Overview
AMDIS is a medium format 16.7 mega pixel imaging system, designed to replace film due to superior quality and workflow, in photogrammetric, mapping & visual intelligence applications.
AMDIS is designed to deliver an immediate, full scale & comprehensive solution to any aerial photography demand - may it be a high accuracy mapping project, utilizing INS integration, or a stereoscopic oblique image interpretation used for military intelligence application.
Components
• Modular Sensor Unit - SU - can be fitted on virtually any aerial platform due to its
light weight & automation (no need for manned operation).
• Ground Visual Processing Unit - VPU - a high power computerized console, which
receives the images from the aerial module, and performs stitching procedures,
coordinate data linking and data archiving task. This station can of course be
custom configured for broad application necessities, including stereo interpretation
and target editing.
• Real time transition option - for the most demanding applications, an optional
module can be added in order to send acquired targets to a ground station.
Features
• Simple, light weight payload - The AMDIS SU (sensor unit) weight is below 10 kg, making it perfect for unmanned applications as well as the traditional manned aerial photography missions.
• Advanced digital sensor unit - The SU is built using the most advanced digital imaging unit available today, with a 16.7 million pixels full frame CMOS color sensor, high rame rate buffer mechanism.
• Fully automated, in contrast to the majority of traditional aerial cameras, and is pre programmed only once before each mission.
Main advantages over film
• Superior economy: No film, no photo lab, no scanning, more flying days.
• Superior radiometry: No grain noise, 12 bit instead of 8 bit in film, excellent
stereopsis.
• Superior geometry: No wet processes, rigid pixel arrangement, built-in inner
orientation, high redundancy option.
• Superior automation: Noise free, more images at no cost for superior AT,
multi-ray stereo DEM & building extraction.
• Superior products: Panchromatic and true color (RGB and Near IR).
• Superior workflow: In-flight quick-views, automated exposure control based on
image contents, wide range of filters, maintaining traditional work flows, full
automation potential, digital archiving and data base system, optional on-board,
in-the-field and home office processing.
Special features
• Financed entirely by savings in consumables and scanning.
• Intelligent stitching of multiple area array CCDs for robust geometry
• True RGB color and Near IR.
• Faster than 0.26 sec/image for multi-ray stereo.
• 4,992 x 3,328 pixels at 12 bit.
• Smart and flexible data flow concept.
• Software-leveraged hardware.
Benefits
Totally digital
AMDIS is a step forward in all aspects of digital workflow right from direct digital image acquisition to digital processing of the image data.
Full digital image registration enables a reduction of the image processing work flow.
There is no more film processing, no more film wasted, no more scanning, and the images are immediately available for further photogrammetric processing.
Color dynamic, pixel-by-pixel image:
True color system allows each pixel to get its own original color directly after the image acquisition.
The color dynamics are optimized due to the direct image registration on CMOS/CCD, which is extremely sensitive: up to 16 bits by color (24 bits RGB: 4,992 x 3,328 pixels).
Each pixel is directly associated with its color during image acquisition.
The camera produces rich multi spectral images for each pixel. Real pixel color is captured directly for feeding into the process.
AMDIS offers a true RGB-color and IRC at no extra cost.
There are no fuzzy images due to ‘coloring’ B&W pixel or superimposing three RGB pixels coming from 3 different lens calibrations.
Compatibility
The images obtained from AMDIS can be easily integrated into existing photogrammetric workflows without any substantial changes, a feature which vastly improves automation, saving time and money.
Workflow:
Automatic coordinate embedding into each file makes it easier than ever to determine borders of coverage & shortens interpretation & orientation time spans.
In-flight quality control
The preview automated color image exposure control significantly improves the aerial operation.
The operator can immediately visualize and control the quality of the photographs taken.
There will be no more unsuccessful flights.
Ground pixel size could be as small as 2 cm (!!), using optional lenses (refer to next paragraph) the ground pixel is registered exactly on the CCD.
The direct acquisition of image avoids the noise encountered with the analog system caused by a more or less accentuated film processing or during the scanning which can give a grain impossible to eliminate.
Image sharpness:
Optional image stabilized lenses and/or gimbaled platforms permit the best image quality, with highest sharpness and vibration resistance.
The operator can adjust sensor ISO settings, shutter speeds and aperture to use the best MTF response of the digital lens installed, and be assured that the captured image is sharp, accurate and geographically referenced.
Highly efficient:
AMDIS system requires only one calibration per lens and therefore per image, improving the accuracy, since there is no need for average calibration of different lenses.
Visibility in shadow
Acute visibility in the shadows (8 or 16 bit/color) allows high performance image acquisition under various light conditions due to excellent color dynamics.
Indeed, the optimal 24 bits digital treatment permits the visualization of information in the shadows of buildings, which is impossible to achieve in analog process.
This is even more obvious in the center of towns with very narrow streets and/or tall buildings.
Timetable for filming:
Taking into account the higher definition in the shaded image areas, the use of the digital camera allows extending the time-span for daily image acquisition.
Combination:
The AMDIS allows a very large number of module and lenses combinations in order to comply with multiple flight missions and specifications.
An enormous quantity of over 90 different Canon EF lenses is optional, depending on customer preferences.
