AEROmetrex Collects 1,000,000th UltraCam Frame!

Readers of the UltraCam blog are likely familiar with Australia-based UltraCam customer, AEROmetrex who was featured here recently with their self-produced “I Fly UltraCam” video and for the super cool animations and 3D fly-throughs they have created from UltraCam imagery captures.

Well, AEROmetrex has recently done something super cool again: they have collected their 1 millionth UltraCam image frame! This is quite an accomplishment and speaks to the extent of history and experience that the company has with the UltraCam as well as in flying aerial digital missions.

HUGE congratulations to the entire AEROmetrex team. You do us proud!

Full announcement below.

- Jerry Skaw, Sales & Marketing, Microsoft UltraCam Team

Graz, Austria  — May 2, 2013  — Microsoft customer, AEROmetrex, has achieved the impressive milestone of collecting 1,000,000 frames of UltraCam digital aerial imagery. As an early adopter of digital mapping technology, AEROmetrex has owned and operated UltraCam digital systems for eight years.

“The decision to be first in our market with a large-format digital mapping camera was not an easy one in 2005. It was a visionary move by our Director at the time,” said Mark Deuter, Managing Director, AEROmetrex. “We are still flying our UltraCamD and UltraCamX cameras purchased in 2007, and they are performing admirably for us. Our company is growing and we expect to make further UltraCam purchases in the medium-term future.”

AEROmetrex has found the UltraCam cameras to be very versatile, accurate and reliable, and extremely productive. “We can fly all resolutions from 2.5cm GSD to 90cm GSD with one camera system,” said Deuter. “We can achieve vertical accuracies of 30mm at 95% confidence interval at 2.5cm GSD, then the next day capture thousands of square kilometers of regional imagery. We have used the UltraCams in very difficult working environments, sometimes thousands of kilometers from our home base, in temperatures up to 50°C (122°F) and down to freezing. They just keep working.”

AEROmetrex is optimistic about the future growth of the company and the opportunities offered by geospatial technology. “I think we have barely begun to explore the full range of applications for accurate, high-resolution imagery and for 3D mapping from aerial imagery. It is an incredibly exciting time to be a photogrammetrist,” said Deuter. “We have seen a wave of new photogrammetric processing technologies since 2009 as well as the mass availability of 3D stereo viewing hardware (TVs, tablets and computer monitors) at affordable prices. Now we really have the ability to display our products in 3D, and it is great to see the rapid uptake and assimilation of this technology by our clients.”

Deuter continued, “Whether we are dealing with vast regional surveys or cityscape captures, or extremely-high resolution engineering surveys, the ability of imagery to capture the geometry, location, texture, color and form of any object is unparalleled. We look forward to continuing our work using UltraCam cameras and collecting another 1,000,000 frames.”

“Microsoft has enjoyed our long and successful relationship with AEROmetrex,” said Alexander Wiechert, Microsoft Business Director. “It is a major distinction to have collected 1,000,000 UltraCam frames and a clear reflection of AEROmetrex’s dedication to the geospatial profession.”

About AEROmetrex

AEROmetrex is one of Australia’s foremost companies in the field of geospatial data collection, management and distribution. With headquarters located in Kent Town, South Australia, and additional offices in Victoria, Queensland, and Western Australia, AEROmetrex supports projects throughout the country. AEROmetrex serves government agencies at all levels for applications such as urban planning, environment, disaster management, defense, and infrastructure and construction surveys. It also provides geospatial services for the private sector, including mining, resource exploration, real estate, media, insurance, simulation, engineering and surveying. For more information go to www.aerometrex.com.au or contact Mark Deuter at +61 8 8362 9911 or mark.deuter@aerometrex.com.au.

