Hyperspectral Imaging to Analyse Building Material Strengths

A recent study has shown that, with proper post-processing of the data, hyperspectral imaging can automatically and reliably detect weak from strong hardened concrete and normally fired bricks, all without any destructive testing or direct contact with the materials. This technology will help civil engineers and developers rapidly analyse the integrity of construction materials and assist with the documentation, preservation and restoration of historical structures, as well as the asset management of infrastructure. Professor Debra Laefer from NYU’s Center for Urban Science and Progress (CUSP), in collaboration with Professor Aoife Gowen and Zohreh Zahiri from the University College Dublin, recently demonstrated... (read more)

2018-09-05 11:15:38

Bridging the Gap between Aerial Imaging and Terrestrial Data Capture

The Challenges of Drone Use in Facade Mapping

There have been rapid advancements in unmanned aerial systems over recent years, yet there is widespread consensus that we have still only seen a fraction of how unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs or ‘drones’) could ultimately improve efficiency for geospatial professionals and their customers. To get a glimpse of the future, 'GIM International' spoke to Mark Nicolai, co-founder of industry start-up Aeroscan. Here, he shares his vision of how drones could form the missing link between aerial imaging and terrestrial data capture. According to independent research by the likes of PwC and Goldman Sachs, the construction industry tops the list in... (read more)

2019-03-20 10:24:53

Satellite Imagery of COVID-19 Testing Facilities in Munich, Germany

On 19 March 2020, European Space Imaging collected imagery of the COVID-19 drive-through testing facilities that have been erected at Theresienwiese in Munich, Germany. The imagery was captured with WorldView-3 at True 30cm in full colour. It shows the six drive-through testing tents and over 60 cars waiting in line for testing. Testing at this facility is only open to people who are deemed by the Statutory Health Insurance Physicians in Bavaria (KVB) to have a reasonable likelihood of being infected with coronavirus. Satellite image ©2020 European Space Imaging. (read more)

2020-03-20 01:21:14

Laser Scanner Comparisons: 7 Capabilities to Check Before You Buy

With the proliferation of scanner types and brands, how can you determine which laser scanner is the best fit for your application? Here are seven capabilities to evaluate before you make your purchase. Surveying service providers are increasingly adding 3D laser scanning and other reality capture equipment to their technology toolbox, and for good reason. Laser scanners capture comprehensive data on buildings, infrastructure and environments through 360-degree images and millions of accurate measurement points collectively known as point clouds. This allows the captured data of various sites to be documented quickly and analysed directly in the field for QA/QC measures. But how can you determine which laser scanner is the best fit for your... (read more)

2020-04-30 11:13:56

GeoSLAM Launches New Innovation for Rapid Urban Mapping

Recently, GeoSLAM announced its latest innovation for rapid urban mapping – the ZEB Discovery. Officially unveiled at Intergeo 2019 in Stuttgart, the ZEB Discovery signifies a new era in data capture and integration of a point cloud with high-resolution imagery. The mapping solution is capable of rapidly capturing intricate data with the use of the company's industry-leading simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) technology and NCTech’s iSTAR Pulsar panoramic camera for ultra-high-definition image capture. The end-to-end solution automatically synchronizes the point cloud with imagery for a unique walk-through of the area of data captured. Combining the two data sources into one... (read more)

2019-10-01 11:33:14

Leica Geosystems Enhances Construction Collaboration with Launch of BLK3D Web

Leica Geosystems, part of Hexagon, has launched BLK3D Web, an online collaboration workflow that extends the Leica BLK3D imager by enabling users to share 3D measurable images with anyone, anywhere online. The BLK3D device allows users to take precise, 3D measurements directly in the images it creates. Now, with a BLK3D Publisher license, those 3D image files can be easily and securely uploaded to the cloud. Once published, the 3D image files can be viewed and measured with BLK3D Web via a shared link, a simple and powerful tool used across major collaboration platforms today. “BLK3D Web in-picture measurements make... (read more)

2019-11-22 09:09:01

Leica Geosystems Launches New MultiStation

Leica Geosystems, part of Hexagon, has unveiled the new Leica Nova MS60. According to the company, the MS60 MultiStation brings sensor fusion to the next level by combining upgraded faster 3D laser scanning capabilities, GNSS connectivity and digital imaging with a highest-end total station. The MS60 features several laser scanning updates, including an incredibly fast scanning speed of up to 30,000 points per second, optimized scan area definitions, adapted scan managements, and an improved scanning path for zenith scans. The MS60 is also equipped with the unique AutoHeight feature, enabling users to save time by automatically measuring the instrument’s height... (read more)

2020-02-19 08:59:05

FARO Announces Latest Version of BuildIT Construction 2019

FARO, a 3D measurement and imaging solutions company, has announced the latest version of BuildIT Construction (2019) – the Software is a comprehensive verification solution that accelerates projects and minimizes waste by providing construction professionals with a single software ecosystem designed to easily automate various QA/QC workflows. Engineers and Facility Managers can confidently verify tanks are within design specifications during initial install or retrofitting thanks to the complete tank analysis report from BuildIT Construction 2019. With several tools created to calculate tank deformations, owners and inspectors can analyse various horizontal and vertical tanks to determine deviations, calculate real volumes and... (read more)

2019-03-04 10:15:39

KOREC and NCTech Launch KlearView360°

KOREC and NCTech have announced the launch of KlearView360°, a streamlined, hosted system designed for the identification of assets, defects or changes within images collected by vehicle or backpack. Developed as a cost-effective solution, KlearView360° makes vehicle-mounted asset inspection accessible to local authorities and many others. The system is a joint partnership between the two companies, combining NCTech’s iSTAR Pulsar+ high-resolution camera for capturing 360° imagery at carriageway speeds with KOREC’s K-Portal cloud-based hosting solution for live progress monitoring of a project and the assignment of work orders. KlearView360° also enables work management instructions to be communicated to mobile workers... (read more)

2020-03-17 09:16:27

How to Speed up Stockpile Measurement with Drones

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs or 'drones') are a powerful tool for stockpile measurement in industries such as mining, forestry and construction. They allow the same region to be flown regularly and progression of the work to be monitored over time. Imagery is collected over the region of interest at high resolution, often at the sub-centimetre level. Workflow advancements are now speeding up this process. SimActive has recently released an enhanced workflow in its Correlator3D to accelerate stockpile measurement. The overlapping images are processed by the software to create a digital surface model (DSM), which accurately describes the topology of the... (read more)

2020-04-07 10:09:24