Geoinformatics 2010 Vol01

G Mobile Mapping Systems Special G ENVI EX
G Location Intelligence for 2010 G ESRIs Jack Dangermond Interview

Magaz i ne f or Sur veyi ng, Mappi ng & GI S Pr of es s i onal s
Jan./Febr. 2010
Volume 13
1
I believe in precision.
Leica Geosystems AG
Switzerland
www.leica-geosystems.com
The new Leica ScanStation C10: this high-definition
3D laser scanner for civil engineering and plant
surveying is a fine example of our uncompromising
dedication to your needs. Precision: yet another
reason to trust Leica Geosystems.
Precision is more than an asset when your
reputation is at stake, its an absolute necessity.
Zero tolerance is the best mindset when others need to rely on
your data. Thats why precision comes first at Leica Geosystems.
Our comprehensive spectrum of solutions covers all your measure-
ment needs for surveying, engineering and geospatial applications.
And they are all backed with world-class service and support
that delivers answers to your questions. When it matters most.
When you are in the field. When it has to be right.
You can count on Leica Geosystems to provide a highly precise
solution for every facet of your job.
Exciting Times
Exciting times ahead for the geospatial industry - With the growing popularity of social net-
works, mobile devices, crowd sourcing and cloud computing (among others) the geospatial
industry is redefining itself. Although I wont use this space for predictions for the new year,
suffice to say that this issue of GeoInformatics gives the reader a good view of whats hap-
pening in the industry these days. In addition, you can see that we are launching a mobile
application so that our website is available for mobile, in step with our progressive nature
and making GeoInformatics more widely available for everyone.
The industrys response to new initiatives such as crowd sourcing are well described in the
interview with ESRIs Jack Dangermond, who clearly makes a distinction between new meth-
ods of data collection and those already in existence. A somewhat similar distinction is
noted by Gordon Petrie, who not only describes in detail a variety of different mobile map-
ping technologies, but also illustrates the purposes for which they are used. Again, a dis-
tinction can be made between the more traditional uses of data acquired by mobile map-
ping systems and the new, consumer-based applications such as Googles Street View.
Last but not least, Id like to point out the article on the Leica High Definition Surveying and
Laser Scanning Conference. Anyone who attended this conference and saw the great visuals
made by laser scanning software can understand the success of the Avatar movie, which
also makes extensive use of 3D techniques. The continued interest in new practices such as
3D scanning, particularly from outside the traditional surveying industry, makes this an excit-
ing field. And you might even find a lost Da Vinci painting with it.
Enjoy your reading!
Eric van Rees
evanrees@geoinformatics.com
January/February 2010
3
GeoInformatics provides coverage, analysis and
commentary with respect to the international surveying,
mapping and GIS industry.
Publisher
Ruud Groothuis
rgroothuis@geoinformatics.com
Editor-in-chief
Eric van Rees
evanrees@geoinformatics.com
Editors
Frank Arts
fartes@geoinformatics.com
Florian Fischer
ffischer@geoinformatics.com
Job van Haaften
jvanhaaften@geoinformatics.com
Huibert-Jan Lekkerkerk
hlekkerkerk@geoinformatics.com
Remco Takken
rtakken@geoinformatics.com
Joc Triglav
jtriglav@geoinformatics.com
Contributing Writers
Milosch Dryjanskii
Florian Fischer
Mark T Gordon
Gordon Petrie
Huibert-Jan Lekkerkerk
Joc Triglav
Geoff Jacobs
Account Manager
Wilfred Westerhof
wwesterhof@geoinformatics.com
Subscriptions
GeoInformatics is available against a yearly
subscription rate (8 issues) of 89,00.
To subscribe, fill in and return the electronic reply
card on our website or contact Janneke Bijleveld at
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All enquiries should be submitted to
Ruud Groothuis rgroothuis@geoinformatics.com
World Wide Web
GeoInformatics can be found at:
www.geoinformatics.com
Graphic Design
Sander van der Kolk
svanderkolk@geoinformatics.com
ISSN 13870858
Copyright 2010. GeoInformatics: no material may
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Sustaining
Member
Location Intelligence for 2010
Jon Winslow is Global Portfolio Director for the Location Intelligence
Business at Pitney Bowes Business Insight (PBBI). In this interview, he
explains how PBBI is embracing developments in GI such as open source
and cloud computing, and discusses recent product releases and the
importance of vertical markets for the company.
C o n t e n t
Articles
Leicas DISTO Laser Distance Meter
The Subterranean World of Easter Island 6
Local Search Media become Social and Mobile
in 2010 Finally
Everything will be Geo-tagged 10
GNSS Update
Shifting Satellites 18
Web News on your Phone
GeoInformatics on Your Mobile 25
An Introduction to the Technology
Mobile Mapping Systems 32
Interviews
At Pitney Bowes Business Insight 14
Jack Dangermond Explains the Need for GeoDesign
We Need More Geographic Thinking in the
Way We Make Decisions 22
ENVI EX
Where GIS meets Remote Sensing 28
Adapting with New Standards and Technologies
Erdas in 2010 50
Events
11-16 April 2010
FIG2010 International Surveying Congress 26
Continued Strong Interest in 3D Laser Scanning
Leica Geosystems HDS Worldwide User Conference 44
2010 and Beyond
The Agenda for GeoDesign 56
Page 14
ENVI EX
In September 2009, ITT VIS launched its first version of ENVI EX, soft-
ware which is fully integrated with ArcGIS, bringing remote sensing and
GIS more closely together. In this interview, Rolf Schaeppi (Vice President
European Operations) speaks about ITT s partnership with ESRI and
what ENVI EX has to offer to the ArcGIS community.
4
Page 28
Latest News? Visit www.geoinformatics.com
5
On the Cover:
Milosch Dryjanski journeyed Easter Island with his team of speleologists and
three Leica DISTO laser distance meters to unlock some of Easter Island's
subterranean secrets. See article on page 6.
Erdas in 2010
Mladen Stojic, Senior Vice President, Product Management and Marketing
at Erdas, discusses the new 2010 product line and main improvements
with editor Joc Triglav. Other topics discussed are the Erdas World Tour,
addressing geospatial data quality issues and the value and strength of
new data production and usage approaches in the geospatial business,
like crowd sourcing and volunteered geographic information, among
others.
Mobile Mapping Systems
Over the last 20 years, mobile mapping systems have slowly developed,
at first mainly in academic research establishments. More recently, a
number of commercially operated systems have appeared. This article offers
an introduction to and survey of the present state-of-the-art of the
technology.
Page 32
Calendar 58
Advertisers Index 58
Page 50
Page 20
Leicas DISTO Laser Distance Meter
Lost in the vastness of the South Pacific, a unique island rises out of the ocean. The inhabitants call it Rapa Nui.
The European discoverer who sighted the island lying thousands of kilometers away from the nearest continent, or even
another island, on Easter Sunday in the year 1722, several hundred years after the Polynesians, rather unimaginatively
named it Easter Island. Milosch Dryjanski journeyed there with his team of speleologists and three Leica DISTO laser
distance meters to unlock some of Easter Island's subterranean secrets.
by Milosch Dryjanskii
The island's isolation, resulting from its
extreme remoteness, fostered the develop-
ment of a remarkable culture, of which we
have scarcely any knowledge today. The most
famous symbols, which every European asso-
ciates with Easter Island, are the giant stone
sculptures, referred to as moai in the local
language. Although the culture of the original
moai builders was already in the process of
disintegration by the time the first Europeans
arrived, their culture and history, conserved
and passed down in oral histories, were soon
completely lost by exploitation of the island,
deportation into slavery and the importation
of disease. Today there are several theories,
some quite absurd, about the island's culture
and the reasons for its demise; however, they
all have one thing in common: They are vir-
tually impossible to prove or disprove.
A Serious Case of Trespassing
To make a small contribution to solving the
puzzle that the original island dwellers left
behind, a speleological expedition under the
patronage of National Geographic and
Explorers Club traveled to the island, the top
of an extinct volcano rising out of the 4,000
m deep ocean. Due to its volcanic origins, the
island has an abundance of lava caves, from
very small to extremely splendid examples
in the opinion of the speleologists. These
caves were used up to the middle of the last
century by the indigenous population for a
number of different purposes. They often
served as living space, but sometimes as
defensive refuges for wives and children dur-
ing warlike local conflicts. They were also
used for storing water, keeping poultry and,
last but not least, for entombing bodies. Many
caves contain the remnants of hundreds of
years of their former uses.
Most caves are also very familiar territory for
6
Ar t i cl e
The Subterranean World
Januay/February 2010
today's islanders they played in them as
children. But until now very few of the small-
er caves had been documented and surveyed.
That was the task of the expedition, which
was comprised mainly of Polish speleologists
and a US-American TV crew. In garish orange
or blue overalls many European speleolo-
gists call them Schlatzen, which is thought
to refer to the mixture of mud and water often
found in caves for four weeks under a trop-
ical sun, the expedition members roamed
through the sectors of the island identified
together with the local national park admin-
istration, searching for small cave entrances.
Every instance was marked on the map using
GPS and the interior was described and sur-
veyed. For the countless spiders and cock-
roaches living in the small caves, it was no
doubt seen as a serious case of trespassing!
Leica DISTO
In view of the huge number of mostly small
caves, it was particularly important to carry out
the measurements as efficiently as possible. It
was less about absolute accuracy and more
about the methodical capture and cataloguing
of the caves and their most important features.
The Leica DISTO A3, A6 and A8 laser distance
of Easter Island
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7
meters used in combination with external instruments for measuring inclination and magnetic
azimuth, sometimes also with PDAs, considerably accelerated the work.
For speleologists, who often have to squeeze through narrow gaps along with all their equipment,
the versatility of these instruments despite their small size, their low weight, convenient, simple
power source when remote from civilization and their robustness, play a crucial role.
To the team, the strength of the Leica DISTO instruments lay in their speed of distance measure-
ment. They were able to survey the caves without having to make their way over to all the most
significant points with a tape. Measuring wide but very low caves (with heights of about 40 cm and
widths of several meters) using a tape would have been extremely time-consuming and strenuous
due to the high temperatures encountered in caves close to ground level. In the larger caves, the
roof height was determined quickly and precisely at the touch of a button on the Leica DISTO.
Recording the Caves
With the laser they worked in teams of two. One person measured, the other drew. There was
no need for a third person as there would have been with a tape. Working the instrument is
simple and no real training is necessary. It was important to the speleologists that the instru-
ments were resistant to substances like dirt and water, and could be easily cleaned and operat-
ed, even when wearing gloves. In addition, they were able to survey and draw up the salient
features of the caves without stepping on potentially important archaeological sites.
The built-in video viewfinder of the Leica DISTO A8 was particularly useful for accurate pointing.
It was impossible to see the laser dot in the tropical sun in caves with large openings or holes
8
Ar t i cl e
The most famous symbols, which every European
associates with Easter Island, are the giant
stone sculptures, referred to as moai
in the local language.
in the walls. But with a writing pad as a target and the camera to establishing bearing, the
arrangement worked wonderfully. For caves with dimensions larger than 10 m, surveying with a
tape through undergrowth would have presented quite a problem.
The Leica DISTO A6 transferred the data via Bluetooth to a PDA and was used with an external
module for determining magnetic azimuth and inclination for computer-aided mapping. The 18
person strong speleologist team captured and recorded over 300 caves during the expedition.
This would hardly have been possible using conventional cave research surveying methods. We
would like to express our sincere thanks to Leica Geosystems for its generous support. The
instruments worked excellently under the difficult conditions in the lava caves on Easter Island.
Milosch Dryjanski, by profession an electrical engineer,
is Head of Building Management Systems in the Building Management Department,
University of Applied Sciences Munich. For over 25 years he has spent his free time on
Alpine cave exploration.
Fa. Andres Industries AG provided a ruggedised PDA for this project.
Photos: Marcin Jamkowski/AdventurePictures.eu and Tomasz Snopkiewicz
9
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A Swan Song for Yellow Pages
It has been a huge tome delivered by the mailman every half a year. An
important yellow coloured guidebook placed next to the telephone. And
for me and millions of other people, an indispensable assistant in many
circumstances whether I have been in need of a special shop, or urgent
help in the case of a water-main burst. The Yellow Pages has been an
essential part of the furniture in every household for a long time. It is the
book that knows the city from A to Z. It is the book that knows every-
thing about any place of importance in everyday life. It is the book that
contains the indexed and searchable concentration of urban life, the oppor-
tunities and desires every city has to offer. If you were the owner of a
business relying on walk-in customers it was very unlikely that you were
not present in this bible of local business. For consumers it has been the
one-stop encyclopaedia to find every local
business. But times changed and consumers
started to reference local business informa-
tion through alternative methods.
Nowadays people do online local search. The
only way they might use their old print direc-
tories at the very most is as an underlay
instead of the pedestal of their computer
monitor. In fact, according to a study by TMP
directional marketing 84 percent of local busi-
ness searchers own a print directory in their
homes. While this number has been declin-
ing steadily since 2007, local business
searchers increasingly go online for local
search. Indeed many turn towards Internet
Yellow Pages but local search by Google
Maps, Microsoft Bing Maps, Yahoo Local and
last but not least Yelp have been gaining
more and more importance. Google devel-
oped applications that have overtaken online
business directories in market share by 26
percent in 2009. The growth of local search-
es from 40 to 51 percent over 2008 can be
attributed to Google Maps mostly.
Local Search are Geographic Information Media
The focus today is shifting heavily toward consumer searches. In the past,
companies successfully marketed to audiences through a few select media
channels. Nowadays consumers have more media choices than ever. They
can selectively control how they receive advertising. They become empow-
ered consumers who are seeking out relevant business information when
they need it. Thus companies are adopting marketing strategies that help
them get found by searching consumers who have highly relevant, prod-
uct- or service-specific needs. Looking for information about local busi-
ness offers are amongst the most popular uses of the Internet. Information
portals play a decisive role for information, communication and marketing
of local goods and services. Therefore they become important intermedi-
aries between local businesses and their customers. In recent years geo-
graphical information media experienced
widespread use in this domain by products
like navigation systems, mobile services, map-
ping and local search services. They are geo-
referenced media which are not bound to loca-
tion itself and are mostly, and essentially,
ubiquitous. However their content is bound to
location as it overlays data on the physical
environment by geo-reference such as an
address, post-code or coordinate. One of the
most successful geo-media products is local
search, and this is not with out a very good
reason. According to the analysts from
Needham & Co the market for local search is
a multi-billion dollar market which is largely
untouched in the web so far. This potential
might explain the intensive engagement of
Microsoft, Google and Yahoo.
2009 has been the Year of Local
Search
While many claim that 2009 has been the year
of the mobile one might say it has also been
the year of local search as well. In September
Ar t i cl e
In 2009 local search became a forerunner in mass-market geographic information media. With that local search media
finally replaced the good old printed yellow pages and heralded a new era in marketing local business. In 2010 local
search will increasingly go mobile and social but not without the enhanced engagement of local service providers.
This article puts a spotlight on the background of local search, the reasons why we need it, and the its future trends.
By Florian Fischer
10
Local Search Media become Social and Mobile in 2010 Finally
Everything will be Geo-tagged
Google started with Place Pages for Maps. A Place Page is a web page
for every place in the world, organizing all information Google has gath-
ered for that place. Place Pages can exist for virtually everything from
businesses, points of interest, transit stations, and landmarks to cities all
over the world. Local service providers can use the Local Business Center
to ensure even more rich content on the Place Page, like photos, hours
of operation, and offer coupons to entice potential customers. Furthermore,
Google encourages local businesses to put Google-branded stickers in
store windows.
And they do not become tired from local search. In December 2009
TechCrunch reported that Google is in discussion to acquire Yelp.com for
a half billion dollars or more. Yelp is another site specializing in local
search. It was founded in 2004 as a way to let users leave reviews on
local businesses. It creates traffic of nearly 9 million unique visitors per
month and has been growing fast.
Similarily Microsoft's Bing Maps became a very popular local search plat-
form this year. The new Bing Maps is built on Silverlight and offers three
different viewing dimensions. 3D Streetside offers seamless stitched
imagery for 100 major cities. As for bird's eye view, the mapping service
has data on about 95% of the US. And finally, the aerial perspective is
internationally available. Furthermore Microsoft has launched a new
Application Gallery which lets developers include their own information
on a map. Some applications are already prepared such as Twitter Maps,
Photosynth, Current traffic, Restaurant finder, and Urban. Each application
lets you see specific data based on the location you're looking at. The
Bing Maps team will make this platform available to more developers in
the future. They need the power of the community as the development of
location-based services is exploding. But Microsoft, Google, Yahoo and
Yelp are not the only local search media. A countless number of local
search media have appeared in recent years such as Citysearch.com,
Qype.com, and golocal.de. Several reasons make local search media to
an important channel for marketing services and goods.
Why Local Search
Postmodern culture is highly fragmented and characterised by lifestyle
divisions and consumption practices. In this modern consumer society
communities are driven by shared feelings towards services and goods.
In order to explain the importance of local search, a little insight into the
theory of consumption and space is necessary. Our postmodern culture is
highly fragmented and characterised by lifestyle divisions and consump-
tion practices. Nowadays consumer communities - social scientists some-
times name them consumer-tribes even - are driven by shared feelings
towards certain services, goods and places. Consequently a consumer
decides for a community when he decides for a product. Sometimes the
decision for a community is more important than concerns about utility
and quality of the product iself.
Eventually every consumer-tribe adopts services and goods in particular
places, thus the tribe adopts these places and creates a specific tribal-
space. Every local business serves certain consumer-tribes and is part of
one or several tribal-spaces. It needs to be found and identified by those
to generate customers. But in the light of post-modern social individuali-
sation and increasing mobilisation, spatial alienation is experienced. Hence
finding an appropriate local business for one's demands becomes more
complicated. Local search then provides the spatial awareness necessary
for hyper-mobile and networked individualists to orientate in postmodern
complex social spaces.
Local search provides the spatial awareness necessary for hyper-mobile
and networked individualists. It allows for the establishment of a connec-
tion between community members and insular places of sense for a com-
munity. Thus local search applications become an agent for the evolution
of relationships between people and places. These relations are of a con-
sumptive nature. Local search applications map consumptive practices
and ultimately identify appropriate urban consumption spaces. Thereby
they create and strengthen links between consumers and local business-
es by the mapping of consumption practices. In order to enhance this
way of local business marketing, local search media currently experience
the convergence with two key technology approaches: social media and
mobile communication. The future trend in 2010 will be the advancement
of local search towards social and mobile local search media.
Local Search goes Social Media
Online community platforms have developed enormously in recent years.
Social Software has become a central foundation of Internet activities. It
includes numerous media, utilities and applications that empower individ-
ual efforts, link individuals together into larger aggregates, interconnect
groups, provide metadata about network dynamics, flows, and traffic,
allowing social networks to form, become visible, and be measured,
tracked, and interconnected. Next to information, communication and
cooperation have become important aspects of the Internet. That is, con-
sumers of information become prosumers. They can smoothly change
between consumption, creation and co-production of media content in
cooperation with others. Still public and private agencies provide a greater
share of geoinformation for various administrative, scientific and everyday
activities. But they are increasingly supplemented and, especially for the
domain of everyday activities, replaced by virtual communities that col-
laboratively create geoinformation content. Currently, more and more social
Ar t i cl e
Printed Yellow Pages are
definitely a thing of the past
Google Places Pages provided a geo-referenced website for every place
in the world
Microsoft increasingly catches up in local search and offers various interesting
geo-apps on Bing Maps
11
network communities integrate or are based on the idea of collaborative
mapping. Their members communicate, review and comment on everyday
spatialities by using geo-referenced information. That is, user-generated
contents are tagged with geographically explicit references, a practice that
is called geo-tagging. Nowadays virtually everything is geo-tagged.
Prosumption eventually resulted in consumer empowerment concerning
product marketing in the leisure industry termed citizen marketing. As a
result the content of many portals for local search is co-produced and
maintained by their users who are organized in virtual geo-communities
such as Qype.com or Yelp.com.
Members of these geo-communities have a special focus on geoinforma-
tion to communicate and discuss their individual points of interest and
preferences such as good hiking routes, best places to buy fair-trade food
or places to avoid at night. Eventually they communicate their visions of
space regarding relationships between people, services, goods and places
which are attached to the representations of the physical world, allowing
for the visualization of conflict and consensus. They are delineated by
common interests concerning their spatialities and
their spatial action.
Hence local search becomes a modern communica-
tion channel for location-specific service providers
and their customers within the retail, leisure, tourism
and hospitality industries. Many small and medium
scale service providers in the leisure industry are
inadequately represented on global channels of dis-
tribution. For them social media-aided local search
improves access to potential customers, and hence
gains importance in marketing location specific
offers.
Mobile Local Search
Todays consumers are on the go and difficult to
reach. But these mobile consumers still have a need
to access local business information. According to
the 2009 study by TMP, directional marketing con-
sumers use mobile applications to search for local
content as mobile phones and PDAs come
equipped with web-based functionality. The use of
mobile local search applications rose strongly in
2009. Mobile search continues to experience growth,
as more consumers have access to mobile devices with Internet browsers
and applications. Smartphone owners seem to be three times more likely
to conduct local search on their mobile device than others. As opposed
to Web search, mobile local search requires more immediacy and street-
smart knowledge. Instead of long lists of results mobile users of local
search need quick and direct information due to limited bandwidth and
display size.
