ORION Lidar System
3rd October 2008
ORION Lidar System
Micro Mapping Technology for Southern Mapping Company
Johannesburg, 03 October 2008 – Southern Mapping Company, a leading aerial lidar surveying company in Africa, announced their recent purchase of Optech Incorporated’s new ALTM (Airborne Laser Terrain Mapper) Orion sensor. This purchase makes Southern Mapping Company the first commercial owners of the world’s smallest, full-system lidar sensor. With the same high-performance features typically found in much larger sensors, Orion enables highly accurate and dense topographic data acquisition in the most efficient means possible.
“By offering our clients the very latest in lidar technology development, we ensure they obtain the best possible data both reliably and repeatedly. This purchase highlights our commitment to supporting that expectation.” says Peter Moir, CEO of Southern Mapping Company.
Orion offers higher accuracy and precision, regardless of the laser pulse rate, up to a maximum of 600,000 surface measurements per second (i.e. first, second, third and last returns per output pulse at 150kHz), all fully enabled by Optech’s innovative iFLEXTM technology platform. A mere 27 kilograms in weight, a tiny 0.030 m3 (1.0 cu ft) in total volume, this technology marvel provides unlimited flexibility in installation options. With built-in ruggedness, a wide environmental tolerance, and a modular design approach Orion ensures maximum reliability in the most demanding operating environments with ease of field serviceability.
This total aerial lidar solution includes Optech’s FMS software package ALTM-NAV, which incorporates underlying DEM planning capability and real-time swath display for in-air coverage verification, all directly exported to GoogleTM Earth, and many other programs. It also incorporates the very latest in tightly-coupled inertial and Virtual Reference System processing technology which now allows steep aircraft turns, extended GPS baselines and the possible elimination of remote base stations to enable maximum collection efficiency without sacrificing accuracy. Optech’s lidar pre-processing software package, DASHMap, provides XYZl data output in LAS format with an embedded 3D viewer for rapid visualisation.
Optional extras include fully integrated digital cameras, as well as hyperspectral and waveform digitizer solutions, allowing a variety of data end-products.
In addition to the ALTM Orion purchase, Southern Mapping Company adds the first commercial purchase of Rolleimetric’s new 60MP airborne digital mapping camera.
“With the purchase of these new technologies, we will be able to offer an industry-leading service that focuses on data quality, density and efficiency,” says Peter Moir. The technology is scheduled for delivery in February 2009, whereupon it will be fitted to the Southern Mapping Company aircraft and readied to deliver reams of quality data to a long list of eager clients.
"Orion represents a new era in lidar technology and design and we are pleased that Southern Mapping Company wants to be the first to implement this new sensor within their workflow. We are looking forward to hearing about the big things SMC will be producing from this small sensor," said Don Carswell, President of Optech.
The Southern Mapping Company motto, ‘Putting Africa on the Map’, coupled with the company’s commitment to service excellence and constant interest in technology developments has ascertained the strength and innovativeness of this truly dynamic and successful enterprise.
ENDS
