Remote GeoSystems Deploys geoDVR Mini Video Recorder for BVLOS Drone Pipeline Patrol, Inspections and Security in China with Xi’an ARTEL

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PRESS RELEASE – FORT COLLINS, Colorado, USA/XI’AN, Shaanxi, CHINA – Remote GeoSystems, Inc., a global provider of immersive geospatial video, photo and data recorders and reporting software for survey and inspection, and Xi’an ARTEL Technology, Inc., China’s leading developer/operator of beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) inspection UAVs, are pleased to announce the successful deployment of complementary geospatial data systems for long distance day and night drone pipeline patrol operations.

In May 2019, Remote GeoSystems traveled to China to evaluate capabilities and provide business development support for reseller Xi’an ARTEL’s use of the geoDVR™ Mini GPS video recorders on BVLOS drones and the development of interactive client deliverables using the LineVision™ geospatial video inspection and reporting software suite.

“We knew team at Xi’an ARTEL had the opportunity and was making the investment to become a successful value-added Remote Geo reseller in China, but we really did not know what to expect when we first got there.” says Remote GeoSystems managing director, Jeff Dahlke, “However what we saw was nothing short of amazing and inspiring. Here was a group of young engineers and a CEO leading the way in BVLOS drone operations and they flew their drone and our geoDVR Mini with a EO/IR gimbal at night for over 14 kilometers on that first observation flight.”

geoDVR Mini GPS video recorder mounted to the Xi'an ARTEL drone
Remote Geo's Jeff Dahlke with the gas-powered hexcopter BVLOS patrol drone
The patrol drone and tethered radio communications drone ready for takeoff

Xi’an ARTEL first approached Remote GeoSystems in the spring of 2018 after learning about the company’s success with geoDVRs and LineVision with helicopters for pipeline leak detection and patrol. However the gas-powered ARTEL Patrol UAV required the geoDVR technology to be smaller, lighter and able to operate autonomously.

What was to become the first “geoDVR Mini” prototype was commissioned, built and shipped in early fall of 2018 and Xi’an ARTEL put the geoDVR GPS video recording system to work immediately to geotag video for their existing contract with one of China’s leading petroleum corporations as well as for proof-of-concept testing for maritime security.

“Remote Geo was willing to listen to us and visit us and our clients in China, and work with our company on a value-added reseller level.” says Gao Yong, CEO of Xi’an ARTEL, “That gives us a competitive advantage having a proper, first-hand and trusting relationship with the leading American technology company in geospatial pipeline patrol and video mapping.”

About Remote GeoSystems, Inc.

Remote GeoSystems is a geospatial software and hardware company offering turn-key solutions to easily record, map, report, archive & search continuously geotagged videos, photos and other location-based project files. Products include industry-firsts, patented technologies like those found in the geoDVR™ (geospatial digital video recorder) and LineVision™ suite of geospatial video playback software.

Unlike traditional video recording systems, the geoDVR systems record video with GPS location and time data. LineVision mapping and inspection reporting software provides users with simple but powerful tools for geographic video analysis, editing and project packaging while leveraging existing enterprise Geographic Information Systems (GIS).

These capabilities allow for more efficient and accurate data collection and the creation of reusable aerial, marine and ground-based survey, surveillance and inspection work-products across a broad range of industries including: Unmanned Vehicles, Aerospace & Aviation, Electric Utilities, Oil & Gas, Rail Transportation, Defense & Security, Engineering & Survey and Natural Resources.

About Xi’an ARTEL Technology, Inc.

Xi’an ARTEL has played a major role in the extensive use of BVLOS drones in China. Our UAV flight services business covers oil and gas pipeline, electric power distribution and transmission, forestry, agriculture, wildfire protection, unmanned vehicles & facilities security, transportation, traffic and emergency response functions.

Learn more by visiting: http://www.atlpsp.com/

Any reference to other company, product and/or service names used in this news release are for identification purposes only. All trademarks, registered trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners.

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Remote GeoSystems Partners with Purdue University, Provides $111,000 Software Donation to Drone Degree Program

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PRESS RELEASE – WEST LAFAYETTE, Indiana/FORT COLLINS, Colorado – Remote GeoSystems, Inc., a provider of immersive geospatial video, photo and data recording and reporting software for survey and inspection, is partnering with Purdue University with a gift to the Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) degree program and laboratory. The UAS program at Purdue focuses on geospatial data collection and analysis by unmanned aerial systems, also known as “drones.”

