PrecisionHawk develops data and safety tools to take drone use to the next level

By Aleks Buczkowski

For many years, remote sensing was directly connected to collecting data with satellites and manned aircraft. Originally this was a truly game changing technology, but it had its limitations. These data gathering technologies, while effective, can be expensive and, in many cases, time inefficient.

Traditional remote sensing multispectral images

Over the years market needs have evolved and today’s decision makers require hyper accurate, hi-resolution data in a near real-time, which is difficult to achieve using traditional methods. This is where drones, previously used for military reconnaissance, entered the remote sensing arena. UAV flights can be conducted daily, for smaller areas, at low altitudes, resulting in higher resolution imagery at a fraction of the cost..


PrecisionHawk – North Carolina-based start-up was one of the first who realised the potential of drones in remote sensing. In 2008 they started flying their first aircraft, The Lancaster, for commercial applications in Canada, specifically in the viticulture industry. The vision behind it was however much different from most of the players on the market. PrecisionHawk understood early on that the use of small UAVs goes far beyond data collection; the key is turning around actionable information, so a platform needs to include data processing and analysis. In the past, these functions were separated. Data was often collected by one company and then handed over to another organization for processing and analysis.

PrecisionHawk took a different approach and decided to build an end-to-end solution that did not require a pilot or remote sensing expert to operate and understand, but would allow an average grower to gather field data in the matter of minutes. Five years ago the idea seemed crazy, but today the approach introduced by PrecisionHawk is recognized as industry standard.

All you need is a tablet or laptop with the dedicated map platform where you mark area you need to survey. Than you simply throw the plane into the air. Everything else is done automatically. The aircraft computes flight paths, survey parameters, take-off and landing paths on its own. Once the survey is complete, the on-board computers will automatically connect to Wi-Fi networks and transfer all remote sensing data, flight information and diagnostics to remote servers, which can be accessed via its DataMapper platform. Moreover the drone sensors are fully customisable. Depending on your needs, you can buy extra sensors like Lidar and just plug it in. Sounds cool?

That’s not all. The PrecisionHawk software platform, DataMapper, is used for storing, processing and analysing remote sensing data features a really unique thing – a marketplace where a user can buy and sell your remote sensing algorithms. It is one of the first places where a user can easily commercialize it’s analysis tools and developments. But this is not the only area where the company is taking the approach to create an aerial information ecosystem. In early 2015, PrecisionHawk acquired TerraServer – a popular web portal to buy satellite images. In the future using TerraServer technology you will be able not only to buy satellite imagery, but order drone services from PrecisionHawk and other companies to get a higher-resolution picture of your desired location.

But building the end-to-end drone platform is just a beginning. In 2014 PrecisionHawk raised $11m in seed funding with the aim to go beyond being just an outstanding drone start-up. The company developed the first, automated air traffic control system for drones calledLATAS (Low Altitude Traffic and Airspace Safety) to help solve the safety issue presented when integrating drones into the airspace with competing obstacles.

The existing air traffic control system almost fully relies on ground radars. It works well with regular aircrafts, but small drones, flying at low altitudes are almost impossible to be detected. Besides, any system of human operators could not possibly scale to accommodate the millions of drones expected in years to come. LATAS on the other hand uses cellular and satellites technologies to manage millions of simultaneous connections between drones and other ground and air obstacles. By relaying on existing infrastructure the platform has the ability to scale and to accommodate the millions of drones expected in years to come.

The aim of the project is to safely integrate drones into the national airspace, and it is being tested together with United State’s FAA under the Pathfinder program.

From PrecisionHawk perspective LATAS is a strategic project as the safety requirements are still a key barrier for the industry. This doesn’t stop the company to expand from agricultural data collection business to new industries including construction, insurance and energy among other. Today PrecisionHawk’s client base includes several Fortune 500 companies in the US, Europe and Asia. Not to shabby.

“A million-dollar idea” for a start-up needs to have a clear vision which either solves an existing problem or generates a new desire. PrecisionHawk is a model example of that sort of thinking. The company’s founders had a clear vision and found a proper people to make it happen. Today PrecisionHawk is one of the industry leaders and it sets standards for everyone else.

Source: Geoawesomeness

How the new drone regulations will influence the skies?

By Thomas Foster



New drone regulation
As it is described in another article, FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) recently enforced mandatory registration of drones for all drone owners. Everyone is bound to register a drone or else you have to pay a fine. This law however, was not a surprise. FAA tried to enforce similar law few years ago and they also had a goal to enforce registration before the end of 2015. Many drone enthusiasts and people in the industry were against that.

Reasons for new law
The main reason that a new law was enforced is safety. There are a lot of individual drone owners who fly in forbidden areas and that fly dangerously. Flying dangerously is a problem if you pose threat to other people. Many new flyers are not experienced and then they fly drones in towns. Further concern is that drones in the sky interfere with other flying vehicles. Although it is already forbidden to fly in some areas where accidents might happen, many drone operators still do that. And regulators hope that with registration it will be easier to track them and also it will discourage them to fly in such areas. Security is the main concern of the regulators.

The other concerns are privacy concerns. When a person makes a footage, it can post it online without any restriction as long as it does not earn money with it. In case it earns money with the video or photography, it needs the consent of the owners of the land that was on the video/photo or of the people who are featured. Here there are still many gray areas of the law. With drone registrations they hope that amount of footage that is released in the public will be smaller.

Areas to avoid
Drones are very useful because you can fly them in the places that are otherwise unreachable or it is very hard to make footage from there. Alternative to aerial footage with quadcopter is usually footage made by helicopter. But helicopter has its minuses. It is expensive, big, loud and therefore it is hard to reach certain spots with it. So drones are great because they can reach almost any spot. However, the danger is that the pilot will not fly well (since there are no licenses for drone flying) or that it will hit a plane or helicopter or some other flying object. To eliminate that, drone flyers must follow the following rules (it was like that already before the registration was mandatory).

• They must fly below 400 feet.
• Keep the drone in sight.
• Avoid other aircrafts in the air.
• You are not allowed to fly within 5 miles or closer of an airport.
• You are not allowed to fly near people or stadiums
• You are not allowed to fly a drone that weighs more than 55 lbs (in case you are using it for personal usage)

There are also other areas to avoid besides those already listed above. It is forbidden to fly in national parks, military zones and special areas which are marked by the government. There is a whole map where you can and cannot fly available here. Besides listed rules, it is necessary to use also common sense about what you can or cannot do with drones when you are flying.


Drones must fly away from other aircrafts. On the picture: Drone under the airplane.

Who will be hit with the drone law?
The question regarding the law is if it will harm anyone. To aerial photographers and videographers that are trying to get some special footage, it should not make a difference as long as they do it on a legal way. There were many photographers who often flew drones in national parks without the allowance of the proper authorities. Those will be now discouraged. Most drone enthusiasts will probably also find no problems with registering. Registrations must be done after the purchase. So some people might be lazy and will not go and register a drone in case they do not think they will get their drone inspected. FAA decided to ask people to register it and it did not give an option to register a drone at the moment of purchase. The only one who might actually get hit are drone sellers and manufacturers because their sales might decrease. However the true effect of the new law on the sales of drones is hard to determine.

