Geoinformatics 2012 Vol06

Waytag Visual Intelligences Iris One Airborne Camera Systems
Esri User Conference TOTAL STATION OVERVIEW

Magazi ne f or Sur veyi ng, Mappi ng & GI S Pr of essi onal s
September
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Volume 15
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Prod_GEO612_Prod GEO66 17-08-12 10:00 Pagina 1
No map at all?
The fact that your phone can tell you where you are has led to the belief by some
that consulting maps prior to going to a different location is no longer necessary.
It appears that printed maps (or static maps) may be consigned to historysoon; to
be replaced by dynamic maps, whilst location awareness seems to be continually
gaining momentum due mainly to Google Maps and GPS-enabled phones.
GIS or geospatial technology has always suffered from what many believe is also
its unique selling point: its all about location and only that. GIS was a back-
ofce technology, with its own stand-alone software and closed data formats. It
seems like the cloud is eliminating all of these issues: data access, volume and
format isnt much of a problem anymore. Or is it? (Let me give you a clue: back-
end ETL.)
Of course, cloud technology raises new doubts and concerns: is my data safe?
Where is my data stored and what legal consequences does that have for my orga-
nization? How do organizations make use of the cloud now that IT departments
are asked to deal with a new situation where data is no longer stored locally?
Back to the problem with GIS: it has always been a niche in the larger IT busi-
ness its uniqueness also being its weakest point. The availability of unlimited stor-
age space for data has brought new challenges as well as opportunities for the
geospatial industry. In the age of big data, everyones trying to jump on the band-
wagon and get a piece of the pie that big data promises. What exactly the goal
is is not yet apparent, but the journey to get there is part of it. And I think this is a
good thing: why should GIS only be used by a lucky few? If GIS is about IT, it
should be treated as such, in every possible way. People dont think any more in
terms of software products, but in platforms and end solutions that work through a
range of devices and not just one: it doesnt matter where the data comes from,
as long as you can use it on your device someone told me, and thats the way it
is now. User experience to the front. It has not always been that way: technology
has long been the biggest obstacle for a pleasant user experience.
This paradigm change for the geospatial industry has luckily been
adopted quickly, but has lead to more incremental updates, linked
to what other parties such as Microsoft, Google and Apple are
doing and releasing. Something tells me this is only the beginning.
Its certainly an interesting time to be a software developer, with
the same to be said for end users. I think its a good thing
geospatial is nding its way into mainstream IT. The last few
months have been exciting for everyone in the business: one
only has to look at the erce competition between
Google and Apple and what that meant for the map-
ping industry as a whole. And I havent even touched
onI recent changes in the satellite imagery business. That
will surely have an impact on the geospatial industry as
well. Exciting times, indeed.
Enjoy reading,
Eric van Rees
evanrees@geoinformatics.com
GeoInformatics is the leading publication for Geospatial
Professionals worldwide. Published in both hardcopy and
digital, GeoInformatics provides coverage, analysis and
commentary with respect to the international surveying,
mapping and GIS industry.
GeoInformatics is published
8 times a year.
Editor-in-chief
Eric van Rees
evanrees@geoinformatics.com
Copy Editor
Frank Arts
fartes@geoinformatics.com
Editors
Florian Fischer
fscher@geoinformatics.com
Huibert-Jan Lekkerkerk
hlekkerkerk@geoinformatics.com
Remco Takken
rtakken@geoinformatics.com
Joc Triglav
jtriglav@geoinformatics.com
Contributing Writers:
Richard Rybka, Andrew Evans, Kevin Dixon, Armin
Gruen, Nicholas Bednall, Gordon Petrie, Penelope
Richardson, Henk Key.
Columnists
Matt Sheehan, David Lemon, Ilya Zaslavsky,
Ulrich Looser.
Finance
nance@cmedia.nl
Marketing & Sales
Ruud Groothuis
rgroothuis@geoinformatics.com
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Sander van der Kolk
svanderkolk@geoinformatics.com
ISSN 13870858
Copyright 2012. GeoInformatics: no material may
be reproduced without written permission.
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E-mail: services@geoinformatics.com
GeoInformatics has a collaboration with
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Surveyors (CLGE) whereby all individual
members of every national Geodetic
association in Europe will receive the
magazine.
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September 2012
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Ar t i c l e s
Topcon and Site Management 11
The Underground World of Mulu 14
Mobile Mapping and UAV Data 20
Pre-Surveying Helps Keep Railroads on Track 22
Waytag 24
Visual Intelligences Iris One Airborne Camera Systems 30
A Comparison between Manufacturers 46
Ne ws l e t t e r
CLGE newsletter 6
C o l u mn s
Map Wars 18
WaterML 2.0: New Tool for Water Resource Management 28
E v e n t s
Europes Hub for VHR Data Users 38
Esri User Conference 2012 42
C a l e n d a r / Ad v e r t i s e r s I n d e x 66

At the cover:
A recent image of Hannover, Germany, location
of this years Intergeo event. Image provided by European Space Imaging.
See article on page 38.
24
14
30
The article reviews the several
different systems that have
been developed, including
both their hardware and soft-
ware, and describes the calib-
ration procedures that are
used to establish their metric
properties. The companys
planned future developments
are also outlined.
11
In Mulu, Sarawak, Malaysia,
what was created over millen-
nia by water pushing through
the limestone bedding and
faults to find the quickest route
to the sea is now a crystal un-
derground world inhabited by
bats and swifts.
Since November 2010,
Schlter fr Baumaschinen has
been in partnership with
Topcon to distribute machine
control solutions throughout
Germany and offers modern
construction systems adapted
to specialised customer require-
ments.
Waytag is a new player in the
location-based services market
and offers location software
which makes location naming
and sharing simple and easy
to do. Consumers and busines-
ses can attach a location to a
name, make it updatable and
then store it in a universally ac-
cessible repository.
6
Maurice Barbieri, chair of IG
PARLS takes our questions and
explains more about what this
lesser-known Interest Group
stands for.
22
Roadbed and track quality
must be established during ini-
tial construction and main-
tained over time. Since much
of the workwhether new
construction or routine mainte-
nancedepends upon accu-
rately establishing or verifying
the track position, high-accura-
cy survey technology is
critical.
38
During 21-22 June, 150 peop-
le from all over Europe conver-
ged on the Literaturhaus in
Munich for the WorldView
Global Alliance User
Conference 2012, an event
known for its friendly feel and
networking opportunities.
20
The SEC-FCL has commissio-
ned a mission to laser-scan the
Campus of NUS It will be ad-
ded to the already existing
800 aerial images produced
with a UAV (octocopter) in
February 2012. The final aim
is to produce a very high reso-
lution 3D model of the NUS
campus.
What exactly is IG-PARLS?
The interest group PARLS (Publicly Appointed and Regulated Liberal
Surveyors) has emerged from the former Geometer Europas founded
in the year 1990ties. We are the association of European Private Surveyors
working in countries where the state delegates specic roles and responsi-
bilities to the profession. We are members of the European Council of
Geodetic Surveyors (CLGE) and based in Brussels, in the House of the
European Surveyor and GeoInformation.
What are your goals?
IG-PARLS particularly represents the interests of liberal surveyors within
CLGE, who are entrusted with public missions in the eld of property guar-
antee by their country of origin, as employers or entrepreneurs due to their
high qualications as dened by the Accord Multilatral (Multilateral
Accord). These liberal surveyors assume personal responsibility and liabili-
ty and economic independence.
Our goals are to promote the system of the independent surveyor working
as a public ofcer or appointed by the public authority. This public-private
partnership exists for many years in certain member countries of IG PARLS
(for example in Switzerland the system has been established in1912, a
hundred years exactly!). Others are working to obtain this model as soon
as possible.
Surveyors commissioned to perform public functions are thus known in a
number of countries, members of the IG PARLS:
in France as Gomtre-Expert,
in Germany as ffentlich bestellter Vermessungsingenieur,
in Belgium as Gomtre-Expert / Landmeter- Expert,
in Denmark as Praktiserende Landinspektrer,
in Austria as Ingenieurkonsulent fr Vermessungswesen,
in Switzerland as Patentierter Ingenieurgeometer/ Ingnieur
gomtre brevet,
in Luxembourg as Gomtre-Ofciel,
in Bulgaria as Chartered Geodetic Engineer
in Croatia as Chartered Geodetic Engineer
Spain has created a section IG-PARLS-ES and has the status of observing
member.
With this delegation of functions, States pursue the aim of opening up
public functions to competition and reducing costs as well as improving
the effectiveness of public registers in the economy. In this context, the
appointment of a highly qualied member of the liberal profession is an
advantage for citizens in their function as consumers, as they can select
their service provider from a pool of competing commissioned individu-
als, all of whom are on an equal footing. It has been proven historically
that the organizational form of the liberal professions, under State super-
vision in terms of personnel and specialist knowledge, or in self-adminis-
tration in conjunction with efciency-based competition, is a very efcient
approach. In the above-mentioned countries, there are roughly 4,500
ofces with one or several members of the profession and about 2 to 70
staff, organized under the umbrella of the CLGE. Incidentally, the profes-
sion is about three hundred years old, originating on the European conti-
nent.
This solution has numerous advantages, such as a direct contact with the
client, a more balanced distribution of surveyors throughout the national
territory, public procurement procedures for the awarding of important
mandates, the obligation to maintain a high level of competences and of
training. However, this presupposes a properly functioning organization to
manage the controlling and follow-up of the different les between the pri-
vate and the public sector. It must be emphasized that mixed systems do
also exist (surveyors working as civil servants or independent profession-
als).
What is the Multilateral Accord?
On November 23, 2004, the then 7 member countries of Geometer
Europas decided to sign a multilateral accord. They were later joined by
8 other countries, making it a total of 15 CLGE member countries which
are signatories today.
The signatory associations aim for high qualications for the admission to
the profession of European Surveyor and agree on a procedural modus
for ensuring unimpeded migration of members of the profession.
Why does this accord exist?
Regulations relating to entry to the profession vary from one country to
another; however they are very similar and are in terms of their nature
essentially of the same kind.
September 2012
6
Ne ws l e t t e r
What IG PARLS stands for?
Maurice Barbieri, chair of IG PARLS takes our questions and explains more about what this lesser-
known Interest Group stands for.
Maurice Barbieri is president of IGS (Swiss surveyors) and Chairman of IG-PARLS. The picture was taken in
Opatija (HR) in June 2010 during the CLGE General Assembly.
Maurice Barbieri, Jean-Yves Pirlot, CLGE President and Branko Klecovic, President of the Croatian Camber of
Chartered Geodetic Engineers, on the occasion of the signature of the multilateral accord by Croatia
Obtaining the necessary qualication involves, apart from an academic
course of study for surveyors (preferably Bac + 5U), the following general
elds of study:
Administrative law,
Land law,
Building and planning law.
University education provides a widely available and comparatively equiv-
alent dened knowledge base. Hence it has not been problematic to-date
to perform straightforward surveying techniques in a cross-border context
(for a non-commissioned surveyor or a surveying technician). This hap-
pens very often.
The training required for public tasks thus relates to practice and legal
issues arising in the particular national legal system. It is therefore very dif-
cult to exercise the public functions of a commissioned surveyor on a
cross-border basis. The regulatory situation on the one hand and the de
facto impossibility of mastering two legal systems in sufcient professional
depth on the other hand have precluded this to-date, not to speak of other
formal obstacles.
Nonetheless, the situation in the sector is in a constant state of evolution,
the legal systems are being investigated mutually and knowledge is dis-
seminated transnationally across borders, not least by international associ-
ations such as CLGE. In addition, the EU is moving slowly in the direction
of a harmonization of laws, which also presupposes mutual understand-
ing as a prerequisite.
As this is of major importance economically, the initiative of the signatory
associations also aims to make professional knowledge more transparent
in a legal and technical context and to draw up common European posi-
tions in this eld. The larger the amount of common European knowledge
grows, the sooner universities and training institutions will be able to take
it into account. This makes it easier for those entering the profession to
benet from the possibility of working in a European country of their choice,
with all well-known associated economic advantages. This likewise serves
to achieve a gradual harmonization of systems, which will be to the bene-
t of the European population.
The signatory associations aim for high admission qualications to the
profession of European Surveyor and agree on a procedural modus to
ensure unimpeded migration of members of the profession:
Training as a Graduated Engineer (Bac + 5) in Surveying or Master is rec-
ognized automatically as an educational foundation. In addition, each
candidate should acquire necessary country-specic extra qualications in
the area of Administrative law, Land law and Building and planning law
Qualications for entrance requirements shall then be based on a com-
mon, general platform:
Diploma-engineer / European Master (BAC + 5U) +
2R/P + E
Legend:
BAC + 5U: Baccalaureat (secondary school) + 5-years of studies at a
university / technical university
P: On-the-job training in law and work practice in the respec-
tive country after university studies
R: compulsory monitored experience prior to the state examina-
tion (two years)
E: Final Examination
Please describe us your activities?
We are present each time a national association requests it, for instance
to present the existing solutions for the management of the in rem juridicam
in the member countries or concerning our efforts aimed at the optimiza-
tion of the services in this area and the increase of the tasks entrusted to
the surveyor. We also try to make our voice heard at European level.
And what are your on-going projects?
We are currently revising the Multilateral Accord text in order to simplify it
and to propose it for signing to other countries, the main aim being to
maintain the high quality of our services. At the same time, we help CLGE
to elaborate a dynamic Professional Knowledge Base over Europe for our
profession and provide support for other projects. We are also active in
several countries such as Spain and Croatia to provide our support to the
local associations.
7
Latest News? Visit www.geoinformatics.com September 2012
Ne ws l e t t e r
Landmark ruling by the Highest Court in Belgium
The Belgian CLGE Non Prot Member Association OBGE asbl, reports
that it has obtained a landmark ruling by the Highest Court in April 2012
www.obge-bole.be look for Agent). The text is available in Flemish,
French and German, the three Belgian national languages).
A Flemish Decree was under scrutiny after complaints by architects and
real estate agents considering it as discriminatory against their profes-
sions. Since December 2010, the Flemish municipalities and other local
bodies have had the opportunity to appoint private sworn-in surveyors to
perform valuations of real estate properties that the public authorities
want to purchase or sell. This was challenged by associations and indi-
viduals of the above mentioned professions. The Highest Court has reject-
ed their complaints and thereby conrmed the Flemish Decree.
The judges have based their decision on a very detailed analysis includ-
ing following points:
Surveyors are well educated and trained to perform these tasks
They are sworn-in and this is an interesting asset
Additionally they offer the highest guarantees of independence and impar-
tiality
It goes without saying that this ruling is very important not only for the
Flemish but also for all the Belgian surveyors. It may also have some
European implications, since this is a very signicant and interesting
precedent for our profession.
Therefore, it is important that such information is spread amongst the pro-
fession, and brought to the knowledge of lawmakers at the EU and nation-
al levels.
Francis Gbele, Surveyor, Belgian Delegate.
REMINDER: Take part in the 3rd CLGE Conference of the European Surveyor, 11 October 2012 in Hanover, Germany.
http://www.intergeo.de/en/Registration_online.html
Ne ws l e t t e r
September 2012
100 Years of cadastral surveying in Switzerland
Established 100 years ago, the official Cadastral Survey of Switzerland is a collective undertaking of
the confederation, the cantons, the municipalities and of the private sector. Together, these different
actors map out the parcels of land and their position. The limits and location of the buildings, as well
as river alignments and forest edges are thus defined. The official cadastral survey makes an impor-
tant contribution to secure more than 750 billion of mortgage credits in Switzerland, particularly thanks
to a private-public partnership, whose foundations were defined 100 years ago!
Every beginning is difficult
We must go back to the 17th century to trace the most ancient
large-scale maps, which laid out the premises of cadastral survey-
ing. One hundred years later, the realization of a cadastral survey
covering the entire country was discussed for the rst time at a polit-
ical level. This idea, however, has not materialized due to the brevi-
ty of the Helvetic Republic (April 12, 1798, to March 10, 1803).
At the beginning of the 19th century, the ofcial survey even ended
up in the hands of Napoleons geographers. From the 1860s
onward, a great number of institutions carried out measurements in
Switzerland by their own means and for their own account. The
standardization at the federal level was made possible only after
the year 1889, when the legislative authority was passed over to
the Confederation. However, the real ofcial cadastral survey
began only in 1912.
Discreet and reliable
Many evolutions have marked the century of existence of the ofcial
cadastral survey. While at the beginning many actors worked in isola-
tion and independently from each other, the extremely smooth collab-
oration between the various administrative departments at all levels
and the private sector is a source of pride today. Computers have now
replaced the drawing boards and modern technology has consider-
ably simplied surveying data access for the nal customer. One thing
that hasnt changed over the years is the fact that the ofcial cadastral
survey carries out its task reliably and without great fanfare.
100-year anniversary in 2012
Cadastral surveying in Switzerland is celebrating its 100-year
anniversary in 2012. This is to mark the enactment of the Swiss Civil
Code in 1912, which established a nationally standardized land
registration and cadastral surveying system, unifying the former
diverse cantonal and regional solutions into one system.
For all the participants, such as the Federal Ofce of Topography,
the IGS (Swiss Surveyors Engineers)
and the association of the Swiss can-
tons, the anniversary is an ideal
opportunity to take a look into the
future as well as to remember the past
with a centennial publication and
special commemorative postage
stamp and jigsaw.
Centennial publication
The 100-year anniversary is an ideal
opportunity to take a look back and into
the future:
More than 30 authors contributed to our
centennial publication.
On 144 pages readers get to know
cadastral surveying of yesterday, today,
and tomorrow.
The publication is available in German,
French, and Italian
Order: www.cadastre.ch/2012 > Shop
Official celebrations
Celebrations have started on Wednesday, May 9, 2012 at
Federation Square in Berne
The ofcial Day of Cadastral Surveying was held on Saturday,
May 12, 2012 with events in all 26 Swiss cantons.
An overview of all activities, further information and order forms
for the jigsaw and publication, are available at
www.cadastre.ch/2012/ or from infovd@swisstopo.ch.
Commemorative Post stamp
View of the Federation Square in
Bern with the jigsaw
View of the Parliament Building in Bern
8
11
September 2012
Ar t i c l e
Combining surveying and mapping technologies
Topcon and Site Management
Since November 2010, Schlter fr Baumaschinen has been in partnership with Topcon to distribute
machine control solutions throughout Germany and offers modern construction systems adapted to
specialised customer requirements. Working in partnership with Topcon, Schlter has identified and
deployed cutting-edge survey technology, combining terrestrial and mobile LiDAR mapping.
L
arge-scale mining operations across the
globe have frequently become develop-
mental sites for advanced positioning
technologies. Think of a mine or quarry site
as a fty year construction project on a very
large scale. What is economically or
chronologically unfeasible for the typical
earthwork construction site can be deployed
at a mine or quarry where cost and imple-
mentation factors can be spread out over
longer periods of time.
Permanent GNSS reference stations can be
installed to provide RTK corrections for
machine guidance and survey rover at cen-
timetric level accuracy. Automated haul
trucks can operate around the clock to
achieve maximum productivity based on
algorithms that derive the most efcient rout-
ing; Autonomous drill rigs with GNSS
machine control place blast holes at precise,
pre-determined locations. Unmanned ore
trains carry excavated material to process-
ing facilities, often located at a considerable
distance from active mine areas.
Schlter solution
Since November 2010, Schlter fr Bau ma -
schinen has been in partnership with Topcon
to distribute machine control solutions
throughout Germany and offers modern con-
struction systems adapted to spe cia lised cus-
tomer requirements. The com panys business
model provides exactly the right solution for
complete life-cycle management with an
emphasis on follow-up service and support.
While control of machines can now be man-
aged efciently with positioning technology,
there are other tasks fundamental to mine
management that can benet greatly from
improvements in safety and efciency.
Surveying and mapping missions required
on a day-to-day basis are labour and cost
intensive. Personnel on foot at the mine site
with GNSS rovers or total stations must be
constantly aware of the movement of huge
machines around them. Their safety is con-
stantly at stake.
Working in partnership with Topcon,
Schlter has identied and deployed cutting-
edge survey technology, combining terrestri-
al and mobile LiDAR mapping. These com-
plimentary data sources provide a perfect
solution for comprehensive site manage-
ment. Automated machines clearly offer sig-
nicant cost savings and automated survey
methods are producing similar results.
Data Fusion
Topcons Mobile Mapping System over-
comes the challenges of mapping linear fea-
tures and large areas to a high level of accu-
racy. Precise vehicle positions are obtained
by three technologies: a dual frequency
GNSS receiver establishes a geospatial
position; an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU)
tracks vehicle pose; and a connection to the
wheel encoders provides odometer informa-
tion. These three technologies work together
to sustain a highly accurate 3D position for
the vehicle even in locations where satellite
signals can be blocked by obstructions such
as buildings, bridges, tree lines, or high
mine-site walls.
This Mobile Mapping system is used by
Schlter in the quarry environment to accu-
rately map all haul roads and active exca-
vations on site. An understanding of the
quality, gradient, and length of these roads
provides exactly the information required to
compute costs, plan both haul-road repair
work and the installation of new routes. The
data can be accessed in the ofce almost
immediately after a mapping run. The 360
spherical images merged with 3D point
clouds produced by the mobile mapping sys-
tem provides a comprehensive view of cur-
rent conditions as if the viewer were actual-
ly standing on site. Detailed investigation
and analysis can be made within the ofce
environment, facilitating management deci-
sions.
Static Scanning
Mobile mapping is of course limited to areas
with vehicular or ATV access. For inaccessi-
ble locations, or where a greater level of
detail is required, mobile mapping informa-
tion can be supplemented by the data col-
lected using a GLS-1500 static laser scan-
By Richard Rybka and Andrew Evans
Latest News? Visit www.geoinformatics.com
Topcons Mobile Mapping System overcomes the challenges of mapping linear features and large areas to a high level of accuracy.
ner. This tripod-mounted system produces
high quality images and laser-scans at a
range of up to 500 m with single point accu-
racy typically in the 4 7 mm range. Laser
scanner data is used primarily for measur-
ing walls / faces which are critical for blast
planning and excavation, detailed measure-
ment of structures (such as buildings and
conveyors), and measurement of material
stockpiles.
Combining high quality digital photography
with x,y,z point data in one single hardware
system is the signature feature of Topcons
positioning and imaging products. One
source of data alone is often insufcient for
a comprehensive view of target routes or
areas. Images provide instant visual recog-
nition of areas or features to be studied.
LiDAR point cloud data provides geospatial
information from which surfaces can be
derived, slopes can be dened, and other
types of engineering analyses can be per-
formed.
Accurate and complete information of the
quarry infrastructure is critical as an
increase of a few percent in gradient can
dramatically increase fuel cost as haul trucks
need to use more power to get up.
Conversely, the speed of the trucks going
down can get too fast so that brakes wear
faster than planned and equipment needs to
be serviced more often. Every bit of tweak-
ing makes a quarry even more protable;
imagine the cost savings over a time span
of 50 years.
The combination of these surveying and
mapping technologies provides mine and
quarry operators with critical information on
an as-needed basis under compressed time
schedules. The end result is safer, more ef-
cient, and cost effective methods to collect
essential data for operations, maintenance,
and planning.
Combined mobile mapping and scanning
has multiple applications:
3D historical site conditions documenta-
tion
Computation of haul road distances,
widths, slopes / gradients, clearances
Calculation of all transport costs (dis-
tance, weight, fuel, time)
Calculation of volumes changes for mate-
rial stockpiles and active mine faces
Cross sections for blast hole alignment
Rapid mapping and assessment of
changed conditions
Complete geospatial site management in
a GIS environment
Comprehensive information for planning
expansions and modications
Internet: www.topcon.eu
Ar t i c l e
12
September 2012
Mobile mapping is of course limited to areas with vehicular or ATV access. For inaccessible locations, or where a greater level of detail is required,
mobile mapping information can be supplemented by the data collected using a GLS-1500 static laser scanner.
Combining high quality digital photography with x,y,z point data in one single hardware system is the signature feature of Topcons positioning and imaging products.
Mapping a 3D Maze
The Underground World of M
In Mulu, Sarawak, Malaysia, what was created over millennia by water pushing through the lime-
stone bedding and faults to find the quickest route to the sea is now a crystal underground world
inhabited by bats and swifts. Surveying has been essential to the continuing discovery, providing
maps to guide the explorers back to their starting point; showing potential new entrances as they
approach the surface; and hinting at new discoveries as cave passages follow major faults, bedding
planes, and drainage horizons. But what surveying technology and methods have survived this harsh
environment to map this 3D maze?
C
onditions within Mulu are not ideal
for surveying equipment, or people
for that matter. The humidity is typi-
cally 100 % and the temperature 30 C (86
F). Getting to the caves still requires
machete work through rattan and vines;
climbing through roots, dense undergrowth,
and limestone pinnacles; wading through
streams and mud; and frequent tropical
storms. Most people stay fully covered,
despite the heat and humidity, so as to avoid
cuts and scratches that can quickly become
infected. It also provides some protection
against the leeches, horseies, and mos -
quitoes.
The success of early expeditions conducted
by the Mulu Caves Project depended to a
large extent upon good surveying. The sur-
veys were needed not only to illustrate the
amazing discoveries being made but also
because much of the scientic program
relied upon accurate surveying. Nearly all
the cave passages were surveyed as they
were discovered by small teams of two or
three surveyors. The instruments typically
used were compasses and clinometers with
30 m (100 ft) bron tapes. Back at camp,
survey drawing was limited to transferring
notes onto graph paper with the help of a
protractor and ruler. Later, programmable
14
September 2012
Ar t i c l e
By Kevin Dixon
Tim Allen steadying the Disto DXT on a stalagmite station (Photo Robbie Shone)
calculators made the task much easier. Field drawings were always limit-
ed to graph paper and were drawn up in ink and Letraset only after
returning to the UK.
Surveying Today
The 2011 expedition had a number of ambitious goals over the sched-
uled six weeks, many of which were surveying related. Teams of 2 4
people did the surveying with one designated note-taker eld sketching
the cave and tabulating the readings on a waterproof notepad. A sec-
ond person operated the instruments, shouting the readings to the note-
taker.
Leica DISTO DXT and DISTO D8 laser distance meters from Leica
Geosystems were taken on the Mulu 2011 expedition in addition to com-
passes and clinometers. The DISTO D8 with a built-in clinometer meant
we could reduce the number of clinometers used plus it had the advan-
tage of greater inclination accuracy and could measure up to 200 m
Ar t i c l e
15