As part of the partnership, Remote GeoSystems is providing Purdue with a starting gift of the company’s LineVision video-mapping software suite valued at $111,000, with additional licenses available as needed by students and faculty. Purdue will support Remote GeoSystems as a research and development partner by beta testing new features and technologies and exploring an ever-growing array of applications for Remote GeoSystems’ geospatial software and hardware within the research community.

“Remote GeoSystems is on the leading edge of videogrammetry,” says Joseph Hupy, Ph.D., associate professor with Purdue University’s School of Aviation and Transportation Technology.

Videogrammetry refers to utilizing specific methods and software capabilities for rapidly collecting continuously geo-referenced video and then “geo-editing” and extracting geotagged still photos from the video at user-defined frequencies. These video-derived image datasets are then used to build orthomosaics and 3D models in traditional geospatial imagery processing software.

“Remote GeoSystems is establishing methods to quickly collect and derive the geospatial data from drone videos that will change a number of industries and drive the acceleration of location-based artificial intelligence,” explained Hupy. “Having their software and team connected to Purdue is a significant resource for our evolving UAS program.”

The School of Aviation and Transportation Technology – part of Purdue Polytechnic Institute, one of the 10 academic colleges at Purdue University – is based out of the historic Niswonger Aviation Technology Building, which once housed Amelia Earhart’s airplane.

“Purdue has long been a global leader in aerospace and engineering curriculum and a pioneering institution in the aviation field since the early 20th century,” says Jeff Dahlke, managing director, Remote GeoSystems. “We are proud to now partner with and support the University as their next generation of students takes UAS platforms from novelty to the true airborne workhorses of the 21st century.”

About Purdue Polytechnic’s School of Aviation and Transportation Technology

Purdue University’s School of Aviation and Transportation Technology, one of six departments and schools in the Purdue Polytechnic Institute, administers seven world-class undergraduate majors and a graduate program, including aviation-focused Ph.D. program in technology. It is one of the most recognized programs for the quality of its graduates. Faculty members work closely with undergraduate and graduate students and all segments of the aviation industry to conduct research related to grand challenges in sustainability, safety and quality.

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Remote GeoSystems Adds MISB Full Motion Video (FMV) Support to LineVision Desktop

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PRESS RELEASE – FORT COLLINS, Colorado, USA – Remote GeoSystems, Inc., a global provider of immersive geospatial video software and recorders for survey and inspection, is pleased to announce the LineVision™ Desktop software suite now supports map-based playback and geoProject™ reporting with MISB FMV-compliant videos.

Often larger commercial and military drones used in beyond visual line of site (BVLOS) operations and manned aircraft are equipped with a gyro-stabilized gimbal camera system capable of generating MISB-spec (STANAG 4609) metadata in the video stream. This could include existing 3rd-party systems from defense contractors, and/or gimbals utilizing the new geoDVR MISB FMV Module released last month for the direct recording of MISB FMV-compliant videos using the company’s flagship multi-sensor geoDVR geospatial video recorder.

Now, LineVision Desktop software can import these MISB-spec full motion video files and read the metadata to calculate and display a dynamic “footprint” along with the camera target frame center. The resulting display shows the current video frame’s location outline moving on the map as well as the aircraft’s location. This capability provides analysts and subject matter experts a more accurate location of asset conditions or situational awareness on the ground.

From high-end military surveillance cameras to consumer drones, the addition of MISB FMV support makes LineVision Desktop the most ubiquitous tool for map-based video data fusion utilizing continuously georeferenced video from nearly any UAV, manned aircraft or ground-based platform.

Remote GeoSystems Releases New MISB FMV Module for the geoDVR Geospatial Video Recorder

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PRESS RELEASE – FORT COLLINS, Colorado, USA – Remote GeoSystems, Inc., a global provider of geospatial video recorders and mapping software for survey, inspection and reporting, announces the release and availability of the new geoDVR MISB FMV module for the direct recording of video with MISB FMV/STANAG 4609 compliant location metadata from airborne gyro-stabilized gimbal camera systems.

MISB FMV, or Motion Imagery Standards Board Full Motion Video, is a geospatial video format widely-adopted by military and defense communities around the globe for airborne ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance) and targeting applications from manned aircraft and drones. Over that last few years this standard (aka STANAG 4609 KLV) has gained popularity in the commercial work for helicopter, fixed-wing and drone aerial surveys and inspections. Common applications in the commercial and government sectors include comprehensive electric transmission line inspections, pipeline right-of-way patrols, aerial firefighting and environmental conservation.

