Graz, Austria — — Beijing Guoce Spatial Data Technology Co., Ltd., has contracted with Vexcel Imaging GmbH, a Microsoft^® company, to purchase an UltraCamLp digital aerial camera system. The transaction was brokered by Vexcel Imaging affiliates Imagemaps Pte. Ltd. and Beijing Siwei.

”After carefully reviewing our options, we selected the UltraCamLp as our first digital aerial camera,” stated Mr. Zhang Xiao Chun, General Manager, Beijing Guoce. “We look forward to expanding our aerial mapping services, and our customers will benefit from the high quality data produced by the UltraCamLp.”

The UltraCamLp combines innovative hardware, electronics and software that result in a lighter, more compact camera system, so it is suitable for smaller aircraft and projects requiring a rapid response. However, the camera provides the same high geometric accuracy, broad dynamic range, stereo capabilities, and full metric capabilities as the UltraCamX, UltraCamXp, and UltraCamXp Wide Angle photogrammetric cameras.

“We are pleased to expand our customer base in China with the addition of Beijing Guoce,” said Alexander Wiechert, Business Director of Microsoft and Managing Director for Vexcel Imaging GmbH. “The UltraCamLp camera will provide versatility to help meet the ever-increasing demand for aerial mapping data throughout the country.”

About the UltraCamLp

The UltraCamLp offers the functionality of a large-format camera in a compact package, setting a unique price/performance standard for photogrammetric imaging operations. The camera collects five spectral bands per exposure: red, green, blue and near-infrared data, in addition to the higher-resolution panchromatic data. The UltraCamLp features an image footprint collection capacity of 92 megapixels (11,704 x 7,920 pixels pan), made possible through advanced electronics and a smaller CCD array of just 6 μm. The system is ideal for smaller large-scale and photogrammetric projects, high-resolution (true) orthophoto production, DSM (digital surface model) production, aerotriangulation, corridor mapping, classification, and lidar integration.

About Vexcel Imaging, GmbH

Acquired by Microsoft Corporation in May 2006, Vexcel Imaging GmbH brings more than two decades of photogrammetry expertise to Microsoft’s Bing Maps business unit and is at the heart of the burgeoning Microsoft photogrammetry business. The company’s offerings include its series of UltraCam photogrammetric digital aerial cameras and related software tools such as the UltraMap 2.1 workflow software.

About Beijing Guoce

Beijing Guoce is a medium-size private mapping firm based in Beijing, China, that offers a complete range of mapping and surveying services, and photogrammetric services such as aerial triangulation, digital terrain models, digital elevation models, and orthophotos. Since its founding in 2008, Beijing Guoce has worked primarily with government agencies. For more information, contact Beijing Guoce by telephone 086-10-88212328.

About Imagemaps Pte. Ltd.

Imagemaps Pte. Ltd. is a leading sensor solutions provider in the Asia Pacific region with extensive experience in aerial sensing technologies and geospatial solutions. Its airborne sensor solutions include digital mapping cameras, lidar systems, inertial measurement and positional systems, digital photogrammetry and imaging technology, lidar data processing and workflow management of large multimedia spatial databases. Imagemaps is Microsoft's sales representative responsible for distribution of its aerial mapping products in the People's Republic of China, India, Taiwan, Australia, New Zealand and ASEAN (Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar). For more information, please go to www.imagemaps.com.

About Beijing Siwei

Beijing Siwei Spatial Data Technology Co., Ltd. (Beijing Siwei) is a subsidiary of the Chinese Academy of Surveying and Mapping directly under the State Bureau of Surveying and Mapping. Beijing Siwei was founded in 2001, and its core business is remote sensing engineering; geospatial data processing and solutions; and system integration and development. The company employs more than 100 staff members and has a subsidiary in Inner Mongolia which specializes in providing professional services in geospatial projects. Beijing Siwei was awarded with National Mapping Grade A Certification by the Chinese Government and is GJB9001A-2001 and ISO 9001 certified. For more information, go to www.bjsiwei.net.cn.