Graz, Austria • October 07, 2025 — Latitude Spatial, a newly established Australian aerial mapping company, is making a bold entrance into the geospatial market by becoming the first operator worldwide to integrate Vexcel Imaging’s cutting-edge UltraCam Merlin 5.0 into active service. Though new in name, Latitude Spatial builds on decades of experience in aerial imaging and photogrammetry, including a long-standing operational history with UltraCam systems under the HyVista brand.
With the launch of Latitude Spatial, the team is charting a fresh course, bringing renewed focus, agility, and innovation to photogrammetric mapping across Australia. The company’s leadership and technical crew are seasoned UltraCam users, having delivered high-quality aerial data for years. The transition to Latitude Spatial marks a strategic evolution: a new entity with deep roots, designed to meet the growing demand for precision, efficiency, and scalability in geospatial services.
Peter Cocks, CEO of Latitude Spatial, said: “We’re proud to be the inaugural customer of Vexcel’s new flagship camera system, the UltraCam Merlin 5.0. Backed by over 30 years of innovation from the global leader in aerial camera technology, this system represents the very latest in high-performance geospatial imaging. For our clients, it delivers not only the world’s best aerial imagery but also significant efficiencies in capture time and cost. In a country as vast as Australia, the ability to map large areas with unmatched accuracy, speed, and image quality is truly game-changing. With the Merlin 5.0 at the heart of our operations, we’re excited to introduce Latitude Spatial to the Australian market, setting a new benchmark for aerial mapping services.”
While hyperspectral imaging expertise remains available through HyVista, Latitude Spatial will focus on expanding its presence in the photogrammetric imaging sector, leveraging the UltraCam Merlin 5.0 to deliver high-resolution aerial data products across infrastructure, environmental, and resource applications.
The UltraCam Merlin 5.0 delivers nadir photogrammetric mapping at a new level. Its industry-leading camera design combines state-of-the-art RGB Bayer pattern CMOS sensors (Sony IMX811) with a true nadir cone assembly, delivering distortion-free imagery without re-sampling. Three user-exchangeable lens kits ensure operators can fully leverage the impressive 37,500 x 19,000-pixel footprint at varying altitudes, maximizing airspace flexibility and enabling efficient collection across diverse terrain and target resolutions.
“We are delighted to see Latitude Spatial lead the way with the UltraCam Merlin 5.0”, says Alexander Wiechert, CEO of Vexcel Imaging. “Their decision reflects a strong, industry-wide push for solutions that combine operational efficiency, range and flexibility in the air, and uncompromising image quality on the ground.”
The system is powered by UltraMap’s True Pixel Processing (TPP) pipeline, including Adaptive Motion Compensation (AMC) for consistent multi‑directional, scene‑aware motion blur correction. Together, these capabilities produce consistently sharp, high‑fidelity aerial imagery and derivative products, ranging from orthophotos and elevation models to AI‑driven feature extraction, that scale reliably from small AOIs to continent‑level programs.
In 2025, Vexcel Imaging became the first camera manufacturer to adopt Sony’s IMX811, a 247‑megapixel CMOS sensor with a 2.81 µm pixel size, across 3 new UltraCam systems released within the same year: the UltraCam Osprey 4.2 in spring, followed by the UltraCam Merlin 5.0 and UltraCam Dragon 4.2 at Intergeo. This rapid integration underscores Vexcel’s commitment to pairing cutting‑edge sensor innovation with production‑proven optics, mechanics, and end‑to‑end processing software, bringing meaningful gains in efficiency, precision, and scalability to aerial mapping and reality capture.
The UltraCam Merlin 5.0 is available for immediate order through Vexcel Imaging. Latitude Spatial will integrate the system into active mapping projects upon its market release in spring.
About Vexcel Imaging
Vexcel Imaging is a global leader in aerial imaging, renowned for its industry-leading UltraCam aerial cameras and hybrid camera-LiDAR mapping solutions. These systems deliver unmatched flying efficiency and exceptional data quality, ensuring best-in-class performance for every application. Outputs include photogrammetric imagery, LiDAR point clouds, and other derived products. The fully integrated UltraMap photogrammetric processing software enhances project workflows with advanced automation, efficient data interaction, and intuitive tools, enabling the creation of DSMs, DTMs, orthoimages, and 3D data of the highest standard.
For more information, please visit: vexcel-imaging.com.
About Latitude Spatial
Latitude Spatial is an Australian-owned geospatial services company specializing in aerial mapping, remote sensing, and spatial data analytics. Using advanced technologies such as hyperspectral imaging, LiDAR, and AI-driven analysis, the company delivers accurate, actionable insights for clients in mining, environment, and government. With end-to-end in-house capabilities, Latitude Spatial is known for its technical expertise, fast turnaround, and client-focused service.
For more information, please visit latitude3t3.com.au