By recording MISB-compliant metadata within the video, Remote GeoSystems post-flight LineVision Desktop software can then use the geoDVR MISB data to calculate and display a dynamic “footprint” along with the camera target frame center. The resulting display shows the video frame footprint moving on the map. This capability provides analysts and subject matter experts a more accurate location of asset conditions or situational awareness on the ground, as observed from a remote aircraft location.

geoDVR MISB FMV Module LineVision Desktop Screenshot

In addition to enabling the MISB Full Motion Video to be displayed in the Remote GeoSystems LineVision Desktop suite, this additional capability also provides commercial and defense operators with an affordable and simple geospatial DVR system for capturing multi-camera video content compatible with other popular 3rd party FMV applications like the Esri FMV Add-In, PAR GV3.0, FalconView and other widely-adopted mission planning and processing, exploitation and dissemination (PED) software.

“The airborne industry has been asking for an affordable, yet military-grade MISB-compatible video recorder for commercial and government work along with simple post-mission reporting software pricing options” says Remote GeoSystems managing director, Jeff Dahlke. “We are pleased to now offer this complete solution and look forward to working with gimbal camera manufacturers to bring the additional back-office GIS integration value to their systems with LineVision.”

The MISB FMV geoDVR module is already being used with a Trakka Systems 300 Triple that is beginning production work this fall for comprehensive helicopter utility line inspections.

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Remote GeoSystems Graduates from Esri Startup Program to Silver Partner in Esri Partner Network

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PRESS RELEASE – FORT COLLINS, Colorado, USA – Remote GeoSystems, Inc., a global provider of geospatial video recorder hardware and GIS integration software and solutions has become an official Silver Partner in the Esri Partner Network after successfully building their business as an Emerging Business Partner in the Esri Startup Program.

Esri, the world leader in location intelligence and mapping technologies, offers a unique Startup Program enabling the most promising emerging businesses to incorporate these innovations into their services and solutions. Now in its third year, the Esri Startup Program provides the ArcGIS software, online services, support, community involvement and training to kick-start product development or enrich existing solutions.

Remote GeoSystems was one of the first accepted early stage startups in to the program. “As a small technology company bootstrapping the development and innovative product sales efforts, access to Esri’s flagship ArcGIS platform and team support was invaluable,” said Jeff Dahlke, Managing Director of Remote GeoSystems.

2015 Esri Start-up Class

In their three years in the program, Remote GeoSystems was able to successfully develop and go-to-market with an array of geospatial video solutions. Their LineVision Esri ArcMap Add-in and stand-alone LineVision Desktop with Esri Mapping commercial software tools provide georeferenced video playback, analysis, collaboration and reporting using the Esri ArcGIS platform. In addition, the new Video GeoTagger™ and Video GeoEditor™ (coming soon) products, also built with Esri mapping technology, will be available for use on the ArcGIS Marketplace. These professional geospatial video and integrated GIS Full Motion Video (FMV) software tools are ideal for airborne, drone and mobile mapping surveys, critical infrastructure inspection and public safety applications.

“The Remote Geo team is building some very feature-rich and capable Esri-based solutions and Add-ins while also bringing a valuable mix of GIS, GPS, deep location-based video expertise and multi-industry experience,” said Francis Kelly, Esri Global Partner Programs Manager. “We are excited to work with Remote Geo as their business matures and they continue to contribute to the Esri user community as part of the Esri Partner Network.”

“As a company that was once a startup, we understand the early years for any business are hard,” said Katie Decker, Esri Startup Team Community Manager. “We are impressed with how the Remote Geo team executed on the opportunities provided by the program, bringing value of geospatial video to a broader audience using the Esri platform. Their experience is what we envisioned when we implemented the program and we look forward to continuing to work with them.”

Screenshot of LineVision Desktop with Esri Maps

Remote GeoSystems LineVision Esri-based solutions key features often include:

– Play videos from single and multi-camera video data collection platforms
– “Click-on-Map” video navigation
– Set a custom geo-fence around the moving position marker
– Load shapefiles, imagery and ArcGIS Online datasets
– Save geotagged video and photo data as geoProjects™ for simple project reporting, archive and search
– Industry-leading support for DJI Drone Video data

All Remote GeoSystems Esri-based solutions are and/or will soon be available in the ArcGIS Marketplace.

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About Esri

Esri, the global market leader in geographic information system (GIS) software, offers the most powerful mapping and spatial analytics technology available. Since 1969, Esri has helped customers unlock the full potential of data to improve operational and business results. Today, Esri software is deployed in more than 350,000 organizations including the world’s largest cities, most national governments, 75 percent of Fortune 500 companies, and more than 7,000 colleges and universities. Esri engineers the most advanced solutions for digital transformation, the Internet of Things (IoT), and location analytics to inform the most authoritative maps in the world. Visit us at esri.com.

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