Category: Business
Home / Business /
Sanborn Observes 150th Anniversary
Sanborn Observes 150th Anniversary

High-Tech Mapping Firm Celebrates Notable Heritage

Colorado Springs, Colo. (April 11, 2016)—The Sanborn Map Company Inc. (Sanborn) is well known by its customers as a cutting-edge technology firm, but its rich history often surprises many. Founded in 1866 to produce fire insurance maps, modern-day Sanborn offers high-tech mapping services that include mobile and aerial light detection and ranging (Lidar), aerial oblique imagery and orthoimagery, 3-D visualization, autonomous robotic indoor mapping, FAA-approved unmanned aircraft system (UAS) services and more.

“It’s highly satisfying to note our strong technology leadership position in today’s market while at the same time reflecting on a host of achievements comprising our 150-year legacy,” says John Copple, Sanborn CEO. “It’s a little-known fact that Sanborn even made key contributions to America’s World War II efforts.”

Celebrating Storied Success

Copple refers to when the company secretly housed classified Allied invasion maps critical to the D-Day invasion of Normandy in its historic Pelham, NY, building. That building is 110 years old this year and Westchester County has declared April 20 as “Sanborn Map Building Day” to honor both the building and company anniversaries.

Sanborn’s legendary fire insurance maps are distinctive because of their sophisticated set of symbols that precisely and clearly convey complex information. The Library of Congress Sanborn map collection includes some 50,000 editions of the maps comprising an estimated 700,000 individual sheets dating back to 1867. The maps depict commercial, industrial and residential sections of some 12,000 cities and towns across the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Focus on Innovation Drives Technology Leadership

Continually extending its rich mapping tradition, Sanborn remains positioned at the forefront of modern geospatial technology. The company pioneered the collection and delivery of digital orthoimagery. It’s now at the leading edge of collecting and processing high-resolution oblique aerial imagery and designing derivative products.

The firm boasts one of the world’s premier oblique imagery collections, which is growing by leaps and bounds. In 2015, Sanborn added approximately 2.8 million new images to its Oblique Imagery Solutions database and provides proprietary tools, such as Sanborn Oblique Analyst software, so its customers can extract the maximum value from the imagery.

Sanborn also offers 6-inch resolution orthoimagery covering the entire continental United States in both natural color and infrared products, and has one of the industry’s widest range of 3-D, off-the-shelf mapping products. These include 3D Buildings, a suite of modeling products designed for 3-D visualization and geographic information system (GIS) applications; 3D Cities for virtual city implementation; and CitySets, which comprise digital datasets covering the core downtown areas of most major U.S metropolitan areas.

About The Sanborn Map Company, Inc.

Sanborn (www.sanborn.com) is a preeminent innovator in the geospatial industry, delivering state-of-the-art mapping, visualization and 3-D solutions to customers worldwide. The firm currently operates a fleet of 14 aircraft located strategically across the United States. Embracing cutting-edge technology, Sanborn specializes in oblique aerial imagery, aerial and mobile light detection and ranging (Lidar) mapping, aerial orthophotography, 3-D modeling and visualization software and services, indoor mapping with its proprietary SPIN robot, unmanned aircraft system (UAS) sales, services and image processing, and a host of geospatial software products.

Please contact:
Jason Caldwell
(719) 593-0093
jcaldwell@sanborn.com

To view the original version of this release on PR Newswire, click here.

Sanborn Avenger UAS
Sanborn Commercial Drone Services in Full Swing

Colorado Springs, Colo. (Dec. 29, 2015)—The Sanborn Map Company, Inc. (Sanborn) announces that several of its seasoned pilots have completed extensive unmanned aircraft system (UAS) training and now are qualified to perform commercial flights with the firm’s UAS. Earlier in 2015, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) granted Sanborn a Section 333 Exemption to commercially operate a UAS.

“Our pilots are among the nation’s most skilled at performing complex mapping missions,” says Sanchit Agarwal, director of mapping operations. “Their vast knowledge and experience will seamlessly transfer to our UAS operations, putting Sanborn at the forefront of offering exceptional UAS services anywhere in the United States.”

