TerraMetrics Awarded $600,000 NASA Contract
May 16, 2005

Littleton, Colo.—Littleton, Colorado-based TerraMetrics, Inc., announced today that it has been awarded a Small Business Innovation Research contract totaling $600,000. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA’s) Langley Research Center awarded the research contract for Phase II development of 3D terrain-rendering technologies to be used in synthetic vision flight display systems. 

Synthetic vision systems can provide airplane pilots with a clear-view 3D computer-generated view of the terrain outside the cockpit window even in zero-visibility conditions. The real-time animations are generated from stored terrain data and satellite imagery, coupled with aircraft position information. Synthetic vision, along with “Highway in the Sky” flight path visualization, is expected to improve air travel safety in the coming years. TerraMetrics’ research efforts are focused on the company’s TerraBlocks™ 3D terrain-rendering technology that includes compact storage of large-area terrain and imagery datasets, such as the continental U.S. 

“Providing accurate, high-resolution rendering of 3D terrain is at the heart of everything we do,” said Greg Baxes, President, TerraMetrics, Inc. “This innovative research work will allow us to mature our TerraBlocks™ technology for use in mission-critical flight applications.” 

“We look forward to augmenting the research efforts of NASA’s Aviation Safety and Security Program and bringing our novel flight 3D visualization technologies to the marketplace, ” Baxes added. 

In addition to current research and development activities, TerraMetrics has also completed contract work for NASA in terrain rendering and global earth imagery.

About TerraMetrics, Inc.
For over seven years, TerraMetrics, Inc., has been a recognized leader worldwide in providing cost-effective satellite imagery, 3D terrain datasets, and software tools to the computer visualization, simulation, mapping and animation markets. As a NASA contractor, the company is currently conducting research and development in flight-based, 3D terrain storage and rendering technologies and corresponding software implementation. For more information, see www.terrametrics.com.