Item Tracing in Microsoft Navision

UltraCam customers know that a big part of the UltraCam “value proposition” is the support that they receive. Our Integration and Support team is top-notch and are a great source of information on the UltraCam products. We hope to feature regular contributions from them in the UltraCam Blog.

Today we have a quick post below from Stephan Skerjanz, Integration Specialist in our Graz, Austria office, about the value of Microsoft’s Navision, as used by the Integration and Support team, for quality management.

-Jerry Skaw

Due to the large amount of cameras that have been produced over the years, Microsoft Navision has become irreplaceable for our quality management system. Without this software, it would be impossible to keep our costumers satisfied and to ensure our high standards in quality and reliability. Every single component and every modification of the cameras can be traced via MS NAV.

If a customer has technical issues with his camera, item tracing helps us to react as quickly as possible and it makes our camera support more efficient.

Once localized, the defective part is replaced and then it is possible to get more crucial information about the item (batch number, delivery date, amount, producer, manufacturer etc…).

The information we gain through this process helps us to analyze the problem, improve our product and to prevent failures in the future.

The entire product life of every component can be retraced with this feature. Within a few seconds we are able to tell where a certain item should be built-in and where it has come from. This is not only important from the technical point of view–without this tool we wouldn’t be able to manage warranty and maintenance claims.

Stephan SKERJANZ | Integration Specialist

Microsoft UltraCam Webcast: UltraNav Direct Geo-referencing and Flight Management System

By now, readers of this blog are aware of the numerous and innovative features that have been designed into the UltraCam Eagle “ultra-large” photogrammetric digital aerial camera to make it a highly versatile and extremely efficient state-of-the-art sensor system for aerial data acquisitions. Among the features is the system design that integrates every system component into the sensor head. This includes a new direct geo-referencing and flight management system, UltraNav. The UltraNav system represents a breakthrough in system integration and reliability with benefits that include:

• Less cabling, less boxes, less connectors
• Easier handling and installation
• Smaller footprint, less weight Full GPS/INS/FMS functionality and features

On May 29, 2012 the Microsoft UltraCam team will hold a live webcast in two different time zones that will discuss the UltraNav in detail. To register, visit our UltraCam Events web page at www.UltraCamEvents.com.

- Jerry Skaw, Sales and Marketing, Microsoft UltraCam Team

COWI Aerial Survey Video: “Flying Cameras”

A really nicely done UltraCam customer video was recently brought to my attention that I want to share with UltraCam Blog readers. Entitled “Flying Cameras”, the video is from Denmark-based COWI Aerial Survey and features its Flight Operations Manager, Per Nørgreen, walking us through their data acquisition operation at the heart of which is the UltraCamX large format digital photogrammetric camera.

Embedding here for your viewing pleasure. More videos featuring the UltraCam can be found on our YouTube Channel.

- Jerry Skaw, Sales & Marketing, Microsoft UltraCam Team

UltraCam Customer, Blue Skies Consulting, Exands Operations

Sometime ago we reported on the exciting addition of Blue Skies Consulting, LLC to our “UltraCam Family.” This week I heard from Blue Skies President, Mike Racine, that his company has recently expanded its operations through the acquisition of neighboring aerial imaging firm, New Mexico Aerial Surveys Inc. Blue Skies’ new UltraCamLp digital photogrammetric mapping camera is the only such camera in New Mexico and according to the write-up in the New Mexico Business Weekly, increasing demand for that imaging pushed Blue Skies to search for additional production capacity by adding NM Aerial Surveys resources.

Love to hear UltraCam Flyer success stories! Huge congrats to Mike, Tami and the entire Blue Skies team!

- Jerry Skaw, Sales & Marketing, Microsoft UltraCam Team

 

Got Eagle Data?

Since the launch of the UltraCam Blog, we have been talking quite a bit about the UltraCam Eagle  photogrammetric digital aerial camera system. And for good reason. At 20,010 PAN pixels across the flight strip, the UltraCam Eagle establishes a new “ultra-large” category for photogrammetric digital aerial camera systems and like its UltraCam predecessors, the UltraCam Eagle also features separate lenses for collecting R,G,B and NIR data all in the same pass. Meanwhile, this latest UltraCam system integrates all system components–that is: storage, computing, GPS/INS/FMS–in the sensor head. Less weight, less cables and more available aircraft space. I could go on to talk about the field exchangeable lens systems, and the modular architecture that allows the integrated system components to be separated from the sensor for flexible onboard orientation of equipment. But I won’t. (Actually, I guess I just did!)

