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

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/

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For more information: 

Sarah Smith
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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


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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

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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

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Remote GeoSystems Adds Direct Support for DJI Inspire 1 UAV Video in all LineVision Cloud, Server and Desktop Applications

Defining a New Standard for Cross-Platform Video Mapping and Survey Deliverables in Commercial Drone Operations

Remote GeoSystems, Inc., a pioneer in Geospatial Full Motion Video (FMV) solutions, is pleased to announce direct support in all LineVision Cloud, Server and Desktop Applications for the world’s most popular UAV for HD & UltraHD video capture.

This new LineVision capability immediately offers tens of thousands of DJI Inspire 1 operators and pilots the ability to create and deliver interactive professional-grade video inspection and survey work products using some of the world’s most ubiquitous GIS & CAD software including the Esri ArcGIS Platform, Bing Maps, Google Earth & PLS-CADD.

DJI Inspire 1 users just need to enable .SRT file logging while recording video during flight. Post-flight, LineVision will allow you to load or upload the video and GPS track to a map.

As the video plays, a cursor moves along the GPS track on the map, constantly indicating where and when the current video view was captured based on GPS data logged during the mission.

Users can geographically navigate the video recordings by simply clicking any of the points along the GPS track on a map. The video then automatically advances or reverses to that point in the video so that analysts and subject matter experts can visually interpret what was recorded at that specific place and time.

In addition to FMV, LineVision features import/upload and “one-click" geo-referencing of nearly any kind of rich media including photos, audio and virtually any electronic documents or files (PDF, Microsoft Office, CAD files, etc.)

LineVision features flexible mapping options allowing you to incorporate and "stream" background maps and data layers from your enterprise GIS and 3rd-party map service providers.

All these imported data types can be saved in a Remote GeoSystems .geoProject file for data portability and future analysis in LineVision software.

The Remote GeoSystems technology has been developed commercially and independent of defense programs, making it easier for non-military customers outside the US and around the globe to acquire the applications and expertise without having to go through the often lengthy ITAR export process.

Learn more by visiting http://www.remotegeo.com/software.html

About Remote GeoSystems, Inc.
Remote Geo develops Airborne & Mobile "Geospatial" Video Recording Systems and Integrated GIS Software for Electric Utilities, Oil & Gas Pipeline, Environmental, Transportation, Security and other Critical Infrastructure Inspection Applications.

We specialize in optimizing and managing large volumes of Geospatial Full Motion Video (FMV) and other big data from nearly any sensor on any drone, UAV or UAS platform.

Our off-the-shelf and custom-designed geospatial video recording systems, UAV media cloud applications and integrated enterprise GIS software compliments existing programs and practices with simple but powerful solutions for video/photo data capture, editing, geographic analysis and inspection reporting.

We offer hardware & software packages or individual components based on specific project/product development needs for both UAV operators and OEM manufacturers.

Remote Geo is a member of the Esri Business Partner Program.

Learn more by visiting www.remotegeo.com.


Contact:
Jeff Dahlke
970-367-7808
jdahlke@remotegeo.com

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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

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Phase One Industrial Introduces the iXU-R Camera Series

Phase One Industrial, a manufacturer and provider of medium format aerial digital photography equipment and software solutions, introduced the iXU-R camera series. Available in 80 MP, 60MP and 60MP achromatic versions, these cameras feature dedicated interchangeable 40 mm, 50 mm and 70 mm Phase One Rodenstock lenses equipped with central leaf shutters that can be quickly changed in the field. They offer unprecedented flexibility in aerial applications.

The Phase One iXU-R systems have been designed to address the aerial data acquisition market’s needs for a small, lightweight camera with the high resolution of a medium format system, plus high performance optics, flexibility to fit into small places and Phase One’s fastest 80 MP platform. For example, the iXU-R 180 is built around a large 80-megapixel sensor, with 10,328 pixels cross-track coverage yet it is compact enough to be easily integrated into a small gimbal or pod space or an oblique/nadir array. Or it can be used as a standalone photogrammetric camera with optional Forward Motion Compensation.

Cameras are easily integrated into new or existing setups with USB 3.0 connectivity for control and storage via the Phase One iX Capture application. All Phase One aerial cameras offer direct communication with GPS/IMU systems and the ability to directly write data to the image files. For more details about the cameras, please go to: http://industrial.phaseone.com/iXU-R_camera_system.aspx.

