Aerial mapping company Bluesky is celebrating following its most successful flying season to date. As temperatures soared, Bluesky took to the skies deploying three dedicated survey aircraft. To date, Bluesky has captured more than 70,000 square kilometres of aerial photography in 2017 – an area more than twice the size of the Netherlands – of which more than half is at ultra-high (12.5cm) resolution. In addition to aerial photography, Bluesky’s survey planes have also been simultaneously capturing data for the creation of detailed 3D height models and Colour Infrared imagery.
Coverage of the 2017 Bluesky flying includes the UK urban areas of Leeds, Bradford, Norwich and Milton Keynes, as well as large swathes of the south-west of England, including Somerset, Dorset and Wiltshire. Bluesky has also been active in Ireland, capturing nearly 30,000 square kilometres of imagery, more than 40 percent of its three year target. Full coverage of Ireland is expected to be achieved early in the 2018 flying season.
“Despite the usual end of summer reports of wash out temperatures, we’re in fact above average on our capture, having had several clear days which are perfect for flying,” commented Rachel Tidmarsh, Managing Director of Leicestershire based Bluesky. “There are also reports that an Indian summer is heading our way, with the Met Office predicting hotter than average temperatures for the next three months. This will hopefully mean we can maximise the multiple resources we have on standby over the last two months of the flying season.”
The imagery captured in 2017 forms part of Bluesky’s nationwide coverage of high resolution, map accurate aerial photographs. Updated on a three year rolling cycle, Bluesky images will be available to view and purchase online at www.blueskymapshop.com. The Bluesky online Mapshop also offers 3D models (Digital Terrain and Surface Models DTM / DSM), LiDAR data, Thermal Mapping and Bluesky’s National Tree Map.
Bluesky is expert in the capture of remotely sensed data and the production of innovative geographic data products. Bluesky launched to market the first ever detailed National Tree Map, is leading a Government funded project to investigate the potential of mobile phones for capturing accurate 3D spatial information, and has a joint venture company with the University of Leicester – working to develop solutions for air quality mapping and night time aerial surveys. In addition, Bluesky is a supplier of geographic data to UK Central Government organisations under the multi-million pound (APGB) contract.
