A three year research project that will help the European Commission achieve ambitious renewable energy targets has reached the halfway point. The 2.4 million Euro project aims to support thousands of businesses across the region and help them take a world lead in the design, manufacture and installation of Renewable Energy Technologies. Known as EAGLE, project partners including geographic information company Bluesky providing the technical lead, will achieve this goal through the development of an intelligent web-based renewable energy platform powered by map based data.

“We are on track for a successful conclusion of this ambitious and complex project,” commented Technical Coordinator and Director of Bluesky, James Eddy. “We have already defined what data is available for this project and how each dataset will interface to create a Europe wide solution. Recent activity has focused on the processing of this data and the development of the EAGLE web portal and interface.”

The research project initially focused on the exploitation of geographic data, such as aerial photography and LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging), for the automatic extraction of information relating to the suitability of a property for renewable energy generation. The second element of the project, now well underway, is to create a web based portal to deliver this information to energy companies, government organisations, installers and individuals providing unbiased information.

Initially focused on solar power generation the longer term aims are to also encompass other types of renewable energy such as wind, hydro and ground source heat, making it the industry’s renewables portal, further enhancing Bluesky’s position at the forefront of this technology.

“By utilising a wide spectrum of geographic data, including 3D imaging such as LiDAR as well as more traditional aerial photographs, address and cadastre data we will have created a solution that can work to a much higher level of detail and accuracy than other automated systems coming to market,” concluded Eddy.

The concluding stages of the project will address the final elements of system integration and validation before moving into a testing phase. Due for completion in 2014 project partners, including Bluesky, will also be involved in marketing and promotion activities to demonstrate the EAGLE solution to potential users.

Twitter: @eagle_fp7

Aerial mapping company Bluesky has created and is hosting an online mapping portal to help businesses and residents in Portsmouth identity thermal inefficient properties. Using specialist thermal sensors mounted on a survey aircraft Bluesky recorded the heat loss from buildings across the city on a cold winter night. This raw thermal survey data was then matched to address records in order to create the easy to use postcode lookup function. Portsmouth City Council hope the online thermal mapping will encourage businesses and residents to take action to improve the energy efficiency of their property; save money, reduce fuel poverty and improve the city’s carbon footprint.

“We originally commissioned the Bluesky thermal survey to identify Council owned properties that could benefit from energy efficiency measures,” commented Jasmine Fletcher, Climate Change and Sustainability Co-ordinator at Portsmouth City Council. “However we soon realised the data had a much wider potential and appeal. Since launching the online thermal mapping portal we have received more than 2,500 hits and the site continues to be popular with many hits every day.”

By publishing the thermal map Portsmouth City Council hope to help residents and businesses understand how they can benefit from energy efficiency measures. They estimate that installing loft and cavity insulation into a property which is leaking a lot of heat could save up to £700 over 3 years. As fuel and energy costs are increasing, this will help to reduce the amount of money paid on heating bills over the long-term. Increasing the thermal efficiency of properties in Portsmouth will also help towards reducing the number of people living in fuel poverty along with lowering the city’s carbon footprint.

“Having entered their postcode and selected the address of interest from the returned list, visitors to the website are presented with a colour coded map of their property and those surrounding it for context,” continued Fletcher. “The visitor can then view a list of frequently asked questions and is directed to other areas of the Council’s website for additional advice and support.”

Thermal surveys, such as the one commissioned by Portsmouth City Council, are captured by Bluesky using a ‘microbolometer’ thermal camera; a system specifically designed for airborne surveying and ideal for use in aircraft flying at night. Combined with an advanced navigation and positioning system and improved sensor control and user interface Bluesky’s new generation thermal mapping system allows measurements of heat loss from property roofs to be recorded with higher precision and more consistent results than other systems currently in use in the UK.

Aerial survey specialist Bluesky has taken national mapping to the next level by adding height information to Ordnance Survey’s digital maps. Using detailed 3D models Bluesky has added a range of height attributes to more than 50 million buildings. The height values attributed by Bluesky to the map layers would, if added together, reach almost to the moon while the area covered by the heighted buildings is roughly equivalent to the size of Dorset. Heighted Ordnance Survey MasterMap and Ordnance Survey VectorMap Local (VML) are now available, off the shelf, for England and Wales and Scotland is due to be released in early 2013.

“We believe these products address a significant gap in the market,” commented Rachel Tidmarsh, Managing Director of Bluesky. “Users from a wide range of markets are calling out for detailed, off the shelf height mapping with cost effective and user friendly licencing. By combining the best mapping with detailed height measurements in a customer orientated package we are now able to satisfy this demand. We have already seen interest from customers in local government, utilities, insurance, telecommunication, environment and the emergency services.”

