Last year at INTERGEO, FARO rocked the scanning world with its debut of the
low-cost Focus3D ; Gatewing gave everyone a new perspective on the future of photogrammetry with its launch of the
X100 UAV; and Leica Geosystems drew nods of approval for its introduction of the
Leica Viva TS15 Robotic Imaging Total Station. It would have been difficult to top these advances a mere 12 months later. Still exhibitors at
INTERGEO 2011 in Nuremburg gave it their best shot.
Indeed, some noteworthy hardware advances were highlighted this year, including new
terrestrial,
mobile and
airborne scanners from Riegl; a new
long-range scanner from Topcon; a new
high-speed scanner from Z+F; a new
airborne laser terrain mapper from Optech; and new GNSS receivers from
Altus Positioning Systems and
Spectra Precision. New software introductions also generated some buzz, including releases from
Amberg Technologies,
AVEVA,
Trimble, and
Gatewing. (A full list of product introductions can be found on
POB's website).
What advances do you think will have the biggest impact on the surveying and mapping professions? We’ll post a poll with our print wrap-up in the November issue, but you can share your comments below.
Speaking of technology, don’t miss our
October issue cover story highlighting seven progressive surveying firms and their views on where the profession is headed. We’ll be publishing additional interviews in future issues. If you’d like to share your story, please email me at
pobeditor@bnpmedia.com.
