Zsolt Molnár

Managing Director, Technology Director

Professional Experience

Technology coordinator with ten years of procurement and organisational experience; coordination of 107 aircraft-based aerial surveys

Achievements

• 2009. - Bakó - Molnár: Development of the Interspect IS 1 digital metric camera

  Clients increasingly demanded finer ground resolution from aerial surveys for water management, nature conservation and municipalities, and higher productivity from surveys at conventional scales. This required the development of a calibrated camera that met the stringent quality requirements for metric cameras while offering the high sensitivity and shutter speeds of state-of-the-art handheld cameras.
• 2009. - Bakó - Molnár - Arday - Eiselt: The world's most detailed aerial image map of an extensive area produced from a fixed-wing aircraft (a mosaic of Budapest Zoo and Botanical Garden with a ground resolution of 1.8 cm)

  In 2009, he participated as a navigator and IT specialist in a landmark project in the history of the profession, producing what was then the world's highest-ground-resolution aerial image mosaic of Budapest Zoo and Botanical Garden, at 1.8 cm resolution. Both the camera systems required for the flight and the aircraft itself had to be specially modified.
• 2010. - Bakó - Molnár: Development of the Interspect IS 2 digital multispectral metric camera

  He built Interspect's in-house digital aerial metric cameras (IS 1, IS 2, IS 3, IS 4 MACS/SCMC, etc.) and actively contributed to their design. These high-speed calibrated metric cameras enable the capture of motion-blur-free images with sub-centimetre ground resolution even at an aircraft ground speed of 200 km/h.
• 2011. - Bakó-Molnár: Development of the Interspect IS 3 digital multispectral metric camera

  The IS2 proved itself in operational use, making it worthwhile to develop a stable multispectral version. Special lenses, filters and sensors were ordered, the camera lenses were assembled, and Zsolt Molnár single-handedly built the specialised multi-chamber camera housing.
• 2010. - Multispectral aerial survey of the area affected by the red mud disaster to support rescue operations, interventions and remediation

  At the request of the water damage response service, the photography was carried out in overcast conditions below a cloud base of 400 m, using a Cessna C-182 aircraft and an Interspect multispectral metric camera.
• 2012. - Development of the Interspect IS 4 digital multispectral metric camera

  Several versions of the IS 4 metric camera were built, all based on Gábor Bakó's concepts. Zsolt Molnár built the camera's internal computer, lenses, housing and power supply, and also developed the camera control software.
• 2012. - Bakó - Molnár - Arday - Góber: The most detailed orthophoto mosaic produced from a fixed-wing aircraft (an extensive mosaic of the Military Memorial Park in Pákozd with a ground resolution of 0.5 cm), together with the introduction of the high-speed aerial mapping method as a service

  He was also a member of the flight crew and participated in processing the imagery.
• 2012. - Planning of a detailed aerial survey of the Szomolya beehive stones and coordination of the fieldwork

  He planned the ground-based geodetic measurements, directed the fieldwork and played a major role in the photogrammetric processing.
• 2012. - Bakó - Molnár: Construction of the Interspect IstDS600-1030nmDSLR digital field NDVI camera for the Institute of Botany and Ecophysiology at Szent István University
• 2013. - Application of the high-resolution rapid aerial mapping method to the Danube flood survey and publication of further water management applications
• 2014. - Participation in the development and technical support of a rapid, high-accuracy aerial survey method for waterbird colonies.
• 2014. - Bakó - Molnár: Construction of a digital multispectral microscope workstation for the Institute for Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (MTA TAKI)
• 2014. - Development of a method for producing large raised-relief maps (construction of a modular terrain-model mould and vacuum table, with the appropriate heat-transfer and extraction systems and a positive-pressure room)

  At the time, no one in Hungary could mass-produce raised-relief maps of this size. He prepared production, built the necessary equipment and carried out the entire manufacturing process.
• 2014. - Design of the carbon-fibre frame of the Interspect UAS B 3.1 octocopter and construction of the Interspect IS U3.1 multispectral 3D camera.
• 2014. - Participation in planning and carrying out the restoration and digitisation of glass negatives held in the Map Collection of the Institute of Military History.
• 2016. - The Aerial Cartography and Remote Sensing Commemorative Medal — digital manufacturing preparation and production of the medals for the Aerial Cartographic & Remote Sensing Association

