Download Conform 1.1 Software: Render LIDAR Point Cloud Data

Today GameSim unveiled the latest version of Conform, a leading software product in Geospatial visualization. Conform version 1.1 boasts many new capabilities; primary among those new features is the added support for rendering LIDAR, point cloud data. The LIDAR support for Conform follows Conform’s design principle of being able to import, fuse, and render content in near real-time speed.

"The added support for LIDAR data is a logical next step in Conform's evolution as the industry leading tool for rapid visualization of Geospatial data products," said Andrew Tosh, GameSim's President. "It was a large effort to ensure Conform remained true to its design principle of being a tool that anyone can obtain proficiency within minutes, while adding support for massive point cloud datasets."

To better support customers, Conform’s Software Development Kit (SDK) has been expanded to improvethe development of tailored features for community specific needs. “While Conform is a great tool out of the box, we also understand the importance of customers using the tool as a platform for solving their specific needs; the Conform SDK meets that objective,” Mr. Tosh said.

GameSim will be demonstrating this latest release of Conform at GEOINT 2013, being held October 13-16 in Tampa, FL.

Conform offers a variety of unique abilities, including an instantaneous 3D view of raw source data. Users are able to easily import large amounts of data (e.g., Shape Files, DTED, GeoTIFFs, LIDAR) and immediately view them in both 2D and 3D displays. Conform’s performance with loading assets and rendering speed is unmatched in the market.

To watch a demonstration video and download a trial version, visit: http://gamesim.com/conform/

GameSim is a software company working in the Video Game, GIS and Modeling & Simulation Industries. GameSim has developed applications for government customers including the US Army, US Air Force,and NASA, in addition to commercial companies including Electronic Arts and CSX. GameSim is an experienced game development studio, having worked on all major game platforms.

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Surfer 11 Software Traning Guide and User Manual

If you are using the Surfer software, you may want to check out the user manual. I have been using this training guide lately. Surfer 11 is a software package written for Windows XP SP2, Vista and 7. Surfer dispalys data to create base maps, contour maps, post and classed post maps, contour maps, image maps, shaded relief maps, vector maps, watershed maps, 3D wireframe maps and 3D surface maps. It can create profiles, calculate length and areas, and calculate volumes.

Example of a Surfer 3D surface:


Access the PDF file here.

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Free IDRISI Selva v17 Trial Software

IDRISI Selva is the 17th version of the IDRISI GIS and Image Processing software. This version includes a variety of enhancements to the display subsystem of the IDRISI suite, including image pyramids and support for large images. Significant additions and enhancements have been made to both Land Change Modeler and to Earth Trends Modeler.

Request for a free trial download of the latest version of IDRISI here (on the sidebar).

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ERDAS IMAGINE 11.0.5 Software Now Available

Intergraph is proud to announce a new minor release of ERDAS IMAGINE, now available to all customers with ERDAS 2011 software. Users can download ERDAS IMAGINE 11.0.5 from the product webpage. This release includes changes from all previous service packs released for ERDAS IMAGINE 2011.

ERDAS IMAGINE is a leading geospatial data authoring system, incorporating geospatial image processing and analysis and remote sensing into a single powerful, convenient package. ERDAS IMAGINE enables users to easily create value-added products such as 2D and 3D images, 3D flythrough movies and cartographic-quality map compositions from geospatial data. Intergraph has paired GeoMedia® and ERDAS IMAGINE to deliver a comprehensive suite of image processing coupled with GIS analysis and data management capabilities. GeoMedia is a powerful GIS data management and analysis package that enables users to realize the maximum value of their geospatial resources.

Enhancements since the release of ERDAS IMAGINE 2011 include more Live Link connections between ERDAS IMAGINE and GeoMedia, providing truly connected image processing and GIS products. Brought together by a single organization, users can easily leverage these two products in unison to construct a larger, clearer geospatial picture. Specifically, the Live Link changes enable users to:

- Connect the GeoMedia Map Window and ERDAS IMAGINE Viewer
- Natively read GeoMedia Warehouse files in ERDAS IMAGINE
- Write to GeoMedia Warehouse Attributes in the ERDAS IMAGINE spatial modeler
- Export GeoMedia Warehouses to shapefiles
- Import shapefiles to GeoMedia Warehouses

Users can also take advantage of other enhancements, including the cloud remover in MosaicPro, a tool for creating seamless image mosaics. Users can now quickly and easily remove clouds from their image mosaics by digitizing cloud areas and manually adjusting the radiometry of individual images. MosaicPro now also allows users to use batch and distributed processing when outputting image tiles. In addition, this release provides support for new sensor models, including the VisionMap A3 aerial sensor and the Pleiades satellite constellation. ERDAS IMAGINE's classification capabilities are also strengthened in this release by offering new options for supervised classification, spectral angle mapping and spectral correlation mapping.

