Leica Geosystems Geospatial Imaging joins 50th Photogrammetric Week

Leica Geosystems highlights its complete digital workflow at Photogrammetric Week 2005 and announces EADS Astrium purchase of Leica ADS40

Atlanta, GA — Leica Geosystems Geospatial Imaging will be a participating partner in the 50th Photogrammetric Week in Stuttgart, Germany on 5-9 September. Throughout the week, experts from Leica Geosystems will host presentations and demonstrations highlighting its offering of hardware and software products.

Leica Geosystems presentations during the conference will cover a range of topics including innovations in airborne sensors, and trends in sensor and data fusion. Demonstrations will include an illustration of the digital workflow using Leica Geosystems software with Leica ADS40 Airborne Digital Sensor and Leica ALS50 Airborne Laser Scanner data, as well as overviews of the processing workflow of both hardware products.

“We are pleased to participate in the 50th Photogrammetric Week as a partner with the University of Stuttgart,” said Doug Flint, Vice President, Sensor Solutions for Leica Geosystems Geospatial Imaging. “This event will give us a unique opportunity to reach industry experts from Europe and other countries to update them on our sensor and photogrammetric software solutions.”

Originated in 1909 by astronomer Carl Pulfrich, this annual event has taken place at Stuttgart University since 1973. Today, Photogrammetry Week enjoys international recognition as a platform for photogrammetry professionals from around the globe to present new innovations, upgrade knowledge and exchange experiences.

Along with its participation in the conference, Leica Geosystems is pleased to announce that EADS Astrium, a world leader in the design and manufacture of satellite systems, has purchased a Leica ADS40 Airborne Digital Sensor.

EADS Astrium is part of EADS, the global leader in aerospace, defense and related services. EADS Astrium, as itself and through its subsidiaries INFOTERRA and ISTAR, has an extensive experience in both the acquisition and processing of digital imagery acquired from pushbroom sensors, based upon its SPOT satellite family and its unique digital automated processing chain PIXEL FACTORYTM.

EADS Astrium is now grouping its imagery application and services companies under the umbrella of Infoterra Global to create one of the world’s leading suppliers of value-added products and services derived from satellite and remotely sensed aerial data.

Procuring the Leica ADS40 will enable Infoterra Global to provide both global digital aerial and satellite services to the market, including fast accurate output for photogrammetric applications such as color and true orthophoto production, feature extraction, 3D city mapping, and value-added remote sensing applications, particularly within the European GMES (Global Monitoring of the Environment and Security) Program.

“EADS Astrium has always been at the forefront of new technologies and we are delighted to own the innovative Leica ADS40,” said Marc Tondriaux, Director of EADS Astrium Ground Segment, Application and Services. “With the capabilities of the ADS40, we will not only enter a new market segment, we will successfully meet its high expectations.”

The ADS40, an all-digital aerial sensor, enables customers to collect aerial imagery and return from a flight mission ready to process and archive digital data. Its innovative line scanner principle (capturing imagery looking forward, backward and nadir from an aircraft) provides wide area coverage, and simultaneously captures multispectral data with the help of four multispectral lines. It can deliver both color and false color infrared imagery from one flight mission. Coupling the ADS40 capabilities with the EADS Astrium automated processing digital laboratory, Pixel Factory allows fast output of unique imagery products such as TrueOrthoTM, extremely dense Digital Elevation Model, and automated Evolution Map.

“The Leica ADS40 delivers fast and accurate results which will compliment EADS Astrium’s existing automated process,” said Bob Morris, President of Leica Geosystems Geospatial Imaging. “We are pleased to provide the industry leading sensor that will enable it to meet the needs of their customers faster with a more automated digital workflow.”

For a complete schedule of Leica Geosystems Geospatial Imaging presentations and demonstrations during the Photogrammetric Week program, visit http://www.ifp.uni-stuttgart.de/phowo/phowo2005e.pdf. For more information on Photogrammetric Week, visit http://www.ifp.uni-stuttgart.de/phowo/

About Leica Geosystems Geospatial Imaging Division
When building image-based maps, you need reliable measurements and solutions for your entire workflow. So when it has to be right, more geospatial professionals trust Leica Geosystems Geospatial Imaging, LLC to help them collect, analyze, and present spatial information. Leica Geosystems is powering geospatial imaging by putting precise imaging to work. Its broad array of airborne sensors, photogrammetry and remote sensing software solutions capture data efficiently, reference imagery accurately, measure and analyze easily and present spatial information, even in 3D. Those who use Leica Geosystems Geospatial Imaging products every day trust them for their precision, their seamless integration, and their superior customer support. Delivering geospatial imaging solutions with precision, integration, and service from Leica Geosystems. When it has to be right. For more information about Leica Geosystems or its products and services, call +1 770 776 3400, toll free +1 866 534 2286, or visit gi.leica-geosystems.com.

About EADS Astrium
EADS Astrium is the European leader in space activities, with companies in France, Germany, UK and Spain. Beyond its main activity of satellite manufacturer, which encompasses the prime contractorship of major earth observation satellites such as SPOT, HELIOS and TERRASAR, EADS Astrium develops geospatial applications and services to promote the operational use of space and airborne E.O. data. These activities are handled within its subsidiaries gathered under the umbrella of Infoterra Global group.

About Infoterra Global
A 100% EADS Astrium company, Infoterra Global is one of the world’s leading suppliers of value-added products and services derived from satellite and aerial remotely sensed data. INFOTERRA GLOBAL group is composed of:
• Infoterra Ltd. based in Leicester and Farnborough (U.K.), a leading provider of geospatial products and services.
• Infoterra GmbH based in Friedrichshafen (Germany), the lead provider of TerraSAR-X radar satellite imagery.
• Infoterra SAS based in Toulouse (France), an innovator in digital data processing automation – such as the fully automated Pixel Factory™ satellite and aerial data processing chain.
• EADS Astrium Earth Observation, developing national spatial data infrastructures.

In addition to this, Infoterra Global, through EADS, owns 40% of the world leading data distributor SPOT IMAGE thus providing a unique "one-stop-shop" data service to its clients. Infoterra Global counts amongst its clients major blue-chip companies, as well as national and local government and international organizations such the European Union and European Space Agency. The group operates across a comprehensive range of thematic markets.

For more information about EADS Astrium or its services, visit: www.infoterra-global.com.