“As the use of UAVs and small aircraft increases dramatically around the world, and every gram in a payload counts, Phase One Industrial is committed to offering small and lightweight cameras without sacrificing data accuracy, image quality and resolution,” said Dov Kalinski, General Manager of Phase One Industrial. “With this announcement, Phase One Industrial has established itself as the clear leader in digital medium format aerial cameras, with its range of 13 unique camera systems optimized for all aerial data acquisition projects.”

All Phase One iXU-R systems are available now from authorized Phase One Industrial partners.

Internet: www.phaseone.com

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Intergeo 2015: Satel is on its way to becoming the market leader in the area of mission-critical radio communication

Joint trade fair exhibit with exclusive German partner Welotec



At Intergeo from 15 - 17 September 2015 the Finnish radio data communication specialist Satel will present innovative new products, a step toward establishing itself as the market leader in mission-critical radio data networks. In Germany, radio data communication solutions from Satel are distributed exclusively by the full-range and systems provider Welotec. At the trade fair in Stuttgart the partners will present their products at adjacent stands.

By 2020 Satel intends to be the world's number one provider of mission-critical data connections. This goal also includes becoming the technology leader, which the company will achieve through intensified research and development. That these measures are already producing results will be evident at this year's Intergeo, where Satel will present its latest products. For example, visitors will be able to see the OEM modules Satelline-M3-TR1 and Satelline-M3-TR4. These modules allow use of the frequencies requiring a license (330 - 473 MHz) as well as the European license-free frequency ranges (433.05 - 434.79 MHz and 869.400 - 869.650 MHz). The newly developed Satelline-M3-TR4 is currently the smallest available data transceiver module in its class. The Satel Compact-Proof is a portable radio data modem with a rechargeable battery and a flexible tuning range (403 - 473 MHz). The robust Satelline EASy Pro 25W, likewise with a broad tuning range (403 - 473 MHz), allows radio communication up to a range of 50 km, which makes it quite versatile.

At the world's leading trade fair for geodesy, geoinformation and land management, Satel will present its products directly adjacent to the company's exclusive German partner, Welotec GmbH. Both Satel as a radio data communication specialist and Welotec as a full-range and systems provider have a strong portfolio for the core market of RTK/GNSS, UAV and RPAS applications. Welotec offers a large range of antennas, for example, which more than optimally supplement the Satel radio data modems: the antennas cover a large frequency range from 68 MHz to 6000 MHz, indoor and outdoor applications, MIMO technology and also antennas with an operating range from -40 °C to +80 °C for use in harsh environments. At the trade fair in Stuttgart visitors will also be impressed by innovative solutions from Welotec in the area of industrial communication - for example the industrial UMTS, LTE and WLAN routers of the TK800 series or the high-performance Industrial-WLAN access point DM500. For measuring tasks Welotec offers the laser distance sensor OWTB V2.1, which features an extremely high resolution and ranges of up to 500 metres, making it ideal for industrial applications.


Contact:

Johanna Nöske
Public Relations
Köhler + Partner GmbH
Tel: +49 (4188) 8921-29
Fax: +49 (4188) 80-13
E-Mail: Email Contact

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Bluesky Announces Prototype UAV Flight Restriction Map

Aerial mapping company Bluesky has produced a prototype map of the UK showing where it may be unsafe or even illegal to fly Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), commonly referred to as Drones. Bluesky has combined an expertise in flight planning and 3D aerial mapping with various geographic datasets to come up with the concept of a UAV Flight Restriction Map.

The map is designed for commercial operators of UAVs and includes ‘No Fly Zones’, areas where further advice should be sought as well as areas where no restrictions on flying are currently in place.

“The UAV industry is rapidly expanding with new operators offering a wide range of services launching every day,” commented James Eddy, Technical Director at Leicestershire based Bluesky. “With nearly twenty years’ experience in planning large scale aerial surveys, combined with some of the most up to date and accurate geographic data and advanced processing techniques, we have been able to produce this prototype map. It is, however, designed just as a guide to where you can and cannot fly, so UAV operators should still check with the appropriate authorities.”