Mulu

Survex plot looking from the west showing all Mulu caves and the wireframe,
scale bar total length is 10km.
Kevin Dixon assisted by Jane Allen setting up the SR530 GPS on a fallen tree in the centre of the Terikan
Resurgence River (Photo Robbie Shone)
(656 ft). We had to avoid water and mud
with the Leica DISTO D8 but it was worth it
as we measured distances of up to 186 m
(610 ft) to reective targets, often using the
Leica DISTO D8 digital pointnder with our
high-powered headlamps to identify distant
targets. By surveying extra-long legs, we
expected the accuracy to be improved com-
pared to more traditional, shorter survey
legs.
It was the rst time we used the Leica DISTO
DXT. Its higher IP rating (IP65) meant greater
resistance to mud and water. This was an
advantage as we could keep the DISTO DXT
slung around our necks, ready to use for
quick measurements of passage dimensions
usually left and right walls, ceilings and
oors in the direction of surveying. We used
the same equipment and techniques for sur-
face traversing to connect cave entrances to
xed control stations. A feature of both laser
distance meters that was greatly appreciat-
ed was the internal memory, which allowed
the note-taker to check results and avoid
transcription errors.
Establishing Controls
A dual frequency GPS receiver, a Leica
SR530, was taken on the expedition to
determine a set of consistent control points
across the Mulu area, with particular
emphasis on accurate height determination.
Stations were determined by the availability
of a clear sky for good satellite visibility,
which in primary jungle is difcult to nd.
Some stations were set in clearings that had
been made within the park by the local
authorities for emergency evacuation by
helicopter. One location, just outside the
park boundaries, had been recently cleared
by the indigenous population.
Thankfully, satellite visibility was good and
the survey did not have to be repeated. The
static 30 second GPS data was Precise Point
Positioned (PPP) by the Jet Propulsion
Laboratory, using their free online service.
The resulting absolute position accuracies
ranged from 0.02 to 1.09 m (0.8 to 42.9
in), with the majority at the 0.1 m (4 in) level
or better. The 1.09 m (42.9 in) result was
not unexpected. It was from the worst site
for visibility at the Terikan River Resurgence
with a narrow eld of view above the river
and a large cliff immediately to the east.
Expedition Summary
A total of 15.2 km (9.4 mi) of new cave pas-
sages were explored and surveyed, which
included adding 13.4 km (8.3 mi) to the
Clearwater System, making it 189 km
(117.4 mi) long and the 8th longest cave in
the world. Two new caves were found and
surveyed. Eight geodetic GPS points were
surveyed. A total of 26.2 million laser scan
data points were collected from Deer Cave
and Sarawak Chamber, traversing 3.4 km
(2.1 mi) with 36 setups. Sarawak Chamber,
the worlds largest underground chamber,
was photographed using Megaash bulbs
and a Panorama setup. What takes people
half way round the world to suffer, survey,
and pay for the privilege? Curiosity and
wonder seem to play a large part, knowing
that you are the rst person to explore and
survey a place, nding out what is round
the corner and discovering crystal
speleothems, the formation of which is not
yet understood. Large areas of Mulu lime-
stone have no known cave. This is sure to
spur future expeditions.
Kevin Dixon is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, a Land
Surveyor with a Degree in Computer Science and Mathematics from
the University of York, UK, where he is based. kdxn@yahoo.com.
Reprinted from Reporter 66, with thanks to Konraad Saal and the
author.
Ar t i c l e
16
September 2012
Preliminary Report Map
C
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The geo mobile market is hotting up. Google, and Esri are actively extending
their already impressive geo product offerings. Apple, and Amazon are now
adding maps to their mix. Venture capital money is pouring into the location
based services (LBS) sector. That means more innovation and a greater selec-
tion of geo-focused location apps.
L
ets spend a moment tracing the history of the geo-
sector over the last 15 years. Esri historically dom-
inated the sector. Focused on desktop maps and
GIS, they provided sophisticated geospatial software.
In the late 90s they began to gently migrate from the
desktop to the Web with the release of the Internet
Map Server or IMS range of products. These includ-
ed ArcObjects IMS, ArcView IMS and ArcIMS.
MapQuest was also a popular launch in the late 90s.
Then in 2005, Google out of the blue released Google
maps. This launch shook the geospatial market to its
core. Suddenly large quantities of geo-data were
made available for free. And developers were provid-
ed with tools, or APIs, to start building their own Web
based mapping applications. Others jumped in includ-
ing Microsoft. But Google had taken the geospatial
world by the scruff of the neck.
Esri reacted quickly, and with ArcGIS closed some of
the gap. Though it is worth noting Esri have always
been a GIS focused company with its core client base
in the public sector. While Google have never claimed
to be a GIS company, increasingly much of their prod-
uct mix overlaps with traditional GIS. Weve called
elements of their product mix GIS-lite in our blog.
Smartphones and tablets
Enter smartphones and tablets. Initially led by Apples
iPhone and iPad, Google were quick to release
Android. New well-funded start-ups appeared, look-
ing to provide consumer focused marketing mobile
apps, which attempted to inuence buyers behavior
at the location of a potential purchase. Foursquare is
a notable example. Wars began between mobile
hardware and platform providers respectively; Apple
versus Adobe over Flash player, iOS versus Android.
As during the early days of the Internet, consumers
have been quick adopters of mobile technology, while
the business sector has sat on the sidelines.
As the mobile revolution moves through its growing
pains, its increasing popularity will have a huge
impact on the geo-focused technology sector. Mobility
and, through GPS, users current location will make
location-focused technology a part of many if not all
mobile apps. More and more we read about mobile
location-technology solutions. Esri have just released
ArcGIS Online which, though not exclusively for
mobile, will make publishing and mobile access to
location based data considerably easier. Google have
announced the imminent release of technology to
allow mobile access to ofine map and location data.
In June 2012 Apple announced the launch of Apple
Maps. Amazon recently disclosed it had acquired
UpNext for an undisclosed sum.
ArcGIS Online
It will be interesting to see how these so called map
wars play out. Google are now releasing products
which move them closer to traditional GIS. Their prod-
ucts sit between the consumer and business focused
worlds. Esri have not repeated their mistakes of the
mid-2000s when they were surprised by Google.
With ArcGIS Online they have a very impressive plat-
form ideal for mobile. Apple will replace Google
Maps with Apple Maps. Clearly a competitive move
to both attract users to iOS, and away from Android.
And allow Apple to enter the consumer focused loca-
tion based services (LBS) sector. The potential entry of
Amazon and continued growth of the location based
services sector, further thicken the plot.
The geo-sector was always a niche. The Internet and
launch of Google maps helped increasing the gener-
al awareness of the usefulness of maps and location.
The mobile revolution will move the location-based
sector to front and center. Location technology will be
integrated into most mobile apps. Providers of mobile
location solutions will need to gear up.
By Matt Sheehan
Matt Sheehan is Principal and Senior
Developer at WebmapSolutions. The com-
pany build location focused mobile appli-
cations for GIS, mapping and location
based services (LBS). Matt can be
reached at matt@webmapsolutions.com.
Map Wars
C o l u mn
18
September 2012
3D City Modeling in Singapore
Mobile Mapping and UAV Data
The SEC-FCL (Singapore ETH Centre-Future Cities Laboratory) has commissioned a mission to laser-scan
the Campus of NUS (National University of Singapore) with a Mobile Mapping System. It will be added
to the already existing 800 aerial images produced with a UAV (octocopter) in February 2012. The
final aim is to produce a very high resolution 3D model of the NUS campus.
Introduction
In a worldwide unique effort a multi-source
dataset has been generated which can provide
for new algorithmic and procedural approach-
es in 3D city modeling. The SEC-FCL (Singapore
ETH Centre-Future Cities Laboratory) has com-
missioned a mission to laser-scan the Campus
of NUS (National University of Singapore) with
a Mobile Mapping System. This was achieved
within 3 hours. This data reects 16.7 km of
scanned roads, consists of 154 GB of point
clouds and large sequences of video street
images (8166 images at 34 GB). It will be
added to the already existing 800 aerial images
produced with a UAV (octocopter) in February
2012. The nal aim is to produce a very high
resolution 3D model of the NUS campus.
Data acquisition
The data was produced having several purpos-
es in mind:
For practical applications: Generation of a
most complete campus model, including ter-
rain, buildings (partially) with facades,
roads, other infrastructures like sports facili-
ties, vegetation, etc.
For research: To have a data set available
for advanced studies, which can both serve
to test newly developed algorithms and pro-
cedures and as a basis for quality control
This is for the rst time worldwide that such data
are being combined in an effort to make best
use of information contained in aerial and ter-
restrial images as well as in terrestrial point
clouds. The processing of the data is quite chal-
lenging and requires new approaches to 3D
modeling from multi-source data.
The Mobile Mapping project was performed by
ARTESCAN - 3D Scanning, a company based
in Portugal. The system consists of a RIEGL VMX-
250, including two RIEGL VQ-250 scanners and
a IMU/GNSS unit. This is amended by two
video cameras and an odometer. The system
provides a measuring rate of up to 600 kHz
and online waveform processing. Figure 1
shows the MMS at work in Singapore.
The value adding stage
While raw data acquisition both with UAV sand
MMS is quite efcient, the true challenge lies in
the value adding stage, the derivation of pre-
cise, reliable and complete models. Here the
fact that UAV aerial images and terrestrial point
clouds and images have been collected at dif-
ferent times (about 3 month time difference) will
pose an added complication to an otherwise
already very demanding problem.
We also must note a few other problems, which
are inherent to this kind of application and tech-
nology. The NUS campus is a very complex
object, with up to 75 m internal terrain height
differences, some very high and many complex
buildings and extensive tropical vegetation,
interfering in many places with man-made
objects. The blocking of signals in GNSS data
acquisition poses a serious problem, which can-
not be fully compensated by the other sensors
on board (IMU and odometer). But by combin-
ing the processing of the terrestrial MMS data
with that of aerial UAV images, the drift of the
point clouds (caused by the uncontrolled drift of
the IMU system) can be compensated. The usual
addition of more GCPs determined terrestrially
can thus be avoided.
Since the directions of the roads on campus vary
greatly within small areas, the optical axis of the
MMS cameras will point in all, often in unwant-
ed directions (e.g. towards the sun). Thus the
resulting image acquisition is very problematic
and the image quality poor in many cases.
In another effort 6.4 km of Little India (Rochor)
was also recorded by the MMS. This data will
be combined with a 3D roof landscape model,
which was already derived from IKONOS
stereo satellite images.
Finally we would like to acknowledge the very
good cooperation with the company ARTES-
CAN 3D Scanning Lda., Portugal, which was
responsible for the MMS raw data acquisition
in Singapore.
Prof. em. Dr. Armin Gruen, agruen@geod.baug.ethz.ch
Institute of Conservation and Building Research,
ETH Zurich, Switzerland
Currently Principal Investigator at the Singapore-ETH Centre FCL
(Future Cities Laboratory), CREATE Tower, University Town, NUS,
Singapore
For more information, have a look at www.futurecities.ethz.ch.
20
September 2012
Ar t i c l e
By Armin Gruen
Figure 1: RIEGL MMS collecting data on the roads
of Singapore. Courtesy ARTESCAN
Track Renewal in Central Germany
Pre-Surveying Helps Keep
Railroads on Track
The need for speed and ride comfort for both passenger and freight operations puts high demands on
the fundamental elements of railway infrastructurethe roadbed and tracks. Roadbed and track qual-
ity must be established during initial construction and maintained over time. Since much of the work
whether new construction or routine maintenancedepends upon accurately establishing or verifying
the track position, high-accuracy survey technology is critical.
I
n 2011, Germanys primary
railway service provider
Deutsche Bahn AG awarded
a contract to Spitzke SE, one of
Germanys biggest rail infrastruc-
ture companies, for a track-
renewal project in the state of
Hessen. The project required
replacing the existing sleepers
and rails along roughly 8 km (5
mi) of the route between the
towns of Sontra and Cornberg.
Part of a main north/south line,
the route is used primarily by
freight trains as well as regional
and night passenger trains.
As a rst step, a track-renewal
train replaced the old sleepers
and rails with new ones. Next, the approximately placed track was
precisely aligned, both horizontally and vertically. For this, Spitzke SE
used a Dynamic Stopfexpress 09-3X tamping machine from Plasser &
Theurer. These huge, rail-bound machines raise the track by the required
amount, compress the ballast beneath every sleeper using hydraulic
tamping picks, and perform the lateral alignment during the same run.
The amount of horizontal or vertical correction required depends on
the track deviation from its specied position after track-laying or bal-
last maintenance work has been done. This deviation is determined by
a process called pre-surveying.
Before starting any tamping run, the pre-surveying process precisely
captures the current track position in order to determine the deviation
and to obtain the right lifting and displacement values for the track,
explains Spitzke SE Surveying Engineer (Dipl. Ing. (FH)) Falko Soffner,
in charge of pre-surveying tasks for the Sontra/Cornberg track renewal
project.
To perform pre-surveying work, Spitzke SE uses the Trimble GEDO CE
Trolley System. This track measurement system consists of two
lightweight trolleys, each of which can be easily moved along the rails
by the surveyor or assistant. One trolley is equipped with a Trimble S-
series total station, while the second carries a xed prism. The trolleys
also have sensors to measure the
distance between the rails, the
cant (superelevation) and other
values. All the data is transferred
wirelessly to a Trimble TSC2 or
TSC3 Controller, which calcu-
lates the track deviation from the
specied position. The trolley sys-
tem, combined with Trimble
GEDO Vorsys, Trimble GEDO
Ofce, and Trimble GEDO Tamp
software, provides railway-level
accuracy with operational speed
and exibility.
Measurements are made using
control points typically installed
in each catenary support. The
total station accurately measures
the distance and the height difference to the control point and sends
the data to the TSC2 (or TSC3) controller. The measurement is repeat-
ed at the next catenary support. The prism trolley is then moved back
to the position captured at the rst support, and the prism's position is
measured. This creates an optical chord between the measured coordi-
nates. When the prism trolley is moved along the track, the total station
exactly follows the prism displacements and records any track devia-
tion from the optical chord. The data is immediately evaluated by the
TSC2 and used to calculate the actual position data.
Since the full set of alignment data is stored in the TSC2, the vertical
and horizontal shifts, the gauge and cant (superelevation) values, as
well as all the signicant points where the track geometry changes can
be seen at any time. This is a big advantage over other methods which
require manual calculation of the actual values. Because the surveying
work is often performed very shortly before the tamping machine starts
working, decisions on the tamping run parameters, such as the amount
of ballast required, must be applied on short notice. Having accurate
data readily available as early as possible makes the construction man-
agers life a bit easier.
Internet: www.trimble.com
22
September 2012
Ar t i c l e
By the editors
The Trimble GEDO CE Trolley System offers significant advantages over conventional surveying technology
for rail applications.
Simplifying the new digital frontier Location
Waytag
Waytag is a new player in the location-based services mar-
ket and offers location software which makes location
naming and sharing simple and easy to do. Consumers
and businesses can attach a location to a name, make it
updatable and then store it in a universally accessible
repository. A tie up with TomTom equips the company with
global maps and imagery so that users have the tools to
accurately place themselves on the map and be visible
across a range of platforms, solutions and devices.
L
ocation is currently a hot area of develop-
ment in the digital software arena, driven
largely by the impact of smart phones
changing how people access the Internet and
shop. The potential of the hardware and soft-
ware of smart phones is being harnessed to
enable the contextual power of GPS, com-
pass, accelerometer and altimeter to deliver
consumers with a raft of new services.
Whether consumers are shopping, working or
exercising, location based software services
can add value and drive purchasing deci-
sions.
Historically location based innovation has
been driven to meet more basic consumer
needs such as local search (e.g. Google, Yelp,
Angies list) and social recognition (eg.
Facebook places, Foursquare) but in future
applications will be even more contextually
relevant and therefore more powerful in their
ability to persuade consumers and develop
new habits of consumption. The rapidly
changing pace of innovation in the location
arena means that new brands can revolu-
tionise the status quo and incumbent brands
risk loosing momentum.
One of the drivers in location innovation in
the last ve years has been the widespread
availability of mapping and navigation soft-
ware much of which is either free on the
web or bundled into smart phone handsets
and available via iTunes and Android app
stores.
Navigation and mapping has evolved consid-
erably with the means of distribution chang-
ing from print to handheld hardware devices
to software downloads. Mapping software
downloads is a top 5 activity amongst smart
phone users in the USA according to Nielsen
research, coming in 4th after games, weather
and social applications in a recent study.
However, navigation and mapping software
is not as simple and easy to use as consumers
would like it to be there is a distinct lack of
relevant local content and the accuracy of
information is often questionable, leaving con-
sumers at times lost, confused and frustrated
(ever navigated to a business address and not
found it rst time?). Because of dynamic nature
of the global economy, cities are changing
and businesses are moving creating a lag
between mapping and reality, particularly in
emerging markets.
To further fuel location based application
growth, location sharing needs to evolve so
that locations on maps become more dynam-
ic, more user friendly and more up to date.
Waytag has a solution for this which makes
location naming and sharing simple and easy
to do and that users, whether they are con-
sumers or businesses owners, should be con-
dent that the info they have at hand is accu-
rate and up to date.
What is a Waytag and what
makes it special?
A Waytag attaches a location to a name,
makes it updatable and then stores it in a uni-
versally accessible repository. What a domain
name is to an IP address, a Waytag is to a
GPS coordinate.
When a business creates or claims a Waytag,
because it will be owned and managed by
the end user, it always has last mile accuracy.
No one knows better than a business owner
that location is important and business own-
ers will make sure the information is accurate.
They can also add rich information like con-
tact details so that consumers searching for
them nd all pertinent information at hand.
Business users can also add 6 free keywords
to their Waytag, which links their business to
potential search queries from consumers and
ensures they show up in search results where
relevant. Search results are listed by proximity
& query relevance to the searchers location.
Once a Waytag is created by a business
owner, they can share it across the full spec-
trum of their marketing media campaigns
whether it be electronic, print or digital media
they need only communicate one word, their
!waytag. On social media it is frictionless pro-
cess, once a Waytag is created it is shared
across all a brands social media platforms
immediately - ideal for new store launches or
new branch openings.
Unlike social media based business locations,
a Waytag is visible across all social media
platforms and is not contained within a walled
garden. Users can create a Waytag and
share it anywhere.
Waytags are also for consumers too, users
can create a waytag for their home (useful for
out of town family and friends or home deliv-
eries), work and mobile. Mobile Waytags
enable them to reveal their location to select
people based on their privacy settings, which
means that their friends or contacts can navi-
gate to where they are (meet me at !BobMobi
is easier than guring out which Starbucks
store they mean on the East side of town).
All Waytags start with ! and are free, for life.
Our tie up with TomTom
Thanks to TomTom, the Waytag landscape
is populated with over 20 million business
users who are visible in near me and key-
word search. These businesses can now
claim their business location and name it
with their brand name.
Creating, updating and sharing !waytag
location information relies on the ability to
display the content on a map. Our deal with
TomTom equips us with global maps and
imagery so that our users, both consumers
and business, have the tools to accurately
place themselves on the map and be visible
across a range of platforms, solutions and
24
September 2012
Ar t i c l e
By Nicholas Bednall
devices. TomTom iOS application users can
now easily navigate to a !waytag rather
than entering a full address into the search
bar.
Waytags are visible across multiple map
solutions and users are offered the opportu-
nity of choosing between TomTom, Google
Maps or Navigon when they navigate with-
in the Waytag App.
Waytag location software is designed so
that developers can utilize the location nam-
ing and sharing power for their own appli-
cations. The API is free and developers are
supported with Waytag developer tools, a
sandbox area with a sample of LIVE data
for testing application, access to more than
20 million businesses using the Waytag
search facility and access to maps and
imagery.
Waytag encourage developers to develop
applications that make the world a simpler
and better place. In order to do that, they
need to make location simple and thats
where Waytag comes in.
Waytag has already gained global recog-
nition by being selected as one of the top
20 Tech Start Ups in the World, at The Next
Web 2012 competition in Amsterdam.
For more information: www.waytag.com.
A r t i c l e
25
September 2012
All Waytags start with !
and are free, for life.
C
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Increasing demand for fresh water and improved water management puts
pressure on governments at all levels to improve terrestrial water monitoring
and management. To support such efforts, the OGC has introduced a new stan-
dard that makes it much easier than before for hydrology stakeholders to inte-
grate diverse hydrological data from different sources.
Thus there is an increasing need for monitoring pro-
grams to share observational data with other organisa-
tions that may have an interest in the data. The difcul-
ty is that hydrological data are collected by many
organizations with different missions, and usually their
data models and methods have been developed at var-
ious times without effective data coordination.
WaterML2.0 is a standard information model for the
representation of water observations data, developed
for the exchange of such data sets across information
systems. Through the use of the Web's ubiquitous
eXtensible Markup Language (XML) and existing OGC
standards, WaterML2.0 provides an interoperable
exchange format that may be used to address a wide
range of exchange requirements. It supports traditional
data coordination efforts and also provides a new facil-
ity for automated integration of data sets and data
streams that use different data models. Nothing quite
like it has ever been developed in an open, widely inclu-
sive, international consensus process, and it promises
to be a very important tool for hydrologists and all those
who depend on hydrological data.
WaterML2.0 is a product of the OGC Hydrology
Domain Working Group (Hydrology DWG), a Joint
Working Group of the World Meteorological
Organisation (WMO) and the OGC. Members of the
OGC Hydrology Domain Working Group rst investi-
gated and compared various countries' existing stan-
dards and initiatives for the exchange of hydrological
observations. Based on their study, the working group
developed an OGC compliant conceptual information
model and encoding that harmonises existing deni-
tions with OGC standards. The model and encoding,
set forth in WaterML2.0, were recently adopted by the
OGC membership as an ofcial OGC encoding stan-
dard.
WaterML 2.0 is implemented as an application schema
of the OGC Geography Markup Language (GML)
Encoding Standard version 3.2.1 and makes use of the
OGC Observations and Measurements (O&M) model
and encoding standards. It is thus compatible with a
wide variety of geospatial and sensor web systems. It
provides for 3D and time series data.
One piece of work that was investigated for the devel-
opment of WaterML2.0 was the existing WaterML 1.0
(and 1.1), developed by CUAHSI (the Consortium of
Universities for the Advancement of Hydrologic
Science, Inc.) As this work had signicant traction in
the US, the name has been continued for use with the
OGC standard version. OGC WaterML2.0, however,
harmonizes a number of standards, from various coun-
tries, with existing OGC standards and is signicantly
different from WaterML1.0 and 1.1.
The WaterML2.0 work was supported through a water
information research and development alliance
between the Australian Commonwealth Scientic and
Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) Water for a
Healthy Country Flagship program and the Australian
Bureau of Meteorology. The work was also supported
by CUAHSI and many other organizations around the
world. The following organizations submitted the can-
didate standard to the OGC membership for adoption:
CSIRO (Australia)
San Diego Supercomputer Center (US)
Australian Bureau of Meteorology
Geological Survey of Canada, Natural Resources Canada
US Geological Survey
KISTERS AG (Germany)
US NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)
Deltares (Netherlands)
Federal Waterways Engineering and Research Institute (Germany)
disy Informationssysteme GmbH (Germany)
German Federal Institute of Hydrology
International Office For Water Sandre (France)
By David Lemon, Research Stream Leader
- Water Informatics, Commonwealth
Scientific and Industrial Research
Organisation (CSIRO), Australia.
Ilya Zaslavsky, Director of Spatial
Information Systems Laboratory, San
Diego Supercomputer Center, University of
California at San Diego, USA
Ulrich Looser, Head of Global Runoff Data
Center (GRDC), Federal Institute of
Hydrology, Germany
WaterML 2.0: New Tool for
Water Resource Management
C o l u mn
28
September 2012
Figure 1: WaterML2.0 can be used to encode and integrate conventional hydrolog-
ical data as well as new types of observations such as those provided by the cos-
mic ray soil moisture (CRSM) sensor, a new instrument that uses neutron mea-
surement technology to measure soil moisture integrated over a region
approximately 600 metres in diameter and up to 50 cm in depth. (Figures from
CSIRO: http://research.ict.csiro.au/research/labs/information-engineering/ie-lab-
projects/cosmos-soil-moisture)
The Visual Intelligence company has developed a family of modular and scaleable airborne digital
camera systems that are based on its Iris One Sensor Tool Kit Architecture (iOne STKA). This architec-
ture utilizes multiple camera modules that can be equipped with a variety of CCD formats and lenses
to provide extended ground coverage in various alternative configurations. The article reviews the
several different systems that have been developed, including both their hardware and software, and
describes the calibration procedures that are used to establish their metric properties. The companys
planned future developments are also outlined.
I - Introduction & Background
Multiple camera systems comprising various
combinations of vertical and oblique point-
ing cameras have long been part of the aeri-
al photographic scene. The use of fans
of such cameras has been popular for many
years, especially in aerial reconnaissance
operations where they provide extended
cross-track coverage, in some cases, from
horizon-to-horizon. The usual arrangement
consists of a single nadir pointing camera
in combination with either two (or four)
oblique pointing cameras. The shutters of all
three (or ve) cameras in the fan are trig-
gered to re simultaneously. Thus all the
resulting photographs in a set will have been
acquired from a single position in the air.
Older examples (from many) of such fans
that utilized lm cameras are (i) the
Bagley three-lens camera systems manu-
factured by Bausch & Lomb and used by the
U.S. Army Air Service during the 1920s
[Fig.1]; and (ii) the Tri-Metrogon system
[Fig. 2] employing three Fairchild K-17
standard-format (23 x 23 cm) metric cam-
eras that was used extensively by the U.S.
Army Air Force for aeronautical mapping
and charting purposes during World War II
(WW-II).
Turning to more modern times, the Carl
Zeiss KRb 8/24 tri-lens lm camera series
[Fig.3] with up to 143 cross-track coverage
have been used extensively by Canadian,
German and French air forces, including a
version that has been used in the Canadair
CL-289 drone (UAV) aircraft. Also the Tri-
Metrogon conguration has continued to be
used, for example in the German Tupolev
Tu-154M Open Skies aircraft, employing
three Carl Zeiss Jena LMK 15/23 map-
ping cameras [Fig. 4]. Furthermore the later
Carl Zeiss KS-153 reconnaissance cam-
eras have been produced in both three and
ve lens forms [Fig. 5] and have been used
widely by NATO air forces, including the
U.S. Navy (on F-14 aircraft) and the
German Luftwaffe (on Tornado aircraft).
Indeed a number of these cameras are still
in operational service.
All of the above examples have utilized lm
cameras. However the fan conguration
has remained popular in the digital cam-
era era. An example is the DLR-3k cam-
era system [Fig. 6] employing three small-
format cameras, which is in use by the
German Space Agency (DLR). Currently
both IGI (with its Triple-DigiCam system) and
Leica Geosystems within its RCD30 multi-
head range offer similar three-camera fan
congurations, but using medium-format
cameras instead of the small-format cameras
used in the DLR-3k system. There is even an
echo of the WW-II Tri-Metrogon system with
the advent recently of the Russian Tupolev
Tu-214 ON Open Skies aircraft, which is
being equipped with three Intergraph Z/I
DMC-II140 large-format digital cameras
[Fig. 7] in a Tri-Metrogon conguration to
30
September 2012
Ar t i c l e
By Gordon Petrie
Fig. 1 A Bagley T-1A three-lens camera system with focal lengths
of f = 125 mm for the central (nadir-pointing) lens and f = 178
mm for the two wing (oblique-pointing) lenses. (Source:
Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum)
Fig. 2 An example of a Tri-Metrogon camera installation comprising
three separate Fairchild K-17 metric film cameras with f = 152 mm
lenses as mounted in a Boeing B17 bomber aircraft and used during
World War II. (Source: USAF)
Fig. 3 The Carl Zeiss KRb 8/24 Tri-lens camera has been used in
numerous NATO manned and UAV aircraft. (Source: Carl Zeiss)
Fig. 4 The three Carl Zeiss Jena LMK photogrammetric film cam-
eras mounted in a Tri-Metrogon configuration in the German Tupolev
Tu-154M Open Skies aircraft. (Source: IGI)
Based on its iOne Sensor Tool Kit Architecture
Visual Intelligences Iris One
provide the required wide-angle coverage
of the ground during its monitoring ights.
II The iOne STKA & ARCA
(a) Single ARCA Conguration
The latest additions to this multiple camera
fan type of aerial camera system are the
Iris One systems that have been developed
by the Visual Intelligence company based
on its iOne Sensor Tool Kit Archi -
tecture (iOne STKA). The company
which is located in Houston, Texas in the
U.S.A. was originally called M7 Visual
Intelligence prior to the sale of its sister air-
craft component and repair business (M7
Aerospace) in 2010, after which, the com-
pany assumed its present title. The Iris One
is a modular and scaleable digital aerial
camera system that is based on the so-called
ARCA (Arched Retina Camera Array) tech-
nology on which Visual Intelligence holds a
number of patents. The system features a
rigid ARCA or bridge into which an array
or fan of three or ve digital cameras can
be tted with a choice of lenses and CCD
formats [Fig. 8 (a)]. This conguration
allows the optical axis of each individual
camera in the array to intersect, passing
through a single perspective centre [Fig. 8
(b)]. This particular arrangement has been
used in the Iris One 50 system (renamed
the Iris One Ortho 19 kps
(1)
system),
which is the specic model that has been
awarded Digital Aerial Sensor Certication
by the USGS in 2009.
[Note (1): In this particular context, Dr. Guevara,
CEO of Visual Intelligence, has coined the term
kps (kilo pixel swath), where 1 kps is a swath
that is 1,000 pixels wide. Different ARCA congu-
rations with different lenses, angular coverages
and CCD array formats allow systems to be con-
structed with swath widths of 11 kps up to 60 kps.]
(b) Double ARCA Congurations
A further and quite distinctive feature of the
scaleable ARCA technology is that an addi-
tional ARCA can be added in parallel to the
rst with the two ARCAs or bridges being
tted precisely together [Fig. 9 (a)]. This
allows the co-registration of all the images
Ar t i c l e
31
Fig. 5 (a) A Carl Zeiss KS-153 Tri-lens camera installed in a pod
mounted on a German Tornado aircraft. (b) & (c) Diagrams of the Carl
Zeiss KS-153 reconnaissance camera showing the lens design and ground
coverage in its Tri-lens form [in (b)]; and in its Penta-lens 53 form [in
(c)], providing fans of three and five photographs respectively in the
cross-track direction. (Source: Carl Zeiss)
Fig. 6 The DLR-3k three-camera system makes use of a fan of three
Canon EOS small-format digital cameras with one pointing vertically and
two obliquely to provide wide cross-track coverage. (Source: DLR)
Fig. 7 The Tri-Metrogon style arrangement of the three Intergraph
Z/IDMC-II140 large-format cameras that have been installed in the
RussianTupolev Tu-214ON Open Skies aircraft. (Source: Z/I Imaging)
Fig. 8 (a) This photo shows the rigid ARCA or bridge into which an
array or fan of three or five small-format cameras can be inserted.
(b) The geometric arrangement of an ARCA configuration. (Source: Visual
Intelligence)
[a]
[b]
[c]
[a]
[b]

