IMAGING
NASA extends contract with Planet
Planet Labs PBC has announced NASA has exercised an option to extend its contract with Planet under the Commercial SmallSat Data Acquisition (CSDA) Program through September 2023. Planet has been providing data to NASA scientists and federally funded researchers under this program since 2018. www.planet.com
Innovative method of generating topographic surfaces
Virtual Surveyor has unveiled newly developed Auto-Flip Edges functionality that generates more accurate terrain surfaces from drone survey data. This innovative triangulation process is included in Version 8.7 of the popular Virtual Surveyor software package. www.virtual-surveyor.com
NASA Laser project benefits animal researchers
In a new scholarly paper that details research in northwest Wyoming, University of Wyoming researchers explain how NASA’s Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI) mission can provide valuable information about the world’s forests for wildlife scientists. The article appears in the journal Forest Ecology and Management.
Using a light detection and ranging (LiDAR) laser instrument installed on the International Space Station, GEDI collects high-resolution observations of the three-dimensional structure of Earth’s forest — including precise measurements of forest canopy height, canopy cover and vertical structure. GEDI was attached to the International Space Station in 2018 for a two-year mission that has been extended until January 2023; it is expected to collect over 10 billion samples of Earth’s tropical and temperate forests.
Working in the greater Yellowstone ecosystem — including two national parks, parts of three national forests, one national wildlife refuge and Bureau of Land Management land — the researchers deployed 107 camera traps for three consecutive winters. Based on photographs of target species, they calculated habitat use for Pacific martens, Rocky Mountain red foxes and coyotes, along with prey species red squirrels and snowshoe hares.
The scientists then paired data from GEDI with other remote-sensing platforms to create forest height and structure maps, which they used to run computer models to evaluate animal-environment relationships. They found that the pairing of GEDI data with other sensors resulted in a substantial improvement in characterizing vertical and horizontal forest structure, which aided efforts to understand important habitat features for the animals studied. https://gedi.umd.edu
Vexcel UltraNav version 7 and a new partnership with TopoFlight
Vexcel Imaging introduced the next version of UltraNav, its all-inone Flight Management and direct georeferencing solution. UltraNav version 7 guides customers every step of the way from 3D Flight Planning to real-time navigation and quality control during flight to post-processing GNSS/INS data. To offer this integrated solution, Vexcel Imaging entered into a new partnership with TopoFlight for flight planning/management and continues its longstanding partnership with Applanix for the GNSS/INS modules & post-processing.
New UltraCam Eagle 4.1 photogrammetric aerial camera system by Vexcel Imaging
Vexcel Imaging recently released the new UltraCam Eagle 4.1, the pinnacle of nadir photogrammetric aerial camera systems increasing flight efficiency at truly mapping-grade image quality for precise analysis and interpretation.
Based on Vexcel’s ground-breaking 4th generation camera technology, the UltraCam Eagle 4.1 collects high-resolution panchromatic, R, G, B and NIR information at over 500 Megapixels—an impressive footprint that can be exploited at different altitudes, thanks to three field-exchangeable lens kits at focal lengths of 90 mm, 120 mm and 150 mm. The Eagle 4.1 is further enhanced by the proprietary Adaptive Motion Compensation (AMC) software approach that addresses image blur caused by multi-directional camera movement during the flight. Featuring new sensors, coupled with new electronics and new lenses, the Eagle 4.1 delivers visually stunning, photogrammetric-grade quality imagery. The Eagle 4.1 is in a class of its own. The difference is found in the camera’s panchromatic “backbone.” High-resolution PAN sensors collect and resolve object details more faithfully and with higher geometrically accuracy. Consequently, UltraCam panchromatic and full-resolution color data (produced through pansharpening) feature a higher image-resolving power. Imagery is more detailed, more accurate and more actionable.
Vexcel releases property damage insights for Hurricane Ian
Vexcel Data Program has collected high-resolution aerial imagery of buildings and properties impacted by Hurricane Ian. The unprecedented level of destruction and scope of this event means thousands of homes, buildings, and other structures were destroyed or sustained heavy damage.
Vexcel, on the behalf of its partner the Geospatial Insurance Consortium (GIC), activated a full response to Hurricane Ian by deploying multiple fixed-wing aircraft to collect superdetailed imagery at a 7.5-10cm resolution. This imagery was captured with Vexcel’s UltraCam sensors then put through its world-class processing pipeline and delivered within 24 hours post-collection. Both orthomosiac and oblique aerial imagery are published, providing multiple views of the damaged areas in Florida. vexceldata.com
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