GIF 2009 Volume: 7 Issue: 6 (November/December)
ITT has released ENVI EX, a high performance image processing and analysis software solution designed for image analysts and GIS professionals. Developed in response to the growing convergence of mapping and image analysis applications, ENVI EX combines powerful image analysis tools and seamless integration with ESRI’s leading GIS platform, ArcGIS, to streamline image analysis workflows and allow users to easily extract important information from imagery. ENVI EX also distills complex image analysis tasks into easy-to-use workflows, while maintaining the scientific accuracy the ENVI product line is known for, making image analysis faster and easier for analysts of all skill levels. The seamless integration between ENVI EX and ArcGIS allows GIS users to easily exchange data and files from ArcGIS to ENVI EX with simple drag-and-drop methods that preserve the style, symbology, vectors, and layer information from one product to another. The displays of both products can be linked to allow the movement across the screen of one application to occur simultaneously in the other product. This integration allows users of both products to share data and files back and forth between the products to add imagery analysis results to the ArcGIS workflow and vector layers and information to image analysis in ENVI EX. ENVI EX’s intuitive interface also provides users with easy-to-use tools for displaying, visualizing and manipulating imagery.
Lori Thompson:
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Software Creates Maps from High Resolution Aerial Imagery
2d3, a provider of vision science solutions for industrial, defense, and entertainment applications, has released version 1.0 of its AltiMap software, which was developed to address the need to create accurate, geospatial maps from aerial imagery captured by high resolution cameras. AltiMap is available in several configurations to support cameras ranging from consumer available digital cameras up to the most advanced aerial imaging systems. Traditional automated mapping systems have been reliant upon costly and complex aircraft instrumentation and camera hardware. AltiMap removes this dependency and allows for the automated generation of the same quality of image product using images alone or images and a commercially available GPS receiver. The geo-located results can be exported as single images or tiled hierarchies of images, compatible with almost all mapping software such as Google Earth and ArcView GIS.
Robin Pengelly:
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Solutions Incorporate Image Analysis, Remote Sensing and GIS
ERDAS has released new versions of ERDAS Imagine 2010, LPS 2010, ERDAS Apollo 2010 and other desktop and enterprise products. In addition, the company has introduced several new products, including Imagine Feature Interoperability and Imagine SAR Interferometry as well as a technology preview of LPS eATE. ERDAS Imagine 2010 is many solutions in one, incorporating image analysis, remote sensing and GIS. Featuring a new ribbon interface, ERDAS Imagine makes it easier for users to navigate and customize their workspace. It also provides enhanced tools for parallel batch processing, spatial modeling, map production, mosaicking and change detection. In addition, ERDAS Imagine also incorporates the ERDAS ER Mapper algorithms and implements comprehensive OGC Web Processing Service (WPS), Web Coverage Service, Web Mapping Service and Catalog Services for the Web. Imagine Feature Interoperability is a new module supporting DGN direct-read, write and editing, including symbolization colors, cells (points with shapes assigned to them), text, relating to external attribute sources such as Oracle tables and the use of the spatial indexing and caching for roaming, zooming and other functions. With intelligent defaults and optimized processing, Imagine SAR Interferometry is fully integrated into ERDAS Imagine. Imagine SAR Interferometry includes new interpolation techniques that increase the quality and fidelity of radar data. A part of the Imagine Radar Mapping Suite, Imagine SAR Interferometry now includes Imagine Coherence Change Detection and Imagine InSAR.
Jason Sims:
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Exploitation Solution Geospatially Integrates Video
Intergraph has introduced the Motion Video Exploitation solution, which enables analysts to geospatially integrate video with multiple intelligence sources to provide unprecedented situational awareness and strategic decision-making capabilities. The solution fuses and displays video data, including data from unmanned aircraft systems, with satellite imagery and geointelligence, delivering an exceptional level of actionable intelligence in real-time. This latest addition to Intergraph’s suite of geospatially powered solutions supports military and civilian agencies’ intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance activities by providing an endto- end workflow for collecting, extracting, analyzing and maximizing video data sources. The Motion Video Exploitation solution also allows for the storage of video so that it can be queried with all other geo-referenced enterprise content, allowing it to be easily located and utilized at a later date. Using DVR-like controls, defense and intelligence analysts can easily collect, manage, store and distribute video on an enterprise-wide basis. It also correlates annotations and clipmarks within a video and conducts queries based on those annotations. Intergraph’s Video Analyst application, a core technology in the Motion Video Exploitation solution, has been proved in years of public safety and security service. The application enables real-time video enhancements and corrections, such as stabilization, removing atmospheric distortions and correcting for shadows, to improve video quality acquired from aerial platforms.
Renee Wagner:
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Precision Pointing to Improve Far Target Location
The Army Night Vision and Electronic Sensors Directorate has selected Northrop Grumman’s milli-Hemispherical Resonator Gyroscope (mHRG)-based precision pointing concept for exploration under the far target location improvement program broad agency announcement. Under this contract, Northrop Grumman will develop a lightweight, low-power precision pointing technology demonstrator providing improved target accuracy and performance over currently fielded Far Target Locators. Precision target location reduces collateral damage in the field by improving the accuracy of munitions delivery. At the heart of the precision pointing concept is the mHRG, derived from the proven, highly reliable Hemispheric Resonator Gyroscope, which has operated over 13 million hours in space without any mission failures. The mHRG is a small, high performance, low-power sensor that will enable the precision pointing system to be 10 to 20 times more accurate than existing systems. Northrop Grumman was awarded a research and development contract for preliminary design, analysis, and modeling of the mHRG and its system implementation. The second phase of the program will include the development, fabrication, test, and delivery of two technology demonstrator precision pointing units.
Navy Moving to Common Infrastructure for ISR and Targeting Data
BAE Systems has formed a team to compete for the next development phase of the Navy’s primary intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and targeting (ISR&T) system. The team is competing for a contract to transition the Distributed Common Ground System-Navy (DCGS-N) to an application- based system through the DCGS-N Prime Mission Product (DCGS-N PMP). The team consists of BAE Systems, General Dynamics, Sun Microsystems, MTCSC, Space Dynamics Laboratory, InVisM, and Athena consulting. DCGS-N, the network-centric operations “backbone” for the Navy, enables the actionable and timely distribution of ISR&T data, processes and systems. It helps naval commanders make better decisions in major combat operations. With DCGS-N PMP, the Navy is moving toward applications and services on a common infrastructure to share and disseminate vital ISR&T data for analysis and targeting in support of a wide range of missions. As the gateway to joint and government-agency intelligence systems, DCGS-N allows the Navy to exchange information and data across multiple security domains, warfare areas, environments and theaters. BAE Systems, Sun Microsystems, Space Dynamics Laboratory and Athena Consulting are current contractors for DCGS-N. General Dynamics, MTCSC and InVisM bring valuable experience and technologies to the team. The Navy is expected to award the DCGS-N PMP contract in March 2010. ♦