Intermap Technologies: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 02:54, 2 December 2008

Revision as of 17:42, 2 December 2008

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Intermap was formed on [[January 31]], [[1996]], and commenced active business operations on [[September 1]], [[1996]]. On [[November 11]], [[1996]], the company acquired all of the [[assets]] comprising the image [[mapping]] services division of Intera Information Technologies Corporation (IITC). Many of the senior members of Intermap’s original management team were longtime employees of IITC’s [[Images|image]] [[mapping]] services [[division]]. Intermap originally focused on providing 3D [[digital elevation map]]s for customers under specific contract arrangements. Typically, these projects specified areas to be mapped and were generally procured by governmental [[mapping]] and/or defense agencies.

==TechnologyIFSAR Products==

===IFSAR Products===

<big>Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar</big>

Intermap collects elevation data aerially, using aircraft equipped with [[Interferometric synthetic aperture radar|Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar]] ([[Interferometric synthetic aperture radar|IFSAR]]) technology. Intermap’s [[Interferometric synthetic aperture radar|IFSAR]] [[Digitaldigital elevation model|digital elevation models]] (DEMsDEM)]] and imageriesimage products include:

Image:DSM.jpg|<strong>* Digital surface modelmodels (DSMDSMs)</strong><br. A />Topographictopographic model of the earth’s surface that includes buildings, vegetation, roads, and natural terrain features. The key benefit of the DSM is that it provides a geometrically correct base map.

* [[Digital elevation model|Digital surface models (DSMs)]]

Image:DTM.jpg|<strong>* Digital terrain modelmodels (DTMDTMs)</strong><br. A />"Barebare earth" topographic model that has had vegetation, buildings, and other cultural features digitally removed, enabling users to infer terrain characteristics possibly hidden in the DSM.

* [[Digital terrain model|Digital terrain models (DTMs)]]

* [[Orthorectification|Orthorectified radar]] radar images (ORIs), a grayscale image of the earth’s surface that is has been corrected to remove geometric distortions, accentuating topographic features far more than is possible with aerial photography.

Image:CORI.jpg|<strong>* Color orthorectified radar imageimages (CORICORIs)</strong><br, />Createdcreated by fusing the ORI with multi-spectral imagery. The result is color-balanced to further accentuate topographic features by creating a seamless and natural-color image.

* Color orthorectified radar images (CORIs)

The data, once processed, is included in nationwide digital elevation datasets called [[NEXTMap]].

<gallery>

Image:DSM.jpg|<strong>Digital surface model (DSM)</strong><br />Topographic model of the earth’s surface that includes buildings, vegetation, roads, and natural terrain features. The key benefit of the DSM is that it provides a geometrically correct base map.

Image:DTM.jpg|<strong>Digital terrain model (DTM)</strong><br />"Bare earth" topographic model that has had vegetation, buildings, and other cultural features digitally removed, enabling users to infer terrain characteristics possibly hidden in the DSM.

Image:ORI.jpg|<strong>Orthorectified radar image (ORI)</strong><br />Grayscale image of the earth’s surface that is has been corrected to remove geometric distortions, accentuating topographic features far more than is possible with aerial photography.

Image:CORI.jpg|<strong>Color orthorectified radar image (CORI)</strong><br />Created by fusing the ORI with multi-spectral imagery. The result is color-balanced to further accentuate topographic features by creating a seamless and natural-color image.

</gallery>

===NEXTMap^®===

In [[2002]], Intermap commenced its NEXTMap program, which is focused on collecting and processing 3D digital elevation datasets for entire countries, including the [[USA|United States]]<ref>[http://www.airphotousa.com/Aboutus/PressRelease/033010/airphoto_intermap.html "Intermap to Map Continental USA to 1-Meter Accuracy, Including Elevation; Launch of ‘NEXTMap USA’ Now" Underway.] Airphoto USA. October 29, 2003.</ref> and countries in Western [[Europe]]<ref>[http://www.geoconnexion.com/geo_online_article/Intermap-Technologies-completes-NEXTMAP-Europe/234 Intermap Technologies Completes NEXTMap Europe] GeoConnexion International. July 25, 2008</ref> and [[Southeast Asia]]. In contrast to historic mapping [[business model]]s in which customers pay for the completion of specific mapping projects, Intermap is self-financing the NEXTMap program. The company then sells the use of its data through [[License agreement|licensing agreements]].

==Applications==