Graz, Austria — July 3, 2012 — Lantmäteriet, the Swedish mapping, cadastral and land registration authority, has contracted with Microsoft’s UltraCam business unit and subsidiary, Vexcel Imaging GmbH, to purchase an UltraCam Eagle ”ultra-large” format digital aerial camera system.
“Recent technological developments in communication, visualization, and smart devices are making aerial photography increasingly important for Lantmäteriet in a number of areas,” stated Mr. Bengt Kjellson, Lantmäteriet’s Director General. ”It is the right time to replace our old cameras and take advantage of the progress that has been made in imaging, electronics and photogrammetry.”
“As we see it, the Ultracam Eagle is the best camera on the market in regards to Lantmäteriet’s needs. The integrated “all-in-one” system is simpler, easier to use and less expensive than our previous cameras,” stated Mr. Mikael R. Johansson, Production Manager for Aerial Photography, Lantmäteriet. “We will be able to use air hours more effectively, while improving the quality of our products. We also look forward to less expensive and better technical support from Microsoft.”
The UltraCam Eagle will be used to support Lantmäteriet’s national aerial photography program. The program collects approximately 33% of Sweden, 150,000 km2, each year at 0.5 meter GSD, and some localities and regions at 0.25 meter GSD. In addition, Lantmäteriet will collect imagery of much of Sweden’s coastline during 2012 to use in a review of Sweden’s maritime borders.
“Microsoft is pleased to provide Lantmäteriet with the most current UltraCam technology available today,” said Alexander Wiechert, Microsoft Business Director. “The system will offer Lantmäteriet the functionality it needs to successfully meet its national mapping requirements.”
About the UltraCam Eagle
The UltraCam Eagle features a PAN image footprint of 20,010 pixels across the flight strip. In addition to the ultra-large image footprint, the UltraCam Eagle includes enhanced electronics for improved frame rate and less noise (72 dB signal-to-noise ratio for high image dynamic) when compared to previous UltraCam systems, and innovative high-resolution, high-performance lenses and state-of-the art CCD technology (@ 5.2 µm pixel size) for sharp images with a high dynamic range. The UltraCam Eagle is the first multi-cone digital photogrammetric camera to offer an exchangeable lens system with 80mm (standard) and 210mm (tele for high altitude flights) and includes filters with curved characteristics to flatten out vignetting, enabling the lens system to operate at its best Modulation Transfer Function (MTF) performance for maximum image sharpness and contrast. This digital camera system boasts a new housing concept with everything integrated into a modular sensor head, including the UltraNav embedded flight management and direct georeferencing system from Applanix, and in-flight exchangeable, solid state storage for high reliability and minimal ground time. Compared to previous UltraCam systems, the smaller physical form factor of the UltraCam system makes it quicker and easier to install, requires less aircraft space, and weighs less for more efficient aircraft fuel consumption.
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, UltraCamXp Wide Angle and UltraCam Eagle digital photogrammetric sensors. Rounding out the UltraCam mapping systems offering is the UltraMap workflow software system for processing UltraCam imagery to Level 02 and Level 03 quality data, and with features that include distributed processing with automated load balancing, automated project-based color balancing, 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 Lantmäteriet
Lantmäteriet is the Swedish mapping, cadastral and land registration authority. Lantmäteriet’s mission is to manage the Swedish cadastral system and promote the rational subdivision of land, and provide basic geographic and land information. Lantmäteriet provides a diverse range of products including geographic information, land and real property information, real property formation services and geographic information techniques. It partners with other firms on European mapping projects that are aimed at facilitating the efficient exchange of geographic and land information between countries. It also participates in the activities of a number of United Nations organizations, which provide support to developing countries in their efforts to develop modern systems for managing cadastral information. For more information go to http://www.lantmateriet.se/ or contact Bengt Kjellson at +46 (0)771- 63 33 23 or Mikael R. Johansson at +46 (0)771- 63 36 33.