Sanborn already has successfully completed several commercial UAS data collection projects, as well as numerous test flights to validate the system’s geospatial data collection capabilities. The efforts have resulted in unprecedented data accuracy and resolution, enabling a broad portfolio of services that include high-quality, engineering-grade digital terrain models (DTMs) exceeding 2-inch accuracy; multispectral frame imagery at sub-centimeter resolution; crisp, vibration-free video; high-resolution light detection and ranging (Lidar) data; and thermal imaging data.

In addition to providing UAS flight services, Sanborn offers a full range of professional image processing and analysis services for all UAS imagery collected. As with all Sanborn offerings, the firm’s UAS data is available as a licensed product within the firm’s cloud service, allowing customers to cost-effectively store and securely access their data around the clock. Customers also can purchase and host the data on their own servers if desired.

Several functional examples of how Sanborn serves customers with its UAS include damage assessment and response efforts, site mapping, water resource mapping, volumetric assessment and asset estimation, highway survey and accident mapping, corridor asset review, assessment, and mapping, and precision agriculture.

About Sanborn’s UAS

Sanborn’s commercial UAS is a vertical take off and landing (VTOL) platform with a hefty 15-pound payload capacity. This enables the use of a wide range of sophisticated sensors or combinations of sensors, including video, multispectral, hyperspectral and infrared (thermal). The high-performance aircraft features a full military-grade autopilot with GPS waypoints and laser altimeters that are integrated with its sensor payload, permitting pinpoint sensor control. Additionally, the rugged aircraft has demonstrated amazing reliability, including maximum stability in winds up to 50 mph.

About The Sanborn Map Company, Inc.

Sanborn is a preeminent leader in the exploding geospatial industry, delivering state-of-the-art mapping solutions to customers worldwide. The firm currently operates a fleet of 14 aircraft located strategically across the United States. Embracing cutting-edge technology, Sanborn specializes in oblique aerial imagery, aerial and mobile light detection and ranging (Lidar) mapping, aerial orthophotography, 3-D modeling and visualization software and services, indoor mapping with its proprietary SPIN robot, unmanned aircraft system (UAS) sales, services and image processing, and a host of geospatial software development.

Please contact:
Jason Caldwell
(719) 593-0093
jcaldwell@sanborn.com

To view the original version of this release on PR Newswire, click here.

Sanborn Oblique Imagery - National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, D.C.
Sanborn Expands Extensive Oblique Imagery Collection

Mapping Firm Adds Nearly 3 Million New Oblique Images in 2015

Colorado Springs, Colo. (Dec. 22, 2015)— Just as The Sanborn Map Company, Inc. (Sanborn) pioneered mobile light detection and ranging (Lidar) mapping at the turn of the century, the firm now is at the leading edge of collecting and processing high-resolution oblique aerial imagery. In 2015, Sanborn added 2.8 million new images to its Oblique Imagery Solutions line of products, including fresh coverage of 107 new cities. Sanborn now has the one of the nation’s fastest growing collections of oblique imagery products, with the acquisition of 12 million new high-resolution oblique images covering more than 200 U.S. cities during the last two years.

Sanborn offers its Oblique Imagery Solutions as a licensed product available within the firm’s cloud service, which allows customers to cost-effectively store and securely access their data around the clock. Customers also can purchase and host the data on their own servers if desired. Additionally, Sanborn’s uniquely liberal data licensing policy offers a terrific value proposition for its customers.

“We’re still in the early innings of the broad-based adoption of oblique imagery as a cost-effective way to view and analyze urban areas for a host of applications,” says Jason Caldwell, Sanborn VP of business development and sales. “As our customers continue to recognize how oblique imagery can streamline their workflows by greatly enhancing the visualization and analysis of all types of infrastructure, Sanborn will have the nation’s most current and accurate oblique data ready for them.”

When customers purchase Sanborn’s Oblique Imagery Solutions products, they also receive Oblique Analyst, the firm’s proprietary web-based oblique imagery viewer featuring a suite of tools that enables easy analysis of oblique imagery. Oblique Analyst presents all five views of a building or structure—nadir and four 45° oblique angles—and provides the ability to select any view as the primary one. A built-in compass feature lets users know the current view as they pan and zoom around a project area to analyze and extract critical information from the image.

