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  TopoSys - Company Profile

TopoSys GmbH was founded in spring 1995 as a spin-off of Dornier GmbH, an air- and spacecraft manufacturer of worldwide repute. When it was founded, TopoSys took over the technology of the airborne fiber optic scanner and developed it further for civil applications. In 1996 TopoSys presented the aviation-supported laserscanning system based on fiber technology, the first of its kind worldwide, including software for pre- and postprocessing, Falcon I.

Since 1996 TopoSys has operated its own laserscanning system and has covered thousands of square kilometres in area for digital terrain models. Most of these models were generated for applications requiring data of very high resolution and high precision.

Building on the expertise gained in operating Falcon I and the customer-oriented evaluation of the laser data, TopoSys presented an enhanced LIDAR system Falcon II at the beginning of 2000.
It has an additional spectral RGB/NIR line scanner and enables digital true ortho images of high resolution to be taken. The company’s own TopPIT pre- and postprocessing software has also been subject to ongoing development and adapted to the extended capabilities of the new sensor.

Building on the long-standing know-how in the development and production of fiber optic scanners and in the acquisition and evaluation of LIDAR data, TopoSys decided at the end of 2003 to embark on the worldwide marketing of scanner hardware.

At October 2005 three newly developed sensor systems have been presented to the community. TopoSys now offers a well-balanced family of sensor system, which allows its sensor customer to serve all applications from precise wide area mapping to corridor mapping in the optimal way.

Dual Expertise
  Through its dual role as an established sensor operator and LIDAR system manufacturer, TopoSys enjoys a unique position worldwide. This combination secures TopoSys a broad base of expertise that is unparalleled by any competitor.

The concentrated know-how enables TopoSys to support customers and partners on all levels, ranging from sensor operation to the production of digital elevation models, digital RGB and CIR images, right through to providing consulting services in the further processing of the data for customer-specific applications. This is supported by a tiered training program for hard- and software as well as an experienced team for the after sales support.

The objective of TopoSys is that by harnessing the competence of a motivated team and by consistently expanding its position as the technological leader, it can offer its customers and partners optimal solutions and products.

History
 
  • Spring 1995
    Founded as a spin-off of Dornier GmbH
  • Mid-1996
    Falcon I (TopoSys I), the first LIDAR system based on fiber optic scanner technology, is put into operation
  • Mid-1998
    Development of the new Falcon II (TopoSys II) sensor system incl. integrated RGB/NIR line scanner is commenced
  • Mid-1999
    Development of RGB/NIR software is commenced
  • Spring 2000
    Falcon II is first put into operation
  • End of 2000
    First true color and CIR true ortho images are supplied
  • Since 2001
    Ongoing further development of the Falcon II and TopPIT evaluation software. Establishment of new fields of application for elevation models and spectral images. Operation of own sensors all over Europe as a service provider
  • Delivery of a Falcon II sensor system to a customer for precise wide-area lidar scanning in Egypt
  • End of 2003
    Expansion of the service portfolio by embarking on the worldwide marketing of the scanner and associated software
  • March 2004
    The third scanner, a Falcon II, is put into operation for internal services
  • October 2005 
    TopoSys presented a family of three new Airborne Laser Scanning systems to the community: Falcon III, Harrier 56 and Harrier 24
  • February 2006
    First sale of a Harrier 56 with a dual camera frame camera system to a customer in Chile for forest mapping
  • July 2006
    The Harrier 56/LR (long range) has been introduced. This system provides a significantly longer measurement range compared to the previous Harrier 56
  • November 2006
    The Harrier 56/G3 (third generation) has been introduced. This system provides a world-leading laser pulse rate of up to 200 kHz which again improves efficiency
  • January 2007
    The first Harrier 56/G3 has been sold to a customer in the USA. The system will primarily be used for high resolution, highly accurate power line mapping
  • February 2007
    TopoSys North America Inc. has been founded as a sales and support center to satisfy the ever increasing demand for TopoSys Lidar systems in North America, Canada and Mexico
  • March 2007
    The next Harrier 56/G3 has been sold to a customer in Australia. The system will primarily be used for new, innovative services for the mining industry
  • May 2007
    TopoSys successfully has established a certified Quality Management System according to DIN EN ISO 9001:2000. The certificate covers all business fields of TopoSys, including sensor production and LiDAR service projects.
  • June 2007
    The next Harrier 56/G3 has been sold to a customer in Bahrain. The system will primarily be used for corridor mapping
  • July 2007
    The next Falcon II has been sold to a customer in P.R. China. The system will primarily be used for precise wida area mapping
  • TopoSys Team
    16 employees, plus free-lancers, students and trainees (as at the end of 2006)
  Business Area Management

Svein G. Vatslid


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