A new thermal sensor fitted to survey aircraft is set to revolutionise the way local councils tackle energy inefficiency and fuel poverty in Britain’s towns and cities. Part of a new generation thermal mapping system unveiled by aerial survey company Bluesky, the system captures and maps highly accurate measurements of heat-loss from buildings.

The system includes a state-of-the-art thermal survey camera, advanced navigation and positioning system and improved sensor control and user interface. Older systems use instruments originally designed for use in a laboratory or industrial plant environment, but Bluesky’s new sensor has been specifically designed for airborne surveying and provides higher precision results.

Conventional systems require continuous cooling of the camera environment and this can lead to variations in results and subsequent issues during post survey analysis over large geographical areas. The Bluesky ‘microbolometer’ thermal camera can perform nearer to the real ambient temperature around the camera making it more suitable for use in aircraft flying at night.

“We are delighted to be the first to market with this superior thermal mapping system – it is the only fully integrated geospatial thermal infrared system in use in the UK,” commented Rachel Tidmarsh Managing Director of Bluesky International. “It will enable us to significantly improve the accuracy and efficiency of data capture. This will in turn benefit organisations such as Local Authorities and environmental consultants that are trying to reduce carbon emissions through more targeted and therefore effective energy efficiency campaigns.”

As well as being designed to operate under conditions of rapidly changing ambient temperature, the Bluesky sensor is also capable of measuring within the optimal spectral range required to assess the emissivity from building roofs. The sensor has a spectral range of 1.5-14 µm (1µm = 1 millionth of metre), a temperature range of -40ºC to +120ºC and a camera resolution of 1240 x 480 pixels. Combined with an advanced navigation and positioning system that allows geo-referencing of the resulting heat-loss image to a high degree of accuracy, allowing Bluesky to offer an unrivalled thermal mapping service.

“This is just another step in our commitment to capture and deliver the most accurate and up to date property level heat-loss map data,” continued Tidmarsh. “We pride ourselves on our track record and our team of vastly experienced reconnaissance, flight planners and post survey analysts ensured we achieved complete fulfilment of last winters surveys totalling in excess of 2000 sqkm including many towns and districts across the UK.”

Aerial mapping company Bluesky is helping to fund an exciting environmental project in Peterborough, promoting sustainable lifestyles and raising awareness of environmental issues through practical demonstration and community involvement. The Green Backyard project is set to benefit from the donation following a thermal aerial survey completed by Bluesky on behalf of Peterborough City Council. As active supporters of The Green Backyard the city council approached Bluesky to see how they could compensate for the greenhouse gases emitted as a result of the survey and Bluesky were happy to make the donation to the local community growing project.

Bluesky conducted the cutting edge thermal survey in April of this year capturing property level heat loss imagery for the city of Peterborough and its urban suburbs. The council will use the digital image map in its geographical information system (GIS), in conjunction with Ordnance Survey mapping and the council’s centralised address database (the Local Land and Property Gazetteer / LLPG), to help identify communities to target with awareness campaigns promoting energy efficiency measures. The data will also play an important role on the newly revamped council website where local residents can simply enter their postcode and house number to get a personalised ‘score’ for their property together with advice on improvements in insulation, energy efficiency and reducing consumption.

“As a city Peterborough is very proactive when it comes to environmental issues. In fact we are campaigning to become the UK’s Environment Capital,” commented Jenna Hiley, climate change officer at Peterborough City Council. “Even though it was important for us to map heat loss across the city we were conscious of the emissions generated by the survey aircraft and we wanted to do something meaningful for the local community.”

“The generous donation made by Bluesky, more than twice the recommended amount per tonne of CO2, will be used by The Green Back Yard project to fund some mature fruit bushes for the site on London Road,” continued Hiley.

Rachel Tidmarsh, Managing Director of Bluesky commented “Thermal imagery is an important tool helping councils identify households, businesses and even public sector buildings that could benefit from advice, grants or support to reduce energy waste and consumption. Although we already contribute to a carbon offsetting programme we were happy to support this project which is helping change the urban environment in Peterborough.”

