GXL Aerial

PCI Geomatics is announcing the launch of its GeoImaging Accelerator Aerial (GXL-A) software at the Intergeo 2010 Conference this week in Cologne, Germany. GXL-A completes PCI's UltraMap workflow product line with the addition of high-speed orthorectification and mosaicking capabilities. Using PCI's multi CPU/GPU distributed processing architecture, aerial image producers will realise significant improvement in production throughput and reduced costs. The product will be offered as a standalone deskside or single-node rack system. It is fully upgradable to multiple-node architectures and can be integrated into existing IT configurations for existing airphoto producers. This presentation follows an earlier announcement in March... (read more)

2010-10-05 09:03:17

Digital Aerial Cameras

New Developments

The growing need for geo-data everywhere is driving customers to demand shorter turnaround rates and higher levels of detail. These needs can be met by aerial imagery directly captured in digital format onboard an aircraft. In tandem with the new product survey on Digital Aerial Cameras (see our website), the author here gives an overview of new developments. In my overview published in GIM International April 2008, I categorised the various digital aerial cameras under linear- and area-array solutions: one of many possible groupings for these systems. Another, based on technological criteria, considers dimension (size, weight and number of pixels... (read more)

2011-03-28 04:13:34

Aerial Photography in Classrooms

Wildgoose has developed two new products to support and promote the use of aerial photography in the classroom. A Local Area Explorers' Kit provides everything needed to conduct local area studies while the Using Our School Aeroimage Deskmats pack is designed to maximise the use of Wildgoose Our School Aeroimage Deskmats. Aeroimage Deskmats are available for anywhere in England and Wales plus selected areas in Scotland. The Local Area Explorers' Kit contains 10 A4 aerial photographs centred on the school or other location of interest. Ordnance Survey mapping of the same locality, coupled with worksheets, 20 plus suggested... (read more)

2009-05-04 01:26:01

Making Aerial Platforms Easy

Microdones GmbH is based in Siegen, Germany. The manufacturer is focused on designing, engineering and developing unmanned rotary wing VTOL (Vertical Take Off and Landing) MAVs (Micro Aerial Vehicles) below 25kg mainly based on the principle of quadrocopters. The company’s unmanned platforms are used in aerial work such as aerial mapping, aerial inspection or aerial search & rescue jobs all over the globe. The privately owned company was founded in late 2005 by Udo Juerss, who had previously worked for large German automotive companies as an external developer, especially in the development of electronic control units in hardware and software.... (read more)

2012-12-18 02:05:09

80 Megapixel Aerial Camera

Trimble has, at Photogrammetric Week, presented its 80 megapixel Trimble Aerial Camera (TAC 80MP), extending the range of applications for today's medium-format aerial cameras. With advanced features such as Trimble's forward motion compensation (FMC) technology, the TAC 80MP allows aerial service providers to fly faster or increase ground sampling distance. This enables fixed wing aircraft to deliver results previously only achievable with helicopter campaigns. With a weight of less than 3,000 grams (6.6 lbs.), the TAC 80MP is also an ideal camera for a variety of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), further extending its application range. Designed as a... (read more)

2011-09-09 09:53:45

Testing Aerial Digital Cameras

Accuracy, Radiometry, Sharpness and Storage

Aerial imaging for mapping purposes is increasingly done using digital cameras. The introduction of new models brings a steady rise in pixel volume, enabling wider swath width and thus reductions in flight line, flight costs and project risks, or data acquisition with larger ground-sample distances (GSD), preserving efficiency. Full exploitation of larger GSD depends on geometrical accuracy, dynamic range, image sharpness and storage device. The author tested these four features of two UltraCam systems: the Xp and L. Vexel Imaging introduced the UltraCamX in 2006, preceded by the UltraCamD in 2003. Today the large-format models are the UltraCamXp (2.9cm GSD... (read more)

2010-01-28 02:30:55

Shift to Aerial Photogrammetry

Rollei Special Engineering

Rollei GmbH was founded in 1920 as Rollei Fototechnic GmbH, in Braunschweig, the centre of today’s Germany. Founders Paul Franke and Reinhold Heidecke wanted to build opto-mechanically-superior cameras, not only for professional photographers but also for amateurs: high quality hand in hand with ease of use. This resulted in the 1929 ‘twin-lens’. With the ‘twin-lens’ began a long line of product developments, among them the first compact, 35mm film camera, Rollei 35, in 1966, and the first electronically controlled medium-format camera, Rolleiflex SLX, in 1976. A Special Engineering division was established in 1984 to expand the product range to terrestrial... (read more)

2006-05-22 12:00:00

Aerial Zoning Using GIS

Application for Kleia’at Airport Lebanon

Obstacle Clearance Limits (OCLs) are defined by the International Civil Aviation Organization to warrant safety around airports. However, as operational areas are not marked in reality but have complicated 3D geometry they are difficult to visualise and their connection to neighbouring terrain is often unclear. A GIS enables visualisation of OCL 3D-geometry, facilitating identification of areas subject to height restrictions, and assessment for future constructions. The author presents a GIS application for Kleia’at airport in northern Lebanon. Safety around airports is maintained through regulations set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Standards define Obstacle Clearance Limits (OCLs) for operational... (read more)

2007-03-21 11:47:29

Aerial Survey Tender Greece

Infoterra France and their Greek partner GEOMET Ltd have won a major contract, worth over €2.86 million, to deliver a significant quantity of fully orthorectified imagery and Digital Surface Models (DSM) covering Greek cities. The 18 month long project, which is the biggest venture of this type ever undertaken in Europe, kicked off with ADS40 linear scanners capturing images from June to end August 2007, followed by an initial delivery in October 2007. Final delivery will take place in September 2008. The VLSO or ‘Very Large Scale Orthophoto project', will cover 3500 square kilometres of all major to mid-size Greek... (read more)

2007-11-06 01:50:29

Aerial Surveyor Chronicle

Which photogrammetrist have you ever heard of who has attempted to chronicle his unplanned life? In the book Journey without Destination by Karl E. Kleinn, the reader finds stories of just such a life. Some will recognise the events and circumstances of some of the stories, and some might even remember the author as he traveled across America first on behalf of Carl Zeiss, then Kern Instruments, then Matra Technology (remember the Traster analytical stereo plotter) and finally OMICA (OMI Corporation of America). Some surveyors or their predecessors might remember the OMI demo van with an analytical stereo plotter in... (read more)

2010-01-25 11:39:24