Information

Contact: Kirk Brown
703-437-7651
Email: rviewsales@sensor.com

Sensor Systems Announces Release 2.12 of RemoteView-Pro
with Vector Product Format (VPF)

Sterling, VA, October 1, 1999 - Sensor Systems announced today the release of RemoteView-Pro Version 2.12 with Vector Product Format (VPF) support. VPF is a standard format produced by the National Imagery and Mapping Agency (NIMA). VPF provides a standard for the formatting, structure and organization of large geographic databases based on a georelational model. Within this format there are multiple VPF products, such as Vector Smart Map Levels, Urban Vector Smart Map, World Vector Shoreline and others. VPF is capable of handling an extremely rich and detailed set of geographic "themes" and is designed for use in modern Geographic Information Systems (GIS).

This data and software can take the place of traditional paper maps and allows for timely updates to be propagated to users on a consistent basis, ensuring that all participants in a military operation or exercise are on the "same sheet of music". With RemoteView-Pro VPF files can be overlaid on current high-resolution satellite imagery vastly improving their currency and overall utility. The RemoteView implementation of VPF not only adds the power of combining imagery with VPF files, but also provides new and unique features. RemoteView incorporates the complimentary NIMA standard for standardizing the display of  VPF data known as Geospatial Symbols for Digital Displays (GeoSym). Working with NIMA, Sensor Systems has developed a unique algorithm for automatically assigning symbols to VPF themes using GeoSym, removing from the user the responsibility for ensuring that geographic features are displayed in a consistent manner.

RemoteView supports the concept of "base themes" which include all of the features of a given feature class and "sub themes" which are based on logical combinations of non-spatial attributes of the VPF data. Using a unique algorithm, RemoteView automatically determines what sub themes are present in the data and creates them, freeing the user from having to understand the highly detailed Feature and Attribute Coding Catalog (FACC) on which these sub themes are based. RemoteView allows interactive querying of all of the FACC attributes associated with any particular feature through a point and click interface.

RemoteView is able to adjust or calibrate imagery from vector data, or to adjust vector data from imagery, based on which is more accurately geo-controlled. This is accomplished by allowing the user to designate a set of tie-points that are then input to a rigorous adjustment procedure to either adjust the spatial location of the pixels, or to adjust the vector data. A simplified interface for translating vector data, or applying a constant linear shift is also provided.

"RemoteView's VPF capability brings the benefits of this extremely rich geospatial database to the desktop and allows it to be combined with current high-resolution imagery for a result that is greater than either of the component parts, true synergy," said Kirk Brown, President of Sensor Systems. "VPF adds an important spatial reference to imagery, allowing analysts to understand how the imagery relates to surrounding boundaries, cities, coastal areas and other features which may be many miles from the image location itself. Conversely, live high-resolution imagery shows a true picture of the ground itself and brings the VPF map data to life. The combination also allows for the rapid and accurate determination of inaccuracies or needed updates to the VPF data for reporting and correction. With the addition of these powerful new tools, Sensor Systems is once again leading the way to merge the once separate worlds of high-resolution imagery and vector based Geographic Information Systems (GIS)."

"This powerful new tool is a tremendous jump forward as the worlds of imagery and GIS merge together," said Steve Huff, Chairman of Sensor Systems. "The new generation of one-meter commercial imaging satellites combined with powerful applications like RemoteView will provide entirely new opportunities for improvements in productivity and accuracy. With RemoteView-Pro the worlds of high-resolution imagery and GIS have truly merged for the first time in a powerful, practical and easy to use way."

RemoteView from Sensor Systems is the industry's leading application for the exploitation of large-scale digital imagery from sources such as high-resolution remote sensing satellites and aerial systems. RemoteView provides an impressive array of features to extract maximum available data and utility from digital images and image products such as vector based map files. RemoteView-Pro's user interface is streamlined and efficient providing optimal user workflow and productivity, seamlessly allowing users to roam over gigabyte-sized images using industry standard UNIX and NT workstations.

RemoteView products have been specially tuned to take maximum advantage of the new generation of commercial one-meter satellites such as Space Imaging's IKONOS, EarthWatch's QuickBird and OrbImage's OrbView-3. One-meter satellite imagery promises to usher in a new era in the areas of geographic information systems (GIS), mapping, environmental monitoring, agriculture, land use and development, and disaster planning and recovery.

Sensor Systems is a leading developer of desktop applications for visualization and analysis of high-resolution satellite imagery. The RemoteView product family provides solutions ranging from simple desktop viewers to sophisticated mapping, cartography and geodesy applications running on UNIX and NT platforms. Current users include government and commercial organizations around the world.