Bluesky offer an end to end thermal data solution, including a cost effective airborne survey service measuring building roof heat loss levels across an entire city in just one evening plus a bespoke thermal mapping service creating intelligent energy consumption and fuel poverty maps to support energy strategies and local campaigns. Bluesky are also able to provide an easy to use software package, HELIOS, which helps councils analyse complex data from multiple sources and share results with colleagues, partner organisations and members of the public.

Leicestershire, UK, 05 November 2009 – Homeowners in West Yorkshire, UK, will soon be able to go online to see the heat loss from their property.  Following airborne surveys by aerial mapping firm Bluesky, the property level thermal map together with high-resolution aerial photography are to be provided online by Calderdale Council.  The council’s re-launched Calderdale Maps Online service will offer interactive maps together with new features such as address look ups and find my nearest.

The first phase of the relaunch will be the property level heat loss map created by Bluesky following a thermal aerial survey in March 2009. The interactive map will allow visitors to the website to check the thermal efficiency of their home or business property and then access further web pages detailing what measures can be taken to reduce heat loss.  In the case of homeowners, how they can apply for free or discounted loft and cavity wall insulation. Visitors to the site can also choose to view the data in an accessible way through an address look up form that returns property specific heat loss information in a text friendly format.

The latest online evolution is designed to allow the customer greater flexibility in terms of self service and the use of good quality geographic information was seen as fundamental to its take up and success. “The aim of the thermal survey and online map created by Bluesky is to raise awareness of energy efficiency amongst the householders and business owners of Calderdale and to encourage householders to have their property insulated,” commented Debbie Chew of the Environmental Management Team.

The thermal efficiency information is also being made available internally via the Council’s intranet mapping tool giving officers across the organisation access to the data. “In a more strategic channel the Corporate GIS Team will be working with the Private Sector Housing Team to analyse the data and target areas of the district where insulation is most required,” added Craig Moulding, Corporate GIS Manager.

The second phase of the online project will be the full transposition of information from the Council’s existing mapping portal to a new web application. Utilising the latest technology, interactive maps will be embedded within pages across the site providing visitors with access to a plethora of council datasets such as conservation and heritage, public rights of way and environmental and planning issues. The chosen data can be viewed with either Ordnance Survey mapping or Bluesky’s high resolution, 2009 aerial photography as a background.

Calderdale are long-term users of aerial photography pioneering in their deployment of the information rich resource by the Internet and Council Intranet. This has encouraged the use of data which in turn has established aerial photography as an essential tool in many departments, for example within the planning enforcement process. “As well as helping to build a picture of a site, and its changes over a period of time, aerial photography has been used on countless occasions to prove or disprove the existence of a development or change of land use. This is particularly important as development becomes immune from planning enforcement action after a certain period of time,” commented Robert Rose of the Planning Enforcement Team.

Website: www.bluesky-world.com

All enquiries to Bluesky on +44 (0)1530 518 518

Notes to Editor:

Bluesky is a UK-based specialist in aerial imaging and remote sensing data collection and processing.  An internationally recognised leader with projects extending around the globe, Bluesky is proud to work with prestigious organisations such as Google, the BBC and Government Agencies.

Bluesky has unrivalled expertise in the creation of seamless, digital aerial photography, 3D landscape/cityscape visualisations and prints and also runs a national mapping centre, providing digital mapping, satellite imagery and aerial photography including ultra-high resolution imagery of cities and towns.

www.bluesky-world.com

Coalville, Leicestershire, UK, October 2009 – Aerial survey company Bluesky has launched an easy-to-use property heat loss mapper to help Local Authorities view thermal data which is collected during airborne thermal imaging surveys.  The HELIOS (Heat Loss Investigation System) web based reporting tool, developed by Manchester Geomatics, will help energy and environment teams understand the results of thermal surveys and allow cross referencing of data with other information.

With fuel poverty and energy consumption high on both the political and personal agenda, HELIOS allows survey results to be presented in a visually appealing and easily understandable manner.  HELIOS is designed to manage multiple data types enabling the cross referencing of thermal mapping with geo-demographic data such as Census information, building classification mapping and land use.  It also matches address information including the National Land and Property Gazetteer (NLPG), base mapping from Ordnance Survey, and other custom data layers such as the energy consumption compiled by BERR.

