Ordnance Survey (OS), Great Britain’s national mapping agency, has announced a new Aerial Acquisition Framework, which includes the participation of APEM, Bluesky International, and Fugro.
The three companies have been chosen following a tender process, and OS now has access to the most up-to-date sensor technologies covering imagery, LiDAR, hyperspectral, and bathymetric data capture techniques.
The framework will enable Ordnance Survey greater flexibility in the procurement of remotely sensed data, leading to more capacity building, and furthering a range of strategic objectives.
“The three suppliers appointed are key in supporting OS in its development roadmap and will ultimately help our customers see a better place”, says David Dibble, Geospatial Supply Chain Manager, Ordnance Survey.
We have a commitment to our customers to supply detailed and up-to-date geographic information for Great Britain, so working with different data sources is important to enhance our current products and develop new market offerings”, he adds.
Agility and efficiency
The new framework will see OS be able to respond quickly and efficiently to requirements for bespoke remote sensing and will include an arsenal of technology that consists of near-infra-red, LiDAR and multispectral camera systems. Moreover, OS will also have access to manned ultra-high resolution digital aerial surveys to support their key goals.
“Our LiDAR geo-data and imagery will not only help OS record changing environments, but also improve risk analysis and support mitigation and climate adaption strategies, which are becoming increasingly important in today’s landscape”, says Bram Mulder, Director for Land Asset Integrity in Europe and Africa, Fugro.
“We’re proud to support OS as they develop the tools needed to provide their customers with more accurate and detailed datasets.”
OS has already made use of the framework with a number of coastal targets selected for LiDAR, imagery acquisition and oblique imagery, including the City of Exeter which has been captured to support the innovation and research team’s 3D city work.
“The use-cases of the new framework varies from High Fidelity 3D applications for the UKs larger cities, where a 3D virtual twin is created, to assisting emergency and security services in planning for large public events”, adds Dribble.
In the coming years, the framework can be useful for providing local authorities with more detailed data to better assess and plan developments around sustainable infrastructure and carbon reduction initiatives.
