In+ersec+ion for Spatial People

European mapping specialist Blom have completed a further aerial survey for Bristol Water. Following the success of the first aerial survey for Bristol Water in 2011, Blom were commissioned to provide further aerial survey services for a second water main project near Frome, Somerset.

Key to Blom’s survey services is the latest survey cameras mounted to fixed wing aircraft. Not only does this offer efficient data capture, but also minimizes health and safety risks faced by workers and disruption to traffic on the ground.

Nol Vincent, Senior Project Manager at Bristol Water said “This method has saved us both time and money when compared to traditional topographical survey services. There was no need to wait for Land Entry or Environmental Services to be undertaken before the survey took place. What’s more, we have found Blom’s airborne solutions a more efficient method on longer pipeline installations where timescales are critical.”

To meet Bristol Water’s requirements Blom collected 3cm resolution imagery of the entire route. This imagery was then used for subsequent mapping of all ground features at a 1:500 scale. Further mapping was completed at a 1:100 scale with the addition of two small scale ground surveys. This was then used to produce 0.5m contours of the site, providing critical information for future route feasibility and detailed design.

ENDS

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Found on engadget, it appears that a company is claiming all rights to navigating spatial reference images via a database. Here is more from the summary :

The saga continues for Google's voyeuristic mapping service, but this time Microsoft Streetside and Aol's MapQuest 360 View may be the Bonnie to Street View's Clyde. Transcenic, Inc. is suing the tech giants for acquiring the tools necessary to offer 3D mapping by less-than-legitimate means. The Louisiana-based company alleges that all named parties borrowed, without permission, a bit from a patent it owns on a 3D cartography technology that captures spatial reference images and uses a database to navigate them on command. Google has been in hot water for its maps before, but it no doubt hopes this legal tiff ends as well as its one for trespassing, where it only paid a pack of gum's worth of damages. If you're into reading all the current legalese, check out the source for the full complaint. Meanwhile, we'll find out if Cousin Vinny's on the case.