"While dubbed a 'minor' release, ERDAS IMAGINE 11.0.5 incorporates noteworthy changes that provide tremendous value and open up new possibilities for our customers," said Steve du Plessis, Global Product Line Executive – Remote Sensing, Intergraph. "Since the last release, customers will recognize performance advances enabling processes to run faster, added support for the newest sensors on the market and many smaller changes that contribute to the overall strength and usability of ERDAS IMAGINE. This is a great time for all ERDAS IMAGINE customers to begin leveraging these upgrades to ensure they're getting the most from their software investment."

To learn more about ERDAS IMAGINE and the other products within the Intergraph Geospatial portfolio, please visit www.intergraph.com/geospatial/products.

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IDRISI Selva Software Unveiled

Clark Labs is pleased to announce the upcoming release of the 17th version of the IDRISI geospatial software for monitoring and modeling the Earth system. The IDRISI Selva software incorporates major revisions to its Land Change Modeler and Earth Trends Modeler applications. It also includes a variety of new analytical techniques, optimizations to current modules and additional import/export options.

IDRISI’s Land Change Modeler application for the modeling, prediction and impact assessment of land cover change now includes major modeling enhancements and special tools to support REDD (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation). These include accounting methodologies required for REDD projects, such as the estimation of baseline emissions from various carbon pools and the calculation of deferred emissions and carbon credits. A pioneering Land Cover Change modeling procedure, following the recently published SimWeight methodology, is now also included, as well as an integrated interface to the Maxent software for species distribution modeling.

IDRISI Selva introduces substantial enhancements to its revolutionary Earth Trends Modeler application for the analysis of patterns and trends in earth observation image time series. Particular emphasis has been given to the provision of new tools for the analysis of coupled systems (such as the oceans and atmosphere). These include Extended PCA/EOF, Multi-channel Singular Spectrum Analysis, Extended EOT, Multichannel EOT and Canonical Correlation Analysis.

IDRISI Selva delivers a variety of new display elements and enhancements for map compositions. Firstly, the new version eliminates the 32,000 row/column limitation on both the display and processing of images. IDRISI Selva additionally includes a new pyramid file structure for the rapid display of large image files, and a new automatic arrangement feature for the display of map compositions. With IDRISI Selva, vector field plots showing magnitude and direction, such as wind speed and direction, are now supported.

IDRISI has the largest support for image classifiers in the industry, and Selva continues its groundbreaking support of machine learning procedures, adding a Radial Basis Function classifier to its existing suite of MLP, SOM and Fuzzy Artmap neural networks.
To learn more details about these and other features in IDRISI Selva, you may download the What’s New brochure. IDRISI Selva is currently available for pre-order.

Clark Labs is dedicated to the research and development of geospatial technologies for effective and responsible decision making for environmental management, sustainable resource development and equitable resource allocation.

SOURCE Clark Labs

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Download LPS 2011 on ERDAS Website

ERDAS proudly announces the official release of LPS 2011, now available for download on the ERDAS website.

LPS is a powerful, workflow-oriented photogrammetry system for production mapping, including full analytical triangulation, the generation of digital terrain models, orthophoto production, mosaicking, and 3D feature extraction.

It supports panchromatic, color and multispectral imagery with up to 16 bits per band and hundreds of different coordinate systems and map projections. LPS increases accuracy through state-of-the-art photogrammetric and image processing algorithms for automatic point measurement, triangulation, automatic terrain extraction and subpixel point positioning. Accuracy reports, built-in data quality checks, and editing tools make it easy to maintain unwavering levels of quality.

A key theme for LPS 2011 is the optimization of productivity and efficiency. Many of these gains are accomplished through distributed processing, which enables users to leverage multi-core CPUs and multiple networked servers to increase production throughput and accelerate processes like ortho generation. LPS 2011 combines its existing batch processing capabilities with Condor (third-party software available for free download) to harness the power of several networked computers for high throughput ortho generation.

LPS eATE is an add-on module for LPS that derives dense point clouds from stereo imagery. For this release, LPS eATE adds the ability to distribute the Digital Terrain Model (DTM) merging process to the existing ability to distribute terrain extraction, further reducing overall processing time.

LPS 2011 also provides gains in efficiency. Users can now generate orthophotos for an area of interest defined by a shapefile or AOI, excluding unnecessary pixels from processing and reducing the time and resources required for the ortho production process. Additionally, the Stereo Point Measurement (SPM) Tool now supports the use of multiple orthophotos (base maps) as a horizontal reference source of ground control points. Orthophotos are conveniently shown in the image list based on the degree of overlap with the master image and users can easily identify reference points in stereo and mono modes.

