EA LiDAR data from Promap saves the day for Craddy Pitchers Davidson

• Enabled timely completion of planning application on 40 acre, £40m development project
• Physical topographic study not permitted due to ecological constraints
• Team turns to EA LiDAR digital terrain model data to support flood risk assessment and drainage strategy
• Data provided in just two days and for £150

Structural engineering firm, Craddy Pitchers Davidson, has completed a flood risk assessment and drainage strategy essential for a planning application for a £40m development project, using EA LiDAR Digital Terrain Model data from our Promap service.  The team at Craddy Pitchers Davidson overcome a hurdle of not being able to physically survey the land due to ecological constraints by instead accessing LiDAR data, which is a fraction of the cost of a topographic survey, and was completed in two days, compared to several weeks.

Simon Pitchers, Director of Craddy Pitchers Davidson confirmed: “In order to progress the planning application, we needed to produce a flood risk assessment and a drainage strategy, both of which require a good understanding of site levels.  However, with protected species identified on the site, dense vegetation could not be removed and physical topographic surveying to establish levels was not possible.  We contacted Landmark’s Promap team and were advised about EA LiDAR Digital Terrain Model data.  This really saved the day. The EA LiDAR data is accurate to +/-5cm to 15cm, which was perfectly adequate for our initial needs, plus it was delivered in just two days and for £150.”

LiDAR is a remote sensing technology that measures distance by illuminating a target with a laser and analysing the reflected light.  Via Promap, high accuracy mass-capture datasets are available in a range of resolutions and formats, including Digital Terrain Models. This provides a topographic model of the underlying terrain of the earth's surface, which is derived by digitally removing the cultural (man-made) and vegetation features of a given area.  The EA LiDAR data has an accuracy of +/-5cm to 15cm, with the spatial resolutions ranging from 25cm to 2 metres and are suitable for a range of environmental applications, including flood risk assessment.  

Continues Simon Pitchers: “Not being able to undertake the physical site survey had the potential to delay the entire project.  Without it we simply couldn’t completed the planning application. Now, if ever we need to undertake a basic initial appraisal of a site before commissioning the full topographic survey, we will be using EA LiDAR data again. While it doesn’t replace physical surveys, it gives us a great insight into a plot without visiting, which is ideal if it is far away for example.  LiDAR data is a great discovery; it’s not expensive, provides a good level of accuracy and as far as I see it, it’s a real advantage for us and our customers.”

Carole Ankers, Product Development Director, Landmark Information Group said, “When faced with an obstacle of having to undertake a flood risk assessment and drainage strategy on a densely overgrown 40 acre site, with ecological constraints, the team at Craddy Pitchers Davidson needed to find an alternative option. Our EA LiDAR datasets are accurate, quick to produce and are extremely cost effective. Instead of paying thousands for a physical survey, LiDAR is available from £100 and can be relied upon for many purposes. We are pleased to have been able to help the team progress with this important development project.”

With over 25,000 users, our Promap service is used by surveyors, architects, property and land developers, environmental consultants and other industry professionals that require instant access to Ordnance Survey maps and related digital mapping data, including 3D models, height data, aerial photography and geo-data, including environmental, planning and geological reports to identify potential site issues.

For more information: visit: www.landmark.co.uk, read the Landmark blog, follow the team on Twitter, subscribe to the YouTube Channel or connect via LinkedIn.