Leica Geosystems Geospatial Imaging announces orthorectification capabilities for Thailand Earth Observation System (THEOS) images accessed in both ERDAS IMAGINE® and Leica Photogrammetry Suite (LPS).

This new capability allows users to display and manipulate images captured by the THEOS satellite, launching in November 2007. Funded by the Thai Ministry of Science and Technology, THEOS was developed by EADS Astrium SAS in Toulouse, France. The satellite will produce imagery with two-meter Panchromatic and 15-meter multi-spectral resolution. EADS Defence and Security, who developed THEOS Image Ground Station, established a strategic partnership with Leica Geosystems to incorporate capabilities into the foremost remote sensing and photogrammetry suites. Within ERDAS IMAGINE and LPS, THEOS images may be accurately orthorectified, implementing existing tools within both solutions.

“We are excited to bring this orthorectification capability to our remote sensing and photogrammetry customers, providing the most advanced techniques for working with the THEOS images,” said Bob Morris, President and CEO, Leica Geosystems Geospatial Imaging. “This new capability further illustrates our commitment to industry partners like EADS, collaborating efforts to support emerging technologies.”

The THEOS satellite is based upon the new generation of EADS Astrium Optical Earth Observation high performance satellites, implementing the AstroSat-500 platform. Fueled for seven years, this satellite is expected to collect images for at least the next five years.

“Leica Geosystems develops the industry’s leading remote sensing and photogrammetry solutions, providing the most robust processing and analytics to satellite imagery,” said Christian Blanchet, Project Manager, EADS Defence and Security. “Contracting Leica Geosystems to develop the orthorectification capability assured that THEOS’ images would be easily accessed using the best tools.”