Bringing Reality into the Information Space

Interview with Dr Bernd-Dietmar Becker, Chief Technology Strategist and Evangelist, FARO

FARO is known as a trusted source of high-precision 3D measurement, imaging and visualisation technology. In the surveying and mapping field, the company is particularly well known for its laser scanning solutions. On behalf of 'GIM International', Wim van Wegen recently met with Dr Bernd-Dietmar Becker, chief technology strategist and head of FARO Labs (the company’s research and innovation department), to discuss what we can expect from laser scanning and its role as key reality capturing technology in the years ahead. You recently announced that you have divided your business into six vertical sales and product management business units. What is... (read more)

2017-07-10 11:00:08

Capturing, Modelling and Building the Reality

Interview with Aidan Mercer, Bentley Systems

Bentley Systems held its latest annual Year in Infrastructure Conference in London, UK. The event proved to be an excellent opportunity to take a look behind the scenes at Bentley, a leading provider of software solutions for advancing infrastructure. 'GIM International' talked with Aidan Mercer, global industry marketing director for utilities and government. In this in-depth discussion, he zooms in on the role the company plays in advancing the world’s infrastructure and how geomatics is a key element of many of Bentley’s applications. (By Wim van Wegen, content manager, GIM International) We’re hearing a lot about reality modelling at Bentley’s Year... (read more)

2017-02-01 10:04:53

Recent Developments in Airborne Lidar

Multispectral Laser Scanning, Single-photon Lidar, Hybrid Sensors and UAVs

The arrival of airborne Lidar, also referred to as airborne laser scanning (ALS), has revolutionized area-wide 3D data acquisition of topography, bathymetry, vegetation, buildings and infrastructure. This article presents an overview of the progress made since then in both sensor and aircraft technology. It also highlights how ongoing miniaturization has recently enabled the application of Lidar on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), resulting in ultra high-resolution 3D point clouds with centimetre precision. From Single to Multiple Pulses in the Air Current trends include a steady increase in the measurement rate, achievements in full-waveform processing, the spread of multispectral and topo-bathymetric laser... (read more)

2019-04-19 01:19:15

COVID-19, the Land Administration Sector and Spatial Information

By now, most readers are likely to have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic – perhaps directly through their own health or the health of those they know, or more indirectly through loss of work or income… and almost certainly through the changes in social norms and freedoms brought about by various lockdowns. This article explores the relevance of the land administration sector, disaster risk management and spatial information in the context of the coronavirus outbreak. It has been a busy few weeks due to the coronavirus outbreak. But, in the quieter moments (if we’re privileged enough to get them),... (read more)

2020-04-16 11:15:34

Thomas Kersten Foresees a Smarter Future for Geomatics

Thomas Kersten is a professor of photogrammetry and laser scanning at HafenCity University Hamburg, Germany. He is currently also one of the ‘directors’ of the Oldenburger 3D-Tage, an annual conference on 3D optical measurement techniques, laser scanning and photogrammetry. GIM International spoke to him earlier this year at the most recent edition of that event. Here, he talks about future technologies in the geomatics profession, data processing, archaeology as one of the many possible applications for geomatics, and HafenCity University’s philosophy. (By Wim van Wegen and Mark Pronk) Which major developments do you foresee in terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) geodata... (read more)

2014-07-04 09:16:27

Kadaster: Ambitions and Goals

Leading Role for Key Registers

Programmes at European and national government level are signalling opportunities, setting policies and taking measures to capture the benefits of ICT. In tandem with societal demands, this will lead to government services via internet, key registers, web services and more. The author sketches the ambitions and goals of the Netherlands Cadastre (Kadaster) against a background of European policy, ICT developments and customer expectations. ICT offers many opportunities for improving the performance of government and business. Areas which may profit include education, safety, health care, international co-operation, economic efficiency (integrated value chains, business-process management, reduction in administrative overheads), prevention and detection... (read more)

2007-02-23 12:00:00

A Smarter Future for Geomatics

GIM International Interviews Thomas Kersten

Thomas Kersten is a professor of photogrammetry and laser scanning at HafenCity University Hamburg, Germany. He is currently also one of the ‘directors’ of the Oldenburger 3D-Tage, an annual conference on 3D optical measurement techniques, laser scanning and photogrammetry. GIM International spoke to him in February 2014 at the most recent edition of that event. Here, he talks about future technologies in the geomatics profession, data processing, archaeology as one of the many possible applications for geomatics, and HafenCity University’s philosophy. Which major developments do you foresee in terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) geodata acquisition technology in the next five years?... (read more)

2014-06-06 10:09:34

MAPS

From mid-March until the beginning of June 2008 one of the galleries of the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore, US, was filled with over a hundred maps, globes and artefacts spanning all centuries and covering all cultures. Exhibits ranged from a 3,500-year-old clay map from Mesopotamia to maps of imaginary landscapes created by writers like Tolkien and Faulkner.?<P> The intention of the exhibition was to stretch the public imagination as to the possibilities of mapping. The exhibition also wanted to make the point that maps can be powerful political tools. National Boundaries When back in 1766 the British colonists of... (read more)

2008-07-09 12:00:00

Harmonising UAS Regulations and Standards

GIM interviews Peter van Blyenburgh, president of UVS International

Many people dream of making a living out of remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPASs), but so far a lack of clear rules and regulations has stood in the way of that dream. However, there is a glimmer of hope on the horizon – especially in Europe – and best practices will spread across the world like an ink blot, according to Peter van Blyenburgh, president of UVS International. His independence from individual companies or governments makes him notoriously frank and he is an outspoken ambassador for the sector on all five continents. Your main concern over the past decade has... (read more)

2016-12-13 01:26:50

Solving Land Conflict in Africa

Cadastre Alone Not Enough

The governments of many African countries are currently investing in improving land administration with the aim of developing an efficient land market. A side objective is to reduce conflicts over land through implementation of a functioning land-registration and/or cadastral system. Experience teaches that additional preventative measures are required, such as conflict resolution, land management and psychotherapeutic approaches. Not even a perfect land market can prevent conflicts unless regulated by governing institutions. There are two types of institution: constitutive and regulative institutions. Constitutive institutions are needed to enable an economically efficient land market through land rights, land registration and rule of... (read more)

2006-05-22 12:00:00