For the many current owners of the POSTrack system, the availability of integration by LeadAir makes the Leica RCD30 a more affordable and attractive choice among medium-format digital cameras.
Norcross, GA, USA, October 9, 2013 Leica Geosystems Inc. (www.leica-geosystems.us) today announced that Tuck Mapping Solutions Inc. has completed the first integration of a Leica RCD30 airborne camera with the Applanix POSTrack system. With technical support from Leica Geosystems and Applanix, Tuck Mapping contracted LeadAir Inc. of Kissimmee, Fla., to perform most of the software upgrades and new cabling required to integrate the Leica digital camera with the POSTrack all-in-one GNSS-aided inertial direct georeferencing and flight management system.
The Leica RCD30 is a true metric camera built for mapping. Introduced by Leica Geosystems as a digital follow-on to its RC30 film cameras, the RCD30 is a medium-format digital imaging system developed for a variety of photogrammetric and remote sensing applications. The 60 MP single-camera-head design delivers co-registered, multispectral imagery in the Red, Green, Blue and Near IR portions of the spectrum. The sleek modular design allows the camera to fit easily in aircraft previously outfitted with film cameras, and the RCD30 integrates with many LiDAR sensors, including the Leica ALS series.
For the many current owners of the POSTrack system, the availability of integration by LeadAir makes the Leica RCD30 a more affordable and attractive choice among medium-format digital cameras. When buying a new Leica RCD30, POSTrack owners do not have to purchase the Leica flight management system, train flight crews in the use of multiple interfaces, and install redundant equipment in their aircraft.
The integrated systems enable our flight crews to operate the Leica RCD30 and a third-party LiDAR sensor with a single flight management interface, said Tuck Mapping President, Bobby Tuck. In addition, POSTrack collects the GNSS location and Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) attitude data needed to georeference the imagery and LiDAR data sets.
Based in Big Stone Gap, Va., Tuck Mapping is a photogrammetric services and aerial mapping firm with a reputation for engineering innovative solutions related to geospatial data collection. Tuck was among the first aerial mappers to use a helicopter for LiDAR scanning operations, and more than a decade ago the firm took the lead in successfully integrating an airborne camera and LiDAR sensor for simultaneous collection. Tuck Mapping owns four POSTrack systems, three helicopters, two fixed-wing airplanes, and state-of-the-art airborne cameras and laser scanners.
Bobby Tuck deserves credit for driving the integration of the Leica RCD30 with the POSTrack system, said Jean Gardiner, General Manager of Leica Geospatial Solutions. From a business perspective, Leica believes that supporting the compatibility of our products with other manufacturers products is an integral part of providing solutions to our clients.
This joint integration project exemplifies the maturity of Leica and Applanix, said Joe Hutton, Applanix Director of Inertial Technology and Airborne Products. Its a natural progression of good customer support.
Jointly developed by Applanix and TrackAir, the POSTrack product integrates the Applanix POS AV direct georeferencing technology, utilizing GNSS and IMU components, with the XTRACK Flight Management System software from TrackAir into a single, compact package. POSTrack provides direct georeferencing for airborne mapping sensors, mission planning, real-time sensor control and pilot guidance.
LeadAir, a subsidiary of TrackAir, specializes in integrating the TrackAir flight management systems with any airborne camera or LiDAR sensor. Now that the first Leica RCD30/POSTrack integration has been completed for Tuck Mapping, LeadAir offers this integration as a commercially available service. Contact LeadAir at 407-343-7571 or visit trackair.com.
Tuck Mapping Solutions Inc. (www.tuckmapping.com)
Tuck Mapping Solutions is a surveying and mapping firm located in Big Stone Gap, Va. Its staff of 30 professionals has successfully completed thousands of projects since the company’s formation in 1985. The Tuck team has expertise and experience in digital and conventional aerial photography, LiDAR, digital mapping, stockpile volumetric calculation, digital orthophotography, surveying, aerial triangulation, and cross sections. The firms aircraft include three Bell turbine helicopters (JetRanger, LongRanger and 407) and two airplanes (Cessna 206 and Piper Navajo).
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Leica Geosystems Inc.
Andre Ribeiro, MBA
Vice President, Marketing and E-Commerce
Atlanta, GA 30092
Phone: +1 (770) 326-9557
Fax: +1 (770) 447-0710
Andre.ribeiro@leicaus.com
www.leica-geosystems.us