Remote Sensing Tools

I’ve explored a number of options in how virtual viewers, such as Google Earth or NASA World Wind, can be enhanced to demonstrate practical or up-to-date visualizations within the model. The visualization space that these applications provide is useful in its own way, but what about that added context of placing a person in a real-world view that they can perceptually access — and allowing for content control, so that it can be updated or displayed according to the most appropriate context of the content it’s representing?

In comes panoramic imagery, and I think I’ve located a small company in Florida that does some of the most exciting work in Remote Sensing that can be used in this kind of application.

Meet Skypix Helicam, and its inventor, Daniel Shaw. Daniel’s invented a remote controlled camera system called the Helicam — a remotely assisted UAV in the form of a helicopter, but with a uniquely engineered camera system on board. With this ability, he’s able to map out an area and capture an entire panoramic view at unique lower-level altitudes and perspectives.

What he does is relatively unique in the commercial industry, and really the only organization I’ve seen that does it in a manner that’s highly technical and appropriate for a wide range of end-uses. The camera system itself is impressive, built on years of work and consistent improvements. Of course, the idea is that the majority of UAV-like technologies in remote sensing seems mostly confined to government contractors, but this is one example that is not — and it’s currently serving a variety of interesting clients all over the country.

For a tutorial on implementing QTVR panoramic images in Google Earth:
Google Earth Panorama Tutorial

There are also several methods proposed or discussed, which you can find by simply conducting a search:
google earth qtvr

For more information on the Skypix Helicam, visit the following Web site:
http://www.skypixhelicam.com/