About Sanborn Oblique Imagery Technology

Sanborn’s Oblique Imagery Solutions products comprise aerial imagery that gives users multiple views of any location. Upholding its reputation for product innovation and technology leadership, the firm captures the imagery with five separate state-of-the-art cameras at once, resulting in the highest-quality oblique data available in today’s marketplace. The imagery is georeferenced and delivered to users in a format that makes it easy to view, analyze and use effectively.

About The Sanborn Map Company, Inc.

Sanborn is a preeminent leader in the exploding geospatial industry, delivering state-of-the-art mapping solutions to customers worldwide. The firm currently operates a fleet of 14 aircraft located strategically across the United States. Embracing cutting-edge technology, Sanborn specializes in oblique aerial imagery, aerial and mobile light detection and ranging (Lidar) mapping, aerial orthophotography, 3-D modeling and visualization software and services, indoor mapping with its proprietary SPIN robot, unmanned aircraft system (UAS) sales, services and image processing, and a host of geospatial software development.

Please contact:
Jason Caldwell
(719) 593-0093
jcaldwell@sanborn.com

To view the original version of this release on PR Newswire, click here.

Press Release – Sanborn Embarks on Year Three in Michigan

Published: May 18, 2015 6:00 a.m. ET

MiSAIL Mapping Program Vital to a Host of Statewide Stakeholders

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., May 18, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — For the last two years, The Sanborn Map Company (Sanborn) has been engaged in a massive mapping initiative for the State of Michigan (SOM) and this spring the firm forges ahead into year three of its base contract.

The Michigan Statewide Authoritative Imagery & Lidar program (MiSAIL) is managed by the state’s Department of Technology, Management & Budget (DTMB) and chiefly funded by its Department of Transportation, Department of Natural Resources and Department of Environmental Quality.

Sanborn is acquiring a variety of imagery across the state, including 3-inch, 6-inch and 12-inch resolution orthophotography, as well as Quality Level 2 (QL-2) light detection and ranging (Lidar) data. Sanborn is hosting all data and utilizing the Sanborn GeoServe service, an efficient cloud-based approach to quality control. The innovative GeoServe tools let SOM stakeholders review imagery via a website browser and mark up any areas of concern. Sanborn’s engineers and image processing experts can review their comments, address the issues and quickly respond via the same interface.

“Access to high-quality digital aerial imagery has created a demand for more timely data with better accuracy and resolution,” explains Everett Root. Root is the DTMB’s Center for Shared Solutions, Office of Technology Partnerships outreach specialist and MiSAIL project manager. “One of our acquisition challenges is the short season between snow on the ground and leaf-on conditions. Sanborn’s project managers have dealt successfully with this issue and the next-generation imagery products are enabling the state of Michigan to achieve its goals on schedule.”

As a result of the SOM’s innovative outreach and partnering initiatives, MiSAIL partner participation has increased each year, growing from two imagery partners and two Lidar partners in 2013 to 14 imagery partners and five Lidar partners in 2015. Altogether, the SOM and its local, regional, federal, university and utility partners will spend more than $2.7 million on the project this year. Through collaboration, partners realize a cost savings of as much as 30 percent. The SOM’s handling of the request for proposal process, contract management and vendor management results in additional savings.

In 2015, partner stakeholders include the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments, whose seven county members comprise half of Michigan’s population, as well as half of its road mileage; and the Tri-County Regional Planning Commission, which covers the state capitol, Lansing metropolitan region, and surrounding areas. Additionally, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will contribute more than $1.5 million to the effort for the acquisition of light detection and ranging (Lidar) data totaling more than 10,500 square miles across 13 Michigan counties.

New in 2015 will be data collection of four major university campuses: Eastern Michigan University, Michigan State University, the University of Michigan and Wayne State University. Beyond 2015, MiSAIL framework allows for the addition of new services and products. Soon to be added are a standard oblique imagery offering, along with oblique imagery optimized for disaster response. The latter will be implemented by the Michigan State Police to enhance efforts surrounding special events, natural disasters and other incidents.

