Trimble announced its 80 megapixel Trimble Aerial Camera (TAC 80MP), extending the range of applications for today’s medium-format aerial cameras.

The announcement was made at Photogrammetric Week.

With advanced features such as Trimble’s forward motion compensation (FMC) technology, the TAC 80MP allows aerial service providers to fly faster or increase ground sampling distance. This enables fixed wing aircraft to deliver results previously only achievable with helicopter campaigns. With a weight of less than 3,000 grams (6.6 lbs.), the TAC 80MP is also an ideal camera for a variety of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), further extending its application range.

Designed as a workhorse for traditional flight campaigns, the TAC 80MP is a suitable replacement for aging large-format analog cameras (LFC), which are increasingly being taken out of service. Because the long side of the TAC 80MP sensor is equal to an analog LFC image scanned at 20µm, service providers are able to fly the TAC 80MP instead of allocating additional resources to their digital large-format fleet.

"We see the TAC 80MP as a multi-purpose camera that can equip service providers with capabilities previously only attainable using far more expensive large-format cameras," said Katherine Sandford, general manager of Trimble’s GeoSpatial Division. "With its robust, light-weight design and flexible integration capabilities, the TAC 80MP is positioned to stretch the boundaries of today’s medium-format camera market."

As with previous Trimble Aerial Cameras, the 80MP is offered with a wide range of focal length optics, allowing for dynamic reconfigurations to accommodate changing project parameters.

As part of Trimble’s aerial mapping portfolio, the TAC 80MP can be bundled with Inpho photogrammetry software or integrated into a turn-key mapping solution including flight management, direct georeferencing, laser scanning capabilities, and complete processing workflow (Trimble DSS and Trimble Harrier 68i). Integration can be achieved through an upgrade path, allowing service providers to protect their investment and increase their capabilities as their business requirements expand.

The TAC 80MP is expected to be available in the fourth quarter of 2011 from Trimble and authorized resellers.

For more information, visit www.trimble.com.