Saab and C3 displays cities in 3D

Eniro is launching a new map service that displays detailed 3D images of streets and town squares. Saab and the spin-off company C3 Technologies are behind this groundbreaking product.

The new service is being launched in Sweden, Finland and Denmark, and an important aspect is the new 3D street view giving the user extremely detailed and sharp images. Concealed behind the images are lifelike 3D models created by the Saab spin-off company C3 Technologies in Linköping.
Exact coordinates

The models are based on coordinates, which means that the user can click anywhere on the image and navigate there. You can walk up the street, turn into a side street or look up to a balcony. The images have been taken by C3’s specially equipped cars, whose technologies have been mainly developed by Saab Bofors Dynamics. The so-called streetview system consists of cameras on the roof for taking images, a GPS receiver in order to know where the cameras are located and an IMU to know which direction the camera is looking in. Once the images have been taken, advanced algorithms measure the depths and heights in the photographs and construct the surroundings in three dimensions.
Record time development and production

The development and journey towards the finished product has been rapid, and Saab Bofors Dynamics, together with C3, has achieved the following in just about 6 months;

* developed the world’s most advanced streetview system
* produced the system
* purchased vehicles
* installed and tested the system
* gathered approximately 3,000,000 panoramas from 6 countries in 5 months
* developed stitching software
* processed the images
* delivered
* developed a viewer
* supported Eniro

“I am extremely impressed and proud of the skills and tremendous commitment shown by the SBD and C3 team, which has enabled the development and production of this unique product in record time,” says Leif Haglund, Program Director New Business, Saab Bofors Dynamics.

C3 today consists of nearly 20 employees with offices in Linköping. The company was formed in 2008, with Saab holding a 59 % stake.