GeoCue Group has partnered with the Geospatial Division of consulting firm, Ayres, in their acquisition of a GeoCue True View 620 3D Imaging System (3DIS®). GeoCue’s True View 620 is equipped with RIEGL’s miniVUX-2UAV laser scanner integrated with dual photogrammetric cameras. Extreme accuracy is provided by Applanix APX-20 Position and Orientation System. All True View 3D Imaging Systems are bundled with Applanix POSPac, True View EVO post-processing software and True View Reckon data management solution.
The True View 620 system is a compact, survey grade 3D Imaging Sensor designed for small Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS). The 200 kHz, 5 return RIEGL laser scanner and dual photogrammetric cameras (providing 40 megapixels of imagery) have been carefully configured to provide a fused LIDAR/imagery field of view of 120°. All components are contained within a rigid machined mount and carefully calibrated to provide true sensor fusion. The system includes full post-processing software that generates a stunning ray-traced 3D colorized point cloud (“3D Image”) and geocoded images that can be used in photogrammetric workflows.
The True View product line gives mappers and surveyors the ability to deliver high quality analytic data with exacting accuracies. These deliverables can be generated using workflows and tools within True View EVO. Examples of derived products include classified ground models, profiles, cross sections, digital elevation models, topographic contours, volumetric analysis, classified wires and more.
UAS-based LIDAR is particularly effective on medium-size projects that span the niche between conventional survey and manned aircraft and provides fast turnaround of highly accurate data with the option of colorized point clouds. An example of the power of UAS LIDAR is its flexibility in challenging situations, such as topographic mapping for flood mitigation on the west shore of Wisconsin’s Green Bay, which has large areas of wetland bog. The legwork involved in covering this area with traditional survey equipment would last over a week, while the necessary UAS LIDAR flights and ground control could be accomplished in hours.
Here are some of the strategic advantages of the UAS-mounted GeoCue system:
· Fast and flexible mobilization.
· An alternative for survey in locations where terrain is challenging using other methods.
· Solid integration of the LIDAR sensor, cameras and inertial measurement unit (IMU) ensures a smooth workflow and quality results.
· Less constrained by low clouds than manned aircraft.
· Ability to penetrate heavily forested areas to reach the ground and create an accurate terrain model quickly.
· Targeted management of vegetation along utility corridors rather than costly on-the-ground deployments.
GeoCue’s President, Lewis Graham, stated, “Ayres has been a valued partner since the formation of our company. It is an honor that they have selected us to provide their drone survey technology.”
Paul Crocker, who manages Ayres’ UAS program, said, “We are already seeing the benefits of using the GeoCue True View 620 system integrated tightly with our long-endurance aircraft. Clients are impressed with the high accuracy of the data, and the well-designed sensor package ensures consistency that we can count on. Their customer support has been top notch as we begin to roll out this service to our clients.”
