3D Modeling

Phase One Aerial System & Photogrammetric Software Increased Profitability by 25%

In order to diversify its revenue Uralgeoinform, decided to develop the aerial survey capabilities in a large territory of the Russian Federation. After an economic evaluation with leased equipment yielded positive results, the company acquired the Phase One 190MP Aerial System

Phase One & Uralgeoinform: Photogrammetric Software Integration

Aerial Solutions Provide a Diversified Revenue Stream.

Uralgeoinform is active on the Russian market and specializes in digital mapping and updating, cartography, aerial survey, GIS development and remote sensing, digital cartography, and map creation and updating.

In order to diversify its revenue, the company decided to develop its aerial survey capabilities. Aerial surveys were carried out on leased aerial photography equipment. Financial feasibility studies were conducted on the leased solutions which yielded favorable results. The company decided to purchase its own aerial survey equipment.

The system was delivered by Phase One’s Russian partner – NPK Photonica and installed on an AN-2 aircraft. Testing and training were carried out jointly by specialists from the three companies.

After purchasing their own equipment Uralgeoinform saw an increase of 25% in profitability compared with the work performed with rented equipment.

Image: Examples of aerial photographs of different scales obtained using Phase One190MP camera. Uralgeoinform 2018 ©.

Quick Facts

GSD 10CM & 15CM

10 cm GSD with image forward/side overlap of 80/40% and 15cm with the image forward/side overlap of 60/30%

12,000 SQ.KM - SPEED 80–105 KNOTS

190MP camera produces a large image (16,470 pixels across flight lines). Large image coverage = 25% increased productivity

190MP AERIAL SOLUTION AN-2 AIRCRAFT

190MP solution is compact and lightweight, fits a wide range of aircraft. Full Return on Investment -ROI- in 2 to 3 years.

The acquisition of our own aerial survey solution led to an increase of orders for aerial survey works by 2.3 times compared with 2017. We also saw an increase in related orders, in particular, the creation of digital orthophotos by 1.5 times.

Pavel Anashkin

Director - Uralgeoinform

Fly More Hours in a Day
Quality Assurance (QA) of Images Made Easy
Phase One 190MP Aerial Solution

Fly More Hours in a Day

During the summers of 2018 and 2019, the following aerial surveys were performed:

• 3350 sq. km for orthophoto production and navigation maps for cities in the scale of 1:2,000. The resolution on the ground is 10 cm at a flight height of 2000 m and the image forward/side overlap is 80/40%.

• 12,500 sq. km for orthophoto production of settlements in the scale of 1:2,000 and 1:10,000. The resolution on the ground is 15 cm at a flight height of 3000 m and the image forward/side overlap is 60/30%.

• In 2019, 48,000 sq.km were flown for data acquisition projects

Image: Flight planning was carried out with iX Plan

Photogrammetric Software Transforming Uralgeoinform Surveys

Quality Assurance (QA) of Images Made Easy

Capture One software and Photomod software was used to conduct quality assurance and to determine if all images had sufficient and uniform sharpness and were free of defects, such as streaks; smears; and stains. Analysis of histograms and tone curves in Capture One along with visual inspection was used to determine if objects in the images were well defined such as:

• linear objects – marking on roads, etc., a coastline of water bodies, surface pipelines, etc.

• local objects – pylons and poles of power lines and shadows from them, hatches of wells in built-up areas, details of roofs of buildings, marking of pedestrian crossings on highways, etc.

Image: Capture One is used for basic color grading of images: a typical histogram and tonal curves for RGB images. Uralgeoinform 2019 ©

Enhancing Geospatial Data with Photogrammetric Software

Phase One 190MP Aerial Solution

The Phase One 190MP aerial solution comprises:

- iXU-RS1900 camera
- iX Controller with removable SSD tray for secure data transfer
- SOMAG DSM400 gyro stabilizer
- Applanix GNSS/IMU system
- iX Capture Software

Uralgeoinform also purchased:

- iX Flight – flight management system
- iX Plan – flight planning software

Image: Phase One 190MP Aerial Solution – Compact and Light enough to fit into the Uralgeoinform AN-2 Aircraft – Uralgeoinform 2018 ©

Phase One enhancing Uralgeoinform's geospatial data

Fly More Hours in a Day

Fly More Hours in a Day

During the summers of 2018 and 2019, the following aerial surveys were performed:

• 3350 sq. km for orthophoto production and navigation maps for cities in the scale of 1:2,000. The resolution on the ground is 10 cm at a flight height of 2000 m and the image forward/side overlap is 80/40%.

• 12,500 sq. km for orthophoto production of settlements in the scale of 1:2,000 and 1:10,000. The resolution on the ground is 15 cm at a flight height of 3000 m and the image forward/side overlap is 60/30%.

• In 2019, 48,000 sq.km were flown for data acquisition projects

Image: Flight planning was carried out with iX Plan
Quality Assurance (QA) of Images Made Easy

Quality Assurance (QA) of Images Made Easy

Capture One software and Photomod software was used to conduct quality assurance and to determine if all images had sufficient and uniform sharpness and were free of defects, such as streaks; smears; and stains. Analysis of histograms and tone curves in Capture One along with visual inspection was used to determine if objects in the images were well defined such as:

• linear objects – marking on roads, etc., a coastline of water bodies, surface pipelines, etc.

• local objects – pylons and poles of power lines and shadows from them, hatches of wells in built-up areas, details of roofs of buildings, marking of pedestrian crossings on highways, etc.

Image: Capture One is used for basic color grading of images: a typical histogram and tonal curves for RGB images. Uralgeoinform 2019 ©
Phase One 190MP Aerial Solution
Phase One 190MP Aerial Solution
The Phase One 190MP aerial solution comprises:
- - iXU-RS1900 camera
  - iX Controller with removable SSD tray for secure data transfer
  - SOMAG DSM400 gyro stabilizer
  - Applanix GNSS/IMU system
  - iX Capture Software
Uralgeoinform also purchased:
- - iX Flight – flight management system
  - iX Plan – flight planning software
Image: Phase One 190MP Aerial Solution – Compact and Light enough to fit into the Uralgeoinform AN-2 Aircraft – Uralgeoinform 2018 ©

Results, Return on Investment, and Future Plans

Additional photogrammetric products obtained by using the PhaseOne 190MP solution, in combination with the appropriate photogrammetric software, are true-orthophoto and 3D city models. As an experiment, a dense DSM was created, and a three-dimensional model of a small part of the city with a resolution of 3 cm was build. On the basis of the dense DSM, counter lines were calculated. The quality check showed that the automatically constructed counter lines approximate the relief forms with high details. Using a dense three-dimensional terrain model, it is possible to solve various engineering problems, such as:

• Aerodiagnostics of electric grid facilities. For example, the definition of the sag of the wires between the supports of power lines for the timely prevention of emergency outages of power lines.
• Determination of the geometric spatial characteristics of the road network, its condition, for the organization of repair work and design.
• Monitoring of mining activities, determination of sizes, volumes and dimensions of various nature, etc.

With the Phase One 190MP Aerial Solution the return on investment in 2-3 years instead of 5 regulatory year.

Image: 3D model of residential building from true orthophoto. – Uralgeoinform 2019 ©

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