About Microsoft’s UltraCam Business Unit

With its operations based in Graz, Austria, and sales and support teams in North America, Microsoft’s UltraCam business unit brings more than two decades of photogrammetry expertise to Microsoft’s Bing Maps business unit. The division is responsible for the highly successful line of UltraCam digital aerial mapping systems that today include the UltraCamLp, UltraCam Falcon, and UltraCam Eagle digital photogrammetric sensors, and the UltraCam Osprey nadir/oblique photogrammetric digital aerial sensor.  Rounding out the UltraCam offerings is the fully integrated UltraMap workflow software system, with features that include high-density 3D point cloud creation, highly accurate and detailed digital surface model (DSM) generation, and ortho mosaicing capabilities based on an automatically generated DSM or traditional DSM.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

Keystone Aerial Surveys, Inc. Adds Two UltraCam Eagles

Long-time UltraCam operator, Keystone Aerial Surveys, Inc, recently added two new UltraCam Eagle digital aerial camera systems to their fleet that already included three UltraCamX systems and one UltraCam Eagle. The agreement was reached and signed in the Microsoft exhibit booth at the 2013 ASPRS annual conference in Baltimore, Maryland. Signing parties included Mary Potter and Ken Potter of Keystone, Tadashi Sasakawa of PASCO Corporation (Keystone’s parent company), and Alexander Wiechert of Microsoft. The first of the two new Eagles was delivered April 12th at the company’s location in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The addition of the two new Eagles provides Keystone with expanded digital acquisition capabilities and offers potential greater  project versatility given optional exchangeable lens systems at focal lengths of 80mm, 100mm, and 210mm. Meanwhile, project planning on flight missions requiring multiple UltraCam systems–specifically the Eagle–will be simpler given the common operating specs.

Full announcement included below. Congratulations to the Keystone team from all of us on the UltraCam Team!

- Jerry Skaw, Sales & Marketing, Microsoft UltraCam Team

Keystone Aerial Surveys, Inc. Acquires Two Microsoft UltraCam Eagles

Graz, Austria   — April 19, 2013  — At the ASPRS 2013 conference in Baltimore, Maryland, the Microsoft UltraCam team and PASCO Group  signed an agreement to add two UltraCam Eagle systems to Keystone Aerial Surveys Inc’s arsenal of aerial camera systems. The acquisition marks six UltraCam system purchases for Keystone, the Philadelphia-based aerial surveying company that has been an UltraCam operator since 2005 and already owns an UltraCam Eagle and three UltraCamX systems.

“The UltraCam has become the cornerstone of our digital acquisition program,” said Mary Potter, President of Keystone Aerial Surveys, Inc. “Our UltraCamX systems have performed reliably over the years and have allowed us to deliver datasets that meet or exceed our customer’s expectations. Meanwhile, the combination of the image footprint, fast frame rate, and storage capacity of the UltraCam Eagle make it a ‘must-have.’”

Like all UltraCam models, the UltraCam Eagle captures PAN, RGB and NIR imagery all in one flight pass. The UltraCam Eagle, meanwhile, features the largest PAN image footprint among UltraCam systems, allowing operators to capture 20,010 PAN pixels across the flight path, making it the most efficient of UltraCam systems. This efficiency was a key factor in driving the two system purchase.

“It seems that there are currently more companies in the market chasing after less work,” added Ken Potter, Vice President of Keystone. “You have to have the right tools to compete. We have found over the past year that our UltraCam Eagle increases our operational efficiencies so that we are able to complete projects more quickly and cost-effectively. This experience now leads us to confidently expand our UltraCam fleet by two additional UltraCam Eagles.”

John Schmitt, Keystone’s Vice President of Sales, added, “Customer demand also factored heavily into our decision to move ahead with adding the two new systems. Some of our customers are now going all digital. Those clients who have seen the imagery from the UltraCam Eagle just love it and some are demanding that their projects are flown specifically with that sensor. When you have just one, that is a problem. “

A significant feature of the UltraCam Eagle is its availability in three exchangeable lens configurations: 80mm, 100mm, and 210mm.  The Keystone cameras will be configured with the 80mm lens system for consistency with their first system and optimal mission planning. However, the ability for trained customers to make the exchange of the lens in their hangar environment without the need to recalibrate the camera provides Keystone with the option of later adding the 100mm for projects where building lean are an important consideration and the 210mm for high-altitude flying.

“The UltraCam Eagle is the most versatile of UltraCam systems and extremely competitive because of this along with its performance,” said Alexander Wiechert, Microsoft Business Director. “We congratulate PASCO Group and Keystone Aerial Surveys (a PASCO group company)  in taking this important step in expanding their data acquisition capabilities to better compete in their market.”