“LPS has always been a powerful application, offering professional photogrammetrists a wide variety of tools and options for generating accurate products. As production mapping shops face higher demand, they in turn demanded a product that would allow them to produce more, efficiently, cost-effectively, and with the same high standard of accuracy they’ve come to expect from ERDAS. LPS 2011 delivers all that and more,” said Steve du Plessis, Photogrammetry Product Line Director, ERDAS.

For a more detailed list of What’s New or to register for an informative webinar showcasing new features, please visit www.erdas.com.

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New ERDAS IMAGINE Software Announced

ERDAS announced its upcoming 2011 Software Release, with new versions of ERDAS IMAGINE, LPS, ERDAS Extensions for ArcGIS 10, ERDAS APOLLO and other leading desktop and server products. To promote this significant release, ERDAS is also launching a world tour with customer events worldwide.

The ERDAS 2011 Software Release includes new imagery analysis workflows, the ability to localise ERDAS products for a global audience, integrated support for Microsoft Bing Maps base imagery and map data, distributed processing throughout the desktop offerings, updated versions of ERDAS Extensions for ArcGIS (supporting version 10) and a new product, ERDAS Engine. ERDAS Engine is a simple, cost-effective solution that boosts processing power for ERDAS IMAGINE and LPS, leveraging existing hardware resources for increased production needs or situations requiring faster throughput.

“ERDAS 2011 Software provides easy to use enhancements driven by customer needs. We have honed a suite of recognisable, market-leading products and incorporated some exciting new technologies to increase productivity and transform the user’s experience. ERDAS 2011 Software enables users to produce projects faster easier, and more accurately and economically than was previously possible,” said Joel Campbell, President, ERDAS.

ERDAS IMAGINE 2011 features new tools and an enhanced interface designed for quick and easy creation of presentation products for the defence and intelligence community. The streamlined imagery analysis workflows include improved text editing, inset views, new templates with elements that automatically update based on metadata from inserted imagery, the ability to geolink to Google Earth, and export to Microsoft PowerPoint, Word, or JPEG with a single click. ERDAS IMAGINE 2011 also introduces Hyperspherical Color Space (HCS) pan sharpening, developed specifically for DigitalGlobe’s WorldView-2 data.

LPS 2011 is a powerful, workflow-oriented photogrammetry system for production mapping, including full analytical triangulation, the generation of digital terrain models, orthophoto production, mosaicking, and 3D feature extraction. A key theme for the LPS 2011 release is distributed processing, which enables users to leverage multi-core CPUs and multiple networked servers to increase production throughput and accelerate processes that have been extremely time-intensive until now. In addition, LPS 2011 enables generation of orthos for a specific area of imagery defined by a shape file or AOI. LPS eATE is an add-on product that enables users to generate high-resolution terrain information from stereo imagery, ensuring speed and accuracy, providing an unparalleled environment for processing terrain data.

ERDAS Extensions for ArcGIS 10 is a production suite of tools that enhance the recently released ArcGIS 10 platform with stereo visualisation.

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ERDAS APOLLO Feature Interoperability - Released

ERDAS announces the release of ERDAS APOLLO Feature Interoperability, a new product extending ERDAS APOLLO’s native vector support by adding support for additional CAD and GIS formats and tools. IMAGINE Feature Interoperability was released in late 2009, adding similar support to ERDAS IMAGINE users.

ERDAS APOLLO Feature Interoperability provides access to GIS data formats, including a DGN Connector to ERDAS APOLLO that enables direct access to MicroStation’s DGN v7 and v8 format files via web services. The module is powered by Safe Software’s FME technology, which provides direct read and write support to a large and expanding number of vector feature formats.

“ERDAS APOLLO Feature Interoperability makes it easier for users to exchange data, easily converting to and from various formats,” said Mladen Stojic, Senior Vice President, Product Management & Marketing, ERDAS. “The ability to directly read and write the DGN format makes this format available in ERDAS APOLLO for visualization, analysis and mapping.”

Safe Software’s FME Workbench and Universal Viewer are bundled and enable format conversion, data manipulation and analysis. FME Workbench provides a graphical environment to quickly translate, transform and integrate spatial data in hundreds of formats. By dragging and dropping data, features and processes onto the canvas and making relevant connections, a multi-step conversion of features can be reduced to a single workflow. The FME Universal Viewer allows for visualization of the data, symbology edits and feature attribute queries.

ERDAS APOLLO Feature Interoperability is included in the ERDAS Software 2010, Version 10.1 release. For more information on ERDAS, please call +1 770 776 3400, toll free +1 877 GO ERDAS, or visit www.erdas.com.

