In the recently completed 40th Antarctic scientific expedition of China, the Leica aerial survey product CityMapper-2 of digital information technology giant Hexagon was used for the first time in Antarctica, and carried out 10 sorties, successfully completing the relevant tasks of the Antarctic expedition aeronautical scientific survey.
On December 7, 2023, Pei Wenyue, a professional and technical technician of Hexagocom Leica Measurement Systems, reported to Zhongshan Station of the Antarctic scientific expedition as a member of the 40th Chinese Antarctic Expedition to provide technical support and support related to airborne surveying for the aeronautical scientific survey mission.
On December 18, 2023, with the roar of engines, the Leica CityMapper-2 made its maiden flight in Antarctica. "The Leica CityMapper-2 is an efficient way to collect diverse geospatial data from Antarctica. According to the relevant person in charge of Hexagon, as of the end of the "summer" in Antarctica, the Leica CityMapper-2 has carried out a total of 10 flights. High-quality geospatial data will also provide a data basis for research and development in various fields in Antarctica.
At "summer" times with wind speeds as low as -20°C and as high as 33 m/s (hurricane), there are still challenges to the proper functioning of scientific research equipment. "For aerial measurement systems with integrated high-performance lidar, calibration flights need to be performed after installation to eliminate the impact of equipment installation on data accuracy. In Antarctica, there are no similar features to choose from. Pei Wenyue introduced that for this reason, it is necessary to climb and climb many snow-capped mountains before performing the mission, observe the ice and snow cover and melting in Zhongshan Station and the surrounding area, and through professional skills and rich practical experience, with limited terrain features as a reference, formulate a special Antarctic inspection flight plan and its alternatives. By organizing the crew to confirm the flight process, the calibration flight was finally successfully completed, and the calibration results and accuracy were remotely assessed by the domestic expert group to meet the requirements of the national standard.
"To complete all flight missions within a limited time, the stability of the equipment is extremely high, and any abnormal conditions or potential hidden dangers of the equipment will directly affect the overall progress of the 40th Antarctic expedition on the mainland. Pei Wenyue said that for this reason, Leica Measurement Systems has also specially prepared parts backup for the Antarctic site to ensure the smooth progress of scientific research flights. The Leica CityMapper-2 was as normal throughout the mission and was widely praised by the research team.
Hexagon is a Fortune 500 company that provides industry-leading digital information technology solutions, and is committed to promoting technological change and digital transformation in the fields of "smart manufacturing" and "smart city" by virtue of its benchmark technologies in the field of sensors and industrial software, especially in core areas such as precision metrology and simulation. In July 2022, the Hexagon Dual-Intelligence Empowerment Center project was completed in Songjiang, which is Hexagon China's East China headquarters, covering R&D, production and display functions, focusing on "industrial Internet + intelligent manufacturing", and empowering industrial upgrading and urban renewal with digital technology.
Characters: 李谆谆
Image: Courtesy of the company
Editor: Shen Lina