“2018 will be a pivotal year for Bluesky as we complete the latest update cycle of our nationwide coverage of aerial photography both in the UK and in the Republic of Ireland,” commented Rachel Tidmarsh, Managing Director of Bluesky International. “As data is captured and processed it will be delivered to clients under existing contracts, made available via WMS feeds to existing users and will be accessible on our website – www.blueskymapshop.com – where visitors can search for, view and download their choice of aerial photography, colour infrared imagery, digital surface models and digital elevation models and much more.”

Bluesky plans to capture at least 80,000 square kilometres of aerial photography at high resolutions, 12.5 and 10 cm, in addition to a further 52,000 square kilometres of imagery at standard 25cm resolution, across England, Wales and Scotland during the 2018 flying season. An additional 32,000 square kilometres will be captured in Ireland, completing Bluesky’s coverage of the Republic.

In addition to the aerial photography, Bluesky will be capturing colour infrared (CIR) data, which provides a valuable tool for studies in vegetation extent and health, and other effects of human activity on the earth and its environment. Highly accurate detailed height models, Digital Terrain Models (DTM) and Digital Surface Models (DSM), will also be created at 5 metre and 2 metre resolutions respectively.

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 a Teledyne Optech Galaxy LiDAR system integrated with a PhaseOne camera and thermal sensor. 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.