e Airborne Camera Systems
produced by the two fans as required, for
example, in a multi-spectral version of
the Iris One system. This allows the set of
colour RGB images that have been record-
ed by the cameras mounted in the rst ARCA
or bridge to be co-registered with and
superimposed on the corresponding set of
near infra-red (NIR) images that have been
produced by the cameras mounted on the
second ARCA or bridge [Fig. 9 (b)]. Visual
Intelligence calls this its CoCo (Co-mount-
ed and Co-registered) system.
Another possibility with the double ARCA
arrangement is that the two sets of images
can be offset with respect to one another,
allowing them to be interlaced in order to
widen the eld of view and the cross-track
coverage that can be achieved from a sin-
gle ight. This particular conguration has
been adopted in the Iris One Hi5 system
[Fig. 10 (a)]. Depending on the focal length
of the lenses that have been selected and t-
ted to the camera modules and the CCD for-
mat size, this system can provide different
swath widths over the ground from a given
ying height. As shown in the two diagrams
[Figs. 10 (b) & (c)], the former provides a
10 km wide swath (using 11 Megapixel
camera modules), while the latter provides
a 12 km wide swath (using 16 Megapixel
camera modules) from a ying height (H) of
12 km (using a jet aircraft!). Fig.11 is a sam-
ple colour RGB frame image (described as
a single ARCA Virtual Frame) that has been
acquired by an Iris One system.
(c) Triple ARCA Congurations
With the addition of a third ARCA or
bridge (interlocked and butted together)
in parallel to the previous two ARCAs, still
more versatile congurations can be envis-
aged. One of these is the Iris One Stereo
camera system [Fig. 12 (a)]. With this, the
three ARCAs or bridges of the system
with their 9 varying-format camera modules
can be oriented either in the cross-track or
the along-track direction. The pattern of the
resulting ground coverage for each of these
two directions is shown in Figs. 12 (b) & (c).
When each camera module is tted with a
CCD array having a format size of 6,576 x
4,384 pixels = 29 Megapixels, then the
total coverage of a single set of the 9
images is 19,000 x 12,500 pixels. Using
cameras tted with f = 85 mm lenses, this
produces an angular coverage of 46 (cross-
track) x 70 (along-track) (12,500 x 19,000
pixels) with the cameras oriented in the
along-track direction [Fig. 12 (b)]. The
60 % longitudinal overlap along the ight
line that is produced when the cameras are
programmed to expose overlapping sets of
colour (RGB) images in a stereo convergent
conguration gives a base:height ratio of
0.6. When the system is rotated by 90
degrees into the cross-track direction
(19,000 x 12,500 pixels) [Fig. 12 (c)], this
yields a base:height ratio of 0.34, similar
to that achieved by the overlapping stereo-
32
September 2012
Fig. 9 (a) Showing two ARCAs or bridges fitted together in parallel
in a Lego-like arrangement. (b) Showing how the images produced by
the five colour (RGB) cameras fitted to the first ARCA are co-registered
with the five near infra-red (NIR) images produced by the cameras fitted
to the second ARCA. (Source: Visual Intelligence)
Ar t i c l e
Fig. 10 (a) An Iris One camera system. [N.B. The same enclosure cab-
inet is used for the Ortho, MS, Oblique, Stereo and Hi-5 models]. (b)
Diagrams showing the alternative ground coverage patterns with inter-
laced angular coverages that are produced by the Iris One Hi5 system
using cameras having different focal lengths and CCD sizes (11 Mpix or
16 Mpix). (Source: Visual Intelligence)
Fig. 11 A sample wide-swath colour RGB image frame that has been
acquired by an Iris One camera system. (Source: Visual Intelligence)
Fig. 12 (a) An Iris One Stereo camera system showing the 9 cameras mounted on three parallel ARCAs or bridges. (b) The pattern of ground cover-
age that is produced by the 9 camera array when set in the along-track direction. (c) The pattern of the ground coverage that is produced by the 9 cam-
era array in the cross-track direction. (Source: Visual Intelligence)
[a]
[b]
[a]
[b]
[a]
[b]
[b]
images that are produced by conventional
large-format digital mapping cameras.
Another possible arrangement of the exi-
ble three ARCAs or bridges of the Iris
One Stereo camera system is to employ
15 small-format cameras [Fig. 13 (a)], as set
out in a paper given by Dr. Hwangbo of
Visual Intelligence at the recent ASPRS 2012
Conference. The pattern of the ground cov-
erage that results if the cameras are orient-
ed in the along-track direction is shown in
Fig. 13 (b). When each camera is tted with
a CCD array having a 4,008 x 2,672 pix-
els = 11 Megapixel format, then the total
coverage of a single set of 15 images is
21,460 x 7,438 pixels. Using cameras t-
ted with f = 135 mm lenses, this produces
an angular coverage of 27 (cross-track) x
70 (along-track). The 60 % longitudinal
overlap along the ight line that is utilized
to produce overlapping sets of colour (RGB)
images in a stereo convergent conguration
gives a base:height ratio of 0.6 [Fig. 13 (c)].
This is similar to that achieved by the over-
lapping stereo-images that are produced by
conventional large-format (non-digital) map-
ping cameras.
III Camera & System
Calibration
One of the main applications of the various
Iris One systems is the topographic mapping
eld. Thus the metric side and, in particular,
the calibration of (i) each individual cam-
era in an ARCA or bridge; and (ii) that
of the overall camera system as a whole is
obviously a matter of prime concern. The
geometric calibration of each individu-
al camera is carried out in a laboratory
using a calibration cage [Fig. 14] that is t-
ted out with a set of well distributed and
highly reective coded targets, whose coor-
dinates have been determined to a precision
of 1mm in X and Y and 5 mm in Z.
Photographs of this target eld are taken
from a number of different positions and ori-
entations with each individual camera, so
providing a strong convergent geometry.
The images of all the targets that have been
recorded on each photograph are then mea-
sured. From this information, the value of the
focal length of the lens and the position of
the principal point of the frame image are
then determined for each individual camera,
together with the lens distortion values or
parameters. After each individual camera
has been calibrated, the relative position
and orientation of all the cameras within a
complete ARCA array are then determined
with respect to one other, again using the
known coordinates of the targets in the tar-
get eld. After this second stage of the cali-
bration process, a single composite vir-
tual frame image with a single
perspective centre can be dened using the
measured data from all the component
images that have been generated by the
array of modular cameras mounted on the
ARCA or bridge. These virtual frame
images can then be handled by any stan-
dard third-party photogrammetric software
solution.
The radiometric calibration that is also
carried out in the laboratory (outside under
natural light conditions) for the Iris One sys-
tem is a relative calibration (not an absolute
calibration) and includes colour and tonal
balancing, shading and aperture correction,
and smearing removal. The resulting data is
incorporated into a radiometric correction
software module for use during later image
processing operations. The module can also
separate the colour RGB images into their
individual component red, green and blue
images and interpolate the missing pixel val-
ues produced by the Bayer mosaic lter.
This laboratory calibration is supplemented
by a further in-ight geometric calibra-
tion that is carried out over a eld of sig-
nalized ground control points laid out in a
test area within the Houston metropolitan
region. This test area is overown by an air-
craft at a ying height (H) of 1 km. The Iris
One camera system is programmed to
expose its images with a large (80%) longi-
tudinal and (60%) lateral overlap. Cross-
strips are own as well as the parallel strips
of the main block of aerial photography cov-
ering the test area. Automatic image match-
ing of the target and tie points is carried out
on all the overlapping photographs that
have been exposed during the ight. A bun-
dle aerial triangulation and block adjust-
ment employing self-calibration is then
implemented using the BINGO software
from GIP in Aalen, Germany to generate
the nal coordinate values and their residu-
als at the ground control points. Needless
to say, the lever arm corrections that relate
the positions of the GPS antenna and the
IMU to the perspective centre of the virtu-
al frame photo will also be determined.
A large number of test ights of the Iris One
system have been undertaken by various
aerial photographic and mapping compa-
nies in the U.S.A. Numerous ights have
been undertaken for test purposes over a
range of ying heights by Aerial
Viewpoint, which is based locally in the
Houston area. Further extensive testing has
taken place in cooperation with Techmap,
a mapping company that is based in
Peachtree City, Georgia. Among the larger
American aerial mapping companies,
Sanborn, Fugro Horizons & Earth -
Data and Northrop Grumman 3001
Inc. have all conducted trial ights with Iris
One systems. Further test ights have also
Ar t i c l e
33
Fig. 13 (a) An Iris One Stereo camera system showing the 15 cam-
eras mounted on three parallel ARCAs or bridges. (b) The pattern of
the ground coverage that is produced by the 15 camera array oriented in
the along-track direction. (c) The 60 % longitudinal overlap that is pro-
duced by two successive sets of exposures from the Iris One Stereo sys-
tem gives a base: height ratio of 0.6. (Source: Visual Intelligence)
Fig. 14 The Visual Intelligence calibration cage.
(Source: Visual Intelligence)
[a]
[b]
[b]
been undertaken by INEGI, the
Mexican national mapping
agency. Purchasers of Iris One
systems include Aviation
Supplies, a leading supplier of
aircraft solutions in China. In the
U.S.A., McKim & Creed, a
surveying and mapping compa-
ny based in Raleigh, North
Carolina has acquired several
iOne Infrastructure Mapping
Systems (iOne IMS).
IV System Software
The Iris One system is of course
driven and controlled by soft-
ware. The main components that
carry out the in-ight data acquisition oper-
ations are provided through the so-called
Visual Navigator software. This features
three modules (i) for image data acquisi-
tion; (ii) for ight line management and
camera control; and (iii) for data manage-
ment respectively. A second software sys-
tem, called Isis, carries out the subsequent
image data processing, including the radio-
metric correction software mentioned above.
It features two modules. (i) The Isis Sky
module carries out the processing of the
acquired imagery in conjunction with the
DGPS and IMU data that has been collect-
ed simultaneously in-ight. If an existing
DEM is available, e.g. from USGS in the
United States, this module can also carry out
the generation of an orthophoto in-ight. (ii)
The Isis Earth module is used to carry out
a more accurate ortho-rectication using
ground control points and more rened
GPS/IMU data in a post-ight processing
operation that is carried out later on the
ground.
Within this context, Visual Intelligence has
teamed up with the MaxVision company,
based in Madison, Alabama, to create an
image processing system that will satisfy the
rather demanding requirements of the Visual
Navigator and Isis Sky software modules,
especially in respect of implementing its in-
ight image processing capability. The com-
puter that is being used for the purpose is
the compact MaxCube II mobile super
server [Fig. 15]. This ruggedized computer
can be supplied with two Intel Xeon proces-
sor units providing up to twelve powerful 64-
bit CPUs and up to eight removable hard
drives, each with a 3 terabyte storage
capacity. All of this processing power and
storage capacity is contained in a cabinet
that is close to one cubic foot in size and
has a low power consumption.
V - Current & Future
Developments
A recent development has been the intro-
duction of the Iris One Infrastructure
Metric-Mapping System having the tit-
ular acronym iOne IMS. This comprises a
single rigid ARCA or bridge into which is
inserted a pair of nadir-pointing camera
Ar t i c l e
34
September 2012
Fig. 15 An Iris One camera system (at left) with its compact MaxCube data collection,
camera control and data processing server (at right) with its laptop controller located on top
of the main cabinet. (Source: Visual Intelligence)
Fig. 16 (a) Showing the ARCA or bridge on which the twin nadir-
pointing RGB and NIR cameras and the two oblique-pointing cameras are
mounted as used in the Iris One Infrastructure Metric-Mapping System
[iOne IMS]. (b) Showing an iOne IMS system with the protective cover
in place over the cameras. (c) Showing the arrangement of the four
lenses two nadir-pointing and two oblique-pointing of an iOne IMS
camera system from the underside. {Source Visual Intelligence)
[a]
[b]
[c]
modules of varying-format sitting side-by
side; the one a colour RGB camera; the
other an NIR camera. These are anked by
a pair of oblique-pointing cameras, that are
pointing in opposite directions [Fig. 16].
Essentially this arrangement is similar to the
Tri-Metrogon conguration discussed above.
Since the system is designed specically for
the corridor mapping of infrastructure, the
ARCA or bridge on which the cameras
are mounted is oriented in the along-track
(ight) direction. The system can be
installed in a specially constructed pod that
is tted to the underside of a helicopter or it
can utilize the standard camera hole on a
xed-wing aircraft.
Another closely related development has
been the co-mounting of an Iris One camera
system with a RIEGL VQ-580 airborne
topographic laser scanner [Fig. 17]. The two
devices are mounted closely together on a
common base plate tted with anti-vibration
dampeners. The spatial relationship of the
two devices, including their relationship to
the accompanying GPS/IMU sub-system, is
determined very precisely through the mea-
surement of the lever arm offset during the
system calibration.
Visual Intelligence has also developed the
concept of a ve- or nine-camera system
[Fig. 18] that it calls its 360 ortho-
stereo-oblique system. This generates
ground coverage in the form of a Maltese
Cross that is similar to the systems devel-
oped by Pictometry and TrackAir, but is
based on the ARCA technology. Further
developments of this architecture are cur-
rently focussed on the development, minia-
turization and production of very light
weight and compact camera systems [Fig.
19] that are fully metric and can be utilized
in UAVs; in ground vehicles; and in mobile
devices.
VI Conclusion
Visual Intelligence has already developed a
most interesting series of airborne digital
frame camera systems based on its
scaleable and modular iOne Sensor Tool Kit
Architecture. For the future, it will be very
interesting to follow the concepts that are
currently in the research and development
stage and to see them come to fruition.
Gordon Petrie is Emeritus Professor of Topographic Science
in the School of Geographical & Earth Sciences of the University
of Glasgow, Scotland, U.K. E-mail Gordon.Petrie@glasgow.ac.uk;
Web Site http://web2.ges.gla.ac.uk/~gpetrie
Ar t i c l e
36
September 2012
Fig. 17 (a) The Iris One and RIEGL VQ-580 combination mounted side-by-side on a common base plate which is placed on a set of anti-vibration
dampers as viewed from the side at left and from above at right. (b) An iOne IMS camera system mounted alongside a RIEGL VQ-580 laser scanner.
Fig. 18 The 360 ortho-stereo-oblique system
Fig. 19 A prototype of a three-camera ARCA or bridge made of
carbon-fibre. (Source: Visual Intelligence)
[a]
[b]
WorldView Global Alliance User Conference 2012
Europes Hub for VHR Data Users
During 21-22 June, 150 people from all over Europe converged on the Literaturhaus in Munich for the
WorldView Global Alliance User Conference 2012, an event known for its friendly feel and network-
ing opportunities, as well as for delivering solid presentations and vital new research information.
Current Issues
The keynote talk by Wolfgang Rathgeber
from the European Space Agency (ESA)
reminded us how the current European mind-
set is affecting decision-making through giv-
ing us an overview of the current state of
Global Monitoring for Environment and
Security (GMES), Europes agship earth
observation program. His talk highlighted
the issue of guaranteeing continued funding
for the program which operates in the inter-
ests of the European Union, but is run by the
European Commission, a body which works
independently of national interests in
Europe. Recently the Commission failed to
gazette GMES for further funding after
2014, a decision which has thrown the
GMES program into a funding wrangle with
the agencies and decision-makers.
Whats New
The rst day of the conference was in part
dedicated to updates from WVGA partners,
European Space Imaging (EUSI), Digital -
Globe (DG) and Space Imaging Middle East
(SIME) regarding upcoming developments,
new products, success stories and partner-
ships.
One of the news highlights from European
Space Imaging is the announcement it has
joined the GMES Masters competition offer-
ing a new contest called the European
Space Imaging High-Res Challenge. They
are calling for ideas rather than nished
products related to using very high-resolu-
tion imagery. The competition is open to
anyone in Europe and participants have the
opportunity to win a valuable data package
to use in developing a marketable idea for
VHR data.
DigitalGlobe did a roundup of their world-
wide activities as well as giving a compre-
hensive overview of information relevant to
their European customers. This year they
focused on services located on the DG cloud
such as FirstLook and Global Base Map.
FirstLook is a product offering its subscribers