Currently operators of UAVs in the UK must comply with Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) regulations if they plan to undertake ‘aerial work’, while those equipped for data acquisition and or surveillance must obtain permission before ‘commencing a flight in a congested area or in proximity to people or property’. An overriding, all encompassing CAA Article also provides guidance in that a ‘person must not recklessly or negligently cause or permit an aircraft to endanger any person or property’, while other restrictions cover the dropping of articles or animals, minimum distances when flying near people or properties, and references to the Data Protection Act.

Bluesky’s UAV Flight Restriction Map is designed to provide a ‘first stop’ reference for commercial operators of UAVs in addition to CAA guidelines. The colour coded map uses a traffic light system to identify different zones: ‘No Fly Zones’ in red, areas close to no fly zones where further advice should be sought in amber, and ‘Free Fly’ zones in green. This easy to use resource takes into consideration population densities based on small scale postcode units, and congestion based on road location and type. The Bluesky UAV Restriction Map also considers the location and impact of aerial obstacles, such as overhead power lines, and restricted airspace including no fly zones around airports.

The launch of the prototype UAV Flight Restriction Map by Bluesky follows attempts around the world to develop control systems for commercial UAV, UAS (Unmanned Aerial System) or drone deployments. NASA, working with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) with input from government, industry and academic partners, has recently announced plans to develop a UAS Traffic Management System (UTM) that will keep track of and communicate important information to UAS operators in real time.

Contacts:

Bluesky
tel +44 (0)1530 518 518
www.bluesky-world.com

Processing UAV Imagery and its Applications

The use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) imagery for GIS data acquisition is constantly evolving. The ease of use, agility of the flying machines, quick turnaround time for generating accurate data, and low data acquisition costs have made UAV’s very popular with end customers and data acquisition companies. This article highlights UAV data processing steps and discusses areas of applications.

Processing UAV Imagery
The accuracy of aerial data is directly related to the spatial resolution of the input imagery. The high resolution images from UAV can compete with traditional aerial mapping solutions that bank on highly accurate alignment and positioning sensors on board. The advancement of computing practices resulted in vigorous and fully automatic production practices and coupled with high-end computing machines and viewing mechanisms will deal with positional inaccuracies and imagery orientation information which are characteristically challenging with customary techniques.

SBL’s geospatial team processes such images. Processing of UAV images has its own challenges. SBL used to receive post-processed UAV images along with inertial measurement unit (IMU) and ground control points (GCP) as input. Aerial Triangulation is the first step performed. During this stage GCP and Actual Check Point (ACP) reports have been generated. This is an iterative step until we get the desired accuracy. The following will explain in brief some of the critical steps in the processing of UAV data.
The software examines for matching points by analyzing all images. The software used here an improved version of the binary descriptors, which are very powerful to match image points quickly and accurately.
Those matching points as well as estimated values of the image position and orientation provided by the UAV autopilot are used in a bundle block adjustment to reconstruct the exact position and orientation of the camera for every acquired image.
Based on this restitution the matching points are corroborated and their 3D coordinates calculated. A proper projection system is selected based on the requirements, and also GPS measurements from the UAV autopilot during the flight.
3D points are interpolated to form a Triangulated Irregular Network (TIN) in order to obtain a DEM. The spatial resolution of the TIN is moderated as per the need of 3D model requirements.
This DEM is used to project every image pixel and to calculate the geo-referenced ortho-mosaic. The orthoimages will be cleared of positional and terrain displacement inaccuracies.

Applications of UAV Imagery

One of the major application for which UAV images used is for agriculture. UAV images are ideal for small sized farms. Plant counts such as corn counting will give an idea of yield from those plants. Plant health monitoring, differentiating species of agricultural farms/plants and plantation estimation are the major task performed for agriculture. Growth stages of the farms can also be monitored using ortho images acquired through UAV process. UAV image processing is also helpful for the site selection for solar farms.

In case of forestry, UAV images are very helpful in species identification. SBL’s interpreters have identified forest species and enabled the client to map forest land parcels. It is a tool to monitor de-forestation as well as afforestation. Golf courses are another field where UAV data sets are highly useful. Golf course features can be mapped with their actual heights through this process.

