Ricoh and GlobalSat embed GPS data into digital images
Ricoh Corporation, a leader in specialized digital imaging solutions, and GlobalSat Inc., an industry leader in GPS technology, today announced a strategic relationship to provide unprecedented GPS accuracy of geo-coded digital images. GlobalSat’s BC-337 is a highly portable CompactFlash GPS Receiver, which utilizes SiRF’s Star III low-power chipset. When combined with Ricoh’s GPS-Ready Pro G3 Digital Camera, high-resolution images are embedded with precise GPS coordinates.
Prior to this agreement, the Ricoh Pro G3 camera supported a variety of GPS cards that were based on older and more cumbersome GPS technology. As position accuracy is critical to most enterprise customers, many opted to utilize the camera with expensive and bulky survey-grade GPS equipment to achieve their accuracy requirements. The integration of the Star III technology into the GlobalSat BC-337 CompactFlash GPS Receiver card provides these accuracy requirements in a more compact, portable, and cost-effective manner.
"Accuracy, price, and portability were the primary barriers to adoption," says Jeff Lengyel, product manager for Ricoh’s Pro G3 Camera. "We have a large market segment that is reluctant to invest in expensive GPS equipment to get the accuracy they needed into their images. With the availability of the GlobalSat BC-337, they are getting optimal performance at a fraction of the cost. The BC-337 is the only GPS card we recommend for use with our camera, which has modified firmware to allow a seamless interface with the BC-337 GPS CF card."
In addition to significant cost and time-savings, the GlobalSat BC-337 provides extremely fast start-up times and WAAS support, positioning the Ricoh/GlobalSat package as the definitive geo-imaging solution.
"Providing state-of-the-art technology to the marketplace is GlobalSat’s primary mission," said Alex Kotoff, managing director of USGlobalSat, Inc. "By working with leading hardware manufactures, we enable new in-the-field capabilities as well as enhance current GPS-based workflow. In conjunction with Ricoh, geo-imaging professionals will have a more robust and precise toolkit without having to carry additional, more expensive equipment."
Hundreds of organizations have adopted the camera including FEMA who uses the Pro G3 to photograph storm damage in the southeast United States and the U.S. military that uses it in Iraq to record places of interest. Inspection companies, utility and gas companies, insurance agents, realtors, government agencies, engineers, National Park personnel, farmers and museums. In every application, users are optimizing their GIS workflows.
[Source: Us Globalsat]
Related Post
- Ricoh Caplio 500SE first Gps equipped digital camera
- Globalsat BT-359 a new Bluetooth 2.0 gps
- MapQuest Navigator demo video
- Globalsat BT-328 bluetooth Gps with new Sirf GSC2chipset
- Geocaching video to discover this great tech-naturalistic game