More and more the mobile phone emerges to be an all-in-one communi-
cation and information tool. It became the central point of media conver-
gence in recent years. Todays smartphones are as capable as former gen-
erations of laptops. Display size is increasing and the ubiquitous
connection to the Internet is advancing. Most new mobile phones on the
market are now enabled for localisation by cell tower triangulation, Wi-Fi
or even GPS. Last but not least the incredible success of the iPhone estab-
lished a big global audience of users of mobile Internet applications from
third party service providers.
2010 might be the year of strong growth for mobile local search use.
Almost every provider of local search media offered mobile clients, and
even special mobile clients for Apples iPhone or Googles Android, mobile
OS in 2009. There is also the pressure of other competitors to have a
mobile client at least. However just a few people really did use it. Not to
mention the small share of local search users who considered it a valu-
able supplement to their need for information about local businesses.
Qype.com launched a mobile client called Qype radar for iPhones. It is a
geo-sensitive application for local search using the built-in GPS device of
the iPhone. This application received great feedback within Qypes user
community. But a look on Qype.com reveals that there have been only a
few seriously using the mobile client. Other local search media similarly
have not been caught by the mobile wave but this might change in 2010.
As this year might be the year of location-based services mobile local
search might take a pole position as it already has a big audience on the
web. It is an audience that increasingly experiences the pressures of mobil-
ity, the resulting space alienation, and hence the need to individually build
relationships with places of consumption.
What About the Local Service Providers?
While local search wants to really become a mobile and social application
in 2010 its success is still linked to the contribution of a certain group of
stakeholders. Local service providers are still too
doubtful and too cautious. Many business models
are based on their financial contributions and they
hope for the marketing power of local search.
Formerly, it has been enough for local businesses
to pay for an advertisement or the affiliation in the
index of a local search media. In times of social and
mobile media consumers expect personal feedback
and updated information. Concurrently local busi-
nesses need to deal with harsh criticism from cus-
tomers and the freedom of speech on the web.
Serving local search media becomes a full time job
more and more. But it might be a job that pays off
as well. 2010 might be the year of local search but
not without the active contribution of local service
providers.
Florian Fischer, GIS Editor and Research Assistant at the
Austrian Academy of Sciences, Institute for GIScience in
Salzburg, Austria.
Ar t i cl e
Google Places Pages provided a geo-referenced website for every place
in the world
Yelp.com is the biggest local search
community in the United States
12
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UK/Ireland
www.esriuk.com
At Pitney Bowes Business Insight
Jon Winslow is Global Portfolio Director for the Location Intelligence Business at Pitney Bowes Business Insight (PBBI).
In this interview, he explains how PBBI is embracing developments in GI such as open source and cloud computing,
and discusses recent product releases and the importance of vertical markets for the company.
By Eric van Rees
Question: In September, you held a
keynote at the AGI GeoCommunity
Conference in the UK on behalf of
Pitney Bowes Business Insight. Could
you give us a short impression on
what were the key topics and how
you valued the conference in general?
Jon Winslow: The depth and breadth of tech-
nological achievement and debate at this
years AGI conference was a real reflection of
how far GIS/LI has come in the last 20 years
or so. When MapInfo introduced one of the
worlds first desktop GIS application in 1986,
few business managers grasped the value of
location intelligence. The role that geo-spatial
analysis could play in business decisions was
a concept that fewer still understood.
Today, GIS technology is pervasive in society.
The advent of satnavs and Google Earth, for
instance, has created a commoditisation of
mapping and a democratisation of geograph-
ic data that reaches well beyond the enter-
prise. However, the key benefits of this rev-
olution are being felt most significantly with-
in public sector and commercial organisa-
tions, with cloud computing and Web 2.0
applications making possible unprecedented,
low-cost access to location-based informa-
tion.
By enabling organisations to cost-effectively
and easily use location-based data to comple-
ment existing financial and corporate data, and
to present this information to customers in a
simple, interactive form, we have moved clos-
er to the wholly location intelligent enterprise
than we might have ever thought possible.
This years AGI also highlighted location-
based data as being vital to effective risk
management particularly the reduction of
risk exposure in a changing climate.
For example, when natural disasters strike,
insurers can calculate potential losses by
mapping storm paths against policies in
force. Such models make it easy to determine
when and where reinsurance makes sense,
and calculate the number of adjusters need-
ed to review and manage expected claims.
Similarly, contingency planning by both cen-
tral government and UK local authorities
depends upon location-based data to accu-
rately predict, respond and mobilise in the
event of flooding or storm damage, and crit-
ically, communicate with citizens. With 2009
seeing some of the worst flooding in UK his-
tory, local authorities charged with both
prevention and cure are turning to location-
based information, data and analysis to tack-
le citizen-critical services and improved asset
infrastructure.
Last year James Buckley, Vice
President Services at PBBI EMEA,
was interviewed in this magazine.
When asked about PBBIs view on
combining desktop tools and web
applications, he stated that the
whole future of the business is
about integrating and bringing
together our enterprise and desktop
capabilities, mentioning PBBIs
enterprise SOA platform and the
Stratus product range. How far is
this development at the moment at
PBBI and where will it lead to in
the future in terms of product
combinations?
JW: The product portfolio teams at PBBI have
worked hard in 2009 to deliver on our Locate,
Connect, Communicate vision, which sees the
value of location and geo data conveniently
harnessed and served up in an easy-to-access
format across the enterprise via the cloud.
This mantra provides the framework to cre-
ate the wholly location intelligent enterprise.
Our applications enable shared data access
and analyses via the desktop, web browser
or mobile device, and can be delivered on-
premise or via SaaS-orientated solutions and
seamlessly integrated with other business sys-
tems.
In the last twelve months, we have made
great strides in defining cloud-based location
intelligence with the launch at the end of
2009 of MapInfo Stratus, PBBIs preliminary
SaaS (Software as a Service) offering. We are
confident that MapInfo Stratus will deliver
unprecedented operational cost and efficien-
cy benefits to businesses and particularly
public sector organisations under pressure to
deliver citizen self-services and address data
sharing compliance such as EU INSPIRE.
As a web-mapping application, MapInfo
Stratus comprises an out-of-the-box applica-
tion and developer software development kit,
with a focus on usability and interface design.
It facilitates the delivery of information with a
spatial context and lets users publish data
that the public can immediately interact with.
Government agencies are under constant
pressure to deliver higher value and easily
accessible citizen services in a climate of new
14
Jon Winslow
Interview
directives, legislation and industry standards
(OGC/ISO/INSPIRE /NSDI/UNSDI), and by
necessity are becoming domain experts on
how best to acquire, process, distribute,
use, maintain, and manage spatial data
which is where open source and SaaS deliv-
ery models come in.
In working closely with a number of early
adopters of MapInfo Stratus in local govern-
ment, its clear that the benefits of cloud-
based location intelligence services are
threefold: lowering operational costs
through quicker development and deploy-
ment, particularly relevant as councils face
major public spending cuts in 2010 and
come under pressure to do more with less;
enabling greater data analysis to improve
information processing; and delivering tan-
gible ROI through fixed payments of soft-
ware services and support based on actual
usage.
As our flagship SaaS offering, MapInfo
Stratus is just the first of a raft of PBBI prod-
ucts to be released in 2010 via the SaaS
model its going to be a busy year!
drawing increased demand from a number of
vertical industry sectors where location-based
information and intelligence is operation-criti-
cal. In the insurance market, for example, cli-
mate change has hugely impacted the need for
more effective risk management.
Location intelligence gives insurance brokers,
Can you elaborate on the typical
PBBI vertical markets and where the
priorities are at the moment?
JW: While the public sector will continue to be
an important market for PBBI, our product capa-
bilities and delivery model diversification are
I nt er vi ew
15
A Cloud Map of the World
underwriters, adjusters, marketers and agents
an intuitive, visual way to understand informa-
tion and to realize meaning behind large
amounts of data. Our spatial technology from
MapInfo Professional to Spectrum Technology
Platform has become an invaluable strategic
tool to many leading insurers worldwide, allow-
ing insurance professionals to see the data,
clean it, recognise patterns and trends, and drill
down for detailed analysis and improved deci-
sion-making.
For example, after a severe storm, one UK insur-
ance company experienced a wave of claims,
some of which fell outside the path of the
storm. Rather than alienate customers with flat-
out denials, the company updated their web
mapping using information that geocoded the
exact path of the storm. They applied a gener-
ous buffer zone, which eliminated any chance
of error and invited claimants to double check
themselves whether they really wanted to sub-
mit that claim. With the ability to see the same
information that underwriters saw, many decid-
ed to unsubmit their request saving the
company time, money and hassles.
Another vertical industry embracing location-
based intelligence is financial services, where
predictive analytics based on geo-demograph-
ics can provide a critical early-warning mecha-
nism to detect borrowers who may be at risk
of bankruptcy and default this is a critical
insight of particular relevance during this eco-
nomic downturn.
The burgeoning growth of mobile and wireless
networks has also given rise to demand for
location intelligence solutions in the telecom-
munications industry, with operators using geo
data for everything from improving network per-
formance to increasing sales through more
accurate retail site location.
Essentially, PBBIs value proposition crosses
over to all customer-centric organisations where
location intelligent tools facilitate a higher level
of customer service. The huge operational ben-
efits of integrating corporate mapping with CRM
systems, allowing call centre operatives to inter-
rogate systems via a map while seamlessly
combining back office functionalities to present
a single view of the truth, is vital for effective
customer service. In the public sector, this capa-
bility delivers on the self-service holy grail
much aspired to also by private sector organi-
sations.
MapInfo Professional 10 v. 10.0
offers support for PostSQL and
PostGIS Database systems. How do
you value and see the future of
open source demand for MapInfo
users?
JW: In introducing PostGIS in MapInfo
Professional 10.0, we were responding initial-
ly to demand from large public sector organi-
sations in EMEA, where open source direc-
tives had taken hold impacting some of our
largest local and central government cus-
tomers, with 5,000-plus user bases.
With enhanced data access including support
for PostGIS, MapInfo Professional 10.0s new
functionality has been widened to additional-
ly include Microsoft SQL Server 2008 for glob-
al users. Enhanced usability in version 10 has
allowed organisations to make significant time
savings in sharing data securely without the
need for translation into different formats.
While open source is still regarded by many
organisations as lacking maturity in a mission-
critical environment, it is clear that the col-
laborative and interoperable development of
business applications will increasingly play an
important role in enterprise strategy. As such,
Pitney Bowes Business Insight will continue
to listen to MapInfo users and provide inter-
operability with open source solutions as
appropriate.
In conclusion
While spatial analysis is now hitting its stride
in terms of business applications, it is likely
that there are many major breakthroughs yet
to come.
A new generation of individuals who have
grown up in a map-centric world has just
entered the workforce, and expect as a mat-
ter of course to be able to cross-reference
data within a geographical context. The ubiq-
uity of mobile- and cellular-GIS applications
means that entire new sets of location data
are now revealing their potential. And the abil-
ity to intelligently interact with consumers
while they travel out of the house opens new
doors for analysis, targeting and rich forms of
communication.
We can expect that branded consumer appli-
cations will continue to attract the most atten-
tion in the news, but behind the scenes,
Pitney Bowes Business Insight and others will
continue to explore the possibilities of loca-
tion-enhanced business applications, enabling
organisations of all sizes to locate, connect
and communicate with their customers and
prospects in a way that is simple, appropri-
ate and cost-effective.
Eric van Rees is editor-in-chief of GeoInformatics.
For more information, have a look at
www.pbinsight.com
16
I nt er vi ew
A Flooded Road
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Emergency
Landing Zone
(341047.98 N,
842508.70 W)
The US is planning to reconfigure the GPS constellation to provide a better, 27-satellite geometry over Afghanistan.
At the moment 30 GPS satellites are operational but a number of these are located quite close together effectively
creating a 24 satellite constellation. With the proposed reconfiguration the currently experienced outages in
mountainous Afghanistan could be countered. If the repositioning takes place it would take around six months to
complete.
By Huibert-Jan Lekkerkerk
A30 satellite, geometrically spread, constellation would be even bet-
ter but is unsupported by the current system, although the planned
upgrades for GPS III would solve the problem. In fact, there are 35 oper-
ational GPS satellites right now although only 30 are set 'healthy'. At the
moment the de-facto limit is to have 31 operational satellites in the 24
satellite geometry constellation. The current constellation of 30 satellites
is due to ground testing of the Block
IIF satellites, which claim one PRN
code, effectively making this unus-
able to the remainder of the world.
The US-based company L-3 Interstate
Electronics Corporation has
announced that it has tracked the
new M-code on the launched Block
IIR-M satellite.
Meanwhile the problems mentioned
in the previous GNSS update with the
L5 frequency on SV49 have now
become a serious issue. The major
problem was that during the early
check of this satellite, which was
launched in March 2009, the new L5
frequency impacted the operation of the legacy L1 and L2 signals, by
reflecting back from the L5 antenna on the satellite into the L1 and L2
antenna's and then being rebroadcasted. As a result of this 'satellite-
induced multipath' the satellite was set 'unhealthy' for the time being.
During a review panel the question was asked to the assembled par-
ticipants on how to progress from
here. The suggestion from the GPS
Wing of the US Air Force was to
adjust it and set it back 'healthy'
with the potential impact of giving
a degraded accuracy for some
users. This suggestion was accept-
ed and as a result yours truly advis-
es you to monitor SV49 and manu-
ally switch it off if ever you suspect
it corrupting your data! Under nor-
mal circumstances there should be
no problem, but some manufactur-
ers have been known not to imple-
ment the GPS specifications 100%
and their products may suffer from
this.
18
Ar t i cl e
Number of healthy GPS satellites over the years (source: www.gpsworld.com)
Shifting Satellites
G N S S U p d a t e
GlEngineering model of Galileo In Orbit
Validation Satellite on the antenna test
(source: www.esa.eu) onass-K satellite
Galileo
A rumour is circulating in the GNSS industry that a 350 million Euro con-
tract for eight satellites has been awarded to OHB Technology (Germany),
one of the two consortia bidding for the development and construction
of the first Galileo satellites. OHB leads a consortium that also includes
Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL - Great Britain) which built and now
operates the GIOVE-A satellite. Originally the tender called for 28 satel-
lites, but this was reduced to 22 with an option on both 16 and 8 satel-
lites to be ordered as well.
In September, SSTL repositioned GIOVE-A in such a way that it is now
operating 113 km above the orbit of the future 27 operational navigation
satellites. The higher orbit should ensure that GIOVE-A will not cross the
orbit of the operational Galileo constellation for more than 100 years.
In the Rome facilities of Thales Alenia Space the satellite engineering
model integration tests have been completed. These tests are an impor-
tant step towards building and launching the first four In Orbit Validation
satellites. The engineering model is used to perform an early verification
of the electrical functionality and interfaces, and is representative of the
flight model without having the complete redundancy.
Meanwhile the main ground station for Galileo, Kourou in French Guiana,
was inaugurated on November 19th. Kourou is part of the Galileo ground
segment and one of two Galileo Control Stations from which navigational
messages are uploaded to the future Galileo satellites.
Kourou is also the main launch site for the Galileo
constellation satellites, the first of which are the In
Orbit Validation satellites scheduled for launch in pairs
at the end of 2010 and in early 2011 using a Soyuz
rocket.
Originally these launches were planned for early 2010
but due to problems with the satellites the launch has
been postponed. Galileo is now, according to official
communications, to assume initial operational capa-
bilities by 2014, a year later than the previous esti-
mate and already years behind the original schedule.
Glonass
The development of the Glonass constellation has
slowed down with the postponement of the launch
of three new Glonass-M satellites from Baikonur. The postponement of
the launch, which was planned for late September, followed the problems
with the signal generator onboard a previously launched Glonass-M satel-
lite that was taken out of service on August 31st.
As a result of the problems found, none of the scheduled 6 satellites for
launch in both September and early December have yet been launched,
with a planned launch date of February 2010. As a result the Glonass
satellite constellation has dwindled to 16 operational satellites (and two
in maintenance) in Mid-December instead of the planned full constella-
tion of 24 satellites.
It is still unsure whether the two additional launches, which are planned
for 2010, will still go ahead at the scheduled time (September and
December 2010). One of the satellites scheduled for launch in 2010 is the
new Glonass-K model which should bring the Glonass performance on a
par with GPS giving it a design life-time of 10 years in contrast with the 3
years of the current generation of Glonass-M satellites. The 2010 Glonass-
K satellite should also broadcast the new CDMA signal on the Glonass L3
frequency (1201.4 MHz), with interoperable CDMA signals in the L1 and L5
band to follow in later models.
Compass
The second Beidou / Compass satellite, G2, launched in April 2009 has
drifted 10 degrees from its initial geostationary orbit. This is not the first
Beidou satellite to come adrift after demonstration satellite Beidou 1D
began drifting around 4.5 degrees per day. Beidou
1D was launched in February 2007 supposedly to
replace Beidou 1A which appeared to have malfunc-
tioned. Beidou 1D was moved from its orbit in
February 2009 by increasing its altitude by 130 kilo-
metres. In July it was just west of Greenwich.
It is unknown what the effect of this drifting will be
on the launch of new satellites. So far the schedule
is being characterized as having 10 launches over the
next two-three years, giving local, Chinese, coverage
in 2012. Full operational capability is still expected
for 2020.
One of the major comments on the Beidou / Compass
development so far has been the lack of an Interface
Ar t i cl e
Glonass-K satellite
Ground control station in Kourou (source: www.esa.eu)
19
Control Document (ICD) describing the functionality of the system. Such
an ICD is necessary for the development of receivers by manufacturers.
During a presentation in October it was announced that a Chinese and
English-language draft ICD will probably be released before the end of
2010.
Initial tests with the Beidou satellites have shown that the positional accu-
racy of the satellites is worse (by a factor of 10) than those obtained with
GIOVE-A (20 centimetres versus 2 centimetres). It was also noted that the
measurements contained significantly more cycle slips (17 - 24 times as
much) than those measured with GIOVE-A. Chinese researchers contribute
these problems partially to the location of the tracking stations as well as
the relatively poor quality of satellite equipment and receivers used for
tracking the satellites.
Augmentation systems
As most of our Pan-American readers will know, the WAAS or Wide Area
Augmentation System has been operational in the United States for
quite a few years now, improving the accuracy and reliability of the GPS
signals.
The European Union has long been working on making a similar sys-
tem, EGNOS, operational whilst Japan and India have been in the design
phase for quite a few years now.
As a last addition to this augmentation business, the Russians have
announced their own plans for a similar augmentation system, SDCM.
EGNOS
On October 1st, the long awaited and official start of the free Open Service
for non-safety-of-life operations of the European Geostationary Navigation
Overlay Service (EGNOS) finally began. The system, which provides correc-
tions to the GPS signals, is composed of transponders aboard three geo-
stationary satellites hovering high above the Eastern Atlantic and the
European continent, linked to a ground network of about 40 positioning
stations and four control centres, all interconnected.
According to the European Commission the performance of EGNOS is 2
meters at a 99% confidence level although this is supposedly under ideal
conditions with high grade equipment. Tests under more realistic circum-
stances show an accuracy of around 5 meters.
The current system, which has been in the (operational) test phase since
2003, is not yet certified for aviation and safety-critical operations; this
safety-of-life service is expected to be operation by mid 2010. The main
difference between the safety-of-life service and the open service is the
warning message in case of a malfunction of the system.
A commercial service is expected to be in operation sometime during 2010.
Part of the commercial services will be the availability of historical EGNOS
data through the EGNOS Data Access System (EDAS). Through this ftp ser-
vice users can download Rinex B format data from the monitoring sta-
tions (RIMS-A stations). The delay in publishing the data is currently around
6 hours.
GAGAN, QZSS
As far as GAGAN (GPS-aided Geo Augmented Navigation), the Indian couter-
part to WAAS and EGNOS, is concerned, the work is steadily progressing.
A contract has been awarded to build the ground stations.
In the same manner, the Japanese counterpart, QZSS (Quasi-Zenith Satellite
System), is also progressing as expected with a new ground station in
Guam. The first QZSS satellite is expected to launch in 2010.
Glonass SDCM
Russia is planning on having its own Space Based Augmentation System
(SBAS) named the Glonass System of Differential Correction and Monitoring
(SDCM). This SDCM will be a counterpart to the already existing European
EGNOS and American WAAS as well as the planned Indian GAGAN and
Japanese QZSS system.
In addition to the regular meter-level service, a centimetre-level, real-time,
precise service is also planned which will be operational with a range of
about 200 kilometres from the base station. The plans are to launch two
geostationary satellites in December 2010 and 2011 to support SDCM. The
position of these extended Luch communications satellites will be at 16W
and 95E.
eLoran
On October 28th, president Obama signed a bill that will terminate the
Loranc-C signal on January 4, 2010 after certification from the US Coast
Guard that it is not needed for navigation and from the Department of
Homeland Security that it is not needed as backup for GPS.
On November 20th, the Commandant of the US Coast Guard signed a doc-
ument certifying that termination would have no adverse impact on navi-
gation. At the time of writing it is not certain that certification was also
granted by the Department of Homeland Security. If this is the case (which
is more than likely) the agreement says that a detailed termination plan
has to be submitted to the congressional committee involved within 30
days of certification.
Huibert-Jan Lekkerkerk hlekkerkerk@geoinformatics.comis a freelance
writer and trainer in the fields of positioning and hydrography.