immediate und regularly updated access to
images and analysis related to world politi-
cal events, natural or man-made disasters or
human interest events. For instance, when
the tsunami hit Japan in March 2011 DG
harnessed the power of its satellite constel-
lation to grab some of the rst images of the
catastrophe, making them immediately pub-
licly available to assist emergency teams
and government agencies. Post-event
imagery is collected continuously, as in the
case of Fukushima, until the event is deemed
resolved. This service is bound to be used
extensively during the London Olympics this
coming July.
Software in Action
Space Imaging Middle East (SIME) who spe-
cialize in tailored software solutions for
geospatial data users demonstrated two
technology packages they have developed
for geo-data handling. AnalystPlus is a
secure Imagery Intelligence Lifecycle
Management System exclusively designed
for defense establishments, containing state
of the art exploitation, interpretation and
imagery analysis tools. GeoServ is a GIS
Web application for managing, visualizing,
navigating and publishing geographic
databases. It is an application which pro-
vides administrators with an easy-to-use tool
to manage and assign various privileges on
the published geographic content.
Claudio La Mantia from Planetek Italia, a
leading consultancy in multidisciplinary geo-
38
September 2012
By Penelope Richardson
Munich Old City, WV-2 natural color 50cm.
E v e n t
graphical information services (GIS) and
earth observation, followed with a presen-
tation centered upon ERDAS software prod-
ucts. As one of the leaders in bathymetric
analysis he also included a walk through the
use of the blue bands of the WV-2 Satellite,
coastal and blue, in the orthorectication of
8-band imagery for bathymetry.
8-bands in Action
Day two of the conference was completely
user focused and kicked off with a number
of sessions dedicated to VHR for defense,
security and monitoring. They included a
detailed presentation about the DigitalGlobe
Analysis Centers activities for global securi-
ty, insight into the work of the European
Union Satellite Centre (EUSC) who empha-
sized the importance of speedy data and
analysis delivery and up-to-date support for
global civil and military missions, as well as
delivering an understanding of the process-
es used by the European Commission Joint
Research Centers activities and the Satellite
Based Crisis Information Center (ZKI) at the
German Aerospace Centre (DLR) in evaluat-
ing disaster risk or providing post-disaster
analysis for reconstruction and budget plan-
ning. All these talks provided valuable
knowledge into how government and
European budgets are being used to
improve information ow and security for
the citizens of Europe through VHR satellite
imagery initiatives.
The presentations by Giovanni Marchisio,
one of DGs chief scientists, are always a
highlight for users at the WVGA conference.
This year he explored in depth the capabili-
ties of the WorldView-2 8-band satellite
imagery for bathymetric analysis and for
land cover, mapping and monitoring. By
highlighting new research ndings and
through bringing his scientic knowledge
and technical know-how to bear he gave
two very information rich presentations full
of hypothetical and real-world case studies,
and he left his audience swimming with new
ideas about the working possibilities of 8-
band data.
Agriculture is a third area where the use of
VHR data is becoming a very useful tool for
optimizing knowledge and planning.
Geographic Information Management
(GIM) from Belgium is pioneering new tech-
niques for precision farming using the spa-
tial and spectral resolutions of 8-band data
from WorldView-2. Their research centers
on furthering the sustainability of orchards
through analyzing satellite imagery to pro-
mote yield optimization on the ground. A
second area relevant to understanding phys-
ical environments for agriculture and forestry
is the development of Digital Elevation
Models (DEM). Karsten Jacobsen from the
Institute of Photogrammetry and Geo -
Information, Leibniz University Hanover has
been using WorldView-2 stereo images to
create DEMs which have a very high accu-
racy in identifying forest areas, gravel pits
and bare ground, something that is not so
easy using alternative data with less multi-
spectral resolution.
Protecting Past and Future
Safeguarding world heritage areas and
exploring history are two elds which are
beginning to use VHR data to forecast the
future or look into the past. The Institute for
Marine Resources Ecosystem Studies
(IMARES) has been using WorldView-2 data
to model mussel beds which are important
for preserving the sea bed structure in the
Wadden Sea, a marine world heritage area
bordering the Netherlands, Denmark and
Germany. A counterpoint to the talks look-
ing at real-world and real-time events was a
paper by archeologist, Ralph Rosenbauer,
Bern University which took us on an histori-
cal journey through ancient Cilicia Pedias,
nowadays Province Adana, in Turkey. He
explained how archeologists are using earth
observation imagery to locate and reveal
buried archeological structures, such as
ancient street systems, fortifying walls and
burial places.
In summary, this version of the WVGA User
Conference showed the astounding devel-
opments in research which have taken place
using 8-band data since the launch of the
WorldView-2 satellite in 2009. If the quality
and depth of the presentations and the
breadth of new research continues to grow
as it has in the year since the last confer-
ence then we can be sure that the next con-
ference will be full of information and sur-
prises like this one.
To be informed about the next WorldView Global Alliance User
Conference register here: http://eepurl.com/lrIVX
E v e n t
39
Manfred Schrder, BavAIRia e.V. discusses with Vincent Tingy,
GIM during question time on day two of the conference.
A Turning Point for GIS
Esri User Conference 2012
With a number of new product releases (ArcGIS 10.1, Esri Maps for Office) and the release of ArcGIS
Online for Organizations, Esri is now making the cloud a reality for its users and ensuring GIS has a
platform on any device imaginable, which can be utilised throughout the whole organization.
F
or many people, the Esri UC is the num-
ber one GIS event to visit. With more
than 15,000 visitors, the event was once
again well-visited, substantiating the popular-
ity of the event. For ve consecutive days, vis-
itors can choose their own program out of hun-
dreds of sessions that cover a wide range of
topics, visit a large exhibition, special interest
group meetings, a map gallery, lightning talks,
an academic GIS program fair, award cere-
monies and more. This years edition, held
from July 23-27, had some new elements
added to the program, such as lightning talks,
a hackers sandbox, speed geeking and a
media brieng with Esri staff for press mem-
bers. As if this wasnt enough, there were also
lots of related events organized around the
conference, such as Esri partner meetings and
a social program culminating with a party for
all attendees in Balboa Park.
Plenary Session
As always, the most important news is deliv-
ered during the plenary session on Monday.
This is when new software releases are
announced, product demos are shown,
awards are handed out, and one gets a
glimpse of the road ahead for future product
releases. Interesting new product and service
offerings included, ArcGIS Online for
Organizations, Esri Maps for Ofce,
CityEngine 2012 (to be released later this
year), ArcGIS Viewer for Windows, and last
but not least, ArcGIS Desktop 10.1 (covered
in detail in last years review of this event).
This years plenary was heavy on software
demos, even more so than during past events.
This wasnt a problem however, since Esri has
been releasing a lot of new software over the
last few years, giving everyone an opportuni-
ty to catch up with whats going on, and giv-
ing a glimpse of whats to be expected in the
near future.
The big news of this event was denitely the
way in which cloud technology can at last be
utilised by Esris user base and extended
beyond that user base to the rest of the orga-
nization. The hardware and software are
ready for it, and Esri created a business model
for organizations that are looking for a way
to make use of cloud infrastructure, which was
represented in the rapidly growing numbers
of maps stored in ArcGIS Online, Esris cloud
environment.
In addition to that, Geography as a platform
was an often-heard new concept, to stress that
the cloud can be used to tie desktop, mobile
and server together: where the data comes
from isnt that relevant anymore since all three
can be used individually, as well as in combi-
nation with each other. The concept also
42
September 2012
E v e n t
By Eric van Rees
Site impression (source: Esri)
touches on a unique selling point, especially
now that Esri is entering the area of Business
Intelligence where geography is an important
factor.
Meeting the demand to use GIS in the entire
organization is also something that Esri often
demonstrated during the plenary session, not
only by integrating geography in other non-
GIS software products, but also by accessing
maps through the cloud instead of through
SDIs that carry with them data integration chal-
lenges. Dangermond stated that this new tech-
nological approach to GIS needs a culture of
collaboration and sharing, but in reality is
already happening and the demand to use
the cloud comes from the user base itself.
ArcGIS 10.1
For the rst time fully cloud-enabled, the new
release ArcGIS 10.1 (which comprises the
whole ArcGIS product line) has been engi-
neered as a complete system, with server,
cloud parts and desktop closely integrated, as
well as a new plethora of devices and web
apps. Content is growing too, both based on
commercial data as well as community-based
data for basemaps, image maps (from
GeoEye and DigitalGlobe who recently
announced a merger.DigitalGlobe just signed
a strategic partnership with Esri for integrat-
ing imagery in Esris basemaps available
through ArcGIS Online). In the US, the resolu-
tion of this imagery is 30 cm, in Europe 60
cm, covering basically all of Europe, and for
the rest of the world one meter.
The new desktop release promises new
dynamic mapping, editing and visualization
tools, 64-bit geoprocessing (by this Fall),
advanced analytics which will advance geo-
graphic science and create new tools for com-
plex problem solving, particularly in the pre-
dictive analytics area. Also added are
extended 3D capabilities. New are 3D ana-
lytical tools.
Since the acquisition of Procedural last year,
Esri worked hard to integrate its software
product CityEngine in ArcGIS. In a few months
CityEngine 2012 will be released, a rule-
based system for building virtual cities, as well
as designing and 3D editing of buildings.
Some nice visuals were already shown in a
presentation by the city and county of
Honolulu, who used it for creating 3D transit-
oriented development and design. The pre-
sentation also featured a hologram of maps
that was very impressive although you had to
be physically present in the room to see it.
One could almost hear the disappointment
from the nearby Geolounge where a simulta-
neous broadcast was shown on television
screens that didnt feature the hologram.
Other new capabilities for 10.1 are integra-
tion of LiDAR data, full-motion video and
image processing. On the server-side, the
release offers dynamic serving and scalable
management of massive amounts of imagery.
Partners as Exelis VIS extend the platform with
high-end capabilities.
Dangermond stated that ArcGIS Server under-
went a big change with 10.1, and is now
native 64-bit and is easier to use, faster and
highly scalable and offered for both Windows
and Linux platforms, and offers updated apps
and APIs.
New lightweight apps for ArcGIS 10.1 were
given special attention: it is launching a
whole new era for us as GIS practitioners.
These will be the keys for providing free, per-
vasive access to your systems , said
Dangermond. At 10.1 Plus, to be released
soon, new apps congurable on the Windows
environment will be released, as well as native
apps for Mac.
Transformational opportunities:
Geography as a platform
Interesting was Dangermonds notion that
ArcGIS 10.1 provides transformational oppor-
tunities, meaning that GIS is no longer for the
GIS professional only, but for broader use
within organizations. ArcGIS is at a major
turning point, its becoming a system for your
entire organization said Dangermond. This
means integration of cloud technologies in the
form of ArcGIS Online, but also a whole
group of tools and apps that support access
and use by everybody in the organization.
Strangely, Dangermond did not take the
opportunity to discuss the ofcial release of
ArcGIS for Organizations here. This is a new
E v e n t
43
Esris Director of software development Scott Morehouse (left) and
Esri President Jack Dangermond (right) during the plenary session (source: Esri)
service for organizations that offers expand-
ed collaboration tools for cataloging, visualiz-
ing, and sharing geospatial information
through ArcGIS Online. During the confer-
ence, three sessions were held about this new
service, and the audience soon outnumbered
the amount of seats. Did Esri underestimate
the interest in this service? Denitely.
Esri Maps for Office
There was lots of interest for a new product
called Esri Maps for Ofce (released in July
of this year). Offered as a downloadable add-
in for Microsoft Ofce 2010, this new analy-
sis tool can be used to visualize data by cre-
ating and sharing interactive maps directly
within Microsoft Ofce. Interactive maps can
be made from data in a Microsoft Excel
spreadsheet. These live maps can be simply
added to Microsoft PowerPoint presentations
or shared through Esri's cloud mapping plat-
form, ArcGIS Online. Maps shared through
ArcGIS Online can then be distributed
throughout an organization or embedded into
mobile or web applications. This release is
available as a free download to organizations
with ArcGIS Online subscriptions.
The idea behind Esri Maps for Ofce is not
new: Dangermond stressed that this way of
making geography available outside of core
GIS products was meant as a way of reach-
ing a bigger audience, but is also getting them
in touch with Esris content in ArcGIS Online,
an approach also followed with SaaS offer-
ings such as Esri Business Analyst Online and
Esri Community Analyst. ArcGIS is, therefore,
being used more frequently as an on-demand
content provider, meant to complement, aug-
ment and extend ones services.
Landsat
The afternoon part of the plenary session start-
ed with a celebration of the 40th year anniver-
sary of the Landsat program, the longest con-
tinuous global record of the Earths surface.
Landsat is a common project of NASA and
the United States Geological Survey (USGS).
Rachel Headley (USGS) talked about the sci-
entic revolution the program created and
how it is used now: for example for draught
mapping and ice monitoring. Its history is cer-
tainly a big advantage and enables earth
monitoring over time: Landsat always has the
before-image, says Headley. When in 2008
the use of Landsat data archive became free,
the use exploded.
Headly showed a new product for making
easier use of large Landsat imagery, the
Landsat Viewer, which makes it easy to look
at Landsat imagery over time in a given area.
The viewer also shows metadata and users
can get large data les for analysis or just sim-
ple lightweight jpgs. New data is added every
day, which promises exciting results when
Landsat 8 is launched next year.
Whats next?
As always, Esri is looking ahead to future
releases and new technologies. Director of
software development, Scott Morehouse, stat-
ed that what was shown during this plenary
session was a big shift from the rst-genera-
tion workstation, database centered back-
ofce GIS to this new pattern of pervasive col-
laborative information, made available
through the web. Crowdsourcing and GPS-
enabled phones is denitely on Esris
roadmap: a GPS-enabled phone can tell you
where you are, you dont even need a map
said Morehouse, denitely an interesting state-
ment on a mapping software conference. His
short vision on what to do next within Esri was
followed by a video of Esris development
team, where the future technology is devel-
oped and designed. Areas of interest are 3D,
development for multiple devices, parcel edit-
ing, and analysis. The video was interesting,
but a bit generic.
ArcGIS Viewer for Windows
The product demo of the ArcGIS Viewer for
Windows was met with enthusiasm by the
developer community. The viewer is a native
Windows application which is congurable
without programming and enables data visu-
alization and GIS needs. A live demo demon-
strated how a common operating picture of
city buses in Edinburgh was displayed on a
dynamic map and other widgets (with real-
time services behind them that update the wid-
gets). The widgets interact with one another
and of course the user can interact with the
widgets themselves. Creating a more sophisti-
cated app is also possible because they are
congurable by the user: there are out-of-the
box widgets, and if you want to program your-
self, an extension-build SDK. An ArcGIS
Viewer for Mac is being created at the
moment. Also shown was ArcGIS Viewer for
Windows 8, with Metro look-and-feel avail-
able as of next fall.
Next years Esri UC will be held from July 8-
12 in San Diego.
ArcGIS 10.1: www.esri.com/software/arcgis/arcgis10
Esri Maps for Office: www.esri.com/maps4office
ArcGIS Online: www.esri.com/software/arcgis/arcgisonline
Videos of the plenary session can be found at:
www.esri.com/events/user-conference/index.html
Proceedings are available at:
http://proceedings.esri.com/library/userconf/proc12/index.html
E v e n t
44
September 2012
Exhibition impression (source: Esri)

