Case Study • 95West upgrades equipment to provide innovative solutions

There is increasing interest in acquiring aerial imagery and LiDAR simultaneously to incorporate the strengths of each technology into one superior product. Each data type provides different qualities that are suitable for certain applications, depending on required specifications like accuracy, resolution and color. LiDAR data provide more accurate elevation measurements and better object detection in poorly lit areas, while imagery’s higher resolution and 4-band data offer more visual details for feature extraction and vegetation analysis. Integrating the two systems is the best of both worlds.

Technology-driven Approach

North Dakota-based 95West Aerial Mapping is an aerial acquisition and geospatial services company that operates throughout the north and central Mid-West in the United States. The firm’s core markets include transportation, mining, utilities, energy, and state and local governments. Throughout its history dating back to 1952, 95West continuously adopted new technology to maintain a competitive edge and deliver the best possible service. In 2021, to pursue larger projects and partnerships and better meet the needs of its existing client base, 95West decided it was time to upgrade its technology and equipment once again.

“Our clients were transitioning from using conventional stereo compilation to LiDAR so we wanted to upgrade our LiDAR and camera equipment to produce the highest quality data at maximum efficiency,” said Miles Strain, Aerial Services Manager and Vice President at 95West. “We saw value in offering a hybrid solution—a large-format aerial camera for high-volume collection in the least amount of time, and a powerful LiDAR scanner to produce high-density point clouds.”

Unique Integration

After evaluating the available cameras and sensors, 95West purchased an UltraCam Eagle Mark 3 aerial camera system and a Riegl VQ-1560 II-S dual channel airborne laser scanner that produces high point densities. “The UltraCam Eagle has better data resolution and clarity than other cameras we considered—we’d worked with UltraCam data before and were impressed,” said Strain. “A major part of our decision to go with Vexcel was the opportunity to form strategic partnerships with other mapping firms. Vexcel’s reputation for high quality and reliability is a key selling point for us.”

The UltraCam Eagle Mark 3 camera provides a 450-Megapixel footprint and achieves 10-cm resolution at a 5,000-m altitude. Combined with an excellent minimum capture interval of one frame per 1.5 seconds and an unmatched signal-to-noise ratio, the UltraCam Eagle collects large areas efficiently and produces superior data even in challenging conditions. “The 80 mm focal length gives us a field of view and flying altitude that closely matches the LiDAR footprint,” said Andrew Werle, Chief Pilot at 95West. “The Eagle’s footprint is slightly larger than the Riegl which gives us industry standard sidelap for both the imagery and LiDAR. Simultaneous collection results in coincident data sets and cuts mobilization costs in half, which saves our customers thousands of dollars.”

To create a seamless workflow, TopoFlight Systems flight management software was selected to integrate the camera operations with the LiDAR. The integration of hardware and software was completed with the help of Vexcel, Riegl, Applanix and TopoFlight. In the office, leading software products, such as the Terrasolid Suite, TopoDOT, and LP360, support the team’s commitment to meeting clients’ needs and industry standards. “We evaluated several flight management systems, but TopoFlight was by far the most user-friendly and made it possible to communicate with both systems seamlessly,” said Werle. “During the mission one computer tracks LiDAR, a tablet monitors the Eagle’s activity, and another tablet runs the flight management system and navigation.”

To complete the package, 95West purchased a fixed-wing Cessna 208B Grand Caravan, the largest single-engine airplane ever produced by Cessna. After custom modifications to add two camera ports, the aircraft accommodated both sensor and camera for simultaneous operations. The combined system was ready to fly by September.