About the UltraCam Eagle

The UltraCam Eagle features a pan image footprint of 20,010 pixels across the flight strip. In addition to the ultra-large image footprint, the UltraCam Eagle includes enhanced electronics for improved frame rate and less noise (72 dB signal-to-noise ratio for high image dynamic) when compared to previous UltraCam systems, and innovative high-resolution, high-performance lenses and state-of-the art CCD technology (@ 5.2 µm pixel size) for sharp images with a high dynamic range. The UltraCam Eagle is the first multi-cone digital photogrammetric camera to offer an exchangeable lens system with 80mm (standard) and 210mm (tele for high altitude flights) and includes filters with curved characteristics to flatten out vignetting. This digital camera system boasts a new housing concept with everything integrated into a modular sensor head. Compared to previous UltraCam systems, the smaller physical form factor of the UltraCam system requires less aircraft space, weighs less for more efficient aircraft fuel consumption, and is easier and quicker to install.

About Microsoft’s UltraCam Business Unit

With its operations based in Graz, Austria, and sales and support teams in North America, Microsoft’s UltraCam business unit brings more than two decades of photogrammetry expertise to Microsoft’s Bing Maps business unit. The division is responsible for the highly successful line of UltraCam digital aerial mapping systems that today include the UltraCamLp, UltraCam Falcon, and UltraCam Eagle digital photogrammetric sensors, and the UltraCam Osprey nadir/oblique photogrammetric digital aerial sensor.  Rounding out the UltraCam offerings is the fully integrated UltraMap workflow software system, with features that include high-density 3D point cloud creation, highly accurate and detailed digital surface model (DSM) generation, and ortho mosaicing capabilities based on an automatically generated DSM or traditional DSM.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

About Keystone Aerial Surveys, Inc.

Keystone Aerial Surveys, Inc., based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, has been providing airborne acquisition services to clients throughout the US, Canada and Mexico for nearly 50 years. The company currently operates three UltraCamX digital cameras and an UltraCam Eagle digital camera, and twelve traditional film mapping cameras. Keystone utilizes 19 aircraft that have been modified and equipped specifically for airborne survey operations. Keystone’s web library, www.kasview.com, allows customers to view digital, film and aeromagnetic archives geographically. For more information about the company, go to www.kasurveys.com.

Geospatial Professional Solutions, Inc (GPSI) Acquires UltraCam Falcon

California-based geospatial solutions provider, GPSI, recently upgraded its digital acquisition capabilities with the purchase of an UltraCam Falcon. In doing so, GPSI has become the first in North America to operate the new Falcon which was introduced in October 2012 at the Intergeo Conference in Hannover, Germany.

The UltraCam Falcon leverages third-generation UltraCam architecture introduced with the UltraCam Eagle and effectively replaces the UltraCamX/Xp in the line-up of Microsoft photogrammetric digital aerial sensors. Take a look at the brief introductory video, if you haven’t already, for a system summary. As the video explains, the Falcon can be ordered in two different image footprints and focal lengths. GPSI has selected the larger footprint at 17,310 PAN pixels across and the “wide-angle” 70mm lens providing them with a versatile upgrade to their UltraCamLp.

Full announcement below.

Congratulations to Alice, Ramon, Paul and the entire team at GPSI!

- Jerry Skaw, Sales & Marketing, Microsoft UltraCam Team

GPSi Adds UltraCam Falcon to Digital Resources

Graz, Austria   — April 9, 2013  — GPSi has contracted with Microsoft’s UltraCam business unit and subsidiary to purchase an UltraCam Falcon digital aerial camera system configured with a 17,310 PAN pixel cross track footprint and a 70mm wide-angle lens. This is the second UltraCam acquisition for GPSi. The company initially purchased an UltraCamLp in 2009 when it first ventured into digital aerial acquisition.

“We have had great success using the UltraCamLp, so it was a logical decision to stay with the UltraCam product line,” said Ms. Alice C. Ramos, President and Chief Executive Officer of GPSi. “As a disadvantaged, woman, minority-owned business (DBE/WMBE/SBE), GPSi continues to use cutting edge technology to achieve efficiency and productivity. It gives confidence to industry partners that our team of highly competent, experienced and dedicated professionals is equipped with advanced tools and knowledge that offer them an edge in going after projects.”

GPSi supports its many long-term customers with a variety of photogrammetric and aerial imaging services. The collection efficiency of the UltraCam Falcon will allow GPSi to compete for projects covering larger areas while satisfying the needs and requirements of its traditional client base of utility, engineering and public works sectors.