Using their own off the shelf Digital Surface Model (DSM) supplemented with highly accurate LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) data, Bluesky has developed a range of automated processes and routines to attribute height values to building polygons extracted from either OS MasterMap or VectorMap Local. From this it is possible to accurately determine building heights in relation to the underlying terrain. Coverage for both layers is already available for the whole of England and Wales and heighted MasterMap and VectorMap Local for Scotland will be available soon. Bluesky will be following its launch of a heighted building layer with other heighted feature layers such as roads, railways and rivers.

OS MasterMap provides a highly detailed view of the landscape; including individual buildings, roads and areas of land. In total, it contains in excess of 400 million individual features at scales of up to 1:1250. Ordnance Survey VectorMap Local includes features such as roads, railways, vegetation, boundaries, urban extent and buildings and is fully customisable; displaying only the information needed, how its needed.

Zombie attacks are being played out against a backdrop of aerial photography from Bluesky, with help from Binary Space’s “Zombie Outbreak Simulator” iPhone app. Players around the world can simulate zombies attacking locations within the UK, controlling, for example, zombie numbers, speed, weapon accuracy and infection times. The aerial photomaps provided by Bluesky allow players to view the unfolding conflicts in real world context, with detail including building access, parked cars and even people!

Zombie Outbreak Simulator and Class 3 Outbreak were originally developed by games developer Binary Space for use on the PC. Using a backdrop of Google Maps, including aerial images of the UK from Bluesky, more than 3 million games have been played to date with civilians battling against zombie invaders. In 2011 Binary Space decided to produce a version of Zombie Outbreak Simulator for the iOS (formerly iPhone OS, the Apple mobile operating system).

“When we ported Zombie Outbreak Simulator to the iPhone we were still using Google Maps,” commented developer Jay Weston of Binary Space. “Unfortunately Apple announced they were dropping support for it so we had to come up with a solution – fast! We tried scouring the Internet for alternatives but were unable to find images that were of sufficient quality and at a high enough resolution, nor, in most cases, could we see what we were getting.”

He continued, “As we had already used Bluesky photomaps in the PC version of our games this seemed an obvious solution. The team at Bluesky was extremely attentive and helped us out enormously plus we know the images won’t be updated without our knowledge and no one will cease supporting them.”

Since launch earlier this year Zombie Outbreak Simulator for use on the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch has been well received. Placed by Apple staff in their ‘favourite app’ list and peaking in the top 5 for Simulation and Strategy games and consistently ranking in the top 200 overall games in the US app store listings.

The aerial images supplied by Bluesky form part of their off the shelf archive of high resolution, georeferenced aerial imagery. With nationwide coverage this is the most up to date, most comprehensive, widely used, orthorectified photography available in the UK today. New aerial photographs are continually added through a five-year rolling program.

Website: www.bluesky-world.com
Bluesky Tel +44 (0)1530 518 518

Aerial survey specialist Bluesky has launched what is thought to be the UK’s first ever National Tree Map. Created using the most up to date aerial photography and colour infrared datasets combined with detailed height models the Bluesky National Tree Map provides a detailed assessment of tree heights and canopy cover.

Bluesky tree maps are already in use within a number of local authorities and utility companies and interest in the new product has now been received from insurance companies and forestry organisations. The digital map layer, covering the whole of England and Wales, will be available in its entirety early next year and plans are already in place for cover of Scotland. “Trees contribute an enormous amount; they provide valuable habitats for wildlife, improve the air we breathe and help to conserve energy in nearby buildings. However they also pose a risk to properties and utility networks with root damage causing subsidence and pipeline fractures, and branches and falling trees affecting overhead cables,” commented Rachel Tidmarsh, Managing Director of Bluesky International. “It is therefore essential that those charged with managing trees and other essential resources have the tools they require. By creating a single, off the shelf product, for the whole of the country we are, for the first time, giving them the information they need to make informed decisions in a timely and cost effective manner.”

“By using innovative algorithms and image processing techniques we have been able to partially automate the production of the National Tree Map making its creation a reality,” continued Tidmarsh. “A team of experienced professionals then complete an extensive QA process to ensure the quality and accuracy of the four themed layers.”

The production of the Bluesky National Tree Map follows hot on the heels of other tree mapping projects around the world. Earlier this year NASA, with the help of US Government conservationists, accurately documented for the first time the tree population of America using space-based radar, satellites, computer programs and lots of groundwork. Bluesky itself has already completed a number of large scale tree mapping projects for local authorities across the UK including Cambridge and Carlisle City Councils as well as Red Rose Forest and The Ecology Consultancy.

