National Tree Map data launches onto Promap Labs

A new test dataset has been released on to the Promap Labs portal; the latest inclusion is a sample dataset of Bluesky’s National Tree Map (NTM). This is a digital tree map layer that accurately depicts the location and extent of trees, including their proximity to buildings.

Derived from Aerial Photography, Colour Infra-Red data, Digital Terrain Model and Digital Surface Model data, the sample dataset contains location and height information of individual trees, together with the area and circumference of the canopy.

Promap Labs is designed to provide land and property professionals with the ability to access and interrogate new datasets and digital mapping concepts, in order to understand their value within future Landmark products.

Carole Ankers, Product Development Director, Landmark Information Group said, “New for Promap Labs is a sample from the Bluesky National Tree Map; the sample dataset provides users with an insight into the location and size of trees on a given plot. We believe it will prove extremely popular for professionals working on site selection or within planning applications for new developments.  We encourage as many people as possible to access Promap Labs to test the NTM and provide us with feedback on how this would work for your organisation.”

 The application of the NTM dataset is far-reaching; in addition to being used in land and property planning and development, there is scope for the data to be used by dendrologists, government departments such as the Forestry Commission and Housing Associations that wish to visually catalogue trees that are within their management remit.

In addition to the National Tree Map data, two additional datasets from Bluesky will be showcased on Promap Labs.  This includes Colour Infrared Imagery, which uses state-of-the-art remote sensing techniques to provide a wealth of information to assist in assessing the health, state, growth and type of vegetation. Available at a 50cm resolution it is ideal for a range of uses, including crop management, environmental monitoring or assessment of foliage health.

The other is the Normalised Difference Vegetation Index, which uses remote sensing techniques to assess the concentration and health of vegetation. This dataset delivers a range of benefits for those undertaking forest mapping, monitoring or management, in addition to vegetation health analysis, land cover classification or assessment of soil moisture.

The Calm Before The Storm?

The latest research from CIFAS has identified a decrease in fraudulent cases during 2013. According to the latest numbers from the fraud prevention service, an 11 per cent reduction was recorded from the previous year; which was the first year-on-year decline since 2010.

It’s all very positive news until we learn that fraud continues to remain at a higher rate than ‘pre-recessionary times’, so we still have some way to go.

When looking at why the drop has occurred, it is positive to note that increased investment in fraud detection and prevention technology, including data sharing, has been a key factor. 

It doesn't however mean that fraud has stopped altogether: in fact with more systems being deployed to stop such crimes from occurring, fraudsters are turning their attentions to targets that appear more ‘vulnerable’.   For example, fraud against loan accounts, including secured, unsecured and payday loans went up by 55%.

So, while the overall figures paint a fairly optimistic picture, we must continue to be on our guard against fraud. 

In particular, next month, we see the implementation of the Mortgage Market Review recommendations.   With a host of new rules and procedures coming into force, including greater scrutiny regarding applicants’ affordability, are we in fact simply witnessing the ‘calm before the storm’?

With borrowers having to provide more detailed assurances that the loan is appropriate to their financial circumstances, we will be closely monitoring whether this has an impact on application fraud, such as an upturn in false income declarations or non-disclosure of debts, for example. 

We are working with our lender clients to ensure that relevant fraud alerts are in place on their risk dashboards so any potential impact is identified as early in the process as possible.  This includes attempting to go ‘under the radar’ and instead access funds via Buy-to-Let products, where income verification isn’t a requirement.

Time will tell, however risk-based IT systems are ready and in place to safeguard lenders from a wide range of risks. It will be particularly interesting to see what effect the new regulations have on both mortgage volumes and incidences of application fraud. 

Richard Groom, Product Development Director, Landmark Quest

(www.questuk.com) 

Landmark shortlisted at the New Energy & Cleantech Awards 2014

We are delighted to confirm that Landmark Information Group has been shortlisted for ‘New Energy Champion’, at the New Energy & Cleantech Awards 2014. The event will be held in London on Wednesday 30th April 2014, where the winners will be announced.

Now in its seventh year, the New Energy & Cleantech Awards recognise those who play a pivotal role in the process and shaping of the future green energy and cleantech industries: companies, entrepreneurs, investors and specialist advisers. Landmark Information Group has been nominated as a result of the work it has done in creating and launching the new Sustainability Sure service, which is an all-in-one carbon, energy and sustainability solution for corporate organisations and public bodies.

This awards ceremony is renowned for attracting more than 300 CEOs, FDs, entrepreneurs, advisers, venture capitalists and financiers, and prides itself on bringing the City and business sectors together in a dynamic and exciting environment.

David Mole, Business Development Director at Landmark said: “To be nominated for an industry award for Sustainability Sure by our peers is a great achievement and we are pleased to have been shortlisted in the New Energy & Cleantech Awards. We look forward to hearing the outcome at the end of April at the planned ceremony.”

http://www.newenergyawards.com/

“Bombs Away” - Understanding unexploded ordnance risks

Over 60 environmental consultants and property professionals joined our recent webinar with 6 Alpha: “Bombs Away” - Understanding unexploded ordnance risks.  David Mole, Business Development Director at Landmark commented: “around 12% of the entire UK landmass has been used for military training and over 15,000 items of ordnance were found in UK construction sites between 2006 and 2009.  Our free webinar provided our clients with an overview of the source of UXO risk, and steps they can take to minimise risk.”

