Coalville, Leicestershire, UK, November 2009 – Dorset’s A35 and C6 roads form a crucial link down to the county’s south coast. With a view of improving this link and therefore relieving seasonal congestion on over-capacity neighbouring routes, Dorset County Council has commissioned multidisciplinary engineering consultancy Buro Happold to prepare a feasibility study into bypass options for the village of Bere Regis.

In order to accurately understand the levels and features of the local terrain, the consultancy has used UK specialist Bluesky’s 3D map system which creates digital maps captured by aircraft mounted lasers. Bluesky have also supplied high resolution aerial photography that has been used to create 3D fly-throughs and visualisations of the resulting designs. 

Using 12d Model, a powerful terrain modelling and civil engineering software package, Buro Happold has expanded on an earlier feasibility study and prepared three options for the bypass. The detailed terrain model has allowed the designers to minimise any impact on the environment, particularly the associated costs of cut and fill operations.

“The size of the study area meant a traditional topographic survey was simply not feasible due to cost implications,” commented Neil Harvey, Senior Engineer in Buro Happold’s Highways and Infrastructure division. “However for the same price as a relatively small ground survey we were able to acquire very accurate terrain measurements and high resolution aerial photography of the entire study area. These have proved instrumental in progressing the feasibility study and preparing designs for each of the three options. The aerial photography will also be fundamental in communicating these designs during a future public consultation period as they provide real world detail to our computer generated models.”   

In order to capture the highly accurate LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) data a survey aircraft equipped with a system of lasers was used. Lasers were beamed to the surface and the time taken for the beam to be bounced back to aircraft-mounted receivers was recorded. Using the known position of the aircraft (derived from on-board satellite positioning equipment), the time taken for the return of the laser beam and the known value of the speed of light; the distance between the aircraft and ground is calculated. Additional readings can also be taken to determine the height of buildings, vegetation and other surface structures.

The Bluesky LiDAR data forms part of a detailed 3D terrain map, which is available online, that covers most of England and Wales including all major urban centres, coastal areas and flood plains. Aerial photography for the whole of England, Wales and parts of Scotland is also available to view and purchase online.

Website: www.bluesky-world.com

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

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

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

Buro Happold is a multi-disciplinary international practice of consulting engineers established in 1976. It offers civil and structural engineering, mechanical and electrical engineering, quantity surveying, building services and environmental engineering, management consultancy, health and safety management, infrastructure and traffic engineering, ground engineering, façade engineering, fire engineering, computational fluid dynamics analysis, inclusive design consultancy, project management, urban design and a range of specialist CAD services

www.BuroHappold.com

Leicestershire, UK, November 2009 – Aerial survey specialist Bluesky has launched new digital map layer accurately modelling the location and extent of trees and their proximity to buildings. Designed as a tool to help with the management of trees including maintenance, conservation and the issuing of tree preservation orders (TPOs) by local authorities, ProximiTREE details the exact spatial location and height of individual trees together with the circumference of its canopy; from this information a determination can be made of the root extent and therefore the potential impact on either existing or proposed properties.

Trees and hedges are fundamental elements of our countryside, however they also have a major part to play in urban areas. Trees and hedges in private gardens, parks and other open spaces, or lining the sides of  streets, railways, rivers and canals are of great importance, particularly in residential areas. They can provide valuable habitats for wildlife, improve the air we breathe, and help to conserve energy in nearby buildings. It is therefore essential that this valuable resource is effectively managed and protected.

However concern about the location of trees can be a major worry, not only when trees cause damage through subsidence but also because the proximity of trees can jeopardise house purchases, insurance claims, planning applications, mortgage loans and even cause disputes between neighbours.

“ProximiTREE is designed to provide an easy-to-use reference base for all decisions relating to the location of trees including their proximity to either existing or proposed developments,” commented James Eddy, Technical Director at Bluesky. “Derived from the most detailed and up-to-date aerial photography it is suitable for use by property developers, local authority users and insurance companies in fact any one involved in the ownership, management or development of property close to trees.”

ProximiTREE is derived from the most accurate and up to date aerial photography. Using overlapping images the exact location of every tree can be mapped and the height and extent of its canopy derived. ProximiTREE is suitable for use in most desktop Geographical Information Systems (GIS), web mapping applications and Computer Aided Design (CAD) packages. Both 2D and 3D versions of the map are available and ProximiTREE works alongside existing Bluesky datasets such as 3D buildings, terrain models and aerial imagery.

Notes for 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 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.

For further information visit www.bluesky-world.com

Website: www.bluesky-world.com

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

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