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0 Comments | La Crosse Tribune, Jun 22, 1998

Mary Solberg enjoys creating oil paintings. Her brother, Steve, likes to write poetry and participate in poetry readings.

They're both interested in preserving old buildings and the environment, and in anthropology and cryptozoology the science of hidden or unknown animals). As Steve said, "There's a lot of thins we want to know about this world."

The two owners of Solberg Geographics Inc., a La Crosse land surveying business, believe Steve's recent invention will give them greater financial freedom to pursue their wide-ranging interests.

On June 2, the Solbergs were issued a patent for a system that will be used to convert hard-copy geographic information, such as property deeds and survey drawings, into mathematically accurate computer files. The system, which scans the information into a computer, will be used in modernizing records.

The technology is expected to be used in the fields of government, architecture, engineering, science and land surveying, the Solbergs said.

Their father, Clayton Solberg, began his land surveying practice in the early 1950s and for several years was La Crosse County surveyor He died in 1982, and his daughter and son have expanded the scope of the family business to include such things as engineering services, home inspections, radon inspections and blueprints.

Steve came up with the idea for the invention one night, after a picnic with his sister. During the picnic, "We talked of our interests, hopes and aspirations," Mary said. "We concluded our lives needed a radical change in order for us to fulfill our goals. Running a small business for the last 10 years, although rewarding, was not bringing us closer to the freedom we required."

Developing their process and getting it patented took four years; they applied for the patent in May 1995, but it wasn't issued until this month, after much paperwork.

"Had we known four years ago how difficult and cost (text missing)

SOLBERG INNOVATION

WHO: Mary Solberg and her brother, Steve, own Solberg Geographics Inc., a land surveying business at 507 Main St.

WHAT'S NEW: The Solbergs have developed and patented a process for converting hard-copy geographic information, such as survey drawings and land descriptions, to mathematically accurate computer files. The patent is being licensed to Euclidean Technologies, LLC, which will market software next March. Software that isn't quite as user-friendly will be available sooner.

EUCLIDEAN OWNERS: Euclidean's main owners are the Solbergs and Curt Szymanski of Madison, Wis. Szymanski, who has master's degrees in mechanical engineering and business, was one of the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Business graduate students who earlier evaluated the new venture as part of the Weinert Applied Venture Program.

OFFICES: Euclidean has offices in La Crosse and Madison, where there are three employees besides Szymanski and the Solbergs.

STATE LOAN: In April, the Solbergs were awarded a $175,000 state Technology Development loan to complete the final stages of programming, upgrade software and hardware, and hire staff for Euclidean.