Agricultural and environmental consultancy ADAS and aerial mapping company Bluesky have joined forces to bring a new dimension to vegetation mapping. Designed initially to support environmental and conservation projects, the partnership will also reduce the risk posed by vegetation on ageing infrastructure, such as falling trees causing power outages. Both ADAS and BlueSky aim to improve the quality and currency of information used by both commercial companies and public sector organisations.
By applying specially developed algorithms to up-to-date aerial photography Bluesky is able to automatically map trees and other types of vegetation. Known as ProximiTREE, Bluesky uses overlapping images so the exact location of every tree can be mapped and the height and extent of its canopy derived. ADAS and Bluesky have already worked together on a number of projects including an audit to support tree planting and management on behalf of a major local authority and a project to assess the risk posed by vegetation on overhead power cables.
“Having developed a unique technique for the mapping of tree heights and canopy cover, it was important that we work with specialists in the interpretation and application of such data,” commented Rachel Tidmarsh, Managing Director of Bluesky International. “ADAS brings to the table a wealth of experience and specialist expertise and is a well-respected name.”
Chris Procter, Team Manager for Environmental Informatics at ADAS added, “Strategy that is not based on the intelligent analysis of robust data is fallible and represents a higher level of risk. We work with the best available data and employ innovative GIS, modelling and software based consultancy solutions in order to support sound decision making processes in a wide variety of applications.”
ADAS is a company that specialises in the interpretation and application of environmental, social and economic data, providing clients with an end to end solution ranging from information audits and data collation through GIS analysis and integration to the delivery of bespoke decision support tools and Internet solutions. ADAS Consultants have experience and expertise in a wide range of fields including economics, renewables, waste management and recycling and carbon management.