20
Ar t i cl e
Compass signals and frequencies as projected (source: www.gpsworld.com)
Mr Tajani, European Commission Vice-President for Transport Policy declares
Egnos operational (source: www.esa.eu)
2009 Spectra Precision. All rights reserved. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.
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Jack Dangermond Explains the Need for GeoDesign
During the ESRI European User Conference in Vilnius, Lithuania, Jack Dangermond sat down for an interview with
GeoInformatics. Topics of interest were GeoDesign, volunteered geographical information, the need for creating more geo-
awareness, open data sharing policies and ESRIs new software technology to facilitate this. Also, Mr. Dangermond shared
his opinion on new ways of collecting geographical data as opposed to more traditional ways: the use of crowd sourcing
techniques for certain kinds of data collection will be a very exciting chapter in the history of geography.
By Eric van Rees
22
I nt er vi ew
We Need More Geographic
Thinking in the Way
We Make Decisions
Question: Gov2.0 Summit Washington. How do you see
your role as company in data exchange for governmental
organizations? How can these organizations create a com-
mon organizational picture? And what is the role of your
company in that?
Jack Dangermond: In the U.S. theres a new initiative to make all governmen-
tal data available to the public via the Internet. The federal government has
established a new government portal called Data.gov and is requiring or
requesting that agencies make all of their data (not just geospatial) available
for download by citizens and other organizations. This is being promoted as
the next step in open government and open democracy. There are also those
who feel that this data will provide greater citizen transparency and possibly
new business or research opportunities for the scientific community. I am per-
sonally interested in what this trend toward open data sharing means for the
GIS community.
While data sharing has always been a key for success in GIS (i.e., clearing-
houses, portals, etc.), it hasnt resulted in a framework where people can com-
bine data easily. I am advocating that agencies make their data available as
services, not simply as downloads. People could consume these services or
easily mash them up with other services. Thats starting to happen. There are
a variety of vendors that provide that technology.
The average citizen cant do anything with downloaded data unless they
acquire or write some software. If were going to build an infrastructure like
an SDI or INSPIRE, we have to move from the notion of data access to the
notion of putting that data into a form of services.
In answer to your second question How is ESRI involved in that? we have
GIS server technology that serves maps and map services, and I think theres
probably 50.000 of those servers out there being used now, so Im simply
encouraging users to begin to make those services available more publicly.
People can then mash them up and build an infrastructure based on search-
ing for services, integrating services, or building applications with those ser-
vices and ultimately building app-stores that are application suites that bring
those services together for various public applications. And to make that work,
you need to have RESTful services, they need to be standards based, you
need to have open and free APIs that can adjust those and mash them up --
all of which is available in our technology.
That seems to me one step further than INSPIRE, because
that doesnt include any services.
JD: While I think the vision of making the data available via an Internet portal
is interesting, it doesnt result in a geospatial infrastructure that easily lever-
ages national investments in geospatial data. To do that we need a series of
geospatial Web services.
In the U.S., the Federal Geographic Data Committee has spent the last 17
years discussing and working on the so-called NSDI. In some ways this resem-
bles work ongoing under INSPIRE. During that time period they have defined
coordinated data responsibilities among agencies, created data interoperabili-
ty standards, and promoted geoportals (metadata catalogues of data and ser-
vices). Today, geodata.gov, our national portal, has over 100.000 registrations
of spatial data and services that are available for browsing and use. These
efforts, while important, have not resulted in an integrated system. While it
allows us to download data freely and use it on our own systems or in vari-
ous ways, and while valuable, it leaves much to be desired. Making all gov-
ernment data available (not just with geospatial data but with all data) does-
nt get us to an open standards-based framework that allows people to easily
integrate and combine data sets. That requires considering the Web as a plat-
form and implementing a network of higher interoperable distributed services
that provide a backbone for Web applications. By serving data from a local,
state or national government agency, there will emerge a whole new class of
applications that fuse (mashup) these services. What I imagine is a geospa-
tial app store similar to Apples store for the iphone, where people will build
and share or sell applications. These applications will be related to defense
fields, emergency management, logistics and transportation, land use plan-
ning, citizen empowerment, etc. People will be able to get these apps and
use them immediately on top of that services infrastructure. For me, thats
where I think the next big step is. To make it happen, organizations will need
to understand the value of this shared infrastructure and open up with shared
services. That doesnt mean just give the data away, it means provide ser-
vices with the data (e.g., maps, spatial analysis) and applications that incor-
porate map knowledge. These services will be served into an environment
that can be easily and dynamically programmed to support applications.
The second question is also related to your keynote presen-
tation at the ESRI European User Conference where you
spoke about new connections between governments and
citizens, governments and other governments. Im interested
how you see the role of citizens, will they be contributing
geodata?
JD: Yes, UGC or user generated content, sometimes called volunteered geo-
graphical information (VGI) will increasingly become a part of GIS systems.
Yesterday afternoon there was a presentation by an NGO here in Lithuania
who set up a GIS server that allows citizens to register environmental issues,
like abandoned cars, waste dumping, illegal forest cutting, etc. Basically, any
citizen can come to the Web site and describe an environmental issue. That
point data is taken by the NGO, verified, and sent to the regulatory agencies
that do something about it. That kind of citizen information is an alerting sys-
tem that causes the government to respond.
Here in Europe you have 112 systems. In the US we call them 311 systems
and many of our citys citizens inform the cities about potholes in the street
or a broken tree or whatever their complaint is, and the government gets that
information and responds to it.
Thats one kind of UGC that I see, specially built around municipal systems.
Another type involves support for citizen science, where people are recording
things like bird observations by putting dots on a map describing the obser-
vations. This organizes citizens to participate in a workflow cycle of measur-
ing, analyzing, visualizing, and making their data immediately available to
others on the Web. The vision here is that millions of people on the planet
can begin to become remote sensing devices, observing things and putting
that information on to a web map.
Currently, the consumer mapping sites are experimenting with this kind of
data collection. The problem is that its not generally structured in such a way
that it can be made useful. Theres no ontology or data model organizing the
observations that are being put in.
ESRI has been developing a software solution and workflow for the ArcGIS 10
release that supports exactly this kind of application. Basically, a GIS organi-
zation will be able to set up a server for Web editing of observational data
into a geodatabases. The geodatabase can be set up with a science-based
ontology and data model so that people making observations put them direct-
ly into a database with a scientific framework.
One of the most successful examples of citizen impact on geospatial data is
an effort in the UK called Open Street Map. They allow anyone to calibrate
street map measurements using multiple input formats (i.e., sketching, air
photos) or uploading existing street data sets. This effort resulted very quick-
ly in a global street map. While it isnt as accurate and doesnt carry many of
the attributes of the street map vendors, its quite extraordinary.
One of the main reasons why its been so successful is that they thought
through the data model on a server so that when people entered data they
werent just sketching unstructured information. The authors of the project
organized how they wanted people to enter their data and built a system to
do that. We have basically copied that model in ArcGIS Server 10 with the
vision that users in many settings (governments, NGOs, private companies,
I nt er vi ew
23
etc.) will want to set up those open UGC services to get citizen or volunteered
input from various sources. I see this changing the science of geography by
creating standard ways to get a new type of geodata input into GIS. Crowd
sourcing techniques for collecting broad based geographic measurements will
be a complimentary set of data to the traditional authoritative source data
collection. Theres some debate as to how this data will be fused and used,
but Im sure that will be figured out over time. The use of crowd sourcing
techniques for certain kinds of data collection will be a very exciting chapter
in the history of geography. While not replacing traditional methods, it will
introduce new ideas that need to be properly reviewed and integrated into
GISs.
What is the legal basis of the mutations of volunteers?
JD: This crowd sourcing/UGC data collection is not just happening with geospa-
tial information, its happening in all information that people are being exposed
to. The technique of the social media environment for news, for example, are
replacing or at least augmenting traditional authoritative sources and tech-
niques. People are starting to make judgments about truth based on how
many stars a particular data source has. This is becoming a method for deter-
mining the quality of the data set, and that is very scary to traditional mea-
surement and science people. But it shouldnt be. These are simply new meth-
ods. Its going to be a new source of information that we have to learn how
to deal with, and it will have legal and governance implications, such as who
owns that data and who has the rights to use it. So its a new world. My
sense is that traditional high quality data sources from authoritative organiza-
tions will have strong metadata and will continue to typically be trusted more.
Its a very exciting time for the geospatial measurement field, and whats
enabling this is the technology of the Web. Will there just be one player like
Google that ultimately owns all of the data? What are their legal rights to the
government data? If an agency puts its data into such a proprietary system,
will they continue to own it? Theres considerable controversy emerging on
these subjects. My own view is that there will be many thousands of servers
around the world that will serve information openly in a networked environ-
ment of on premise and hosted environments.
The third question is about raising geo-awareness. ESRI is
very active in education throughout the world. And even if
the economy is bad, there are still a lot of jobs in GIS, how
can this gap be filled, how will it be filled and how do you
foresee the future in raising and creating geo-awareness?
JD: Today the GIS market is very strong and growing. It continues to grow
even in difficult economic times. I use ESRIs software sales as an indication
that our field is and will continue to prosper and do better and better. I think
the reason for this is that geographic and locational information continues to
be very valuable to people and organizations. It helps them make better deci-
sions and communicate more effectively. Were seeing some businesses, for
example, that continue to expand. They see GIS as a strategic way to save
money. Product delivery and transportation companies are using GIS to save
money and make their organizations more efficient. Some organizations like
cities are using GIS to cut their greenhouse gas emissions by doing GIS-based
routing of their delivery and garbage disposal trucks as well as inspection
vehicles. Theyre cutting up to 20% of their greenhouse gas emissions. These
examples and dozens like them show that even in troubled economic times
GIS is continuing to deliver value. In fact, business efficiency is becoming an
even greater reason to buy it. This growth is also because more management
and decision makers are more aware of the value. So there is a lot of demand
for GIS jobs even in a down economy. The second point I want to make is is
that the U.S. National Academy of Sciences looked into the value of spatial
thinking and geography in education and the results were extraordinary. The
study suggested that people who were introduced to spatial thinking at an
early age grow more extensively in other intellectual fields (i.e., math, science,
and literature) as a result of this early introduction. I conclude for this that
educators can basically use techniques like GIS to accelerate learning and
intellectual development. This excites us, professionally.
Over the years, ESRI has invested extensively with partners like the National
Geographic Society and the Association of American Geographers in develop-
ment of K-12 educational materials. We have a team of people who do noth-
ing but work with teachers and develop standards-based curricula. We feel this
is both of interest and a core strategy of our organization. We do it because
we think it does good, makes people more aware of their environment, increas-
es their intellectual capabilities, and advances geographic thinking.
The third point that youre suggesting in your question is that theres a link
between our investments in education and development of the professional
workforce. That is also true. We see that by getting to kids at an early age
and teaching them GIS tools, they are more likely to seek higher education
and emerge a richer and stronger professional. It is our belief that there is a
need for that kind of professional right now. Our experience working with kids
in secondary school is that they fully comprehend the fundamental concepts
of GIS (i.e., measurement, spatial analysis, and visualization), and can suc-
cessfully apply these concepts to projects that make a difference at an early
age. We like to promote the idea that students be given the opportunity to
carry out GIS projects. This involves project-based learning where kids go
out and observe a problem, measure it, analyze it, come to a solution, and
they get credit for it. That sort of science-based methodology for problem
solving can be accomplished at very young ages, and the earlier that you
learn that process, the more effective you become as a professional. You
become more motivated, more interested, and more capable of applying sci-
ence in your work. We support this idea a lot. Im not sure that theres a ratio-
nal reason why ESRI does this other than we like it. I think one of ESRIs
core values and goals is ESRI is to create a more geospatially literate society,
and I think that has benefits along the same lines of why ESRI exists at all.
Can you please tell me something about the GeoDesign
Concept?
JD: My original field of study was landscape architecture and that is probably
the mother profession of GeoDesign. GeoDesign is about integrating design
with geographic and science-based information. In the early days of ESRI, I
always expected that people would apply GIS to design-based problem solv-
ing and finding the best location for something. I have been a little disap-
pointed that didnt happen as rapidly or as naturally as I thought it would.
My motivation for emphasizing it in the last year has been in part to make
people aware that theres a huge opportunity to move in this direction to
make a better world. I also found that there have been tools missing in GIS,
so weve been developing new software capabilities that support the
GeoDesign process. In January we will host the first GeoDesign Summit. It will
bring people from both the GIS and design fields together and have them
share their work and get a conversation going. Im not totally sure what the
outcome is going to be, but Im hoping a new profession or direction will
emerge. I think we need this kind of mixing at this point to bring these two
fields together; people who design the world with people who design the
future. Today, geography lives very well in its world and designers live very
well in their world, but theres not this cross-mixing. I believe the outcome
will be much enlightened ways to do development; ways that bring science
into how we design things: cities, the environment, highways, everything that
we do. Today we certainly see the need for this all the way from global warm-
ing to designing more livable and sustainable cities. We need more geograph-
ic thinking in the way we make decisions. GeoDesign is an attempt to try to
do something about that.
Eric van Rees is editor in chief of GeoInformatics. For more information, have a
look at www.esri.com
I nt er vi ew
24
Interest in the mobile Internet is growing
rapidly. This is not only because of lower
costs, but also because of better techniques
such as larger screens, faster data transfer
technology (EDGE/UMTS/HSDPA) and special
data cards for laptops. However, the mobile
Internet market is not yet that big: five mil-
lion page views per month. Not much com-
pared to standard Internet usage, but all rel-
evant research suggests a steep growth curve.
Fueled by the most recent telephones and
PDAs (which are more handy to use than
mobile Internet browsers), decreasing costs
for mobile data traffic and a bigger supply of
mobile content, the market will certainly grow
rapidly in the coming years.
Publishers should unlock their content for
mobile use, otherwise an imbalance will occur
between supply and demand. Ruud Groothuis,
publisher of GIS Magazine, CAD Magazine and
GeoInformatics predicts: in three to five years
mobile Internet will be as huge as standard
Internet. By that time GeoInformatics will
have acquired a good position by already
manifesting itself in the market. Mobile will
not be as big as I initially thought, Groothuis
says, but actually even bigger as a result of
the use of open standards, the growth of
data, sensor elements and new devices.
The number of mobile Internet users that
make use of it every week grew last year by
53 per cent. In The Netherlands, there are 1,3
million users of mobile Internet twelve years
of age and older, according to a market
research study in September 2009. The per-
centage of mobile phones that are suitable
for mobile Internet has increased to 60 per
cent.
Users are more familiar with mobile sites than
with applications that have to be installed.
Since a mobile site is more suitable for dif-
ferent types of phones (unlike an application),
a mobile site reaches the largest potential tar-
get audience. Draw backs for mobile websites
are screen size, high costs for mobile Internet,
connection speed and lack of standardization
of browsers and URL's. Until now, these issues
have obstructed the growth in mobile Internet
use. However, new developments are follow-
ing each other rapidly. Telecommunication
providers are offering more often subscrip-
tions with unlimited Internet access for a fixed
price. Screens are getting bigger (for example
the iPhone). Also, there are international ini-
tiatives such as dotMobi to standardize URL's
and the design of websites.
25
Publishing Company CMedia Productions
offers immediate access to its magazines
through mobile internet. This means that
all on line GeoInformatics messages of
can now be read on mobile phones.
Web News on your Phone
GeoInformatics on Your Mobile
www.geoinformatics.com
In three to five years
from now, mobile
internet
will be as big as
standard internet,
Ruud Groothuis,
publisher of GeoInformatics.
Ar t i cl e
11-16 April 2010
A very sincere Gday to all readers of GEOinformatics and a warm, collegiate invitation to travel Down Under this year
to attend the FIG2010 Congress in Sydney Australia on 11-16 April 2010. This article details the Congress itself and some of
the extra-curricular activities in which you may wish to indulge during your visit.
Try to imagine an edition of GEOinformatics with over 650 interesting
and relevant technical articles, plus your own personal, face-to-face access
to each of the authors. Combine this with editorials by internationally
renowned leaders in geoinformation, providing insight into their visions
for the future, and this is equivalent to just the base level of the FIG2010
Congress.
FIG Congresses are like the Olympics for Surveyors: they occur every 4
years and there is a great deal of competition in being chosen to host
one. For our Sydney Olympics Congress, we have already struck Gold
with a record breaking number of technical paper abstracts being received:
over 200 more than any previous FIG Congress. This number of submis-
sions has guaranteed that only the best quality papers will be delivered
and only current topics will be discussed, ensuring a Congress that is rel-
evant to all delegates.
The Fdration Internationale des Gomtres, FIG, (or International
Federation of Surveyors) is the international, non-government organisation
whose purpose is to support collaboration for the progress of surveying
in all fields and applications. Over 110 countries are now represented on
FIG and there are some 250,000 members worldwide.
The work of FIG, highlighted in the congress technical papers, is organ-
ised through Commissions covering the key surveying disciplines. There
are ten Commissions which, under the guidance of their chairs, are respon-
sible for pursuing FIGs professional and technical objectives. The ten
Commissions are:
Commission 1 Professional Standards & Practice
Commission 2 Professional Education
Commission 3 Spatial Information Management
Commission 4 Hydrography
Commission 5 Positioning & Measurement
Commission 6 Engineering Surveys
Commission 7 Cadastre & Land Management
Commission 8 Spatial Planning & Development
Commission 9 Valuation & the Management of Real Estate
Commission 10 - Construction Economics & Management
I am sure that at least one of these Commissions is relevant to the work
you do. There will be technical sessions dedicated to each of these
Commissions.
The Congress keynote will be delivered by Professor Tim Flannery, who is
one of Australias leading thinkers as well as an internationally acclaimed
scientist, conservationist, author and 2007 Australian of the Year.
Consistent with our Congress theme of Facing the Challenges, Tim will
speak about Climate Change and our professions role in sustainable devel-
opment: arguably the greatest challenges facing our world in the 21st
Century. Whether you are a Climate Change fanatic or a Global Warming
sceptic, I am sure that this Keynote will challenge your beliefs and mobilise
your thoughts both personally and politically to face the challenges before
it is too late.
Plenary speakers from the international scene include Daniel Fitzpatrick,
the UNs land rights adviser for tsunami-affected Indonesia, who is cur-
rently finalising the UNs Guidelines on Addressing Land Issues after Natural
Disasters. His presentation will focus on land systems that are vulnerable
to natural disasters due to poor land use planning and weak land admin-
istration systems. Santiago Borrero, Secretary General of the Pan American
Institute of Geography and History, will concentrate on the key challenges
being faced in Latin America as it works towards building Spatially-enabled
Government. Paul Munro-Faure, Chief of the land Tenure & Management
unit of the Food & Agriculture Organisation, is yet another internationally
renowned speaker who will detail the crucial role played by Good Land
Governance in the work of the FAO.
26
Event
FIG2010 International
Surveying Congress
And where would a spatially-enabled Congress be without Google? Ed
Parsons, Googles Geospatial Technologist for Europe, Middle East and Africa,
will outline his vision for organising the spatial component of the worlds
information systems using tools such as Google Earth and Google Maps.
A surprise concept being trialled at this congress is the introduction of
after lunch sessions led by the major spatial thinkers of our generation,
providing their vision of the future of our geospatial technologies and the
role of our profession in providing our unique contribution to society.
These sessions will inspire and challenge you, and should not be missed.
They do, indeed, emphasise the value of international Congresses: pro-
viding delegates with direct access to those who influence our profession
and its place in society.
Also consistent with our Congress theme, one of the key features of the
FIG2010 Congress will be the Workshop on Small Island Developing States
and the Millennium Development Goals. This Workshop is being held
specifically due to the location of the Congress on the doorstep of the
Asia/Pacific Region and will focus on the issues confronting island nations
as they face critical land governance issues.
The Congress will also include a special Forum for Chief Executive Officers
of National Mapping and Cadastral Agencies, giving them the opportunity
to network and discuss organisational trends and policy issues.
Australia is a long way from almost anywhere, which is why the Congress
organisers have put a lot of effort into making this event a working holi-
day for you, with the opportunity for some memorable experiences before,
during and after the Congress.
Congresses are just as much about the experience as they are about edu-
cation. The Congress organisers have worked hard to ensure that your
experiences down under are memorable ones. In the week prior to
the Congress, our Young Ambassadors have arranged pre-Congress tours
to the very heart of our island nation. One of these tours, for the adven-
turous surveyor, commences at Alice Springs and commemorates the 150th
Anniversary of the raising of the Union Jack over the geographical centre
of Australia, and includes a helicopter ride to the top of Central Mount
Stuart. Catch details of this and other Young Surveyor tours on the
Congress website at www.fig2010.com.
A pre-Congress two day History Workshop has also been arranged for those
with an interest in both Australian and world-wide Surveying history.
During the Congress, technical tours include a float-on-a-boat to Fort
Denison in the middle of the magnificent Sydney Harbour; watching Big
Brother watching you at the impressive Transport Management Centre,
fighting bushfires at the emergency operations centre of the Rural Fire
Service and a tour of the SNAP (Satellite Navigation And Positioning)
laboratory at the University of New South Wales.
The local Institution of Surveyors has recognised how difficult it is for
delegates to concentrate on technical papers and tours for a whole 5
days, and has organised a little distraction on day 4 of the Congress: golf
at the magnificent, world class, Lakes Golf Course. An extra special
discount has been organised for delegates but due to limited numbers
on this exclusive diversion, youll have to be quick to book!
