Multiple Digital Camera Mount with FMC

NOAA uses large-format aerial film camera systems to collect data for the monitoring of marine mammal populations protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the U.S. Endangered Species Act. Historically, the major users of these cameras and film have been the military and government mapping agencies. As these users move to newer technology, manufacturers are ending, or severely cutting back, the production of aerial films and camera repair parts. Consequently, NOAA requires a digital camera system that will deliver high resolution aerial imagery equivalent to the imagery they currently gather. Aerial Imaging Solutions proposes to design a multiple digital camera, forward motion compensated, stabilized mount and control system to fill NOAA’s sampling needs. The Phase I goal is to develop a prototype that will match or exceed the image quality and coverage of the venerable film camera systems NOAA now uses.