Other ways how they might regulate in the future
Drone industry will get even more regulated. That is because the industry is growing and there are more drone users every day. So the safety concerns will be even bigger. Currently the laws are not that strict because not many people are flying drones, it is hard to learn to fly them and in general many people just do not know about them yet. However, these things are changing with new models which suit the final customer better. With this, more people who are not experienced are using drones for their applications. There are also more accidents every day as well as lawsuits. Those things are leading the regulators to make the rules clearer. Small industry can be self-regulated; but big one cannot.

What is the future of drones?

The future of the drones and drone usage is vague. Some people believe that the government rules will get stricter and that those rules will reduce the drone usage. The government might also see a threat to security in drones since they are flying objects with which you can do literally anything.

But some people also say that the industry will expand and that drones might be the new industrial revolution. Although this might be exaggerated, drones could play a more important role in our future. Besides personal usage, also film makers, marketers and journalists are using them nowadays. Government and shops are also finding them useful – government for control and for various operations (firemen sometimes use them) and shops for delivery.

There are two other branches of drones. Agriculture drones, used for agriculture are also gaining popularity. And here are also military drones, which are more evolved than commercial ones and are used in military operations where they replace humans. That is certainly a useful thing for military as this reduces casualties. But there is a fear which I already described – that military technology might be transferred to commercial drones. That might kill the whole commercial drone usage.

Credits for this article go to Thomas Foster, a quadcopter enthusiast and an owner of the website that compares quadcopters and features various guides. He is also an observer of changes in drone industry. You can follow him on Twitter.

Source: Geoawesomeness

Using Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) for Remote Sensing of Archaeological Sites

BY RACHEL QUIST


Unmanned vehicles are becoming more widely available both in the military and civilian sectors for their usefulness for remotely acquiring a variety of data. Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), previously referred to as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), are integrated ground, air, and data systems in which an aircraft (fixed wing or rotary) are either remotely piloted or operates autonomously and can perform a number of missions, including reconnaissance and remote sensing.

Beyond the military’s interest in UAS’s, the civilian sector has become increasingly aware of these systems and due to lower tech options; UAS’s have become useful in a number of scientific discipline studies.

RQ-8A FIRE SCOUT VERTICAL TAKEOFF AND LANDING TACTICAL UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE (VTUAV) SYSTEM. SOURCE: U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY PHOTOGRAPHER’S MATE 2ND CLASS DANIEL J. MCLAIN

Archaeological researchers are an early adopter of remote sensing technology but until the early part of the twenty-first century data was primarily limited to aerial/satellite imagery and photogrammetry. These methods were rather successful for a number of projects, most notably investigations of the geoglyphs of Nazca, Peru, but were still rather limiting in many ways.

Examining the Nazca case study, these archaeological features are highly unique and unusual and have been a bit of a mystery for the last century, largely due to the difficulty of recording these large features. The Nazca lines are huge, some measuring 200 meters, and are combinations of lines, trapezoids, stars, human figures, and animal figures. The geoglyphs are made by removing reddish pebbles of the high desert plateau and exposing the light colored ground underneath.

FIGURE IS KNOWN AS THE DOG, AN EXAMPLE OF NAZCA GEOGLYPHS LOCATED IN THE NAZCA DESERT, A HIGH ARID PLATEAU THAT STRETCHES 53 MILES BETWEEN THE TOWNS OF NAZCA AND PALPA ON THE PAMPAS DE JUMANA. SOURCE: COLEGTA (WIKIMEDAI COMMONS).

In a study published in 2000, Grün et.al used digital photogrammetric technology and integrated their data intovector and raster GIS data. This was the first time that these archaeological features were recorded using a GIS approach. Unfortunately, their study encountered a technological limitation of the computers at the time; their computer memory was limited to 64 MB which was not enough to render some of their graphics and data.

A few years later, in 2004, Eisenbeiss published a study in which a mini unmanned aerial vehicle was used for photogrammetric recording and documentation of a previously identified heritage site in Peru, Pinachango Alto. This study used a Copter 1B from Survey-Copter equipped with GPS/INS stabilized system, an onboard Cannon D10/D60 camera, and a ground control station by weControl. The flight plan was developed with predefined points and stopped and once programmed into the helicopter the flight path was automatically flown.

The project was able to successfully map the archaeological site and to render a 3D model of the settlement but they still had their share of technological difficulties. Their conclusions and recommendations noted that UAS’s used to map heritage sites should be able to fly longer than 15 minutes, which in their case required attaching a larger gas tank and then increasing engine power to carry the heavier payload.

In more recent years, a wide variety of UAS systems have been developed to address these early problems of duration, payload weight, and computer memory. In addition, GPS, LiDAR, photography, and wireless data integration have also improved allowing for viewing of real-time imagery from UAS’s for a period of several hours.

Thermal infrared photography from UAS’s is another improvement that has allowed archaeologists to see previously unknown and subtle features on top and beneath the surface landscape. Linear features such as prehistoric roads and canals can be easily detected as well as some subsurface features and burials using thermal infrared photography. Due to these improvements in the technology a number of archaeological survey and recording projects around the globe have used unmanned aerial systems to locate and map archaeological sites. In fact, the technique is becoming so widespread it has earned the name “aerial archaeology.”

Despite these improvements, use of unmanned aerial systems is largely restricted to being used to locate and record very large archaeological sites and generally those sites that contain remains of structures. These types of archaeological sites, although very impressive and widespread throughout the world, are not the most common site type. More typically, archaeologists record artifact concentrations associated with specific activity types in the past; these may include hunting sites, tool resharpening stations, toolstone quarrying, plant gathering and processing stations, and ceremonial locations. At this point in time, the best method to locate these discrete clusters of small artifact remnants is with the unaided human eye during a pedestrian survey.

Other uses for UAS technology are quickly becoming evident and entering the civilian sector through private corporations marketing directly to specific industries. Current and future applications of UAS’s will include forest fire detection, fire fighting, emergency mountain rescue, avalanche survivor search, crop dusting, pollution monitoring, natural disaster monitoring, delivery of emergency medical/food supplies, road traffic surveillance, poaching patrol, and weather data and research.

References:
Eisenbeiss H., 2004. A mini unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV): system overview and image acquisition. International Workshop on “Processing and visualization using high-resolution imagery”.