“GPSi’s executive management team is convinced that this wide-angle UltraCam Falcon is the optimal solution for our clients’ requirements,” said Mr. Paul Hamilton-Rivers, Chief Operating Officer of GPSi. “We cater to companies where accuracy, schedule and cost are paramount. We believe this new acquisition addresses those concerns but just as important, it gives us more latitude to pursue other promising industry sectors.”

“In line with our mission and vision to propel the company to the forefront of the geospatial industry, buying the new UltraCam Falcon was a no-brainer,” said Mr. Ramon B. Ramos, GPSi’s Executive VP and resident geomatics expert. “With its large footprint, fast cycle rate, large field of view and better base-height ratio, along with our experience of excellent customer support from Microsoft, it was a relatively quick and easy decision.”

“Microsoft strives to provide a camera line that maximizes customer benefits,” said Alexander Wiechert, Microsoft Business Director. “The UltraCam Falcon offers a high-level of flexibility with two choices of image footprint size and two lens focal lengths, and it is specifically designed to be easily upgradeable to an UltraCam Eagle when the customer is ready.”

About the UltraCam Falcon

The UltraCam Falcon features a very fast frame rate, solid state storage, and integration of computers into the sensor. The system captures PAN, color and NIR data all in one pass. At the time of purchase, the buyer selects from two image footprint sizes (14,430 pixels across or 17,310 pixels across) and two lens focal lengths (the standard 100mm Pan or wide angle 70mm Pan). To simplify operations, the UltraCam Falcon is designed as an integrated unit that contains all components in the sensor head, including a solid-state image storage system that holds approximately 7,500 images (with 14,430 pixel footprint) and 5,200 images (with 17,310 pixel footprint). UltraNav, the embedded flight management and direct georeferencing system from Applanix, is also available with the UltraCam Falcon.

About Microsoft’s UltraCam Business Unit

With its operations based in Graz, Austria, and sales and support teams in North America, Microsoft’s UltraCam business unit brings more than two decades of photogrammetry expertise to Microsoft’s Bing Maps business unit. The division is responsible for the highly successful line of UltraCam digital aerial mapping systems that today include the UltraCamLp, UltraCam Falcon, and UltraCam Eagle digital photogrammetric sensors, and the UltraCam Osprey nadir/oblique photogrammetric digital aerial sensor.  Rounding out the UltraCam offerings is the fully integrated UltraMap workflow software system, with features that include high-density 3D point cloud creation, highly accurate and detailed digital surface model (DSM) generation, and ortho mosaicing capabilities based on an automatically generated DSM or traditional DSM.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

About GPSi

GPSi is a certified Disadvantaged, Women Minority Business Enterprise (DBE/WMBE/SBE) headquartered in Costa Mesa, California. The leadership team has over three decades of experience in the geospatial industry. GPSi provides a full range of custom aerial imagery collection, photogrammetric mapping and GIS services in a completely digital environment. GPSi serves a variety of clients, including engineering firms, municipalities, government agencies, civil engineers, architects, and surveyors and planners. For additional information go to http://www.gpsi-corp.com/or contact Paul Hamilton-Rivers at 949-459-3051.

The UltraCam Celebrates its Tenth Anniversary!

We’re all pretty proud and excited on the Microsoft UltraCam team as we celebrate 10 years of the UltraCam. The original system, the UltraCamD, was first introduced in 2003. It offered 11,750 PAN pixels across the flight strip and all storage and computing components were hardwired in a unit (SCU) that was external to the sensor head itself, with numerous cables running between the two devices. The technology has come a long way since the UltraCamD and is now in its third generation as of the introduction of the UltraCam Eagle in March 2011. The Eagle features a 20,010 PAN pixel image footprint across the flight path, integrates all system components into the sensor head–including storage, computing and flight management/georeferencing (via UltraNav)–so that all system components sit above the camera hole in the aircraft and cables, connectors and external devices are minimized. Recently, the UltraCam got a new slant with the introduction of the UltraCam Osprey, a nadir/oblique digital aerial camera system announced at the ASPRS 2013 conference in Baltimore, Maryland and recently discussed in this blog.

