Remote Sensing Tools

One of the developments that’s been sadly lacking in available software is automatic or semi-automatic orthorectification. You can get it — usually with a software suite that’s completely cost prohibitive. Or, you can try varying methods in the Open Source that typically don’t suit fundamental imagery production needs, or end-up entirely manual in work-flow.

I did, however, come across this tool a while back — a tool called OrthoMap, by Victor Nekrasov. I’ve searched for this kind of tool for years — so it’s actually kind of surprising to see it pop-up recently, 2004 being it’s last development release. From Victor’s Web site, OrthoMap’s capabilities are described:

High resolution space imagery orthorectification tool OrthoMap is shareware. It can work with Ikonos, QuickBird, Spot, Landsat imagery. It has different methods of rectification (polinoms, camera) and some camera models (frame, panoramic, etc). If you are interested in it, e-mail me.

I had sent a message to Victor to inquire about any potential for continuation in development of his tools. My interest, obviously, is in his auto-orthorectification tool, OrthoMap. He responded this morning with the following.:

All listed programs developed by me. But now I haven’t enough users to continue development. Thanks for your interest.

I responded with an interest for more information and hopefully to persuade him to continue development. Perhaps we can help draw an interest, since I feel this would be a welcomed standalone program for most — OrthoMap as a tool would be widely successful for use, and it only costs $99 through ShareIt! What I’d like to see is a continuation on what he planned back in 2004:

Nearest plans
OrthoMap new version 1.4 will be avalable in the end of May 2004. Current version 1.33 can work only with single image. New version will work with several images (mosaic), but not with block adjustment. Next version (2.0) will have block adjustment with different types of images.

Email Victor then if you’re interested. Perhaps he’ll be encouraged to continue his developments, or even consider some alternative so that development can continue based on his technology. Also take a look through his other tools, Mosaic, Reproject, OrthoSpace, and Coordinate Calculator. There’s an entire page of all his downloads to look through, which offers demos, free software, and links to purchase a license at ShareIt! for his ShareWare programs.