In mid-1985 in the western United States, three Pacific Northwest area photogrammetric firms, Sierra West Photogrammetrics, Kenney Aerial Surveys, and North Pacific Aerial Surveys, combined resources to create DAT/EM Systems International. The purpose of the new company was to make it possible to produce maps from aerial photography using the newly available, powerful combination of the personal computer with computer aided drafting (CAD) software.

By the spring of 1987, DAT/EM Systems International had produced its first viable digital mapping product. The first product allowed AutoCAD® software to accept 3D coordinate data input from an analog stereoplotter. A similar interface to MicroStation® CAD software followed, as well as support for analytical stereoplotters.

Because the needs of DAT/EM’s three parent companies were felt by mapping firms worldwide, DAT/EM Systems immediately moved its stereoplotter interface and support services into the global marketplace. By refurbishing and upgrading stereoplotters, developing its software to increase mapping efficiency and ensure an accurate, quality end product, and through commitment to a client-first approach to sales and development, DAT/EM Systems has evolved to be a leader in the global digital photogrammetry industry of today.

DAT/EM’s first release into the all-digital stereoplotter market was made at the 1999 ASPRS Conference in Portland, Oregon, where DAT/EM introduced the Summit PC digital softcopy stereo workstation. Using the knowledge acquired from designing Summit PC, DAT/EM Systems moved forward to create its truly world class softcopy system, Summit Evolution.

In addition to working with the evolved forms of the AutoCAD and MicroStation interfaces, Summit Evolution is now capable of 3D digitizing and editing with ESRI’s ArcGIS® products. This capability crosses DAT/EM’s software products over into a new realm, the GIS marketplace. This bold move increases the number of potential users for the Summit Evolution softcopy system to include GIS mapping firms worldwide. DAT/EM Systems now offers potential clients solutions for both their photogrammetric and GIS needs.