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Geoinformatics_04-2009
article faster project completion with gpu processing and automation pci geomatics prolines geoimaging server a conservative estimate puts the number of new, earth-imaging satellites in operation around the globe at over 100, in less than ten years. add to this the increasing number of digital airborne sensors, and the result is a massive increase in volume of data that requires new efficient and economical processing. pci geomatics has responded with an automated image processing system capable of handling up to 10 terabytes (tb) of data per day. by david piekny job automation production increases are frequently found through automation. one of its benefits, aptly demonstrated by henry ford, is consistency; whether you re working with an orthophoto or odometer, consistency allows for increased levels of production, a higher level of quality assurance, and a reduction in process management and training costs. further, profitability generally increases in proportion to output. another benefit of automation is more effective use of resources, both human and technological. automating a manual process allows knowledge workers to transfer their skills from menial tasks to value creation (increased productivity and profitability) by managing quality assurance or product creation. automation also ensures the effective use of processing hardware. batch processing and limited automation are included in many image processing packages. the prolines geoimaging server is no exception. however, automation is just the first step in a high-performance system designed to meet throughput measured in terabytes per day. the next step is the nature of the work being done. increasingly massive volumes of imagery are proving to be a severe challenge to traditional, more manually based production and process flows, says trevor taylor, director of business development at pci geomatics. simply put, in order for an organization to ensure that it remains cost-effective and gain a production advantage, automating the processing of raster segments is clearly the direction to take. the result of this direction is the prolines geoimaging server, which combines job control and processor optimization with more than 25 years of geomatics industry experience. regardless of the type of geo-imagery that an organization is currently processing, the range, amount, and availability of both orbital and aerial sources will increase. concurrently, global coverage is becoming increasingly frequent, and the trend for precision moves towards smaller pixels and more finely tuned bandwidths. this is great news for anyone who needs access to spatial information, but daunting for those who have to process it, whether to accommodate shrinking timelines or the creation of more diverse products in an effort to grow or remain competitive. modular components scalability is essential for an organization to grow, either through the production of new products or an increase in legacy business. what may work for one sensor may not apply to another— for example, multispectral and panchromatic bands from a single platform. on the other hand, quickbird and geoeye-1 both produce high-resolution colour images and may be subject to similar, if not identical, processes. geomatica 10 (desktop) and geomaticax (customized solutions) both provide modular june 2009 14
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