What's New in Trimble Inpho Version 13

Trimble^® Inpho^® version 13.2 is now available for all Trimble Inpho software products, including UASMaster.

Highlights from all version 13 updates of Trimble Inpho and UASMaster—version 13.2 (February 2023), version 13.1 (October 2022), and version 13.0 (July 2022)—are included below. For specific details on the updates to each version, read the Inpho and UASMaster release notes.

Download the most recent software versions today:
Download Trimble Inpho Software Version 13
Download Trimble UASMaster Software Version 13

Read the release notes:
Inpho Version 13 Release Notes
UASMaster Version 13 Release Notes

Highlights: Trimble Inpho Version 13

Integration of Phase One cameras in the Trimble Inpho workflow

In previous versions, Phase One cameras and platforms were handled like the other imagery sensors in the market. With a new collaboration between Trimble and Phase One, the SDK of Phase One is now integrated into the Inpho workflow. Users can speed up productivity by importing images in Phase One’s IIQ format and setting up the project based on predefined templates in the Project Editor. This step in the integration of Phase One cameras simplifies and enables project efficiency by reducing the time in project setup. The high-precision large format nadir sensor PAS 280 and the large format multi-head sensor PAS 880 are supported.

Trimble Inpho Phase One highlight

Stronger and faster image matching in MATCH-AT

The robustness of the image matching in MATCH-AT builds upon the stronger matching engine from previous versions, and it allows users to better handle challenging areas such as forests or regions with poor texture and contrast. Users can also enjoy more adaptability in matching for projects in mountainous and hilly terrains, as well as in oblique imagery, where the scale and perspective can be varied from image to image. The sensibility of the matching algorithm can be set depending on the area type, image content, varying from forest with less contrast up to city with various objects and more contrast. If caching is activated, matching time is also up to 30% faster.

From version 13.0 to version 13.1 in MATCH-AT, the speed in tie point extraction was increased up to 30% faster than the previous version. This performance level is based on a new sophisticated tie point selection during the extraction process that has improved the speed of MATCH-AT.

Stronger and faster self-calibration in MATCH-AT

New developments have significantly improved the accuracy of the “grid camera” when applying the additional (self-calibration) parameters during tie point extraction. In this version, for each pyramid level, the grid correction is refined, which leads to significant improvement of tie point matching and the accuracy of the whole adjustment. Even with an uncalibrated camera and with an approximate focal length, tie point extraction can be performed and used for a physical camera calibration.

New distortion model in all Inpho products

A new distortion model is supported within Inpho allowing corrections for symmetric radial, decentering and affinity/non-orthogonal distortion. This format is for example used for calibrations made for PhaseOne sensors.

To improve the usability of the tools, it is possible now to edit the point attribute “description” directly in the Multi-Photo Measurement Tool.

Enhanced user experience in MATCH-AT

Simpler management of multi-head projects with improvements in strip generation and providing new filters on Multi-Photo Measurement Tool based on Station Concept in PMT are two user features that have been added to improve the experience of users during the project management.

MATCH-AT

Exclusion of water areas in MATCH-AT

Water areas are one of the most challenging objects in aerial triangulation. Depending on the illumination changes, direction of sunlight, wind and waves on the water areas, e.g. rivers, lakes, sees, these regions cause false or low accuracy tie points in image matching. As these areas are already available in many countries in vectorized formats, one can exclude these areas in tie point extraction by importing the shape file of water objects into MATCH-AT. This automation step will significantly save time and costs in manual elimination of such tie points in the Photo Measurement Tool.

Exponentially boosted performance in OrthoVista

Over the past decades, OrthoVista has shown its legacy in quality and reliability of photogrammetry product lines. This product is well known for its strong capabilities in color-balanced and homogeneous mosaicing orthophotos, particularly for large imagery projects. Users can now benefit from an exponentially higher performance in OrthoVista, which speeds up productivity with a generation of ortho mosaics up to 13 times faster than in the previous version.

Trimble_Inpho_orthovista

Expanded Inpho capabilities for Windows Server and CITRIX

Since version 13, project managers will notice increased productivity due to an added feature that enables users to run parallel projects with high-performance machines in highly secured server environments. With multi-user access, the structure of files has shifted from machine-scope to user-scope, which is an important usability improvement for customers working in Windows Server and CITRIX environments.

Expanded multi-user access to increase collaboration and productivity

The multi-usage limitation for MATCH-T DSM, OrthoMaster and OrthoVista has been removed so that several users can work on the same machine at the same time, as long as enough licenses are available. This limitation for MATCH-AT was removed in the previous version as well. This feature is valuable to project managers who would like to use the extended capabilities of Inpho for CITRIX or Windows Server environments or for remote work spaces.

Improved 3D mesh approach in MATCH-3DX for higher quality

MATCH-3DX offers a mesh-generation algorithm to increase the realistic impression of 3D models, based on smarter image selection in the matching. Furthermore, users can produce higher quality meshes due to the development of new mesh texturing technology. The significant change in visual consistency can be seen by reducing artifacts caused by moving objects (e.g., cars, water reflections, changing lighting conditions, etc.).

Trimble_Inpho_Match3DX

Higher quality and better geometry for all deliverables in MATCH-3DX

In version 13.2, edges are even sharper than before. This significant improvement can be seen specifically in the true orthophotos, along the shadows of buildings, where jagged effects are expected.

Furthermore, the shadows are even more consistent. In high overlap and oblique imagery of city areas, the shadows of high buildings on the ground might be slightly moved due to the time difference between the overlapping strips. This causes duplication of shadows on the ground. Since version 13.2, the shadows are represented without any duplication, while also keeping the appropriate brightness for object recognition in such areas.