Grün, A, Bär, S., Beutner, S., 2000, Signals in the sand: 3-D recording and visualization of the Nasca geoglyphs. PFG, Vol. 6

Source: GIS Lounge - Maps and GIS

ProDrone Launches Industry's Most Powerful and Portable Consumer Drone at PhotoPlus 2015

The ProDrone Byrd was built for everyone - folding up and easily fitting in any backpack to be taken everywhere



ProDrone, the leading consumer drone manufacturer focusing on power and portability, today announced the official launch of the Byrd – immediately available for purchase at www.prodrone-tech.com. The new product will be showcased at PhotoPlus at the Javits Convention Center from October 22-24 at booth #767.

Byrd is a very powerful product (max take off up to 3.8kg) that offers an entirely new perspective on consumer drones, complete portability. It is the world's first drone to fold up into a convenient (iPad) sized package which will easily fit into a backpack; while packing remarkable power, enticing design and practical utilities. It has been ruthlessly tested in the world's harshest climates to guarantee unconditional quality. The meticulously designed modular payload system allows users to quickly swap out gimbal/camera combinations which enables users to capture and share those spectacular moments with unbounded variety and truly vivid detail (not to mention unprecedented ease for first responders and firefighters).

Product Features:

• First fully collapsible package
• Absolute reliability
• Longer flight time (30 minutes)
• Modular gimbal/camera options provide easily swappable combinations
• Camera options include 4K, 1080, infrared and GoPro
• Multi-controller option allows for easy teaching and sharing of a single UAV
• Screen sharing on up to five devices
• Follow me technology
• Advanced interior positioning (sonar and downward facing camera)
• HD Transmission
• Comprehensive safety features

"From the beginning, we set out to solve the biggest problems with consumer drones today – lack of easy portability and swappable camera design," stated Joseph Haagensen, PR Manager for ProDrone. "The power, durability and portability of this device is a game changer -- when you add in the modularity of the gimbal/camera combinations, it will change the industry. Our drones will put all new power into the hands of outdoor enthusiasts and adventurers"

At launch, the retail price for the standard version which ships with a ProDrone HD camera and gimbal is $949.00. The advanced version that ships with a GoPro ready gimbal is $1059.00 and the premium version with a 4K camera and gimbal is $1399.00.

About ProDrone
ProDrone Technology Company is a fresh, innovative and forward thinking take on the contemporary UAV industry. We fully focus on the comprehensive research, development, design and production of unmanned aerial vehicles and we strive to not only offer concierge style customer service, but a truly fascinating flying experience.

Our young, enthusiastic and energetic team are committed to the cause and we aim to push the boundaries of UAV technology by harmonizing state-of-the-art production with avant-garde industrial design. Our first-rate UAV technology can be utilized across a multitude of different platforms which will change the way consumers interact with drones. Without sacrificing performance, we have managed to create an extremely portable drone which can be folded down into a backpack friendly iPad sized package.

SOURCE GIS Cafe

Intersil's Breakthrough Time-of-Flight IC Revolutionizes Object Detection and Distance Measurement

New ISL29501 signal processing IC detects objects up to two meters



Intersil Corporation(NASDAQ: ISIL), a leading provider of innovative power management and precision analog solutions, today introduced an innovative time-of-flight (ToF) signal processing IC that provides a complete object detection and distance measurement solution when combined with an external emitter (LED or laser) and photodiode. The ISL29501 ToF device offers one-of-a-kind functionality, including ultra-small size, low-power consumption and superior performance ideal for connected devices that make up the Internet of Things (IoT), as well as consumer mobile devices and the emerging commercial drone market.

The ISL29501 overcomes the shortcomings of traditional amplitude-based proximity sensors and other ToF solutions that perform poorly in lighting conditions above 2,000 lux, or cannot provide distance information unless the object is perpendicular to the sensor. Alternative solutions are too expensive, bulky or power hungry for use in small form factor, battery-powered applications. Based on Intersil's patented technology, the ISL29501 sensor provides a small solution footprint and precision long-range accuracy up to two meters in both dark and bright ambient light conditions. Unlike competitive solutions, the ISL29501 allows customers to select the emitter and photodiode of their choice and configure a low power ToF sensing system customized for their application. To make system design easy for customers, Intersil offers a reference design featuring the ISL29501, emitter and photodiode, along with graphical user interface (GUI) software and user's guide.

The ISL29501 applies Intersil's power management expertise to save power and extend battery life through several innovations. The on-chip emitter DAC with programmable current up to 255mA allows system designers to select the desired current level for driving the external infrared (IR) LED or laser. This feature enables optimization of distance measurement, object detection and power budget. The device's single shot mode saves power by allowing designers to define the sampling period for initial object detection and approximate distance, while continuous mode more accurately measures distance. The ISL29501 also performs system calibration to accommodate performance variations of the external components across temperature and ambient light conditions.

"Prior to Intersil's time-of-flight technology breakthrough, there was no practical way to measure distance up to two meters in a small form factor," said Andrew Cowell, senior vice president of Mobile Power Products at Intersil. "The innovative ISL29501 provides customers a cost-effective, small footprint solution that also gives them the flexibility to use multiple devices to increase the field of view to a full 360 degrees for enhanced object detection capabilities."

Key Features and Specifications

• On-chip DSP calculates ToF for accurate proximity detection and distance measurement up to two meters
• Modulation frequency of 4.5MHz prevents interference with other consumer products such as IR TV remote controls that operate at 40kHz
• On-chip emitter DAC with programmable current up to 255mA allows designers to choose the desired current level to optimize distance measurement and power budget
• Operates in single shot mode for initial object detection and approximate distance measurement, while continuous mode improve distance accuracy
• On-chip active ambient light rejection minimizes or eliminates the influence of ambient light during distance measurement
• Programmable distance zones: allows the user to define three ToF distance zones for determining interrupt alerts
• Interrupt controller generates interrupt alerts using distance measurements and user defined thresholds
• Automatic gain control sets optimum analog signal levels to achieve best SNR response
• Supply voltage range of 2.7V to 3.3V
• I2C interface supports 1.8V and 3.3V bus

The ISL29501 can be combined with the ISL9120 buck-boost regulator to further reduce power consumption and extend battery life in consumer and home automation applications.

Pricing and Availability The ISL29501 signal processing IC is available now in a low profile 4mm x 5mm, 24-lead TQFN package and is priced at $4.87 USD in 1k quantities. The ISL29501-ST-EV1Z reference design board is completely characterized and available now, priced at $250 USD. Customers can use it along with Intersil's ToF GUI software and user's guide to design their system with minimum effort.

For more information on the ISL29501 and ToF reference design board and GUI, please visit: www.intersil.com/products/isl29501.

About Intersil 

Intersil Corporation is a leading provider of innovative power management and precision analog solutions. The company's products form the building blocks of increasingly intelligent, mobile and power hungry electronics, enabling advances in power management to improve efficiency and extend battery life. With a deep portfolio of intellectual property and a rich history of design and process innovation, Intersil is the trusted partner to leading companies in some of the world's largest markets, including industrial and infrastructure, mobile computing, automotive and aerospace. For more information about Intersil, visit our website at www.intersil.com.

