Aerial mapping company Bluesky is celebrating its tenth anniversary. Since its inception in 2003 Bluesky has evolved into a leading aerial photographic mapping company pioneering new digital aerial surveying techniques. The company has led the way with thermal heat-loss mapping, produced the first solar power potential maps and has just completed the only National Tree Map. Bluesky is also at the forefront of research into the use of geographic data to support renewable energy production with projects, both in the UK and Europe, receiving millions of pounds of government funding.
With origins in the 1990s operating as Wildgoose, Bluesky became the specialist aerial mapping production and fulfillment centre for Getmapping and was behind the production of the Millennium Map; the first country-wide aerial map of Britain. Bluesky was formed in December 2003 following a demerger from Getmapping Plc.
“Although we describe ourselves as an aerial mapping company we don’t just produce aerial photomaps,” commented Rachel Tidmarsh, Managing Director of Bluesky International, “By using our experience and expertise in photogrammetry we were the first company to produce maps of solar energy potential using aerial photography and photogrammetry, the first company to produce a detailed nationwide tree map and are currently involved in pioneering research into night time aerial surveys and airborne pollution monitoring.”
“One of the key factors in our success – evidenced by a fifty percent increase in turnover in the last twelve months and a seventy five percent growth in profit, is our commitment to invest in the best possible technology. We already have the only fully integrated aerial survey system in the world; combining a photogrammetric survey camera, state of the art LiDAR sensor and thermal infra-red imaging system, and we have further investment plans in place for 2014. These plans are essential to us achieving our ambitious and aggressive five year growth plan.”
Integral to Bluesky’s recent success and growth is an integrated aerial mapping system, developed by Optech. Combining the Orion M300 LiDAR (Light Imaging and Detection and Ranging) system, CS-LW640 Long Wave Infrared thermal sensor and a CS-10000 RGB camera the integrated system offers a range of data capture benefits including industry leading data precision and accuracy, improved interoperability of multiple data types and significant cost savings achieved through the simultaneous capture of multiple datasets.
Bluesky operates from its headquarters in Coalville, a former coal mining town in north west Leicestershire. Operating on the site of the old Palitoy toy factory (producers of Action Man and Tiny Tears) Bluesky makes the most of its location with a major flying base at the nearby East Midlands airport and close ties with both Leicester and Loughborough Universities.
Bluesky is a UK-based specialist in aerial imaging and remote sensing data collection and processing. 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.
Bluesky has unrivalled expertise in the creation of seamless, digital aerial photography, 3D landscape/cityscape visualisations and prints and also runs a national mapping centre, providing digital mapping, satellite imagery and aerial photography including ultra-high resolution imagery of cities and towns.
Bluesky is now leading the way developing innovative solutions for environmental applications including the UK’s first nationwide map of solar potential, citywide ‘heat loss’ maps, 3D maps of trees and their proximity to buildings and historical imagery.