Mining industry is the most benefitted in the usage of UAV technological advancement. As most of the mines are spread over small areas, UAV data acquiring and processing is very cost effective. Along with other data processing, SBL has got the expertise in generating contours and mining related features to very minute levels of detail.
About the Author

Anil Narendran Pillai – (Vice President – Geomatics @ SBL)
Mr. Pillai heads the GSS (Geospatial Services) domain at SBL (www.sblcorp.com). He has worked in the digital mapping, remote sensing, and GIS industries for over 23 years. He has 23+ years experience managing and coordinating GIS projects and 12 years senior management experience. He has extensive experience in all aspects of aerial and satellite imaging technology and applications. He has utilized remotely sensed satellite and airborne imagery for a variety of environmental applications including site location analysis, forestry, telecommunications and utility corridor mapping. He has a strong background in management of GIS and Photogrammetry imaging projects to support Government and private industry needs.His Passion lies in Need Analysis and Documentation, Topographical Mapping (ArcGIS), Spatial Data Management, Integrity and Security, GIS Data transformations and projections from multiple sources, Image Processing Software user testing and documentation, Project Coordination and Tech. Support, Inter-agency communication and support, 3D Data Generation and Management, Project Management, Digital Photogrammetry, Satellite Image Processing, Pre-Sales Presentations.

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PTFS to Unveil Droneware Geospatial Content Management System for Unmanned Aerial Systems at Esri UC

Progressive Technology Federal Systems Inc. ( PTFS), today introduced Droneware™, a Geospatial Content Management System (GeoCMS) for Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS). Droneware facilitates the storage, discovery and dissemination of virtually any type of sensor data captured by a UAS or Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV).

PTFS, provider of the Knowvation Enterprise Content Management System (ECMS) popular among large users of geospatial data, will officially introduce Droneware next week at the 2015 Esri User Conference in San Diego, California.

“Unmanned Aerial Systems capture large volumes of data that must be quickly organized, interrogated and disseminated immediately,” said Dan Quinn, PTFS Vice President. “Droneware makes it easy to manage enormous archives of UAS data so the right image, video or other sensor data can be found and accessed instantly.”

A thin client/server-based solution requiring only a web connection, Droneware runs on a PC in the office or handheld device in the field enabling the user to interrogate local or remote UAS data storage anytime from anywhere. Droneware is built on the same Knowvation ECMS technology that commercial and government organizations rely upon to manage raster and vector geospatial data as well as video, audio and text-based content across multiple large data archives.

The primary appeal of Droneware to UAS (and UAV) data users is its simple and intuitive search and browse capability for data discovery. Users can perform geospatial queries by typing a geographic name or word, entering latitude/longitude coordinates or preforming a visual search by drawing a rectangle on a map interface. Droneware performs the search on the entire archive regardless of data type or file format.

“Droneware is configured and ready for use in minutes for fast and effective support of any UAS data application,” said Quinn.

PTFS will demonstrate Droneware GeoCMS in booth #N1332 at the Esri User Conference being held July 20-24 at the San Diego Convention Center.

PTFS offers the option of deploying Droneware as the client’s repository of record in which all UAS content is ingested, stored, managed and searched inside the application. Droneware can be purchased on the Amazon Marketplace and deployed in various EC2 cloud instances for commercial use or for the hobbyist.

AWS Marketplace enables customers to compare options, read reviews, and quickly find the software they want. Visitors seeking Droneware in AWS Marketplace can purchase and launch Droneware with 1-Click® deployment. Droneware is then available for consumption on an hourly or annual basis.

About PTFS ( www.PTFS.com)

Progressive Technology Federal Systems Inc. (PTFS) is a leading provider of Enterprise Content Management solutions to federal, civilian, defense and intelligence agencies. Established in 1995 and headquartered in North Bethesda, Md., just outside Washington, D.C., PTFS launched its flagship ECM offering, Knowvation (originally ArchivalWare) in 2000. Knowvation is an entirely web-based product best known for providing geospatial, FOIA & declassification, database integration, and digital library solutions.

For more information, contact

Dan Quinn

PTFS Vice President

Email Contact

1-301-654-8088 x154

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Map Technology Takes Center Stage in San Diego

More than 16,000 people from 120 countries around the world are expected to converge in San Diego, California, to discuss the power of maps and applying geography at the 2015 Esri User Conference (Esri UC). The Esri UC and related events will take place from July 18–24, featuring a variety of speakers from a presidential candidate to global first responders. Attendees will share ideas and best practices for improving our world through maps.