During WWI and WWII thousands of tonnes of high explosives were dropped on the UK, with 17,000 tonnes falling on London alone.  Approximately 10% of the air delivered bombs failed to explode (6 Alpha Associates), resulting in an underground unexploded hazard which remains to this day.   Other large cities that have been affected are Portsmouth, Plymouth Birmingham, Bristol, Manchester, Newcastle and many others.

Even today, these munitions still present a significant hazard, with the news often featuring reports of bombs being found in the construction environment  and washed up on the beach.  Unexploded ordnance risk is also caused by military sites, active explosive sites and weapons and ammunition manufactures.  An analysis of our data archives identified 600 historical and active explosive sites in the UK and over 1,000 weapons and ammunition manufacturers.

Simon Cooke, Managing Director at 6 Alpha Associates, described the steps necessary to reduce the risk associated with unexploded ordnance to a level that is as low as reasonably practical (ALARP).

Simon commented: “At the start of any new ground works project, the first stage Preliminary search is a must. While the potential risk may be considered small, it should not be overlooked for the ultimate safety of all concerned.”

The first step to analysing potential risk is a desktop tool called a Preliminary UXO Risk Assessment, which indicates whether there is any risk of encountering a bomb. It's a quick and relatively cost effective option, developed in line with guidance from CIRIA and endorsed by the Health and Safety Executive.

If the  Preliminary UXO Risk Assessment suggests a risk to the project, the next step is to conduct a Detailed UXO Risk Assessment. This will detail the type of threat, the size, origin and also takes into account the proposed construction method and how that would impact on risk of UXO being encountered including project delay and prospectively a detonation event.  Strategic risk mitigation measures are described enabling investigative/groundworks and/or groundworks to safely proceed.

Read more about Envirocheck Bomb Search.

Landmark Information Group offer a range of free webinars and training sessions.  For more information or to arrange a free training session please contact customerservice@envirocheck.co.uk

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. 

Metropix makes the shortlist for this years ESTAS!

        

   

   Metropix has been shortlisted as a top 10 firm

in the biggest estate & letting agent awards in the UK,  known throughout the industry as THE ESTAS.

Metropix has been recognised for its outstanding customer service to its clients by the largest and longest running award scheme in the UK residential property industry.  THE ESTAS determines the best agents and suppliers in the industry through research carried out amongst customers who are asked a series of questions about the service they have received from their agent or supplier.  This years’ competition saw 32,000 surveys completed.

This year just over 3,000 agents across the UK voted for their favourite suppliers by rating them on the quality of the service they provide and the value each supplier brings to their business.  Just entering this category speaks volumes for the confidence each supplier has in the quality of the products & services they deliver.

The gold, silver and bronze winners will be announced at the 11^th annual ESTAS ceremony on the 9^th May at the Hilton Park Lane.  The awards will be announced by Phil Spencer in front of 600 of the UK’s top estate & letting agents.  All suppliers who entered the category will receive a full Client Feedback Report providing valuable data from their customers.

Landmark announces senior appointments to its Financial Risk division

We are delighted to announce two significant appointments to the management team of our Financial Risk division, both of whom join from internationally quoted blue-chip corporations, to direct the planned growth and future product development strategies of the group.

Peter Stimson joins Landmark as Managing Director of the Financial Risk division, having spent over 20 years in the mortgage and financial services industry at director and senior management level.   Peter has a wealth of experience in fraud detection, Automated Valuation Modelling (AVM) and risk strategy development, all of which greatly complement the Landmark Quest, Landmark Analytics and Metropix brands that sit within Landmark’s Financial Risk division.

Prior to joining Landmark, Peter’s previous roles included UK Managing Director of CoreLogic Solutions, Head of Product Management for Platform – the intermediary lender of the Co-Operative Bank, Commercial Director of Checkmate Mortgages and Senior Vice President at Lehman Bros.

Commenting on his new role, Peter Stimson said: “I have worked in the mortgage sector for over two decades, and more recently have concentrated on supporting lenders with their fraud detection, credit risk and AVM requirements.   I am excited to bring this experience to Landmark, where I will work closely with the team to implement the next phase of the Financial Risk division’s planned growth and development programme, in conjunction with our customers in the mortgage lending, surveying and wider property sectors.”

Working alongside Peter is Andrew Stevens, who has been appointed as the new Head of Development, Financial Risk.   Andrew joins from Sage where he was the Head of ERP Research and Development for the UK, Germany and Austria and responsible for turning product portfolio strategies into reality.  Andrew is a seasoned R&D specialist having worked in enterprise architecture development since 1993.

Commenting on the appointments, Mark Milner, CEO of Landmark Information Group said: “Our Financial Risk division is going from strength-to-strength with activity levels continuing to grow. With gross mortgage lending forecasted to rise to its highest levels since 2008, we have made two significant appointments to our Financial Risk division in order to ensure our business remains fully prepared for the further increase in demand that we will experience as a result.  Both Peter and Andrew join Landmark with considerable experience of managing business growth and product development within internationally-quoted corporations; we are delighted to have them both join Landmark at what is an exciting time and period of continued growth for our business.”