A newcomer to the aerial camera market in 2003, the UltraCam has long since been a mature product as evidenced by its worldwide market acceptance. By the time the second generation UltraCam–the UltraCamX–was introduced, there were 46 UltraCam systems installed. Since then, and with the introduction of additional UltraCam models not already mentioned that include the UltraCamXp, UltraCamLp, and UltraCam Falcon, the worldwide installations of UltraCam systems has grown to an impressive 280!

Meanwhile, software support for processing UltraCam data has also come a long way from what it was in the early days of the UltraCamD. Once just a vision for a complete photogrammetric workflow, the software–redeveloped and introduced to the market as UltraMap 1.0 in 2005–is now in its third generation with UltraMap 3.0 and offers UltraCam customers the ability to take UltraCam data all the way from raw data to high-density point clouds, digital surface models, and orthomosaics.

More information on this milestone event can be found in the full announcement on the UltraCam website.

Did I mention that all this makes us very proud on the UltraCam team? It does. And for me, personally, when I look at all that we have accomplished in ten years, and the resources (in terms of funding and brain power) it required to get here, I am impressed that there continue to be newcomers to the digital aerial camera arena. The barriers to market entry are substantial to reach a 10-year anniversary with a product portfolio of that of the UltraCam.

Happy 10th anniversary, UltraCam! You’ve come a long way, baby!

- Jerry Skaw, Sales & Marketing, Microsoft UltraCam Team

Microsoft Announces UltraCam Osprey Oblique/Nadir Digital Aerial Camera

The Microsoft UltraCam team is exhibiting at the ASPRS 2013 annual conference in Baltimore, Maryland this week where we unveiled the new UltraCam Osprey. Today has been a busy and exciting day for our team as word has spread quickly about this new oblique UltraCam system, driving ASPRS conference attendees to the Microsoft booth to get a firsthand look at the Osprey.

The beauty is that this camera is more than an oblique system: the UltraCam Osprey is also a photogrammetric camera, providing the ability to collect PAN, RGB, and NIR nadir data in the same pass as it collects oblique. This makes the UltraCam Osprey a highly efficient solution for organizations needing a solution to respond to the increasing demand for oblique imagery but wanting a more productive and versatile system than a standard RGB/oblique-only system.

And: a minor point, perhaps, but I really like the color of the finish on the Osprey!

Below is the announcement circulated from ASPRS on Monday (March 25, 2013).

- Jerry Skaw, Sales & Marketing, Microsoft UltraCam Team

Microsoft Introduces New Oblique UltraCam Osprey

Baltimore, Maryland — March 25, 2013 — From the ASPRS conference in Baltimore, Maryland, Microsoft’s UltraCam business unit introduces the UltraCam Osprey, a new digital aerial system that combines a high performing photogrammetric nadir camera with oblique image capture capabilities.

This third generation UltraCam camera builds on the UltraCam Eagle technology, including advanced electronics to achieve an exceptional signal/noise ratio; solid state storage of 3.3TB; and a modular housing concept that integrates all components into one unit. To achieve high flight efficiency, the UltraCam Osprey is designed so that the full swath width of the nadir cone (11,674 pixels) can be used, and oblique wing images overlap enough to generate oblique orthos. The 60 MP backward and forward wing images and the 32 MP left and right wing images, combined with a 2.2 second frame rate, ensure adequate coverage. Due to the overlap with the nadir part of the camera, the wing image orientation can be further improved by automated tie point matching.

The nadir camera collects five bands (PAN, RGB, NIR) with subpixel accuracy and high dynamic range equivalent to other Ultracam cameras. This dataset can be used for most photogrammetric applications, such as cadastre, infrastructure planning, and DTM or DSM ortho generation. The combined oblique and nadir imagery is appropriate for more kinds of applications than a standard oblique camera or a stand-alone photogrammetric camera. The resulting data is very useful for urban mapping and 3-dimensional city modeling.

The UltraCam Osprey is fully supported in the UltraMap workflow software system. The ability to perform aerotriangulation (AT) and dense matching allows for the creation of high accuracy point clouds, DSM, DTM, DSMorthos and DTMorthos (traditional orthos). The camera is also compatible with the UltraNav direct georeferencing and flight management system.

“The UltraCam Osprey is the beginning of a new chapter in the development of the UltraCam product line that combines multiple sensors and mature software to achieve richer datasets,” said Alexander Wiechert, Microsoft Business Director. “The versatility of the UltraCam Osprey should open up new opportunities for our customers.”

