![](https://dronelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Higher_Point_Cloud_Densities_Transparent_Small-1-3-630x350.png)
As drone technology continues to rework the battlefield, the demand for fast, flexible, and user-friendly mapping solutions has never been higher. One company on the forefront of this transformation is SimActive, a frontrunner in geospatial data processing for each military and business operations. In an exclusive interview with DRONELIFE, SimActive’s Co-founder and CEO Philippe Simard shares insights into the corporate’s origins, technological advancements, and the critical role that mapping software plays in modern military operations.
Military use of aerial mapping encompasses a wide range of critical applications that enhance operational effectiveness and strategic planning. This technology is crucial for surveillance and reconnaissance, allowing real-time monitoring of enemy movements and identifying threats. It supports precision targeting and strike coordination, ensuring accurate mission planning and minimizing collateral damage. Aerial mapping also aids in troop movement and logistics, disaster response, and humanitarian aid by providing detailed terrain evaluation and efficient route planning. Moreover, it enhances situational awareness, infrastructure monitoring, geospatial intelligence, and training simulations.
The Birth of SimActive: A Military Genesis
![](https://dronelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Philippe-Simard-CEO.jpg)
SimActive was founded with a mission to deal with the precise needs of the Canadian military. Philippe Simard recalls, “The Canadian army was involved in Afghanistan back then. They’d team rotations every six months. It took way too long to coach their personnel for doing photogrammetry. They were searching for an easier and faster photogrammetry suite. They gave us a multi-year contract to develop that capability for them.” This initial collaboration laid the groundwork for what would turn into a game-changer in military mapping technology: SimActive’s Correlator3D™.
The first challenges were clear: the necessity for rapid processing of images to provide core products resembling Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) and Orthomosaics. These tools were essential for coordinating military activities, providing a seamless geospatial view of operational areas, pinpointing soldiers, assets, and potential targets, and aiding in troop movement and artillery positioning.
Technological Evolution: From Aircraft to Drones
Since its inception, SimActive has continually evolved, investing heavily in the event of its solutions. The corporate saw the advantages of business drones early on. Simard explains, “The software was originally developed for large-format cameras mounted on aircraft, then later adapted for satellite processing. Ten years ago, we began supporting drone imagery as well, with smaller and non-metric sensors.” This adaptability has allowed SimActive to remain ahead of the curve, integrating key technological advancements over time.
At the identical time, they’ve continually improved their mapping technologies. One significant advancement is the improved DSM (Digital Surface Model) generation from imagery, which now captures more detailed information on facades, creating more accurate DEMs and Point Clouds. These enhanced capabilities enable the production of colorized point clouds and the power to colorize existing LiDAR point clouds, offering unparalleled accuracy and detail.
Versatility in Data Integration: A Game-Changer for Military Operations
One in all the standout features of SimActive’s Correlator3D™ is its ability to integrate data from various sources, including drones, manned aircraft, and satellites. This versatility is invaluable in military operations. “Our software accepts imagery whatever the platform it’s captured on. Imagery from any of the formats could be combined to permit for rapid processing of areas of interest,” says Simard.
He provides a compelling example: “The output products, DEMs and Orthomosaics from one project, could be imported into newer, newer projects to hurry up processing. Older imagery and surfaces could be used instead of ground control and as a reference. They will also be utilized in change detection to find out troop or asset movement and damage assessment, which is amazingly useful when monitoring a location over time.”
Real-World Impact: Case Studies in Military Use
The true-world applications of SimActive’s software are extensive and impactful. Simard shares a notable case study: “After Hurricane Irma hit St. Martin, the French military arrived with a squadron of drones and were capable of capture and rapidly process ortho imagery of the island, while on the island. These datasets were then used to help in recovery efforts and for damage assessment. On this instance, drones were more practical in capturing this data than larger aircraft on account of typical windy conditions, cloud cover, and other post-storm aspects.”
Speed and Efficiency: Meeting Military Demands
Speed and ease of use are crucial in military applications, and Correlator3D™ delivers on these needs. Simard emphasizes, “When working with drones, data captured must be processed in the sphere right after a mission occasionally. Nevertheless, there are also times when a project is so large that it might be sent to a bunch of contractors that will not be in theatre, processing together to create the deliverables needed.”
For larger aircraft missions, the software’s rapid processing capabilities are equally vital. “Our military clients often fly 24/7 with much larger sensors, producing vast amounts of knowledge per mission. These clients depend on the speed of Correlator3D™ to process these large datasets rapidly.”
Ensuring Precision and Accuracy
Accuracy is paramount in military mapping, and SimActive ensures precision through robust photogrammetric principles. Simard notes, “Our workflows are designed to ingest each imagery and the orientations from onboard GPS systems and high-quality positioning systems (IMUs) to make sure the very best level of accuracy.”
One unique feature of Correlator3D™ is its capability for assisted Ground Control Point (GCP) identification and the power to create additional GCPs from LiDAR surfaces and reference imagery. This is especially useful when boots-on-the-ground surveys will not be feasible.
User Experience and Training
Understanding the various technical backgrounds of military personnel, SimActive has focused on making Correlator3D™ user-friendly. “We provide a totally automated workflow based on the users’ output needs, in addition to the power to work through a series of modules where the user can validate outputs in each step. In either case, it’s very easy and intuitive to run Correlator3D™,” says Simard.
To make sure military users can fully utilize the software’s capabilities, SimActive provides extensive training and support, including online tutorials, customized training sessions, and a comprehensive library of resources available on their website.
Looking Ahead: Future Developments
SimActive stays committed to staying ahead of emerging trends and technologies in military mapping. Simard reveals, “In our upcoming release scheduled for later this summer, we’ve completely revamped our mosaic editing tools based on feedback from our military users. This permits for more intuitive and faster editing of orthomosaics.”
The corporate’s agile approach to software development ensures they continue to be in sync with the evolving needs of their military partners, continually enhancing their capabilities to support recent sensor technologies and advanced imaging techniques.
SimActive collaborates extensively with other technology providers and military organizations to reinforce its software’s capabilities. “Most of the sensors being developed for military use carry greater than just imaging technology. This involves collaborating with hardware providers to be certain that Correlator3D™ can profit the users from these advancements in technology with minimal change to their processing workflows,” says Simard.
Feedback from military users is integral to SimActive’s continuous improvement process. The upcoming version of Correlator3D™ includes quite a few enhancements suggested by military clients, resembling the brand new ortho mosaic editing tools.
As drone technology reshapes the battlefield, the power to rapidly process and integrate diverse data sources becomes increasingly vital. With a powerful foundation in military needs and a commitment to continuous innovation, SimActive is poised to stay a frontrunner in geospatial data processing for years to come back.