Hoffman Estates, Illinois – May 2, 2006 – John Deere Agri Services, a business unit of Deere & Company, will expand digital aerial imagery and advanced remote sensing products worldwide. These offerings are based upon a high-tech approach to digital aerial imagery pioneered by Massachusetts-based GeoVantage, Inc., now part of John Deere Agri Services.
By creating and developing knowledge-based products and services, John Deere Agri Services meets the needs of a wide variety of customer groups. Specific to imagery technology, it will make significant infrastructure improvements in order to:
• Continue advancement in georegistration accuracy and imagery quality.
• Streamline order delivery with revitalized order systems and process management.
• Significantly increase imaging capacity by the end of 2006.
• Expand full-fledged service capabilities worldwide.
“GeoVantage’s aerial imagery technology is a valuable addition to our core offerings,” says John Mann, Vice President, Planning and Marketing at John Deere Agri Services. “We look forward to applying this technology not only to our agricultural markets, but to continued expansion within the forestry, environmental management and urban planning markets, where the imaging system is already proving itself to be highly successful.”
The highly advanced GeoVantage sensor system combines an integrated global positioning system (GPS), inertial measurement unit (IMU) and 4-band digital camera in a single compact and portable unit. That system, together with proprietary technology and methods for image processing, enables dramatic reductions in imagery turnaround time, leading to new applications in agriculture, forestry, environmental and urban markets.
Within the agricultural market, this technology is marketed as part of the OptiGro™ Variable Rate Imaging System, combining advanced, high-resolution aerial imagery and spatial analysis with advice from local crop advisors to help growers make better in-season crop decisions.
The imaging system unit of John Deere Agri Services, Inc. is based in Peabody, Massachusetts, north of Boston.
About John Deere Agri Services
John Deere Agri Services is a business unit of Deere & Company (NYSE:DE). Deere is a world-leading supplier of products and services for use in agriculture, forestry,construction, and lawn, grounds and turf care. The company is also a major manufacturer of engines used in heavy equipment and a worldwide provider of financial services.
