Bathuan Osmanoglu

Batuhan Osmanoglu is a research physical scientist at NASA-GSFC and holds a PhD in synthetic aperture radar (SAR) interferometry. He has been a part of Istanbul Technical University, University of Miami and University of Alaska Fairbanks, and he has worked on applications for observing surface deformation, measuring target velocities and radar design. He serves as one of the NISAR deputy application leads, is candidate architecture deputy lead for the Surface Deformation and Change Mission Study, and is one of the Disasters Program coordinators at GSFC. (read more)

2021-01-14 09:17:04

NavVis Launches Processing in the Cloud for Fast Laser Scanning Workflows

NavVis, an innovator in indoor mobile mapping, has introduced the Cloud Processing Add-on for NavVis IndoorViewer, a cloud-based tool designed to enable users to quickly and easily convert laser scans into survey-grade, photo-realistic point clouds from data captured by NavVis M6 and the new wearable device, NavVis VLX. The fully integrated NavVis indoor mapping solution is relied upon by laser scanning service providers, professional surveying firms, and Architecture/Engineering/Construction (AEC) companies. “We wanted to offer our users a processing tool that significantly speeds up and simplifies their workflows, so they can benefit both in the short and long term,” said Lisa... (read more)

2020-11-19 11:05:36

VeriDaaS Plans Statewide California Lidar Mapping Project in Spring 2021

VeriDaaS is planning a high-density Lidar elevation data collection at a minimum of 30 points per metre (ppm) over the entire state of California in spring 2021 as part of the VeriDaaS National Mapping Initiative (VeriMAP). Higher density data above 30 ppm is also an option if stakeholder commitments are secured before the planned start of the project. The geospatial data will be utilized across a wide range of private-sector vertical markets including electric utilities, transportation, telecom, insurance, and architecture/engineering/construction (AEC), as well as Federal, State and Local Government groups. The California VeriMAP program is open to new participants. Private-... (read more)

2020-10-28 09:25:11

Stephen Quick

Stephen Quick is an adjunct in the School of Architecture teaching the first-semester design studio in the Masters of Urban Design program. He returned to teach in the Urban Design program in 2010, having taught in the Bachelor and Master of Architecture programs as an Adjunct Associate Professor between 1980 and 1994. His design studio teaching has focused on the respect of design as a civic responsibility, participatory urban design community projects and mixed-use buildings in an urban context, and the role that buildings and communities contribute to creating memorable places and the public realm. (read more)

2020-10-12 10:04:31

Planning Information for the Public Falls Short of Reality

3D Data Visualization for Urban Design and Planning

Working with Pittsburgh’s City Planning Department, a Carnegie Mellon University research team completed an in-depth study of the current use of 3D software for planning tasks and public communication.[1] We started with several assumptions: the public has difficulty understanding most site and building plans and other types of visual material but does understand artist renderings; most architectural and planning firms use 3D visual programmes such as Geospatial and Building Information Modelling (BIM) software; and city planning departments that communicate with the public know how to communicate their visual documents in ways that citizens understand them. We were wrong. Citizens expect... (read more)

2020-10-12 10:01:33

At the Forefront of the Digital Transition

GIM International talks to Thomas Harring, president of Hexagon Geosystems and CEO of Leica Geosystems

In this interview, Thomas Harring emphasizes that the geospatial industry should use the momentum of the ‘new normal’ to further accelerate the sector’s ongoing transformation towards more customer-centric and autonomous digital solutions. Harring started in his position as president of Hexagon Geosystems and CEO of Leica Geosystems in early 2020. The year took a sudden and very unexpected turn when the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic threw a spanner in the works. How would you summarize the current state of the geospatial industry? Despite the undeniably terrible consequences of the current pandemic, the geospatial industry has not lost any of... (read more)

2020-10-08 03:04:01

The Story Behind Esri’s Acquisition of nFrames

Q&A with Richard Cooke, Director of Imagery, Esri

Richard Cooke, director of imagery at Esri, explains all about the company's acquisition of nFrames, the innovative Germany-based developer of software for 3D reconstruction from images. Esri recently made headlines in the geospatial industry when it announced the acquisition of nFrames, the innovative Germany-based developer of software for 3D reconstruction from images. To learn more about Esri’s recent takeover, we spoke to Richard Cooke, director of imagery at the world-leading company in GIS software. What were Esri’s main considerations when acquiring nFrames, a relatively small photogrammetric company that is highly specialized in 3D modelling of imagery? We are delighted to... (read more)

2020-10-01 10:07:48

SEOSAT-Ingenio Moves a Step Closer to Launch

The Spanish high-resolution land imaging mission, known as SEOSAT-Ingenio, will soon be shipped from Airbus in Madrid to Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana, where it will be prepared for launch later this year on a Vega rocket, according to an announcement by ESA. The Earth-observing satellite carries a state-of-the-art dual camera that can image Earth’s land with a resolution of 2.5m. The mission will benefit society through numerous disciplines such as cartography, agriculture, forestry, urban development and water management. With its capability to look sideways, it can access any point on Earth within three days, and will be used to... (read more)

2020-09-24 08:42:30

Full Automation in Mobile Lidar Data Classification

An End-to-end Framework Using 3D CNN and SVM

A deep learning architecture called MMCN opens up the possibility for the fully automated classification of highly dense 3D point cloud data acquired from a mobile Lidar system. This offers interesting opportunities in applications such as high-density maps, autonomous navigation and highway monitoring. The classification of highly dense 3D point cloud data acquired from a mobile Lidar system (MLS) is essential in applications such as high-density maps, autonomous navigation and highway monitoring. MLS data classification algorithms available in the current literature use several parameters or thresholds. The right selection of these parameters is critical for the success of these algorithms under... (read more)

2020-09-10 09:37:41

Esri Acquires nFrames to Prioritize 3D Capabilities

Esri has announced its acquisition of nFrames, a German technology company that develops SURE, an industry-leading imagery and Lidar 3D surface reconstruction software. This will enable the fusion of imagery with 3D GIS, allowing nFrames and Esri users to seamlessly capture and analyse 3D data from aerial, drone and ground-based sensors in an automated end-to-end process. SURE scales 3D data creation to large city and countrywide airborne image datasets and projects, while giving professional photogrammetry workflows improved precision, speed, and simplicity on premises or in the cloud. Through this acquisition, Esri gains a robust production engine that transforms imagery and... (read more)

2020-09-10 09:10:15