  He prepared the digital milling files and produced the medals from the design created by Gábor Bakó and simplified by Csenge T. Futaki.
• 2016. - Participation in processing CORONA reconnaissance satellite imagery of Hungary from the 1960s: digitisation, georeferencing and production of a seamless nationwide mosaic
• 2016. - Bakó - Molnár - Páll-Somogyi: On the Danube reach in Budapest between Margaret Island and the Northern Railway Bridge at Újpest: mapping underwater thermal springs

  In addition to serving on board the aircraft and participating in the photogrammetric post-processing, Zsolt Molnár designed the thermal imaging head for the metric camera.
• 2016. - Bakó-Molnár-Bagdi: Development and publication of a methodology for electronic terrain and obstacle data collection through cost-effective, safe surveying
• 2017. - At Buda Castle, he led the digital reconstruction of the original wooden decorative elements of St Stephen's Hall with contributions from Gábor Bakó and Csenge T. Futaki.

  He converted the designs into milling toolpaths, planned the machining allowances needed for individual artistic carving, and produced the 3D-printed demonstration pieces and simplified digital files for online presentation.
• 2018. - Participation in the GIS implementation of the contaminated-site map for the Our Toxic Legacy initiative.
• 2018. - Participation in developing the methodology of the High-Resolution Aerial Monitoring Network (2008-2018) to measure ecosystem services and landscape values in a form suitable for integration into a spatial database
• 2019. - Comprehensive documentation of the condition of Baglyas-kő Castle using ground-based and aerial surveying, photogrammetry and laser scanning

  He participated in the photogrammetric processing and created the computer visualisation at the visitor centre, the workstation's software environment, and the 3D presentation files and display system.
• 2023. - He directed the interpretation and digitisation of spatial data collected through fieldwork and aerial photogrammetry for the nationwide industrial siding survey, carried out the GIS implementation of the datasets and produced the RINF XML.
• 2025. - He designed an LED illumination panel for camera traps with genuinely low detectability to mammals and prepared design documentation for four types of wildlife monitoring camera suitable for mass production.
• 2026. - He developed a software environment for the automatic detection of chains of soil mounds made by blind mole-rats and other soil-dwelling mammals, and for a high degree of automation in the production of habitat and land-cover maps.

List of Publications

He contributed to the preparation and publication of numerous professional articles, studies and specialist books on aerial remote sensing, multispectral cameras, and productive, rapid aerial mapping methods.

Study

• Bakó G., Molnár Zs. 2009: IS2 Regulations (Requirements and Quality Assurance Regulations for Photogrammetric Products and Their Production Methods), Interspect Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Nature Conservation Company, Szigetszentmiklós
• Bakó G., Kovacs G., Molnar Zs., Kirisics J., Góber E., Arday A. (2015): The development of red mud flood environmental information system and the methodology for the spatial analysis of the degraded area - Landscape & Environment 9 (1) 2015. 1-11.
• Bakó G., Molnar Zs. (2015): Achievable Mapping Accuracy in Satellite, Aircraft and Micro-UAV Photogrammetry - 29 January 2015, Mine Surveying from the Air – The Latest Chapter in Photogrammetry, Budapest, Geological and Geophysical Institute of Hungary
• Bakó G., Szilágyi Zs., Bagdi Zs., Molnár Zs., Góber E., Arday A. (2019): The GSD dependency of the eTOD photogrammetric survey, CEAS Aeronautical Journal (2020) 11:137–143
• Bakó G., Molnar Zs. et al. (2020): Accurate Non-Disturbance Population Survey Method of Nesting Colonies in the Reedbed with Georeferenced Aerial Imagery Sensors 2020, 20, 2601.
• Bakó G., Molnar Zs. et al. (2021): Toward a High Spatial Resolution Aerial Monitoring Network for Nature Conservation—How Can Remote Sensing Help Protect Natural Areas? Sustainability 2021, 13, 8807.
• Bagdi Zs., Bakó G., Molnár Zs. (2023): Combined Use of Aerial Remote Sensing and Terrestrial Survey in ICAO eTOD's Electronic Terrain- and Obstacle Data Collection, Periodica Polytechnica Transportation Engineering

