Bluesky Achieves Irish Aerial Survey Milestone

Leicestershire, UK, 03 December 2015 – Aerial mapping company Bluesky is celebrating a successful 2015 flying season in Ireland. Having captured nearly 10,000 square kilometres of high resolution aerial photography, Bluesky is well on the way to achieving its ambitious plans to capture high resolution aerial photography for the whole of Ireland. Bluesky is also pleased to announce the early take up of its ground breaking Irish datasets, with sales of aerial photography and detailed LiDAR height models to early adopters including Local Government organisations, Central Government departments and commercial businesses.

“We are extremely pleased with the amount of high quality imagery and data we have been able to capture, in spite of the challenging weather conditions we have experienced this flying season,” commented Rachel Tidmarsh, Managing Director of Bluesky. “The interest in this new data from both public and private sector organisations has also been immensely encouraging, and we are already delivering high quality data products to end users.”
 
Bluesky originally announced its plans to capture high resolution, leaf on, aerial photography and colour infrared imagery for the whole of The Republic of Ireland in 2014, and began flying as planned during the Spring of 2015. Bluesky has already committed to a three year update cycle for core data products, and will recommence flying in early spring of 2016 as soon as weather conditions allow.

Products from the Bluesky 2015 Irish flying season include 25 cm and 20 cm resolution coverage for nearly 10,000 square kilometres, including the county of Waterford, and higher resolution, 12.5 cm and 10 cm, data for urban areas including Sligo, Limerick, New Ross, Enniscorthy, Gorey and Wexford.

In addition to the aerial photography and CIR imagery already captured, national Digital Terrain Models (DTM) at 2m resolution and Digital Surface Models (DSM) at 25cm, 12.5cm and 10cm resolutions, are being created. The first datasets, available in a variety of GIS ready formats, are already being delivered to clients and will soon be available online at Bluesky’s Mapshop (www.blueskymapshop.com).

Bluesky’s team is expert in the capture of remotely sensed data and the production of innovative geographic data products. Bluesky’s work includes providing a technical lead in a European Commission funded project into a web based renewable energy rating platform, the laser mapping of overhead power line networks, new technology for air quality mapping, night time thermal surveying and the creation of the National Tree Map (NTM).
 
About Bluesky
Bluesky is a specialist in aerial survey including aerial photography, LiDAR and thermal data using the very latest survey technology, including two UltraCam Eagles and an Orion M300 LiDAR system. 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 and maintains national “off the shelf” coverage of aerial photography, DTM and DSM through an on-going three-year update programme. By purchasing a world first sensor for the simultaneous capture of LiDAR, Thermal and Aerial Photography data, Bluesky is in the enviable position of being able to provide customers with unique and cost effective solutions. Bluesky is leading the way in developing innovative solutions for environmental applications, including the UK’s first National Tree Map (NTM), solar mapping and citywide ‘heat loss’ maps and is currently developing noise and air quality mapping products. www.bluesky-world.com