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ERDAS ADE 2010 Released

ERDAS released ERDAS ADE 2010. It is an integrated suite of products for real-time editing of spatial and business data via the web, desktop or mobile device. Integrated with the Oracle technology stack, this suite of products includes ERDAS ADE Remote, ERDAS ADE Mobile and ERDAS ADE Enterprise.

“ERDAS ADE is an enterprise-enabled solution providing geospatial access and accurate data capture in a web, desktop or mobile application,” said Mladen Stojic, Senior Vice President, Product Management and Marketing, ERDAS. “With an improved workflow, ERDAS ADE 2010 efficiently handles data and gives users control of database updates,” continued Stojic.

ERDAS ADE Remote provides rich, secure and flexible spatial and operational management for field force operations that require the capture and maintenance of location and business data. Users can manage data locally (files on disk), connect directly to Oracle, or connect to ERDAS ADE Enterprise.

Providing connected and disconnected users with a common software platform, ERDAS ADE Mobile offers versatility and flexibility for data collection and validation requirements. ERDAS ADE Mobile is a powerful spatial editor for any Windows Mobile GPS or hand-held device.

ERDAS ADE Enterprise provides the ability to scale in a web based environment as well as real-time spatial data editing. Leveraging the complete Oracle technology stack, ERDAS ADE Enterprise supports editing of all Oracle data types, including spatial, topology features, topology primitives and attribute data.

In ERDAS ADE 2010, there is now WMS (Web Mapping Service) support, as well as new viewer manipulation tools to swipe all rasters or vectors in the view to see underlying data. The offline file storage system has been improved to allow more data to be taken into the field. Support for targeted updates and improved conflict resolution tools give users greater control, should problems arise from multiple users editing the same data. This release also introduces a new implementation of the ERDAS ADE Mobile product with better memory management, performance, user experience and the ability to edit Shapefiles.

You can buy it here.

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ERDAS IMAGINE - IMAGINE Feature Interoperability

ERDAS announces the release of IMAGINE Feature Interoperability, a new product extending ERDAS IMAGINE’s native vector support by adding support for additional CAD and GIS formats and tools.

IMAGINE Feature Interoperability offers direct support of the DGN format in ERDAS IMAGINE. Powered by Safe Software’s FME technology, IMAGINE Feature Interoperability provides direct read and write support to an ever expanding number of vector feature formats, starting with MicroStation’s DGN v7 and v8 format files. In addition to direct DGN support available from the Manage Data ribbon in ERDAS IMAGINE, Safe Software’s FME Workbench and Viewer allow for format conversion, as well as data manipulation and analysis.

“IMAGINE Feature Interoperability makes it easier for users to exchange data, easily converting to and from various formats,” said Mladen Stojic, Senior Vice President, Product Management & Marketing, ERDAS. “The ability to directly read and write the DGN format makes this format available in ERDAS IMAGINE for visualization, analysis and mapping.”

Safe Software’s FME Workbench offers a graphical environment for modeling the flow of data through a process.The environment can define whether further analysis or modification of data such as clipping, merging and filtering type functions are performed during processing. By dragging and dropping data, features and processes onto the canvas and making relevant connections, a multi-step conversion of features can be reduced to a single workflow.

IMAGINE Feature Interoperability is included in the ERDAS 2010 Software media kit. In addition, this product can also be downloaded from the ERDAS website. For more information on ERDAS, please call +1 770 776 3400, toll free +1 877 GO ERDAS, or visit www.erdas.com.

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Buy ERDAS 2010 Software - With New Features

ERDAS announced the availability of ERDAS 2010 annual software. It includes new and updated versions of ERDAS’ products to author, manage, connect and deliver geospatial information.

It includes new versions of ERDAS IMAGINE, LPS, ERDAS ER Mapper, ERDAS Extensions for ArcGIS, ERDAS ADE, ERDAS APOLLO and ERDAS TITAN Client. In addition, ERDAS is introducing several new products, including IMAGINE Feature Interoperability and IMAGINE SAR Interferometry, as well as a technology preview of a new automated terrain extraction capability in LPS eATE.

ERDAS IMAGINE 2010 is a fully integrated desktop authoring platform, incorporating image analysis, remote sensing and GIS capabilities. Featuring a new ribbon interface, ERDAS IMAGINE makes it easier for users to streamline workflows and customize their workspace. It also provides enhanced tools for parallel batch processing, spatial modeling, map production, mosaicking and change detection.

LPS 2010 is a powerful softcopy photogrammetry system for a variety of workflows, including defense, remote-area mapping, transportation planning, orthophoto production (for basemap generation) and close-range applications. LPS eATE enables users to generate high-resolution terrain information from stereo imagery like never before, ensuring speed and accuracy, providing an unparalleled environment for processing terrain data from airborne and satellite sensors.

