Bluesky aids Halcrow’s flood risk modelling

22 April 2009, 8:03pm

The latest aerial photography and detailed earth surface models from Bluesky are being used for demonstration in a state of the art software package developed to assess the risk and impact of flooding. The ISIS by Halcrow suite is one of the leading software packages for river modelling, used extensively across the world for flood forecasting, flood risk mapping and flood alleviation scheme design by government organisations, environmental regulators and engineering consultants. To support the launch of ISIS 2D Halcrow has included some GeoPerspectives aerial photography and Digital Terrain Models (DTMs) from Bluesky, to enable users to evaluate the improved modelling functionality.

ISIS 2D is the latest addition to the ISIS by Halcrow suite of products. A fully hydrodynamic computational engine, it is designed to work either as a stand-alone tool or within the ISIS suite of products enabling dynamic integration between ISIS Professional and ISIS 2D. At the core of the software are two advanced algorithms that have been specifically designed to replicate different types of hydraulic conditions within rivers, estuaries and floodplains. ISIS 2D is available for free and can be downloaded from www.halcrow.com/isis, and has all of the same features as the full version but is limited to 2,500 2D cells.

“The data sets supplied by Bluesky are being used in ISIS to allow users to evaluate the new 2D modelling components. The DTM is used to generate trial models of flooding from rivers, the sea and dam failures, while the aerial photography is used to enhance the visualisation by providing a real world background,” commented Dr Matt Horritt, specialist modeller in the Water and Engineering Management division of Halcrow.

Bluesky has supplied Halcrow with GeoPerspectives aerial photography for test sites including river, coastal and dam break flooding. The photogrammetrically derived Digital Terrain Model supplied by Bluesky is also part of the GeoPerspectives range, offering a resolution of 5 metres the data is accurate to 1 metre and is available off the shelf for the whole of England and Wales. Both products can viewed and purchased online at www.bluesky-world.com.

“We chose the data from Bluesky as they were of sufficiently high resolution and accuracy for broad scale modelling,” continued Dr Horritt. “The DTM is particularly effective for modelling in complex urban or vegetated environments as it is essential to represent ground level rather than the tops of trees or buildings.”

GeoPerspectives is a joint venture between Bluesky and Infoterra providing national coverage of orthorectified aerial photography, digital terrain and surface models (DTM/DSM) for 3D modelling, and colour infrared imagery (CIR) for vegetation analysis.

Contact Bluesky sales on +44 (0)1530 518 518, www.bluesky-world.com

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