An attractive feature of this Congress is at cost optional tours for dele-
gates and their families: because our professional congress organiser
arinex is also a travel agent, there is absolutely no Congress mark-up on
tours. Arinex will also staff the registration desk each day to help dele-
gates organise last minute tours and activities. Planned activities include
a BridgeClimb along the top of the arch of the iconic Sydney Harbour
Bridge, a guided tour of the famous Sydney Opera House and a coffee
cruise on the waterways of Sydney Harbour. More adventurous diversions
for those delegates and their families include a Hunter Valley Wine Tour, a
trip to the world heritage area of the Great Barrier Reef and a journey into
the aboriginal dreamtime of the Red Centre of Australia.
There is a whole range of accommodation options available in Sydney,
from sharing a tent on Cockatoo Island in Sydney Harbour to luxurious
5 star hotels close to the Congress venue in Darling Harbour. A new Youth
Hostel has just opened in the historic Rocks area of the city, with mag-
nificent harbour views that cannot be beaten for the price.
This is your Congress: you owe it to yourself to attend and we look for-
ward to seeing you down under. Registrations are open now on the
Congress website www.fig2010.com. This website contains complete
details of the Congress and all associated activities.
See you at the Congress!
Mark T Gordon
Assistant Congress Director (Administration)
FIG2010 Congress
Event
27
ENVI EX:
Where GIS meets Remote Sensing
The boom of available satellite imagery didnt go unnoticed in the geospatial world. But rather than using imagery as
a backdrop, GIS users now discover that it can be used for a lot more, like monitoring of wildfires, establish land cover
maps, extracting features of interest etc.. In September 2009, ITT VIS launched its first version of ENVI EX, software
which is fully integrated with ArcGIS, bringing remote sensing and GIS more closely together. In this interview,
Rolf Schaeppi (Vice President European Operations) speaks about ITT s partnership with ESRI and what ENVI EX
has to offer to the ArcGIS community.
By Eric van Rees
Question: Could you tell us a bit
about the companys origins and
your products?
Rolf Schaeppi: While working with NASAs
Mars Mariner missions at the Laboratory for
Atmospheric and Space Physics at the
University of Colorado, our companys
founder, David Stern, began work on what
would eventually become IDL, a programming
language for data visualization and analysis.
In 1977, after several years prototyping, IDL
was commercially released. NASA and other
scientific organizations quickly realized IDLs
potential and were among the first IDL cus-
tomers. Soon, leading research laboratories
and major universities across the country were
using IDL to solve their data analysis and
visualization challenges.
IDL also quickly became popular in the disci-
plines of earth science and remote sensing,
to the extent that ENVI was developed using
IDL as an application for extracting important
information from satellite and airborne
imagery. The first version of ENVI was
released in 1994.
As data sets have become larger and more
complex, the need to extract answers from
data has grown as well. IDL and ENVI both
continue to expand in capability and gain
28
I nt er vi ew
The ENVI EX interface is a dynamic, advanced interactive display window that supports even large imagery files. Intuitive menus allow you to display imagery
quickly and easily. The Image Overview allows you to see the larger image and select an area for viewing. The Layer Manager allows you to select layers for viewing
and manipulating. The Preview Window displays results at each processing step during the workflow on-the-fly.
prevalence in the marketplace. In 1998, IDL
was named a "NASA Milestone Technology of
the First 40 Years for its value in helping
NASA scientists make important discoveries.
ENVI has also become an industry-leading
product for image analysts and image scien-
tists worldwide. This year ITT released a new
product to bring image analysis to a new set
of GIS users. The new product, ENVI EX,
delivers the robust image analysis of ENVI in
step-by-step workflows for the imagery tasks
most needed by GIS professionals.
We are here at the ESRI European
User Conference in Vilnius, Lithuania.
ITT VIS has a partnership with ESRI
for some time now. How did this
partnership came into being?
RS: Our partnership with ESRI started when
ITT Visual Information Solutions developed
the NITF Extension for ArcGIS three years ago.
The partnership between ESRI and ITT Visual
Information Solutions has strengthened over
that time with the shared belief that imagery
is now a part of GIS and imagery is more
important than ever for GIS users today.
Imagery is growing in availability and is of
growing value to the GIS user. Both ESRI and
ITT are pursuing product development strate-
gies that integrate the ArcGIS and ENVI prod-
uct lines with the intention of creating tools
that facilitate the integration of imagery into
GIS workflows.
How are remote sensing and GIS
combined with ENVI EX? And what
problems does it solve for the GIS
user?
RS: The challenge with integrating imagery
and remote sensing technology into GIS work-
flows is that it often requires a lot of imagery
analysis to get information that is useful to
the GIS professional. Historically, tools to ana-
lyze imagery have been difficult to use and
analysts needed image science backgrounds
to derive meaningful products. The challenge
was to distill the vast amount of functionality
of ENVI into easy to use workflows so that
the scientific rigor is maintained and the end
user can produce accurate and repeatable
I nt er vi ew
29
results without having a deep background in
Remote Sensing science.
ENVI EX, as a result of this effort, is the new
solution for image processing, analysis and
exploitation for the ArcGIS community. The
integration of the ENVI EX and ArcGIS reduces
the complexity of working with imagery to
enable geospatial analysts and GIS profes-
sionals to get useful information from imagery
quickly and easily.
Based on ENVI, ITTs premiere image process-
ing and analysis solution, ENVI EX now pro-
vides ArcGIS users with the superior image
analysis methods and algorithms trusted by
imagery professionals for years. The products
easy to use interface with intuitive processes
guides users step by step through analyzing
satellite and airborne imagery and data across
a wide range of imaging modalities.
The new workflows in ENVI EX provide auto-
mated processes for solving problems that
are common in GIS applications across a vari-
ety of industries. These workflows include
tying an image to its geographic coordinate
for accuracy in mapping, extracting features
of interest from a large geographic area,
Brief Product Introduction
IDL
IDL is an ideal software for data analysis, visualization, and cross-plat-
form application development. IDL combines all of the tools you need
for any type of project, from "quick-look," interactive analysis and
display to large-scale commercial programming projects. Thousands of
technical professionals use IDL every day to rapidly develop algo-
rithms, interfaces, and powerful visualizations and quickly crunch
through large numerical problems.
ENVI & ENVI EX
ENVI is an ideal software for extracting important information from all
types of digital imagery. ENVIs image processing package includes
advanced yet easy-to-use spectral tools, geometric correction, terrain
analysis, radar analysis, raster and vector GIS capabilities, extensive
support for images from a wide variety of sources, and much more.
Being developed using IDL, ENVI in combination with IDL, is com-
pletely flexible and extensible, thus adaptable to meet the customers
specific requirements.
ENVI is the choice of many imagery scientists and professionals for
extracting scientifically accurate information from imagery. Now ENVI
EX delivers the accurate, scientifically proven processes that ENVI is
known for in revolutionary step-by-step workflows that quickly and
easily guide you through advanced image processing tasks, regard-
less of your experience level.
IAS Image Access Solutions
Image Access Solutions considerably improves the storage, access,
management and delivery of image files by optimizing the wavelet
compression capabilities of the JPEG 2000 standard. Using intelligent
streaming technology, Image Access Solutions delivers important infor-
mation faster, increasing the speed and accuracy of your decision-
making process.
The image on the left is the before scene, the middle image is the after scene, and a 2CMV change detection visualization result is shown at the far right. The areas
that have been removed from Time 1 to Time 2 are shown in red, and the areas that are new between Time 1 and Time 2 are shown in blue.
detecting change in a region by comparing
different images, classifying land cover, and
finding anomalous features in an area. (See
examples below.)
The seamless integration between ENVI EX
and ArcGIS allows GIS users to easily
exchange data and files from ArcGIS to ENVI
EX with simple drag and drop methods that
preserve the style, symbology, vectors, and
layer information from one product to anoth-
er. In addition, ENVI EX provides direct access
to the full suite of map composition tools
available in ESRIs ArcGIS.
This new capability gives users of both prod-
ucts increased workflow efficiencies and time
savings when integrating imagery with GIS
applications.
How do you explain the interest in
imagery in GIS?
RS: GIS professionals recognize that imagery
is essential for understanding what is hap-
pening in the world, learning how the envi-
ronment is changing, and giving context to
other types of data. Imagery availability, the
power of its information content and the num-
ber of dissemination methods are rapidly
increasing. While digital orthophotography is
an essential element in a GIS professionals
geospatial data store, high resolution color
and multi-spectral satellite imagery is also
coming into common use. As the spatial and
spectral fidelity of these sources improve, so
does the ability to extract important informa-
tion to GIS professionals.
One of the most common applications is the
use of imagery as a data source to populate,
update and assess the quality of GIS databas-
es. Map accurate orthophotos or satellite
images are used to collect (digitize) features
such as road centerlines, land use areas,
building footprints and utility infrastructure.
Up-to-date imagery makes it easy to identify
areas of development not yet captured in the
GIS database. Automated image processing
methods tailored for feature extraction can be
used to reduce the effort of often tedious dig-
itizing tasks of this type.
Other applications exploit the spectral con-
tent of the imagery to accomplish land use
and land cover mapping; measure, monitor
and assess environmental conditions; assess
the condition of pavement and other public
works assets; and identify building materials.
Change detection is also possible when
imagery is collected over time. The knowledge
gained from these analyses is invaluable as
input to land development models and fore-
casts, environmental impact statements, asset
management budgets and reports for commu-
nicating important issues to community con-
stituents.
A major focus of recent and ongoing ENVI
development is providing tools and methods
to extract information from images, and to
then integrate these results with GIS databas-
es. ENVI currently has many tools for these
purposes, including workflows for common
image processing tasks for GIS professionals,
converting to and editing common vector data
formats, and geodatabase support. Moreover,
upcoming releases will improve and add to
these capabilities.
What do you think is going to be
the future when looking at the part-
nership between ITT VIS and ESRI?
RS: As imagery continues to proliferate and
the tools to extract features and information
imagery grow, so too does the demand for
image processing and management solutions
across a wide variety of industries. It is our
job to continue to provide the GIS user com-
munity with easy to use tools, like those in
ENVI EX, so that they can get the benefit out
of the many available and ever increasing
image sources across distributed portals.
Having made available that ease of use on
the desktop, the next steps are now to pro-
vide the same ease of use and functionality
in an enterprise environment. ITT Visual
Information Solutions provides a comprehen-
sive set of image and data preparation solu-
tions, as well as image management and dis-
semination functionality that meets the
demanding needs of todays geospatial enter-
prise deployments. Development plans for
ENVI include many new workflow tools that
will make image processing services available
in the enterprise and even easier, leveraging
proven ArcGIS server technologies.
Eric van Rees is editor in chief of
GeoInformatics Magazine.
For more information on ENVI EX, have a look at
www.ittvis.com/ProductServices/ENVI/ENVIEX.aspx
www.ittvis.com
30
I nt er vi ew
The new Map Layout view in ENVI EX allows users to take all image processing results and apply an ESRI
map template for map composition, all from within the ENVI EX interface. (This capability is also available
now in ENVI.)
An Introduction to the Technology
Mobile Mapping Systems
Over the last 20 years, mobile mapping systems have slowly developed, at first mainly in academic research
establishments. More recently, a number of commercially operated systems have appeared. These have mostly been
one-off systems that have been developed in-house by the companies that are operating them. Most of them have been
utilized for the collection of data on road infrastructure or building facades. However, over the last two or three years,
some very big companies such as Google, Tele Atlas and NAVTEQ have adopted the technology on a large scale,
introducing substantial fleets of mobile mapping vehicles for their imaging and mapping operations. This has resulted
in the further rapid development of the technology which can now be regarded as being well established and proven.
This article offers an introduction to and survey of the present state-of-the-art of the technology.
By Gordon Petrie
This survey of the technology will be conducted in three main parts.
(i) The first deals with the main components of mobile mapping sys-
tems. These include the digital imaging devices; the laser ranging and
scanning devices; and the positioning (or geo-referencing) devices which
are the principal building blocks that are being used in the construc-
tion of such systems. (ii) The second part will cover the system suppli-
ers who integrate these different components and offer the resulting
systems for sale to users. (iii) The third part covers a representative
selection of service providers, but paying particular attention to the
systems used by the large imaging and mapping organisations that
have been mentioned above in the introduction to this article.
I - Main Components
Imaging Devices
Arising from the speed of movement of the mapping vehicles and the
close proximity of the target objects (of a few tens of metres), the digi-
tal frame cameras and pushbroom line scanners that are familiar to the
mapping community from their airborne imaging operations are simply
not suitable for use with mobile mapping vehicles. Although imaging
(pushbroom) line scanners have been used experimentally in certain
mobile mapping vehicles that are being operated by academic research
groups, so far they have had little use in commercial mapping opera-
tions. Instead digital frame cameras are used almost universally.
However the format sizes are very small (1 to 2 Megapixels is typical);
framing rates are high (typically 7 to 15 frames per second); exposure
times are very short (to eliminate image blur); and the use of multiple
camera arrays to provide 360 degree panoramic images in the horizon-
tal plane is very common. Taking as an example a mobile mapping
vehicle that is being driven in an urban area at 30 kph, it travels a dis-
tance of 1 km in 120 seconds or 8.3 m in one second. If it travels at
60 kph, it travels a distance of 16.7 m in one second. If the imaging
system has to acquire successive sets of frame images at intervals of 2
to 8 m from four to eight cameras simultaneously to ensure the contin-
uous coverage of a street or road, then it is obvious that very high
rates of data transmission and storage of the images will need to be
implemented. This involves the use of interfaces and cabling technolo-
gies such as FireWire or iLINK (that adhere to the IEEE1394 standard)
[Fig. 1]. These devices can transmit uncompressed image data from mul-
tiple cameras either at 400 Megabits per second (50 Megapixels per
second) which is the IEEE1394-A standard - or at 800 Megabits per
second (100 Megapixels per second), which is the IEEE1394-B standard.
The individual cameras individual cameras that are being utilized to implement and sat-
isfy these requirements are digital video frame cameras using very small-
format CCD or CMOS area arrays as their imaging sensors. These cam-
eras are manufactured in large numbers for industrial use by numerous
suppliers such as Sony, Hitachi and Toshiba (Japan); IMI (Korea);
IMPERX, Pelco and Arecont Vision (U.S.A.); PixeLINK (Canada); and AVT,
PCO and Basler (Germany). A typical type of digital video camera that
was used in early mobile mapping operations was the Sony DFW-500
model that could acquire 640 x 480 pixel (0.3 Megapixels) colour frame
images at rates up to 25 frames per second. More modern types of
Sony CCD cameras can output images having the much larger frame
size of 1,024 x 768 pixels (0.8 Megapixels) at the rate of 15 frames per
32
Ar t i cl e
Fig. 1 A diagram showing a network of video cameras, a GPS receiver and an
odometer (with its optical encoder) being controlled using high-speed IEEE1394
interfaces and cabling. (Source: Point Grey Research)
second or frame images that are 1,280 x 960
pixels (1.2 Megapixels) in size at a rate of 7.5
frames per second. These individual cameras
will often be deployed in multiple in different
configurations depending on the specific types
of features that need to be mapped [Fig. 2].
Usually each of the individual cameras that are
mounted on a mobile mapping vehicle will be
enclosed in a special housing that will protect
it from rain and dust. Often the housing will
be equipped with a Sun shroud and also with
a heater/defroster unit, the latter helping to
keep the camera operational in cold weather
conditions.
However the use of fully integrated multiple multiple
camera camera units is now very common in mobile
mapping vehicles. As will be seen later, the
Ladybug series of multiple cameras built by
Point Grey Research, based in Richmond, B.C.,
Canada, have been adopted widely for use in
mobile mapping systems [Fig. 3]. The compa-
nys Ladybug2 multiple camera unit has six
Sony CCD digital video cameras. Five of these
cameras are arranged concentrically in a hori-
zontal ring pointing outwards to produce a
360 degree panoramic image within the hori-
zontal plane, with the sixth camera pointing
vertically upwards. These cameras have a
FireWire-B (IEEE1394-B) 800 Megabit interface
and cabling to provide camera control and
power and to implement video data transmis-
sion at the rate of 15 uncompressed frame images per second, each
image being 1,024 x 768 pixels (= 0.8 Megapixels) in size. The Ladybug3
unit also has a set of six Sony CCD cameras arranged in a similar circu-
lar five-camera configuration (plus a single vertical camera) but with
still larger formats (1,600 x 1,200 pixels). Thus it can generate six 2-
Megapixel images that can be streamed as uncompressed images at
the rate of 7 frames per second or as compressed JPEG images at a 15
frames per second rate. Each Ladybug multiple camera unit can be sup-
plied attached to a mast that can be mounted on a roof rack that has
been placed on top of the mapping vehicle to provide a clear view of
the surrounding objects.
Another integrated multiple camera unit that has received a great deal
of publicity and attention from the media because of its distinctive
shape and appearance is the Dodeca 2360 [Fig. 4] The name is derived
from the geodesic geometry of the dodecahe-
dron, which is a 12-faced solid figure (with
each face having a pentagonal shape) that
approximates to that of a sphere. The overall
Dodeca 2360 unit utilizes eleven of the 12
faces, in each of which a small-format camera
is mounted, while the twelfth face forms the
base on which the camera is mounted. Usually
the camera will be attached to a mast that
can be mounted on the roof of the mapping
vehicle. The Dodeca camera was devised by
another Canadian company, Immersive Media
Corporation Inc. (IMC), based in Calgary,
Alberta. Originally the camera was manufac-
tured by Freestone Systems in Dallas, Texas.
In 2007, IMC acquired the Freestone compa-
ny, which was then renamed IMC Sensors Inc.
Each of the Dodeca cameras generates a
frame image that is 640 x 480 pixels in size,
the overall size of the resulting merged and
stitched spherical image formed from the
multiple individual images is 2,400 x 1.200
pixels.
The Google company made use of this type of Dodeca frame imagery
when it introduced its Street View service in 2007. However Google
then switched to using its own multiple camera units thereafter. The
Google integrated multiple camera system comprises nine individual
CCD cameras, eight of which are arranged, spaced equally, in a concen-
tric ring pointing outwards, with the ninth camera pointing vertically
upwards [Fig. 5]. The individual cameras are reported to have been sup-
plied by an American company, Elphel Inc., which is based in Salt Lake
City, Utah. The Elphel 313 and 333 models are digital network cameras
using CMOS area arrays that are delivered with software source code
supplied under Open Source terms (like those applying to the Linux
operating system or the Firefox browser). The Elphel 313 camera gener-
ates images with a frame size of 1,280 x 1,024 pixels at the rate of 15
frames per second or larger images, e.g. with 1,600 x 1,200 pixels, at a
lower rate. The later Elphel 333 camera can generate compressed JPEG
images that are 2,048 x 1,536 pix-
els (3.2 Megapixels) in size at the
rate of 12 frames per second.
Ar t i cl e
Fig. 2 These diagrams show the different
configurations of digital video cameras that have been
utilized on the mobile mapping vehicles that are being
operated by Tele Atlas. Diagrams (a), (b) and (c) show
alternative arrangements using four cameras, while
(d) shows a six-camera arrangement.
(Source: Tele Atlas; Re-drawn by Mike Shand)
Fig. 3 The cylindrical-shaped Ladybug2 (left) and the pentagonal-shaped
Ladybug3 (right) integrated multiple camera systems, which are operated with
FireWire-B (IEEE1394-B) interfaces and cabling. (Source: Point Grey Research)
Fig. 4 The Dodeca 2360
integrated multiple camera
system produced by
Immersive Media comprises
eleven individual video
camera firing simultaneously.
(Source: Immersive Media)
Fig. 5 The integrated
nine-camera system that is mounted
and operated on the Google compa-
nys cars that acquire imagery for its
Street View service. (Source: Google)
33
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Laser Ranging & Scanning Devices
The numerous, varied and well-established types of tripod-mounted 3D 3D
laser scanners laser scanners that are in widespread use by land surveyors under-
taking terrestrial or ground-based laser scanning including both
panoramic and camera-type laser scanners; the use of the phase mea-
suring technique for short distances; and the need for both horizontal
and vertical angles to be measured have had little part to play in
mobile mapping systems. Indeed the 3D laser scanners that are avail-
able at present for surveying work can only be used for static measure-
ments in their native 3D operational mode, even when mounted on a
vehicle - since the scanning operation at a single fixed location often
takes several minutes. However a very small number of 3D laser scan-
ners from the German Faro and Z+F companies have been operated on
mobile mapping vehicles, but with their horizontal (azimuth) angular
movements disabled which effectively makes them into 2D laser scan-
ners.
Indeed the main emphasis in mobile mapping is on the use of 2D laser 2D laser
scanners scanners that can very rapidly acquire range or elevation profiles com-
prising the distance and angular values measured within a single 2D
plane. These profile measurements are carried out using the laser scan-
ner to measure the required distances and angles simultaneously with-
in a series of successive parallel planes intersecting the road surfaces,
pavements, street furniture, buildings and vegetation that are located
adjacent to the roads or streets along which the mobile mapping vehi-
cles are being driven. Indeed, in many respects, the 2D laser scanners
that are mounted on mobile mapping vehicles are, in principle, quite
similar to the laser scanners that are being used in airborne laser scan-
ning except that they are usually being operated over distances of a
few tens of metres, instead of the several hundreds or thousands of
metres that are encountered in airborne laser scanning. As with air-
borne laser scanning, the third dimension to the captured profile data
is being created by the forward movement of the vehicular platform on
which the 2D laser scanner is mounted. The location of each new range
profile is being measured continuously (and very accurately) using an
integrated suite of positioning devices comprising a GPS or GNSS
receiver, an IMU; and an odometer or DMI device as the vehicle trav-
els forward.
