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 1SpatialDate: 16/11/09 1Spatial celebrates 40 years in business!1Spatial is delighted to be celebrating its 40th Anniversary tomorrow (Tuesday 17th November 2009).
The company has evolved over 40 years from a small group of academics that produced a machine utilising lasers and mirrors to scan images, into an industry-leading geospatial software and solutions provider, employing over 100 people in several offices around the world. 1Spatial started life in 1969 as Laser-Scan, founded by Professor Otto Robert Frisch, FRS, John Rushbrooke and Graham Street from the High Energy Physics Group at the University of Cambridge Cavendish Laboratory. Laser-Scan was established to commercially build the Sweepnik, a machine that used a laser beam moved around by mirrors, to read lines on photographs. It was capable of delivering accurate measurements and replaced a tedious manual practice with automated processing. The company has always dealt with a wide range of customers, but its core business has been based on mapping and charting organisations. The company’s development has been shaped by long-term relationships with the likes of Ordnance Survey Great Britain (OSGB), the UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) and No. 1 Aeronautical Information Documents Unit (No. 1 AIDU) of the UK Royal Air Force.
Following many years of strategic and technology-based challenges, Laser-Scan ceased hardware manufacturing in 1996 and to concentrate on building its position as a leading mapping and GIS provider. In 2006, Laser-Scan changed its name to 1Spatial, to more accurately reflect the company's market position as a geospatial software and services provider.
Recent and current contracts with a number of national mapping agencies, such as IGN France, JUPEM in Malaysia and Ordnance Survey Ireland, as well as an increasing number of public sector customers, have kept 1Spatial at the forefront of geospatial data management. 1Spatial is now a key player in providing solutions for geospatial data integration, transformation, update and quality control as part of enterprise information architectures.
To celebrate the achievements of the company over the last 40 years, 1Spatial will be hosting a private event on the 17th November at the Cavendish Laboratory where key players from the company’s history will join current members of staff and others from the University of Cambridge.
The current 1Spatial Executive Chairman, Peter Woodsford, will be among the guests, in his last official engagement before his retirement at the end of the month. Peter has been involved with the company since joining Laser-Scan in 1975 and has made a significant contribution during this time. Previous Laser-Scan employees and all the staff at 1Spatial wish him all the best!
Dr Michael Sanderson, Chief Executive Officer of 1Spatial, said: “I feel an immense sense of pride, having been at the helm of this Cambridge phenomenon company for the last eight years. It’s been a pleasure to work with Peter Woodsford and to have met so many people who have played a part in building the company’s world-renowned reputation.”
A short write-up and photographs from this event will be included in the December edition of the 1Spatial eNewsletter. If you are interested in learning more as a former employee, or as a 1Spatial customer or partner, you can sign up for free here: http://www.1spatial.com/news_events/index.php?enews=A&fm=2 Copyright Cambridge Network 2009
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