Ricoh announced Jan. 18 a new ruggedized GPS-ready digital camera. The Ricoh Pro G3 is a 3.34-megapixel camera with 3x optical zoom capability that embeds captured images with GPS coordinate information received from either its on-board GPS unit or from external GPS devices.

Once images are transferred to a PC, they are automatically converted to shape files or merged to geo-databases for instant integration into Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Points representing each image's position may be hovered over to display a thumbnail, or clicked on to access the full-size image.

In addition to storing GPS data in the image, the camera also utilizes a user-configurable data dictionary for tagging pictures with workflow-related information. These attributes are easily accessible from the GIS layer table for automated database integration.

"The Pro G3 is designed to provide GIS users with a simple and seamless method to integrate images into mapping applications," said Jeff Lengyel, Marketing Manager of Ricoh's Digital Camera Division. "Until now, there has been no single-unit solution to address the imaging needs of the GIS community".

The ruggedized camera uses a CompactFlash slot to accept WAAS-enabled GPS cards. For applications that require even greater precision, the camera is capable of receiving NMEA data streams from external GPS devices via Bluetooth.

FEMA has adopted the Pro G3 to photograph storm damage in the southeast United States, while archeologists in Maine use it to scout out dig sites; the camera is being used to track hiking trail conditions; the U.S. military is using the camera in Iraq; universities, advertising agencies, insurance agents, realtors, government agencies, engineers, National Park personnel, farmers, and even museums are finding that their GIS workflows have been optimized since adopting the camera.

The Pro G3 GPS supports accessory lenses, video and sound capture capabilities, and direct connectivity into IP networks via wired or wireless LAN.

The Pro G3 is available now from Authorized Ricoh resellers.