Graz, Austria—January 5, 2010—Vexcel Imaging GmbH, a Microsoft® company, has signed a purchase agreement with Cartográfica de Canarias, S.A. (GRAFCAN) for the purchase of an UltraCamXp Wide Angle, a new version of the UltraCam large format digital aerial camera system that features a wide-angle lens with a shorter focal length. The wide-angle lens offers customers with lower-flying planes exceptional small-scale mapping capabilities.
”After a thorough study of the top large format digital aerial cameras available today, we decided the UltraCamXp Wide Angle is the best choice to launch our company into the digital aerial market,” said Mr. Bernardo Pizarro, General Manager, GRAFCAN. “The large footprint of the UltraCamXp Wide Angle allows us to collect more high-quality imagery cost effectively.”
The UltraCamXp Wide Angle has the largest footprint available and can collect data at a rate of 2.5 Gbits per second. In addition, digital technology removes the need for film/photo processing and scanning, and speeds up geometric processing activities. The combined time and cost savings are a true advantage for the digital aerial provider. GRAFCAN offers a full range of GIS, geodesy, basic and thematic cartography, photogrammetry, surveying, and image processing services.
“We are happy to help GRAFCAN transition from analog to digital technology,” said Alexander Wiechert, Business Director of Microsoft and Managing Director for Vexcel Imaging GmbH. “The UltraCamXp Wide Angle is a perfect resource for a company serving a variety of customers when quality imagery and fast turnaround are key factors for success.”
About the UltraCamXp Wide Angle
The large image format of the UltraCamXp Wide Angle is identical to that of the UltraCamX at 196 megapixels, or 17,310 across track and 11,310 along track panchromatic pixels. The pixel size is 6 µm, and geometric accuracy is better than +/- 2 µm. Post-processing can be started on board and completed on the ground with a laptop or group of PCs for faster turnaround. The new Wide Angle model also is fully compatible with the storage (DXp) and computing (CXp) systems of the UltraCamX and UltraCamXp, and is fully supported by Vexcel’s UltraMap workflow software system.
About Vexcel Imaging, GmbH
Acquired by Microsoft Corporation in May 2006, Vexcel Imaging GmbH brings 20 years of photogrammetry expertise to Microsoft’s Bing Maps business unit and is at the heart of the burgeoning Microsoft Photogrammetry business. The company’s offerings include its series of UltraCam digital aerial mapping cameras and related software tools such as the UltraMap 2.0 workflow software.
About GRAFCAN
Cartográfica de Canarias, S.A. (GRAFCAN) is located in the Canary Islands, Spain. Founded in 1989, the company employs highly skilled professionals who have the technological expertise to provide advanced topographic maps, orthophotos, photogrammetric surveys, and aerial imagery to the public and private sectors. For more information, see www.grafcan.com.