National Tree Map data launches onto Promap Labs

A new test dataset has been released on to the Promap Labs portal; the latest inclusion is a sample dataset of Bluesky’s National Tree Map (NTM). This is a digital tree map layer that accurately depicts the location and extent of trees, including their proximity to buildings. 

Derived from Aerial Photography, Colour Infra-Red data, Digital Terrain Model and Digital Surface Model data, the sample dataset contains location and height information of individual trees, together with the area and circumference of the canopy.

Promap Labs is designed to provide land and property professionals with the ability to access and interrogate new datasets and digital mapping concepts, in order to understand their value within future Landmark products.

Carole Ankers, Product Development Director, Landmark Information Group said, “New for Promap Labs is a sample from the Bluesky National Tree Map; the sample dataset provides users with an insight into the location and size of trees on a given plot. We believe it will prove extremely popular for professionals working on site selection or within planning applications for new developments.  We encourage as many people as possible to access Promap Labs to test the NTM and provide us with feedback on how this would work for your organisation.”

The application of the NTM dataset is far-reaching; in addition to being used in land and property planning and development, there is scope for the data to be used by dendrologists, government departments such as the Forestry Commission and Housing Associations that wish to visually catalogue trees that are within their management remit.

In addition to the National Tree Map data, two additional datasets from Bluesky will be showcased on Promap Labs.  This includes Colour Infrared Imagery, which uses state-of-the-art remote sensing techniques to provide a wealth of information to assist in assessing the health, state, growth and type of vegetation. Available at a 50cm resolution it is ideal for a range of uses, including crop management, environmental monitoring or assessment of foliage health.

The other is the Normalised Difference Vegetation Index, which uses remote sensing techniques to assess the concentration and health of vegetation. This dataset delivers a range of benefits for those undertaking forest mapping, monitoring or management, in addition to vegetation health analysis, land cover classification or assessment of soil moisture.

EA LiDAR data saves the day for Craddy Pitchers Davidson

Structural engineering firm, Craddy Pitchers Davidson, has completed a flood risk assessment and drainage strategy essential for a planning application for a £40m development project, using Environment Agency LiDAR Digital Terrain Model data from Landmark Information Group’s Promap service.  

The team at Craddy Pitchers Davidson overcome a hurdle of not being able to physically survey the land due to ecological constraints by instead accessing LiDAR data, which is a fraction of the cost of a topographic survey, and was completed in two days, compared to several weeks.

Simon Pitchers, Director of Craddy Pitchers Davidson confirmed: “In order to progress the planning application, we needed to produce a flood risk assessment and a drainage strategy, both of which require a good understanding of site levels.  However, with protected species identified on the site, dense vegetation could not be removed and physical topographic surveying to establish levels was not possible.  We contacted Landmark’s Promap team and were advised about EA LiDAR Digital Terrain Model data. This really saved the day. The EA LiDAR data is accurate to +/-5cm to 15cm, which was perfectly adequate for our initial needs, plus it was delivered in just two days and for £150.”

LiDAR is a remote sensing technology that measures distance by illuminating a target with a laser and analysing the reflected light.  Via Promap, high accuracy mass-capture datasets are available in a range of resolutions and formats, including Digital Terrain Models. This provides a topographic model of the underlying terrain of the earth's surface, which is derived by digitally removing the cultural (man-made) and vegetation features of a given area.  The Environment Agency LiDAR data has an accuracy of +/-5cm to 15cm, with the spatial resolutions ranging from 25cm to 2 metres and are suitable for a range of environmental applications, including flood risk assessment. 

Continues Simon Pitchers: “Not being able to undertake the physical site survey had the potential to delay the entire project.  Without it we simply couldn’t completed the planning application. Now, if ever we need to undertake a basic initial appraisal of a site before commissioning the full topographic survey, we will be using EA LiDAR data again. While it doesn’t replace physical surveys, it gives us a great insight into a plot without visiting, which is ideal if it is far away for example.  LiDAR data is a great discovery; it’s not expensive, provides a good level of accuracy and as far as I see it, it’s a real advantage for us and our customers.”

Carole Ankers, Product Development Director, Landmark Information Group said, “When faced with an obstacle of having to undertake a flood risk assessment and drainage strategy on a densely overgrown 40 acre site, with ecological constraints, the team at Craddy Pitchers Davidson needed to find an alternative option. Our EA LiDAR datasets are accurate, quick to produce and are extremely cost effective. Instead of paying thousands for a physical survey, LiDAR is available from £100 and can be relied upon for many purposes. We are pleased to have been able to help the team progress with this important development project.”

http://www.craddypitchers.co.uk/

http://www.promap.co.uk/maps-and-data/height-data/EA-LiDAR-DSM-and-DTM