Sokkia Renews the Automatic Level Lineup

OLATHE, Kan. – June 23, 2010 – Sokkia Corporation announced the release of the new B series automatic levels – B20, B30 and B40 – that replace the previous lineup of the B and C series.

“The new B series automatic levels feature further enhanced reliability under all environmental conditions,” said Patrick Moran, senior regional manager. The water protection rate of the B series models has been increased from IPx4 to IPx6. “Tough and compact bodies are fully resistant to driving rain and splashing water from all directions. The advanced protection technology also prevents the telescope from fogging or condensing without using nitrogen gas.”

Moran said, “The optimally designed telescope provides an exceptionally bright and sharp view that reduces operator’s eye strain. An ultra-short focus distance of 20cm (7.9 in.) from the end of the telescope is the definite advantage for use in confined locations.

“The B series levels incorporate the most precise and reliable compensator available in the market today,” said Moran. Four super-high-tensile suspension wires and a magnetic damping system ensure accuracy and stability even when exposed to temperature changes, vibrations, or shock. “Sokkia’s SDL1X, the world’s highest-precision digital level that provides 0.2mm accuracy, employs the common basic mechanism for its compensator.

“The technological superiority of the Sokkia automatic levels has been proven since the release of the best-selling B2 model in 1963.” Moran said, “The new B series levels provide quick setup, easy sighting, and superior durability against vibration and shock, ensuring increased productivity over an extra-long period of time.”

Product Lineup
- B20: 32x magnification, 0.7mm accurac
- B30: 28x magnification, 1.5mm accurac
- B40: 24x magnification, 2.0mm accuracy

Options
- Diagonal eyepiece
- 40x eyepiece for B20
- Optical micrometer for B20; providing increased accuracy of 0.5mm

The B series automatic levels are available through authorized Sokkia distributors.

Faster, More Compelling Models, Renderings, and Animations of Point Clouds

(Heerbrugg/ Switzerland, 23 June 2010)- Leica Geosystems announces Leica CloudWorx-VR for 3ds Max, 3ds Max design, and Maya. These plug-ins provide a convenient way for professionals to efficiently create more photorealistic and compelling models, renderings, and animations based on rich, High-Definition Survey™ data of sites & structures as collected by 3D laser scanners.

Easier, More Efficient Processing of Point Clouds for Multi-media Applications
The use of visually rich, High-Definition Survey data for multi-media applications such as marketing proposals, client education, and project communications has been steadily growing. However, traditional methods of processing as-built and topographic point cloud data and merging it with models and photography for multi-media applications have been time consuming. In addition, the quality of deliverables has been constrained by limitations in stand-alone point cloud software otherwise used for this. Now, Leica CloudWorx-VR-plus Autodesk 3ds Max or Maya overcome these limitations, making it easy to create even more compelling multi-media deliverables based on laser scan data.

Leica CloudWorx-VR offers 3ds Max and Maya users the same, familiar user interface they already know from using these multi-media tools. CloudWorx-VR lets users apply 3ds Max and Maya tools directly to large point cloud data sets. Users can efficiently load a dense, colored point cloud as a 3D background, merge point cloud data with other model elements, cast shadows on the cloud, and even process point clouds into smooth surface models – all within the 3ds Max or Maya interface. CloudWorx-VR supports data from Leica HDS and 3rd party laser scanners, enabling any laser scanner user to more easily expand service offerings to include exciting multi-media deliverables based on point clouds.

Global Access plus Local Support from Leica Geosystems
Users can purchase Leica CloudWorx-VR and receive local support directly from Leica Geosystems, the world leader in laser scanning hardware and software, and authorized representatives. The powerful, new plug-in was developed by Alice Labs (Netherlands), a start-up company comprised of experienced Leica HDS users plus talented academic staff. Alice Labs and Leica Geosystems have signed an exclusive agreement for Leica Geosystems to sell and support the plug-in product as Leica CloudWorx-VR, the newest member of the Leica CloudWorx family of convenient point cloud plug-in software.

What they’re saying
Dr.-Ing. Christian Hesse of Dr. Hesse und Partner Ingenieure, Germany reports, “We were impressed by point cloud animations of an historic ship that we saw at the 2009 Leica Geosystems HDS Worldwide User Conference in San Ramon, CA, and discussed the point cloud plug-in for 3ds approach with the presenter. We’ve since changed over from another vendor’s software to deploy this technology and we have been very pleased to quickly expand our business into this exciting area with excellent results. Our customer’s response was outstanding.” An example of this work done by Dr. Hesse und Partner Ingenieure is on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQ4_biRWHvM
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Pricing & Availability
Leica CloudWorx-VR is immediately available. Ordering information is available from authorized Leica Geosystems representatives.
Leica Geosystems – when it has to be right
With close to 200 years of pioneering solutions to measure the world, Leica Geosystems products and services are trusted by professionals worldwide to help them capture, analyze, and present spatial information. Leica Geosystems is best known for its broad array of products that capture accurately, model quickly, analyze easily, and visualize and present spatial information.

Those who use Leica Geosystems products every day trust them for their dependability, the value they deliver, and the superior customer support. Based in Heerbrugg, Switzerland, Leica Geosystems is a global company with tens of thousands of customers supported by more than 2,400 employees in 22 countries and hundreds of partners located in more than 120 countries around the world. Leica Geosystems is part of the Hexagon Group, Sweden.