The UltraCam Osprey will be available for delivery to customers in fall 2013. Existing UltraCam customers can receive trade-in credit toward upgrading to an UltraCam Osprey at any time.

About Microsoft’s UltraCam Business Unit
With its operations based in Graz, Austria, and sales and support teams in North America, Microsoft’s UltraCam business unit brings more than two decades of photogrammetry expertise to Microsoft’s Bing Maps business unit. The division is responsible for the highly successful line of UltraCam digital aerial mapping systems that include the UltraCamLp, UltraCamXp, UltraCamXp Wide Angle, UltraCam Falcon, UltraCam Eagle and UltraCam Osprey digital photogrammetric sensors. Rounding out the UltraCam offerings is the fully integrated UltraMap workflow software system, with features that include high-density 3D point cloud creation, highly accurate and detailed digital surface model (DSM) generation, and ortho mosaicing capabilities based on an automatically generated DSM or DTM.

About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

 

Slagboom & Peeters Purchases Second UltraCam Eagle

Apparently Eagle are flocking to the Netherlands! After purchasing its first UltraCam Eagle a year ago this month, Slagboom & Peeters has bolstered its data acquisition capabilities through the acquisition of a second UltraCam Eagle and now boasts two UltraCam Eagle and two UltraCamXp systems in their arsenal.

As always, full press release included below.

- Jerry Skaw, Sales & Marketing, Microsoft UltraCam Team

Graz, Austria — March 19, 2013 — Slagboom & Peeters has contracted with Microsoft’s UltraCam business unit and subsidiary to purchase an UltraCam Eagle digital aerial camera system with an 80mm lens. This transaction marks the company’s second UltraCam Eagle purchase announcement in the last 12 months.

Slagboom & Peeters, from its headquarters in the Netherlands, provides aerial mapping and photogrammetric services to customers worldwide. Since 2005, the firm has been operating UltraCam digital cameras and upgrading to new systems as they become available. Slagboom currently owns two UltraCamXp and two UltraCam Eagle sensors.

The UltraCam Eagle features an image footprint larger than the UltraCamXp, but is light weight and takes up less space in the aircraft. The housing concept integrates all components into one unit, which makes installation simpler. The UltraCam Eagle is highly suitable for the large-area mapping that Slagboom does for the public and private sectors.

“We see an increasing demand for jobs with high overlap specifications like 60% sideways and 80% forward,” said Yoeri Slagboom, Owner, Slagboom & Peeters. “Due to its high frame-rate collection capability, the UltraCam Eagle excels at collecting the data for big jobs quickly, which is particularly helpful when we are faced with short flying windows due to poor weather conditions.”

“Microsoft is pleased to provide Slagboom & Peeters with its fourth UltraCam camera,” said Alexander Wiechert, Microsoft Business Director. “Repeat customers are a positive reflection on our commitment to top quality products and expert technical support.”

About the UltraCam Eagle

The UltraCam Eagle features a pan image footprint of 20,010 pixels across the flight strip. In addition to the ultra-large image footprint, the UltraCam Eagle includes enhanced electronics for improved frame rate and less noise (72 dB signal-to-noise ratio for high image dynamic) when compared to previous UltraCam systems, and innovative high-resolution, high-performance lenses and state-of-the art CCD technology (@ 5.2 µm pixel size) for sharp images with a high dynamic range. The UltraCam Eagle is the first multi-cone digital photogrammetric camera to offer an exchangeable lens system with 80mm (standard) and 210mm (tele for high altitude flights) and includes filters with curved characteristics to flatten out vignetting. This digital camera system boasts a new housing concept with everything integrated into a modular sensor head. Compared to previous UltraCam systems, the smaller physical form factor of the UltraCam system requires less aircraft space, weighs less for more efficient aircraft fuel consumption, and is easier and quicker to install.

