January 23, 2018 -- WSP, the global company providing management and consultancy services to the built and natural environment, is using a range of remotely sensed data from Bluesky to aid existing analysis and develop new techniques. Using the Bluesky data, including laser mapped 3D models, UK National Tree Map data, near infrared imagery and aerial photography, WSP has improved the efficiencies of environmental surveys and reduced the need for site visits. The Bluesky data has already been used for a number of projects, including an award nominated environmental assessment for a district heating feasibility project.

WSP currently uses Bluesky LiDAR data to create high resolution terrain and height models. The laser mapped data is used for undertaking environmental and street furniture feature detection, and the resulting outputs are being used to inform noise and flood modelling assessments for major infrastructure projects.

“Application of the Bluesky LiDAR data within our analysis has resulted in the generation of significant efficiencies when assessing large areas,” commented Jo Leeke, Operational Lead for WSP’s Smart Consulting Team. “The data also enables us to perform highly accurate and extensive visibility analysis and create intuitive visual output visualisations.”

Other Bluesky datasets used by WSP include the National Tree Map, a unique dataset which identifies the location, height and canopy cover of more than 280 million trees across Britain, Colour InfraRed (CIR) and high resolution aerial photography. This data is helping to develop new analysis solutions, including vegetation pre-classification for extensive infrastructure projects that require Phase 1 Surveys.

“The new techniques, built around the use of the Bluesky data, have resulted in a 90 percent improvement in the efficiency of Phase 1 Ecological Surveys,” continued Leeke. “The subsequent site visits are now more about verification than data collection, and this has also improved health and safety as we have either reduced or removed the need for visits in areas that are problematic or dangerous to access.”

The Bluesky National Tree Map data has also been used by WSP’s Smart Consulting Team to make arboricultural field surveys more efficient and targeted. Having pre-generated areas of forest dramatically reduces model generation time, as there is no need to create new tree points, and attributes can be easily applied to the Bluesky data. 

WSP Global Inc. is one of the world’s leading professional services firms providing technical expertise and strategic advice from a global network of offices.  

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Laura Eddy
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