Other featured speakers will include operations staff from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, executives from JPMorgan Chase, the director of Strategic Cooperation at the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), and the president and CEO of the National Geographic Society. Former Maryland governor Martin O'Malley headlines a list of innovators from across every industry who will demonstrate how geospatial technology can make government smarter, combat global health challenges, ensure public safety, and drive greater revenues for businesses.

Before the Esri UC even kicks off, a series of concurrent events related to business; education; national security; architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC); and 3D mapping will take place July 18 and 19 in and around the San Diego Convention Center. These focused events will give attendees a deeper dive into various functional areas and equip them with an action plan to immediately invigorate their own organizations.

Throughout the week, more than 1,000 users will deliver presentations detailing how GIS helps their organizations in a number of ways. Whether they're onstage for Monday's Plenary Session or leading one of the nearly 300 moderated paper sessions, speakers will share lessons learned and best practices that can help their peers succeed.

The National Geographic Society will be on hand to continue celebrating the organization's 100 years of making maps. A chronicle of the history of maps and the American presidency, from future President Dwight Eisenhower carrying maps into battle during World War II to President Barack Obama receiving official presidential maps in the White House, will present the art and science of where. Gary E. Knell, president and CEO of the National Geographic Society, will also speak at the Plenary Session about the importance of geography in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education.

From hundreds of expert-led technical workshops to the expansive GIS Solutions EXPO featuring more than 300 technology companies and start-ups, attendees will immerse themselves in the latest and greatest in mapping and spatial analysis. Attendees will find a range of demos, talks, and resources about hot topics—big data, 3D visualization, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and more.

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Teledyne Optech showing new tools for collecting GIS data at Esri 2015 UC

Teledyne Optech announces that it will be showcasing some of its latest sensors at the Esri 2015 User Conference in San Diego on July 20-24, highlighting the game changing Optech Galaxy and innovative Optech ILRIS and UAV merging technology in particular.

The Optech Galaxy is the latest configurable ultra-compact airborne lidar designed to improve collection efficiency and productivity, and will be on display in booth # 2412. Stop by to learn how Galaxy’s PulseTRAK technology is cutting cost and complexity from the surveying process and maintaining an even swath width in varying mountainous terrain with its SwathTRAK mode.

The integrated ILRIS and UAV solution combines the best of highly detailed long range terrestrial lidar and more general UAV photogrammetry for more complete 3D data — perfect for capturing all sides of structures, hazardous areas, and mines from a safe distance.

In addition, visitors will see some amazing data results from the new Optech Titan system, the world’s first commercial multispectral airborne lidar. Titan launches a new era in remote sensing by using three laser channels with separate wavelengths to collect 3D geospatial data, the results embedded with rich spectral identification information for applications such as tree species identification, environmental modeling, and improved target classification.

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RIEGL to Attend, Exhibit, and Present at the Esri 3D Mapping Forum

RIEGL will be attending, exhibiting, and presenting at the Esri 3D Mapping Forum. The Esri 3D Mapping Forum will be held at the Omni San Diego in San Diego, California from July 18 through July 21, 2015.

RIEGL will be exhibiting at M103 and M104 during the conference. RIEGL will also be presenting during the Esri 3D Mapping Forum. On Saturday, July 18, Johannes Riegl Jr., CMO of RIEGL, will be presenting "How LiDAR is supporting Esri's Map of the Future" from 9:05 AM to 9:25 AM in Salon A/B. Christian Sevcik, Manager of Strategic Software Alliances of RIEGL, will be presenting a technical session on "Point Cloud Technology- Keys to the Future" in Salon E from 10:45 AM-11:45 AM. From 2:00 PM-2:30 PM, James Van Rens, CEO of RIEGL USA, will be presenting "UAV's for LiDAR Mapping" on the main stage.

On Sunday, July 19, James Van Rens, CEO of RIEGL USA, will be participating in the panel discussion "The Future of 3D Mapping: Considerations and Constraints beyond Reality Mapping" from 4:00 PM-5:00 PM.

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GeoDigital, FLoT Systems, and Environmental Consultants Inc. (ECI) Partner for Unmanned Aerial Vehicle-based Utility Asset Inspection Program

First comprehensive remote asset inspection program combines UAV-collected data, software and utility expertise to safely and efficiently perform virtual inspections






ATLANTA, June 4th, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — GeoDigital, FLōT Systems, and Environmental Consultants Inc. (ECI) have formed a partnership to bring utilities remote asset inspection capabilities via Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) – also known as Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS). The program combines high-resolution imagery collected by FLōT Systems’ beyond line-of-sight capable UAV, analytics and location-based work management software from GeoDigital, and virtual inspection of those images with utility vegetation and asset management expertise from ECI.