ERDAS APOLLO 2010 is equipped to fully understand, competently manage and rapidly serve large volumes of vector, raster and terrain data. It implements Service Oriented Architecture (SOA). Integrating ERDAS Image Web Server and ERDAS TITAN, ERDAS APOLLO is now available in three tiers to cater to any organization’s management, collaboration and delivery needs.

Product downloads, collateral and licensing information are available on the ERDAS website. Media kits will begin shipping later this month to software maintenance customers. Buy ERDAS software here.

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MARS Remote Sensing Software v.6 released

Merrick & Company released Version 6.0 of the Merrick Advanced Remote Sensing (MARS) software suite.

The MARS software suite is a robust, production-grade Windows application designed to manage, visualise, process, and analyze light detection and ranging (LiDAR) data with powerful visualisation capabilities and performance.

Many new features and product enhancements have been added to the application, which now fully supports Windows 32-bit and 64-bit operating systems. MARS is expected to appeal to a wide variety of commercial, government and academic users.

The newest version of MARS will be demonstrated publicly for the first time at the American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS)/Management Association for Private Photogrammetric Surveyors (MAPPS) 2009 fall conference to be held in San Antonio, Texas from Nov. 16 to 19, 2009.

The software is developed and sold by the geospatial technologies division of Merrick & Company and additional product information is located at www.merrick.com/MARS.

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Definiens eCognition v8 Software, launched

Definiens announced the launch of its latest Remote Sensing software offering for earth science professionals, Definiens eCognition version 8. The new software suite delivers functionality specifically designed for geospatial image analysis while also achieving marked improvements in processing performance.

Leveraging Definiens’ research and development efforts in 3D and 4D image analysis, eCognition 8 introduces new capabilities in multi-dimensional geospatial image analysis. While LiDAR data used to require pre-processing prior to image analysis, with eCognition 8, users are now able to input LiDAR datasets in their native format -- a first in the industry. The software can also apply object based image analysis (OBIA) principles to LiDAR data and fuse LiDAR, vector and optical data, allowing users to efficiently manage complex projects.

Another major focus area of eCognition 8 is making the development of semi-automated production applications easier. Within the new version, applications can be wrapped in a powerful and intuitive graphical interface. A range of new manual editing options guide and simplify workflows for production teams, making eCognition 8 more user-friendly and functional than its predecessors.

eCognition software version 8 also delivers a standardised graphical application called Quickmap. Users can select from alternate start modes depending on their level of experience and the complexity of the image analysis project. As a result, casual eCognition users can quickly create meaningful results using Quickmap, while more seasoned users retain the full functionality of eCognition Developer, which develops rule sets for the automatic analysis of remote sensing data. Quickmap’s code will also be made available so that it can be leveraged in the development of custom applications by the eCognition user community.

Beyond improvements to the application building process, eCognition 8 provides advancements in the performance and speed of advanced image analysis. In test cases, eCognition 8 performed up to ten times faster than the previous version, as a result of more effective utilization of processing resources.

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Geomatica 10.2 released

PCI Geomatics announced the availability of Geomatica 10.2, the latest version of its image-centric desktop software, emphasizing automation and productivity for turning spatial data into information.

Geomatica 10.2 is PCI Geomatics complete set of geo-imaging software for remote sensing, digital photogrammetry, raster spatial analysis, map production, mosaicking and automated production workflows.

Enhancements to 10.2 include additional satellite sensor support including GeoEye-1 and COSMO-SkyMed. Also new is a "Get Data" option that allows users to access different data provider websites to locate their data in an easy and convenient way. Additionally, Geomatica 10.2 offers added support now available for Automatic GCP extraction from vectors such as roads. Also, incorporated in Geomatica 10.2 is support for Windows Vista.

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Remote Sensing Software for radiative transfer

There are quite a number of computer software for radiation propagation. The most common is MODTRAN which are widely used by Government and industrial researchers and analysts.

Here is a list of remote sensing software you can use:

MODTRAN (MODerate resolution TRANsmission model) The DoD standard atmospheric infrared/visible/ultraviolet radiance and transmission band model for lower altitudes, developed and maintained by SSI and the US Air Force Research Laboratory. MODTRAN rapidly predicts the atmospheric emission, thermal scatter, and solar scatter for arbitrary, refracted paths above the curved earth, incorporating the effects of molecular absorbers and scatterers, aerosols and clouds. MODTRAN's 2-cm-1 spectral resolution radiances and vertical fluxes have been extensively validated over its full spectral range from 1 to 50,000 cm-1 (0.2 - 10,000 um).