This powerful combination of information will help Local Authorities identify opportunities to engage with residents and the business community about suitable insulation grants, consumption advice and renewable energy products thus helping to measure and report on National Indicators and Performance Targets. 

“Fuel consumption and energy efficiency are ‘hot’ topics impacting not only on the environment but on the purse of every business, household and individual,” commented Rachel Tidmarsh, Managing Director of Bluesky. “By providing Local Authorities with up-to-date, building level thermal imagery plus the tools they need to analyse and communicate this information rich resource we can help reduce consumption, protect at risk residents and preserve the environment.” 

The end-to-end solution offered by Bluesky to Local Authorities includes a cost effective airborne thermal survey service measuring building roof heat loss levels across an entire city in just one evening plus a bespoke thermal mapping service creating intelligent energy consumption and fuel poverty maps to support energy strategies and local campaigns. By using HELIOS, Councils can now easily analyse complex data from multiple sources and share results with colleagues, partner organisations and members of the public. Bluesky has many years of successfully delivering thermal survey solutions to Local Authorities and help assemble, host and manage a HELIOS installation on behalf of an organisation.

Website: www.bluesky-world.com 

Editor’s Notes:

Bluesky is a UK-based specialist in aerial imaging and remote sensing data collection and processing.  An internationally recognised leader with projects extending around the globe, Bluesky is proud to work with prestigious organisations such as Google, the BBC and Government Agencies.

Bluesky has unrivalled expertise in the creation of seamless, digital aerial photography, 3D landscape/cityscape visualisations and prints and also runs a national mapping centre, providing digital mapping, satellite imagery and aerial photography including ultra-high resolution imagery of cities and towns.

www.bluesky-world.com

Manchester Geomatics (MGL) is a geo-consultancy firm.  MGL create bespoke software solutions and consultancy to support the management, presentation and analysis of spatially referenced socio-economic data.  They also specialise in address quality assurance consultancy and software tools to audit and maintain address and spatial data holdings. 

Ten years experience developing web based Local Information and Data Management Systems has resulted in a range of functionally rich, easy-to-use solutions, including most recently, HELIOS. MGL have successfully delivered several national projects relating to address cleansing, standardisation and matching and have expertise in optimising large databases for efficient throughput and querying of information. 

www.mgeomatics.com

Bluesky’s aerial survey aircraft made the most of the blue skies over the UK to capture 12,000 sqkm of high resolution imagery of Britain’s cities and countryside. Bluesky’s ambitious flying programme includes a five-year update programme for the GeoPerspectives national archive as well as ultra high resolution surveys of cities across the country.

Urban areas captured during May and June include Manchester, Leeds, Glasgow, Burnley, Blackburn and Milton Keynes together with county coverage of Northamptonshire, Oxfordshire, most of Surrey and the remaining areas of South and West Yorkshire.

“2008 and 2007 were both poor years for the UK aerial survey market with many companies struggling to get survey planes off the ground let alone capture significant amounts of data,” commented James Eddy, Operations Director at Bluesky. “We have flying contractors strategically located to cover the country, scrutinising weather conditions and forecasts, in order to make the most of any opportunity to fly. However we will not compromise on quality and we will only produce data from images flown during optimum conditions once it has passed our rigorous quality assurance process.”     

Bluesky use the latest digital imaging technology to capture aerial photography at ultra high resolution. All the areas flown to date will be produced as 10cm or 12.5cm resolution, digital, map accurate datasets and will be used to update the GeoPerspectives (a joint venture between Bluesky and Infoterra) national archive of orthorectified aerial photography.

The aerial datasets will, in due course be available online at http://www.bluesky-world.com where visitors to the site can search, view and download digital image files. The Bluesky imagery will also be used to produce digital terrain and surface models (DTM/DSM) for 3D modelling and complemented with colour infrared imagery (CIR), simultaneously captured, for vegetation analysis.

Bluesky is a UK-based specialist in aerial imaging and remote sensing data collection and processing.  An internationally recognised leader with projects extending around the globe, Bluesky is proud to work with prestigious organisations such as Google, the BBC and Government Agencies.

Bluesky has unrivalled expertise in the creation of seamless digital aerial photography, 3D landscape/cityscape visualisations and prints and also runs a national mapping centre, providing digital mapping, satellite imagery and aerial photography including ultra-high resolution imagery of cities and towns.

