Next-Generation Automatic Terrain Extraction (NGATE) Innovation in the cost-effective derivation of elevation data from imagery

Automatic determination of heights from imagery is a difficult problem. BAE Systems has offered the Automatic Terrain Extraction (ATE) and Interactive Terrain Editing (ITE) modules of SOCET SET ® for many years and these represent a best-in-industry solution, though mistakes can occur in certain circumstances. Now BAE Systems has introduced Next-Generation Automatic Terrain Extraction (NGATE), a new approach to the problem. NGATE is easy to use and offers significant improvements in accuracy to ATE, resulting in a reduction in the amount of editing required in the ITE phase. Tests indicate that this reduction is in excess of 30%, which represents considerable progress in terms of productivity and cost savings sufficient to provide ample ROI on the cost of ownership of NGATE.