The 2D laser scanners that are probably the most commonly used in
mobile mapping are those manufactured by the SICK company, which is
based in Waldkirch, Germany. The SICK company makes an almost bewil-
dering range of laser scanners - including bar code scanners; scanners
for displacement and volumetric measurements; and scanners that are
designed for proximity determination and safety purposes - together
with numerous other types of encoders, switches, controllers and sen-
sors that are designed for a wide range of industrial, logistic and com-
mercial applications. Certain models in the SICK LMS (Laser Measurement
Systems) series of laser scanner are designed specifically for outdoor
use, the LMS 291 model being that mainly used in mobile mapping [Fig.
6]. This scanner combines (i) a rapid firing laser rangefinder using the
time-of-flight (TOF) distance measuring principle; with (ii) a rotating mir-
ror whose angular directions are also being measured continuously using
an angular encoder. Using this technology, the LMS 291 generates a fan-
shaped scanning angle of 180 degrees within its 2D scanning plane and
can measure ranges of up to 80 m to objects having a reflectivity of
70%.; 60 m to objects (such as a wooden house) with a reflectivity of
40%; and 30 m to objects with 10% reflectivity. The measuring resolu-
tion in range of the LMS 291 model is stated to be 1 cm, while the accu-
racy is +/- 6 cm. An additional LMI controller can be supplied to control
the operation of multiple LMS scanners. Still longer-range 2D laser scan-
ners are available from LASE GmbH, which is another company in the
SICK Group based in Wesel, Germany. The LASE LD-LRS laser scanner
can measure ranges up to 250 m with suitable highly reflective objects;
110 m to objects with 20% reflectivity; and 80 m to objects with 10%
reflectivity, and has a 300 degree scanning angle. Still another company
in the SICK Group, Ibeo, based in Hamburg, Germany also offer laser
scanners that are suitable for mapping purposes see the following
Web page - www.ibeo-as.com/english/3d.asp
Ar t i cl e
Fig. 6 A SICK LMS 291 2D laser scanner set on its side to produce a vertical
profile comprising a series of measured range and angular values to one side
of a mobile mapping vehicle. (Source: SICK)
Fig. 7 (a) The Riegl Q120 2D laser scanner which is equipped with a
laser rangefinder and a continuously rotating polygon mirror with its
attached angular encoder to produce successive range or elevation
profiles as the mapping vehicle is driven forward.
(b) The operating principle of the Riegl Q120 2D laser scanner.
(c) A diagram showing the coverage of the profiles generated by two
Q120 laser scanners, pointing in opposite directions at right angles to
the direction of travel of the mobile mapping vehicle. (Source: Riegl)
[a]
[b]
[c]
35
Besides the SICK scanners, there are several other TOF 2D laser scan-
ners that are used quite widely in mobile mapping operations. These
are made by specialist suppliers such as Riegl (based in Horn, Austria)
and Optech (based in the Toronto area in Ontario, Canada). Both com-
panies are well-known suppliers of airborne and terrestrial laser scan-
ners to the surveying and mapping industry. In general terms, the 2D
scanner units from these companies provide greater ranges; faster
speeds and higher measuring accuracies than those provided by the
SICK laser scanners. However they are also considerably more expen-
sive. The Riegl Q120 laser scanner with its continuously rotating poly-
gon mirror has been used in a number of mobile mapping systems [Fig.
7]. It has a pulse repetition frequency (PRF) of 30 kHz; a range of
150 m to targets with an 80% reflectivity; a ranging accuracy of +/- 25
mm; a scanning angle of 80 degrees within the plane in which it is
scanning; and can be operated at scan rates up to 100 Hz. The recent-
ly introduced VQ-180 model from Riegl offers still higher PRF values
(up to 200 kHz) and scan rates (up to 120 Hz) and it also has a larger
scan angle (of 100 degrees). Furthermore Riegl has introduced a pow-
erful new VQ-250 model that is designed specifically for use in mobile
mapping. It provides a full circle 360 degree scan within its 2D scan-
ning plane and can measure ranges up to 200 m (with 80% reflectivi-
ty) with PRF values up to 300 kHz and scan rates of 100 Hz, while still
maintaining an accuracy of +/- 10 mm [Fig. 8].
By contrast, Optech does not sell its in-house-built laser scanners as
separate products to system integrators and suppliers in the manner
of SICK and Riegl. Instead it incorporates its 2D laser scanners to form
part of its own LYNX mobile mapping system. The laser scanners that
are used in its LYNX V200 system provide a full circle 360 degree
scan; a PRF of up to 200 kHz; a scan rate of up to 200 Hz; and a range
accuracy of circa +/- 10 mm [Fig. 9].
Mention should also be made in this account of the Velodyne HDL-64E
High Definition Lidar [Fig. 10] that was developed for use by competi-
tors in the DARPA Urban Challenge for unmanned vehicles of 2007.
Indeed it was used by five of the top six finishing teams in that event.
This unique 3D laser scanning device is based on a battery of 64 indi-
vidual laser ranging units that are placed at specific fixed angles to
provide a 26.8 angular spread within the vertical plane, thus eliminat-
ing the need for the vertical mechanical (angular) motion of the single
laser rangefinder that is normally used in a terrestrial 3D laser scanner.
The HDL-64E system also features high horizontal rotation rates (in
azimuth) of the vertical bank of laser rangefinders as a whole around
the vertical axis of the unit, at up to 15 Hz, with an angular resolution
of 0.09. The Class 1 lasers that are used in the HDL-64E instrument
operate at the wavelength of 905 nm with a 10 ns pulse width. The
ranging accuracy is claimed to be +/- 2.5 cm for distances of 50 m and
120 m with reflectivities of 10% and 80%, respectively. The data collec-
tion rate of 1.8 million measured points per second of the latest S2
version of the HDL-64E scanner instrument is really quite phenomenal.
The positioning systems that were used on the vehicles that took part
in the DARPA Urban Challenge were completed with the addition of an
integrated DGPS/IMU unit. A few examples of the results that can be
achieved using this system for mapping purposes have been published.
A recent announcement from Velodyne mentioned that the HDL-64E
lidar is currently in use capturing 3-D highway data for multiple states
in the U.S.. Furthermore various mobile mapping cars that have been
equipped with the Velodyne HDL-64E unit on their roofs have been
sighted and photographed, with the photos being published on the
Ar t i cl e
Fig. 8 - The VMX250 laser scanning system that has recently been introduced to
the market by Riegl. The system comprises two VQ-250 2D laser scanners, each
generating its own 360 degree full circle profile scan. The systems IMU is
located inside the mount that houses and supports the two laser scanners.
(Source: Riegl)
Fig. 9 The Optech LYNX laser scanner that generates a 360 degree full circle
2D profile scanning pattern. (Source: Optech)
Fig. 10 (a) The Velodyne HDL-64E High Definition Lidar. (Source: Velodyne)
(b) This diagram shows the main features of the HDL-64E rotating laser scanner
with its multiple laser rangefinders. (Drawn by Mike Shand)
[a] [b]
36
Flickr Web site. However no mapping company or organisation has as
yet admitted to its use of these systems, despite their obvious poten-
tial for 3D mapping and terrain modelling applications. Currently an
HDL-64E Lidar is being used in conjunction with a multiple video cam-
era system by the Real Time Race company from the U.K. to acquire
the elevation and image data that is needed to form detailed 3D digi-
tal terrain models of Formula One race courses. These models will be
used both for video games and during the live TV coverage of actual
races.
Positioning (Geo-referencing) Devices
A dual-frequency survey- or geodetic-grade GPS or GNSS receiver
remains the primary device that is used in mobile mapping systems
for the determination of the absolute position of the moving vehicle
and its imaging (camera) and ranging (laser scanner) devices. There
are a large number of suitable GPS/GNSS receivers available from
Trimble, Topcon, Leica, NovAtel, Javad, etc. that can generate the sur-
vey-quality positional data that is required. Invariably the GPS or GNSS
receiver will be operated in differential mode relative to a suitable local
base station or using a global DGPS service such as OmniSTAR. Indeed
solutions based on such global services or on national monitoring net-
works (such as CORS) are largely replacing the use of local base sta-
tions. A number of mobile mapping systems feature a second GPS
receiver with its antenna placed at a known distance (or base line)
from that of the primary GPS receiver. The difference in position that
this secondary receiver gives with respect to the primary receiver using
the carrier phase observations from both receivers gives a very accu-
rate measurement of the vehicles heading, even when the vehicles
dynamics are low. However, since so much mobile mapping takes place
within urban areas with tall (high-rise) buildings or in areas with dense
tree canopies where observation of the GPS or GNSS satellites may
be restricted (giving rise to a weak geometry) or completely lost the
use of an inertial measurement unit (IMU) and an odometer (or dis-
tance measuring instrument) to provide additional positional informa-
tion in these situations is almost standard.
There are a large number of IMU devices IMU devices that can generate a continu-
ous stream of position and orientation data when the GPS or GNSS
satellite signals are unavailable. However confining the present discus-
sion to those that are most used in mobile mapping systems, three
main types can be identified. (i) Those that use ring laser gyros ring laser gyros (RLG)
are the most accurate type. However they are expensive to manufac-
ture, so their use is confined to those applications that demand the
very highest accuracy. (ii) Fibre Optic Gyros Fibre Optic Gyros (FOG) employing long
coiled optical fibres as an alternative to the optical blocks or rings of
the RLG give a very acceptable accuracy and, since they are less expen-
sive, they are widely used in the current types of IMU utilized in mobile
mapping. (iii) Those gyros that are based on Micro Electro- Micro Electro-
Mechanical Systems Mechanical Systems (MEMS) technology utilize tiny quartz tuning
forks as sensors that are integrated on to silicon chips. They are the
least expensive type. While they are also the least accurate, they are
still sufficiently accurate for many purposes. So they are coming into
more widespread use in mobile mapping applications. Two of the best
known system integrators of the IMUs that are used in mobile map-
ping systems are (i) Applanix, which is a Trimble company based in
the Toronto area in Ontario, Canada and produces its widely used POS
LV sub-system [Fig. 11]; and (ii) IGI from Kreustal in Germany which pro-
duces its TERRAcontrol sub-system. The Applanix POS LV systems use
either MEMS gyros (in Models 220 and 420) or RLG gyros (in the Model
610), while the IGI TERRAcontrol uses FOG gyros. Other suppliers include
Crossbow, located in San Jose, California, which supplies GPS-aided
inertial systems mainly based on MEMS technology; iMAR, based in
Latest News? Visit www.geoinformatics.com January/February 2010
LASER MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS
RIEGL
www.riegl.com
RIEGL LMS GmbH, A-3580 Horn, Austria, office@riegl.co.at
RIEGL USA Inc., Orlando, Florida, info@rieglusa.com
RIEGL Japan Ltd., Tokyo, Japan, info@riegl-japan.co.jp
Laser Scanners for , ,
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37
St.Ingbert, Germany, with its iNAV-FMS-LSURV range using FOG technol-
ogy; and Oxford Technical Solutions (OxTS) from Oxford in the U.K.,
whose Inertial+ and RT3000 products are based on MEMS technology.
Finally, as mentioned above, most DGPS/IMU systems that are used in
mobile mapping are also supplemented by a distance measuring distance measuring
instrument instrument (DMI) or odometer. This comprises an optical angular
encoder with an attached data transmission cable mounted inside a
hollow rod that is fitted to the rear wheel of the mapping vehicle. DMI
units suitable for mobile mapping are available from the U.S.A. e.g.
from Jamar Technologies based in Hatfield, Pennsylvania and from
Quixote Transportation Technologies of Durham, North Carolina with its
Nu-Metrics NiteStar DMI products.
II System Suppliers
As mentioned above in the introduction, initially many of the mobile
mapping vehicles that have been used operationally were built in-house
as individual one-off systems by the companies or agencies that were
going to use them. However the mobile mapping field has now become
sufficiently well established for fully integrated systems to be offered
as Commercial Off-the-shelf (COTS) products by a number of system
suppliers. Potentially, the purchase or lease of these COTS products
offers substantial savings in terms of development, testing, mainte-
nance and overall cost as compared with those systems that have been
developed in-house. The system suppliers concerned include several
large companies such as Topcon, Trimble and Optech, which are already
well-established as suppliers of surveying instrumentation and airborne
imaging and laser scanning systems to the surveying and mapping
industry.
3D Laser Mapping
This small specialist company, which is based in the small town of
Bingham, near the city of Nottingham in the U.K., has acted as a sys-
tem integrator in developing its portable StreetMapper system specifi-
cally for mobile mapping use when mounted on a suitable vehicle [Fig.
12]. The company has developed this system in close collaboration with
the German systems supplier, IGI. For use in the StreetMapper, IGI sup-
plies its TERRAcontrol DGPS/IMU system - which is derived from the
AEROcontrol unit that it builds for use with its LiteMapper airborne laser
scanning system and with a wide range of airborne digital imagers. The
dual-frequency GPS receiver can come from any one of several suppli-
ers. 3D Laser Mapping supplies the hardware and software solutions
that are used for the mission planning, the control of the laser scan-
ners and the data storage within a StreetMapper system. The control
unit and its computer are housed in a cabinet that is mounted inside
the mapping vehicle.
Until now, the multiple laser scanners that have been used on
StreetMapper systems have been supplied by Riegl. On most existing
StreetMapper systems, between two and four of the older LMS-Q120
scanner units (with their 150 m range) have been fitted on a roof rack,
together with the IMU and the GPS antenna. However the latest Street -
Mapper 360 systems utilize the newer Riegl VQ-180 or VQ-250 units,
the former having a 100 degree FOV and a range of up to 150 m; the
latter giving a full circle (360 degree) scan and ranges up to 300 m. A
choice of video or digital still frame cameras from different manufactur-
ers can be supplied in order to generate the higher quality images that
will be needed to supplement the laser scanned data. Touch screen
LCD displays installed on the dashboard of the vehicle are used for the
display of the captured data. On the software side, IGI also contributes
its TERRAoffice software (which is derived from its AEROoffice package)
for the processing of the IMU data, while the differential GPS data is
processed using the Graf-Nav package that is supplied by the Waypoint
division of NovAtel, which is based in Canada. The TerraScan/
TerraModeler/ TerraMatch suite of programs from Terrasolid in Finland
is then utilized for the processing of the laser scan data and its trans-
formation into the final 3D elevation model data.
The StreetMapper system has been supplied to a number of interna-
tional customers, including, most recently, Geomaat (Nether lands),
Transport & Road Research Institute (Lithuania), Geokosmos (Russia);
Tecdawn (China) and Terrametrix and GeoDigital (U.S.A.). A StreetMapper
system has also been used extensively by Halcrow, a large engineering
consultancy company, to carry out corridor surveys along roads for high-
way asset management and to capture street level data in city centres
in the United Kingdom.
Topcon
Topcon Positioning Systems has introduced its mobile mapping system
which is called the IP-S2 Integrated Positioning System [Fig. 13] to
the market in the spring of 2009. However, when the company
announced during this introduction that more
than 400 units are currently in use world-wide,
it was only too obvious that it had indeed been
supplying these systems for some time main-
ly, it seems, to Google Inc. The IP-S2 system
includes a Topcon dual-frequency 40-channel
GNSS receiver operating at 20 Hz, which is cou-
pled to a Honeywell HG1700 tactical-grade IMU
based on a ring laser gyro (RLG) that is operat-
ing at 100 Hz. The resulting DGPS/IMU position-
al data is supplemented by that generated by a
wheel-mounted odometer with an angular
Ar t i cl e
Fig. 11 The main components of an Applanix POS LV 420 DGPS/IMU system -
comprising (from left to right) the primary Trimble GPS receiver; the secondary
Trimble GPS antenna; the black electronics cabinet in the centre of the picture
that contains the POS LV system controller and computer; and the IMU at far
right. In the background is the odometer with its wheel encoder and its
attached rod that carries the cables to the controller.
Fig. 12 (a) A StreetMapper mobile mapping vehicle.
(b) The various imaging, laser scanning and positioning elements of a
StreetMapper system that are mounted on a
roof rack situated at the rear of the vehicle.
(Source: 3D Laser Mapping)
38
[a]
[b]
encoder operating at 30 Hz to complete the overall positioning capa-
bility for the IP-S2 system. Besides these positioning devices, the imag-
ing and laser scanning capabilities of the IP-S2 are based on well-known
units that are available off-the-shelf. They include the Ladybug multi-
camera unit from Point Grey Research that carries out the 360 degree
panoramic imaging with framing rates of up to 15 frames per second.
The laser scanning that is carried out using the standard configuration
of the IP-S2 is provided by three Sick LMS 291 scanners operating at
75 Hz. One of these laser scanners is pointing directly forwards (or
backwards) towards the road in front of (or behind) the vehicle, while
the other two scanners point to each side to provide a continuous
series of range or elevation profiles within the vertical plane. All of
these imaging and scanning devices send their data to a central con-
trol box which then passes it via a high-speed FireWire-B (IEEE1394-B)
link to the PC that is mounted in the vehicle for the recording and pro-
cessing of the data. An LCD display screen allows the vehicles crew to
monitor the connectivity and operation of all the various positioning,
laser scanning and frame imaging devices.
In the version of the system that is used in the Google Street View
vehicles, the Ladybug multiple camera has been replaced by Googles
own multiple camera system [Fig. 5], which is based on the use of
Elphel digital frame cameras. Although the IP-S2 system has only been
offered for sale by Topcon quite recently, already an example is in oper-
ation by the Geodis surveying and mapping company based in Brno in
the Czech Republic.
Mitsubishi
Another Japanese system supplier is the Mitsubishi Electric Corporation,
whose IT Space Solutions Department showed its MMS (Mobile Mapping
System) [Fig. 14] at the Intergeo trade fair held in Karlsruhe, Germany in
September 2009. This product has been developed jointly by staff mem-
bers of Waseda University in Tokyo in collaboration with Mitsubishi since
2006. Several examples are already in use in Japan. The system is being
offered in three different versions. (i) The most basic version is the MMS-
A, which has three roof-mounted GNSS receivers arranged in a triangular
pattern; an IMU; an odometer; and a sensor control box. This version is
being offered mainly as a vehicle positioning device, with the choice of
cameras and laser scanners and their integration being left to the cus-
tomer. (ii) The second version is the MMS-S which is offered with two
video cameras and two laser scanners in addition to the positioning
devices included in the basic MMS-A version. (iii) Finally the MMS-X ver-
sion is offered with multiple (up to 6) cameras and (up to 4) laser scan-
ners, again in addition to the positioning instrumentation included in the
MMS-A version. In the literature
that accompanied this introduc-
tion, the supplier of the dual-fre-
quency GNSS receivers was stat-
ed to be Trimble; the IMU was
from Crossbow, using a FOG gyro
supplied by Japan Aviation
Electronics; the frame cameras
were supplied by IMPERX from the United States; while the laser scanners
were the ubiquitous LMS 291 model from SICK.
Trimble
The mobile mapping systems that are being supplied by Trimbles
GeoSpatial Division were developed originally by the Geo-3D company,
which is based at Brossard, near Montreal in Canada and was acquired by
Trimble in January 2008. Its main product has been its Trident-3D mobile
mapping system. This has been fitted on a variety of different vehicles and
in a number of different configurations as specified by the customers. Digital
video and still frame cameras from various suppliers have been fitted
including, in one case, the use of a Redlake multi-spectral camera while
the laser scanners that have been used have been supplied by SICK and
Riegl. The DGPS/ IMU systems that are used for geo-positioning have been
the POS LV units supplied by Applanix (another Trimble company), includ-
ing Trimble GPS receivers. The system controller and rack-mounted com-
puters that form parts of the overall system were built-up by Geo-3D, which
has also supplied the distance measuring instrument (DMI). Various dis-
play options were also offered by Geo-3D. The latest version of this vehi-
cle-based mapping system is now called the Trimble Cougar system [Fig.
15]. Besides the hardware aspects of the overall system, Geo-3D had also
developed a series of software packages for use with the Trident-3D sys-
tem. These have included the Kronos package for survey data acquisition;
Trident-3D Analyst for data extraction and processing, including the semi-
automatic detection, recognition and extraction of objects such as road
signs; and Trident-3D Vision for image viewing and analysis.
The majority of customers for the Trident-3D mobile mapping system are
agencies that are involved in road surveys, including federal, state, provin-
cial and municipal departments of transport and a number of engineering
companies that provide services to these agencies. In total, over 50 Trident-
3D systems have been sold, the majority in North America. However around
a dozen are in operation in Europe, principally in France and Belgium.
Optech
Optech, which is based near Toronto in Canada, entered the field of mobile
mapping towards the end of 2007, when it released a completely new
product, called the LYNX Mobile Mapper [Fig. 16]. This includes a purpose-
built spinning laser profiling system that is designed specifically for attach-
ment to standard vehicle roof racks with mounts for two of these laser
scanners and two (optional) calibrated digital frame cameras in its stan-
dard configuration. The LYNX system also includes an Applanix POS LV
sub-system, complete with its IMU; a dual-frequency GPS receiver and
antenna; and a Distance Measuring Instrument (DMI), for coordinate posi-
tioning purposes. The laser scanners that are used in the LYNX system
are built in-house by Optech and utilize a Class I laser as the basis for
their laser rangefinders. They have a maximum range of 100 m; a full cir-
Ar t i cl e
39
Fig. 13 (a) This IP-S2 Integrated Positioning System from Topcon Positioning
Systems has been mounted on a raised platform and located at the rear of an
open-backed truck.
