Milwaukee, Wisconsin — May 5, 2011 — From the ASPRS 2011 conference in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Microsoft’s Photogrammetry Division announced that Kucera International has contracted with Microsoft subsidiary, Vexcel Imaging GmbH, to purchase an UltraCamLp photogrammetric digital aerial camera system.
“Kucera has been very impressed with the image quality and accuracy achievable with our first UltraCamX camera system, purchased one year ago,” said John Antalovich, Jr., President of Kucera International. "It proved to be suitably rugged for the tough operating conditions we encounter. When repeat customers asked how we were able to so greatly improve our image quality over recently performed surveys, we began making plans to purchase another UltraCam. Our recent purchase of an UltraCamLp allows us to transition more of our projects from film to digital."
Kucera is utilizing the UltraCamLp system for aerial image collection on a unique, countrywide flood risk assessment project for the Government of Poland. "The versatility offered by UltraCam imaging systems for coverage and operational altitude make them optimal for a project of this type involving simultaneous image and lidar data capture over widely varying terrain conditions," comments Nat Phillips, Kucera’s Photogrammetric Acquisition Systems Manager.
“Kucera joins Microsoft’s repeat customers who feel that the UltraCam technology delivers the best value for their money,” said Alexander Wiechert, Microsoft Business Director for Vexcel Imaging GmbH. “We are pleased to assist Kucera with its successful transition from film to digital data acquisition.”
About the UltraCamLp
The UltraCamLp combines innovative hardware, electronics and software that result in a light and compact camera system. The camera collects five spectral bands per exposure: red, green, blue and near-infrared data, in addition to the higher-resolution panchromatic data. The UltraCamLp features an image footprint collection capacity of 92 megapixels (11,704 x 7,920 pixels pan), made possible through advanced electronics and a CCD array of just 6 ìm. The system is ideal for smaller large-scale and photogrammetric projects, high-resolution (true) orthophoto production, DSM (digital surface model) production, aerotriangulation, corridor mapping, classification, and lidar integration.
About Microsoft’s Photogrammetry Division
With its operations based in Graz, Austria, and sales and support teams in North America, Microsoft’s Photogrammetry Division brings more than two decades of photogrammetry expertise to Microsoft’s Bing Maps business unit. The division is responsible for the highly successful line of UltraCam digital aerial mapping systems that include the UltraCamLp, UltraCamXp, and UltraCamXp Wide Angle digital photogrammetric sensors. Rounding out the UltraCam mapping systems offering is the UltraMap workflow software system that provides an automated project-based color balancing module and additional quality control tools.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
About Kucera International
Kucera International Inc., founded in 1953, is based in Willoughby, Ohio, with five branch offices located throughout the US. Along with the newly-acquired UltraCamLp system, Kucera operates a Vexcel Imaging UltraCamX digital aerial camera, two Leica ADS40 digital pushbroom sensors, a GeoVista digital aerial oblique imaging system, and an RIT WASP digital multispectral/thermal imaging system. The company works with public and private customers throughout the US and overseas. Kucera provides comprehensive aerial mapping and related geomatics services, including aerial photography and remote sensing, lidar, airborne control surveying, photogrammetric mapping, orthophotography, cadastral mapping and geographic information systems. Kucera maintains its own fleet of aircraft, as well as complete photogrammetric processing and photo reproduction facilities at its branch offices. For more information, visit www.kucerainternational.com.