Graz, Austria — March 15, 2012 — Slagboom & Peeters Aerial Surveys, a remote sensing firm based in the Netherlands, 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. The UltraCam Eagle provides the newest technology in the line of award-winning UltraCam digital aerial camera systems.
“Slagboom & Peeters started using digital UltraCam cameras in 2004, and we have purchased every new model of large format camera as it has become available,” stated Mr. Yoeri Slagboom, Owner, Slagboom & Peeters Aerial Surveys. “We will operate the UltraCam Eagle in conjunction with our UltraCamX and UltraCamXp and deploy the camera best suited for each job. The large footprint of the UltraCam Eagle will reduce flight hours needed to complete large projects, and with the restrictions of weather and air traffic control this is a great asset in many places.”
The UltraCam Eagle will be used worldwide on all types of mapping and orthophoto projects. During busy seasons, Slagboom & Peeters’ UltraCam Eagle, UltraCamX, and UltraCamXp digital camera systems provide extra capacity for its customers, many of whom are also UltraCam users. Utilizing the same camera systems as its customers allows Slagboom to offer compatible and efficient data acquisition.
“As a longstanding UltraCam customer, Slagboom & Peeters is a highly valued customer,” said Alexander Wiechert, Microsoft Business Director. “We are very happy to add the UltraCam Eagle to the firm’s data acquisition resources and assist the company with following its mission of providing customers with the latest technology available at all times.”
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. 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 Slagboom & Peeters Aerial Surveys
Slagboom & Peeters Aerial Surveys was founded in 1961 and over the years has evolved into a high-end aerial data acquisition and processing firm. The company provides digital aerial photographs for mapping and orthophoto production worldwide. With a fleet of aircraft equipped with Vexcel UltraCam cameras and in-house processing capacity, the company has earned a prominent place in the market in the Netherlands. For additional information please go to www.slagboomenpeeters.com.