Aerial mapping specialist Bluesky has announced ambitious plans for the forthcoming 2017 Irish flying season. Already dedicated to producing a high quality orthophoto base for the whole of the Republic of Ireland, together with derived and complementary data products such as 3D height models and Colour Infrared imagery, Bluesky has committed additional resources to fulfil existing orders and future requirements. In addition to extra survey planes, camera equipment and state of the art sensors, Bluesky is also expanding its Cork based headquarters and launching an online Mapshop dedicated to serving the rapidly expanding Irish geographic data market.
“Despite often challenging weather conditions and sporadic acquisition windows, our local knowledge and strategically based aircraft have meant that we have been able to capitalise on virtually every flying opportunity in the last two years,” commented Rachel Tidmarsh, Managing Director of Bluesky. “Additional planes, cameras and sensors will build on this success and allow us to fulfil our promise to capture, update and maintain the most up to date, high resolution photomap of the whole country.
“In addition, we are demonstrating our commitment to this market by expanding our regional operation and online presence,” continued Tidmarsh.
Bluesky originally announced plans to capture 70,000 square kilometres of aerial photography in 2014, with data capture to commence the following year. Two successful flying seasons have seen the capture of significant portions of this target, with products already available including 25 cm and 20 cm resolution aerial photography, with complete or partial coverage over counties Carlow, Cavan, Cork, Galway, Kerry, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Limerick, Longford, Louth, Meath, Offaly, Roscommon, Tipperary, Waterford, Westmeath, Wexford and Wicklow, 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 Colour Infrared imagery already captured, national Digital Terrain Models (DTM) at 2m resolution and Digital Surface Models (DSM) at 25 cm resolution, are being created. The first datasets, available in a variety of GIS ready formats, have already been delivered to clients and have been extremely well received.
Bluesky is also about to launch a brand new online Mapshop. Dedicated to service the Irish geospatial market and facilitate fast delivery of imagery and elevation products, the new online Mapshop will be based on the hugely successful www.blueskymapshop.com