Improved radiometry in true orthophotos in MATCH-3DX

Over-illumination—caused by sun reflection on cars, glass-made construction and water, and more—causes inhomogeneous radiometry in orthomosaics. Version 13.2 delivers true orthophotos with better color and illumination adjustment in such challenging objects.

Filtering moving objects in MATCH-3DX

Depending on the speed of moving objects, they are either represented completely, partially, or in the form of a ghosting effect. With this version, moving objects such as cars, pedestrians, and operating cranes and vehicles in construction sites are automatically filtered out.

Usability improvements in MATCH-3DX

There are a couple of usability features that will allow project managers to better manage the production of deliverables using MATCH-3DX. Seamless processing of multi-head projects is now ensured due to an added automatic pre-checking of parameters, which offers the best fit scenario as well as a detailed progress update for quality. There are some additional features in the status file Match.status for investigation of problems and efficient importing of DEM areas. The automatic enlargement of the tile size (up to 2x) prevents starting from the beginning if the tile size is exceeded.

Usability features in MATCH-3DX and MATCH-T DSM

In the user interface, it is possible to define polygons as plane data (e.g., to define water bodies). The information is added to the project file and will be considered for processing. The resulting points lying in the defined polygons get the heights of the internal calculated plane.

Furthermore, in MATCH-3DX (including MATCH-T DSM), a DEM area can be defined from available files in WNP, SHP, or DXF format. The engine can use the imported DEM definition if no manual area is defined in the project file.

In response to high demand, these results are now generated in 8-bit format by default. For 16-bit input images, all results can be optionally generated in 16-bit format.

Better handling of large projects in MATCH-3DX

Automatic splitting and merging of large projects have been already implemented in DPMaster for distributed processing purposes in MATCH-3DX. Users can automatically split the production of large projects into smaller parts and subprocess them sequentially. This feature is important for users who would like to process only one or some of the tiles for evaluation of the file quality before starting the whole process. The processed tiles can be merged automatically together.

In version 13.2, data management is fundamentally reworked. This improvement results in the reduction of project size for deliverables (i.e., meshes and true orthophotos, and saving more disk space). This improvement speeds up image preparation on SSD Raid storage.

Better performance for a cleaned-up true-orthophoto in MATCH-3DX

Thanks to the optimized borderline for true-orthophoto generation in version 13.0, the optimal processing area can be defined considering the available models and fold parameters, which reduces the processing time.

New feature of Cycle Through Models in DTMaster Stereo

Besides the existing Walk Around Object feature for quality control of your stereo models around an object, version 13.1 introduces a new feature called Cycle Through Models, which allows you to simply change the stereo models over your adjusted block at a given position. In addition, you will experience a better look and feel in the selection of the image footprints in the user interface.

Integration of new satellites

Version 13.1 integrates two new high-resolution and increasingly popular satellites in the remote sensing market. Data from Pleiades NEO 3/4 sensor and Beijing-3 (BJ3) can now be used for satellite projects.

Explore our Trimble Inpho release notes to learn about all the additional features available to help users ease the production process.

Version 13 Highlights for UASMaster

Integration of Phase One cameras in UASMaster

In version 13.1, Phase One cameras and platforms have been handled like the other imagery sensors in the market. With a new collaboration between Trimble and Phase One, the SDK of Phase One is now integrated into UASMaster. Users can now speed up productivity by importing images in IIQ Phase One format and automatically setting up the project.

New distortion model in UASMaster

A new distortion model is now supported within Inpho allowing corrections for symmetric radial, decentering, and affinity/non-orthogonal distortion. This format is for example used for calibrations made for Phase One sensors.

Faster generation of ortho mosaics in UASMaster

Building upon the significant improvement in SGM in previous versions, UASMaster offers project managers better performance and speeds up generation of ortho mosaics (up to 35%) and accelerates their productivity with the classical workflow.

Higher quality with better geometry for all deliverables in UASMaster

In version 13.2, edges are even sharper than before. This significant improvement can be more seen in the true orthophotos, along the shadows of buildings, where jagged effects are more expected.

In this version, even the shadows are more consistent. In high overlap and oblique imagery of city areas, the shadows of high buildings on the ground might be slightly moved due to the time difference between the overlapping strips. This causes duplication of shadows on the ground. In this version the shadows are represented without any duplication anymore, while keeping the appropriate brightness for object recognition in such areas.

Improved radiometry in true orthophotos in UASMaster

Over-illumination, e.g. caused by sun reflection on cars, glass-made construction and water, result in inhomogeneous radiometry in orthomosaics. Version 13.2 delivers true orthophotos with better color and illumination adjustment in such challenging objects.

Filtering moving objects in UASMaster

Depending on the speed of moving objects, they are either represented completely, partially or in the form of a ghosting effect. With this version, moving objects such as cars, pedestrians or operating cranes and vehicles in construction sites are automatically filtered out.

Extended Inpho capabilities for Windows Server and CITRIX

Due to rapid growth in the imagery project space, the latest version offers project managers the ability to increase productivity by allowing multi-user access and expanding capabilities to parallel projects in high-performance and high-security server environments. This version revised the structure of files from machine-scope to user-scope.

New 3D mesh approach in UASMaster for higher quality

UASMaster comes with a new mesh generation algorithm to increase the realistic impression of 3D models, based on smarter image selection in the matching. Furthermore, users can produce higher quality meshes due to the development of new mesh texturing technology. The significant change in visual consistency can be seen by reducing artifacts caused by moving objects (e.g., cars, water reflections, changing lighting conditions, etc.).