GXP Mosaic

Chris W. Higgins, customer support director

Welcome to summer in the Northern Hemisphere, from the GXP customer support team. Ah, June — vacations, sailing, relaxing by the pool — wait, it’s only 10 months until the 2010 BAE Systems GXP International User Conference and Professional Exchange takes place. We have to get started; we need to make plans. Not to worry; we already have. The date is set, April 19 – 23, 2010, same venue as this year, the Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines in San Diego. The format should be similar as well, with the exception of a few changes to incorporate the outstanding feedback received from workshop surveys and conference evaluations.

OK, I can go back to soaking up summer. But first, I want to take a few minutes to explain what happens behind the scenes before and during the conference.

Planning begins with a review of survey responses from the previous conference to facilitate drafting a rough agenda. From there, we start the search for prospective speakers and discuss workshop and professional exchange topics. At about four months from the start of the conference, we assign teams to work on each of the workshops and presentations. One month out, we begin a six-step review process to finalize all presentations. Two weeks from the event, we ship more than 25 cases packed with demonstration and training equipment from Reston, Virginia to San Diego.

Everything culminates with rehearsal week. We assemble the global customer support and product management teams in San Diego to rehearse, review, and revise presentations for the conference and government contractor session at the
BAE Systems campus. Systems are allocated and plans for moving equipment are finalized. Rehearsals take place from 7:30 a.m. to early evening. Then, at the end of the week, we gear up for our move to the hotel. On Saturday morning we fill a large flatbed truck and a panel van with equipment and supporting materials for the conference. In one big move, which is accomplished in less than two hours, the entire kit is loaded and transported to the Hilton hotel.

The day before the conference, starting at 8:30 a.m. on Sunday, we meet to discuss logistics, then split up to assemble the Internet café, walkup workstations, workshop rooms, and main presentation room. During conference week, the customer support team works around the clock to make sure all systems and presentations run flawlessly. Along the way, there are generally a few runs to the local electronics superstore for emergency parts. Setup is complete by noon and we conclude the day with one last round of rehearsals. Final preparations are put in place, and then it’s showtime!

We look forward to seeing you at the conference next April.

Sincerely,

Chris W. Higgins
Director, customer support
BAE Systems Geospatial eXploitation Products

Contacting the customer support team

There are several ways to contact the GXP customer support team for assistance with software questions or concerns. All software purchases include a 90-day warranty that includes complimentary customer support, product updates, and software patches. After 90 days, customers have the option to purchase additional support through the Upgrade Entitlement (UE) Program, which includes unlimited technical support, product updates, and software patches. The following resources are available to report an issue that requires attention:

E-mail

Send an e-mail to socetgxp.support@baesystems.com with complete details about the issue including software version, operating system, contact information for the person reporting the issue, and other individuals who are aware of the issue.

Support request form

Initiate a support request using the online form on the GXP Web site: www.socetgxp.com/content/support/request-support-or-media. Using this form is one of the easiest methods to contact the customer support team to ensure that all necessary information is documented.

Telephone

Customer support is offered by telephone, Monday through Friday. If your call is not answered immediately, please leave a detailed message. A customer support representative will contact you as soon as available.

U.S. and Canada, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Standard Time
Toll-free: 800 316 9643
Tel: 703 668 4385

Europe, Middle East, and Africa
+44 1223 370000

Asia, Australia, and Pacific Rim
+61 2 62730111

Requesting media or patches

To determine if you need a patch, review the current list of patches on our Web site: www.socetgxp.com/content/category/support/software-patch-updates. All patches are cumulative. Therefore, you do not need to install missed patches. When you install the latest patch, you receive all of the enhancements and fixes included in previous patches.

To access the latest software patches or to request a copy of the software, use the Request support or media Web form: www.socetgxp.com/content/support/request-support-or-media. To ensure that your request is forwarded to the appropriate department, select the Requesting media option from the Subject drop-down list box.

If you are requesting the username and password for the GXP FTP Web site to access the latest unclassified patch for a particular software version, please contact the customer support team using any of the methods described previously. Make sure to indicate the software version and we will provide the appropriate username and password. Please note that only unclassified patches can be accessed from the GXP FTP site. Classified material, including software patches, must be mailed to your facility using an address that has been verified by the BAE Systems Security department. If you require classified information, please make sure that the address you enter in the online form is for classified delivery.

Register for a training course

BAE Systems is now hosting hands-on training classes in Reston, Virginia; Tampa, Florida; and St. Louis. Each classroom features stereo workstations for both SOCET GXP^® and SOCET SET^®.