Intersil and the Intersil logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Intersil Corporation. All other brands, product names and marks are or may be trademarks or registered trademarks used to identify products or services of their respective owners.

Join the Conversation
Twitter
Facebook
LinkedIn


Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151008/275499
Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140926/148698



SOURCE Intersil Corporation
Contact:
Intersil Corporation
Mark Alden, Intersil Corporation, (408) 546-3402
Email Contact
Web: http://www.intersil.com

Source

Successful launch for interaerial SOLUTIONS

The interaerial SOLUTIONS communications platform premiered at INTERGEO 2015 in Stuttgart really took off with exhibitors and visitors alike. Unmanned aircraft system (UAS) manufacturers and suppliers of all manner of UAS-related solutions took to the stage to fly high and showcase their skills. Uwe Nortmann, the managing director of Germany’s UAV association, said: “INTERGEO’s interaerial SOLUTIONS underlines the event’s clear positioning as the leading trade fair for applications involving unmanned aircraft systems.” The event planners’ autopilot system is now firmly set for INTERGEO 2016 in Hamburg.

The trifold combination of exhibition zone, aerial show and presentations program at interaerial SOLUTIONS worked an absolute treat. New exhibitors and seasoned customers alike lauded the success of the platform for UAS manufacturers and suppliers of all manner of UAS-related solutions: “It was our first time at INTERGEO and we found the visitors to be extremely well-informed and very high-calibre indeed,” said Ian Smith from Dronedeploy, based in San Francisco, USA. “INTERGEO provided us with valuable insights into the applications for UAS in Europe and elsewhere in the world. We will be using this knowledge to further improve our software.”

Distinct port of call
interaerial SOLUTIONS is designed to offer a very distinct port of call for civil applications of UAS. The new format – covering more than 80 UAS exhibitors, around 40 presentations on the applications and legal framework, and its fully-booked Flight Zone for live demonstrations – really took off. “The applications for unmanned aircraft systems are exploding. Start-ups and large corporations alike want to establish a foothold in the market,” says Uwe Nortmann, managing director of UAV DACH e.V., Germany’s Unmanned Aircraft Vehicle Association, who contributed his expertise to the event. “INTERGEO is clearly forging ahead as the leading trade fair for UAV applications,” he adds.

Future-proof platform
Exhibitors and visitors alike were impressed by the launch of this new concept, praising the international credentials of its exhibition and programme in particular. Michael Niesen, managing director of Mavinci GmbH, commented: “I’d say that the international clientèle attracted to interaerial SOLUTIONS makes it a future-proof platform. All UAS-relevant markets can be accessed from here.” The high concentration of applications, the profound expertise offered by UAV DACH and the close-up live demos in the Flight Zone really took off with exhibitors and visitors alike.

interaerial SOLUTIONS flying high
INTERGEO’s organiser HINTE GmbH is keen to use this tailwind of positive feedback as an extra incentive to expand interaerial SOLUTIONS at INTERGEO 2016 in Hamburg. “We are only just embarking on commercial uses for UAS and will certainly be building upon this initial success at forthcoming events. All I can say is there’s something in the air,” says Daniel Katzer, head of trade fairs at HINTE GmbH. The next runway for the UAS will be rolled out in June 2016 at the GEOSummit – Trade fair and conference for geoinformation in Berne and then again in October at INTERGEO 2016 in Hamburg, of course.

About interaerial SOLUTIONS
interaerial SOLUTIONS is a cross-industry platform for all topics related to unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), which can be integrated into existing trade fair formats. The module consists of three zones that offer market players a comprehensive overview of solutions and applications – a joint exhibition area, accompanying forum and dedicated outdoor flight zone. Together, they show what the industry has to offer in terms of new developments and innovative applications for inspection and monitoring, surveying, cartography and GIS data capture. International manufacturers of unmanned aircraft systems such as multicopters, helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft are all on board, as are hardware, software and service suppliers. The partner organisation for the specialist forum is UAV DACH e.V., the German-language association for unmanned aircraft systems.

interaerial SOLUTIONS will be taking off again
- at the GEOSummit 2016 in Berne from 7 to 9 June

- and at INTERGEO 2016 in Hamburg from 11 to 13 October


Contact:

Jens Lichte
Head of Communications
+49 (0)721/831424-760
Email Contact

Source

Open Aerial Map

What is OpenAerialMap?

OpenAerialMap (OAM) is a collection of openly licensed satellite and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) imagery. OAM is an open service that will provide storage and serach of this imagery.

Why OAM?

Imagery is being generated more and more, however after a disaster it is difficult to determine what imagery is available and where to access it. OAM seeks to solve this by providing a simple, open way to process and provide imagery for humanitarian response and disaster preparedness.

Join the Project

There are plenty of ways to get involved in OpenAerialMap. Check out the GitHub repositoryto learn more about the design and how to get involved in the project.

Access the beta version of OpenAerialMap, by following the link here!

AeroVironment Chooses SimActive’s Correlator3D™

SimActive Inc., a world-leading developer of photogrammetry software, is pleased to announce that AeroVironment has selected Correlator3D™ for post-processing UAV imagery.

“We required an advanced photogrammetry solution to process large datasets for pipeline mapping and multispectral data,” said Joe Mohos, Principal Engineer at AeroVironment. “Correlator3D™ met these requirements.”

“SimActive is proud to have one of the largest UAV makers in the world using Correlator3D™,” said Dr Philippe Simard, President of SimActive. “Their use of the software reinforces Correlator3D™ as the professional solution to a wide-range of applications.”

For a live demonstration at ASPRS UAS Symposium (September 29 - 30, Reno, Nevada), please visit booth 315, or booth 35 at GeoSmart Asia 2015 (September 29 – October 1, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia). Alternatively, send an email to Email Contact.

About Aerovironment
AeroVironment is a technology solutions provider that designs, develops, produces, supports and operates an advanced portfolio of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and electric transportation solutions. The company’s electric-powered, hand-launched unmanned aircraft systems generate and process data to deliver powerful insight, on-demand, to people engaged in military, public safety and commercial activities around the world. Global Observer® is a hybrid-electric, stratospheric UAS designed to provide affordable, persistent reconnaissance and communication over any location on the globe. The Switchblade™ tactical missile system enables the infantry squad and other customers with increased lethality, reach and force protection through its rapid deployment, direct fire and collateral damage avoidance capabilities. AeroVironment’s electric transportation solutions include a comprehensive suite of electric vehicle (EV) charging systems, installation and network services for consumers, automakers, utilities and government agencies, power cycling and test systems for EV developers and industrial electric vehicle charging systems for commercial fleets. For more information, visit www.avinc.com.