About The Sanborn Map Company, Inc.Sanborn (www.sanborn.com) is a preeminent leader in the exploding geospatial industry, delivering state-of-the-art mapping solutions to customers worldwide. The firm currently operates a fleet of 14 aircraft located strategically across the United States. Embracing cutting-edge technology, Sanborn specializes in oblique aerial imagery, aerial and mobile Lidar mapping, aerial orthophotography, 3-D modeling and visualization software and services, indoor mapping with its proprietary SPIN robot, unmanned aircraft system sales, services and image processing, and a host of geospatial software development. Sanborn’s innovative technology advantage, image processing expertise, local presence nationwide and unparalleled project-management portfolio ensure the ultimate value to its global customers.

Please contact: Jason Caldwell
(719) 593-0093
jcaldwell@sanborn.com

To view the original version on PR Newswire, please visit: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sanborn-embarks-on-year-three-in-michigan-300084623.html

Sanborn Launches Online Store for 3-D Building Data

Sanborn Online Transforms the Way Customers Can Select and Purchase Data

With the introduction of Sanborn Online, The Sanborn Map Company, Inc., (Sanborn) has streamlined the way its customers can purchase the firm’s world-class collection of digital 3-D building data. Sanborn Online, the official digital storefront for Sanborn-acquired data, lets customers view available metropolitan areas and data types, select the data they need, choose the appropriate data license and download the data—all in a matter of minutes.

“Sanborn Online reduces search time with an interactive map interface that lets users easily navigate throughout Sanborn’s exhaustive building data catalog,” explains Christopher Bachicha, senior software engineer. “The data are available for download instantly upon completing the PayPal transaction.”

Sanborn Online is the firm’s latest initiative to make its 3-D building data conveniently accessible to the general public. The aggregate 3-D building data are available for areas of interest comprising more than 262,000 buildings in 49 key U.S. metropolitan areas. Owing to Sanborn’s long legacy of innovative 3-D modeling, the data includes accurate location and height information, as well as more than 25 additional data-rich attributes, such as building name, address, date of construction and more.

“We expect that the transparent and instant access to Sanborn’s 3-D data will revolutionize how 3-D building models and elevation data are sold in the United States,” says Sharad Oberoi, PhD, technical development manager. “We believe Sanborn Online will allow even niche firms in the real estate, insurance and urban planning domains to benefit from the latest spatial data analysis tools available.”

The next version of Sanborn Online will offer 3-D data for individual buildings. Those currently interested in purchasing individual buildings can contact an expert Sanborn sales professional for assistance.

Contact: Mario Montoya
Account Executive
719.264.5523
mmontoya@sanborn.com

To view the original version of this release on PR Newswire, click here.

Sanborn Updates Oblique Analyst for ArcGIS Users

Users of Esri ArcGIS for Desktop 10.1 and Above Easily Can Browse and Import Oblique Imagery Into the Workflow

The benefits of viewing and working with oblique aerial imagery now are available to users with the latest versions of ArcGIS for Desktop geographic information system (GIS) software. The Sanborn Map Company’s Oblique Analyst tool lets users leverage the multiple-view advantages of the company’s Oblique Imagery Solutions like never before.

Sanborn’s Oblique Imagery Solutions products comprise aerial imagery that gives users multiple views of any location. Sanborn captures the imagery using five separate state-of-the-art cameras at once, resulting in the highest quality oblique data available today. The imagery is georeferenced and delivered to users in a format that makes it easy to view, analyze and use effectively.

Oblique Analyst presents all five views of a building or structure—nadir and four 45° oblique angles—and provides the ability to select any view as the primary one. A built-in compass feature lets users know the current view as they pan and zoom around a project area. Oblique Analyst also pinpoints the project area on an overview map, and its addressing feature quickly locates specific addresses. Oblique Analyst is included with the purchase of Sanborn’s Oblique Imagery Solutions products.