A comprehensive list of training courses, course descriptions and syllabuses, schedules, locations, and fees is available on our Web site: www.socetgxp.com/content/events/training-courses. Detailed information is provided for each training location including maps, contact information, and convenient hotels. To register for a training course, click the register button for the desired course and location, and complete the Web form. A GXP customer support representative will contact you within 24 hours to confirm your course registration.

Current course dates are listed below. Be sure to check the GXP Web site often; course schedules are updated based on demand.

Current training schedule

SOCET GXP^® for the GEOINT Analyst: one-day course

SOCET GXP^® for the eXtreme Analyst: three-day course

SOCET SET^®: four-day course

For more information, or to view maps and directions to our training facilities, contact Nikki Spirakis or visit the GXP Web site.

Nikki Spirakis
Support and training coordinator
Tel: 813 514 5232
nikki.spirakis@baesystems.com
www.socetgxp.com/content/events/training-courses

2009 BAE Systems Asia-Pacific SOCET GXP Workshop

August 17, 2009
Raffles City Convention Centre
Singapore

2010 BAE Systems GXP International User Conference and Professional Exchange

April 19 – 23, 2010
Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines
San Diego, CA

SOCET GXP Boot Camp

More than 100 attendees packed the Scripps Ballroom at the Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines hotel in San Diego last month for the debut of SOCET GXP^® Boot Camp, a software orientation and prelude to the annual user conference.

Product specialists introduced participants to the eXtreme Analysis™ (XA™) concept. XA represents the best of both worlds, image analysis and geospatial analysis together in one powerful software application that aligns with the perspective promoted by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) — collaboration, data sharing, and a common operational picture of the world. It empowers users to satisfy multiple analysis and mapping requirements quickly and efficiently, reducing the dependency on multiple tools. As development progresses, SOCET GXP will replace SOCET SET^®, our legacy photogrammetry and geospatial analysis software.

The conference kicked off May 5 with an introduction by Dan London, vice president of sales and marketing for the GXP business. Dan received positive responses from attendees when he suggested that BAE Systems take the Boot Camp concept on the road later this year. He reiterated the integral role user feedback plays in GXP software development and explained the concept of the Geospatial Professional Exchange, another new component of the annual user conference, introduced this year to provide an interactive forum for sharing ideas for future product growth.

Keynote speaker Jack Hild of the NGA.

In his keynote presentation, titled “Pixels, points, and vectors, the fuel for GEOINT,” the NGA’s Jack Hild discussed emerging GEOINT trends and the need for timely distribution of a proliferation of new satellite data. Hild noted that the world is discovering additional uses for GPS beyond “finding the local Starbucks coffee shop.” He reiterated a common problem — exposing new content in a timely manner to an extensive and diverse user community.

Throughout the week, conference attendees discussed a range of GEOINT topics: enterprise automation, coastal mapping, video analysis, targeting tools, unmanned aerial systems, LiDAR, hyperspectral and multispectral processing, and the U.S. Army’s extensive SOCET GXP training program at Fort Huachuca, Arizona, which prepares troops for active duty.

Customer presentations were given by the NGA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the U.S. Air Force, Riverside Research, ITT, General Dynamics, Sandia National Laboratories, and Ball Aerospace.

As we move closer to full integration of image and geospatial analysis, functionality for the forthcoming SOCET GXP v3.1 release dominated the presentations. New tools unveiled included the flip tool, a quick visual way to access data; an Open Geospatial Consortium-compliant Web services tool; and the Xport™, a specialized Multiport with up to 16 linked preview panels for different processing chains that provides a rich environment for in-depth analysis and quick visualization.

GXP product specialists gave presentations on other notable developments to expedite workflows — updated algorithms for push-button pan-sharpening; automated triangulation; and other mid-range photogrammetry tools for image analysis, feature extraction, visualization, and terrain generation.

SOCET SET users attended conference workshops that introduced SOCET GXP from the photogrammetrist’s point of view to show how organized tool sets and an intuitive user interface expedite production. Most workflows have been simplified so that users unfamiliar with sophisticated algorithms and analysis processes can be productive using intuitive product creation tools. Participants also had the opportunity to attend Geospatial Professional Exchange sessions, software clinics, and to meet with product specialists for one-on-one training.

The Automatic Terrain Generation (ATG) module in SOCET GXP provides fully automated capabilities to extract elevation data from stereo imagery. The intuitive interface provides user-friendly options for creating accurate, high-resolution digital terrain models (DTM). In SOCET GXP, ATG natively generates SOCET GXP Grid, NITF, DTED, and GEOTIFF files, reducing editing and production time, while eliminating the need to import and export files.

SOCET GXP’s ATG user interface

ATG consists of options for Automatic Terrain Extraction (ATE) and Next-Generation Automatic Terrain Extraction (NGATE). You select the method that is best-suited for the desired result.

What is the difference between ATE and NGATE?

