Toronto, Canada – Optech Incorporated, a manufacturer of advanced lidar survey instruments, is proud to offer its airborne survey clients the latest developments in inertial navigation solutions. Applanix Corporation’s recent release of POSPac Air 5.0 represents a huge leap in maximizing data collection efficiencies when using Optech’s industry-leading ALTMs (Airborne Terrain Laser Mapper), and ultimately increases return on investment (ROI).

POSPac Air 5.0 now incorporates GNSS network data and more tightly integrated inertial processing methods. This minimizes the restrictions currently associated with airborne GNSS surveying requiring high accuracy solutions. New additions to the software suite include Applanix SmartBase™, a module that generates atmospheric corrections at the aircraft location from GNSS observables collected from public or private GNSS reference stations.  When combined with data from the inertial measurement unit and Applanix’ new IN-Fusion™ technology, it enables GNSS ambiguities and aircraft position and orientation to be solved simultaneously.

GNSS ambiguities are now maintained in memory during cycle slips or complete GPS outages, thereby enabling aircraft bank angles in excess of 40º.  Users now have the ability to automatically access reference station data over the internet and generate a network using up to 50 reference stations at a time, reducing reference station infrastructure requirements.  “This improvement can only be seen as a benefit to our customers’ current tool kit, which we believe will increase their processing competitive advantage while maximizing their rate of ROI on their projects,” said Glenn Farrington, Optech's General Manager, Airborne Survey Products.

“Applanix is extremely pleased to partner with Optech to bring this new technology to their customers,” said Joe Hutton, Director of Airborne Products at Applanix. “The unique capabilities of POSPac Air 5.0 provide the Optech ALTM with the highest level of georeferencing accuracy and productivity on the market today, something that is a must for high-performance airborne lidar.”

About Optech Incorporated
Optech is the world leader in the development, manufacture and support of advanced laser-based survey instruments. We offer client-driven lidar solutions in airborne terrestrial mapping, airborne laser bathymetry, laser imaging, mine cavity monitoring and industrial process control, as well as space-qualified sensors for orbital operations and planetary exploration.

About Applanix
Applanix, a Trimble Company (NASDAQ: TRMB), develops, manufactures, sells and supports precision products that accurately and robustly measure the position and orientation of vehicles operating in dynamic environments. Applanix’ Position and Orientation Systems (POS) are used in a variety of applications, including road profiling, GIS data acquisition, aerial surveying and mapping, railroad track maintenance and seafloor mapping. Established in 1991, Applanix strives to support customers around the world with exceptional service.