Menu
Home Explore People Places Arts History Plants & Animals Science Life & Culture Technology
On this page
MountainsMap
Micro-topography software published by Digital Surf

Mountains is an image analysis and surface metrology software platform published by the company Digital Surf. Its core is "micro-topography", the science of studying surface texture and form in 3D at the microscopic scale. The software is dedicated to profilometers, 3D light microscopes ("MountainsMap"), scanning electron microscopes ("MountainsSEM") and scanning probe microscopes ("MountainsSPIP").

Related Image Collections Add Image
Profiles
1 Image
We don't have any YouTube videos related to MountainsMap yet.
We don't have any PDF documents related to MountainsMap yet.
We don't have any Books related to MountainsMap yet.
We don't have any archived web articles related to MountainsMap yet.

Integration by instrument manufacturers

The main editor's distribution channel is OEM, through the integration of MountainsMap by most profiler and microscope manufacturers,12 usually under their respective brands; it is sold for instance as:

Compatibility

Data types ("studiables") accepted

Vocabulary:

  • x , y , z {\displaystyle x,y,z} refer to space coordinates, t {\displaystyle t} to the time, and i {\displaystyle i} to an intensity. A = f ( B ) {\displaystyle A=f(B)} means A {\displaystyle A} is function of B {\displaystyle B} , B {\displaystyle B} referring usually to space coordinates and A {\displaystyle A} to a scalar.
  • In Mountains's vocabulary, these data types are referred to as "studiables".

Most studiables have a dynamic (time-series) equivalent, e.g., the surface studiable z = f ( x , y ) {\displaystyle z=f(x,y)} used to study topography has an associate studiable Series of Surfaces z = f ( x , y , t ) {\displaystyle z=f(x,y,t)} used to study the evolution of topography (e.g., heat distortion of a surface).

Mountains analyses the following basic data types:13

Data typeExample ImageFormulaApplicationHas a time-dynamic equivalent ("series of ..." )Instrument
Profile z = f ( x ) {\displaystyle z=f(x)} Yesstylus 2D profilometer.
Parametric profile ( x , z ) = f ( t ) {\displaystyle (x,z)=f(t)} "Contour": Form analysis in 2DNoContour instruments
Surface z = f ( x , y ) {\displaystyle z=f(x,y)} Surface TopographyYesOptical or contact 3D profilometer
ShellAnalysis of Free Form SurfacesNoMultiple axis profilometers, tomographs
Point cloudsImport of non-meshed shells and surfacesNoScanning devices
True color image ( R , G , B ) = f ( x , y ) {\displaystyle (R,G,B)=f(x,y)} True color or gray-level imageYesScanning Electron Microscope, Light microscope, simple camera
Surface-image ( Z , R , G , B ) = f ( x , y ) {\displaystyle (Z,R,G,B)=f(x,y)} Topography and true color imageNooptical profilometer providing the topography with the image
Multi-channel image ( i 1 , i 2 , . . . , i n ) = f ( x , y ) {\displaystyle (i1,i2,...,in)=f(x,y)} NoAtomic force microscope, spectrum analyzer, correlative imaging using heterogeneous sources
Multi-channel cube ( i 1 , i 2 , . . . , i n ) = f ( x , y , z ) {\displaystyle (i1,i2,...,in)=f(x,y,z)} NoFIB-SEM, Confocal-Raman tomography
Force curvesYesAtomic force microscopes
Spectrum ( i ) = f ( l a m b d a ) {\displaystyle (i)=f(lambda)} YesSpectrometer
Hyperspectral image i = f ( x , y , l a m b d a ) {\displaystyle i=f(x,y,lambda)} NoX-Y scanning spectrometer, hyperspectral camera, SEM/EDX, Raman, Cathodoluminescence...

