Dr. Luca Passone is a Co-founder, Chief Technology Officer, and General Manager of FalconViz, a Saudi-based company that specializes in 3D surveying and mapping using drones and related equipment. He is also a professor of applied mathematics and computational science at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST). In this article, we will explore his background, his company, and his achievements.
Dr. Luca’s Journey from Academics to Professional Mastery
Dr. Luca Passone has a background in computer engineering and earthquake engineering. He obtained his Ph.D. in computational science and engineering from KAUST in 2018, where he developed numerical methods and software for simulating seismic wave propagation and ground motion. He also holds an M.S. in computer engineering from KAUST and a B.S. in computer engineering from the University of Pisa, Italy.
Dr. Luca Passone co-founded FalconViz in 2015 with Anas Dahlawi, Neil Smith, and Mohamed Shalaby, who are also KAUST alumni or faculty. FalconViz offers various services, such as surveying and mapping, inspection and monitoring, surveillance, UHD still images and HD videos, and visualization and 3D modeling, using drones and laser scanners. FalconViz has worked with various clients and partners, such as Saudi Aramco, Saudi Electricity Company, the Ministry of Culture, and UNESCO. FalconViz has also won several awards and competitions, such as the KAUST Entrepreneurship Award, the MIT Enterprise Forum Arab Startup Competition, and the Arabnet Riyadh Startup Battle.
FalconViz: Navigating New Dimensions of 3D Mapping and Survey
FalconViz is a Saudi-based company that specializes in 3D surveying and mapping using drones and related equipment. The company was founded in 2015 by Anas Dahlawi and Neil Smith, who are both professors at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST).
FalconViz offers various services, such as:
- Surveying and mapping: FalconViz uses drones and laser scanners to capture high-resolution images and data of various terrains and structures, such as buildings, roads, bridges, and archaeological sites. FalconViz then processes the data and generates orthophoto mosaics, digital terrain models, CAD layer extraction, and 3D video fly-throughs.
- Inspection and monitoring: FalconViz uses drones and sensors to conduct visual and thermal inspections of different industrial assets, such as pipelines, power lines, and solar panels. FalconViz also monitors the progress and quality of construction projects and provides reports and recommendations.
- Surveillance: FalconViz uses drones and cameras to provide day and night surveillance for security and defense purposes. FalconViz also uses sophisticated tracking and endurance technologies to ensure the safety and efficiency of the operations.
- UHD still images and HD videos: FalconViz uses drones and cameras to capture stunning aerial shots and videos for media production and marketing purposes. FalconViz can produce images with 50MP, HDR, and pixel-sharp quality and videos with 4K, 90fps, and stabilized quality.
- Visualization and 3D modeling: FalconViz uses drones and software to create immersive, engaging, and realistic 3D models and visualizations of various scenes and scenarios. FalconViz can also create virtual and augmented reality applications for entertainment and education purposes.
FalconViz has grown rapidly since its inception and has raised $10 million in funding from various investors, including KAUST Innovation Fund, Saudi Aramco Entrepreneurship Ventures, and Raed Ventures. FalconViz has also expanded its presence to 10 countries, including UAE, Egypt, Jordan, and Oman. FalconViz has over 50 employees and serves more than 100 clients across various industries, such as oil and gas, construction, tourism, and heritage.
Dr. Luca’s Awards and Achievements
Dr. Luca has been recognized as one of the 11 Saudi entrepreneurs shaping Saudi Arabia’s future by Al Bawaba and one of the 100 most influential people in Saudi Arabia by Arabian Business. He has also won several awards and competitions, such as the KAUST Entrepreneurship Award, the MIT Enterprise Forum Arab Startup Competition, and the Arabnet Riyadh Startup Battle.
Dr. Luca is passionate about innovation and technology and believes that FalconViz can provide high-quality and cost-effective solutions for geospatial data acquisition and processing. He is also a role model and a mentor for aspiring entrepreneurs in the region and frequently shares his insights and advice on various media platforms.
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“FalconViz’s mission is to digitally document the world with ever-improving accuracy, speed, and coverage.”
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