. One of the smallest dual-frequency RTK GPS receivers in the world, weighing only 268g (~1/2 lb) and having dimensions of 11.26cm x 8.54cm x 3.53cm (4.43" x 3.36" x 1.39"), the SXBlue L1/L2 GPS is designed to be mounted on vehicles and use the vehicle power for machine control applications such as agriculture, mining, construction and other high-precision applications. With a long-range Class 1 Bluetooth implementation capable of distances of up to 100 metres (300 feet) and RS-232 interface port, the SXBlue L1/L2 GPS... (read more)

2011-02-28 10:03:50

Small GPS L1/L2 OmniSTAR Receiver

Geneq has introduced its smallest GPS L1/L2 OmniSTAR receiver. The SXBlue III-L is designed to use OmniSTAR’s HP service to attain decimetre accuracy in all regions of the world including North/South America, Australia, Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Middle East reinforcing Geneq’s “Go Real-time, All the Time” strategy. Measuring 14.cm (5.57”) x 8.0cm (3.15”) x 5.6cm (2.22”) and weighing slightly over a pound (1.14lbs, 517g) including battery, the SXBlue III-L GPS is the smallest and lightest GPS L1/L2 OmniSTAR receiver being produced in the world today. In addition to the OmniSTAR service, the SXBlue III-L GPS is... (read more)

2011-04-11 12:00:00