Leicestershire, UK, 09 February 2017 – Geographic data specialist Bluesky has secured funding from the UK government’s innovation agency, Innovate UK, to investigate the potential of mobile phones for capturing accurate 3D spatial information.
Designed to reduce the costs of monitoring and managing essential infrastructure, such as overhead electricity cables, and mitigate the effects of potentially damaging vegetation, the Bluesky led study will assess the feasibility of extracting 3D measurements from standard smartphone video footage. Working in partnership with ADAS, an environmental consultancy, the co-funded project will utilise a wealth of experience gained through previous data capture and management projects with electricity Distribution Network Operator (DNO) companies in the UK and overseas.
“The initial application of this innovative use of mainstream technology would be the accurate measurement of vegetation encroachment in the field for maintenance purposes,” commented Rachel Tidmarsh, Managing Director of Bluesky. “By offering more cost effective data capture, upload, analysis and dissemination, we can significantly increase an operator’s potential return on investment, releasing essential funds for network upgrades and improvements. We will also look to explore other applications of the solution in sectors such as forensics, insurance and emergency response.”
DNO companies currently spend millions monitoring and maintaining clearance between trees and power lines, with the market potential in Europe alone estimated at £10 million per annum. By utilising readily available mobile phone technology, Bluesky hopes to reduce this spend by operators of overhead networks, both power and telecoms, across the world, and provide managers with an easy to use and update, efficient audit trail.
Using specialist software and specially developed photogrammetric algorithms, it is currently possible to compute depth values for individual pixels within overlapping images taken from video to create dense 3D point clouds of an object or scene. By exploiting its substantial expertise in aerial surveying and production of derived datasets, Bluesky plans to apply these techniques to mobile phone video footage. The final Bluesky solution will include data processing and hosting, offered on an annual subscription or on a project basis.
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
About ADAS
ADAS is the UK’s largest independent provider of agricultural and environmental consultancy, rural development services and policy advice. ADAS has a unique combination of insight and practical experience, underpinned by robust, informed, science-based information that allows the company to meet the needs of both its domestic and international clients. ADAS’s great strength is its breadth and depth of expertise spanning the entire environmental sector. ADAS provide environmental consultancy to all the Electricity Distribution Network Operators. The main services supplied are strategic and operational vegetation management consultancy, ecological and archaeological surveys and the full range of wayleave services. ADAS is a trading name of RSK ADAS Ltd., part of RSK Group PLC. www.adas.uk
About Innovate UK
Innovate UK is the UK’s innovation agency. Business focussed and driving disruptive innovation Innovate UK funds and connects pioneering businesses so they can create the products, processes and industries of the future. Innovate UK boosts productivity, increases exports and helps the UK economy grow. https://connect.innovateuk.org/