The boss of a company that specialises in aerial surveying, photography, and thermal data processing says the team has made the most of the recent good weather and clear airspace.
With thousands of flights grounded by the lockdown, Bluesky International has been able to achieve an unprecedented start to the 2020 survey season.
The business has captured more than 50,000 square miles of imagery updates across the 海角视频 and Ireland in a matter of weeks – equal to more than half the total area of the 海角视频.
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The information includes high resolution data for a number of cities including London, Manchester, Newcastle, Leicester and Derby.
This achievement, completed in just two months of the main flying season, includes the completion of Bluesky’s first full coverage of the Republic of Ireland.
Rachel Tidmarsh, managing director of the business, which is based in Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire, said it made them the only company to have full coverage of the Republic of Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales.
The business works with organisations such as Google, the BBC and government, and has also worked on environmental applications, including putting together the 海角视频’s first National Tree Map.
Ms Tidmarsh said: “It was a difficult start to the flying season as the country went into lockdown and we were not sure we would be able to operate at all.
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“But, with support from flying bases across the 海角视频, air traffic control, and, of course, our own operations team we have been able to capture a phenomenal amount of data in a very short time all whilst adhering to government guidelines and maintaining social distancing.
“The combination of the fantastic weather we have been enjoying and reduced traffic in the skies has meant that we have already captured a record amount of data, so, assuming the weather continues to be kind to us, we are on course for an exceptional year.”
Bluesky usually manages its 海角视频 operation from its global headquarters in Ashby, with planes operating out of the nearby East Midlands airport. As a result of lockdown, staff have been working from home.
The imagery captured, much of which is “ultra-high” resolution, is being added to Bluesky’s nationwide archive of aerial photography and products.
It will also update both national and international contracts with government organisations, utility companies and global blue chip companies.
To support its ambitious flying plans Bluesky also recently invested in upgrades to its existing digital photogrammetric camera and light detection and ranging systems, strengthening its position in the market.
The technology means Bluesky can cut the ratio of flying time to square miles captured.