GeoSynth

It often amazes me just how much goes on inside Microsoft and where other interesting stuff is being done within the organization. Despite my interest in geospatial data processing, visualization and storage (especially in SQL Server databases) I missed the announcement of GeoSynth at GEOINT last year. In actual fact Vexcel, Microsoft’s geospatial subsidiary had dropped from my consciousness completely over the past couple of months.

Microsoft GeoSynth is a standalone application that enables Windows users to synthesize and view 2d and 3d environments from digital photo collections. GeoSynth is comprised of a Viewer and Collection Builder (or "GeoSynther"). GeoSynth is a derivative of Photosynth which is Microsoft's online platform that enables Windows Live users to synthesize and view 2d and 3d environments from digital photo collections.

Vexcel is also the home of Microsoft Virtual Earth Server, the offline version of Microsoft Virtual earth. Who needs Live Maps when you can have the whole of Virtual Earth on your laptop.

I have no idea how the licensing of Virtual Earth Server works but the licensing of GeoSynth appears to be via Microsoft Intellectual Property Licensing program.

<Gary>