ATE and NGATE are two options that can be used to create digital terrain models. Each uses a different algorithmic method to create the end result. The main difference is that NGATE generates a more-accurate and dense model. In SOCET GXP the output format of the DTM is a Grid; a two-dimensional array of elevation points called posts. The array of posts always is aligned north, south, east, and west with the coordinate system.

ATE performs image correlation on each post, whereas NGATE performs image correlation and edge-matching on each image pixel. Users control ATE speed by using large post spacing to reduce the number of posts. With NGATE, speed is controlled by stopping the application at a different minification level using different precision and speed options; speed is not dependent on post spacing or number of posts.

ATE is most useful for producing low-density models over rural and other non-developed areas. Functionality is available for seed DTM integration and bare-earth technology is included for removing trees and buildings. Batch capabilities also are provided. More posts require more processing time. ATE can produce models as dense as approximately 15 times the image ground sample distance; as density increases, the speed advantage of ATE declines.

NGATE is best for large-scale imagery in urban areas. ATE is not effective at distinguishing buildings from the ground. Therefore, the model climbs up over building roofs. NGATE DTM quality in those difficult areas is far better than that from ATE. As a result, NGATE can significantly reduce editing time.

NGATE almost always produces a more accurate model than ATE. If speed is important to production, you can change speed and precision options to generate the model faster than ATE with slightly better accuracy. If the desired product is an accurate and dense model, NGATE always performs better than ATE.

SOCET GXP^® v3.1 continues on the path to full integration of image analysis and geospatial analysis in one software application. Terrain, imagery, and image enhancements account for 42 percent of the updates. This version incorporates additional photogrammetric processes — a majority of SOCET SET’s functionality.

The new SOCET GXP Xport features up to 16 linked preview panels.

The Xport™, a specialized Multiport that provides a palette of up to 16 preview panels, is among many compelling new features planned for SOCET GXP v3.1. This viewing and exploitation window is designed for advanced image analysis using multiple image enhancements in real time, with a focus on efficiency. Each of the panels is linked; views change as the user roams in the main viewer, and multiple enhancements are shown on the same image simultaneously. Additional Xport highlights:

• Each preview panel shows a duplicate of the image in the parent reference Multiport panel with a different custom processing chain applied.
• Processing chains include different band selections, band math, enhancements, analysis algorithms, or derived products.
• Each panel is dynamically linked for panning, zooming, and rotation with other panels and the parent reference panel.
• Users can create multiple configurations for the Xport and select the appropriate configuration for the data in the parent Multiport panel.

The Xport and other new SOCET GXP v3.1 features such as the flip tool, auto annotation, slope aspect, and Web services tools will be demonstrated throughout the year at industry tradeshows and events. The software is scheduled for release in late 2009.

New Frame-Advanced sensor model

The Frame-Advanced sensor model replaces the existing Frame sensor model in its entirety. It allows exterior orientation data produced by third-party triangulation packages to be imported into coordinate systems that are not local space rectangular. The new sensor model contains 43 adjustable parameters, compared to 18 from the previous Frame sensor model. Therefore, certain types of frame cameras can be modeled more authentically, resulting in more-accurate triangulation. The new sensor model allows for self-calibration of the physical parameters and can correct for IMU boresight misalignment and GPS antenna offset.

The process of importing images for the new Frame-Advanced sensor model is exactly the same as the previous Frame sensor model, including the use of the Frame import button. All previous import file formats for the Frame sensor model are still supported, except for the SOCET SET GPS file format, which was substantially modified.

New satellite sensor models

• ALOS AVNIR
• ALOS PALSAR
• ASTER
• COSMO-SkyMed
• EROS-B
• FORMOSAT-2
• RADARSAT-2
• TerraSAR-X
• GeoEye^®-1
• WorldView-1

SOCET SET^® v5.5 overview

• Supports SOCET GXP^® v3.1
• Build environment: Microsoft^® Visual Studio 2008
• Sun^® Microsystems^® Sparc Solaris™ 10 support
• Microsoft^® Vista and XP 32/64 support
• Applanix DSS 439 digital frame camera
• New Frame-Advanced sensor model
• Numerous new satellite sensor models
• Simultaneous generation of digital terrain and surface models
• Supports Leica USB TopoMouse™, USB Stealth mouse with joystick, and ITAC Systems’ evolution Mouse-Trak™ trackball

Access the complete list of SOCET SET v5.5 release enhancements:
www.socetgxp.com/docs/products/socetset/socetset5-5_release_enhancements.pdf

SOCET SET v5.5 features new enhancements to NGATE including automatic extraction of a digital elevation model (DEM), digital terrain model (DTM), or both.

