UltraCam Eagle Sold to Helica in Italy

Graz, Austria - Helica srl, a remote sensing firm based in Italy, has contracted with Microsoft’s UltraCam business unit and subsidiary, Vexcel Imaging GmbH, to purchase an UltraCam Eagle ”ultra-large” format digital aerial camera system. First announced in May 2011, the UltraCam Eagle is the latest product in the line of award-winning UltraCam digital aerial camera systems.

“Helica recognizes the importance of offering multi-sensor capabilities, such as optical imaging and lidar simultaneously. Our search for new technology led us to the UltraCam Eagle, which we believe to be the best digital aerial camera for our needs,” stated Mr. Diego Plos, Director of Remote Sensing and Aviation at Helica. “Its compact structure, large imaging footprint, high resolution and collection efficiency makes the UltraCam Eagle ideal for operating in conjunction with our laser scanners.”

The UltraCam Eagle will be utilized to complete national mapping and urban mapping projects, including the planning and design of transportation and telecommunications infrastructure and managing and protecting the environment.

”Helica always strives to invest in new equipment to remain competitive in our rapidly evolving industry,” said Christian Peloso, Manager of Remote Sensing at Helica. “By synchronizing the UltraCam Eagle with our laser scanners and GPS, we are able to orthorectify and georeference images more quickly, which helps us complete projects on time.”

“Microsoft is very pleased that Helica purchased the first UltraCam Eagle in Italy,” said Alexander Wiechert, Microsoft Business Director. “We also look forward to assisting Helica in the future as we continue to adapt our technology to meet the needs of our customers.”

The UltraCam Eagle features a PAN image footprint of 20,010 pixels across the flight strip. In addition to the ultra-large image footprint, the UltraCam Eagle includes enhanced electronics for improved frame rate and less noise (72 dB signal-to-noise ratio for high image dynamic) when compared to previous UltraCam systems, and innovative high-resolution, high-performance lenses and state-of-the art CCD technology (@ 5.2 µm pixel size) for sharp images with a high dynamic range. The UltraCam Eagle is the first multi-cone digital photogrammetric camera to offer an exchangeable lens system with 80mm (standard) and 210mm (tele for high altitude flights) and includes filters with curved characteristics to flatten out vignetting, enabling the lens system to operate at its best Modulation Transfer Function (MTF) performance for maximum image sharpness and contrast. This digital camera system boasts a new housing concept with everything integrated into a modular sensor head, including the UltraNav embedded flight management and direct georeferencing system from Applanix, and in-flight exchangeable, solid state storage for high reliability and minimal ground time. Compared to previous UltraCam systems, the smaller physical form factor of the UltraCam Eagle system makes it quicker and easier to install, requires less aircraft space, and weighs less for more efficient aircraft fuel consumption.

With its operations based in Graz, Austria, and sales and support teams in North America, Microsoft’s UltraCam business unit brings more than two decades of photogrammetry expertise to Microsoft’s Bing Maps business unit. The division is responsible for the highly successful line of UltraCam digital aerial mapping systems that include the UltraCamLp, UltraCamXp and UltraCamXp Wide Angle and the new UltraCam Eagle digital photogrammetric sensors. Rounding out the UltraCam mapping systems offering is the UltraMap workflow software system for processing UltraCam imagery to Level 02 and Level 03 quality data, and with features that include distributed processing with automated load balancing, automated project-based color balancing, and additional quality control tools.

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Helica srl, founded in 2000 and based in Amaro, Italy, owns a fleet of helicopters and aircraft and operates a full range of remote sensing equipment, including digital aerial cameras, lidar scanners, geophysical sensors and mobile mapping systems. The firm produces digital models, infrastructure maps, 3D powerline cartography and environmental analysis, primarily for projects in Italy and Africa. For more information about Helica srl, please contact Mr. Diego Plos by telephone at +39 0433 94286 or email info@helica.it or visit the website at www.helica.it or www.helica.eu.