Website: www.bluesky-world.com

Editorial enquiries, contact Robert Peel on tel. +44 (0)1666 823306

Colour separation requests – please fax only to +44 (0)1666 824 668

All reader enquiries to Bluesky sales on +44 (0)1530 518 518

Notes to editors:

Bluesky is a UK-based specialist in aerial imaging and remote sensing data collection and processing.  An internationally recognised leader with projects extending around the globe, Bluesky works with prestigious organisations such as Google, the BBC and Government Agencies.

Bluesky has unrivalled expertise in the creation of seamless digital aerial photography, 3D landscape/cityscape visualisations and prints and also runs a national mapping centre, providing digital mapping, satellite imagery and aerial photography including ultra-high resolution imagery of cities and towns

Bluesky has launched a brand new online map shop that offers a unique range of mapping, aerial photography and other aerial survey data available online at the touch of a button. Visitors to www.bluesky-world.com can search using a postcode, place name or a geographic co-ordinate, view and refine their selection before purchasing CAD and GIS ready digital data.

The new website, which has an enhanced look and an improved user experience, provides access to the most up to date aerial photography, height data, detailed 3D models, LiDAR, thermal imagery and Ordnance Survey mapping.  www.bluesky-world.com is the only UK site offering online access to this wide selection of data for areas across England, Wales and Scotland.

“Bluesky has built up an extensive range of geographic data which it has now made available from a single on-line mapshop,” said Rachel Tidmarsh, Managing Director of Bluesky. “We recognise the need to continually deliver what the market wants and this is why we continually review both our online service and product offering ensuring we are up to date and inline with market expectations. We are confident that this new look website offering access to a huge range of up to date geographic information will prove popular with both existing and new customers.”

After selecting a location by entering a postcode, place or geographic co-ordinate, visitors to www.bluesky-world.com are shown an image of the chosen area, which they can zoom in or out, or pan around to refine their search. The site already offers visitors access to the most up to date aerial photography covering every inch of England and Wales plus significant parts of Scotland.

The Bluesky online aerial photo offering, is supplemented by additional layers of geographic information, including Ordnance Survey mapping, detailed 3D City Models, LiDAR data, Digital Surface and Terrain Models (DSM and DTM), Colour Infrared mapping and Thermal Survey images, which are all available for instant download and coverage is increasing continually.  Future plans include online access to additional historic survey images, oblique photography and additional map based products.

Bluesky is a UK-based specialist in aerial imaging and remote sensing data collection and processing.  An internationally recognised leader with projects extending around the globe Bluesky is proud to work with prestigious organisations such as Google, the BBC and Government Agencies.  Bluesky has unrivalled expertise in the creation of seamless, digital aerial photography, 3D landscape/cityscape visualisations and prints and also runs a national mapping centre, providing digital mapping, satellite imagery and aerial photography including ultra-high resolution imagery of cities and towns. 

Bluesky, Leicestershire – UK, has announced an enhanced thermal mapping service which allows home owners to quickly check on heat loss from their property over the Internet. The Leicestershire aerial mapping firm has already completed night time surveys of many of Britain’s cities and towns and this latest development enables integration with Council Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and websites providing an all-in-one thermal mapping solution for Local Authorities.  

Bluesky thermal maps reveal property ‘hot spots’ using a colour coded temperature map. Matched to Ordnance Survey maps and Council Local Land and Property Gazetteers, visitors to a Council’s website can simply type in their address and instantly get an idea of how much heat is escaping through their roof. Bluesky can also enhance the service by providing detailed aerial photography of the area in question, allowing easy identification of buildings on the ground.

Integration with GIS enables property level thermal data to be compared with other mapping layers such as locations of public buildings, social housing, as well as social data such as indices of deprivation and homes of the elderly.  This allows the effective targeting of heat conservation initiatives and resources.

“With energy conservation hot on the agenda of both central government and local authorities, we have been busy developing our thermal surveying business to provide the best solutions for the market.  Easy access via the web makes it very easy for residents, landlords and businesses to access the heat loss for their own properties. Meanwhile integration with GIS and other data overlays give councils added information so that resources can be targeted very effectively” says Rachel Tidmarsh, Managing Director of Bluesky.   