Automated terrain generation in SOCET SET v5.5

SOCET SET^® provides two options for automated terrain generation — the Automatic Terrain Extraction (ATE) and Next-Generation Automatic Terrain Extraction (NGATE) modules. In SOCET SET, ATE and NGATE are sold as separate modules (in SOCET GXP^®, ATE and NGATE are combined into one application, and sold in the Automatic Terrain Generation, or ATG module). Both ATE and NGATE are used to generate digital terrain models (DTM) and require at least two images with an image overlap region:

• Use with one or more stereo pairs
• Images do not have to be viewed in stereo
• Must be accurately triangulated

DTM generation in SOCET SET v5.5

DTM display types

Stewart Walker, GXP Product Initiatives director, traveled to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, to present the BAE Systems Award for Excellence in Photogrammetry to graduating cadet Megan McIntosh. The award, for best performance in photogrammetry by a cadet in geospatial information science, was presented during a ceremony for all 22 cadets graduating from the GIS program. Nicholas Dieter, who won the award in 2008 as a junior, also participated in the ceremony, which marked the third time the award has been bestowed on a cadet.

Walker also presented the BAE Systems Award at the Annual Conference of the American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing; 2009 winner Ju Won Hwangbo was the fourth to receive it. The GXP business is exploring further opportunities to institute awards to recognize excellence on the part of young people entering the geospatial sciences field.

Fidel Paderes, Ph.D

Dr. Fidel Paderes of BAE Systems has been named an Electronics, Intelligence & Support (EI&S) Fellow for his renowned national, international, and companywide expertise in photogrammetry and geospatial applications.

The EI&S Fellows organization recently named nine employees to their ranks. EI&S Fellows represent a select group of BAE Systems engineers and scientists who have consistently demonstrated extraordinary technical expertise, creativity, and contributions in their respective disciplines.

For more than 25 years, Paderes has provided technical expertise in academic and industry settings. His photogrammetric and geospatial image processing work has been applied to key program requirements in the civil, defense, and intelligence arena, particularly in Geospatial eXploitation Products (GXP), the company’s commercial, off-the-shelf software business. He is a contributing author for the “Manual of Photogrammetry” and has published numerous papers in the photogrammetric literature.

Paderes holds a bachelor’s degree in geodetic engineering, a master’s degree in engineering, and a doctorate in civil engineering. His current position with GXP is senior principal photogrammetrist. He has designed and implemented at least two dozen geometric sensor models throughout his career. Prior to joining BAE Systems, Paderes taught undergraduate and graduate courses in photogrammetry and geodetic engineering.

Congratulations, Fidel!

The eXtreme Analysis campaign introduces
BAE Systems’ SOCET GXP software, which brings advanced image processing and geospatial production technologies to the
global market.

The GXP marketing team earned second place in the 2009 BAE Systems Communications Awards Innovation category for developing the SOCET GXP^® eXtreme Analysis™ campaign. Carolyn Gordon, Laetitia Santore, and Rachel Snyder created the multi-tiered XA campaign to launch SOCET GXP v3.0.

The campaign has strengthened SOCET GXP’s brand identity as the premier geospatial-intelligence software application. The team’s design and messaging is based on GXP’s vision of two market segments — image analysis (IA) and geospatial analysis (GA) — fusing to create a new type of user, the eXtreme Analyst™, for which SOCET GXP is the ideal software application. The concept resonates with existing market segments: IA + GA = XA™.

“Once the word was out people started calling to ask, ‘How do I become an XA?’ We were overwhelmed by the response,” said Darren Stelle, federal and commercial sales manager for the GXP business. “Consequently, we decided to hold an open house event at our Reston office so we could respond to all of the inquiries for software demonstrations and information.”

As interest and buzz grows around the XA campaign and potential customers see the powerful functionality, they are gravitating toward SOCET GXP as their tool of choice.

Become an XA and join the ranks of SOCET GXP users as eXtreme Analysts. For more information, please visit: www.baesystems.com/gxp

Jim Youker, federal sales manager

Jim Youker joined the BAE Systems sales team in May. Jim will be managing the sales and business development efforts for select agencies within the defense and intelligence community market segment for the Geospatial eXploitation Products^® (GXP) business. He has more than 20 years of experience in the aerospace industry. His background in product management, marketing, and the development of business opportunities in the geospatial intelligence solutions sector will be a great asset to the GXP team.

Jim most recently served as executive director for federal sales at TerraGo^® Technologies, an In-Q-Tel portfolio firm. He holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Washington, MBA from the University of Northern Colorado, and a graduate degree in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College. Jim recently retired as a colonel in the U.S. Army with 30 years of service where he commanded units at the company, battalion, and brigade levels. Jim, his wife Chris, and their daughter Carissa reside in Annapolis, Maryland.