About Microsoft’s UltraCam Business Unit

With its operations based in Graz, Austria, and sales and support teams in North America, Microsoft’s UltraCam business unit brings more than two decades of photogrammetry expertise to Microsoft’s Bing Maps business unit. The division is responsible for the highly successful line of UltraCam digital aerial mapping systems that include the UltraCamLp, UltraCam Falcon and UltraCam Eagle digital photogrammetric sensors. Rounding out the UltraCam mapping systems offering is the UltraMap workflow software system for processing UltraCam imagery to Level 02 and Level 03 quality data, and with features that include distributed processing with automated load balancing, automated project-based color balancing, and additional quality control tools.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

About Slagboom & Peeters Aerial Surveys

Slagboom & Peeters Aerial Surveys was founded in 1961 and over the years has evolved into a high-end aerial data acquisition and processing firm. The company provides digital aerial photographs for mapping and orthophoto production. With a fleet of aircraft equipped with UltraCam digital cameras and in-house processing capacity, the company has earned a prominent place in the market in the Netherlands and worldwide. Slagboom & Peeters also offers complete units of turbine aircraft+Eagle camera+crew to fly for fellow data acquisition companies. For additional information please go to http://www.slagboomenpeeters.com .

Kenyan Firm Ramani Geosystems Purchases First UltraCam

The UltraCam photogrammetric digital aerial sensor system continues its migration across the world, recently landing in the eastern region of Africa with the acquisition of an UltraCamX by Ramani Geosystems, a multi-discplinary Geospatial Services firm that serves a wide range of industry sectors with clients within East Africa. Clients include Parastatals, non-Governmental Organisations, Engineering firms, Agriculture & Natural resources, Telecommunications companies and Land and Property firms.

The company’s mission statement: “Putting Africa on the Map.” And with the purchase of their UltraCamX, I’d say they have taken one more critical step towards realizing their vision!

Full announcement below.

- Jerry Skaw, Sales & Marketing, Microsoft UltraCam Team

Kenyan Firm Ramani Geosystems Purchases First UltraCam

Graz, Austria — March 14, 2013 — Ramani Geosystems, an aerial mapping and surveying company based in Nairobi, Kenya, has contracted with Microsoft’s UltraCam business unit to purchase an UltraCamX photogrammetric digital aerial camera system. The new camera will be used to complete wide-area mapping, urban planning and infrastructure projects throughout Africa.

“We chose the UltraCamX because it is a proven technology that is trusted within the industry. Reliability is a primary requirement for us to avoid lengthy delays for repairs and support. In Africa there isn’t always an expert around the corner,” stated Mr. Daniel Haywood, Managing Director, Ramani Geosystems. “Also, with the larger footprint of the UltraCamX, Ramani will be able to take advantage of new opportunities with customers who require large format imagery.”

The UltraCamX collects 136 megapixels per trigger to produce 14,430 across track and 9,420 along track pixels, with a sustained collection rate of three gigabits per second. In addition, the UltraCamX system features a data flow that allows extensive image collection in the air. Low-cost, exchangeable data storage devices store up to 4,700 images each and can be swapped mid-flight for reduced ground turnover time.

 “The introduction of an UltraCamX into the East Africa region is exciting for Microsoft,” said Alexander Wiechert, Microsoft Business Director. “We see this as an opportunity to contribute to the growth and development of this important economic area.”

About Microsoft’s UltraCam Business Unit
With its operations based in Graz, Austria, and sales and support teams in North America, Microsoft’s UltraCam business unit brings more than two decades of photogrammetry expertise to Microsoft’s Bing Maps business unit. The division is responsible for the highly successful line of UltraCam digital aerial mapping systems that include the UltraCamLp, UltraCamXp, UltraCamXp Wide Angle, UltraCam Eagle  and UltraCam Falcon digital photogrammetric sensors. Rounding out the UltraCam offerings is the fully integrated UltraMap workflow software system, with features that include high-density 3D point cloud creation, highly accurate and detailed digital surface model (DSM) generation, and ortho mosaicing capabilities based on automatically generated DSM or DTM.

About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

About Ramani Geosystems
Ramani Geosystems is a geospatial services firm offering professional land surveying, aerial photography, aerial LiDAR, GIS and mapping services. Based in Nairobi, Kenya, Ramani is dedicated to providing high quality services throughout Africa.  Its clients represent a wide range of industry sectors, including government agencies and private companies. Ramani uses leading edge technologies and owns two aircraft, large and medium format aerial cameras and a LiDAR scanner. For more information go to www.ramani.co.ke or contact Daniel Haywood at dhaywood@ramani.co.ke or +254 (20) 6002035.