Bluesky National Tree Map Shows Changing Face of Sevenoaks Historic Tree Cover
Leicestershire, UK, 22 July 2021 – A new map detailing the location, height and canopy for trees over 3 metres in height is helping Sevenoaks District Council manage its iconic ancient trees and natural woodland. Derived from Bluesky’s National Tree Map, which provides geospatial intelligence for more than 300 million trees across the UK, the data has already been used to create a district wide map of tree cover, to create 3D visualisations to inform development decisions and to support planning enforcement investigations.
Sevenoaks District Council originally purchased National Tree Map data from Bluesky in November 2019 and the data is widely used across the Council with specific applications in planning. Updated this year, the original and new tree map layers are stored in the Council’s GIS alongside multiple years of aerial photography, Ordnance Survey maps, data such as Ancient Woodland and Biodiversity Opportunities, and council data including Tree Preservation Orders and Planning Applications. The tree data is accessible to all staff via the Council’s intranet mapping system GISMO (GIS Online).
The name Sevenoaks, the name given to the town and more recently to the district, dates to circa 800 AD and is thought to be derived from ‘Seouenaca’ the name given to a small chapel near seven oaks. Records of these trees through the ages are sparse and it is not until the nineteenth century when a group of seven trees appears on an Ordnance Survey map. The eponymous oak trees have been replaced many times over the years including the planting of seven oaks to commemorate the coronation of Edward VII in 1902 and tree planting by personnel from the Canadian Air Force in 1947 in gratitude for being billeted in the town.
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, terrain and surface height data and colour infrared imagery. 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.
CONTACTS:
Laura Eddy – Marketing Co-ordinator, Bluesky, +44 (0) 1530 518518, laura.eddy@bluesky-world.com
Robert Peel – Editorial Contact, Spatially Aware, +44 (0) 1666 823306, robert@spatiallyaware.co.uk
https://www.bluesky-world.com/
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, two CityMappers which allow 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.