Measurement from Airborne Video
SmarTopo® is an industry-leading measurement application used in conjunction with airborne sensor platforms. SmarTopo® was originally deployed with the FAA and NASA to measure vertical obstructions around Class B Airports throughout the United States in an effort to develop more fuel-efficient approach patterns for airliners. The capability allows sensor operators to accurately measure the height of objects from an airborne platform such as a manned aircraft or UAV and has been verified to +/- 10 feet. SmarTopo® can measure on the horizontal plane as well – a useful tool for a variety of applications, including for Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) mission-sets.
LandForm® Plugin
Rapid Imaging’s legacy SmarTopo® software is a desktop application. Beginning in 2021, LandForm® will also be offered as a plugin within Rapid Imaging’s LandForm® X ISR Mission Management System.
Accurate Measurement from Airborne Sensors
Accuracy
Through work with the FAA's Terrain and Obstacles Data Team for the Obstacle Verification Initiative (OVI), SmarTopo® was shown to improve obstacle survey accuracy to "1B" (i.e. +/- 20' Horizontal, +/- 10' Vertical). As a result, SmarTopo® was certified for use by the FAA in 2011.
Length x width x hEIGHT
SmarTopo® is capable of measuring across multiple planes, meaning users are able to measure lengths, distances, widths, or heights from airborne sensors carried by manned aircraft or sUAS.
Compatibility
Rapid Imaging's legacy SmarTopo® application is built for Windows. However, when SmarTopo® is released as a Plugin for LandForm® X, it will be capable of running on additional operating systems. Further compatibility is expected in mid- to late-2021.
MULTI-PLATFORM
SmarTopo® is can be leveraged on a desktop or within Rapid Imaging's LandForm® X Mission Management System for manned aircraft. The software can also be coupled with adequately-equipped sUAS.
Smartopo® patents
Rapid Imaging holds four patents related to airborne analytics and information display, including two patents relating to the measurement of vertical obstructions: US8649917B1 and US8300096B2.
Smartopo® performance history
NASA’s Johnson Space Center sponsored SmarTopo®. Read below to learn more about how SmarTopo® was utilized to improve the accuracy of the obstacle database used by the FAA.
SMARTOPO® OBSTACLE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
FAA NextGen Initative
High precision required navigation performance approaches
terrain & 0bstacles team | oBSTACLE VERIFICATION INITIATIVE
SmarTopo® was developed as part of the Federal Aviation Administration’s NextGen Initiative in support of high precision Required Navigation Performance (RNP) approaches at airports across the United States. The SmarTopo® Obstacle Management System was selected by the FAA’s Terrain and Obstacles Data Team for the Obstacle Verification Initiative (OVI). Through efforts tied to that Initiative, SmarTopo® was used to improve the survey accuracy of 1290 obstacles in the eTOD2 area at 12 Class B Airports. Accuracy was improved to “1B” (i.e. +/- 20′ Horizontal, +/- 10′ Vertical). Additionally, 111 obstacles were confirmed as dismantled and removed from the obstacle database while 89 new obstacles were identified and added to the database. Ultimately, SmarTopo® was certified to 1B accuracy by the Federal Aviation Administration and the SmarTopo® patent was approved by the United States Patent and Trademark Office in 2013.