For the first time, utilities will be able to assess critical infrastructure on both electric distribution and transmission facilities, as well as on pipelines by using UAVs, commonly known as drones, to pinpoint possible risks to their infrastructure. In doing so, utilities can improve service reliability, increase employee and public safety and best ensure regulatory compliance.


“We believe UAS will become an invaluable tool in helping utilities manage their infrastructure and the environment around it,” said FLōT Systems’ CEO Chris Vallier. “As specialists in the utility industry, we have been developing the ability to utilize long-range unmanned aircrafts to more safely and efficiently collect higher value facility information than with traditional methods.” With respect to the regulatory environment, Mr. Vallier goes on to say, “We understand how to operate within the current regulatory framework while helping our clients prepare for full-scale commercial activity in the near future.”


“By combining UAV collection and utility inspection expertise with GeoDigital’s virtual asset inspection software, utilities can now enhance their inspection programs by deriving actionable insights from big geospatial data,” said Chris Warrington, President and CEO at GeoDigital. “Virtual inspections use geospatial data, which can now be collected more frequently and safely, so utilities can prioritize remote asset maintenance and repairs using up-to-date data. This geospatially-precise work planning increases reliability and enables safer, more efficient field crew deployments. By going to digital inspections and having a history of all work activity, utilities can achieve significant process improvements and cost savings.”


“Because vegetation and equipment-caused failures are among the top causes of electric distribution system interruptions, our team has focused on providing virtual facility and vegetation inspections as our first end-to-end solution,” said Jim Downie, Executive Vice President of ECI. “For example, imagery collected to virtually identify high-risk trees or equipment maintenance needs can be tracked back to the field using GeoDigital location-based work management software. This is just the first example of the common vision of ECI, GeoDigital and FLōT to enable informed digital decisions that drive real returns for electric and gas utilities and their customers. We anticipate the business case for UAV and other remote inspection methods will further optimize utility engineering and vegetation management by taking advantage of LiDAR and other sensing technologies in the not-too-distant future.”


To find out more visit the company websites below.


About GeoDigital


GeoDigital, a big spatial data and analytics company, helps industries efficiently manage critical assets and the world around them. GeoDigital’s innovative solutions combine 3D maps – built on remote sensing and imaging technologies such as LiDAR – with patented analytics and location-based work management software. By providing precision insights, GeoDigital enables customers to predict threats and prioritize actions to solve complex geospatial challenges. With data-driven confidence, GeoDigital helps to guide people, autonomous cars, machines and infrastructure more safely, reliably and productively.


Founded in 2005, GeoDigital has operations in the United States, Canada, and Australia and its investors include NGP Energy Technology Partners, North Sky Capital, EnerTech Capital and Emerald Technology Ventures. Visit www.geodigital.com/UAV-inspections to find out more about this solution.

About Flōt Systems


Based in Lafayette, Colo., FLōT (pronounced FLOAT) Systems is a UAV-based technology company delivering next-generation aerial inspection systems to electric utilities and other critical industries. FLōT Systems leverages long range UAS that carry precision sensors that are useful in solving many electric utility challenges. FLōT Systems provides turnkey UAS services, FAA expertise for beyond line of sight operations, sensor and integration experience, and UAS software development for the utility industry.


www.flotsystems.com


About Environmental Consultants Inc. (ECI)


ECI provides quality solutions for all aspects of vegetation management, including program assessment, development, crew productivity measurement, environmental assessment, contract vegetation management field specialists, training, expert testimony, and research. We are committed to providing the highest quality state-of-the-art consulting services.


ECI is consistently at the forefront in the development of reliability-focused, risk-based, cost effective utility vegetation management programs. Clients implementing our program initiatives and recommendations have realized dramatic improvements in reliability, significant cost savings, reduced risk, enhance regulatory compliance and overall improvements in operational effectiveness.


Since its founding in 1972, ECI has been recognized as the proven industry leader in the strategic and tactical development of progressive UVM solutions and programs. ECI has successfully provided a wide variety of related consulting services for hundreds of utilities throughout the United States and Canada.

www.eci-consulting.com

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