Cinematographer

• The Csepel Automobile Factory - 2005
• The Lakihegy Radio Station - 2005
• Csepel Island Local History Film Series (12 episodes) - 2006

Outdoor Information Panels

• Halásztelek Local History Panel (2010), double-sided, 3.5 x 2.3 m (information display area: 260 x 205 cm). Reviewed by: László Holakovszky
• Military Memorial Park - orthophoto map, Pákozd (2013)

Posters

• Budapest Zoo and Botanical Garden on the World's Highest-Ground-Resolution Aerial Image Map - HUNSPACE-HUNAGI Space Workshop September 23-26, 2010, Visegrád

Journal Articles

• Bakó Gábor, Molnár Zsolt (2010): Strategic Aerial Photography in a Disaster-Stricken Area. A Földgömb, 2010/8, 4–7. p.
• Bakó Gábor, Molnár Zsolt (2010): Strategic Aerial Mapping of the Disaster – What the Aerial Images Reveal. Műszaki Magazin, 2010/12, pp. 62–63.
• Bakó G., Molnár Zs. (2012): New Hungarian-Developed Sensors for Airborne Earth Observation Aeromagazin 2012/2 pp. 20-21.
• Bakó G., Molnár Zs., Tolnai M., Góber E. (2012): A Super-Resolution Flying Laboratory: Rapid Mapping Surveys. TermészetBúvár, Vol. 69, 2012/2, pp. 42-45.
• Bakó Gábor, Molnár Zsolt (2012): New Hungarian-Developed Sensors for Airborne Earth Observation – Stages of an Aerial Test Series. AERO, XIV. 2012/2, February, pp. 20–21.
• Bakó Gábor, Molnár Zsolt (2012): Facial Recognition on the Internet, in Public Spaces and from the Air – Imagination and Reality. Origo, 29 February 2012.
• Bakó Gábor, Molnár Zsolt (2013): Super-Resolution Ecological Studies. Természettudományi Közlöny, Vol. 144, Issue 10, 2013/10, pp. 477–478.
• Bakó G., Molnár Zs. (2013): Multispectral Aerial Survey and Three-Dimensional Condition Documentation of the Szomolya Beehive Stones Zöld Horizont, 2013, Vol. 8, Issues 1-2
• Bakó G., Molnár Zs., Góber E. (2013): Hungarian Hive Stones' Aerial Survey. Professional Surveyor, Special Aerial Mapping Edition, 2013/Fall, pp. 34–35. (Reviewed by: Shelly Cox)
• Bakó G., Molnár Zs., Góber E. (2014): Developments from Hungary: Multispectral Aerial Cameras. GIM International, February 2014, p. 21–23.
• Molnár Zs., Bakó G. (2014): Rapid Aerial Mapping Methods for Water Management. GEO Informatics, Vol. 17, 2014. Jan/Febr., p. 44–45.
• Bakó G., Molnár Zs., Góber E. (2014): Experiences with the first Hungarian digital multispectral aerial camera. GIM International, February 2014.
• Bakó G., Molnár Zs., Góber E. (2014): Raster Overlays in Urban GIS and Decision Support Systems – Experiences from Recent Municipal Orthophoto Surveys in Hungary. Tájökológiai Lapok, 12(2), 285–305.
• Bakó Gábor, Molnár Zsolt (2014): Protecting the Cleanliness of Our Surface Waters – High-Resolution Aerial Surveying. Élet és Tudomány, 2014/2, Vol. LXIX, No. 2, pp. 52–53.

Interviews and Reports

• Origo - Anyone Can Reveal the Hidden Details in Their Photos - 22 May 2012, Ádám Straub
• A Cutting-Edge Hungarian Development - National Geographic 2013/1, report by Zsuzsa Knyihár
• Aerial Photography Reveals Environmental Pollution - 4 January 2013, Origo
• A World-Record Hungarian Development - Presztizs Magazin 2013/2