June 02, 2010 -- Getmapping has made a spectacular start to its 2010 aerial imagery flying season, capturing over 25,000 square kilometres using both its established fleet of Vexel digital cameras and a new VisionMap A3 large format camera. By the end of May, Getmapping had completed its aerial survey of Wales, begun in 2009, completed the whole of Dorset and Staffordshire, 90% of Devon, most of Lincolnshire and parts of Yorkshire and Scotland.

Getmapping is the only provider of aerial photography committed to a national update programme for the whole of Great Britain and the first survey company to have national coverage of England and Wales.

The A3 camera module consists of two lenses, a motor unit, and a mounting frame. The lenses sweep simultaneously on the camera axis across the flight direction, creating 100 degree field of view. During one sweep, each camera captures up to 29 frames. This enables the aircraft to fly higher and cover more ground. 15cm resolution photography can be achieved flying at 10,000 feet. Efficiencies also occur in processing with the photogrammetric work flow taking a third of the time. Getmapping is the first UK survey company to acquire the A3 camera.

As well as being able to capture high resolution vertical imagery the A3 camera is also able to capture oblique photos in the same flight path. Getmapping is planning to fly the whole of London complete with obliques during the 2010 flying season.

“The A3 camera is quite revolutionary, allowing us to fly higher, capture larger areas, in less time, and then process the data more quickly,” said Tristram Cary, Managing Director of Getmapping. “Flying higher also helps us to avoid some common air traffic restrictions so, weather permitting, we should have a record flying season in 2010. In 2009 better weather allowed us to capture over 75,000 square kilometres and we should easily exceed that in 2010,” continued Cary.