Graz, Austria — February 22, 2012 — Aerial Imaging Incorporated has contracted with Microsoft’s UltraCam business unit and subsidiary, Vexcel Imaging GmbH, to purchase an UltraCamXp digital aerial photogrammetric camera.
“We were looking for one camera that could do it all. The UltraCam is a tried and true digital system based on mature technology that we feel very comfortable investing in at this time,” stated Marcel Joubert, President of Aerial Imaging Incorporated. “References from other owners convinced us that the system is extremely reliable and priced competitively, and that we could count on great product support. Vexcel supplied us with sample 2cm GSD data, and our local government was astounded with the excellent clarity and visible detail of the imagery. This also gave us added confidence in our purchase of the camera.”
Aerial Imaging Inc. will use its UltraCamXp to serve its government and commercial customers, primarily in Western Canada. The large footprint and substantial on-board data storage makes collecting large areas cost-effective at varying altitudes and mapping scales. In addition, the infrared band on the digital camera allows the company to compete for forestry projects, which is a key market in Canada.
“Microsoft is pleased to provide the UltraCamXp to Aerial Imaging Inc. to help meet the increasing demand for high resolution digital imagery in its geographic region,” said Alexander Wiechert, Microsoft Business Director. “The UltraCamXp offers features that are highly suitable for the types of projects that Aerial Imaging intends to pursue.”
About the UltraCamXp
The UltraCamXp photogrammetric digital aerial camera provides a pixel size of 6 micrometers and a footprint of 196 megapixels (17,310 across track x 11,310 along track). The resolution ratio of 1:3 between pan and color bands allows the production of high-resolution pan-sharpened products. The collection rate of 2.5 Gbits per second allows for rapid data collection. The low-cost, exchangeable on-board storage devices hold up to 6,600 images each—approximately 4.2 terabytes of data. The vast storage capability permits more efficient data collection as a result of uninterrupted image collection and minimal ground time.
About Microsoft’s UltraCam Business Unit
With its operations based in Graz, Austria, and sales and support teams in North America, Microsoft’s UltraCam business unit 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 and the new UltraCam Eagle 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 Aerial Imaging Incorporated
Aerial Imaging Incorporated, based near Calgary in Alberta, Canada, provides imaging services throughout Western Canada. The company specializes in high resolution aerial data collection and processing for the environmental, transportation, infrastructure, government and energy markets. For more information, visit www.aerialimaging.org or contact Marcel Joubert at 403-995-7070 or aiinc@telus.net.