About SimActive
SimActive is the developer of Correlator3D™ software, a patented end-to-end photogrammetry solution for the generation of high-quality geospatial data from satellite and aerial imagery, including UAVs. Correlator3D™ performs aerial triangulation (AT) and produces dense digital surface models (DSM), digital terrain models (DTM), point clouds, orthomosaics and vectorized 3D features. Powered by GPU technology and multi-core CPUs, Correlator3D™ ensures matchless processing speed to support rapid production of large datasets. SimActive has been selling Correlator3D™ to leading mapping firms and government organizations around the world, offering cutting-edge photogrammetry software backed by exceptional customer support. For more information, visit www.simactive.com.

Source

China Civil Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Industry Report, 2015

Increasing maturity in supporting facilities of industrial chains and falling costs of all types of hardware have created favorable conditions for the development of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in China. In 2014, the Chinese civil UAV market was worth about RMB400 million, and is expected to swell to RMB1.45 billion by 2020, driven by demands from farming, patrolling, and logistics.

Civil UAVs can be divided into industrial grade and consumer grade, with industrial applications including mainly agricultural and forestal plant protection, pipeline inspection, and power line inspection. The industrial-grade UAVs can be used in disaster prevention and inspection, geology and meteorology, and urban planning, with tremendous room for growth. As to consumer-grade UAVs, the drone equipped with Gopro for aerial photography (represented by DJ-Innovations or DJI) is growing rapidly, and relevant companies in the industry are avidly courted in capital markets.

Source: China Civil Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Industry Report (2015), ResearchInChina

As civil UAVs gain more and more attention, the industry grows more competitive. There are by far more than 200 enterprises and institutions engaged in UAVs in China, which can generally be divided into four categories:

1) State-owned enterprises and institutions represented by Aviation Industry Corporation of China and China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, which primarily specialize in R&D of military UAVs, and partly get involved in dual-use or civil UAVs (mainly industrial UAVs);

2) Private enterprises represented by DJI, Ehang, ZERO TECH, and XAIRCRAFT, which are driven by market demand and focus on consumer UAVs;

3) Listed enterprises represented by SUNWARD, Shandong Mining Machinery Group, Zongshen Power, and Loncin Motor, which don't take UAVs as their main products but participate in R&D of UAVs via acquisitions or establishing of new companies;

4) Other copycat private enterprises with no core technology, poor innovation capability, and gaining profits completely by virtue of market response and cost control.

China Civil Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Industry Report, 2015 focuses on the following:
Overview of Chinese civil UAV industry, including definition and classification, application areas, system structure, and policies, laws, and regulations;
Analysis of the Chinese civil UAV market, covering global UAV market size, Chinese UAV market size, competitive landscape, R&D, and financing;Profile, financial position, hit products, R&D, and technical characteristics of 17 domestic and foreign UAV companies, including DJI, Ehang, ZERO TECH, XAIRCRAFT, 3D Robotics, Parrot, SUNWARD, Zongshen Power, Loncin Motor, and Shandong Mining Machinery Group.
Download the full report:https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/3007690/

About Reportbuyer 

Reportbuyer is a leading industry intelligence solution that provides all market research reports from top publishers
http://www.reportbuyer.com

For more information: 

Sarah Smith
Research Advisor at Reportbuyer.com
Email: Email Contact
Tel: +44 208 816 85 48
Website: www.reportbuyer.com


SOURCE ReportBuyer
Contact:
ReportBuyer
Web: http://www.reportbuyer.com

Source

Drones and GIS: A Look at the Legal and Ethical Issues

BY CAITLIN DEMPSEY MORAIS



The use of drones to acquire geographic information has rapidly been adopted by the geographic information community as an essential data gathering tool. Used to acquire information cheaply from inaccessible or remote areas, drones have already been helped in assessing archeological sites and mapping threatened plant species in Michigan. As compared with traditional methods of gathering imagery via aircraft, drones offer a cheaper and quicker method of gathering higher resolution geographic information(UAV and GIS, 2014). However, along with the benefits that drones provide in gathering information are some tricky ethical and legal issues.

The ethical and legal issues about gathering geographic data using drones can be divided into four main areas: regulations, privacy, safety, and noise.
Regulating Drones

Where and how high drones can be flown is regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) which restricts the use of drones within five miles of most airports, over military bases, or above 400 feet. In addition, the National Parks service enacted a ban in June of 2014 prohibiting the launching, landing, or operating of drones over national parks and waters. This adds a drone no-fly zone covering 84 million acres across the United States and includes monuments, battlefields, historic sites, seashores, rivers, as well as national parks and recreational areas (National Park Service, 2014).

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which has been monitoring the legal status of drones, reported in 2014 that thirty-six states have introduced some legislation aimed towards restricting the use of drones particularly in collecting data for law enforcement and government purposes (Bohm, 2014). The ACLU also reported Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Montana, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Wisconsin have some drone surveillance legislation in force.

The biggest barrier to the adoption of drones in gathering geographic information is that while hobbyists are free to fly drones, most commercial drone activities are currently illegal in the United States. According to Gakstatter (2013) many drone operators skirt this by only charging for image processing and not for the actual drone flying time (although the FAA maintains this is still illegal). Gakstatter also notes that the FAA has been ordered by Congress to come up with an integration plan for allowing commercial drone use by the end of 2015.

BENJAMIN HEUMANN, A PROFESSOR WITH CENTRAL MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY USES A DRONE TO MAP THREATENED PLANT SPECIES. IMAGE COURTESY OF HEUMANN.

Privacy and Drones

The biggest issue dominating ethical and legal discussions about drones is the concern about privacy. There are plenty of news articles about upset beachgoers and private property owners whose privacy has been invaded by private drone operators (Bird, 2014). A concern about invasion of privacy, in particular when it comes to private property, has long been an issue tied in gathering geographic information, whether it’s gathering imagery via satellite, airplanes, or drones (Onsrud, Johnson, and Lopez, 1994).
Safety and Drones

Since drones are flown at a low attitude, safety is also a primary concern. The FAA prohibits flying drones near populated areas or over people for safety reasons. In addition, the FAA mandates that the operator of the drone be in constant visual contact with the machine. The NPS also cited safety concerns for its visitors as part of the reason for its blanket ban on drones within its jurisdiction (National Park Service, 2014).
UAV Noise

The required low altitude flying mandated by the FAA means that drone operations can be incredibly noisy and therefore an intrusion upon wildlife and local populations. The ban enacted by the NPS was done in part due to noise concerns., with the press release citing drones disturbing Big Horn Sheep in Utah and interrupting recreational visitors at Grand Canyon National Park.

To address some of these ethical and legal concerns, some drone operators marketing their services towards geographic data collection have a responsibility and ethics statement such as this one from Skyris Imaging which pledges responsible drone operation to safeguard against violating safety and privacy issues. As it moves towards allowing commercial drones, the FAA released a document in September of 2013 entitled, “Integration of Civil Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) in the National Airspace System (NAS) Roadmap“. Late last year, the FAA approved for first four companies to fly drones commercially in the United States (Jansen, 2014).