History of versions

  • Digital Surf launched their first (2D) surface analysis software package in 1990 for MS-DOS ("DigiProfil 1.0"), then their first 3D surface analysis package in 1991 for Macintosh II ("DigiSurface 1.0").
  • Version 1.0 of MountainsMap was launched in September 1996, introducing a change in the name after a move of the editor to Windows from MsDos and Macintosh platforms.
  • Version 5.0 introduced the management of multi-layers images. It was a move to Confocal microscopy (analysis of topography+color as a single object as opposed to separate objects in former versions), and to SPM image analysis (analysis of topography+current, topography+phase, topography+force as a single image).14
  • Version 6.015 completed the specialization of the platform per instrument type.16 For Version 6.0 the company teamed with a group of alpinists to launch the new version at the summit of the Makalu mountain. A special logo was created for this marketing event. The expedition was successful and Alexia Zuberer, a French and Swiss mountaineer was then the first Swiss woman to reach the summit of the Makalu, Sandrine de Choudens, a French PhD in chemistry being the first French woman to succeed171819
  • Version 7.0 was unveiled in September 2012 at the European Microscopy Congress in Manchester, UK. It expanded the list of instruments supported, in particular with new Scanning electron microscope 3D reconstruction software and hyperspectral data analysis (such as Raman and FT-IR hyperspectral cube analysis).20
  • Version 7.2 (February 2015) introduces near real-time 3D topography reconstruction for scanning electron microscopes
  • Version 7.3 (January 2016) adds fast colorization of scanning electron microscope images based on object-oriented image segmentation.2122
  • Version 7.4 (January 2017) offers 3D reconstruction from a single SEM image, and enhanced 3D printing 23
  • Version 8.0 (June 2019) is the successor of both Mountains 7.4 and SPIP 6.7 software packages ("SPIP" standing for "Scanning Probe Image Processor") after the acquisition by Digital Surf of the Danish company Image Metrology A/S, the editor of SPIP.24 Version 8.0 also introduces the analysis of free form surfaces, called "Shells" in the software.
  • Version 9.0 (June 2021) completes the "shells" (free form surfaces) with surface texture analysis adapted from the ISO 25178 parameters already calculated on the standard surfaces. It also comes with a new product line, "MountainsSpectral", dedicated to the chemical mapping of elements in both 2D (images of chemical composition) and 3D (multi-channel tomography of chemical composition), with applications such as FIB-SEM EDX (X-Ray analysis coupled with focused ion beam tomography) or confocal Raman (Raman analysis in confocal microscopy)25
  • Version 10.0 (June 2023) completes the list of supported microscopes with Light Microscopes,26 and introduces new features such as CAD-comparison of free-form surfaces ("shells"), aspherics lens analysis.27

Instruments supported

VersionInstruments supported28Specific functions
MountainsMap Profile2D ProfilometersISO 25178 surface texture parameters Roughness, Waviness, Contour analysis
MountainsMap Topography293D Profilometers based on single point sensors30 (stylus contact, chromatic non-contact)ISO 25178 Surface topography parameters 3D surface topography rendering Sensor range expansion by vertical patching
MountainsMap Imaging TopographyWhite light interferometers31 Confocal Microscopes32 Fringe projection profilometers33Management of missing/bad data points Field expansion by stitching 3D true-color management (topography+color)
MountainsSEMScanning electron microscopes3D reconstruction from a stereo pair34 3D reconstruction using a 4-quadrant detector semi-automatic colorization35
MountainsSPIPAtomic force microscopesScanning tunneling microscopesMulti-Channel SPM image management Force curve analysis
MountainsSpectralCathodoluminescence microscopes36Hyperspectral analysis
MountainsLabAll of the previousCorrelative microscopy (colocalization of images from heterogeneous microscope types)37

References

  1. Digital Surf technology on Olympus Microscopes in Imaging and Microscopy http://www.imaging-git.com/products/digital-surf-mountains-technology ↩

  2. Surface analysis data to be sold with instruments in Engineering talk Archived 2008-07-26 at the Wayback Machine http://www.engineeringtalk.com/news/diu/diu100.html ↩

  3. Hitachi High-Technologies and Digital Surf announce new Hitachi map 3D software https://microscopy-news.com/top-news/hitachi-high-technologies-and-digital-surf-announce-new-hitachi-map-3d-software/ ↩

  4. TopoMAPS image analysis software now available on Thermo Scientific SEM and DualBeam systems https://www.news-medical.net/news/20171122/TopoMAPS-image-analysis-software-now-available-on-Thermo-Scientific-SEM-and-DualBeam-systems.aspx ↩

  5. "New Leica Map Surface Imaging and Metrology Software for Microscopy in nanowerk.com". Archived from the original on 2014-02-01. Retrieved 2013-10-06. https://web.archive.org/web/20140201153902/http://www.nanowerk.com/news/newsid=19897.php ↩

  6. "Carl Zeiss to Provide Surface Imaging Software from Digital Surf with Selected Microscopes in Azonano.com". Archived from the original on 2012-10-07. Retrieved 2012-08-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20121007200835/http://www.azonano.com/news.aspx?newsID=22830 ↩

  7. Mitutoyo Corporation signs OEM contract with Digital Surf http://www.mitutoyo.co.jp/eng/new/news/2012/06/mitutoyo_corporation_signs_oem_contract_with_digital_surf_for_3d_surface_characteristic_analysis_sof.html ↩

  8. Bruker Nano Surfaces offers Vision64 Map with 3D optical microscope systems in News medical http://www.news-medical.net/news/20160406/Bruker-Nano-Surfaces-offers-Vision64-Map-with-3D-optical-microscope-systems.aspx ↩

  9. Software brings 3D mapping to nanoscale objects https://www.electronicspecifier.com/design-automation/software-brings-3d-mapping-to-nanoscale-objects ↩

  10. JEOL and Digital Surf Partner to Launch Smile View Map Software in Quality Mag https://www.qualitymag.com/articles/94716-jeol-and-digital-surf-partner-to-launch-smile-view-map-software ↩

  11. SensoMAP Advanced Analysis Software https://www.sensofar.com/metrology/software/sensomap/ ↩

  12. List of file formats compatible with Mountains, on the editor's web site https://www.digitalsurf.com/file-fomat-compatibility/ ↩