In the UK a recently published government white paper on the natural environment ‘The Natural Choice’ has highlighted some measurements of the economic benefits of urban green spaces. These include an estimated benefit of £300 per person, per year, attributed to living within a view of green space. While urban green spaces nationally are estimated to be worth £2.3 billion to the economy, per year. Maintaining the UK’s green spaces is predicted to deliver £30 billion in health and welfare benefits alone however failing to maintain this valuable resource would cost an estimated £20 billion each year.

Aerial photography from Bluesky has been used to create an interactive map illustrating the massive regeneration project that is transforming London’s South Bank. The project is set to metamorphose the Nine Elms district of London from a semi-derelict, light industrial zone into an ultra-modern residential and business district. The online map provides detail for each element of the project using the aerial photography as a backdrop to highlight the position of the district within central London.

“The interactive map is a very useful tool for explaining our regeneration programme and demonstrating how the many complex schemes fit together,” said Helen Fisher, Nine Elms Programme Director. “It’s part of our wider awareness and marketing campaign for Nine Elms on the South Bank and is designed to attract investors, end users and keep local people up to date on important developments.”

“The aerial photography supplied by Bluesky is an integral part of the map,” continued Helen. “It provides geographical context for each element of the project and clearly illustrates the way these 26 development sites fit together and sit within the context of central London.”

Nine Elms on the South Bank will benefit from three iconic attractions; a regenerated Battersea Power Station, the new United States Embassy and New Covent Garden Market – the largest fresh produce market in the country. Estate agent Knight Frank predicts property values in the district to increase by 140% between 2011 and 2016 – the highest forecast growth in the UK. The project will provide up to 22,000 construction jobs over the next ten years and once completed will provide 600,000 square metres of new business space supporting a further 25,000 new employment opportunities and deliver billions in economic growth and overseas investment.

A £1billion transport improvement package will make Nine Elms on the South Bank as well connected as the rest of Central London. Two new Northern line stations will create fast, direct links to the West End, City and North London. There will also be new riverbus piers, new bus services and a new network of cycle lanes and footpaths. The Vauxhall Gyratory will be remodelled to create a more pedestrian friendly environment and a new bridge across the Thames will link the area to Pimlico on the opposite bank.

Bluesky supplied the full colour, geographically accurate aerial photography to the Nine Elms Vauxhall Partnership. Co-chaired by the leaders of Wandsworth and Lambeth Council the partnership includes the area’s main developers and landowners, the Mayor of London, Transport for London and the Greater London Authority and is supported by a dedicated Programme Delivery Team.

3D models created from high resolution aerial photography are supporting the pioneering use of Building Information Modelling (BIM) on regeneration and construction projects across London. Created by Bluesky and supplied to David Miller Architects the 3D models accurately place the projects in their real world multi dimension context. This provides a base for the integration of other project critical data and allows David Miller Architects to effectively manage the project and communicate with stakeholders. BIM is designed to drive cost and carbon reductions and will be required on public sector projects by 2016

“The need for speedy, accurate and affordable 3D information led us to Bluesky,” commented David McMahon, Senior Architect at David Miller Architects. “For initial conception and feasibility stage proposals, where a full scale survey of the site is neither practicable nor cost effective, but 3D information is desired, being able to obtain this level of information from Bluesky is the perfect solution.”

The 3D models created by Bluesky on behalf of David Miller Architects have included an area of St John’s Wood, Westminster around a new school building site, an area around Elgin Avenue, also in Westminster, for community homes estate regeneration and an area around Paris Gardens, Southwark for new build student housing. The 3D data from Bluesky is integrated into the company’s 3D BIM software to help determine the extents and possible constraints of the site. Using the BIM software other information, such as ‘right to light’, can also be integrated. This allows for the limitations of development to be identified and outlined and facilitates the production of imagery that can be presented to stakeholders.

“Outsourcing this critical part of the process allows us to focus on the design, development and validation of a scheme, rather than having to concentrate our initial efforts on modelling the surrounding context, a process which we have historically struggled to carry out to the degrees of accuracy afforded to us by Bluesky,” concluded David McMahon.

Bluesky’s bespoke building models are created from the most up to date, high-resolution, stereo aerial photography. They are created to the client’s specification and can include road detail and an underlying Digital Terrain Map (DTM) to place the urban representation in its true world context. The standard Bluesky 3D city model can also be enhanced with the addition of vertical, oblique or ground photography to deliver additional detail and real world visual impact.