Kirklees Council is using a thermal image map created byBluesky the aerial survey specialists to promote a £20 million programme to improve energy efficiency in every household in the district. The Kirklees Warm Zone project is one of the biggest and most comprehensive programmes to tackle household energy efficiency and climate change in the UK and as part of the programme the Bluesky thermal image map has been published on the Council’s website. Householders can simply type in their postcode, select their property and instantly get a colour-coded picture of how much heat is escaping through their roof and walls. The Council website also offers advice and information on ways to improve energy efficiency in the home including how the Warm Zone programme is being delivered and other grants that may be available.

Over a three-year period every single home within Kirklees will be visited in order to assess the suitability for energy efficiency improvements. Suitable properties will be offered cavity wall and loft insulation FREE of charge, regardless of household income – a first in the UK.

Councillor Martyn Bolt, Cabinet Member for the Environment said, “The thermal image is a vital tool for communicating with residents. It clearly shows the scale of the problem and we hope it will encourage residents and businesses to address the issue. The images also support our work to tackle fuel poverty and climate change in the borough.”

Bluesky captured the amazing thermal survey using an airborne thermal infrared sensor – a modified version of the technology used by the military for night vision. The survey, which captured over 200 sq km of the Kirklees landscape was flown mid evening in order to catch the widest variations in temperature which can occur as a result of poor insulation of buildings.

Bluesky supplied the Council with a thermal photomap providing an instant snapshot of hot spots by colour coding temperature ranges, allowing every building to be analysed.

Funding for the Warm Zone programme is being provided by Kirklees Council, Scottish Power, National Grid, the Regional Housing Board, Scottish Power Energy People Trust and British Gas Energy Trust and ongoing funding bids will be made throughout the lifetime of the project. The Warm Zone brand was established by the Government in 2000 and has already helped more than half a million UK households.

A thermal photomap, created by aerial survey specialist Bluesky, is being used by Luton Borough Council to highlight poor energy efficiency. The online service provides an instant snapshot of property ‘hot spots’ in the Borough with an easy to use colour coded temperature map. Visitors to the Council’s website can simply type in their address and instantly get an idea of how much heat is escaping through their roof; the website also offers advice and information on ways to improve energy efficiency in the home including details of grants discounts available.

Donald Bowler, Luton Borough Council’s Environmental Assessment Manager said, “The Bluesky thermal images are a very good way of showing residents how much heat they are losing through the roofs of their homes. People can see how heat efficient their property is by its colour and they can compare its heat efficiency to neighbouring houses which may be the same type of building but are more heat efficient due to better roof insulation.”

The property level thermal infrared survey data was captured using an airborne thermal infrared sensor, a modified version of technology used by the military for night vision. Captured around midnight on the 30th January of this year in order to see the widest variations in temperature, the raw survey data was processed by Bluesky to calculate heat loss values for every building polygon in the Council’s Ordnance Survey mapping. The processed data was delivered to the Council as a colour-coded map, providing an instant snapshot of the district and as a map-accurate dataset for use in the Council’s Geographical Information System (GIS).

Luton Borough Council works with Cocoon Your Home, a free, not-for-profit, helpline, (0800 8048777) that provides callers with at least two estimates from reputable professional installers, along with details of any council or government grants for which the resident may be eligible. “People may be worried that they cannot afford the up front costs of insulating their home, but all home owners and private tenants are entitled to discounted loft and cavity wall insulation which means they can start saving money from the day the insulation is installed and will keep saving money for as long as the property is standing,” continued Bowler.

“In addition to the high profile use of the Bluesky thermal photomap on our website we will also be using the data to target individual properties for improvement works and we hope this will help contribute to the National Indicator 186 CO2 emission per head of population measurements.”

Bluesky is a UK-based specialist in aerial imaging and remote sensing data collection and processing. An internationally recognised leader with projects extending around the globe, Bluesky has unrivalled expertise in the creation of seamless, digital aerial photography, 3D landscape/cityscape visualisations, and 3D prints. Bluesky also runs a national mapping centre, providing digital maps, site plans, satellite imagery, aerial photography and ultra-high resolution imagery of cities and towns.