(b) A close-up photo of the IP-S2 imaging, laser scanning and positioning sub-sys-
tems. At the foot of the photo is the yellow Topcon controller unit; adjacent to
this unit to the left and right are two white SICK LMS 291 laser scanners; sitting
on top of the control box is the system IMU; sitting on a bracket above the IMU
is the red Ladybug3 multiple camera unit; while at the top of the stack on a
small mast is the antenna of the Topcon GNSS receiver. (Source: Topcon)
Fig. 14 This van is equipped with a
Mitsubishi MMS mobile mapping sys-
tem, showing its cameras, laser scan-
ners and three GPS antennas mount-
ed together on its roof platform.
(Source: Mitsubishi Electric)
[a] [b]
cle 360 angular coverage; a pulse measuring rate of 100 kHz; and a scan
rate of 9,000 rpm (150 Hz). The system control unit with its embedded
positioning and navigation solution that is based on the Applanix POS LV
420 DGPS/IMU sub-system can control up to four laser scanners simulta-
neously using the laptop computer that is attached to the unit. The
Applanix POSPAC MMS (Mobile Mapping Suite) software is used to pro-
cess the POS LV DGPS/IMU data, while Optech supplies its own LYNX-
Survey and DASHMap software for the final post-processing of the mea-
sured data. Currently two models of the LYNX Mobile Mapper are on offer
the V100 and V200. The latter gives an increased range (200 v. 100 m);
a higher Pulse Repetition Frequency (200 kHz v. 100 kHz); and a higher
scan rate (200 Hz v. 150 Hz) than the former (which is essentially the LYNX
in its original form).
At the time of its introduction, Optech announced that LYNX systems had
already been supplied to two European companies the Infoterra map-
ping company based in the United Kingdom and the Sineco company in
Italy. Since then, further systems have been sold to TopScan in Germany
and Teccon in Belgium. Still more systems have been supplied to various
North American users, e.g. to Aerial Data Service, Michael Baker, WH Pacific,
Sanborn, Surveying & Mapping (SAM) Inc. and McKim & Creed in the
U.S.A. Highway and railway infrastructure surveys and urban modelling
surveys appear to be the main applications that have been undertaken
by these mapping companies using their LYNX systems.
III Service Providers
The author is very well aware that there are numerous small and large com-
panies in the more highly developed countries that operate individual
mobile mapping vehicles, offering their services especially to those agen-
cies that are concerned with highway management and maintenance.
However the principal emphasis in this section will be on the technologies
being used by those companies that are carrying out street-level imaging
and mapping operations on a regional, national and international scale.
Tele Atlas
Tele Atlas is a Dutch-owned mapping company that is based in the town
of s-Hertogenbosch in the Netherlands. Originally an independent compa-
ny, in July 2008, it was bought by and became a subsidiary of the TomTom
company, which is a major Dutch supplier of car navigation systems. In
practice, Tele Atlas still supplies digital map data to a wide spectrum of
users besides TomTom. These have included Google, which, in October
2009, decided to stop using Tele Atlas map data for the U.S.A. which it
will now generate from its own mobile mapping activities. However Google
will still continue to use Tele Atlas map data in other countries. The Tele
Atlas company has a large centre in Ghent, Belgium from which it directs
its European mobile mapping operations and a similar centre in Lebanon,
New Hampshire for its operations in North America. The processing and
analysis of the data that has been acquired by its fleets of mobile map-
ping vehicles is carried out partly in Poland and partly in Noida, a suburb
of the Indian capital, New Delhi. In fact, the latter data centre is owned
and operated by an Indian company, Infotech Enterprises, which bought
the centre from the Indian subsidiary of Tele Atlas in 2005 and received a
long-term contract from Tele Atlas to process its digital map data as part
of the deal. See the following Web page:- www.teleatlas.com/
WhyTeleAtlas/Pressroom/PressReleases/TA003239
Tele Atlas had entered the mobile mapping field in the second half of
2004 using the technology that had been developed by a Polish compa-
ny, PPWK GeoInvent. By mid-2005, Tele Atlas had over 20 vans in opera-
tion in Europe, 13 of which were large Volkswagen camper vans to allow
the crews to operate in more remote and less populated areas [Fig. 17]. In
October 2005, Tele Atlas bought the GeoInvent company. Each of these
Tele Atlas vans is equipped with either 4 or 6 digital video cameras in
various configurations depending on the area being surveyed [Fig. 2]. The
frame images that are generated by these cameras have a format size of
1,200 x 960 pixels and are acquired at the rate of three frames per sec-
ond when travelling at normal speeds on the roads. The forward-pointing
cameras can generate overlapping 3D stereo-images, which allows them
40
Ar t i cl e
Fig. 15 A Trimble Cougar Mobile Mapping System.
(Source: Trimble GeoSpatial Division)
Fig. 16 This Optech LYNX system has
been mounted on a mobile mapping van
operated by the TopScan mapping compa-
ny from Germany. It is equipped with two
full circle laser scanners that are separat-
ed by the IMU and GPS antenna of the
Applanix POS LV unit. At the right end of
the roof platform is a digital video camera.
(Source: TopScan)
Fig. 17 (a) A Belgian registered Volkswagen camper van that is operated by Tele Atlas with two digital video cameras located above the drivers cabin and pointing
forward in the direction of travel. The logo on the Tele Atlas vans is based on a well known Swedish childrens book about a boy, Nils, who gets a unique view of the
world from the back of a flying goose.
(b) A Toyota mini-van that is being operated by Tele Atlas in North America, with its imaging, laser scanning and positioning elements fitted on its roof rack.
(c) A close-up photo of some of the roof-mounted elements of the Toyota mapping vehicle. They include a Ladybug multiple camera unit mounted on its mast at left
rear; two digital video cameras in the middle, the one pointing sideways, the other pointing upwards; and a SICK LMS 291 laser scanner at right. (Source: Tele Atlas)
[a] [b] [c]
to be used as photogrammetric source material. For precise positioning,
each van is equipped with a GPS unit operating at 5 Hz, which makes
use of Fugros OmniSTAR wide-area differential GPS service employing
satellite broadcast techniques. For use in tunnels and urban canyons,
where the GPS signals are either lost or are much restricted, the vans are
equipped with a single-axis gyroscope recording at 100 Hz that provides
directional (heading) data and an odometer attached to one of the rear
wheels of the vehicle. The image and positional data are continuously
recorded on the PCs that are mounted in the back of the van. This data
is also displayed continuously on monitor display screens for the crew to
check their operation.
A similar fleet of smaller Toyota vehicles was then developed and brought
into service in North America. Besides a set of digital video frame cam-
eras, similar to those being used in Europe, most of these vehicles are
equipped with twin 2D laser scanners from SICK that generate a continu-
ous series of range profiles across the surrounding landscape at right
angles to the vehicles direction of travel. Besides which, numerous pho-
tos that have appeared in the media also show that many of the Tele
Atlas vans that are in use in North America have been equipped with addi-
tional mast-mounted Ladybug panoramic cameras providing 360 degree
panoramic images of the road and its surroundings from the moving vehi-
cles. Photos from the same media sources also show that at least some
of the survey vans are equipped with full-blown inertial measuring units
(IMUs) rather than the single-axis gyroscopes mentioned above. Besides
the two large fleets of vans that are in operation in Europe and North
America, an additional but much smaller number of vans have been
deployed in south-eastern Asia in Taiwan, Singapore and Thailand.
According to press reports, in total, more than 50 mobile mapping vans
are currently being operated by Tele Atlas.
NAVTEQ
NAVTEQ is a large American mapping company with its headquarters in
Chicago. In December 2007, the company was purchased by the Finnish
Nokia organisation, which is a major supplier of telecom networks and
cell phones on a world-wide scale. Nokia also provides its Ovi Maps prod-
uct (previously called Nokia Maps), which can be downloaded free by
those customers who have purchased the companys smart-phones that
are equipped with a suitable processor, display screen and operating sys-
tem. However, besides supplying digital map data to Nokia for incorpora-
tion in these products, NAVTEQ appears to operate in a fairly indepen-
dent manner. Like Tele Atlas, NAVTEQ still provides digital map databases
for the navigation systems that are being installed in the cars that are
being built by several different manufacturers. Besides which, the compa-
ny also supplies digital map data for use in portable GPS sets and in the
Internet-based map applications that are provided by Microsoft (Bing Maps)
and Yahoo (Yahoo Live Maps). NAVTEQ has a large map data production
centre located in Fargo, North Dakota, that is supplemented and support-
ed by a network of smaller national and regional offices world-wide.
For a number of years until recently, revision of the NAVTEQ map databas-
es of road networks had been carried in a relatively simple manner using
survey cars with a crew of two. These cars were equipped with a roof-
mounted GPS receiver and a laptop computer that had been loaded with
the map database (stored as vector files) for the local area that was being
surveyed or revised. While undertaking the survey or revision operation,
the successive positions of the survey car that were being measured by
the DGPS service were being recorded and plotted continuously on the
map that was being displayed on the laptop computers screen. All the
data regarding changes or updates to the map data were being recorded
simultaneously as audio files by the surveyor/co-driver using a headset
and microphone. Any supplementary positional data that was required for
the location of specific objects could also be entered into the computer
by the surveyor using a hand-held controller or a digital data tablet. Thus
initially no digital video or still camera images were being acquired for
map revision purposes. However, by 2006, a digital video camera had
been installed in many of the NAVTEQ survey cars to provide a video
record of each survey trip.
In 2008, a new fleet of mobile mapping vehicles (comprising cars and
SUVs) was introduced by NAVTEQ. Each of the vehicles in this fleet is
equipped with an array of six or eight digital video cameras [Fig. 18]. These
are placed on a specially designed tray that is mounted on the roof of
the vehicle and they are enclosed in a transparent Perspex cover. Each of
the six (or eight) cameras acquires its images every 5 metres; in total,
they provide a 270 (or 360) degree coverage of the road and its sur-
roundings as seen from the mapping vehicle at each successive position
where the images are being acquired. The new vehicles are also equipped
Ar t i cl e
Fig. 18 (a) This NAVTEQ mobile mapping vehicle is equipped with
roof-mounted cameras and a GPS antenna.
(b) A close-up picture of the array of multiple cameras housed in a transparent
perspex cover on the roof of a NAVTEQ mobile mapping vehicle with the GPS
antenna situated to the left of the perspex cover. (Source: NAVTEQ)
Fig. 19 (a) An early example of a Google Street View mapping car, showing its
Ladybug multiple camera and Topcon GPS antenna.
(b) A later version of a Google mobile mapping car with its own (Google) multi-
ple camera unit; three SICK LMS 291 laser scanners; and a Topcon control box,
all mounted on top of its sturdy mast. The antenna of the Topcon GPS receiver
is located at the rear (at the left end) of the supporting platform.
(c) A pedal-powered tricycle that has been equipped with the same set of imag-
ing, laser scanning and positioning devices as the Google car, as seen at
Warwick Castle in England. (Source: Google)
[a]
[b] [c]
41
with an Applanix POS LV IMU and a Trimble GPS receiver, which utilizes a
differential GPS service. The resulting measured image and positional data
are recorded on a powerful PC. The data tablet and the head-
set/microphone equipment that allows the audio recording of the features
being described by the surveyor/co-driver while riding in the vehicle appear
to have also been retained in these recently introduced mobile mapping
vehicles. On 7th December 2009, NAVTEQ announced that it would be
supplying its street-level imagery to Microsoft for incorporation in its new
Bing Maps Streetside product.
Google
Googles Street View is a special feature of the well-known Google Maps
and Google Earth services that can be accessed via the Internet. The Street
View software gives access to the panoramic images that have been
acquired at intervals of 10 to 20 m along the streets of many cities within
the more highly developed countries of the world in the U.S.A., Western
Europe, Japan and Australasia. The service was first introduced with cover-
age of a few cities in the U.S.A. in May 2007. The American coverage has
been continually extended since then. Just over a year later, in July 2008,
Street View was introduced to Europe, in the first instance, for those towns
in France that were involved in hosting the Tour de France. Later that year,
further coverage of a number of French cities was added, together with the
initial coverage of certain cities in Spain, Italy, the Netherlands and the U.K.
Since then, work has continued intensively and on a massive scale to
extend the coverage to ever more cities and to expand the coverage of the
streets within each city that is being covered.
The numbers and types of mobile mapping cars that have been used to
acquire Street View imagery in different countries has varied considerably
from country to country. At the start of the programme, the imaging tech-
nology that was used also varied considerably. Initially, in 2007, much of
the imagery of the first batch of cities that were covered in the U.S.A. had
been collected by the Immersive Media company on contract using its dis-
tinctive Dodeca multiple camera systems. However this contract terminated
at the end of that year (2007). Since then, Google
has been collecting the required image and posi-
tional data using its own vehicles, steadily expand-
ing its fleets of mobile mapping cars for the pur-
pose. In the U.S.A., Australasia and Japan, the cars
were at first equipped with Ladybug multiple cam-
eras [Fig. 19(a)]. However, since then, these have
been replaced by the now standard nine-camera
system mounted on a sturdy mast that is itself
attached to a roof rack that is fitted to the roof of
the car [Fig. 19(b)]. The mast and camera system
can be folded down on to the roof rack when not
in use.
As discussed previously, the nine digital cameras
from Elphel that make up the Google multiple cam-
era system comprise eight that, in total, provide a 360 degree panorama
in the horizontal plane, while the ninth camera points vertically upwards to
record the undersides of bridges and overpasses and the top surfaces of
tunnels. Each car is equipped with a combined DGPS/IMU system that has
been supplied by Topcon, together with a wheel-mounted odometer that,
in conjunction with the IMU, can help establish position wherever GPS cov-
erage is poor or has been lost in tunnels or within high-rise urban areas.
The Google Street View cars also feature a pair of SICK LMS 291 laser scan-
ners that continuously measure a series of range or elevation profiles on
either side of the mapping vehicle. A third SICK scanner measures the road
surface in front of the vehicle. Besides the car-based mobile mapping sys-
tems, Google has also introduced a number of pedal-powered tricycles
(trikes) that are equipped with a similar set of cameras, laser scanners and
positioning equipment [Fig. 19(c)]. These are being used for data collection
in areas such as pedestrian precincts and public parks and along cycle
tracks where cars cannot be operated.
Immersive Media
This Canadian company, which is based in Calgary, Alberta, specializes in
spherical immersive video. Its activities include making immersive films
of underwater activities (such as viewing coral reefs and whales) and sport-
ing events (surfing, basketball and football) and for tourism purposes.
The companys collection of street-level imagery began in 2006 with its
own in-house GeoImmersive City Collect project to acquire street-level
imagery of U.S. cities. This was followed by its work on image data acqui-
sition for Googles Street View service during 2007. With regard to these
mapping/imaging activities, they were executed using its own Dodeca 2360
Spherical Video System with its 11 individual cameras capturing image
data simultaneously [Fig. 4]. This multiple camera is mounted on a mast
that is fixed to a roof bar which is mounted on a Volkswagen New Beetle
car [Fig. 20]. As with other mobile mapping systems, each car uses a DGPS,
a gyroscope and an odometer for positioning and geo-referencing purpos-
es. According to press releases issued last year (2008), Immersive Media
is still collecting street-level imagery for certain cities in North America for
local customers using its small fleet of these mapping cars. A similar small
fleet of cars using the same technology is operated in Europe by the TX
Immersive (TXi) company, which is based at the Shepperton film studios
in London.
Other Service Providers
(a) Imaging & Mapping Applications
There are quite a number of much smaller commercial companies that
operate in the same general area of imaging and mapping as those
discussed immediately above. Needless to say, being very considerably
smaller and not having the same financial resources, they cannot offer
the same international coverage as Google,
NAVTEQ and Tele Atlas. Thus they attempt to
serve national and local government and com-
mercial customers and to operate in certain
niche markets. An example is Facet Technology,
which is based in Eden Prairie, Minnesota.
Using its vehicles equipped with cameras and
laser scanners, it has developed its SightMap
products that provide the digital map content
for nation-wide road networks within the U.S.A.,
including road maps, and data for use in loca-
tion-based services, vehicle navigation and
portable positioning devices. Further detailed
information about its activities can be obtained
through an inspection of the companys Web site
- www.facet-tech.com. It is also worth noting
42
Ar t i cl e
Fig. 20 A Volkswagen New
Beetle car that is being operat-
ed by Immersive Media, with
a Dodeca 2360 multiple cam-
era unit mounted on a mast
that has been fitted to a cross-
bar placed on top of the cars
roof. A white Trimble GPS
antenna is located on the rear
left wing of the car, while a
DMI unit (odometer) has been
fitted to the left rear wheel.
(Source: Immersive Media)
Fig. 21 An SUV mobile mapping vehicle that is
being operated by Facet Technology with the
Windows Live Local logo pasted on the back win-
dow of the vehicle and with a large array of cam-
eras mounted on the roof. (Source: Facet
Technology)
reports that Facet
Technology collected
the imagery for
Microsofts street-level
photography [Fig. 21]
that appeared in a
somewhat experimen-
tal form in February
2006 for parts of the
cities of San Francisco
and Seattle. See the
following preview or
demonstration Web
site:-
http://preview.local.
live.com. Indeed
Microsoft has just
announced (on 2nd
December 2009) that it
will be introducing an
enhanced version of
its Streetside photography under the title of Bing Maps Streetside
for 56 metropolitan areas in the U.S.A. As noted above, the new imagery
will be supplied by NAVTEQ.
Another example of an American company that is acquiring street-level
photography is Earthmine Inc., which is based in Berkeley, California.
This company uses SUVs equipped with a stereo-camera system whose
design has been licensed from Caltech-JPL [Fig. 22]. This system uses
four pairs of cameras, with each pair mounted vertically and spaced 90
degrees apart horizontally. The vehicles are also equipped with the
NovAtel SPAN DGPS/IMU system for position location. Each pixel in the
finally processed images has 3D (X, Y, Z) coordinates. At the time of
writing this article, Earthmine is reported to have imaged or mapped
12 metropolitan areas, mainly in the western part of the United States.
On 8th December 2009, Earthmine also announced its partnership with
Aero-Metric, a large American aerial mapping company, in respect of
the value-added resale of its street-level panoramic image data. More
details on these developments can be obtained from the companys
Web site www.earthmine.com.
Another relatively small company that is also engaged in this general
area of photo-imaging and mapping of urban areas in the U.S.A. is
EveryScape www.everyscape.com, which is based in Waltham,
Massachusetts. Yet another similar company concerned with street-level
photo-imaging is MapJack http://mapjack.com, which is based in San
Francisco, California and has given assistance to various companies
located in Sweden www.hitta.se/gatubild; Canada www.canpages.ca;
and Thailand to enter this particular field. Within Europe, similar com-
panies that undertake the photo-imaging and mapping of urban areas
are Seety Ltd. www.seety.co.uk which is based in London; NORC
www.norc.at which acquires street-level imagery of towns in Austria
and Eastern Europe; and Cyclomedia www.cyclomedia.nl in the
Netherlands whose activities in the mobile mapping field have already
been covered in an article written by the editor-in-chief (Eric van Rees)
of GEOInformatics magazine which was published in the March 2009
issue (Vol. 12, No. 2) of the magazine.
(b) Road & Rail Maintenance & Management
The other main group of commercial companies that are engaged in mobile
mapping operations are those that are undertaking surveys of the road
infrastructure for maintenance and management purposes on behalf of
national and local government highway agencies and departments of trans-
port. In recent years, these surveys have been extended to cover rail net-
works as well. Quite a number of the companies that are undertaking this
type of work have already been mentioned above in the context of those
customers who have purchased systems from the various systems suppli-
ers. However there are many others that have developed their own sys-
tems in-house. A few representative examples within Europe are Omnicom
Engineering www.omnieng.co.uk/index.php? id=47, which is based in York
in the U.K. and is much engaged in rail as well as road surveys; and Eagle
Eye Technologies www.ee-t.de from Hamburg and 3D Mapping Solutions
GmbH www.3d-mapping.de/ dynasite.cfm?dssid=4324 from the Munich
area in Germany. In Belgium, both the geoVISAT company www.geovisat.eu
and the GeoAutomation company www.geoautomation.be/en/technology.
html offer mobile mapping services, as does the GISPRO mapping com-
pany www.gispro.pl/EN/aktualnosci. dhtml from Szczecin in Poland. There
are many others! In the U.S.A., there are still more. A few representative
examples are EarthEye www.eartheye.com/Mobile from Orlando, Florida;
Lambda Tech www.lambdatech.com/ gpstech.html from Fort Wayne,
Indiana with its GPSVision vans; Blue Dasher Technologies
www.bluedashertech.com which is based in Miami, Florida; Mandli
Communications Inc. www.mandli.com/systems/systems.php from Madison,
Wisconsin; and the Transmap Corporation http://74.218.19.11, with its On-
Sight mapping vans, which are based in Columbus, Ohio and Tampa,
Florida.
Summary & Conclusion
As mentioned in the introduction, the development of mobile mapping sys-
tems started quite a long time ago. Initially these developments were quite
modest and were not of much interest to the mainstream mapping indus-
try. However, over the last five years, gradually the corridor mapping of
highways and rail networks and the 3D modelling of cities have become
important applications though at first, these activities were carried out
mostly using one-off mobile mapping systems built by the operators.