46
A C o mp a r i s o n b e t we e n Ma n u f a c t u r e r s
General information
Brand name
Product name
Date of Introduction
Manufacturers website
Angle measurement
Accuracy
Hz, (sec (mgon))
V, (sec(mgon))
Compensator Y/N
Working range (sec (mgon))
setting accuracy (sec (mgon))
Distance measurement (using prisms)
Accuracy (mm + ppm) (std. mode, std. prism)
Maximum range (m) (using 1 srd. prism)
Distance measurement (reectorless)
Maximum range (m) (using kodak gray)
Measuring time reectorless
(standard / tracking in sec)
Size of spot at 100 m (mm * mm)
Size of spot at max range (mm * mm)
Motorization
Support H+V movement (Y/N)
Max speed of angel movement (m/sec at 100m)
Automatic aiming Y/N
Accuracy in autolock mode (mm at 100m)
Target recognition (Y/N)
Solution (mgon)
Display/Keyboard
Keyboard or touchscreen (K / T)
Fixed or removable (F / M)
Screen size ( w * h in mm)
Data Storage and transport
Internal /external / both (I/E/B)
Type of external memory
connectors f.e USB, RS232, (Nr / type)
Bluetooth facilities (Y/N)
General Information
Weight in case (incl acc.)
Laser plummet on instrument (Y?N)
Guiding light on instrument (Y/N)
Imaging facilities (Y/N)
Software
On board software (Y/N)
(plse use remarks)
September 2012
General information
FOIF
OTS810 WinCE TS
Februari 2009
www.foif.com.cn
Angle measurement
2 (0.6)/ 5 (1.5)
2 (0.6)/ 5 (1.5)
Y, Dual Axis
180(54)
1(0.3)
1.5mm+2ppm
3000m
500m
1.5s
50mm 30 mm
Motorization.
N
N
N
N
N
Display/Keyboard
T
F
320x240 dots,Colour
B
usb flash disc
USB, RS232
Y, factory optional
General Information
6.5kg
Y, factory optional
N
N
Software
Y,FOIF Fieldgenius
A
comprehensive overview of
total-stations; that's the aim
of this new feature.
All specications presented in the
same lay-out and unambiguous.
This feature is not a test or a judge-
ment of instruments. It is intended
as a service to our readers looking
for information to compare differ-
ent instruments.
Attentive readers will notice the
omission of some manufacturers.
We apologise for this. We asked
them several times to return the
questionnaire but up until now they
have failed to respond.
Of course all the information gath-
ered for this printed issue will be
available on our website soon.
Times are changing and modern
land-surveying instruments and
techniques are incomparable to
those of thirty years ago. There is
a world of difference between the
time of the theodolite and measur-
ing tape to the latest Imaging Total
Stations.
The future is hard to predict but one
thing is for sure, development will
continue, new instruments and
applications will be presented by
manufacturers on a regular basis
and for this reason we will update
this feature in print yearly. The web-
site information will, of course, be
more topical.
We would welcome any comments
and remarks from our readers in
order to improve this feature.
Total Stations Overview
47

