In today’s fast-paced geospatial industry, the need for accurate, high-quality data is paramount. Enter the UltraCam Dragon 4.1—a revolutionary hybrid aerial mapping system that combines advanced oblique imaging and Lidar scanning from RIEGL into a single, integrated device.
Designed to meet the demands of a wide range of applications, from city modeling to corridor mapping, the UltraCam Dragon offers unique flexibility and precision. This blog post delves into its versatile operating modes and the powerful software that supports it, solidifying its position as the premier solution for achieving top-tier data accuracy in airborne urban mapping.
Integrated imaging and LiDAR: The all-in-one powerhouse of UltraCam Dragon
The UltraCam Dragon integrates nadir and oblique cameras with a sophisticated RIEGLVQ-680 OEM LiDAR Scanner in a single device. Leveraging Vexcel technology, the camera system includes a high-resolution nadir image frame and four oblique cameras positioned at 45° in the cardinal directions. It captures RGB imagery using Bayer-pattern sensors and a near-infrared band in the nadir direction. The LiDAR Scanner features a unique scan line pattern specifically designed to match the camera concept with five viewing angles—nadir, two forward at 10° and 20°, and two backward at the same angles—achieved through a rotating mirror wheel, offering versatile capabilities for various applications.
How the UltraCam Dragon adapts to your needs
The UltraCam Dragon is a highly flexible device that can be utilized in a variety of ways to suit different project requirements.
* Simultaneous collection of imagery (all directions) and LiDAR for use cases like city modelling
* Optimized image capture (using just nadir and oblique forward/backward) and LiDAR for corridor mapping
* Image-only mode for pure photogrammetric image-based projects
* LiDAR-only mode for sole point data collection
Robust software ecosystem: UltraMap and RiPROCESS for optimal results
All of these variations are well-supported by the software ecosystem that comes with the Dragon. For the image components, UltraMap is used while the LiDAR processing relies on RiPROCESS from RIEGL. Postprocessing of the raw data in these software packages is required and then depending on the use case, optional modules or combination with 3rd party software can be utilized. All processing is based on trajectory data, which results on postprocessing in Applanix PosPac.
UltraMap offers a number of modules for photogrammetric image processing and includes tools for all of these steps:
* Postprocessing of raw data * Aerotriangulation
* Automated color balancing * Radiometric adjustment
* Dense Image Matching * Filtering from DSM to DTM
* Ortho rectification and mosaicking * 3D mesh generation
RIEGL’s RiPROCESS can be seen as the equivalent for the first few steps of above workflow for the lidar world, it provides:
* Strip adjustment * Postprocessing of raw data
* Integration of trajectory * Georeferencing with ground control
* Filtering of the point cloud * Various output options
In typical workflows, user can process in UltraMap and RiProcess to generate the required results and then combine in third party software for the implementation of a specific use case. In the future, both software products are expected to evolve, with adding workflows and features to tightly integrate the data from both worlds into a single workflow.