  13. List of data types compatibles with Mountains on the editor's web site https://www.digitalsurf.com/data-i-can-analyze-with-mountains-software/ ↩

  14. "New Mountains 5.1 From Digital Surf Available For Free Upgrade on nanowerk.com". Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2013-10-06. https://web.archive.org/web/20160303184738/http://www.nanowerk.com/news/newsid=12629.php ↩

  15. "MountainsMap 6 Available in July 2010 from Digital Surf on Azonano.com". Archived from the original on 2014-02-03. Retrieved 2013-10-06. https://web.archive.org/web/20140203202444/http://www.azonano.com/news.aspx?newsID=17501 ↩

  16. "MountainsMap 6 - Instrument-oriented Solutions for Surface Texture Analysis on nanowerk.com". Archived from the original on 2014-02-21. Retrieved 2013-10-06. https://web.archive.org/web/20140221143554/http://www.nanowerk.com/news/newsid=16260.php ↩

  17. (in French)Makalu summit climbing history https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Makalu ↩

  18. (in French)a french and swiss success at the summit of the Makalu mountain http://www.altissima.org/succes-franco-suisse-au-makalu-1061.html ↩

  19. Makalu2010 expedition film participates to the mountain film festival of Les Diablerets, Switzerland http://www.fifad.ch/portfolio/makalu-2010 ↩

  20. "Digital Surf Announce New Generation of Mountains 7 Software for Surface Metrology in Azonano.com". Archived from the original on 2014-02-04. Retrieved 2013-06-20. https://web.archive.org/web/20140204042855/http://www.azonano.com/news.aspx?newsID=25549 ↩

  21. Next Monday, Digital Surf to Launch Revolutionary SEM Image Colorization in Azonmaterials http://www.azom.com/news.aspx?newsID=45031 ↩

  22. Showing your true colors, 3D and color in electron microscopy in Lab News magazine http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/7d4d3b26#/7d4d3b26/34 ↩

  23. "Digital Surf - Surface Imaging, Analysis and Metrology Software". http://www.digitalsurf.com/en/issuu.php?id=18877935/40775565 ↩

  24. The story behind MountainsSPIP, interview of Digital Surf's CEO in Surface Newsletter, Fall 2019, Pages 4-6 https://www.digitalsurf.com/learning/surface-newsletter/surface-newsletter-fall-2018/ ↩

  25. The Mountains 9 release, what's coming, in the editor's magazine SURFACE Newsletter https://www.digitalsurf.com/learning/surface-newsletter/surface-newsletter-spring-2021/ ↩

  26. Software updates on the editor's Web site https://www.digitalsurf.com/support/software-updates/ ↩

  27. New Product : Digital Surf Mountains 10 Software, in Quality Magazine https://www.qualitymag.com/articles/97409-digital-surf-mountains-10-software ↩

  28. "Product Range Description on the editor's Web site". Archived from the original on 2016-03-28. Retrieved 2016-01-27. https://web.archive.org/web/20160328075845/http://www.digitalsurf.com/en/mntproducts.html ↩

  29. MountainsMap range description from the Editor's web site https://www.digitalsurf.com/software-solutions/profilometry/ ↩

  30. Mitutoyo Corporation signs OEM contract with Digital Surf http://www.mitutoyo.co.jp/eng/new/news/2012/06/mitutoyo_corporation_signs_oem_contract_with_digital_surf_for_3d_surface_characteristic_analysis_sof.html ↩

  31. Bruker Nano Surfaces offers Vision64 Map with 3D optical microscope systems in News medical http://www.news-medical.net/news/20160406/Bruker-Nano-Surfaces-offers-Vision64-Map-with-3D-optical-microscope-systems.aspx ↩

  32. "Carl Zeiss to Provide Surface Imaging Software from Digital Surf with Selected Microscopes in Azonano.com". Archived from the original on 2012-10-07. Retrieved 2012-08-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20121007200835/http://www.azonano.com/news.aspx?newsID=22830 ↩

  33. 3-D Measurement Software in Photonics.com http://www.photonics.com/Product.aspx?PID=6&VID=124&IID=819&PRID=57524 ↩

  34. Digital Surf Releases Mountains 7 Software for Surface Imaging and Metrology in Azomaterials http://www.azom.com/news.aspx?newsID=36485 ↩

  35. Adding colour to SEM imaging in Electronic Specifier http://www.electronicspecifier.com/medical/adding-colour-to-sem-imaging ↩

  36. Software brings 3D mapping to nanoscale objects in Electronic Specifier http://www.electronicspecifier.com/design-automation/software-brings-3d-mapping-to-nanoscale-objects ↩

  37. Correlation of AFM/SEM/EDS Images to Discriminate Several Nanoparticle Populations Mixed in Cosmetics in Microscopy Today, Vol 29 issue 3, 21 May 2021 https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/microscopy-today/article/correlation-of-afmsemeds-images-to-discriminate-several-nanoparticle-populations-mixed-in-cosmetics/9334DCD11F25DBB61ECCEE8B87842C8C ↩