References
Bird, S. (2014, June 19). What’s that buzzing noise? Oh, it’s just a drone spying on you at the beach. Retrieved from http://www.care2.com/causes/whats-that-buzzing-noise-oh-its-just-a-drone-spying-on-you-at-the-beach.html

Bohm, A. (2014, June 30). Status of 2014 domestic drone legislation in the states. Retrieved fromhttps://www.aclu.org/blog/technology-and-liberty/status-2014-domestic-drone-legislation-states

Gakstatter, E. (2013, November 11). Is it legal to fly drones for mapping in the United States? Retrieved from http://geospatial-solutions.com/is-it-legal-to-fly-drones-in-the-united-states/

Jansen, B. (2014, December 10). The FAA lets 4 companies fly drones. Retrieved fromhttp://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2014/12/10/faa-drones-trimble-vdos-clayco-woolpert-amazon/20187761/

National Park Service (2014, June 20). Unmanned aircraft to be prohibited in America’s national parks [Press release]. Retrieved from http://home.nps.gov/news/release.htm?id=1601

Onsrud, H. J., Johnson, J. P., & Lopez, X. (1994). Protecting personal privacy in using geographic information systems. Photogrammetric Engineering and Remote Sensing, 60(9), 1083-1095. Retrieved from http://www.spatial.maine.edu/~onsrud/tempe/onsrud.html



UAV and GIS – An emerging Duo. (2014, Spring). Retrieved from http://www.esri.com/esri-news/arcuser/spring-2014/uav-and-gis-an-emerging-dynamic-duo


Source

AUVSI, CEA: Drone Restrictions Would Hurt Californians, Innovation

The following statement is attributed to Brian Wynne, president and CEO, Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), and Gary Shapiro, president and CEO, Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)®, regarding the passage of California Senate Bill 142, which would restrict the flight of unmanned aerial systems (UAS):

“California SB 142 is an unnecessary, innovation-stifling and job-killing proposal. As consumers and businesses alike continue to adopt drones for personal and professional use, we agree issues of privacy should be addressed. This legislation, however, is the wrong approach. SB 142 would damage California’s leadership and handcuff innovation, just as this largely California-based and dynamically expanding industry is poised to bring major job growth to the state – adding roughly 18,000 new jobs and more than $14 billion in economic impact in the first decade once federal guidelines are implemented.

“SB 142 may look like a privacy bill, but it would open the door to a new class of frivolous lawsuits in California and create inconsistencies with federal law. The U.S. Supreme Court long ago ruled that property rights do not extend infinitely into the sky. In other words, only the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) can regulate airspace; states and municipalities cannot. Additionally, the legislation does not contain any commercial, research or educational exemption – a serious concern as major companies are poised to invest billions in this technology and provide exciting new services to consumers. And the 350-foot flight limit SB 142 would impose is arbitrary, rather than based on the realities of UAS operation.

“Drones hold the power to create new businesses, improve our lives and transform the way we do business. The safe integration of UAS into our transportation system will displace noisy trucks, reduce urban traffic and cut our fuel consumption and carbon emissions. Drones also will allow for game-changing innovations such as the faster delivery of life-saving diagnostics and medicine, improved crop production and efficiency, and safer work environments for those performing building and bridge maintenance.

“The FAA is now developing regulations to incorporate UAS into the national airspace – rules that should arrive very soon. The California State Legislature should not disrupt this process with artificial statutory restrictions while the FAA process moves toward a conclusion. We hope Governor Brown will recognize the overreach of the Legislature and allow this flourishing industry to succeed and thrive in California.”

AUVSI spearheads and CEA is a supporting member of the UAS safety campaign “ Know Before You Fly,” which provides prospective UAS operators with the information and guidance they need to fly safely and responsibly.

About AUVSI: The Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International is the world's largest non-profit organization devoted exclusively to advancing the unmanned systems and robotics community. Serving more than 7,500 members from government organizations, industry and academia, AUVSI is committed to fostering, developing, and promoting unmanned systems and robotic technologies. AUVSI members support defense, civil and commercial sectors.

About CEA: The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) is the technology trade association representing the $285 billion U.S. consumer electronics industry. More than 2,000 companies enjoy the benefits of CEA membership, including legislative and regulatory advocacy, market research, technical training and education, industry promotion, standards development and the fostering of business and strategic relationships. CEA also owns and produces CES – The Global Stage for Innovation. All profits from CES are reinvested into CEA’s industry services. Find CEA online at CE.org,InnovationMovement.com and through social media:http://www.ce.org/social.




Contact:

AUVSI
Tom McMahon
571-255-7786
Email Contact
www.auvsi.org
or
CEA
Tyler Suiters
703-907-7654
Email Contact
www.CE.org

Source

Commercial UAV Expo Issues Report on UAVs and Construction

Free Report Provides Insight from Leading Firms on the Value of UAVs for Construction Projects




The organizers of Commercial UAV Expo today announced the release of their most recent report, titled “Progressive Construction Firms Mobilize to Put UAVs to Work.” This free report provides key insights into how UAV technology is being implemented to improve efficiency, production and safety in construction projects. The complete report is available for download here.

The report comes as a result of increased demand from the construction industry for more information on implementing drone technology in construction projects. To date, more than 1,000 Section 333 exemptions have been granted by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for operating commercial drones. Many of these exemptions are for construction related applications such as aerial surveying, construction site inspection and monitoring, aerial photography and 3D mapping.

In advance of Commercial UAV Expo, which will take place October 5-7, 2015 in Las Vegas, the report will delve into how industry leaders from leading firms including AECOM, Barrick Gold and DPR Construction are using UAV technology, where they are finding the greatest benefits from it, and how the value of UAVs data gathering solutions will grow in the near future.

Jon Amdur, Vice President and Program Manager for AECOM’s Unmanned Aerial Systems (DCS Division), Iain Allen, Barrick Gold’s Senior Manager of GIS and Scott Widman, Project Manager at DPR were interviewed for the report. Jon Amdur and Ian Allen are on the Commercial UAV Expo Advisory Board and will be chairing sessions at the event. Scott Widman will be speaking in two sessions at Commercial UAV Expo, “Reality Capture in Construction – Drone Data” and “Insurance Considerations.”

About Commercial UAV Expo
Commercial UAV Expo is a conference and exhibition exclusively focused on the commercial sUAS (small Unmanned Aerial Systems) market in North America covering industries including Surveying & Mapping; Civil Infrastructure; Mining; Construction; Process, Power & Utilities; Precision Agriculture; Law Enforcement, Security and Search & Rescue (SAR). Registration is available online now. Prices increase September 15. UAV professionals are encouraged to register early for the best rates.

Commercial UAV Expo is organized by SPAR Point Group, a leading organizer of conferences and trade shows with 15 years in the geospatial arena, including SPAR 3D Expo & Conference and International LiDAR Mapping Forum. SPAR Point Group is wholly-owned by Diversified Communications. Commercial UAV Expo will take place October 5-7, 2015 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.


