Wiltshire Council uses Bluesky National Tree Map to Manage Public Tree Stock
Leicestershire, UK, 20 April 2021 – Wiltshire Council is using data from a map which details the location and attributes of more than 300 million trees to improve the management of its trees in parks and woodlands, alongside roads and on other Council owned land. The Bluesky National Tree Map was originally purchased to inform a countywide tree audit, now used on a daily basis the data is a valuable resource when responding to enquiries and or complaints from residents allowing officers to identify and locate individual trees and make informed decisions from the desktop.
Created from high resolution aerial photography, terrain and surface height data and colour infrared imagery the National Tree Map accurately records the location, height and canopy for trees in the UK over 3 metres in height.
“The Bluesky National Tree map data gives us an accurate and consistent measurement of how many trees we are responsible for which has enabled us to put together a comprehensive tree management strategy,” commented Rich Murphy, Tree and Woodland Officer at Wiltshire Council. “Knowing where the trees are located on our owned land allows us to concentrate our limited resources to where the trees are in terms of undertaking base line surveys, it also allows us to work out where our trees are in terms of maintenance and enquiries from the public.”
Wiltshire Council accesses the Bluesky data via its online GIS map portal where it can be viewed and queried by teams across the Council and overlaid with additional data layers including ownership maps and maintenance records. The data helps officers locate specific trees and identify if they fall within the Council remit and determine the size and extent of a trees potential impact without the need for resource intensive site visits.
Bluesky’s National Tree Map is created using innovative algorithms and image processing techniques in combination with the most up to date and detailed aerial photography. In addition to the three vector map layers; Crown Polygons, Idealised Crowns and Height Points, the Bluesky National Tree Map also includes an attribute table including unique identification for each crown feature, height attributes and area calculations.
The data is available in a range of GIS ready formats on Bluesky’s online Mapshop alongside the most up to date aerial photography, accurate height data and 3D building models.
About Bluesky:
Bluesky International is the leading aerial survey and geographic data company in the UK producing and maintaining seamless digital aerial photography and height data on a national scale in both Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland. Bluesky also undertakes bespoke surveys, including LiDAR, for a range of public and private sector clients.
Bluesky International operates a range of aircraft and sensors including three Ultracam Eagle Mark 3s, a CityMapper which allows the simultaneous collection of vertical and oblique imagery as well as LiDAR data, and a Galaxy LiDAR which is mounted with a thermal sensor and survey grade camera. These systems put Bluesky International in the enviable position of being able to provide customers with unique and cost-effective geospatial solutions.
As well as being an established and respected aerial survey company Bluesky International is also highly innovative and continually strives to develop new products and services by embracing new technology and methods. This has resulted in the development of some unique products such as the National Tree Map (NTM).
These datasets underpin long term contracts with local and central governments and many major blue-chip companies from a range of market sectors including financial services, utilities, telecoms, web portals, construction and environment. Bluesky International has offices in the UK, US, Republic of Ireland and a dedicated production centre in India.