October 9th, 2013
Third Generation UltraCam Hawk Announced by Microsoft

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At the INTERGEO 2013 conference in Essen, Germany, Microsoft’s UltraCam business unit unveils the UltraCam Hawk, a new base model UltraCam digital aerial system that leverages the third generation UltraCam architecture first introduced to the market in 2011. The UltraCam Hawk will be available for delivery to customers in early 2014.

The UltraCam Hawk extends the existing UltraCam product suite to meet varying project requirements and budget restrictions. While the UltraCam Hawk provides smaller mapping companies with an affordable option to expand their aerial services, the system can be upgraded to the larger UltraCam Falcon or Eagle as the company’s needs evolve. Also, the UltraCam Hawk is fully supported in the UltraMap workflow software system and is compatible with the UltraNav direct georeferencing and flight management system.

The UltraCam Hawk system architecture offers features and benefits that include :

• A 92 mega-pixel (11,704 x 7,920 PAN) image footprint with a 70mm focal length lens, ideal for smaller aircraft and local projects that require a rapid response
• A system sensor head that integrates the sensor, computing sub-systems, solid-state devices (storage sub-system), and the optional UltraNav direct georeferencing and flight management system, simplifies installation and requires minimal space in the aircraft
• Advanced electronics for excellent frame rate and a minimal 72 dB signal-to-noise ratio achieves high image dynamic
• Filters with curved characteristics to flatten out vignetting ensures operation of lens system at best Modulation Transfer Function (MTF) performance for maximum sharpness and contrast

“This completes our transference of third generation architecture to our product portfolio and results in an unparalleled upgrade path for customers—each camera system can be upgraded to become any of the larger systems through refurbishment, rather than trade-in,” said Alexander Wiechert, Microsoft Business Director. “Just as the Falcon can be upgraded to become an Eagle, the Hawk can be upgraded to become a Falcon or directly to an Eagle.”

About Microsoft’s UltraCam Business Unit

With its operations based in Graz, Austria, and sales and support teams in North America, Microsoft’s UltraCam business unit brings more than two decades of photogrammetry expertise to Microsoft’s Bing Maps business unit. The division is responsible for the highly successful line of UltraCam digital aerial mapping systems that today include the UltraCam Hawk, UltraCam Falcon and UltraCam Eagle photogrammetric digital aerial sensors, and the UltraCam Osprey nadir/oblique photogrammetric digital aerial sensor. Also offered is the UltraNav Flight Management and Direct Georeferencing system, designed to maximize the efficiency of UltraCam aerial mapping. UltraNav is comprised of embedded GNSS/inertial hardware, pilot and operator displays, and office software for flight planning and generation of exterior orientation. Rounding out the UltraCam offerings is the fully integrated UltraMap workflow software system, with features that include high-density 3D point cloud creation, highly accurate and detailed digital surface model (DSM) generation, and ortho mosaicing capabilities based on an automatically generated DSM or traditional DSM.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.