Milwaukee, WI — May 2, 2011 — From the ASPRS 2011 conference in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Microsoft’s Photogrammetry division today announced that GEOCART Herten (Germany) has contracted with Microsoft subsidiary, Vexcel Imaging GmbH, to purchase an UltraCam Eagle —a new generation of the award-winning Microsoft UltraCam digital aerial camera systems—also announced today by Microsoft in its UltraCam User Group meeting at the conference. This latest model in the widely adopted line of UltraCam photogrammetric digital aerial sensors builds on the UltraCam legacy of reliable and economical solutions for producing image data of exceptional quality, but bests traditional “large-format” cameras to set a new “ultra-large” industry standard for across-track image footprint capacity.

Among the reasons for its purchase of the new UltraCam system, GEOCART Herten cited favorable experience with the UltraCamX/Xp systems. “The UltraCam has served our organization and its customers well,” stated Dr. Thore Kiski, CEO of GEOCART Herten. “The UltraCam Eagle is the next big stage of evolution for the UltraCam series. It represents cutting-edge aerial sensor technology and is going to allow our organization to more efficiently deliver higher-quality products to our customer base.”

The UltraCam Eagle’s ultra-large PAN image footprint (> 20,000 pixels across the flight strip), integrated sensor/system component design, in-flight exchangeable solid state storage, and smaller form factor and reduced weight (when compared to previous UltraCam models) also factored into the company’s purchase decision, according to Kiski.

During his announcement in the UltraCam User Group meeting at the ASPRS 2011 conference where Microsoft unveiled the new UltraCam Eagle, Alexander Wiechert, Microsoft Business Director said “GEOCART Herten’s decision to become an early adopter of the next generation of UltraCam underscores customer confidence in the stability and reliability of UltraCam technology, even as Microsoft continues to innovate and push the envelope for digital aerial acquisition technology. We congratulate and commend them for their purchase.”

About the UltraCam Eagle

The UltraCam Eagle features a PAN image footprint of more than 20,000 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 completely new high-resolution, high-performance lenses and state-of-the art CCD technology (@ 5.2 µm pixel size) for sharp images with a high image dynamic range. The UltraCam Eagle is the first multi-cone photogrammetric camera to offer exchangeable lens system with 80mm (standard) and 210mm (tele for high altitude flights) and includes new 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 newest generation of UltraCam boasts a new housing concept with everything integrated into a modular sensor head, including the new 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 footprint of the UltraCam system makes it quicker and easier to install, require less aircraft space, and weigh less for more efficient aircraft fuel consumption.