Visit Sanborn at Booth #1208 at the 2014 Esri International UC Exhibit for a demonstration of Oblique Analyst. Also See SPIN—Sanborn’s revolutionary new autonomous robot for indoor laser mapping on Tuesday, July 15 only!

July 15, 2014

Please contact:
Jason Caldwell
jcaldwell@sanborn.com

-or-

Locate a Sanborn product professional in your area.

The Robots Are Here…

Check out the SPIN-centered article and interview at controltrends.org

The Sanborn Platform for Indoor Mapping (SPIN) is a semi-autonomous mobile robotic platform designed exclusively for indoor mapping applications. By utilizing the recent advances made in a variety of 3D technologies including laser scanning, photogrammetry and computer vision, and the state-of-the-art approaches used in robotics, SPIN is a leap forward in accurately mapping the building interiors. SPIN is a compact, easy-to-operate and self-navigating system which generates pre-registered spatial data almost in real-time.

For more information about SPIN, send inquiries to: information@sanborn.com and a Sanborn representative will be in touch.

Creating-a-Healthier-Planet—SEMCOG

EIJ Article by Sudha Maheshwari, (Sanborn) and Ann Burns and Amy Mangus, of Southeast Michigan Council of Governments.

From smart data-collection planning to effective analysis and implementation, regional planners in Southeast Michigan are enabling urban sustainability and green infrastructure.

Urban sustainability involves a plethora of important issues confronting urban managers and planners, from climate change and air and water quality to stormwater management, flooding and many other interrelated social and environmental issues. Such issues force decision makers to balance the economic, environmental and societal outcomes of any action.

Click here to read the full article…

Sanborn Advances Indoor Mapping
SPIN Robotic Mapper a Leap Forward for Highly Accurate 2D and 3D Building Interior Mapping

Move over R2-D2! Designed exclusively for indoor mapping applications, the robotic Sanborn Platform for Indoor Mapping (SPIN) is a compact, easy-to-use, self-navigating system that generates preregistered spatial data in near real time.

SPIN delivers better than 3cm accuracy with a resolution as fine as 1cm as it records more than 200,000 measurements per second. With a 270-degree field of view, the Lidar-based system generates unprecedented 3-D detail while maintaining a Class 1 Eye Safety Rating.

“Indoor environments pose unique challenges for laser scanning with traditional static systems,” says Sharad Oberoi, Ph.D., Sanborn technical development manager and head of the R&D team that designed and built SPIN. “SPIN navigates autonomously in close-quarter environments and yields highly accurate results 20 times faster than a static system.”

With SPIN You Can:
  • Generate 2D floor plans
  • Create 3D models of indoor environments
  • Catalog inventory and / or assets

SPIN overcomes the time- and resource-consuming constraints of static systems by traveling at speeds of up to 50cm per second. The platform generates 2-D floor plans and 3-D models of unknown indoor environments without preplanned trajectory programming. It can avoid obstacles—including humans—in real time without intervention, and requires no targets within the scene.

Processing time for a 2-D floor layout is approximately equivalent to scanning time, while 3-D point cloud processing requires approximately 2.5 times scanning time. Dual Lidar sensors synchronize with an onboard 3-axis digital gyroscope, odometer and integrated depth camera to produce superior 3-D scene models. The output product is delivered in standard formats—LAS, ASCII and BIN.

Sanborn will demonstrate the SPIN platform next week, April 15-17, at the annual SPAR International 3D Measurement & Imaging Conference at the Broadmoor Hotel & Resort, Colorado Springs, Colo. Visit booth 611 to learn more.

For more information contact:
Jason Caldwell
jcaldwell@sanborn.com
The Sanborn Map Company

Sanborn Developers Participate In Winning Local Code-Off

A team of twenty and thirtysomethings huddled in a hot, brightly lit basement room, crammed elbow to elbow over MacBook Pros – a single display monitor pumping out code to represent data on a map of El Paso County.

In wool sweaters and shapely beards, the group of coders, developers, designers and entrepreneurs, paused only for a moments to refresh with beer, Coke or energy drinks before returning to their keyboards.

The group, named Local Sage, is one of five local teams participating in the statewide Go Code Colorado Challenge this weekend.

Read more at gazette.com