September 2012
General information
FOIF
OTS680 ULTRA
August 2011
www.foif.com.cn
Angle measurement
2 (0.6)/ 5 (1.5)
2 (0.6)/ 5 (1.5)
Y, Dual Axis
180(54)
1(0.3)
1mm+1.5ppm
3500m
1200m
1.5s
50mm 30 mm
Motorization
N
N
N
N
N
Display/Keyboard
K
F
240X128 dots
B
SD card
USB, RS232
Y, factory optional
General Information
5.5kg
Y, factory optional
Y, factory optional
N
Software
Y, basic software
General information
FOIF
OTS680 POWER
August 2008
www.foif.com.cn
Angle measurement
2 (0.6)/ 5 (1.5)
2 (0.6)/ 5 (1.5)
Y, Dual Axis
180(54)
1(0.3)
1.5mm+2ppm
3000m
500m
1.5s
50mm 30 mm
Motorization.
N
N
N
N
N
Display/Keyboard
K
F
240X128 dots
B
SD card
USB, RS232
Y, factory optional
General Information
5.5kg
Y, factory optional
Y, factory optional
N
Software
Y, basic software
General information
FOIF
OTS650 BASIC
March 2010
www.foif.com.cn
Angle measurement
2 (0.6)/ 5 (1.5)
2 (0.6)/ 5 (1.5)
Y, Dual Axis
180(54)
1(0.3)
1.5mm+2ppm
3000m
500m
1.5s
50mm 30 mm
Motorization.
N
N
N
N
N
Display/Keyboard
K
F
240X128 dots
B
SD card
USB, RS232
Y, factory optional
General Information
5.1kg
Y, factory optional
N
N
Software
Y, basic software

48
General information
Brand name
Product name
Angle measurement
Accuracy
Hz, (sec (mgon))
V, (sec(mgon))
Compensator Y/N
Motorization
Solution (mgon)
Display/Keyboard
General Information
Software
(plse use remarks)
September 2012
General information
Geoallen
Total Station GTS335r
August 2012
www.geoallen.com
Angle measurement
5
1
1
Y
3
1
3+2PPM(with prism),5+2PPM(no prism,fine)
3KM
50-500m(based on different condition)
Fine:2sec,Tracing:0.7sec
20*40
40*80
Motorization.
N
Display/Keyboard
K
F
34x58mm
both
SD card
RS232C,USB,SD card reader
N
General Information
5.4kg
Y
N
N
Software
Y(REM,MLM,Area Calculation,Setting Z Coordinate of
Occupied Point Point to Line Measurement,Road,Stake
Out,Resection data collection,ANGLE MEASUREMENT,DIS-
TANCE COORDINATE MEASUREMENT,etc.)
General information
Geoallen
Total Station GTS310
August 2012
www.geoallen.com
Angle measurement
2/5
1
1
Y
3
1
3+2PPM(with prism)
1.8KM(GTS-312)/1.2KM(GTS-315)
Motorization.
N
Display/Keyboard
K
F
34x58mm
Internal(2000KB)
RS232C
N
General Information
5.4kg
Y
N
N
Software
Out,Resection data collection,ANGLE MEASUREMENT,DISTANCE
COORDINATE MEASUREMENT,etc.)
Total Stations
Overview
49

September 2012
General information
Geoallen
Total Station GTS345r
August 2012
www.geoallen.com
Angle measurement
5
1
1
Y
3
1
2+2PPM(with prism),5+2PPM(no prism,fine)
3KM
300m(based on different condition)
Fine:1sec,Tracing:0.5sec
20*40
40*80
Motorization.
N
Display/Keyboard
T
F
48.8mm*65.0mm
both
SD card
RS232C,USB,SD card reader
Y
General Information
5.4kg
Y
N
N
Software
Out,Resection data collection,ANGLE MEASUREMENT,DIS-
TANCE COORDINATE MEASUREMENT,etc.)
General information
GeoMax
Zipp10
2012
www.geomax-positioning.com
Angle measurement
2, 5
2 5
2 5
Y
4
0.5
Prism: 2mm + 2ppm, RL: 3mm + 2ppm
3.000m
110m
3 / 6 sec
16mm x 40mm
n/a
Motorization.
Display/Keyboard
N
F
96 x 160
I
non
1 x USB
Y
General Information
5.3kg
Y, in instrument
N
N
Software
Y
General information
FOIF
OTS650 BASIC
March 2010
www.foif.com.cn
Angle measurement
2 (0.6)/ 5 (1.5)
2 (0.6)/ 5 (1.5)
Y, Dual Axis
180(54)
1(0.3)
1.5mm+2ppm
3000m
500m
1.5s
50mm 30 mm
Motorization.
N
N
N
N
N
Display/Keyboard
K
F
240X128 dots
B
SD card
USB, RS232
Y, factory optional
General Information
5.1kg
Y, factory optional
N
N
Software
Y, basic software

50
General information
Brand name
Product name
Angle measurement
Accuracy
Hz, (sec (mgon))
V, (sec(mgon))
Compensator Y/N
Motorization
Solution (mgon)
Display/Keyboard
General Information
Software
(plse use remarks)
September 2012
General information
Horizon
H92
2012
www.horizon.sg
Angle measurement
2
2
6
Y
4
1
(2+2x10-6.d)mm
3000m
300m*(500m range optional upgrade) Kodak Standard
0.5/.5
4mm 4mm
invisible
Motorization.
N
n/a
N
n/a
N
n/a
Display/Keyboard
T
F
70x55mm
>10,000pts or >20,000 coordinates, 2GB SD card included
SD Card
RS232,USB, Bluetooth
Y
General Information
9kg
Selectable between optical plummet
Y
N
Software
Y Cogo & Traverse/ Road Design
General information
GeoMax
Zoom80
2012
www.geomax-positioning.com
Angle measurement
2, 5
2 5
2 5
Y
4
0.5
Prism: 1mm + 1.5ppm, RL: 2mm + 2ppm
3.500m (RL > 10.000m)
500m
3 / 6 sec
16mm x 40mm
n/a
Motorization.
Y
5m/sec
Y
1 mm
N
0.3 mgon
Display/Keyboard
Y
F
320 x 240
I
non
1 x USB/Serial, 1 x Bluetooth
Y
General Information
5.5kg
Y, in instrument
N
N
Software
Y
Total Stations
Overview
51

September 2012
General information
Horizon
HTS 582AGX
2007
www.horizon.sg
Angle measurement
2
2
6
Y
4
2
(2+2x10-6.d)mm
5000m
300m
1.2/1.00
4mm*4mm
invisible
Motorization.
N
n/a
N
n/a
N
n/a
Display/Keyboard
K
F
60x35mm
>10,000pts or >20,000 coordinates, 2GB SD card included
SD Card
RS232,USB
N
General Information
9.1kg
Selectable between optical plummet
Y
N
Software
Y Cogo & Traverse/ Road Design
General information
KOLIDA
Total Station KTS-440L Series
2006
www.kolidainstrument.com
Angle measurement
2 or 5 optional
2 or 5 optional
Y
3
1/5 optional
With prism: 2mm+2ppm
With 1 prism: 5.0km, With 3 prism: 8-10km
Motorization.
N
N
N
N
N
N
Display/Keyboard
K
F
122x72mm
I (2M/24000 points)
N
RS232
N
General Information
9kg
Y (for KTS-440LL)
N
N
Software
Y
General information
KOLIDA
Total Station KTS-440R Series
2008
Angle measurement
2 or 5 optional
2 or 5 optional
Y
3
1/5 optional
With prism: 2mm+2ppm, without prim: 5mm+3ppm
With 1 prism: 5.0km, With 3 prism: 8-10kmm, No Prism: 350m
350m
Stand 1.0s, tracking 0.5s
10x20 mm
Motorization.
N
N
N
N
N
N
Display/Keyboard
K
F
122x72mm
I (2M/24000 points)
N
RS232
N
General Information
9kg
Y (for KTS-440RL)
N
N
Software
Y