Contact:
Lee Corkhill
207-842-5520
Email Contact

Source

Trimble Takes Flight with New Multirotor Unmanned Aircraft System

Latest Addition to UAS Portfolio Makes Working in Tight Spaces Easy



Trimble (NASDAQ:TRMB) announced today the ZX5 Multirotor Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS), a new aerial imaging and workflow solution that captures and processes geo-referenced photo and video data for mapping, agriculture and inspection applications. The Trimble® ZX5 complements the UAS portfolio with the ability to reach smaller, remote environments faster, while providing accurate mapping data for improved productivity in the field and back office.


"Unmanned aerial systems are powerful tools that are transforming geospatial-based mapping and inspection applications to positively impact our world," said Todd Steiner, product marketing director in Trimble's Geospatial Division. "Adding a multirotor solution to our portfolio provides options for our customers working across multiple environments to collect accurate spatial data, transform it to intelligence and create deliverables."

With the ZX5, Trimble extends its unmanned aerial portfolio to include both fixed-wing and multirotor solutions, providing customers with a choice to meet their specific requirements. Trimble's fixed-wing UX5 provides longer flight capabilities for large, open environments including farms, mines, canals, flood areas and forests – while the ZX5 is more suited for mapping smaller sites, including facades, obstructed areas, construction sites and standard aerial mapping applications.

The ZX5 Multirotor is built for everyday jobs where image capture from tight spaces is common. Its vertical takeoff and landing capabilities allow users to work in tight places and obstructed environments where fixed-wing solutions are less suitable. It requires no launcher, is easy to assemble and includes everything needed to capture high-quality geo-referenced photos for aerial mapping and inspection applications.

The ZX5 includes a 16 megapixel camera to capture high-quality aerial imagery, down to 1 mm ground sample distance. The ZX5 also can be equipped to capture live video imagery for civil infrastructure, utility and oil and gas pipeline inspections.

Data captured by the ZX5 can be imported into Trimble Business Center Photogrammetry Module software to create detailed ortho-photos, digital elevation models, point clouds, volume calculations and 3D models, all without requiring specialized photogrammetry knowledge or experience. It also integrates with Trimble's state-of-the-art Inpho® UASMaster module for advanced photogrammetric processing.

In addition, the Trimble ZX5 has been granted a Section 333 exemption from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Training Partner
Trimble also selected Juniper Unmanned as an official training services provider for Trimble's UAS products. In this role, Juniper will provide classroom and field training for Trimble UAS customers worldwide.

Availability
The ZX5 is available now through Trimble's Geospatial Distribution Channel. To learn more about Trimble's portfolio of unmanned aerial solutions, visit: http://uas.trimble.com.

About Trimble's Geospatial Division
Trimble's Geospatial Division provides solutions that facilitate high-quality, productive workflows and information exchange, driving value for a global and diverse customer base of surveyors, engineering and GIS service companies, governments, utilities and transportation authorities. Trimble's innovative technologies include integrated sensors, field applications, real-time communications, field-to-office processing and software for modeling and data analytics. Using Trimble solutions organizations capture the most accurate spatial data and transform it into intelligence to deliver increased productivity and improved decision-making. Whether it's more efficient use of natural resources or extending the life of civil infrastructure, reliable information is at the core of Trimble's solutions to transform the way work is done.

For more information, visit:https://www.trimble.com/Industries/Geospatial/index.aspx.

About Trimble
Trimble applies technology to make field and mobile workers in businesses and government significantly more productive. Solutions are focused on applications requiring position or location—including surveying, construction, agriculture, fleet and asset management, public safety and mapping. In addition to utilizing positioning technologies, such as GPS, lasers and optics, Trimble solutions may include software content specific to the needs of the user. Wireless technologies are utilized to deliver the solution to the user and to ensure a tight coupling of the field and the back office. Founded in 1978, Trimble is headquartered in Sunnyvale, Calif.

For more information, visit: www.trimble.com.

GTRMB


Source

Commercial UAV Expo Adds Exhibit Space Following Initial Sell-Out

Drone Professionals will find 130+ Booths of UAS Solutions at SPAR Point Group’s Inaugural Event in Las Vegas

The exhibit floor for the 2015 Commercial UAV Expo completely sold out almost two months before the show’s launch, spurring event organizer SPAR Point Group to add space to handle the overwhelming demand. “UAS companies have thrown their support behind Commercial UAV Expo,” said Lisa Murray, Commercial UAV Expo Director. “Many of them know us from exhibiting at other events we organize in the geospatial arena and are confident in our ability to deliver qualified asset owners and a strong return on investment.”

With the addition of a new hall, more than 100 airframe manufacturers, component and sensor suppliers, software providers and service companies from more than a dozen countries will be exhibiting at the inaugural event taking place October 5-7, 2015 in Las Vegas.

Exhibitors that have signed on in just the last few weeks include:

• AgEagle
• Antonelli Law
• Benchmark Tool & Supply
• AUVSI
• Blue Chip Unmanned Aerial Solutions
• Cardinal Systems
• Cloud Ararat
• ConnecDrone
• DJI
• PTFS/Dronewear
• Express Drone Parts
• Go Unmanned
• Hawk Aerial
• Microflown AVISA
• Microhard Systems Inc
• Multicopter Warehouse
• North Dakota UAS Team
• PCI Geomatics
• Pix4D
• Septentrio
• SimActive Inc.
• Skinner Law Group
• SmartPlanes
• US Forest Service

They join the growing list of market leaders already contracted for exhibit space. See the most up-to-date exhibitor list here.

“Asset owners/operators in key growth industries will find a vast array of UAV solutions on the exhibit floor to qualify and compare,” said Ms. Murray. There’s tremendous interest in UAV technology among commercial users because of its ability to collect critical data in a way that’s faster, safer, and more accurate than many other methods, she said. “Data is the lifeblood of so many industries and drone technology provides the opportunity to increase the volume, speed and accuracy for collecting and analyzing data.”

Hundreds of professionals representing asset owners and operators have already registered to attend Commercial UAV Expo, including decision-makers from these leading organizations:

• AECOM
• Anadarko Petroleum Corporation
• Barrick Gold Corporation
• Bechtel
• Boeing
• BP
• Department of Transportation (multiple states)
• DPR Construction
• General Motors
• New York City Transit
• Pacific Gas & Electric
• Rio Tinto
• Southern California Edison
• The Beck Group
• Transportation Safety Board of Canada
• Walt Disney Company

In addition to the exhibit floor, the Conference Program features presentations from UAV industry experts sharing key insights into the issues asset owners face when implementing UAS, including systems selection and integration; developing enterprise workflows, guidelines and policies; data management and integration; and legal, safety and regulatory considerations.

Registration is available online now. Prices increase September 15. UAV professionals are encouraged to register early for the best rates.

Vendors interested in contracting for exhibit space in the newly expanded exhibit hall may contact Katherine Dow at Email Contact or 207-842-5497.

