(Norcross, Ga., 06 February 2008)  Leica Geosystems announced the release of Leica Cyclone II TOPO, a new generation of laser scanning software designed to take the complexity out of creating highly accurate topographic maps from laser scan data.   With a simplified CAD-like interface and familiar office automation displays, the Leica Cyclone II TOPO features a map-like, top-down user interface that lets users easily view, extract and create topographic maps as well as associated cross-section and isometric views.

Mike Harvey, Product Marketing Manager for Scanning with Leica Geosystems, explains, “Laser scanners such as the Leica Geosystems’ ScanStation 2 and the HDS6000, are increasingly deployed to rapidly survey sites, structures, and roads to collect ‘as-built’ data which in turn are processed into traditional 2D topographic maps.  Leica Cyclone II TOPO overcomes a major office processing hurdle, allowing everyday CAD techs to create maps from laser scan data as fast as or even faster than making maps from survey data collected conventionally.”

The Leica Cyclone II TOPO features include a viewing interface that allows all views to be arrayed simultaneously on a single display. Moreover, each Intelligent-2D-Section View™ automatically shows the area of greatest topographic interest and the best section view orientation. Together, these automated views let CAD techs quickly navigate point cloud data to accurately locate topographic features.

Selecting optimal laser scan data point is also quick and easy with the new SmartPick™ tools that let users automatically extract specific, desired scan points from clusters of laser scan data with a single click. Users can now very quickly and accurately select “highest”, “lowest”, “closest to”, “edge”, “flow line”, “line stripe” or “ground” points. Previously, users had to spend time manually navigating in 3D and then visually selecting what appeared to be the highest point, lowest point, etc.

Leica Cyclone II TOPO applies standard methods for survey coding and for line and arc creation from High-Definition Survey scan data. Survey code lists and survey control data can be directly imported; direct export to survey CAD applications lets CAD techs create final maps using the same office workflows used with conventional survey methods.

The Leica Cyclone II TOPO’s user friendly interface and automation tools are complemented by 1-2-3, step-by-step, on-screen guidance for each type of mapping activity. As a result, standard CAD techs can learn Leica Cyclone II TOPO in a matter of a few hours, instead of training for several days or more using prior generation tools.

All Cyclone software modules – including a new Leica Cyclone VIEWER Pro module - support the export of file sets to Cyclone II TOPO. Together, Cyclone II TOPO’s “next-generation” features and its Cyclone foundation provide users with unprecedented office efficiency and convenience for creating topographic maps.

Pricing is available from authorized Leica Geosystems representatives. Leica Cyclone II TOPO software is scheduled for release Q1 of 2008.

Leica Geosystems – when it has to be right
With close to 200 years of pioneering solutions to measure the world, Leica Geosystems products and services are trusted by professionals worldwide to help them capture, analyze, and present spatial information. Leica Geosystems is best known for its broad array of products that capture accurately, model quickly, analyze easily, and visualize and present spatial information.

Those who use Leica products every day trust them for their dependability, the value they deliver, and the superior customer support. Based in Heerbrugg, Switzerland, Leica Geosystems is a global company with tens of thousands of customers supported by more than 2,400 employees in 22 countries and hundreds of partners located in more than 120 countries around the world. Leica Geosystems is part of the Hexagon Group, Sweden.