Fitchburg, Massachusetts October 29, 2014 - Leica Geosystems and Headwall Photonics announced the establishment of a partnership agreement whereby Leica Geosystems will resell and integrate Headwall's line of hyperspectral imaging sensors into their airborne product portfolio. This will include Headwall's new Nano-Hyperspec sensor for small, lightweight UAS deployment. Leica Geosystems, a leader in geospatial data acquisition and mapping products, has selected Headwall's hyperspectral imaging sensors to meet the growing demand for advanced hyperspectral sensors that acquire imagery data which includes both spatial and spectral (chemical) information within the mapping area of interest.
Hyperspectral imagery allows users to obtain critical information relative to the material composition of objects in the field of view of the sensor. Headwall's Hyperspec® sensors generate a very high resolution hyperspectral datacube that allows users to map features based on the chemical composition of objects in the scene - for example, forests can be mapped by plant species, quarries can be mapped by mineral composition, farmland can be mapped by plant vitality.
The relationship between Leica Geosystems and Headwall is based on a common vision of incorporating end-user requirements for hyperspectral data into Leica's current portfolio of mapping solutions and data products. Headwall has established a technology leadership position with the Hyperspec family of imaging sensors that are customized for particular spectral ranges including VNIR, NIR, and SWIR. Each spectral range is optimized for a unique set of end-user applications within the remote sensing market.
Enabling a new class of capabilities and performance
"Headwall is very pleased to be working with Leica Geosystems, a leader in airborne imagery and mapping solutions; the company has established a broad portfolio of integrated solutions that is highly valued by users in the remote sensing market," stated David Bannon, CEO of Headwall. Leica Geosystems' vision is to offer customers a highly integrated geospatial workflow solution that encompasses spatial mapping instruments, integrated software and data products, as well as unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) solutions. According to Leica Geosystems Ruedi Wagner, Vice President of the Geospatial Solutions Division, "Headwall offers a complete line of hyperspectral sensor solutions that is well aligned with our customer's application environments and the need for high-quality spectral imaging data. With extremely innovative products such as the Nano-Hyperspec, the Hyperspec sensors offer superior performance for harsh airborne environments."
About Headwall Photonics
Headwall Photonics is the leading designer and manufacturer of imaging sensors and spectral instrumentation for industrial, commercial, and government markets. Headwall's high performance spectrometers, spectral engines, and high performance diffractive optics have been selected by OEM and end-user customers around the world for use in critical application environments. As a pioneer in the development of hyperspectral sensors and imaging spectrometers, Headwall enjoys a market leadership position through the design and manufacture of patented spectral instrumentation that is customized for application-specific performance.
