Microsoft UltraCam reseller GeoToolBox Ibérica S.L. (GTBi), based in Madrid, Spain, won an international tender with the Instituto Geográfico de Venezuela Simón Bolivar (IGVSB). The awarded contract includes an UltraCamXp digital camera system, technical support, training and long-term consulting services.

”The IGVSB plays an important role as the ruling entity in a new legal system in Venezuela regarding geoinformation, cartography and cadaster mapping,” said Ing. Sergio Rodríguez Adam, President of the IGVSB. “The IGVSB is working in conjunction with the state, national and local authorities to advance strategic development countrywide, and the UltraCamXp will strengthen these efforts by providing high-resolution, high-accuracy aerial data.”

The UltraCamXp purchase is being funded through the European Cooperation Program to support Venezuela’s mapping and cadastre programs (CARCAVEN Project). ”The Instituto Geográfico de Venezuela Simón Bolivar is looking forward to continuing the expansion of our national mapping and cadaster programs to support significant economic development in our country,” said Ms. Rosa De Faría, CARCAVEN Project Administrator, IGVSB. “We are pleased that the UltraCamXp was selected as the foundation of our digital mapping program.”

In the long term the camera will be used for country-wide mapping; however, there is an immediate need for aerial data collection to assess areas damaged by flooding in 2010, and to track a massive government housing plan which is now in progress.

“The transition for IGVSB from analog to digital technology is an important step in the progression of national mapping in Venezuela,” said Alexander Wiechert, Microsoft Business Director. “The UltraCamXp is an excellent resource to support natural disaster response and damage mitigation, as well as general mapping throughout the country.”

About the UltraCamXp
The UltraCamXp photogrammetric digital aerial camera, released in 2008, provides a pixel size of 6 micrometers and a footprint of 196 megapixels (17,310 across track x 11,310 along track). The resolution ratio of 1:3 between pan and color bands allows the production of high-resolution pan-sharpened products. The low-cost, exchangeable on-board storage devices hold up to 6,600 images each—approximately 4.2 terabytes of data. The vast storage capability allows for more efficient data collection as a result of uninterrupted image collection and minimal ground time.

About Microsoft’s UltraCam Business Unit
With its operations based in Graz, Austria, and sales and support teams in North America, Microsoft’s UltraCam business unit brings more than two decades of photogrammetry expertise to Microsoft’s Bing Maps business unit. The division is responsible for the highly successful line of UltraCam digital aerial mapping systems that include the UltraCamLp, UltraCamXp and UltraCamXp Wide Angle and the new UltraCam Eagle digital photogrammetric sensors. Rounding out the UltraCam mapping systems offering is the UltraMap workflow software system that provides an automated project-based color balancing module and additional quality control tools.

About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

About the Instituto Geográfico de Venezuela Simón Bolivar (IGVSB)
Founded in 1935 in Caracas, Venezuela, IGVSB is responsible for national mapping and cadastre management throughout the country. Over the years, IGVSB has continuously improved its equipment and training to take advantage of new technology to ensure the availability of accurate and up-to-date geographic information.

About GeoToolBox Ibérica S.L. (GTBi)
Microsoft’s business partner, GTBi, operates in Spain, Portugal and throughout Latin America. GTBi offers photogrammetric and digital image processing hardware and software solutions, in addition to training, installation and long-term support services in its territory. For more information, contact Mr. Miguel Pelaz by email miguel.pelaz@gtbi.net or refer to the Spanish-language website www.gtbi.net.