Earthmine's pre-acquisition website lists the following as the key features of the Mars Collection system:
- High resolution panoramic imagery and 3D point data for every pixel.
- 32 megapixel 360°(H) x 180°(V) stereo panoramic imagery.
- Wide angle 360°(H) x 165°(V) 3D Data Capture.
- Up to 8 million 3D points per image and 24 million points per second (scene dependent).
- High accuracy global position and orientation sensors.
- Self calibrating metric cameras for robust field operation.
- Easy to use earthmine Capture Control software for controlling data collection.
- Flexible mounting system for deployment on vehicle or pedestrian platforms.
There's also a version of the system designed for use in pedestrian areas, comprising the same capture system, but mounted on a recumbent bike. It is described as being" ideal for the collection of parks and gardens, college campuses, bike paths or walking paths, plazas and large indoor areas such as shopping malls, airport terminals and train stations".
These vehicles and the associated collection and processing systems are distinct from the Navteq Tru vehicles that Nokia already uses to collect mapping data. The Tru system, which is placed on top of a vehicle in a similar way to the earthmine collection system, combines a LIDAR system, multiple panoramic cameras, and positioning (GPS and IMU) sensors.