Instead, I want to share with you a bit of news that I have so far neglected to pass on and that  is that we have sample stereo pairs from the UltraCam Eagle available for review. If your company is considering its next digital aerial camera acquisition and would like to see the “proof of the pudding,” contact us or the UltraCam sales representative for your region and we’ll provide FTP information so that you can download the data.

Prepare to be impressed. As the old proverb goes, “The eagle does not catch flies.”

- Jerry Skaw, Sales & Marketing, Microsoft UltraCam Team

From Russia with Love: New UltraCam Web Site

While we were publishing Alexander Wiechert’s write-up on UltraCam participation at the recent “Geodesy, Mine Survey and Aerial Photography. At the Turn of the Centuries” conference in Moscow, we were also putting the finishing touches on our new UltraCam website localized for the Russian market. For our Russian-speaking UltraCam Blog readers you can find this new version of the blog here.

This new ”Russian UltraCam website” is the second in our efforts to provide localized versions of the web site for large markets where English is not the primary language, following on the heels of a UltraCam web site released in May of last year and localized for the Chinese market.

We’re already at work on a next. Keep an eye on the UltraCam Blog and our other social media outlets for that news.

- Jerry Skaw, Sales & Marketing, Microsoft UltraCam Team

UltraCam Eagle takes Flight in Italy

The UltraCam Eagle continues to soar over the skies of Europe, this time in Italy with a sale to remote sensing firm, Helica srl. As always, full press release included below.

- Jerry Skaw, Sales & Marketing, Microsoft UltraCam Team

UltraCam Eagle Sold to Helica in Italy

Graz, Austria — March 27, 2012 — Helica srl, a remote sensing firm based in Italy, has contracted with Microsoft’s UltraCam business unit and subsidiary, Vexcel Imaging GmbH, to purchase an UltraCam Eagle ”ultra-large” format digital aerial camera system. First announced in May 2011, the UltraCam Eagle is the latest product in the line of award-winning UltraCam digital aerial camera systems.

“Helica recognizes the importance of offering multi-sensor capabilities, such as optical imaging and lidar simultaneously. Our search for new technology led us to the UltraCam Eagle, which we believe to be the best digital aerial camera for our needs,” stated Mr. Diego Plos, Director of Remote Sensing and Aviation at Helica. “Its compact structure, large imaging footprint, high-resolution and collection efficiency makes the UltraCam Eagle ideal for operating in conjunction with our laser scanners.”

The UltraCam Eagle will be utilized to complete national mapping and urban mapping projects, including the planning and design of transportation and telecommunications infrastructure and managing and protecting the environment.

”Helica always strives to invest in new equipment to remain competitive in our rapidly evolving industry,” said Christian Peloso, Manager of Remote Sensing at Helica. “By synchronizing the UltraCam Eagle with our laser scanners and GPS, we are able to orthorectify and georeference images more quickly, which helps us complete projects on time.”

“Microsoft is very pleased that Helica purchased the first UltraCam Eagle in Italy,” said Alexander Wiechert, Microsoft Business Director. “We also look forward to assisting Helica in the future as we continue to adapt our technology to meet the needs of our customers.”

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, enabling the lens system to operate at its best Modulation Transfer Function (MTF) performance for maximum image sharpness and contrast. This digital camera system boasts a new housing concept with everything integrated into a modular sensor head, including the UltraNav embedded flight management and direct geo-referencing system from Applanix, and in-flight exchangeable, solid state storage for high reliability and minimal ground time. Compared to previous UltraCam systems, the smaller physical form factor of the UltraCam Eagle system makes it quicker and easier to install, requires less aircraft space, and weighs less for more efficient aircraft fuel consumption.

About Helica srl

Helica srl, founded in 2000 and based in Amaro, Italy, owns a fleet of helicopters and aircraft and operates a full range of remote sensing equipment, including digital aerial cameras, lidar scanners, geophysical sensors and mobile mapping systems. The firm produces digital models, infrastructure maps, 3D powerline cartography and environmental analysis, primarily for projects in Italy and Africa. For more information about Helica srl, please contact Mr. Diego Plos by telephone at +39 0433 94286 or email info@helica.it or visit the website at www.helica.it or www.helica.eu.