52
General information
Brand name
Product name
Angle measurement
Accuracy
Hz, (sec (mgon))
V, (sec(mgon))
Compensator Y/N
Motorization
Solution (mgon)
Display/Keyboard
General Information
Software
(plse use remarks)
September 2012
General information
KOLIDA
Total Station KTS-470RC/RLC Series
2011
Angle measurement
2 or 5 optional
2 or 5 optional
Y
3
1/5 optional
350m
10x20 mm
Motorization.
N
N
N
N
N
N
Display/Keyboard
T
F
132x78mm
B
SD card (up to 2G)
RS232, mini USB
Y
General Information
9.7kg
Y (for KTS-470RLC)
N
Y
Software
Y
General information
KOLIDA
Total Station KTS-440RC/RLC Series
2010
Angle measurement
2 or 5 optional
2 or 5 optional
Y
3
1/5 optional
350m
10x20 mm
Motorization.
N
N
N
N
N
N
Display/Keyboard
K
F
122x72mm
B
SD card (up to 2G)
RS232, mini USB
N
General Information
9kg
Y (for KTS-440RLC)
N
N
Software
Y
Total Stations
Overview
53

September 2012
General information
Leica Geosystems
Leica FlexLine TS06plus
June 2012
www.leica-geosystems.com
Angle measurement
1(0.3mgon), 2(0.6mgon), 3(1mgon), 5(1.5mgon), 7(2mgon)

1(0.3mgon), 2(0.6mgon), 3(1mgon), 5(1.5mgon), 7(2mgon)
Y (Quadruple Axis Compensation)
4 (0.07gon)
0.5(0.15mgon), 0.5(0.15mgon), 1(0.3mgon), 1.5(0.5mgon),
2(0.7mgon)
1.5mm + 2ppm
3500 m
1000 m
typ. 3 sec / 0.25 sec
(2mm + 2ppm accuracy)
16 x 29 mm
160 x 260 mm
Motorization
N
n.a.
N
n.a.
N
n.a.
Display/Keyboard
Full alphanumerical keyboard
F
73mm x 43mm / 288 x 160 pixels
B
USB stick (Industrial Grade, IP55)
RS232 (up to 115200 Baud),
USB Type A and mini B
Y
General Information
8.2 kg
Y
Y
N
Software
Y, Icon-based and graphical FlexField plus and unique
cloud-based theft protection; onboard software with many
application programs including Height Transfer; Area; DTM
Volume Calculation; Remote Height; Offset; Reference Line;
Reference Arc; Reference Plane; Road 2D; COGO
General information
Leica Geosystems
Leica FlexLine TS09plus
June 2012
Angle measurement
1(0.3mgon), 2(0.6mgon), 3(1mgon), 5(1.5mgon)

4 (0.07gon)
0.5(0.15mgon), 0.5(0.15mgon), 1(0.3mgon), 1.5(0.5mgon)
1.5mm + 2ppm
3500 m
1000 m
16 x 29 mm
160 x 260 mm
Motorization
N
n.a.
N
n.a.
N
n.a.
Display/Keyboard
Full alphanumerical keyboard and Color & Touch screen
F
73mm x 56mm / 320 x 240 pixels Q-VGA
B
USB stick (Industrial Grade, IP55)
RS232 (up to 115200 Baud),
USB Type A and mini B
Y
General Information
8.3 kg
Y
Y
N
Software
Y, Icon-based and graphical FlexField plus and unique
cloud-based theft protection; onboard software with many
application programs including Local and Helmert Resection,
Orientation; Height Transfer; Area; DTM Volume Calculation;
Tie Distance; Remote Height; Hidden Point; Backsight Check;
Offset; Reference Line; Reference Arc; Reference Plane; Road
2D; COGO; Road 3D; Traverse
General information
Leica Geosystems
Leica Viva TS11I
September 2010
Angle measurement

4 (0.07gon)
1.0mm + 1.5ppm
3500 m
1000 m
16 x 29 mm
160 x 260 mm
Motorization
N
n.a.
N
n.a.
N
n.a.
Display/Keyboard
K/T
F
73mm x 56mm / 640 x 480 pixels Full-VGA
B
SD card, USB stick (Industrial Grade, IP55)
RS232 (up to 230400 baud), USB mini AB OTG, hot shoe for LR
BT radio or GNSS antenna
Y
General Information
8.8 kg
Y
Y
Y
Software
Y, Icon-based and graphical SmartWorx Viva on-board
software with many application programs included: Station
Setup incl. Local and Helmert Resection, Orientation; Height
Transfer; Suryey & Coding with Lineworks; Stakeout; DTM
Stakeout; Remote Height; Reference Line / Arc; COGO;
Traverse; Sets of Angles; Hidden Point; Surface & Volumes;
Determine Coordinate System; Alignment Editor; Data Import
& Export

54
General information
Brand name
Product name
Angle measurement
Accuracy
Hz, (sec (mgon))
V, (sec(mgon))
Compensator Y/N
Motorization
Solution (mgon)
Display/Keyboard
General Information
Software
(plse use remarks)
September 2012
General information
Leica Geosystems
Leica TS30
April 2009
Angle measurement
0.5 (0.15 mgon)

0.5 (0.15 mgon)
4 (0.07gon)
0.5 (0.15 mgon)
1.0mm + 1ppm (Precise Mode 0.6mm + 1 ppm)
3500 m
1000 m
16 x 29 mm
160 x 260 mm
Motorization
Y
315m/sec at 100 m
Y
typ. 1mm
Y
0.3 mgon
Display/Keyboard
K/T
F
79 x 59mm / 320 x 240 pixels Q-VGA
B
CF-card
RS232 (up to 115200) , hot shoe for LR BT radio or GNSS
antenna
Y
General Information
12.4 kg
Y
Y
Y
Software
Y, Icon-based and graphical SmartWorx on-board software
with many application programs including Station Setup incl.
Local and Helmert Resection, Orientation; Height Transfer;
Suryey & Coding with Lineworks; Stakeout; Remote Height;
Offset; COGO; Determine Coordinate Sytem; Alignment Tool
Kit; DXF Import and many other optional apps
General information
Leica Geosystems
Leica Viva TS15I
September 2010
Angle measurement

4 (0.07gon)
1.0mm + 1.5ppm
3500 m
1000 m
16 x 29 mm
160 x 260 mm
Motorization
Y
75m/sec at 100 m
Y
typ. 1mm
Y
0.3 mgon
Display/Keyboard
K/T
F
73mm x 56mm / 640 x 480 pixels Full-VGA
B
SD card, USB stick (Industrial Grade, IP55)
RS232 (up to 230400 baud), USB mini AB OTG, hot shoe for LR
BT radio or GNSS antenna
Y
General Information
8.9 kg
Y
Y
Y
Software
Y, Icon-based and graphical SmartWorx Viva on-board
software with many application programs including Station
Setup incl. Local and Helmert Resection, Orientation; Height
Transfer; Suryey & Coding with Lineworks; Stakeout; DTM
Stakeout; Remote Height; Referenec Line / Arc; COGO;
Traverse; Sets of Angles; Determine Coordinate System;
Alignment Editor; Data Import & Export,
and optional apps
Total Stations
Overview
55

September 2012
General information
Nikon
Nivo C series
October 2009
www.nikonpositioning.com
Angle measurement
1,2,3,5
1,2,3,5
1,2,3,5
Y
3.5
1.0
2+2
5000 m
500m to 90% 350m to 18%
1.8/1.2
1/2: 25mm@30m, 3/5: 15mm@30m
1/2: 25mm@30m, 3/5: 15mm@30m
Motorization
N
n.a.
N
n.a.
N
n.a.
Display/Keyboard
T
F
73mm x 54mm
B
USB memory stick/thumb drive
1x USB host, 1x mini USB, 1x RS232,
Y
General Information
6.4 kg
Y (optional)
Y
N
Software
Survey Pro onboard software
General information
Nikon
Nivo M Series
October 2009
www.nikonpositioning.com
Angle measurement
2, 3, 5
2, 3, 5
2, 3, 5
Y
3.5
1.0
2+2
5000 m
500m to 90% 350m to 18%
1.8/1.2
2: 25mm@30m, 3/5: 15mm@30m
2: 25mm@30m, 3/5: 15mm@30m
Motorization
N
n.a.
N
n.a.
N
n.a.
Display/Keyboard
K
F
56mm x 30mm
I
1x RS232
Y
General Information
6.3 kg
Y (optional)
N
N
Software
Nikon traditional interface
General information
PENTAX
R-400VN Series
September 2009
www.pentaxsurveying.com/en/
Angle measurement
2, 3, 5
1/5
1/5
Y
180
n.a.
1.5m10m:(3+2ppm) 10m: (2+2ppm)
7000 m
400 m
2.0 sec. / 0.4 sec.
n.a.
n.a.
Motorization
Display/Keyboard
K
F
74.4mm x 34.8mm
I
Non
RS-232C, SD CARD, USB
N
General Information
10 kg
Y
N
Software
Y

56
General information
Brand name
Product name
Angle measurement
Accuracy
Hz, (sec (mgon))
V, (sec(mgon))
Compensator Y/N
Motorization
Solution (mgon)
Display/Keyboard
General Information
Software
(plse use remarks)
September 2012
General information
PENTAX
R-400VDN Series
September 2009
Angle measurement
2, 3, 5
1/5
1/5
Y
180
n.a.
1.5m10m:(3+2ppm) 10m: (2+2ppm)
7000 m
400 m
2.0 sec. / 0.4 sec.
n.a.
n.a.
Motorization
Display/Keyboard
K
F
74.4mm x 34.8mm
I
Non
N
General Information
10 kg
Y
N
Software
Y
General information
PENTAX
R-400N Series
July, 2009
Angle measurement
1, 2, 3, 5
0.5/1/5
0.5/1/5
Y
180
n.a.
1.5m10m:(3+2ppm) 10m: (2+2ppm)
9000 m
550 m
2.0 sec. / 0.4 sec.
n.a.
n.a.
Motorization
Display/Keyboard
K
F
74.4mm x 34.8mm
I
Non
N
General Information
10 kg
Y
N
Software
Y
Total Stations
Overview
57

September 2012
General information
PENTAX
W-800 Series
February, 2007
Angle measurement
1, 2, 3, 5
0.5/1/5
0.5/1/5
Y
180
n.a.
1.5m10m:(3+2ppm) 10m: (2+2ppm)
9000 m
550 m
2.0 sec. / 0.4 sec.
n.a.
n.a.
Motorization
Display/Keyboard
T
F
74.88mm x 56.16mm
B
SD CARD
R-232C, CF Type, SD Card, USB
N
General Information
10.6 kg
Y
N
Software
Y
General information
PENTAX
R-200 Series
September, 2011
Angle measurement
2, 5
1/5
1/5
Y
180
n.a.
1.5m10m:(3+2ppm) 10m: (2+2ppm)
3000 m
350 m
2.0 sec. / 0.4 sec.
n.a.
n.a.
Motorization
Display/Keyboard
K
F
74.4mm x 34.8mm
I
Non
R-232C
N
General Information
10 kg
Y
N
Software
Y
General information
RUIDE
Total station RTS-822R5
2012
www.ruideinstrument.com
Angle measurement
2
2
2
Y
4
1
2mm+2ppm
5000m
500m
0.3s
20*40mm
40*80mm
Motorization.
N
Display/Keyboard
K
F
60x35mm
B
SD Card
USB & RS232
N
General Information
8.5kg
Y
N
N
Software
Y

58
General information
Brand name
Product name
Angle measurement
Accuracy
Hz, (sec (mgon))
V, (sec(mgon))
Compensator Y/N
Motorization
Solution (mgon)
Display/Keyboard
General Information
Software
(plse use remarks)
September 2012
General information
SANDING
Total station STS-752RC
2012
www.sandinginstrument.com
Angle measurement
2
2
2
Y
3
1
2mm+2ppm
5000m
350m
1s
35*70mm
122*245mm
Motorization.
N
Display/Keyboard
K
F
65x42mm
B
SD Card
USB & RS232
N
General Information
9kg
Y
N
N
Software
Y
General information
RUIDE
Total station RTS-862R5
2012
www.ruideinstrument.com
Angle measurement
2
2
2
Y
4
1
2mm+2ppm
5000m
500m
0.3s
20*40mm
40*80mm
Motorization.
N
Display/Keyboard
K
F
65x50mm
B
SD card & U-disc
USB & RS232
Y
General Information
8.5kg
Y
N
Y
Software
Y
Total Stations
Overview
59

September 2012
General information
SANDING
Total station STS-772R
2011
www.sandinginstrument.com
Angle measurement
2
2
2
Y
3
1
2mm+2ppm
5000m
350m
1s
35*70mm
122*245mm
Motorization.
N
Display/Keyboard
T
F
65x50mm
B
SD card & U-disk
USB & RS232
N
General Information
9kg
Y
N
Y
Software
Y (Carlson SurvCE)
General information
Sokkia
CX Series
January 2012
www.sokkia.eu
Angle measurement
1, 2, 3, 5 & 7
1, 2, 3, 5 & 7
1, 2, 3, 5 & 7
Y, Dual Axis
360
1
2mm + 2ppm Std
1.3m to 4000m (CX107 3000m)
0.3 to 500m
0.9 / 0.3
28mm x 46mm
Motorization
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
Display/Keyboard
K Dual Face (CX107 Single Face)
F
192 x 80 dots
B
USB Slot supports up to 8GB USB Stick
Serial RS-232C and USB 2.0 Type A
Y Class 1, ver 2.1+EDR Proprietory LongLink up to
300m range
General Information
5.6kg (not incl case)
N Optional
Y Green and Red LED range up to 150m
N
Software
Y
General information
Sokkia
FX Series
February 2012
www.sokkia.eu
Angle measurement
1, 2, 3 & 5 (IACS on 1 and 2 models)
1, 2, 3 & 5
1, 2, 3 & 5
Y, Dual Axis
360
1
2mm + 2ppm Std
1.3m to 4000m
0.3 to 500m
0.9 / 0.3
28mm x 46mm
Motorization
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
Display/Keyboard
K Dual Face (FX105 Single Face) Face 2 on all models
touch screen only
F
3.5 Touch Screen Colour LCD Display
B
300m range
General Information
N Optional
N
Software
Y MAGNET Field onboard software. Also comes as standard
with TSshield telematics module

60
General information
Brand name
Product name
Angle measurement
Accuracy
Hz, (sec (mgon))
V, (sec(mgon))
Compensator Y/N
Motorization
Solution (mgon)
Display/Keyboard
General Information
Software
(plse use remarks)
September 2012
General information
Sokkia
SX Series
August 2012
www.sokkia.eu
Angle measurement
1, 2 & 5 (IACS on 1 and 2 models)
1, 2 & 5
1, 2 & 5
Y, Dual Axis
360
1
1.5mm + 2ppm Std / 2mm + 2ppm Reflectorless
1.3m to 6000m
0.3 to 1000m
0.9 / 0.3
28mm x 46mm
Motorization
Y
148m/s Turning Speed, 35m/s (126km/h) Tracking Speed
Y
1.2mm
Y
n.a.
Display/Keyboard
K Dual Face (OS-105 Single Face) Face 2 on all models
touch screen only
F
B
600m range
General Information
N Optional
N
Software
General information
Sokkia
NET AX Series
March 2011
www.sokkia.eu
Angle measurement
0.5 & 1 (IACS Independent Angular Calibration System)
0.5 & 1
0.5 & 1
Y, Dual Axis
240
1
NET05X 0.8mm + 1ppm, NET1AX 1mm + 1ppm
3500m
NET1X 400m
2.4 / 2.0
Motorization
Y
***m/s Turning Speed, 25m/s (90km/h) Tracking Speed
Y
1mm @ 200m
Y
n.a.
Display/Keyboard
Dual Face K & T all models
F
B
CF Card / SD Card (with adapter)
Y
General Information
N (Optional extra)
Y
N
Software
Y SSF OnBoard
Total Stations
Overview
61

