In the Spotlight

The V International Conference "Remote Sensing — the Synergy of High Technologies" organized by Sovzond was held on April 13-15, 2011 in the Moscow region.

HIPS and SIPS 7.1 with 64-bit support will provide users who have access to a 64-bit computer the ability to handle large multibeam sonar datasets even faster. This will provide organizations with significant savings in time, which is crucial for marine surveying organizations that wish to make efficiencies.

From its User Group meeting at the ASPRS 2011 conference in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Microsoft’s Photogrammetry division announced the UltraCam Eagle, a new generation of its award-winning UltraCam digital photogrammetric aerial camera systems.

Leica Geosystems announces the Leica Viva TS12 Performance Robotic Package. The cost-effective system provides everything needed for efficient daily surveying in one powerful package comprising the Leica Viva TS12 Total Station, the Leica Viva CS10 Controller and the easy-to-use Leica SmartWorx Viva Onboard Software.

Ashtech announced release of version 3.5 firmware for the ProFlex 500 GNSS receiver that includes a powerful NTRIP Caster to enable surveyors, municipalities, mining, engineering and agricultural operations to easily implement and control their own very cost-effective and secure corrections network via NTRIP protocol.  Ashtech dealers are also expected to take advantage of the new Caster feature to setup their own service network for their customers.

UK based 4DMax, a company in the film, TV, visual FX and Forensic 3D data capture market has recently purchased the latest Leica High-Definition SurveyingTM (HDS) ScanStation C10 to enhance its 3D data capture services.

As part of a major upgrade and renewal of the Swiss Metrological Network of weather stations, the Swiss Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology, MeteoSwiss, is employing an Ashtech ProMark 500, smart GNSS receiver, to measure to centimetre-level accuracy the position of each of its more than 1,100 sensors located at 135 stations throughout the country. The enhanced accuracy of the instrument positions leads to an improvement in MeteoSwiss products, especially solar radiation measurement, by improving the horizon definition; and atmospheric pressure measurements by providing an accurate altitude.

AVEVA, a provider of engineering design and information management solutions for the plant, power and marine industries, announced the launch of the new AVEVA Laser Modeller solution at SPAR 2011. An integral part of AVEVA’s larger laser scan strategy, AVEVA Laser Modeller rapidly and cost-effectively transforms laser scan data into intelligent, as-built 3D plant models. Creation of an accurate 3D model for existing brownfield facilities allows Owner Operators to optimise the operations of their assets and significantly reduce the lead time on upgrade and revamp projects in a way that is simply not possible with historic applications.

The organisers of the Community on Agricultural Policy Implementation and Geo Information (CAPIGI) conference explain the GNSS use in farming.