Graz, Austria — March 5, 2014 — Keystone Aerial Surveys, Inc., a PASCO Group company, has contracted with Microsoft’s UltraCam business unit and subsidiary to purchase two UltraCam Falcon digital aerial camera systems with the UltraNav GNSS-Inertial Direct Georeferencing + Flight Management System.
Keystone has a long history of serving mapping, engineering, government and other clients with Microsoft aerial products. “The latest offerings of UltraCam cameras are models of reliability, accuracy and usability,” said Mary Potter, President of Keystone Aerial Surveys. “The combination of the mature technology of the CCD, the SSD storage unit and the UltraNav system makes the Falcon very attractive. The dependability can eliminate reflights for camera issues, reducing our overall costs. We are seeing an increase in demand for digital imagery throughout the US, and particularly in the Northeast, so we will use the new Falcons immediately in the spring.”
The UltraCam Falcon is offered in two image footprint sizes —14,430 or 17,310 pixels across —and two focal lengths —100mm or 70mm. Keystone selected the wider footprint, which facilitates rapid data acquisition at high altitudes, and the 100mm lens that delivers less building lean than other size lenses. As an additional advantage, UltraNav is an integrated unit that consolidates all navigation and flight planning components for simpler installation and more economical operations when compared to similar “standalone” systems.
“Keystone decided on the camera footprint and lens combination that best suits our needs,” said David Day, Vice President Operations at Keystone Aerial Surveys. “The Falcon’s price point and suitability for small to mid-sized topographic, engineering and corridor mapping make this camera perfect for meeting our clients’ needs.”
“Keystone is a major player in the aerial mapping community and Microsoft is pleased that it chooses to use UltraCam products,” said Alexander Wiechert, Microsoft Business Director. “The Falcon meets the growing demand for a lighter, smaller sensor unit without sacrificing data quality.”
About the UltraCam Falcon
The UltraCam Falcon features include:
• PAN, color and NIR data captured in one pass
• Choice between two image footprint sizes (14,430 pixels across or 17,310 pixels across) and two lens focal lengths (the standard 100mm Pan or wide angle 70mm Pan)
• Integrated unit that contains all components in the sensor head
• Solid-state image storage system that holds approximately 7,500 images (with 14,430 pixel footprint) and 5,200 images (with 17,310 pixel footprint)
• Compatible with UltraNav flight management and direct georeferencing system from Applanix
About UltraNav
UltraNav is an integrated unit that consolidates all navigation and flight planning components for simpler installation and more economical operations when compared to similar “standalone” systems. UltraNav is comprised of embedded GNSS/inertial hardware, pilot and operator displays, and office software for flight planning and generation of exterior orientation.
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 today include the UltraCamHawk, UltraCam Falcon, and UltraCam Eagle digital photogrammetric sensors, and the UltraCam Osprey nadir/oblique photogrammetric digital aerial sensor. Also offered is the UltraNav Flight Management and Direct Georeferencing system, designed to maximize the efficiency of UltraCam aerial mapping. Rounding out the UltraCam offerings is the fully integrated UltraMap workflow software system, with features that include high-density 3D point cloud creation, highly accurate and detailed digital surface model (DSM) generation, and ortho mosaicing capabilities based on an automatically generated DSM or traditional DSM.
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 Keystone Aerial Surveys, Inc.
Keystone Aerial Surveys, Inc., a PASCO Group company, based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, has been providing airborne acquisition services to clients throughout the US for over 50 years. In addition to the new UltraCam Falcon systems, the company operates two UltraCamX and three UltraCam Eagle digital cameras, and ten traditional film mapping cameras. Keystone utilizes 19 aircraft that have been modified and equipped specifically for airborne survey operations. Keystone’s web library, www.kasview.com, allows customers to view digital, film and aeromagnetic archives geographically. For more information about the company, go to www.kasurveys.com or contact John Schmitt at 215-677-3119 or jschmitt@kasurveys.com.