Leicestershire, UK, 07 September 2016 – Aerial mapping company Bluesky has signed a contract with the Isle of Man Government to resell laser scan survey data of the British Crown dependency. Located in the Irish Sea between England and Ireland, the Isle of Man is perhaps best known for the annual motorcycle sport event – the Isle of Man TT (tourist trophy).
The original LiDAR survey was undertaken on behalf of the Department of Infrastructure, which is responsible for a diverse range of services for the Island community, including highways services, housing and public transport. Bluesky will make the 3D maps, as well as the raw point cloud data, available to view and download at www.blueskymapshop.com
“This is a valuable addition to our existing online data coverage and users with an interest in construction, flood management, ecology and the environment have already expressed a need for 3D data for this location,” commented Rachel Tidmarsh, Managing Director of Bluesky.
“By working with organisations such as the Isle of Man Government, which has commissioned specific data capture projects, we can ensure users in the wider geospatial community have access to the most up to date and accurate data at the best possible price,” she continued.
The original LiDAR survey was flown in 2013 covering all 572 square kilometres of the Island. The raw LiDAR data was processed to produce Digital Terrain and Digital Surface Models at resolutions of 0.5, 1 and 2 metres. The data was originally commissioned by the Department of Infrastructure for use in its Geographical Information System (GIS), and is already supporting decision making, community engagement and stakeholder communications in a range of applications, including highways maintenance and improvement, waste management and the provision of quarries and raw materials to support infrastructure development and the construction industry.
The Isle of Man DTM, DSM and point cloud data are now available to purchase from Bluesky’s online Mapshop. www.blueskymapshop.com offers complete nationwide coverage of aerial photography from multiple epochs, 3D models, LiDAR data, Thermal Mapping and Bluesky’s National Tree Map. Visitors can also download – free of charge – geological, land cover and flood maps, as well as places of interest, census areas and collections of themed data such as farming, marine and habitats.
About LiDAR
In order to capture highly accurate LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) data a survey aircraft equipped with a system of lasers is used. Lasers are transmitted to the ground and the time taken for the beam to be bounced back to the aircraft-mounted receivers is 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. Readings can also be taken to determine the height of buildings, vegetation and other surface structures such as above ground pipelines, highways, street furniture, power lines and railway tracks.
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