Editing Leica Geosystems (section)

== History ==
The brand Leica, better known for [[Leica Camera]]s, was formed on 2 April 1990 after the merger of several companies. In 2005, the company was acquired by [[Hexagon AB]]. Leica was listed on the Swiss stock exchange until the 7 August 2006 which saw the cancellation of all publicly held registered shares in Leica Geosystems Holdings Ltd and delisting of all listed registered shares of a par value of CHF 50.<ref>{{cite press release | url = http://www.leica-geosystems.com/corporate/en/news/lgs_360.htm?id=1284 | title = Cancellation of all publicly held registered shares in Leica Geosystems Holdings Ltd and delisting of all listed registered shares of a par value of CHF 50 | publisher = Leica Geosystems | date = 2006-08-07 }}</ref>

Leica Geosystems Geospatial Imaging is a Strategic Member in the [[Open Geospatial Consortium]] since 2008. Strategic Membership is the highest level of membership in the OGC. Strategic Members provide significant resources to support OGC objectives in the form of funding for program initiatives and staff resources inserted into the OGC process.<ref>[http://www.finanznachrichten.de/nachrichten-2008-01/9986349-leica-geosystems-geospatial-imaging-takes-strategic-membership-in-the-ogc-r-004.htm Leica Geosystems Geospatial Imaging Takes Strategic Membership in the OGC(R)]</ref>

[[Heinrich Wild]] (1877–1951) of [[Glarus]], Switzerland, a leading designer of geodetic and astronomical instruments, began his career as an apprentice [[Surveyor (surveying)|surveyor]]. In 1908, having invented a military rangefinder and convinced [[Carl Zeiss AG|Zeiss]] to manufacture it, Wild moved to the city of [[Jena]] and became head of the new Zeiss branch responsible for surveying instruments, GEO.

Wild returned to Switzerland after the First World War.<ref>[http://www.wild-heerbrugg.com/History.htm Wild Heerbrugg History]</ref> On 26 April 1921, with Colonel Jacob Schmidheiny of Balgach and geologist Robert Helbling of Flums and with the help of Swiss financiers, he founded WILD Heerbrugg in [[Au, St. Gallen|Heerbrugg]] in the [[Alpine Rhine Valley]]. <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://leica-geosystems.com/about-us/summary/history|title = 200 Years of Surveying History}}</ref> In the early 1930s, having recognized that he was not cut out to be a factory manager, Wild moved to [[Zürich]], severed his connections with the firm in Heerbrugg, and designed instruments for [[Kern & Co]] in Aarau. His old firm became Wild Heerbrugg in 1937.

It merged with the optical firm of [[Ernst Leitz]] of [[Wetzlar]] in 1987, acquired a majority interest in Kern in 1988, was renamed '''Wild Leitz AG''' in 1989, and became part of the Leica holding company in 1990. Starting in 1996, the company was divided gradually into smaller units. Thus in 1996, [[Leica Camera]] AG was founded, followed in October 1997 by '''Leica Geosystems''' AG, and on 1 April 1998 by [[Leica Microsystems]] AG.

These three companies are independent public companies. Leica Geosystems produces, in continuation of Wild Heerbrugg, the geodetic instruments and is the global market leader in this section. The main customers of Leica Geosystems are surveyors, manufacturers and [[Geographic information system|GIS]] companies.

In 2000 Leica Geosystems purchased [[Cyrax (HDS system)|Cyra Technologies]], maker of the Cyrax laser 3D scanner line. In April 2001, Leica Geosystems acquired ERDAS, Inc., a [[remote sensing]] software firm, and LH Systems, a photogrammetric software firm (see [[IMAGINE Photogrammetry]]). These two companies were merged into software company, ERDAS, Inc.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.directionsmag.com/article.php?article_id=104 |title=Leica Acquires ERDAS, LH Systems; Expands its Focus on the GIS/RS Market |publisher=directionsmag.com |date=2001-04-30 |access-date=2009-08-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060614001208/http://www.directionsmag.com/article.php?article_id=104 |archive-date=2006-06-14 |url-status=dead }}</ref> ERDAS purchased Acquis, ER Mapper and IONIC in 2007.<!-- dead link ref>[http://www.gisdevelopment.net/news/viewn.asp?id=GIS:N_lmefkqrgvs gisdevelopment.net], Retrieved August 27, 2009</ref --><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.directionsmag.com/press.releases/index.php?duty=Show&id=17885 |title=Leica Geosystems Geospatial Imaging Acquires IONIC |publisher=directionsmag.com |date=2007-06-19 |access-date=2009-08-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060524075716/http://www.directionsmag.com/press.releases/index.php?duty=Show |archive-date=2006-05-24 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.directionsmag.com/press.releases/index.php?duty=Show&id=17348 |publisher=directionsmag.com |title=Leica Geosystems Geospatial Imaging Acquires Acquis ADE Technology but not the Acquis organization |date=2007-05-08 |access-date=2009-08-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070630111821/http://www.directionsmag.com/press.releases/index.php?duty=Show&id=17348 |archive-date=2007-06-30 |url-status=dead }}</ref> This expanded further ERDAS in the remote sensing market, let them enter the enterprise topological GIS market, and expanded their footprint in the image web serving and image enterprise market.

The Swedish company [[Hexagon AB]] purchased Leica Geosystems in late 2005.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cisionwire.com/hexagon/acquisition-of-outstanding-leica-shares-and-resolution-on-new-issue|title=Hexagon - Press release|publisher=[[Cision|Cision Wire]]|accessdate=2005-12-07|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20120722190549/http://www.cisionwire.com/hexagon/acquisition-of-outstanding-leica-shares-and-resolution-on-new-issue|archivedate=2012-07-22}}</ref>

In October 2010, Intergraph was acquired by Hexagon AB. As part of the Hexagon acquisition, Hexagon moved ERDAS from under Leica Geosystems to Intergraph, and Z/I Imaging airborne imaging sensors from under Intergraph to Leica Geosystems.{{citation needed|date=August 2020}}

In September 2011, Leica Geosystems Mining announced an exclusive industry partnership with [[Locata Corporation]] to provide the mining industry with the world’s only high precision radio positioning system that is not reliant on GPS.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.constructionequipment.com/leica-geosystems-mininglocata |publisher=Construction Equipment |title=Leica Geosystems Mining/Locata |date=2011-10-03}}</ref>