GPSi has contracted with Microsoft’s UltraCam business unit and subsidiary to purchase an UltraCam Falcon digital aerial camera system configured with a 17,310 PAN pixel cross track footprint and a 70mm wide angle lens. This is the second UltraCam acquisition for GPSi. The company initially purchased an UltraCamLp in 2009 when it first ventured into digital aerial acquisition.
“We have had great success using the UltraCamLp, so it was a logical decision to stay with the UltraCam product line,” said Ms. Alice C. Ramos, President and Chief Executive Officer of GPSi. “As a disadvantaged, woman, minority-owned business (DBE/WMBE/SBE), GPSi continues to use cutting edge technology to achieve efficiency and productivity. It gives confidence to industry partners that our team of highly competent, experienced and dedicated professionals is equipped with advanced tools and knowledge that offer them an edge in going after projects.”
GPSi supports its many long term customers with a variety of photogrammetric and aerial imaging services. The collection efficiency of the UltraCam Falcon will allow GPSi to compete for projects covering larger areas while satisfying the needs and requirements of its traditional client base of utility, engineering and public works sectors.
“GPSi’s executive management team is convinced that this wide angle UltraCam Falcon is the optimal solution for our clients’ requirements,” said Mr. Paul Hamilton-Rivers, Chief Operating Officer of GPSi. “We cater to companies where accuracy, schedule and cost are paramount. We believe this new acquisition addresses those concerns but just as important, it gives us more latitude to pursue other promising industry sectors.”
“In line with our mission and vision to propel the company to the forefront of the geospatial industry, buying the new UltraCam Falcon was a no-brainer,” said Mr. Ramon B. Ramos, GPSi’s Executive VP and resident geomatics expert. “With its large footprint, fast cycle rate, large field of view and better base-height ratio, along with our experience of excellent customer support from Microsoft, it was a relatively quick and easy decision.”
“Microsoft strives to provide a camera line that maximizes customer benefits,” said Alexander Wiechert, Microsoft Business Director. “The UltraCam Falcon offers a high-level of flexibility with two choices of image footprint size and two lens focal lengths, and it is specifically designed to be easily upgradeable to an UltraCam Eagle when the customer is ready.”
About the UltraCam Falcon
The UltraCam Falcon features a very fast frame rate, solid state storage, and integration of computers into the sensor. The system captures PAN, color and NIR data all in one pass. At the time of purchase, the buyer selects from two image footprint sizes (14,430 pixels across or 17,310 pixels across) and two lens focal lengths (the standard 100mm Pan or wide angle 70mm Pan). To simplify operations, the UltraCam Falcon is designed as an integrated unit that contains all components in the sensor head, including a solid-state image storage system that holds approximately 7,500 images (with 14,430 pixel footprint) and 5,200 images (with 17,310 pixel footprint). UltraNav, the embedded flight management and direct georeferencing system from Applanix, is also available with the UltraCam Falcon.
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 UltraCamLp, UltraCam Falcon, and UltraCam Eagle digital photogrammetric sensors, and the UltraCam Osprey nadir/oblique photogrammetric digital aerial sensor. 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.
About GPSi
GPSi is a certified Disadvantaged, Women Minority Business Enterprise (DBE/WMBE/SBE) headquartered in Costa Mesa, California. The leadership team has over three decades of experience in the geospatial industry. GPSi provides a full range of custom aerial imagery collection, photogrammetric mapping and GIS services in a completely digital environment. GPSi serves a variety of clients, including engineering firms, municipalities, government agencies, civil engineers, architects, and surveyors and planners. For additional information go to www.gpsi-corp.com
