San Ramon, CA -- 31 January 2006 -- Cyclone 5.4 introduces more than a dozen new features for increased field and office productivity of High-Definition Surveys.

Leica Geosystems announces the immediate availability of Cyclone™ 5.4 software to streamline workflows in the field and office for High-Definition Surveys. Key new features include:

• Six New Visualization Tools: For faster navigation through point cloud data
• “Single User” Setting: New option for faster point cloud loading and management
• Automated Target Recheck: Improves survey quality and project productivity via easy field QA/QC checks

Leica Geosystems’ High-Definition Surveying™ (HDS) hardware and software solutions are used for conducting as-built, engineering, topographic and detailed geometric surveys within the AEC and industrial facilities markets. Cyclone enables users to efficiently register, geo-reference, and process laser scan point cloud data into deliverables.

Richer Visualization Toolset Allows Faster Navigation of Point Cloud Data

Dense laser scan data sets can be challenging to navigate. Cyclone 5.4 provides a unique new set of visualization tools that allow users to select from an unequalled pallet of display methods. A new “See-through” mode allows users to see-through walls for easier viewing. A “Silhouette” mode enhances object edges to speed a user’s comprehension of objects such as piping. New point thickness and realistic shading controls provide even more visual cues for faster navigation. Another valuable new feature allows users to import and “Drape” high resolution digital photographs over the scan data set, indexing the photographs to the underlying point geometry for even more visually descriptive views and models.

Enhanced Performance/Productivity

In addition to Cyclone’s longstanding ability to allow simultaneous, multi-user access to any data set, Cyclone 5.4 now lets users take advantage of a new “unshared” access mode, providing a 2x to 4x boost in database loading and navigation performance for many operations.

As the use of scanning grows, database sizes are increasing. Cyclone 5.4 addresses this trend with new compression and optimization features that allow users – in either workgroup mode or unshared mode - to load and save data up to 4x faster and transfer it to other systems more efficiently.

Advanced Office Tools for Civil Infrastructure Projects

With Cyclone 5.4, surveyors are provided with a rich new set of features for quickly generating traditional deliverables, e.g. 2D drawings, from laser scan data. An enhanced “fit-edge” feature automates line-work creation for items such as curb edge, flowline and building outlines. In addition, the Virtual Surveyor module now allows users to import industry standard feature code sets rather than having to manually key in feature codes. Users can also apply line connecting codes and automatically create chains of line-work in a highly productive manner. Finally, all of this geometric and point coded data is easily exported into ASCII text files, DXF, COE (Cyclone Object Exchange) or XML for tight integration with other downstream software applications.

Better Field Productivity Tools

Surveyors and other field measurement professionals are also benefit from enhancements in Cyclone 5.4. For example Cyclone 5.4 supports Tablet PC users with stylus-driven operation without keyboard or mouse intervention. A new “Recheck Targets” function now automates the acquisition and analysis of previously referenced targets; this speeds up the process of verifying control points before breaking down the scanner setup.

Pricing & Availability

Cyclone 5.4 is immediately available from Leica Geosystems. Pricing information is available through appropriate Leica Geosystems representatives and dealers worldwide.

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 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 21 countries and hundreds of partners located in more than 120 countries around the world. Leica Geosystems is part of the Hexagon Group, Sweden.

For further information please contact:

Leica Geosystems HDS
Bill Wallace
Sr. Product Manager, Software
4550 Norris Canyon Road
San Ramon, CA 94583

Tel (direct) 1-925-790-2356
Tel (central) 1-925-790-2300
Fax 1-925-790-2309
E-mail: Email Contact
http://www.leica-geosystems.com/