Graz, Austria — January 2011— Vexcel Imaging GmbH, a Microsoft® company, has entered into an agreement with — Jena Instrument to distribute its UltraCam line of photogrammetric digital aerial cameras in Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). Under the terms of the agreement, Jena Instrument, a leader in the Russian geospatial industry, will act as an authorized distributor of UltraCam systems throughout this region. Jena Instrument will also provide technical and customer support for existing and new customers.
“Vexcel Imaging is pleased to add a geospatial industry leader like Jena Instrument to our team of global distributors,” said Alexander Wiechert, Business Director of Microsoft and Managing Director for Vexcel Imaging GmbH. “We are committed to meeting the growing demand for aerial sensors and software in Russia and the CIS region, and Jena Instrument will provide the high-quality support we need.”
The current UltraCam cameras — the UltraCamX, UltraCamXp, UltraCamXp Wide Angle, and UltraCamL/Lp — are specifically designed for large-scale applications to meet the needs of the industry for higher resolution and accuracy, while providing different price point and performance options. For example, the UltraCamXp Wide Angle—winner of the GIS Development Technology Innovation Award for Photogrammetry at Geospatial World Forum 2011 — takes advantage of the same exceptional camera concept and image quality as the UltraCamXp but features a proprietary high-resolution lens system with a shorter focal length. This camera allows lower-flying airplanes to collect data at the same ground sample distance (GSD) as higher-flying planes carrying the UltraCamXp, while delivering comparable image quality.
The UltraCamL/Lp digital aerial camera was selected winner of the Technology Innovation category in the 4th Annual MAPPS Geospatial Products and Services Excellence Awards competition in 2010. Innovative hardware, electronics and software result in a lighter, more compact camera system, so it is suitable for smaller aircraft and projects requiring a rapid response. The UltraCamL/Lp enables smaller companies to use a fully-digital approach to mapping without compromising photogrammetric accuracy or quality.
The UltraMap workflow software system provides a complete and integrated photogrammetric workflow for managing and processing vast quantities of UltraCam data. Aerial triangulation is integrated smoothly into the workflow, monolithic stitching significantly improves the geometric image accuracy for unstructured terrain, and highly automated project-based color balancing minimizes manual labor for adjusting the radiometry.
About Vexcel Imaging, GmbH
Acquired by Microsoft Corporation in May 2006, Vexcel Imaging GmbH brings more than two decades of photogrammetry expertise to Microsoft’s Bing Maps business unit and is at the heart of the burgeoning Microsoft photogrammetry business. The company’s offerings include the UltraCam series of photogrammetric digital aerial cameras and related software tools such as the UltraMap 2.1 workflow software.
About R&PC “Jena Instrument” Ltd.
Founded in 2001, R&PC “Jena Instrument” Ltd. is one of the leading companies in the Russian surveying and mapping market. Throughout the Russian Federation and the CIS countries, the company is an exclusive distributor of Optech Inc. (Canada) for ground (ILRIS) and surveying (CMS Wireless Enhanced) laser scanning systems, and a General Partner of Optech Inc. (Canada) for airborne and mobile laser scanning systems. R&PC “Jena Instrument” Ltd. is also an authorized distributor of ITRES high-performance airborne hyperspectral and thermal imaging systems in Russia and the CIS. All Vexcel Imaging UltraCam inquiries should be directed to Elena Klimova by telephone +7 495 649 6105 or email elena.klimova@jena.ru. For more information see Jena Instrument’s website at www.jena.ru/en.