Bluesky Geospatial Aerial Photos Update Irish Tourist Maps

EastWest Mapping has purchased detailed aerial photography and height data from Bluesky Geospatial to update and enhance its recreational maps. The data, of Counties Wicklow and Dublin, will also be used to update EastWest Mapping’s current 1:30,000 and 1:25,000 scale topographic maps, providing more up to date ground cover information and more detailed height measurements. EastWest Mapping provides a wide variety of small scale mapping solutions for the local authority, tourism and publishing sectors, as well as a range of regional map sheets.

“The currency and detail of the Bluesky data will allow us to update and enhance our current topographic mapping of County Wicklow and County Dublin, as well as adding some new map sheets to the range,” commented Barry Dalby, owner of EastWest Mapping. “As the Bluesky aerial images depict the landscape as it appears now, this also gives us an advanced starting point for new recreational map products. Likewise, the height data, being more accurate, will allow us to generate more detailed contour information, which is of particular interest to walkers and cyclists.”

EastWest Mapping is based near the Wexford town of Bunclody and has been involved in recreational mapping for the past 25 years. Publishing a range of map solutions designed to inform recreational activities, such as walking and cycling, EastWest maps include detail of waterways and locational information. Map products available from EastWest include public information signage, brochures, guidebooks and cards, as well as digital maps for download from the Internet for use with handheld navigation devices.

The aerial photography and height data, purchased by EastWest Mapping, forms part of Bluesky Geospatial’s coverage of The Republic of Ireland. Captured during 2015 and 2016, the data is part of a nationwide survey that Bluesky hopes to complete in 2017. Products already available include 25cm and 20cm resolution aerial photography with complete or partial coverage over counties Carlow, Cavan, Cork, Galway, Kerry, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Limerick, Longford, Louth, Meath, Offaly, Roscommon, Tipperary, Waterford, Westmeath, Wexford and Wicklow, and higher resolution, 12.5cm and 10cm, data for urban areas including Sligo, Limerick, New Ross, Enniscorthy, Gorey and Wexford.

In addition to the aerial photography and Colour Infrared imagery already captured, national Digital Terrain Models (DTM) at 2m resolution and Digital Surface Models (DSM) at 25cm resolution, are being created. The first datasets, available in a variety of GIS-ready formats, have already been delivered to clients, such as EastWest Mapping, and have been well received.