SHARC (Strategic High-Altitude Radiation Code) was developed by SSI for the USAF as a non-equilibrium high-altitude (up to 300 km) infrared emission model for quiescent and aurorally disturbed atmospheres. The SHARC 3-D atmosphere model solves the chemical kinetic equations pertinent above 30 km altitude to determine non-equilibrium distributions of molecular vibrational states, which are incorporated into line-of-sight calculations to determine path radiances and transmittances from 30 to 300 km. SHARC has been validated against measurements, and includes the effects of atmospheric structure, auroral enhancements, and solar terminator physics.

SAMM and A3RTSS The SAMM (SHARC And MODTRAN Merged) code provides a seamless integration of the SHARC and MODTRAN atmospheric radiation transport algorithms, extending the modeling capabilities down to ground level. The more recent SAMM2 code provides a unified capability in which a single kinetic and radiation transport algorithm operates under both thermal equilibrium and non-equilibrium conditions. The new A3RTSS (All Altitude Atmospheric Radiation Transport for Scene Simulation) code is a completely restructured and modernized version of SAMM2 that incorporates new radiation transport algorithms of varying degrees of fidelity, increased efficiency for multiple line-of-sight scene computations, and the ability to readily integrate additional physical models.

FLAMES (Fast Line-of-sight Algorithm for Molecular Emission Spectra) - Computes equilibrium and non-equilibrium molecular emission and transmission from high-temperature gases like those in combustion flows. It treats inhomogeneous lines of sight, has a user-specified resolution (typically 1 cm-1 or lower), handles a broad temperature range (10-5,000 K), applies throughout the pressure- to Doppler-broadened linewidth regime, covers a broad wavelength region (2-20 microns), and includes a variety of molecular species (H2O, CO2, CO, HCl, HF, OH, NO).

UVRAD (Ultraviolet and Visible RADiation) - Computes equilibrium and non-equilibrium (e.g., chemiluminescent) diatomic UV/visible emission and transmission from high-temperature gases like those in flames. It treats inhomogeneous lines of sight, has a user-specified spectral resolution (typically 1 cm-1 or lower), handles a broad temperature range (10-10,000 K), applies throughout the pressure- to Doppler-broadened linewidth regime, and currently supports CO, OH, C2, CH, NH, NO, and CN band systems.

FLAASH (Atmospheric Correction Of Hyperspectral/Multispectral Imagery) Spectral imagery of the Earth's surface from airborne or space platforms can be used to fullest advantage only when the effects of the atmosphere (e.g., from aerosol, water vapor, etc.) have been removed and the data are reduced to units of reflectance. In collaboration with the Air Force Research Laboratory and other US Government agencies, SSI has developed a state-of-the-art, first-principles atmospheric removal (or "correction") algorithm called FLAASH (Fast Line-of-sight Atmospheric Analysis of Spectral Hypecubes). FLAASH handles data from a variety of HSI and MSI sensors, supports off-nadir as well as nadir viewing, and incorporates algorithms for water vapor and aerosol retrieval and adjacency effect correction. FLAASH handles data from a variety of hyperspectral sensors (including AVIRIS, Hyperion, HyMap, HYDICE, CASI, and Probe-1), supports off-nadir as well as nadir viewing, and incorporates algorithms for water vapor and aerosol retrieval and adjacency effect correction.

Image Exploitation Algorithms SSI is also active in the development of algorithms for spectral image exploitation, including target detection and classification. For example, SSI scientists developed SMACC (Sequential Maximum Angle Convex Cone), a fast, fully automated endmember-finding and unmixing algorithm that can be applied to multispectral as well as hyperspectral data. It is licensed to ITT Visual Information Systems, and is included as a spectral analysis tool in ENVI.

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Learn ENVI software online - Tutorial guide

ENVI (the Environment for Visualizing Images) is a state-of-the-art image processing system designed to provide comprehensive analysis of satellite and aircraft remote sensing data. It provides a powerful, innovative, and user-friendly environment to display and analyze images of any size and data type on a wide range of computing platforms.

With its combined file- and band-based approach to image processing, ENVI allows you to work with entire image files, individual bands, or both. When an input file is opened, each spectral band becomes available to all system functions. With multiple input files open, you can easily select bands from different files to be processed together. ENVI also includes tools to extract spectra, use spectral libraries, and to analyze high spectral resolution image datasets such as AVIRIS, GERIS, and GEOSCAN. In addition to its world-class hyperspectral analysis tools, ENVI provides specialized capabilities for analysis of advanced SAR datasets such as JPL's SIR-C, AIRSAR, and TOPSAR.

