Massachusetts – Aerial mapping company Bluesky has completed a topographic survey of the old Anchor Color and Gum Works site in Dighton, Massachusetts. Working with Lighthouse Land Surveying, LLC and under strict time constraints due to impending snow fall, Bluesky completed the initial 65 acre fly over capturing ultra-high resolution imagery. The Bluesky photomaps, together with existing conditions mapping by Lighthouse, will be used to plan remediation of the former manufacturing facility prior to redevelopment.
“We have worked with the Bluesky team for many years,” commented Richard W Reid Jr., Owner of Lighthouse Land Surveying, LLC. “So, when we were contracted to prepare a topographic survey of this historic site, they were the obvious first choice. However, this wasn’t an easy task as we had to get the initial survey work completed before any ground detail was obscured by snow.
“Bluesky was able to fly the area within one week of the initial request and we immediately performed the photographic control for aerial triangulation,” he continued. “Bluesky was also able to extend the coverage, with very little notice, to include an adjacent area which will be subject to future sidewalk construction activities.”
Bluesky Geospatial, formerly Col-East, undertook the aerial survey from its headquarters in North Adams, Massachusetts, using an Aero Commander aircraft. Equipped with a Vexcel Ultracam Eagle Mark 3 large format, digital aerial photogrammetric camera, Bluesky flew the site capturing 2 lines of 11 exposures each at 3.5 centimeter resolution. Mapping the site at scale of 1”=40’ with 1’ contours, the final product was delivered to Lighthouse in AutoCAD Civil 3D format.
Lighthouse Land Surveying, LLC is a progressive land surveying and consulting firm staffed by Registered Land Surveyors, Certified Survey Technicians, Survey Assistants and interns with extensive experience assisting public and private clients. Working alongside partner organisations, such as Bluesky, Lighthouse serves most projects from the land, air and water – just like the lighthouses in service today.
The Anchor Color & Gum Works, with its plant in Dighton, originally manufactured furniture before going on to produce colors ground in oil for paint as well as starch and softening agents. Acquired by one of the largest importers of natural indigo from India, the business then became part of the Arnold, Hoffman & Co. corporation.
About Bluesky:
Bluesky acquired Massachusetts-based aerial survey company Col-East in 2017. Col-East has been aerial mapping in the Northeast States for more than 65 years and has a long-established reputation for very high-quality topographic mapping with particular expertise in specialized aerial surveys such as high precision aeronautical mapping requiring highly skilled analysis.
As well as topographical mapping and aeronautical work, Col-East offered a range of aerial imaging services such as the production of terrain models, orthophotos and volumetrics, providing cost-effective mapping solutions from estates to development sites and complex transportation corridors. Col-East also owned a huge archive of aerial photography that had been captured over many years and dates to 1946.
Bluesky International is the leading aerial survey and geographic data company in the UK producing and maintaining seamless digital aerial photography and height data on a national scale in both Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland. Bluesky also undertakes bespoke surveys, including LiDAR, for a range of public and private sector clients.
Bluesky International operates a range of aircraft and sensors including three Ultracam Eagle Mark 3s, two CityMappers which allows the simultaneous collection of vertical and oblique imagery as well as LiDAR data, and a Galaxy LiDAR which is mounted with a thermal sensor and survey grade camera. These systems put Bluesky International in the enviable position of being able to provide customers with unique and cost-effective geospatial solutions.
As well as being an established and respected aerial survey company Bluesky International is also highly innovative and continually strives to develop new products and services by embracing new technology and methods. This has resulted in the development of some unique products such as the National Tree Map (NTM).
These datasets underpin long term contracts with local and central governments and many major blue-chip companies from a range of market sectors including financial services, utilities, telecoms, web portals, construction and environment. Bluesky International has offices in the UK, US, Republic of Ireland and a dedicated production centre in India.
