How Geospatial AI Leads to Smart Urban Ecosystems

The possibilities of geoAI for monitoring Mother Nature are limitless according to Dr Nadina Galle, ecological engineer and entrepreneur dedicated to applying emerging technologies. The use of satellite imagery to manage the health of trees in cities improves urban ecosystems. By combining traditional methods with other geospatial technologies, such as remote sensing, and artificial intelligence to achieve ‘geoAI’, it is possible to detect and classify features even faster and more accurately. GIM International spoke to Dr Nadina Galle, an award-winning ecological engineer and entrepreneur dedicated to applying emerging technologies, to learn more about the seemingly limitless possibilities of geoAI. You... (read more)

2021-01-21 10:22:56

Integrating Robotics into the Construction Surveyor’s Workflow

Robots Equipped with Laser Scanning, Total Station and GNSS Technologies

How are robots and autonomous technology likely to affect surveying roles as they become increasingly integrated into workflows? With great possibilities come great responsibilities, and this is particularly true for the role robotics and autonomous technology can play in our world. Over the course of time, technological possibilities have drastically changed the face of many jobs in surveying, construction and geospatial applications. Since the 1990s, for example, robotic total stations have resulted in an enormous leap in productivity by making it possible for an operator to carry out a site survey alone thanks to automated rotation and tracking of the... (read more)

2021-01-12 11:10:24

Fugro to Provide First Topographic Lidar Base Map for Island Nation of Palau

Fugro has been awarded a contract by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to perform high-resolution topographic Lidar base mapping for the Republic of Palau. The new countrywide topography will establish an accurate baseline for climate resilience assessments, allowing Palau to create adaptation strategies that support economic and environmental sustainability. Located in the western Pacific Ocean and comprising 340 islands, Palau is recognized by the UN as a small developing island state (SIDS) whose remote location, low-lying landmasses and heavily populated coastlines make it especially vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Topobathy Fugro will acquire geodata for the project... (read more)

2021-01-12 10:36:41

Lidar Point Clouds to Monitor Amsterdam’s Bridges and Quay Walls

Fugro has begun a trial phase of its TotaLite and mobile laser scanning technology for the large-scale monitoring of bridges and quay walls in Amsterdam. This forms part of the company's framework contract with the City of Amsterdam. Fugro began testing and validating its technology in Amsterdam in mid-December. Positive findings could result in more objects being monitored in a much shorter time compared to conventional survey methods. Hundreds of bridges and kilometres of quay walls in Amsterdam have reached the end of their structural lifespan and are often in a poor state of repair. The City of Amsterdam launched... (read more)

2021-01-05 01:55:59

Geo4Dev Initiative: Understanding Developing Countries with Innovative Geospatial Data and Tools

The Geo4Dev initiative aims to combine research with geospatial data to support global development in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. As part of its goal to end poverty and set the world on a path of peace, prosperity and opportunity for all on a healthy planet, the 2030 Agenda recognizes the importance of space-technology-based data, in situ monitoring and reliable geospatial information for sustainable development, policy-making, programming and project operations. Geo4Dev is a collaboration between academia, public and the private sector that integrates rigorous research with innovative sources of geospatial data, including satellites, sensors and mobile phones, together... (read more)

2020-12-30 10:20:03

Establishing an Accurate Geodetic Reference Network for Uganda

Facilitating Cadastral Surveys, City Developments and Road Construction

In line with the United Nations resolution to adopt a global geodetic reference network, the Government of Uganda received financing from the World Bank towards the cost of a competitiveness and enterprise development project. As part of this, Fugro was commissioned to design and implement a modern, reliable and accurate national geodetic reference network for the whole country, in addition to the deployment of a national continuously operating reference station (CORS) network. Effective management of land resources is of vital importance to the Government of Uganda in order to support the country’s development and reduce poverty. The improvement of the... (read more)

2020-12-22 04:55:24

Santa's Hometown Seen from Space

The Copernicus Sentinel-1 mission takes us over Lapland, the largest and northernmost region of Finland, just in time for Christmas. Located within the Arctic Circle, Lapland, also called Sápmi by the Sami people, stretches across northern Norway, Sweden and Finland, and into the Kola Peninsula of Russia. It is bound by the Norwegian Sea on the west, the Barents Sea on the north, and the White Sea to the east. Lapland during the winter months means snowfall, temperatures well below zero degrees and the Northern Lights, or the Aurora Borealis, lighting up the dark, night skies. Rovaniemi, the capital of Lapland, lies... (read more)

2020-12-18 10:56:55

Processing Collected Satellite Image and Data in Orbit

UP42 has announced that image data and information from the planned LatConnect 60 constellation of mid-inclined orbit remote sensing satellites will be available on the UP42 developer platform for Earth observation data and analytics. In early 2022, LatConnect 60 will launch its first two 'smart' small satellites equipped with onboard artificial intelligence (AI) for data pre-processing and advanced tip-and-cue functionality. This on-board AI has the possibility to significantly reduce costs for resellers and end users, making enterprise-quality satellite data available to a wider range of small and medium enterprises. “UP42 and LatConnect 60 share the common goal of democratizing access... (read more)

2020-12-17 09:34:46

RIEGL USA Relocates to New Facility in Florida

RIEGL USA has announced its relocation to a new state-of-the-art, RIEGL Group-financed North American headquarters and training centre in Winter Garden, Florida. This investment was made possible by the continued success and growth of RIEGL in North America and by the strong confidence that the Austria-based Lidar specialist is placing in the North American market. RIEGL USA’s new facility is located in Winter Garden, a charming city just west of Orlando, Florida. It is designed with future growth in mind. This multi-million-dollar headquarters and training facility features modern training rooms and service areas including climate chambers and laser test ranges for... (read more)

2020-12-17 09:12:11

Phase One Launches Nadir and Oblique Aerial Camera System

Phase One has unveiled the PAS 880, a fully integrated large-format nadir and oblique camera system for aerial mapping. The PAS 880 integrates a 280MP nadir camera with four oblique 150MP cameras into a single pod to simultaneously capture photogrammetric 2D and 3D digital imagery. “The outstanding image quality and accuracy combined with unsurpassed data collection rate make the PAS 880 the most productive large-format aerial mapping solution on the market today, based on established Phase One technology,” said Dov Kalinski, Phase One vice president of geospatial business. Operating at a 2 frames/second capture rate, the PAS 880 covers extremely... (read more)

2020-12-17 09:46:21