ENVI is written entirely in IDL, the Interactive Data Language. IDL is a powerful, array-based, structured programming language that provides integrated image processing and display capabilities and an easy to use GUI toolkit. ENVI is available as ENVI (offering full ENVI command line capabilities) and ENVI RT (the runtime version of ENVI). The only difference between ENVI and ENVI RT is that ENVI RT does not provide user access to the underlying IDL environment. You will not be able to complete the User Function tutorial provided here if you are running ENVI RT.

ENVI tutorials are available online. Here is a link that will help you learn how to use ENVI software. Visit ENVI 3.0 Tutorials

Contents of tutorials:
Introduction

ENVI Quick Start

ENVI Tutorial #1: Introduction to ENVI

ENVI Tutorial #2: Multispectral Classification

ENVI Tutorial #3: Image Georeferencing and Registration

ENVI Tutorial #4: Mosaicking Using ENVI

ENVI Tutorial #5: Vector Overlay and GIS Analysis

ENVI Tutorial #6: Map Composition Using ENVI

ENVI Tutorial #7: Introduction to Hyperspectral Data and Analysis

ENVI Tutorial #8: Basic Hyperspectral Analysis

ENVI Tutorial #9: Selected Mapping Methods Using Hyperspectral Data

ENVI Tutorial #10: Advanced Hyperspectral Analysis

ENVI Tutorial #11: Hyperspectral Signatures and Spectral Resolution

ENVI Tutorial #12: Vegetation Hyperspectral Analysis Case History

ENVI Tutorial #13: Near-shore Marine Hyperspectral Case History

ENVI Tutorial #14: Multispectral Processing using ENVI's Hyperspectral Tools

ENVI Tutorial #15: Basic SAR Processing and Analysis

ENVI Tutorial #16: Polarimetric SAR Processing and Analysis

ENVI Tutorial #17: Analysis of DEMs and TOPSAR

ENVI Tutorial #18: Introduction to ENVI User Functions

Enoy learning ENVI.

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New ERDAS, The Earth to Business Company

Leica Geosystems Geospatial Imaging today announced that it has changed its name to ERDAS, Inc. Recently making several acquisitions, the combined company is reintroducing the ERDAS name and will do business under this name moving forward. Building off an established brand in the industry, ERDAS is known for developing the most advanced geospatial technology and delivering reliable customer service and support worldwide. As the earth to business company, the new ERDAS' product portfolio encompasses the entire geospatial information lifecycle of authoring, managing, connecting and delivering integrated business data.

ERDAS offers a depth and breadth of knowledge, enabling organizations to create value from large volumes of geospatial data captured from a variety of sources. In 2007, the division acquired Acquis, ER Mapper and IONIC, providing the company with new technology and strengthening its global presence. Broadening its offerings, the company's portfolio not only appeals to existing geospatial customers, but also to those with larger web and enterprise needs. Building on a rich history and expertise in geospatial imaging, ERDAS has secured its position to be a leader in the broader geospatial information market.

"Across a broad range of industries, more organizations are using geospatial information to drive business decisions and processes," said Bob Morris, President & CEO, ERDAS. "ERDAS is defining the systems that will put the information around our changing earth to work in business."

ERDAS provides the most dynamic geospatial solutions to meet everyday business needs. ERDAS solutions meet the full spectrum of an organization's requirements, transforming geospatial data into information useful for decision-making processes. By incorporating standards-based interoperability, ERDAS ensures that data is seamlessly integrated for desktop, enterprise, web-based and mobile clients. With Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) and International Organization for Standardization (ISO) compliance, ERDAS develops standards-based solutions with the most advanced service-oriented platform available. By leveraging new and existing technologies, ERDAS incorporates existing technological strengths in image exploitation, processing, visualization and geospatial data management to meet a broader spectrum of customer needs in today's enterprise environment.

"ERDAS is positioned to help organizations harness the information of the changing earth for greater advantage," said Mladen Stojic, Senior Vice President, Product Management and Marketing, ERDAS. "With a growing portfolio, ERDAS delivers geospatial business systems that transform our earth's data into business information."

Moving forward, Leica Geosystems Geospatial Imaging is now ERDAS, Inc, effective April 3, 2008.

Source : http://www.erdas.com/

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ERDAS IMAGINE 9.2 released

Leica Geosystems Geospatial Imaging announces ERDAS IMAGINE 9.2, the new release of the industry’s leading and most complete collection of software tools designed to manipulate, process and understand imagery.

Offering numerous new capabilities and enhanced features, ERDAS IMAGINE 9.2 further solidifies this product as the world’s foremost remote sensing solution, vital to providing the most accurate and comprehensive geospatial information. With an improved surfacing tool, ERDAS IMAGINE 9.2 increases its handling from 500,000 points to more than 50 million points, quickly and efficiently. Promoting classification and productivity, ERDAS IMAGINE 9.2 now includes IMAGINE Subpixel Classification and swift and accurate image segmentation tools in IMAGINE Professional. Additionally, ERDAS IMAGINE now provides ECW support, offering increased interoperability with the recently acquired ER Mapper suite of products. With the ECW support, ERDAS IMAGINE reads this file type throughout and writes these files when exporting.

