Leica CityMapper-2 High-Performance Urban Mapping Sensor

For fast and efficient digitisation of cities, this hybrid oblique imaging and LiDAR solution provides the highest productivity and unmatched data accuracy

The need for accurate aerial data in metropolitan areas goes beyond traditional data products because the fast-changing urban environments require more frequent and hence more efficient updates of geospatial base layers.

The Leica CityMapper-2 is specifically designed for airborne urban mapping and offers twice the data collection performance to addresses this urgent need for 3D data. The world’s only hybrid oblique imaging and LiDAR airborne sensors, captures two nadir (RGB/NIR) and four oblique 150 MP images every 0.8 seconds offering highest resolution to visualise every corner of the city. Together with a new generation 2 MHz pulse rate LiDAR, this sensor breaks all conventional barriers of urban mapping.

The newly developed optical system is equipped with Leica Geosystem’s unique mechanical forward-motion-compensation (FMC), which allows to capture high quality imagery even in difficult lighting conditions with no reduction in efficiency, unlike traditional camera systems that have to decrease shutter and aircraft speeds to control image blur.

Optical System

Two 150 MP nadir cameras (RGB & NIR)
Four oblique 45° RGB cameras
Backside illumination (BSI) CMOS chip
Mechanical forward-motion-compensation (FMC)
Customised low-distortion lenses
A choice of two focal lengths for standard and high-altitude operation

LiDAR Sensor

2 MHz pulse repetition frequency
Gateless Multiple-Pulses-in-the-Air (MPiA)
3 cm range accuracy
Oblique scan pattern
Even point distribution across data set
USGS LiDAR quality Level 0 data from up to 2 km altitude

CityMapper-2 is the best equipped airborne sensor in the market for highly-productive creation of 3D digital twins of cities, transforming the way the industry enables the digitisation of the world we live in and allowing you to create the most detailed geospatial base layers such as orthophotos, point clouds, 3D building models and meshes, all from one single flight.

Performance Booster

Allowing users to collect at higher flying heights and speeds while still delivering the same GSD and positional accuracy, this system provides unmatched efficiency for urban mapping applications. CityMapper-2 is designed to create digital twins of cities in the shortest time, with the lowest operating expense.

Outstanding Accuracy

The newly developed Leica MFC150 cameras with customised low-distortion lenses can deliver pixel sizes as small as 2 cm at high flying speeds thanks to mechanical forward-motion-compensation (FMC). The 2 MHz linear-mode LiDAR sensor delivers 3 cm range accuracy and is optimised for data collection in urban environments.

Operational Flexibility

The system is available in three configurations for low, standard and high-altitude flights to meet customers’ needs and to adapt to local weather and flight regulations. The CityMapper-2 is a compact package with embedded system controller and storage, which makes it easy to install in any survey aircraft.

Highest Data Throughput

The Leica HxMap high-performance workflow was upgraded to meet the demands of CityMapper-2 data processing. Edge computing creates fully calibrated high quality image data for rapid QC and emergency response applications. On the LiDAR side, discrete returns are extracted from the full waveform for the fastest processing speeds.

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