About Commercial UAV Expo Commercial UAV Expo is a conference and exhibition exclusively focused on the commercial sUAS (small Unmanned Aerial Systems) market in North America covering industries including Surveying & Mapping; Civil Engineering & Infrastructure; Mining; Construction; Process, Power & Utilities; Precision Agriculture; Law Enforcement, Security, Search and Rescue (SAR), and more. It is organized by SPAR Point Group, a leading organizer of conferences and trade shows with 15 years in the geospatial arena, including SPAR International and International LiDAR Mapping Forum. SPAR Point Group is wholly-owned by Diversified Communications. Commercial UAV Expo will take place October 5-7, 2015 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. For more information visit www.expouav.com.

About SPAR Point Group SPAR Point Group has over 15 years of experience producing world-renowned events and media in the geospatial arena, including SPAR International, the International LiDAR Mapping Forum and www.SPARPointGroup.com. Capturing Reality Forum (formerly European LiDAR Mapping Forum and SPAR Europe), Ocean Business and GeoBusiness Show are produced by the UK office of SPAR Point Group’s parent company, Diversified Communications

Source

Photogrammetric Image Acquisition with Small Unmanned Aerial Systems

Authors: Ioakeim Tellidis and Eugene Levin

Abstract

In recent years the developments of small electronics prototyping platforms such as Arduinos and Raspberry Pi’s, created a new whole market from electronic equipment and Ideas for various sizes projects. It didn’t pass too much time for developers to combine all these sensors and platforms and to create complete and more sophisticated navigation systems and find their way inside small remote controlled airplanes. The next step, the installation of a small digital camera it was pretty much expected due to human curiosity. The results were significantly changed the geospatial community. It was very obvious since the beginning of this technology that we had definitely find a cheap and reliable solution for aerial imaging. The necessary steps for designing and executing an aerial image acquisition mission are far from being well defined. If we isolate the involved products one by one, we would see impressive specifications: High resolution DSLR or compact cameras, navigation systems with fast CPUs, reliable GPS units and radio receivers. But when all these stuff we are combining into a UAV (Unmanned Aerial System) fuselage and you are exposing it to aerodynamic forces on an environment full of uncertain parameters like weather and atmospheric conditions then, the UAV as an imaging sensor, needs to be studied further. The overall of our research is to establish the necessary steps for preparing and executing photogrammetric aerial image acquisition. The final products should be vertical or near vertical well defined images with known exterior orientation, high resolution with small GSD and with adequate sidelap and endlap for supporting stereo vision.



For full text and source click here.

Topcon introduces rotary-wing UAS for Europe

Topcon Positioning Group announces the addition of a rotary-wing unmanned aerial system (UAS) to its mass data collection solutions line for the European marketplace. The Falcon 8 - powered by Ascending Technologies - is designed for inspection and monitoring, as well as survey and mapping applications.

“Rotary-wing systems provide the perfect solutions for small-scale sites and projects for which flexibility of takeoff and landing or an oblique perspective is required,” said Francois Erceau, vice president of the Topcon GeoPositioning Solutions Group in Europe. “The Falcon 8 offers the flexibility to maneuver in small spaces and can cope with challenging environments often presented in inspection and monitoring. It is also well suited for smaller mapping or modeling projects up to 35 hectares that require high-resolution imaging.”

The Falcon 8 features new AscTec®Trinity technology, an autopilot safety feature that provides three levels of redundancy for protection against performance drop or loss of control. Three IMUs (inertial measurement units) synchronise all sensing data and identify, signal and compensate when needed.

Two models are available - the GeoEXPERT for surveying, modeling and mapping projects, and InspectionPRO for industrial inspection and monitoring applications. The GeoEXPERT includes an HD RGB camera payload, while the InspectionPRO features an HD RGB camera and infrared sensor combination.

“Both versions offer easy deployment and operation with real-time video and data monitoring capability, navigation software for planning and optimising flights, as well as photo-tagging and post-processing desktop software to quickly generate high-quality and easy-to-edit material,” said Erceau.

The Falcon 8 complements the Topcon Sirius Pro a fixed-wing UAS, providing large area accurate mapping without the requirement for traditional ground control.

www.topconpositioning.eu

Source

Optech CMS V500 and ILRIS UAV coming to AIMS 2015 in Australia

Teledyne Optech is pleased to announce that both the Optech ILRIS and the brand-new CMS V500 will be at the 2015 National Conference of the Australian Institute of Mine Surveyors (AIMS) on August 12-14 in Perth, Australia.

The latest model of the Optech Cavity Monitoring System (CMS) will make its public debut at AIMS 2105, where visitors can learn about its new features with Teledyne Optech’s Business Manager for 3D Mapping Systems, Dave Adams. Chief among the new features is a cable-free setup, thanks to an internal battery and wireless communication antenna, which eases installation and enhances the system’s ability to withstand the rigors of underground mines. The sensor head has an integrated video and still camera to help operators identify features found by the lidar, yet despite these additions the system maintains the same slim profile for insertion into narrow apertures. Earlier models of the CMS carved a niche for lidar in mining operations, and the new V500 continues its leadership in this role as well as in underground surveying and less traditional applications.

Teledyne Optech has news for the open-pit industry as well, with the Optech ILRIS UAV solution now upgraded to our latest model of unmanned aerial vehicle. The geo-XR6 offers improved flight characteristics that provide a stable flight with minimal vibration for high-quality photogrammetry, plus an extended battery life and live video downlink to the UAV’s controller. Dario Conforti, Worldwide Channel Partner Manager for TLS, will make a presentation on the ILRIS UAV solution during Technical Session 6 on Friday the 14th at 2:00-2:40 in the Golden Ballroom, where he will explain how the ILRIS partners with the geo-XR6 to quickly collect colorized 3D data, and how the ground-based view of the lidar complements the bird’s-eye view of the UAV to capture targets from every angle.

Teledyne Optech can be found at booth 15, shared with our partner Western Australia Precision Surveys, while the CMS V500 is being hosted by C.R. Kennedy & Co.

Find out more at www.teledyneoptech.com.

About Teledyne Optech

Teledyne Optech is the world leader in high-accuracy lidar 3D survey systems, integrated cameras, and productivity-enhancing workflows. With operations and staff worldwide, Teledyne Optech offers both standalone and fully integrated lidar and camera solutions for airborne mapping, airborne lidar bathymetry, mobile mapping, terrestrial laser scanning, mine cavity monitoring, and industrial process control, as well as space-proven sensors. Teledyne Optech systems are also fully warrantied, with extended warranty packages offered by Optech Technical Solutions. Accuracy and productivity matter!

For further information, please contact your Regional Sales Manager or:


Wayne Szameitat

International Sales Manager

Teledyne Optech



300 Interchange Way

Vaughan, Ontario, Canada L4K 5Z8

+1 905 660 0808

Email Contact

www.teledyneoptech.com

Source