US: A Leicester-based aerial mapping company has expanded into the North American market with the acquisition of a counterpart that has been operating in Massachusetts for 65 years.
Bluesky International has snapped up Col-East Inc, which specializes in high precision aeronautical mapping.
It will trade as the US arm of Bluesky under Col-East International Ltd and forms part Bluesky’s plan to bring large-scale mapping and 3D modelling to the expanding US market. The group will also equip Col-East aircraft with state-of-the-art digital aerial surveying equipment, such as sensors for laser (LiDAR), thermal and infrared capture.
“Britain has a long tradition as a pioneer in mapping techniques, and the Bluesky team was behind the creation of what was the world’s first nationwide high-resolution aerial photo map, created back in 1998. Since then we have developed new systems and techniques that are underpinning advances in environmental and 3D mapping, and we will be introducing these advancements to the U.S. market with the acquisition of Col-East,” says Rachel Tidmarsh, Managing Director of Bluesky International Ltd.
“It’s a very exciting time for Col-East,” commented Mark Thaisz, General Manager at Col-East. “Bluesky is bringing significant investment, new technology and added resources that will allow the business to expand freely. Already we’ve equipped our aircraft with a new Vexcel UltraCam Eagle survey camera which offers high accuracy and unsurpassed clarity to bring a whole new edge to the aerial survey market in New England.”
