

06 November 2007, 10:35pm
Cities Revealed Provides Civil Engineers with Real-world 3D Height Data
The GeoInformation® Group, publishers of Cities Revealed aerial photography (www.citiesrevealed.com), announce today the capture of new LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) data for London. This latest survey is the most current height data solution available to the market and can be used to create detailed 3D ground and surface models. The Cities Revealed London LiDAR is the ideal solution for Civil Engineers, through height and volume analysis, to accurately plan and visualise engineering projects for the Capital.
LiDAR is an airborne mapping technique that uses a laser to measure the distance between the aircraft and the ground in much the same way that sonar uses sound, or radar uses radio waves; providing a very accurate 3D model of the world. Cities Revealed London LiDAR has been captured at 1m intervals.
LiDAR has revolutionised the acquisition of digital elevation data and has quickly become a de facto method of collecting height and surface information for a myriad of applications and analysis. There is no other method that can collect ground and surface height information as quickly, accurately and as cost-effectively.
Alun Jones, Managing Director of The GeoInformation Group comments, “With the extensive development of London, particularly of the Thames Gateway and the 2012 Olympic site there is a growing need for more cost-effective and accurate data for applications specific to civil engineering projects such as volumetric measurement, line of sight measurements and 3D modelling. The use of digital elevation models, derived from LiDAR surveys, provides a highly accurate basis from which the civil engineering industry can produce and analyse the real world from a 3D perspective. The GeoInformation Group has invested in a new LiDAR survey of London to provide this valuable information. It is ideal for all height sensitive applications concerning the Capital.”
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Key clients utilising LiDAR data for civil engineering projects, past and present, include BAA Stansted and London Luton Airport. With an already comprehensive and current archive LiDAR data is now readily available from Cities Revealed. Metropolitan areas with LiDAR coverage include: London, Manchester, Birmingham, Liverpool, Newcastle, Edinburgh and Glasgow. Cities Revealed will further expand the archive to meet industry demand.

Each month we select a hot topic and a leading figure in the industry to write about it.HERE IS THE DEAL
This month my column (see "keeping an open eye" www.geoconnexion.com/uploads/
keepingopeneye_ukv7i3.pdf) may not be for the faint-hearted. I’m afraid the gloves are off and I am going to have a go at some licensing practices but I’ll try to offer some alternatives along the way. There is one in particular where I’m throwing down the gauntlet (what’s with these gloves and gauntlets!?) to all of you who have issues with public sector derived data licensing. Pick it up and together we will mould an alternative OS derived data licensing model that we can propose to government to help encourage geographic innovation especially in the public sector.
I'M A SOFTWARE SUPPLIER SO WHAT DO I CARE?
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Mike Saunt
Managing Director, Astun Technology Ltd