CompassData Certified by FAA to Collect and Verify Data for Aviation Mapping

Centennial, Colorado, 14 April 2014 – CompassData, a worldwide provider of geospatial data and services, has received DO-200A certification by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for collection and processing of survey and ground control data used in the creation of Airport Mapping Database (AMDB) products.

“DO-200A certification enables CompassData to provide Ground Control Points (GCPs) for generation of digital aeronautical products, such as Airport Moving Maps, used by pilots in the cockpit to navigate on the ground at airports worldwide,” said Hayden Howard, CompassData Vice President. “This certification applies to custom ground control collects and to many of the GCPs that exist in our worldwide archive available off the shelf for immediate purchase.”

In addition, CompassData has been approved to use its GCPs and Accuracy Analyst map tool to verify the accuracy of satellite or aerial imagery used in creation of AMDB DO-272C aviation products. This means CompassData may orthorectify a high-resolution DigitalGlobe satellite image, verify that the orthoimage accuracy meets sub one- and five-meter specifications, and provide the image to an aeronautical mapping firm or avionics system developer to generate commercial products.

DO-200A standards were developed by FAA to assure the quality of data used in the preparation of aeronautical mapping, navigation and situational awareness products and systems. Prior to certification, CompassData completed a rigorous examination procedure in which FAA reviewed every step in the firm’s methodologies for collecting, processing and managing GPS-surveyed ground control to ensure the data is accurate, timely, complete, and traceable.

FAA has granted only six LOAs (Letters of Acceptance) in the Denver ACO Region and only 24 globally. CompassData is the first in the world to receive certification for verification of data sets used to create Airport Moving Map data.

Last month, CompassData purchased the assets of Spatial Information Solutions (SIS) in Starkville, Miss., and announced the continued sale and support of the popular Accuracy Analyst and Topo Analyst Map Accuracy Tools. These software applications are relied upon by geospatial end users to automatically verify the accuracy of orthoimagery and digital elevation data sets, often with CompassData GCPs.

CompassData will discuss the FAA DO-200A certification and demonstrate Accuracy Analyst and Topo Analyst Map Accuracy Tools in booth #2063 at GEOINT 13* being held April 14-17, 2014, in Tampa, Fla.

About CompassData
Established in 1994, CompassData specializes in providing ground control points (GCPs), remotely sensed imagery, and QA/QC services and software. With 26,000 archived GCPs, the CompassData archive is the largest commercially offered database of photo-identifiable GCPs in the world available for off-the-shelf delivery. CompassData performs custom ground control collection, capturing and delivering points of guaranteed quality anywhere in the world within two to six weeks of order placement. DO200A-certified GCPs and orthoimagery are used to support aviation mapping projects, with over 450 airports in the archive (and growing daily) available for off-the-shelf delivery. GCPs are used extensively to orthorectify or correct aerial, satellite and UAS imagery as well as LiDAR data. CompassData GCPs and patented QA software are utilized to verify the accuracy of imagery, LiDAR and GIS data sets. Remote sensing satellite operators also rely on GCPs to calibrate newly deployed sensors. For more information, contact Hayden Howard at 303-912-9876 or by email at haydenh@compassdatainc.com or www.compassdatainc.com.