Continuing to pioneer, ERDAS IMAGINE 9.2 is also the first geospatial solution to support BigTIFF, efficiently reading and writing this revolutionary file format. Closely resembling TIFF, BigTIFF uses 64 bit offsets, quickly becoming the industry’s new standard for handling very large images or collections of images.

“ERDAS IMAGINE 9.2 incorporates key features requested by customers and offers increased interoperability with our growing suite of products and other leading geospatial solutions,” said Paul Beaty, ERDAS IMAGINE Product Manager, Leica Geosystems Geospatial Imaging. “Integrating a number of emerging technologies, ERDAS IMAGINE 9.2 is the comprehensive solution for handling imagery, while also addressing a wide range of other geospatial information needs.”

ERDAS IMAGINE 9.2 is expected to begin shipping in late March 2008.

For more information about Leica Geosystems, please call +1 770 776 3400, toll free +1 866 534 2286, or visit www.gi.leica-geosystems.com.

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About Leica Geosystems Geospatial Imaging
To be successful in our changing marketplace, you need reliable, enterprise-enabled geospatial information. Leica Geosystems Geospatial Imaging transforms your raw data to useable information, integrating a broad range of geospatial technology throughout your enterprise, via web-based, mobile and desktop clients. Delivering the most comprehensive solutions in image exploitation, processing, visualization and data management, Leica Geosystems provides robust image compression techniques and the most efficient delivery of imagery over the Internet or within an organization. With Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) and International Organization for Standardization (ISO) interoperability, Leica Geosystems develops solutions with the most advanced service-oriented platform available.

Those who use Leica Geosystems products trust them for their precision, seamless integration, interoperability and superior customer support. Geospatial solutions from Leica Geosystems - when it has to be right.

Leica Geosystems is part of the Hexagon Group, Sweden. For more information about Leica Geosystems or its products and services, please call +1 770 776 3400, toll free +1 866 534 2286, or visit www.gi.leica-geosystems.com.

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Download free ERDAS Field Guide

Leica Geosystems Geospatial Imaging announced a free low-resolution version of the ERDAS Field Guide, downloadable from the company’s website

The ERDAS Field Guide provides background information on reasons to use GIS and image processing and explains how the software manipulates data. This book meets the needs of those new to geo-processing as well as savvy users in this industry for years. For the novice, the ERDAS Field Guide provides a brief history of the industry, an extensive glossary of terms and notes about applications for the different processes described. For the experienced user, the ERDAS Field Guide includes the formulas and algorithms used in the ERDAS IMAGINE code.

“We are excited to offer the low-resolution version of the ERDAS Field Guide as a free download,” said Bruce Chaplin, Senior Vice President, Product Development, Leica Geosystems Geospatial Imaging. “The strong acceptance and broad usage of the ERDAS Field Guide qualifies this tool as an industry standard for instructing others in the foremost remote sensing solution.”

The low-resolution web-downloadable version is the most up-to-date edition available, and will continue to be updated regularly. After logging onto Leica Geosystems’ support site, the ERDAS Field Guide may be downloaded (http://www.gi.leica-geosystems.com/LGISub2x514x0.aspx). Alternatively, the high-resolution version of the ERDAS Field Guide is available on the ERDAS IMAGINE installation CD or may be purchased from On Demand Manuals (http://www.ondemandmanuals.com/), printed and bound.

Source : http://www.leica-geosystems.com

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Optech upgrades ALTM-NAV

Optech Incorporated, a provider of advanced lidar survey instruments, announced a major upgrade to ALTM-NAV integrated mission planning, navigation, and operations software through the incorporation of underlying digital elevation models (DEM).

With this upgrade, ALTM-NAV users will be able to plan airborne missions more effectively and efficiently using ancillary DEM information from a variety of sources. Since mission success is often gauged by the ability to collect complete data in the most efficient manner possible, an underlying DEM will enable planners to be aware of topographical changes that may affect swath widths and resultant planned flight line overlaps. Similarly, real time projection of the lidar data onto the underlying DEM will enable system operators to verify coverage in the air more effectively before leaving the survey site to return to base.

“We are excited to offer new ways of allowing our customers to maximize their efficiencies,” said Michael Sitar, Optech Product Manager for Airborne Survey Products. “Minimizing air time and ensuring data coverage are big parts of that. And DEM support paves the way,” added Sitar.

Source : http://www.optech.ca

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