Graz, Austria — February 5, 2013 — Kîsik Aerial Survey Inc. has contracted with Vexcel Microsoft’s UltraCam business unit and subsidiary—Vexcel Imaging, GmbH—to purchase an UltraCam Eagle digital aerial camera system. Kîsik started in 2009 and has successfully built its aerial data acquisition business operating an UltraCamX.
“It was a natural decision to increase our capacity with the UltraCam Eagle, based on our success with the UltraCamX. The image processing workflow has definitely been designed with the user in mind, being very intuitive and efficient,” stated Ms. Teara Fraser, President, Kîsik Aerial Survey. “As a small business, Kîsik owes much of its success to forward-thinking technology and reliable service providers. The entire UltraCam team is closely aligned with Kîsik values, and there is no question they have been key in supporting our company’s growth.”
“As an aboriginal company, we weave culture into our work,” continued Fraser. “The ‘Eagle’ is said to have the gift of clear vision. It represents great strength and leadership.”
Kîsik Aerial Survey will use the UltraCam Eagle for a variety of mapping projects, such as municipal, corridor, forestry, and block photography throughout the Pacific Northwest. Clients include mapping and forestry companies, utilities, government agencies, engineering firms and environmental firms.
“The solid state technology and larger digital footprint of the UltraCam Eagle will be a major advantage for Kîsik,” said Bill Lakeland, Vice-President, Kîsik Aerial Survey. “The larger image footprint means increased efficiencies during image acquisition, as well as fewer images in the downstream workflow. The new camera also offers increased photogrammetric accuracy compared to the previous generation UltraCam systems, while maintaining excellent image quality. Our clients are excited.”
“In only a few short years, Kîsik Aerial Survey has built a thriving business and now has the resources to add a second UltraCam camera,” said Alexander Wiechert, Microsoft Business Director. “As the first and presently only flyer in Canada with an UltraCam Eagle, Kîsik can leverage its expanded capabilities by more efficiently delivering high-quality imagery to its clients.”
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. This digital camera system boasts a new housing concept with everything integrated into a modular sensor head. Compared to previous UltraCam systems, the smaller physical form factor of the UltraCam system requires less aircraft space, weighs less for more efficient aircraft fuel consumption, and is easier and quicker to install.
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, UltraCam Flacon 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 Kîsik Aerial Survey Inc.
Kîsik Aerial Survey, based in Richmond, British Columbia, specializes in aerial data acquisition. Named a Cree word for “sky,” the firm is 100% Aboriginal owned and the only qualified Aboriginal supplier of aerial survey work in Canada. In November 2012, Kîsik became certified as a Climate Smart Business, which reflects its commitment to reducing its impact on the environment. Since 2009, Kîsik has provided digital aerial imaging services throughout Western Canada and the US Pacific Northwest. For more information go to http://www.Kîsik.ca or contact Bill Lakeland at bill.lakeland@Kîsik.ca or 1-604-244-0636.