Hitachi Software and Pictometry Sign Marketing Agreement; Hitachi HouseDiff Change Detection Process Combines With Pictometry's Change Analysis Software and Imagery for Evaluating Real Property Changes

Business Wire, Nov 1, 2004

WESTMINSTER, Colo. & ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Hitachi Software Global Technology (HSGT), the leader in automatic building change detection solutions, and Pictometry, provider of a patented information system that captures georeferenced, digital aerial oblique and orthogonal images as well as related software, announced today that they have signed a teaming agreement.

Under terms of the agreement, Hitachi Software has modified its HouseDiff change detection solution to use Pictometry imagery, and Pictometry has integrated the resulting change files into their Change Analysis software. Additionally, Pictometry will be able to market the HouseDiff solution to its customers.

"Combining Pictometry images and Change Analysis software with HouseDiff provides our customers with the ability to find and review building changes without leaving their offices," stated Robert Carroll, HSGT vice president of sales and marketing. "We have successfully used Pictometry's oblique and orthogonal imagery with several of our existing customers, and we believe this partnership will provide the most accurate view of building changes on the market."

Pictometry's industry leading software enables users to quickly and easily access up to 12 different high-resolution views of any property, building, highway, landmark, or other feature in a county. The software also enables end users to create measurements directly from the georeferenced imagery as well as insert GIS content and other data. The company has a growing customer list approaching 100 counties and the State of Massachusetts. Major metropolitan areas using Pictometry include Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Indianapolis, Los Angeles, New York City, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Washington D.C.

Change Analysis from Pictometry allows the direct comparison on a computer monitor of previous aerial imagery with recent imagery of the same area. The Change Analysis viewer, combined with Hitachi's HouseDiff process, allows users to automatically view side-by-side, highlighted images of the detected changes. These changes can include such features as new additions to existing structures, demolitions, land use changes, new construction, and other real property features that could go undetected.

Geauga County, Ohio, is the first county in the country to use this combined solution. "By comparing new and previously captured digital photographs, HouseDiff gives us the ability to quickly identify building changes throughout the County, and Pictometry's oblique imagery allows us to verify these changes without costly field inspection. This combination of technologies is a powerful tool for assessment and GIS applications at an affordable price, allowing us to further extend the value of our Pictometry oblique image database," said Louis K. Marion, GIS director for Geauga County.

"For community planning organizations, appraisers, assessors, engineering, environmental agencies, and other property management related organizations, this agreement brings together two technologies that can provide a significant ROI in the evaluation of real property as well as potentially increasing revenues for community projects," said Dante Pennacchia, senior vice president of Sales and Marketing at Pictometry.

Additional uses for the combined technology offering include natural disasters, hazardous material incidents, and major accidents where comparison of before and after imagery of impacted areas can assist public safety departments, first responders, insurance, and legal firms.

About Hitachi Software Global Technology

Hitachi Software Global Technology (HSGT) is a leading software, data, and solution provider for companies seeking to maximize their potential through spatial information. HSGT solutions combine Open GIS Consortium standards, imagery and vector data products, and award-winning automatic vectorization software. Headquartered in Westminster, Colorado, HSGT continues to pioneer new technologies and services for utilities, telecommunications companies, and governments. For more information visit www.hsgt.com.

About Pictometry

Pictometry International is a rapidly growing software company that provides visual intelligence information systems. The company's patented imaging process captures georeferenced, high-resolution oblique (at an angle - natural view) and orthogonal (straight down) digital images of counties and states. Combined with the company's interactive software solution, users can see everywhere, measure anything, and plan everything. Pictometry is a second order visualization tool that does not produce authoritative or definitive information (surveying) from its aerial images. The company's customer base includes a growing list of county, state, and federal government organizations as well as private business users. Applications include 9-1-1, appraisers, assessors, planning officials, GIS, transportation, law enforcement, homeland security, fire departments, insurance, real estate, engineering, and utilities. For more information on Pictometry, visit www.pictometry.com.