Now the demand has grown to the point that there are several system sup-
pliers offering COTS products to satisfy this particular market. Then, start-
ing three or four years ago, the increasing demand for digital road naviga-
tion data and cartographic (vector) data that could be used in personal
location devices resulted in Tele Atlas and NAVTEQ entering this field with
their fleets of mobile mapping vehicles. Finally, over the last two years, the
Internet giants (Google and Microsoft) have created such a huge demand
for visual street-level image data that a very large number of mobile map-
ping vehicles have been brought into operation to satisfy it, especially by
Google.
From this survey of current mobile mapping systems, it is also apparent
that, not only is the technology now well established, but currently there
are two main categories into which the resulting systems fall, largely
depending on their intended applications and the quite different accuracy
specifications that they have to meet. (i) On the one hand, there are those
systems that are being used for the acquisition of digital images for street-
level image display purposes and for cartographic mapping applications.
(ii) On the other hand, there are those systems that are being used to col-
lect data about the road and rail infrastructure that is needed for engineer-
ing, maintenance and management purposes. Clearly the accuracy require-
ments for the map or survey data that has to be measured can be
substantially different in each case, with the second category usually being
much more demanding in this particular respect.
Gordon Petrie is Emeritus Professor of Topographic Science in the Dept. of
Geographical & Earth Sciences of the University of Glasgow, Scotland, U.K. E-
mail - Gordon.Petrie@ges.gla.ac.uk
Ar t i cl e
43
Fig. 22 This Earthmine SUV mapping vehicle is
equipped with four pairs of stereo cameras mount-
ed on a mast, each pair acquiring its 3D stereo-
imagery in the vertical plane in four different
directions at right angles to one another. A GPS
antenna is mounted at the top of the mast.
(Source: Earthmine)
Continued Strong Interest in 3D Laser Scanning
Leica Geosystems HDS Worldwide
User Conference
Overview
The goal of the conference was to help users
increase their success with HDS. Reflecting
todays times, the conference had a theme,
Leveraging HDS tools for maximum success
in todays economy. The conference featured
38 presentations, including a luncheon
keynote by Dr. Dieter Fritch, Director of the
Institute for Photogrammetry and Remote
Sensing, University of Stuttgart, Germany.
Most presentations were by users who edu-
cated attendees about the latest HDS appli-
cations and workflows, over a wide array of
markets. Two presentations were panel dis-
cussions; another was a product input ses-
sion in which users stated their latest wish
list for HDS product & service enhancements
to key Leica staff.
The conference also featured eight (8) half-
day, hands-on workshops, an exhibit area,
and several, popular networking events.
Feedback was very positive, with >98% of
respondents stating they would like to attend
future HDS user conferences. For the first
time, the conference was also webcast.
Almost all presentations are available for
online viewing.
Informative Presentations
The conference is built around 2 days of
presentations in which almost all were given
in one main conference room to over 200
attendees. Highlights of several are given
below.
New Laser Scanner
Leicas Dr. Greg Walsh gave an insightful pre-
sentation on the new Leica ScanStation C10
laser scanner, announced shortly before
Intergeo. Dr. Walsh was one of the heads of
Leicas US-Swiss team which jointly developed
the compact, all-in-one laser scanner. He
described several features not detailed in mar-
keting and spec sheets, but which are of inter-
est to users. For example, he noted that many
parts of a Leica ScanStation C10 are the same
as those used in Leicas total stations. These
include four read head absolute angle
encoders found in the high-end Leica TM30,
-arc second total station; System 1200 laser
plummet; onboard touch screen display; total
station batteries & charger; and TPS high-pre-
44
Conf er ence
Underscoring the strong interest in laser scanning the 2009 Leica Geosystems HDS Worldwide User Conference was well
attended despite the current economy. Image courtesy: Leica Geosystems
Dr. Dieter Fritsch of the Institute for
Photogrammetry, University of
Stuttgart, delivered the keynote
address on the need for further
development of software for more
efficient extraction of deliverables
from laser scan data.
Image courtesy: Leica Geosystems
Leica Geosystems held its 7th annual worldwide user conference specifically for users of its High-Definition Surveying
(HDS) laser scanning products. Held 26-28 October 2009, in San Ramon, California, near the companys HDS offices, the
conference drew 255 registrants from 20 countries on 5 continents. Despite the global recession, attendance was down
only slightly from 2008, when it peaked at ~300 attendees. The conferences relative success is a symptom of continued
strong interest in 3D laser scanning.
By Geoff Jacobs
cision, nitrided azimuth ball bearings. These
all contribute to the ScanStation C10 being a
next-generation platform on which users can
expect to see incremental enhancements over
time compatible with other Leica instruments.
Dr. Walsh also described how ScanStation
C10s new Smart X-Mirror design works to
enable both oscillating scans for capturing
fine details at long distance and spinning
scans for capturing full-dome interior scans in
less than two minutes (>20 times faster than
the ScanStation2 scanner).
Forensics
The use of laser scanning in forensic investiga-
tions is growing rapidly and a presentation on
the morning of the first day prepared by
Valentin Vanhecke and Theo Kok of the Dutch
National Police (Korps landelijke politiediensten
KLPD) showed why. Their presentation
described use of both a long range, time-of-
flight ScanStation2 scanner and a short-range,
ultra-fast, phase-based Leica HDS6000 scanner
to investigate major incidents. The long range
scanner is mostly used outdoors and for big
objects, such as a fallen crane or a stretch of
roadway; the short-range scanner is mostly
used indoors or when extra, close-range detail
is needed. The department can contact region-
al Dutch police agencies to access two more
scanners.
The departments origins are investigating traf-
fic accidents with serious injury or deaths; their
largest was a 114 car pile up in Badhoevedorp.
They also recorded the Firework explosion in
Holland and several terrorist attacks in the
Middle East for the UN, plus the 2009
Queensday tragedy.
Scanning is used on many, but not all, cases.
For forensic investigations, things they need to
record are fading and disappearing over time,
of the main speakers on this topic was Bert
Jeeninga, Managing Director of QPS BV, Zeist,
The Netherlands and Houston, USA. The com-
pany is a leading software developer and sys-
tems integrator for hydrographic mapping that
has recently applied their expertise to mobile
laser scanning. In particular, Bert Jeeninga
focused on the keys to success for users
wanting to integrate an ultra-fast Leica
HDS6000 scanner (up to 508,000
points/second) into a mobile mapping system.
QPS has successfully done several such instal-
lations, including one for M3DM, a sub-com-
pany of Advin, The Netherlands.
Attention was drawn to the challenges of
implementing a mobile scanning system to
meet user needs. Several aspects were
described in detail:
1. system integration of various sensors
2. accurate timing
3. sensor alignment and system calibration
4. GNSS outages and their affect on
positional accuracy
5. data volumes and data reduction
6. QA/QC
As an example of the above items, Bert
Jeeninga explained that for a vehicle traveling
at 90 kph, just one millisecond timing error
(0.001 second) leads to 2.5 cm horizontal posi-
tional error. He also showed a 2m long ramp
fixture that QPS uses for calibration - a vehicle
travels sequentially in opposite directions to
capture the fixture and results are then overlaid
on each other for comparison. Further on posi-
tional accuracy, it was shown that GNSS can be
a source of significant vertical error and that
selection of the best INS sensor is key for high
accuracy results. Lastly, for creating real-time
results, Bert Jeeninga provided several techni-
cal insights to data reduction approaches that
do not compromise accuracy. In addition to this
presentation by QPS, mobile scanning was also
addressed by knowledgeable speakers from
Germany and from Turkey who have also suc-
cessfully used Leica phase scanners in mobile
mapping.
some in a matter of moments. Plus, there is
almost always a need to clean up the site, such
as a roadway, quickly. Some sites are also not
safe to occupy, so speed is again beneficial.
This need for speed is one of the major rea-
sons why scanning is used. Another reason is
when a high level of detail is needed. Valentin
cited a shooting scene as an example - a bul-
let hole in a wall that was not originally
observed was later found in scan data. Another
situation benefiting from detail is where the
investigating team is not clear what needs to
be captured, so to be safe, they try to capture
everything. Regardless of the situation or tools
used, their goal is an unbiased, independent
recording of the site.
Deliverables typically include 360 photogra-
phy (from a Spheron camera), Leica TruView
point clouds, and a plan drawing of the scene.
Sometimes 3D computer models are created.
Deliverables are used in different ways:
1. in an interrogation or to go back
virtually to the crime scene with a
witness
2. as a visual aid to case detectives
3. as a visual aid in the courtroom (also dur-
ing questioning of witnesses and accused)
or to paint a general picture of what
happened.
On Day 3 of the conference, Sara Watson of
the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department
gave a similarly interesting presentation on
how their crime lab uses their two (2)
ScanStation2 scanners for major incidents in
California.
Mobile Scanning
Another featured topic was the use of laser
scanners in mobile vehicle applications. One
Conf er ence
45
Conference attendees get a demo of the Leica ScanStation C10 scanner in the conference exhibition area.
Leica's Dr. Greg Walsh used this cutaway view to
help describe the ScanStation C10's Smart X-Mirror
design to conference attendees. Image courtesy:
Leica Geosystems
Scanning-to-BIM
BIM (Building Information Modeling) and
laser scanning are both hot topics. To get
beyond the buzz, the conference featured two
individual presentations and a panel discus-
sion with several Leica HDS users who are
active in both areas.
One individual presentation on scanning and
BIM was by Dale Stenning of Hoffman
Construction, Seattle, USA; the other by Lem
Morrison, president of Mercator Land
Surveying, New York, USA. Panelists included
Dale Stenning, plus Chris Zmijewski, Stantec
(US and Canada), Odd Erik Mjorlund,
GEOPlan (Norway), and Shane Loyd, RLS
Group, (US).
Dale Stennings presentation was interesting
because he represents a $1 billion/yr con-
struction company that has been using both
BIM and scanning successfully for many
years. He gave numerous practical examples
where the two had been used in tandem.
Many uses of HDS were for QA/QC of portions
of a construction project that involve critical
structures. With this QA, downstream con-
struction project risks involving these struc-
tures were reduced, thus avoiding possible
costly fixes and project delays. Other uses
included quantity surveys and final as-builts.
The general idea was to use HDS to keep the
original BIM model up-to-date, reflecting
actual construction. This not only enabled
construction to proceed more smoothly, but
the final model could also be used with con-
fidence by building owner/operators for facil-
ity management or additional engineering
needs.
Lem Morrisons presentation showed how his
small survey company used HDS to assist a
developer client with better leasing plans for
a New York City property. Scanning and BIM
in this case served as better asset manage-
ment tools than traditional methods.
Perhaps most intriguing and exciting was the
panel discussion on Scanning-to-BIM. Here,
the question was posed to the panel as to
whether or not Scanning-to-BIM was hype or
real. What attendees heard from the expert
panel was that it was already very real.
Stantecs Zmijewski cited a scanning-to-BIM
contract that his 130-location, 10,000-employ-
ee firm had just won with a potential for $30
million in scanning services over the next 5
years. Scanning was based 100% on the
owner/operators requirement for scanning. In
this case, the owner/operator was the General
Services Administration (GSA) which is land-
lord for many US government buildings.
Shane Loyds RLS Group had won a similar
sized contract for small, regional firms.
The role of government in driving BIM for-
ward was reinforced by GEOPlans Mjorlund,
who cited a Norwegian Government require-
ment to use BIM on all new construction by
2010 and all existing buildings by 2012. The
consensus was that BIM had recently transi-
tioned from talk into actual heavy project
usage by most leading construction firms and
large architectural/engineering firms and that
HDS was a natural fit for accurate 3D as-built
information. Several presenters at the confer-
ence cited BIM as a major business opportu-
nity for those in laser scanning.
46
Conf er ence
Valentin Vanhecke of the The Dutch National
Police describes how his department uses laser
scanning for forensic investigations.
Bert Jeeninga, Managing Director of QPS BV,
informs conference attendees about integrating a
Leica HDS6000 laser scanner into a mobile scan-
ning system Image courtesy: Leica Geosystems
Bert Jeeninga of QPS BV described how to integrate a Leica HDS6000 scanner into a mobile mapping system,
such as this one for MD3M Image courtesy: QPS BV
Searching for a Lost Da Vinci
Painting
Heritage applications of High-Definition
Surveying were also a key topic throughout
the conference, with seven (7) individual pre-
sentations plus a panel discussion with
experts Ben Kacyra, CyArk and founder of Cyra
Technologies, USA; Erwin Christofori,
Christofori und Partners, Germany; Siro Kim,
WIPCO, Korea; Simon Barnes, UK; and Zhong
Chen, Dynasty Group, China and USA.
One of the most fascinating presentations on
this topic was the conferences very last one
by Michael Olsen, representing the University
of California at San Diego (UCSD) and Oregon
State University. He described research efforts
aided by HDS to locate and identify The Battle
of Anghiari (1505), a lost painting by Leonardo
da Vinci. Its main scene depicted men riding
war-horses engaged in battle. A 1603 drawing
by Rubens (Louvre), The Battle of the
Standard, was based on an engraving derived
from the original da Vinci painting. Referred
to as, "The Lost Leonardo", some believe that
it was not only da Vincis best work but that
its also still hidden behind a later mural paint-
ed by Vasari in the Palazzo Vecchio, Florence.
Olsen described various sensing and measure-
ment techniques including x-ray, ultraviolet flu-
sons that companies who are into HDS are gen-
erally faring better in todays challenging econ-
omy than those who only do traditional survey-
ing.
Another obvious trend was that today construc-
tion companies and fabricators now clearly get
it as far as seeing the significant financial ben-
efits of 3D laser scanning for their business.
Several presentations were by construction
companies or fabricators who own their own
Leica HDS scanners and software. Multiple pre-
sentations showed that scanning is also not
just the domain of large organizations one
and two-person companies also use HDS very
beneficially for their everyday business. Lastly,
the exploding use of TruView (including web
portals) and the proliferation of fly-through
movies made it clear that more clients are
increasingly appreciating the benefits of the rich
data that high-definition surveys can deliver.
Summary
The 2009 Leica Geosystems HDS Worldwide
User Conference was a major success with rich,
high-quality content and outstanding network-
ing. With a global composition, attendees were
very open about sharing their experiences with
others, providing greater value for all. Plans
were announced to hold the next HDS
Worldwide User Conference in the fall of 2010,
but details are not yet available.
Geoff Jacobs, Geoff.jacobs@lgshds.com.
Currently Sr. VP, Strategic Marketing for the
Scanning Business unit of Leica Geosystems AG.
Geoffs role includes organizing the annual Leica
Geosystems HDS Worldwide User Conference.
Geoff has been involved in laser scanning since
1998 when he joined Cyra Technologies, which was
acquired by Leica Geosystems in 2001. Geoff has a
Bachelor of Science in Engineering from the
University of Rochester and a Master of Science in
Engineering from Penn State University.
www.leica-geosystems.com/hds
orescence scans , thermography, and infrared
reflectography which can see through sur-
face frescoes and characterize content beneath
the surface. Many of these techniques can only
be done precisely on very small areas, so HDS
is used to piece them together into a geomet-
rically correct mosaic. The research effort is led
by UCSDs Dr. Maurizio Seracini and is funded
largely by National Geographic which plans to
eventually broadcast its final results. No pho-
tography or video was allowed during this ses-
sion, reinforcing how special of a treat this
presentation was for attendees.
Key Trends
The conference highlighted several trends.
Overall, it is clear that laser scanning/high-defi-
nition surveying is spreading wider into more
applications and penetrating deeper within indi-
vidual applications. Examples include the use
of HDS in fixed installations to monitor con-
struction projects and the use of HDS for cell
tower installations in which scan data is not
only being used for engineering purposes but
also for asset management. During his confer-
ence presentation, Doug Brown, MD of StarNet
Geomatics (Scotland), cited a recent award for
>1 million Euros for cell tower surveys with HDS.
This growth in adoption is one of the main rea-
Conf er ence
The conference included panels discussions on Scanning-to-BIM
and on Heritage Image courtesy: Leica Geosystems
Laser scanning was used for this BIM
project by Hoffman Construction
Image courtesy:
Hoffman Construction
Mike Olsen of UCSD and Oregon State University
described how HDS is being used to help find a lost
da Vinci painting, The Battle of Anghiari, which
was the basis for this Rubens work, The Battle of
the Standard Image courtesy: Wikipedia
47
featuring
- major conference
- seminars and workshops
- full trade exhibition
- gala evening with entertainment
CONFERENCE
For 2010, the m3 conference returns with a full programme
of sessions over two days with keynote plenaries and a
debate. Full details of the programme will be available
early in the new year.
FOR EXHIBITORS
GEO-10 is the complete geo-event and is the UK's only
dedicated national geospatial trade exhibition. For details
of stand availability call +44 (0)1438 352617
FOR VISITORS
You can visit GEO-10 exhibition free of charge by registering
at www.pvpubs.com Further details of the conference will
be announced shortly.
a world of geomatics and GIS innovations
www.pvpubs.com
24&25 March 2010 @ Ricoh Arena, Coventry
mEASURING
mODELLING
mANAGI NG
geos pat i al i nf or mat i on
a
n
d
a
p
p
ly
in
g
!
V
SESSIONS & WORKSHOPS ON
GEOSPATIAL INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES
Register to Attend at www.aag.org
AAG Annual Meeting
Marrlott wardman Park Hotel - washlngton, D.C.
Aprll l4-l8, 20l0
l7l0 l6th St. Nw - washlngton, DC 20009
202-234-l450 - www.aag.org
Attend the Annual Meeting of the Association of
American Geographers in Washington, DC, to learn
more about Geospatial Information Technologies
- Remote Sensing
- GIobaI Positioning Systems
- Geographic Information Systems
- Photogrammetry
The Annual Meetlng of the Assoclatlon of Amerlcan Geographers (AAG)
wlll be held Aprll l4-l8, 20l0, at the Marrlott wardman Park Hotel ln
washlngton, DC.
Sesslons and workshops wlll feature
presentatlons from many leadlng
scholars and experts on the latest
ln research, pollcy, and sclentlc
appllcatlons.
Adapting with New Standards and Technologies
Erdas in 2010
Mladen Stojic, Senior Vice President, Product Management and Marketing at Erdas, discusses the new 2010 product line
and main improvements with editor Joc Triglav. Other topics discussed are the Erdas World Tour, addressing
geospatial data quality issues and the value and strength of new data production and usage approaches in the
geospatial business, like crowd sourcing and volunteered geographic information, among others.
By Joc Triglav
Question: Erdas announced a new 2010 software release
of its product line at the recent GEOINT Symposium.
Please, outline for our readers the new Erdas product line
and the main improvements of the new software.
Mladen Stojic: We overhauled the entire look and feel of Erdas Imagine,
implementing a ribbon interface. This provides customers with greater
access to the tools they need, when they need them. This includes
enhanced tools for parallel batch processing, spatial modeling, map pro-
duction, mosaicking and change detection. Performance has also been
improved in Erdas Imagine 2010, making it easier to view and exploit goe-
graphic data, including imagery, terrain and feature layers. We recognize
that mosaicking large datasets is critical to our customers, so our mosaick-
ing tools have been enhanced and streamlined across the product line.
With the mosaicking improvements, customers now have decreased mem-
ory use and greater processing speed, making it easier (and faster) to
mosaic a large number of images. Erdas Imagine is also more of a multi-
thread application, running multiple processes on multiple processers.
For interoperability, weve implemented the OGC Web Processing Service
(WPS). Spatial models created in Erdas Imagine can be published and then
cataloged and served as web services. This workflow is critical to achiev-
ing our vision of extending the use of geographic information beyond
the GIS/remote sensing/photogrammetry world. The connectivity
between Erdas Imagine and our enterprise product for managing and
delivering large volumes of data (Erdas Apollo) is even stronger.
In the radar area, we've introduced Imagine SAR Interferometry, which
includes new interpolation techniques that increase the quality and
fidelity of radar data. A part of the Imagine Radar Mapping Suite,
Imagine SAR Interferometry includes InSAR, Coherence Change Detection
and D-InSAR processing capabilities.
In this release, we are also showcasing a preview of a new technology
for automatically extracting highly accurate and dense pointclouds from
stereo imagery. This new product is called LPS eATE and works with
airborne and satellite imagery. We are agnostic in the types of sensors
we support with this approach.
In our enterprise products, we have integrated Erdas Image Web Server
and components of Erdas Titan into Erdas Apollo. From a low-cost,
remarkably fast image and feature server to a comprehensive data man-
agement and on demand geoprocessing system, the three new tiers of
Erdas Apollo provide unprecedented performance, even when handling
the largest data archives. For organizations that require interoperable
cataloging and delivery of imagery, terrain and vector data through OGC
Web Services to any client application, Erdas Apollo EssentialsSDI is
appropriate. Government organizations with geospatial imagery that
needs to be delivered via a public access website can easily do this
with Erdas Apollo EssentialsImage Web Server. Organizations that
need to manage massive amounts of geospatial data need Erdas Apollo
Advantage. For users that need to manage data, as well as perform on-
demand spatial analysis to extract information, Erdas Apollo
Professional is appropriate. Erdas Apollo Professional also offers a pow-
erful geoprocessing (WPS) component, unrivaled in complex algorithms.
You are in the middle of organizing Erdas Rocks World
Tour events, which bring together your customers and
partners. How are these events organized and what are
are the main benefits for the attendees?
