The new UltraCam Dragon 4.1: Game-changing hybrid oblique imaging and LiDAR system

Graz, Austria • October 10, 2023

Live from Intergeo 2023 in Berlin: Vexcel Imaging is thrilled to announce the innovative UltraCamDragon 4.1, representing the market's most advanced, progressively designed, and seamlessly integrated hybrid aerial mapping system. Designed for high-resolution mapping of complex urban environments and the creation of precise digital twins, the UltraCam Dragon combines the very best in imaging and LiDAR technologies for maximum collection productivity, high-accuracy and improved target coverage.

"I am thrilled that we can offer the UltraCam Dragon 4.1, a system that opens up new perspectives for our customers," states Alexander Wiechert, CEO of Vexcel Imaging. “The UltraCam Dragon 4.1 exemplifies our commitment to innovation and excellence in aerial mapping technology. It is poised to make a significant impact on industries and applications worldwide by providing the technology needed to explore, analyze, and understand complex environments like never before.”

Watch the video to learn more about the new camera system and its key features:

The new UltraCam Dragon 4.1 produces high-resolution nadir and oblique aerial imagery enriched with precise elevation information obtained by a powerful 2.4 MHz RIEGL OEM LiDAR scanner, collecting up to 2 million measurements per second. The LiDAR’s innovative multi-axis scanning geometry, including a true nadir scan line, ensures maximum coverage of vertical features without occlusion in the steepest of building canyons and interior courtyards for truly impressive and complete digital twins. Two high-resolution nadir sensors (RGB Bayer pattern and NIR), along with four oblique (RGB) sensors, consistently deliver sharp, accurate and crisp imagery. This is achieved through advanced image processing techniques, including Vexcel’s proprietary Adaptive Motion Compensation (AMC) and True Pixel Processing (TPP). The integration of these best-in-class sensors results in a comprehensive and multi-dimensional information gain, facilitating in-depth analysis and a profound understanding of the as-built environment.

The system marks Vexcel’s first hybrid aerial mapping system for deep insights into complex environments at highest collection rates. The integrated LiDAR scanner, a RIEGL VQ-680 OEM sensor, has been unveiled to the market at Intergeo in Berlin, with Vexcel being the first company in the world to integrate this cutting-edge LiDAR scanner into a turnkey solution.

“We are delighted that Vexcel has chosen the RIEGL VQ-680 OEM LiDAR module to integrate into their brand new, radical UltraCam Dragon 4.1 system design and thank our friends and colleagues at Vexcel for their trust and wish them all the best for a successful go to market with this new product” commented Dr. Johannes Riegl, CEO of the RIEGL Group on the cooperation between the two, long-term connected companies, both headquartered in Austria.

With the introduction of the UltraCam Dragon 4.1 and UltraCam Merlin 4.1 at Intergeo, Vexcel expands its range of aerial systems to meet a broader spectrum of airborne photogrammetry applications. The 4th generation UltraCam systems include both aerial cameras and hybrid camera-LiDAR mapping solutions, designed to deliver unmatched flying efficiency and exceptional data quality for best-in-class performance across all applications. Outputs include photogrammetric imagery, LiDAR point clouds, and other derived products. 

The new Dragon 4.1 system will be available in summer 2024.

Key Specifications

• Camera
  • 14,144 x 10,560 pixels nadir (RGB Bayer pattern & NIR) and oblique (RGB Bayer pattern)
  • CMOS imaging sensors
  • 2 focal length options
  • 1 frame per 0.7 seconds
  • Adaptive Motion Compensation (AMC)
  • True Pixel Processing (TPP)
• LiDAR Scanner
  • High pulse repetition rates of up to 2.4 MHz
  • Nadir, forward and backward scan line directions at 0, ±10, ±20 degrees along track
  • Wide field of view of 60 degrees across track
  • Multiple target capability

About Vexcel Imaging

Vexcel Imaging is a global leader in aerial imaging, renowned for its industry-leading UltraCam aerial cameras and hybrid camera-LiDAR mapping solutions. These systems are designed to deliver unmatched flying efficiency combined with exceptional data quality, ensuring best-in-class performance for every application. Outputs include photogrammetric imagery and point clouds, LiDAR point clouds, and other derived products. The fully integrated UltraMap photogrammetric processing software enhances project workflows with advanced automation, efficient data interaction, and intuitive tools, enabling the creation of photogrammetric outputs such as DSMs, DTMs, orthoimages, and 3D data of the highest standard.

About RIEGL

RIEGL is a leading international provider of cutting-edge technology in airborne, mobile, terrestrial, industrial and unmanned laser scanning solutions for applications in surveying. RIEGL has been producing LiDAR systems commercially for over 40 years and focuses on pulsed time-of-flight laser radar technology in multiple wavelengths. RIEGL’s core Smart-Waveform technologies provide pure digital LiDAR signal processing, unique methodologies for resolving range ambiguities, multiple targets per laser shots, optimum distribution of measurements, calibrated amplitudes and reflectance estimates, as well as the seamless integration and calibration of systems.
RIEGL maintains an outstanding history of reliability and support to their customers. Worldwide sales, training, support and services are delivered from RIEGL’s headquarters in Austria and in the USA; main offices in, Japan, China, Australia, Canada and the UK; and a worldwide network of representatives.
For more information visit www.riegl.com, or contact [email protected].