September 2012
General information
Spectra Precision
FOCUS 6
October 2009
www.spectraprecision.com
Angle measurement
2, 5
2, 5
2, 5
Y
3.5
1
2+2
5000 m
500m to 90% 350m to 18%
1.8/1.2
2: 25mm@30m, 5: 15mm@30m
2: 25mm@30m, 5: 15mm@30m
Motorization
N
n.a.
N
n.a.
N
n.a.
Display/Keyboard
K
F
56mm x 30mm
I
1x RS232
Y
General Information
6.3 kg
Y (optional)
N
N
Software
Y
General information
Spectra Precision
FOCUS 8
October 2009
Angle measurement
2, 5
2, 5
2, 5
Y
3.5
1
2+2
5000 m
500m to 90% 350m to 18%
1.8/1.2
2: 25mm@30m, 5: 15mm@30m
2: 25mm@30m, 5: 15mm@30m
Motorization
N
n.a.
N
n.a.
N
n.a.
Display/Keyboard
T
F
73mm x 54mm
B
USB memory stick/thumb drive
1x USB host, 1x mini USB, 1x RS232
Y
General Information
6.4 kg
Y (optional)
Y
N
Software
Survey Pro onboard software
General information
Spectra Precision
FOCUS 30
September 2009
Angle measurement
2 (0.6mgon), 3(1.0mgon), 5(1.5mgon)
2 (0.6mgon), 3(1.0mgon), 5(1.5mgon)
2 (0.6mgon), 3(1.0mgon), 5(1.5mgon)
Y
330 (100mgon)
0,5 (0,15mgon)
2mm+2ppm
4000 m
800m
2.4sec/0.5sec
4cmx3cm
32cmx24cm (@800m)
Motorization
Y
90/sec (100 gon/sec)
Y
5mm + 2ppm
Y
2 (0.5mgon)
Display/Keyboard
Y
Fixed
75mmx55mm
128MB/8GB/Expanadable
NAND Flash
1/USB
Y
General Information
11 kg
N
Y
N
Software
Yes/Survey Pro

62
General information
Brand name
Product name
Angle measurement
Accuracy
Hz, (sec (mgon))
V, (sec(mgon))
Compensator Y/N
Motorization
Solution (mgon)
Display/Keyboard
General Information
Software
(plse use remarks)
September 2012
General information
Topcon
IS-3 Series
August 2011
www.topcon-positioning.eu
Angle measurement
1, 2 & 3
1, 2 & 3
1, 2 & 3@
Y, Dual Axis
360
1
2mm + 2ppm Std / 2mm + 2ppm Reflectorless
3000m
1.5m 2000m
1.2 / 1.2
28mm x 46mm
Motorization
Y
Y
1.2mm
Y
n.a.
Display/Keyboard
Single Face K & T all models
F
B
Y
General Information
N
Y
Y Dual Camera with TTL (Through the lens) functionality
Software
Y TopSURV OnBoard
General information
Topcon
ES Series
January 2012
Angle measurement
2, 3, 5 & 7
2, 3, 5 & 7
2, 3, 5 & 7
Y, Dual Axis
360
1
2mm + 2ppm Std
1.3m to 4000m (ES-107 3000m)
0.3 to 500m
0.9 / 0.3
28mm x 46mm
Motorization
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
Display/Keyboard
K Dual Face (ES-107 Single Face)
F
192 x 80 dots
B
300m range
General Information
N Optional
N
Software
Y
Total Stations
Overview
63

September 2012
General information
Topcon
MS AX Series
January 2011
Angle measurement
0.5 & 1 (IACS Independent Angular Calibration System)
0.5 & 1
0.5 & 1
Y, Dual Axis
240
1
MS05X 0.8mm + 1ppm, MS1AX 1mm + 1ppm
3500m
MS1X 400m
2.4 / 2.0
Motorization
Y
***m/s Turning Speed, 25m/s (90km/h) Tracking Speed
Y
1mm @ 200m
Y
n.a.
Display/Keyboard
Dual Face K & T all models
F
B
Y
General Information
N Optional
Y
N
Software
Y TopSURV OnBoard
General information
Topcon
OS Series
February 2012
Angle measurement
1, 2, 3 & 5 (IACS on 1 and 2 models)
1, 2, 3 & 5
1, 2, 3 & 5
Y, Dual Axis
360
1
2mm + 2ppm Std / 3mm + 2ppm Reflectorless
1.3m to 4000m
0.3 to 500m
0.9 / 0.3
28mm x 46mm
Motorization
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
n.a.
Display/Keyboard
touch screen only
F
B
300m range
General Information
N Optional
N
Software
General information
Topcon
PS Series
July 2012
Angle measurement
1, 2 & 5 (IACS on 1 and 2 models)
1, 2 & 5
1, 2 & 5
Y, Dual Axis
360
1
1.5mm + 2ppm Std / 2mm + 2ppm Reflectorless
1.3m to 6000m
0.3 to 1000m
0.9 / 0.3
28mm x 46mm
Motorization
Y
Y
1.2mm
Y
n.a.
Display/Keyboard
touch screen only
F
B
600m range
General Information
N Optional
N
Software

64
General information
Brand name
Product name
Angle measurement
Accuracy
Hz, (sec (mgon))
V, (sec(mgon))
Compensator Y/N
Motorization
Solution (mgon)
Display/Keyboard
General Information
Software
(plse use remarks)
General information
Trimble
Trimble S3 Total Station
2010
www.trimble.com
Angle measurement
2 (0.6 mgon), 5(1.5 mgon)
Y
5.4 ( 100 mgon)
0.5(0.15 mgon)
1.5mm+2ppm
2,500m
250m (KGC 18%) 400m (KGC 90%)
3-15 sec std / 0.4 sec trk
40mm hz x 40mm vz
160mm hz x 160mm vz
Motorization
Y
86 deg/sec
Y
<2mm @ 200m std dev.
Optional
Display/Keyboard
Choice of controllers touch screen and keyboard options.
Optional
Varies by controller
B varies with controller
USB, SDHC, SDIO varies with controller
USB, Serial varies with controller
N
General Information
13 kg
Optional Laser Tribrach
Y
N
Software
Trimble Access Field Software
September 2012
General information
Trimble
Trimble M3 Total Station
2010
www.trimble.com
Angle measurement
1 (0.3 mgon), 2 (0.6 mgon), 3(1.0 mgon), 5(1.5 mgon)
1,2 / 0.5 mgon, 3 / 1.0 mgon, 5 / 1.5 mgon
1,2 / 0.5 mgon
Y
3.5 ( 65 mgon)
1.0
(2+2ppm x D) mm
(1,2) 3,000m, ( 3,5) 5,000m
1,2 350m (KGC 18%) 500m (KGC 90%)
3,5 250m (KGC 18%) 400m (KGC 90%)
1, 2 (2.1 sec std / 0.8 sec fast std)
3, 5 (1.8 sec std / 0.8 sec fast std)
1/2: 83*83mm@100m; 3/5: 50*50mm@100m
1/2: 415*415mm@500m; 3/5: 200*200mm@400m
Motorization
N
n.a.
N
n.a.
N
Display/Keyboard
Combination touchscreen and keyboard
F
73mm x 54mm
B
USB
USB, RS232
Y
General Information
6.3 kg
Y
Y
N
Software
Total Stations
Overview
65

General information
Trimble
2011
www.trimble.com
Angle measurement
2 (0.6 mgon), 3(1.0 mgon), 5(1.5 mgon)
Y
5.4 ( 100 mgon)
0.5(0.15 mgon)
1mm+2ppm
5,500m
600m (KGC 18%) 1300m (KGC 90%)
40mm hz x 80mm vz
520mm hz x 1040mm vz
Motorization
Y
115 deg/sec
Y
Optional
Display/Keyboard
M
Y
General Information
13 kg
Optional
Optional
Software
General information
Trimble
2011
www.trimble.com
Angle measurement
DR HP EDM 0.5(0.15 mgon), 1 (0.3 mgon), DR Plus EDM 1(0.3 mgon)
Y
5.4 ( 100 mgon)
0.5(0.15 mgon)
DR HP EDM 0.8mm+1ppm, DR Plus EDM 1mm+2ppm
DR HP EDM 5,000m, DR Plus EDM 5,500m
DR HP EDM 120m (KGC 18%) 150m (KGC 90%)
DR Plus EDM 600m (KGC 18%) 1300m (KGC 90%)
DR HP EDM 3-15 sec std / 0.4 sec trk
DR Plus EDM 1-5 sec std / 0.4 sec trk
DR HP EDM 40mm hz x 40mm vz
DR Plus EDM 40mm hz x 80mm vz
DR HP EDM 60mm hz x 60mm vz
DR Plus EDM 520mm hz x 1040mm vz
Motorization
Y
115 deg/sec
Y
Y
Display/Keyboard
M
Y
General Information
13 kg
Optional
Optional
Software
General information
Trimble
Trimble VX Spatial Station
2010
www.trimble.com
Angle measurement
1 (0.3 mgon)
Y
5.4 ( 100 mgon)
0.5(0.15 mgon)
1mm+2ppm
5,500m
600m (KGC 18%) 1300m (KGC 90%)
40mm hz x 80mm vz
520mm hz x 1040mm vz
Motorization
Y
115 deg/sec
Y
Y
Display/Keyboard
M
Y
General Information
13 kg
N
Y
Software
September 2012
October
02-04 October GISSA Ukubuzana 2012
Emperors Palace, Jones Road, Kempton Park, Gauteng, South
Africa
Internet: www.eepublishers.co.za/article/gissa-ukubuzana-
2012.html
08 October IGI User Meeting 2012 @ Intergeo in
Hannover
Hannover, Germany
Internet: www.igi.eu/event-reader/events/igi-user-meeting-
2012-intergeo-in-hannover.html
08-11 October GEOINT 2012 Symposium
Gaylord Palms, Orlando, FL, U.S.A.
Internet: http://geoint2012.com
09-11 October INTERGEO
Hannover, Germany
Internet: www.intergeo.de
10 October CLGE European Students Contest Award
Ceremony
Intergeo, Hannover, Germany
Internet: www.intergeo.de/en/Registration_online.html
11 October, 3rd CLGE Conference
Intergeo, Hannover, Germany
Internet: www.intergeo.de/en/Registration_online.html
15-17 October Esri European User Conference
Oslo, Norway
Internet: www.esri.com/events/euc/index.html
16-17 October MapInfo MapBasic Essentials Training
Course
CDR Group, Hope, Derbyshire, U.K.
E-mail: sales@cdrgroup.co.uk
Internet: www.cdrgroup.co.uk/train_mi4info.htm
16-19 October TOPCART I Congreso Iberoamericano
de Geomtica y Ciencias de la Tierra
Madrid, Spain
Internet: www.top-cart.com/indexEng.php
17-18 October Intergraph SG&I 2012 UK User
Conference
Intergraph Technology Centre, Swindon, United Kingdom
E-mail: sgi-uk@intergraph.com
Internet: www.intergraph.com/global/uk/uk2012.aspx
17-19 October Geospace Europe 2012 Summit
Brussels, Belgium
Internet: www.emingeurope.com
23-24 October MapInfo Professional Foundation
Level Training Course
25-26 September ERDAS 2012 UK User Group
Eynsham Hall Hotel, Witney, U.K.
Internet: www.sterling-software.uk.com/news/erdas-uk-ugm-
25th-26th-september-2012-image-is-everything
29 October-01 November MAPPS/ASPRS 2012
Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel, Tampa, FL, U.S.A.
Internet: www.asprs.org/Conferences/Tampa-2012
November
05-07 November Trimble Dimensions International
User Conference
The Mirage Hotel, Las Vegas, NV, U.S.A.
Internet: www.trimbledimensions.com
06-07 November MapInfo Professional Advanced
08-09 November GEO Huntsville
Davidson Center for Space Exploration, Huntsville, AL, U.S.A.
E-mail: info@geohuntsville.com
Internet: www.geohuntsville.com/conference
08-10 November CAMUSS, the International
Symposium on Cellular Automata Modeling for
Urban and Spatial Systems
Oporto, Portugal
Internet: www.camuss.dec.uc.pt
06-09 November 20th ACM SIGSPATIAL International
Conference on Advances in Geographic
Information Systems
Redondo Beach, CA, U.S.A.
Internet: http://acmgis2012.cs.umd.edu
12-14 November SPAR Europe Conference on
End-to-End 3D
World Forum, The Hague, The Netherlands
Internet: www.SPARPointGroup.com/Europe
12-16 November 6th URISA Caribbean GIS
Conference
Montego Bay, Jamaica
E-mail: ++
Internet: www.urisa.org/conferences/caribbean/info
13-14 November Be Inspired - Thought Leadership in
Infrastructure Event
Hotel Krasnapolsky, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Internet: www.bentley.com/nl-NL/Community/BE+Awards
20-21 November MapInfo Professional Foundation
22-23 November ICA symposium Service-Oriented
Mapping (SOMAP) 2012
Vienna, Austria
Internet: http://somap.cartography.at
26-29 November 8th FIG Regional Conference
Montevideo, Uruguay
Internet: www.g.net/uruguay
27-30 November Pacic Islands GIS&RS User
Conference
Holiday Inn, Suva, Fiji Islands
Internet: http://picgisrs.appspot.comDecember
03-05 December European Space Solutions 'Discover
what space brings to your life'
Central Hall Westminster, London, U.K.
Internet: www.space-solutions.eu
04-05 December European LiDAR Mapping Forum
2012
Salzburg, Austria
Internet: www.lidarmap.org/ELMF
11-12 December MapInfo Professional Foundation
13-16 December Gi4DM 2012
UT, Enschede, The Netherlands
E-mail: info@gi4dm.net
Internet: www.gi4dm.net/2012
2013
2013 Unmanned Aerial Vehicles in Geomatics (UAV-g)
Rostock, Germany
Internet: www.uav-g.org
21-23 January Defence Geospatial Intelligence (DGI)
2013
London, U.K.
E-mail: dgi@wbr.co.uk
Internet: www.wbresearch.com/dgieurope/home.aspx
24-25 January GeoDesign Summit
Esri, Redlands, CA, U.S.A.
Internet: www.geodesignsummit.com
11-13 February International LiDAR Mapping Forum
2013
Denver, CO, U.S.A.
Internet: www.lidarmap.org/ILMF.aspx
07-08 March EUROGI Conference 2013
Dublin, Ireland
Internet: www.eurogi.org/conference-2013.html
24-28 March ASPRS 2013 Annual Conference
Baltimore Marriott Waterfront Hotel, Baltimore, MD, U.S.A.
Internet: www.asprs.org
21-23 April Joint Urban Remote Sensing Event
(JURSE 2013)
Sao Paulo, Brazil
Internet: www.inpe.br/jurse2013
13-16 May Geospatial World Forum
Beurs/ World Trade Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
E-mail: info@geospatialworldforum.org
Internet: www.geospatialworldforum.org
Please feel free to e-mail your calendar notices to:calendar@geoinformatics.com
C a l e n d a r 2012/ 2013 / Ad v e r t i s e r s I n d e x
Advertisers Index
66
September 2012
CHC www.chcnav.com 29
ERDAS www.erdas.com 23
European Space Imaging www.euspaceimaging.com 13
Esri www.esri.com 17
Exelis www.exelisvis.com 35
FOIF www.foif.com.cn 37
GEOMAX www.geomax-positioning.com 2
Intergeo www.intergeo.de 26
Leica Geosystems www.leica-geosystems.com 68
Microdrones www.microdrones.com 67
Microsoft UltraCam www.iFlyUltraCam.com 10
Optech www.optech.com 19
Pacic Crest www.paciccrest.com/adl 27
Racurs www.racurs.ru 25
Riegl www.riegl.com 15
SPAR Europe www.sparpointgroup/europe 40
SuperMap www.supermap.com 45
TerraGo Technologies www.terragotech.com 21
Topcon www.topcon.eu 9
Trimble www.trimbledimansions.com 41


Geoinformatics 2012 Vol06

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Geoinformatics 2012 Vol06

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Waytag Visual Intelligences Iris One Airborne Camera Systems

Esri User Conference TOTAL STATION OVERVIEW

1(0.3mgon), 2(0.6mgon), 3(1mgon), 5(1.5mgon), 7(2mgon)

1(0.3mgon), 2(0.6mgon), 3(1mgon), 5(1.5mgon)

1(0.3mgon), 2(0.6mgon), 3(1mgon), 5(1.5mgon)

0.5 (0.15 mgon)

1(0.3mgon), 2(0.6mgon), 3(1mgon), 5(1.5mgon)

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Geoinformatics 2012 Vol06

Uploaded by

Document Informationclick to expand document informationgeoinformatics 2012 vol06

Document Informationclick to expand document information

Copyright:

Available Formats

Geoinformatics 2012 Vol06

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

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Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

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Geoinformatics 2012 Vol06

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Waytag Visual Intelligences Iris One Airborne Camera Systems

Esri User Conference TOTAL STATION OVERVIEW

1(0.3mgon), 2(0.6mgon), 3(1mgon), 5(1.5mgon), 7(2mgon)

1(0.3mgon), 2(0.6mgon), 3(1mgon), 5(1.5mgon)

1(0.3mgon), 2(0.6mgon), 3(1mgon), 5(1.5mgon)

0.5 (0.15 mgon)

1(0.3mgon), 2(0.6mgon), 3(1mgon), 5(1.5mgon)

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