Bluesky has taken the bold step to purchase a state of the art airborne mapping system which includes a LiDAR and fully integrated thermal sensor and high resolution camera. The system has been developed by Optech and combines the Orion M300 LiDAR, Long Wave Infrared thermal sensor and a CS-10000 camera.

The LiDAR (Light Imaging Detection and Ranging) system uses aircraft mounted lasers to accurately determine the distance between the sensor and the ground or other targets such as buildings and vegetation. Specifically designed to offer a cost effective, high performance solution at mid altitudes, the Orion M300 is ideally suited for applications such as electricity transmission network mapping, transport infrastructure modelling and environmental monitoring such as flood risk analysis and forestry management. In addition it will enable Bluesky to capture highly accurate 3D measurements from which to create some of their bespoke mapping solutions, such as the UK’s first solar potential map and 3D city models.

The thermal sensor records infrared measurements and will be used for identifying heat loss from buildings and monitoring pipelines. It can be used simultaneously with the LiDAR or independently depending on the customer’s requirements. In addition the camera captures images of the target sites and again can be used simultaneously with the other two sensors providing customers with a wealth of coincident information for their area of interest; a complete solution and substantial acquisition savings.

The system chosen by Bluesky offers industry leading data precision and accuracy and is the world’s most compact system, offering flexibility in installation and use.

“This is an important acquisition for a wide section of our clients. The availability of this sensor in the UK means that Bluesky’s new and existing customers will now benefit from having the very latest aerial technology at their disposal” commented Rachel Tidmarsh, Managing Director of Leicestershire based Bluesky International. “We undertook a rigorous review of all systems currently available before selecting this state of the art system from Optech; which we believe will allow us to fulfil some of the more technically demanding data acquisition projects required by our customers.”

Bluesky has launched a fastponse aerial survey service using state-of-the-art unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) or drones. The technology, originally developed by the military, includes Artificial Intelligence (AI) guided autopilot, high resolution integrated camera and environmentally friendly rechargeable propulsion system. Autonomous take-off and landing ensures the system is easy to use and with a wingspan of less than a metre it can be easily transported without the need for complex assembly.

Aerial survey specialist Bluesky is funding research into the development and use of a new system to map Britain’s cities and towns at night. Earlier night sky mapping developments have generated interest from local authorities and Bluesky has now teamed up with the University of Leicester to look at solutions using new high sensitivity camera sensor technology. It is expected that the new system, mounted on survey aircraft, will accurately record the location of street lights, illuminated road signs and other night-time sources of light providing an accurate resource for asset inventories, light pollution assessment and energy optimisation measurements.
“We have looked at other systems already on the market but we think there is scope to develop a more advanced system that will increase the quality of data and resulting analysis,” commented James Eddy, Technical Director of Bluesky. “By working with the University of Leicester we can build on their expertise in the fields of remote sensing and spectroscopy and our own experiences of night time surveying.”

Dr Roland Leigh of the University of Leicester commented, “We will be applying techniques from astronomy, space engineering and spectroscopy to counter the challenges of nightsky mapping from survey aircraft. This is an exciting project for the University and we look forward to working with BlueSky to produce a novel and useful new system”.

The map accurate Nightsky images produced by the new system will be suitable for use in a desktop mapping tool or geographical information system (GIS). Providing intelligence for Local Authorities and other organisations with responsibility for lighting infrastructure Nightsky maps will be used as an aid for street lighting inventories and condition assessments and to assist with the identification of units for routine maintenance or fault repair. It is thought that Nightsky maps will also be used as an aid for research into new LED technologies as organisations across the globe are faced with challenging budget cuts.

Additional applications of the night-time survey images are expected to include measurement of illumination for energy consumption evaluations and additional intelligence to support innovative projects to ‘dim’ or even switch off selected streetlights in an effort to save money and reduce carbon emissions. Using advanced spatial queries and mapping techniques Bluesky Nightsky maps can also be used to provide an assessment of light pollution helping to reduce unnecessary illumination and focus lighting infrastructure where it is needed most. Nightsky map may also be used to help address issues of crime and antisocial behaviour and to support habitat studies.

Bluesky already has considerable experience and expertise in the capture and creation of off the shelf night-time aerial imagery as they are the UK’s leading provider of thermal photomaps to Local Authorities and partner organisations. Bluesky’s thermal survey service measures building roof heat loss levels across an entire city in just one evening together with a bespoke thermal mapping service creating intelligent energy consumption and fuel poverty maps and marketing materials to support energy strategies and local campaigns.