DigitalGlobe, Saab in joint venture to build 3D model of the earth

Washington

US satellite imagery provider DigitalGlobe Inc and Sweden's Saab AB on Tuesday announced a new joint venture aimed at building an accurate 3D model of the earth and capturing billions of dollars in new business.

Tony Frazier, senior vice-president at DigitalGlobe, said that the two companies had been working together for two years, but were now creating a separate US-based venture, Vricon Inc, to accelerate the work and team up on distribution.

"We feel this is a multibillion-dollar opportunity," Mr Frazier said, noting that the venture would initially focus on customers in the defence, security and infrastructure markets. "We're going to literally produ…