MS: Several years ago we made the decision to annualize our product
releases to keep up with change. We recognize that our customers work-
flows need to be updated and maintained there is an ongoing need to
support additional data formats, sensors, and extend Geospatial Business
Systems across organizations. To better meet our customers growing (and
changing) needs, we decided to have both a major and minor release
each year, responding to these growing requirements with agility.
As a company, it is important for us to stay connected with our customers
50
I nt er vi ew
Mladen Stojic
and partners. In devising the Erdas World Tour, we drew parallels with
musicians and bands, which also release albums regularly and then travel
to promote these releases. Similarly, we decided to launch a world tour,
offering special customer events to our geographically dispersed customer
base. This is an ideal opportunity for us to share our vision, strategy and
product updates. Additionally, it is equally important for us to listen to
our customers, giving them an opportunity to voice their feedback indi-
vidually and collectively in person.
These events are organized on a global basis, and we have worked with
our partners to organize and promote these world tour events. We have
targeted geographies where our customers are easily congregated to
attend these events.
The world tour is just a part of an ongoing conversation that we strive to
maintain. All of our efforts to engage our customers are done with the
hope of building the right products and solutions to fully meet their cur-
rent (and future) needs. With our 2011 release, we will once again host
another world tour with a new concept and a new vision.
The Vespucci Initiative for the Advancement of Geographic
Information Science has issued a position paper with a joint
vision on the Next-Generation Digital Earth (available online at
http://ijsdir.jrc.ec.europa.eu/index.php/ijsdir/article/viewFile/119
/99. Analyzing capabilities of the Erdas 2010 product line,
please elaborate which requirements and ideas from this
vision are already present in Erdas products and how.
MS: The Erdas 2010 portfolio of products supports understanding of our
changing earth. The best way to understand it is through the use of a
Digital Earth, a multi-resolution 5D (x, y, z, time, information) represen-
tation of the planet. This representation makes it possible for us to find,
see and derive information from the vast amount of geographic informa-
tion on the Earths physical and social environment. As the Earth changes,
the need to understand it increases. At Erdas, we believe that change is
the primary spark and business driver that fuels an information lifecycle
that is necessary to achieving a sustainable Digital Earth. This lifecycle
has four primary components and Erdas (together with Leica Geosystems)
provides a workflow to create, update, maintain, manage, share, deliver
and use information associated with our Digital Earth.
Capture
Whether from a space borne, airborne or terrestrial sensor, snapshots of
geography can be captured and recorded as the Earth changes. The Leica
ADS80 sensor captures TBs of imagery that can be used to create and
extract valuable geographic information. The Leica ALS60 airborne laser
scanner captures TBs of point cloud data that is used as the basis for
modelling the earths terrain and the geographic features located on the
earths surface. Data captured from the Leica SmartStation provides the
foundation for modelling the earth at much greater detail and accuracy.
Similarly, the Leica ScanStation C10 offers the ability to capture high den-
sity and high accuracy terrestrial point clouds for use in modelling street-
level information. With the accelerated changes on the earths surface, the
need to capture geographic data faster has also increased and Leica is
well positioned to capture the digital earth from the air and the ground.
The idea of geosensing the world is a tenet of the Digital Earth initia-
tive.
Author
Once remotely sensed data is captured, authoring systems ingest raw
source content to produce useable data and information products. Erdas
Imagine 2010 is the all-in-one desktop authoring platform supporting the
production of imagery, GIS data and maps from multiple sensor systems
(airborne and satellite). LPS 2010 supports the production of highly accu-
rate orthorectified imagery, terrain, 3D models and feature databases from
stereo imagery.
Manage & Connect
As the Earth changes, data organizations also have be agile and innova-
tive to accommodate to the growing volumes of data. Erdas Apollo 2010
helps organize geographic information, enabling users inside and outside
an organization to have the ability find, view and directly use the geo-
graphic information. Based on a 100% Service Oriented Architecture, Erdas
Apollo 2010 provides a Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI) that manages and
delivers TBs of GIS data, imagery and terrain information to customers.
The heart of the SDI is the catalog and the key component of the catalog
is metadata. To achieve a vision of a connected Digital Earth, an interop-
erable and open catalog is critical. Erdas Apollo provides an out-of-the
box environment for cataloguing data and services in order to achieve a
Digital Earth.
Deliver
Once data is organized and managed, the next step is to get the geo-
graphic information to users of a Digital Earth. Its one thing to deliver
data to users as web services. But its another thing to deliver on-demand
geographic information products to a community. This is possible with
I nt er vi ew
51
Erdas Imagine
Erdas Imagine
the delivery of on-demand geoprocessing capabilities. Together, Erdas
Imagine 2010 and Erdas Apollo 2010 support an end-to-end workflow for
desktop to enterprise geoprocessing. Connecting to a catalog, users have
the ability to publish spatial models that can then be extended to every-
one through the internet so that information products from the Digital
Earth can be requested, visualized and used.
How are the geospatial data quality issues addressed in
the Erdas 2010 product line? Which options do the users
have using Erdas software to select and combine various
kinds of geospatial data for a certain area and of a cer-
tain spatio-temporal data quality?
MS: The value of geospatial data is directly correlated to its accuracy and
quality. Our products are designed and developed to maximize the accu-
racy of output, data production and information extraction based on rig-
orous geospatial, scientific approaches. For example, in LPS 2010, we sup-
port the ability to model the quality with which photogrammetric data
products can be produced. This includes support for rigorous error propa-
gation, along with detailed output reports, which identify the accuracy
and precision with which data products are produced. Similarly, in Erdas
Imagine 2010, we also support the ability for users to understand and
quantitatively determine the accuracy and precision which land cover data,
feature data and image data and terrain data are produced. The data prod-
ucts produced by both Erdas Imagine and LPS are subsequently cata-
logued by Erdas Apollo 2010. As a result of cataloguing and service
enabling these products, we also support the ability to catalog the meta-
data associated with the input data. This, of course, includes all metada-
ta, both spatial, temporal and quality data.
In terms of combining and fusing various kinds of geospatial data, Erdas
Imagine, with the geoservices explorer application, supports the ability to
go into an area of interest, broadcast a query to an Erdas Apollo catalog
based on user defined metadata criteria, such as date, keyword, spatial
extent, or data type and retrieve that data and information directly into
Erdas Imagine as a collection of interoperable OGC web services. As a
result, users of Erdas Imagine can subsequently exploit file-based data,
information in a database and web services all in one desktop platform.
Another example of this is the free Erdas Titan Client. With the new Erdas
Titan 2010 Client, customers can connect to the Erdas Apollo 2010 OGC
compliant catalog, and discover map, image, vector and terrain web ser-
vices and directly consume and exploit those services in a 3D virtual globe
environment. During the discovery process, users have the option to filter
the search based on date, keywords, and other metadata criteria. In addi-
tion to this, users can directly load local data into the same 3D environ-
ment and create geospatial mash-ups for a variety of applications.
In your opinion, what should be done in the global
geospatial industry in order to make the geospatial data
standards and metadata more understandable and practi-
cally usable to the everyday users as well as producers
of geospatial data?
MS: Over the last 30 years, the geospatial industry has made great
strides in extending the utilization of geospatial technology for under-
standing our changing earth. However, during that same time, we have,
unfortunately, created numerous walls that make it difficult to share
and exchange geographic information EASILY. These walls need to come
down. In order to do this, several factors need to be understood and
achieved.
At the moment, we still operate in departmental and organizational
silos for preparing geospatial data and using geographic information.
For example, if you were to tour large agencies using geospatial tech-
nologies, the GIS group would be using one product, the public works
department would be using another product to support their data type,
a photogrammetry department using another product, remote sensing
department using a different product, a cartography department using
its own finishing product, and of course, other business departments
using different products to fulfil their daily needs. These silos have a
lot in common they work on the same geography, yet they fail to
effectively share data and information. Both the OGC and ISO have
done a great job in providing a framework upon which the industry can
begin establishing a common and consistent definition of how geo-
graphic information and data can be used throughout (and between
organizations). However, this is just a framework. As humans, we need
to change. And that requires a behavioural change, one that is fostered
and nurtured to grow to embrace the idea of sharing data and infor-
mation for the common good. Until we change, we cannot expect any
changes in how organizations effectively use geographic information.
Theses changes are ultimately reflected in national/state/regional/
city/organization policies that foster and encourage the open and secure
sharing and geographic information.
From a software companys perspective, we need to ensure that we
continue to build and offer the community products that facilitate shar-
ing and the dissemination of geographic information. Erdas remains
committed to supporting geospatial data standards and metadata
defined by the various standards committees. One day, the walls and
silos that have prohibited openness will come down.
Do you feel the existing complexity and variety of
geospatial data standards and metadata are an obstacle
or as a necessity?
MS: Many times over the past thirty years, Erdas has been approached to
make remote sensing and photogrammetry easier for GIS easier to use,
understand, teach and implement. In discussions with our users, they all
want to retain the rigorous and scientific capabilities of the products, but
would like to extend the power to others that dont necessarily have a
background in a geospatial technology. As a result, we have looked for
ways to build solutions that make it easier for non-geospatial users to
leverage the depth and power of geographic knowledge that can be
derived from geographic data and information.
52
I nt er vi ew
Erdas Apollo
Similarly, standards for data and metadata are technical. We cannot water
down the science associated with capturing, authoring, managing and
delivering geospatial data and information. If we did this, we would suf-
fer on quality, and as a result, our accurate decisions would be in jeop-
ardy. Therefore, data and metadata standards need to preserve scientific
excellence while also balancing ease of implementation, ease of use and
ease of understanding. Without this balance, I am afraid that the power
of interoperability and open exchange of geographic information will suf-
fer. The balance can only be achieved with standards and software solu-
tions. The balance will only be achieved by active and direct participation
from software vendors, users and academia.
Taking into account the recent Bauerleins book The
Dumbest Generation the current global trends in web
usage among the younger generations are not encourag-
ing at all. How does the software of the Erdas 2010 pro -
duct line help the users, especially the younger ones, to
use its web capabilities in a smart way?
MS: We are now beginning to see a social phenomenon which has result-
ed from the I want it, and I want it now mentality. With the advent and
growth of the internet age, users have an expectation to quickly find,
understand and use information. For example, when I was in high school
and university and was assigned a paper, I would go to the library, find
the relevant books I needed, read those books and begin formulating the
thesis and body of the paper. This was a time consuming task. Today,
however, students can go online, use the various search engines and find
an abundance of information which they can incorporate into their own
version of a completed paper. The challenge, however, with the internet
age is the abundance of data and information and not all of this is
equal. The challenge is finding the right information from a credible source
and filtering the pages upon pages of content to get to what is needed.
This is time consuming. Time must be dedicated to authoring a paper
based on credible sources and this will always be the case. The challenge
is to make it easier to discover, retrieve and use all the information avail-
able to us for the task at hand. These are pre-conditions to solving the
challenge presented before us.
Looking at our products, we have always assumed that customers know
about data, the tools, and the application for them to do their jobs. These
are all incorrect assumptions. Typically, customers know what they want
or what their desired outcome needs to be. The challenge they face on a
day to day basis is knowing what data is needed, where that data is, how
to integrate that data with ancillary input sources, and how to use that
data to achieve a specific task. Thats a lot to ask for, considering the
level of knowledge needed to solve that problem.
For example, an emergency response crew may need to identify the best
location to land a helicopter during a forest fire to evacuate civilians. The
command control crews do not know what input data to use or the appro-
priate data formats, data types, sensor models, databases, web services,
SOA architecture, or any of the other buzz words we have a tendency to
overuse. They simply need to be able to understand events as they are
happening on the ground, and immediately determine the best place to
land the helicopter. As geospatial professionals, it is our job to determine
the best data to use and how to process and deliver that data in an
understandable form so it can be used to save lives. With the new Erdas
2010 release, we have started a journey along that vision.
We have taken Erdas Imagine, which was first built and introduced in
the early 1990s, and given it a renaissance. This renaissance is based
on easily providing customers the tools they need, when they need
them to complete a specific task. This is based on the flexibility of the
new ribbon interface, which supports the customization of vertical mar-
ket workflows. This journey is not complete with just the 2010 release.
Our vision and strategy is to provide customers with tools to make
their jobs easier so we can satisfy the vision of getting people the
information they need, when they need it, in a form they can easily
understand. With every annual release we will move closer to achiev-
ing this vision and strategy.
What is your opinion on the value and strength of new
data production and usage approaches in the geospatial
business, which became known recently as neologisms
like crowd sourcing, volunteered geographic information,
produsers(=producers+users), urban sensing, cloud com-
puting, etc.? How do these novelties change the global
geospatial business? How will Erdas adapt to them in the
near future?
MS: These novelties serve as drivers that spark innovation in how we
understand our changing Earth. For example, cloud computing is now
moving from being a buzz word to becoming a reality. Customers are
evaluating business models for hosting data and software in the cloud,
along with geoprocessing. Erdas continues to adapt to new technolo-
gies. Our enterprise products are designed to operate in the cloud.
Therefore, customers have the option of deploying internal cloud sys-
tems or third party hosted cloud systems. The key for Erdas is to
ensure that our solutions adapt with new standards and technologies.
Joc Triglav is editor of GeoInformatics. For more information,
have a look at www.erdas.com
I nt er vi ew
Erdas Apollo Pro
53
ISPRS 1910 - 2010
CENTENARY CELEBRATION VIENNA
July 1-7, 2010
Vienna University of Technology
Vienna, Austria
www.isprs100vienna.org
International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing
PLATINUM SPONSORS
3 Lndertagung
DGPF - OVG - SGPBF
July 1-3, 2010
ISPRS Centenary Celebration
July 4, 2010
ISPRS Symposium
Technical Commission VII
July 5-7, 2010
tio erna t n I or P y f ciet o onal S
ISPR
ammetr gr o Phot
RS 1910 - 2
e S y and Remot r
2010
ensing S
ienna U V
Y C CENTENAR
ISPR
.isprs1 w w w
ienna V
ec TTe y of ersit Univ
July 1
V TION AAT CELEBR
RS 1910 2
g 00vienna.or
ustria a, A
gy chnolo
1-7, 2010
VIENNA
2010
P TINUM SPONSORS AAT PL
What is GeoDesign? Diana Sinton of the University of Redlands defined
it as a planning approach that grounds design methods and practices in
temporal and spatial knowledge of human and natural geographic con-
texts. Michael Flaxman of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
defined it as a design and planning method which tightly couples the cre-
ation of a design proposal with impact simulations informed by geograph-
ic context. Others provided alternate definitions. But the GeoDesign
Summit was less about a common definition than it was about a common
understanding: in fact, the biggest takeaway may have been a clear real-
ization by most attendees of the important role that GeoDesign can play
in leveraging geographic knowledge to effect positive change in our world.
Over the course of the three-day event, the more than 200 attendees
heard from a variety of speakers on the theory and practice of
GeoDesign. A number of Idea Labs were heldbreakout sessions
where participants could brainstorm on different elements of GeoDesign,
such as theoretical research, public participation, the role of 3D, sketch-
ing, architecture and BIM, regional landscapes, urban areas, supporting
technology, and educational curricula.
While GeoDesign as a discipline, a field of study, and a practice is still
evolving, a number of action items were identified by the end of the
Summit. This agenda, developed primarily out of the Idea Labs effort,
includes such topics as:
Obtain a broader consensus on the definition and application of
GeoDesign. Everyone is invited to participate in this discussion at
http://participatorygeodesign.ning.com/ and
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/geodesign.
Identify the new geospatial functionality, tools, and technologies
needed to support broader adoption of GeoDesign.
Hold a GeoDesign Challenge with a significant cash prize, to
encourage the development of real-world GeoDesign projects.
Expand communication efforts for GeoDesign, to include the publi-
cation of articles, a book of case studies, and possibly a journal.
Determine the optimal methods of teaching design principles to
geospatial professionals and develop a GeoDesign curriculum.
Hold another GeoDesign Summit in early 2011 to review progress.
Jack Dangermond again offered to host the Summit at ESRIs confer-
ence center and provide financial support for the event.
Dangermond was adamant about de-coupling the vision of
GeoDesign from ESRI. It was agreed that a broader cross-section of
geospatial technology companies would be invited to participate in
the 2011 GeoDesign Summit.
A survey of attendees showed that 95% felt that the GeoDesign Summit
was beneficial, and the same number wanted to have another Summit
in 2011.
Matt Artz is the GIS and Science Manager at ESRI in Redlands,
California USA and edits the GISandScience.com blog.
He can be reached at martz@esri.com.
56
Most professional conferences exist to support the needs of a mature community. But the purpose of the first GeoDesign
Summit, held 06-08 January 2010 in Redlands, California, was quite different: to further refine the concept of GeoDesign,
build a community around it, and task that community with creating an agenda for moving it forward.
By Matt Artz
2010 and Beyond
The Agenda for GeoDesign
Event
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22-25 March 2010 ESRI Developer Summit
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E-mail: devsummit@esri.com
Internet: www.esri.com/devsummit
22-25 March CARIS 2010 Stronger
Together People, Products, Infrastructure
March 22-25, 2010, Miami, FL., U.S.A.
Internet: www.caris.com/caris2010
24-25 March GEO-10 The complete GEO
Event
Ricoh Arena, Coventry, U.K.
Internet: www.worldofgeomatics.com
April
11-14 April Geospatial Intelligence Middle
East 2010
Manama, Bahrain, UAE
E-mail: enquiry@iqpc.ae
Internet: www.geospatialdefence.com
11-16 April XXIV FIG International Congress
2010 Facing the Challenges - Building
Capacity
Sydney, Sydney Convention & Exhibition
Centre, Australia
Tel: +61 (02) 2 9265 070
Fax: +61 (02) 2 9267 5443
E-mail: fig2010@arinex.com.au
Internet: www.fig2010.com
12-16 April SPIE Photonics Europe
Brussels, Belgium
Internet: www.spie.org
14-16 April IV International Conference
"Remote Sensing - the Synergy of High
Technologies"
Moscow, Atlas Park Hotel, Russia
Tel.: +7 (495) 988-7511, 988-7522,
514-83-39
E-mail: conference@sovzond.ru
Internet: www.sovzondconference.ru/eng
14-18 April AAG 2010 Annual Meeting
Washington, DC, U.S.A.
E-mail: lwitman@conferencemanagers.com
Internet: www.aag.org/annualmeetings/
2010/index.htm
19-23 April BAE Systems GXP International
User Conference and Professional Exchange!
San Diego, CA, Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines,
U.S.A.
Internet: www.gxpuserconference.com
25-29 April 2010 Geospatial Infrastructure
Solutions Conference
Phoenix, AZ, U.S.A.
E-mail: info@gita.org
Internet: www.gita.org/gis
26-30 April 2010 ASPRS Annual Conference
San Diego, CA, Town and Country Hotel,
U.S.A.
Internet: www.asprs.org/SanDiego2010/
index.html
27-29 April GEO-Siberia 2010
Novosibirsk, Russia
E-mail: mazurova@sibfair.ru
Internet: www.geosiberia.sibfair.ru/eng
27-29 April SIBMINING 2010
Novosibirsk, Russia
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Internet: www.mining.sibfair.ru and
www.petroleum.sibfair.ru
28-29 April CERGAL 2010
Rostock, Germany
Internet: www.dgon.de
May
03-06 May IEEE/ION PLANS 2010
Indian Wells/Palm Springs, CA,Renaissance
Esmeralda Resort & Spa, U.S.A.
Tel: +1 (703) 383-9688
E-mail: membership@ion.org
Internet: www.plansconference.org
04-06 May Rencontres SIG La Lettre
Marne-la-Valle, ENSG, France
E-mail: deblomac@sig-la-lettre.com
Internet: www.sig-la-lettre.com
12 May CGS Conference 2010
Ljubljana, Ljubljana Exhibition and
Convention Centre, Slovenia
Tel: +386 1 5301 108
Fax: +386 1 5301 132
E-mail: gregor.pipan@cgsplus.si
Internet: www.cgs-konferenca.si
18-20 May POSITIONALE
Stuttgart, Germany
Internet: www.positionale.de
19-21 May INTERGEO East
Istanbul, Istanbul Convention & Exhibition
Centre, Turkey
Internet: www.intergeo-east.com
25-29 May BALWOIS Conference
Ohrid, Republic of Macedonia
E-mail: secretariat@balwois.com
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27-28 May GISCA 2010 - Central Asia GIS
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June
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21-22 June 2nd Open Source GIS UK
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Nottingham, University of Nottingham, U.K.
Internet: www.opensourcegis.org.uk
22-24 June Mid-Term Symposium of ISPRS
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surement techniques
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08-12 March FMEdays 2010
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09-11 March Oi10 - Oceanology
International
London Excel, U.K.
Internet: www.oceanologyinternational.com
Please feel free to e-mail your calendar notices to:calendar@geoinformatics.com
58
Corrigendum
In the latest issue of GeoInformatics, (volume 8, December 2009), photo credits were
omitted. The appropriate credits are as follows: The top image on page 16, is courtesy of
Bentley Systems, Incorporated. The second image on page 16 courtesy of Maharashtra
Jeevan Pradhikaran. The top image on page 18 is courtesy of Mott McDonald. The second
image on page 18 is courtesy of Edge Structures Ltd.
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ITT, the Engineered Blocks, and Engineered for life are registered trademarks of ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc., and are used under license. 2009, ITT Visual Information Solutions

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