By Claire Kinrade

Last updated at 12:45, Saturday, 22 September 2012

A west Cumbrian aerial surveying business was visited by teams from America so they could learn about new sky-high technology.

HiDef Aerial Surveying Ltd played host to a team of engineers and experts from the firm’s Boston office who spent time learning about the firm’s next generation of imaging technology which is being used in the industry.

HiDef recently announced its 12 month-long development and testing programme for the new kit was complete and the team from the US office spent time getting to grips with the science behind it. The company uses its technology to provide an aerial survey and mapping service to industries and organisations including large-scale infrastructure developers.

It is now nearing the end of the training phase for staff who have also been learning about new developments in the software which will mean images can be reviewed better.

John Martin, HiDef’s managing director, said: “We couldn’t be more delighted with the development and testing phase of our next generation digital video cameras. We have improved the image resolution and colour rendition of the sensors.

“Our system remains the only one of its kind in the world and that has all been developed and driven from our office here in west Cumbria.”

Hunter Perry, manager of HiDef’s Boston office, added: “We were really excited when we were invited over to spend time with the team at the Cleator Moor office, it’s a fantastic opportunity for us to get together and learn from each other.”

The business set the national and international energy industry alight with its trail-blazing technology, when it was set up in 2007. Its unique sophisticated digital video system is capable of resolving highly-detailed images of marine wildlife over huge areas of proposed sites for offshore wind farms, offering surveying solutions to the large energy companies set to build super sites.

The cameras are fitted to specially adapted aircraft and operate at five times the resolution of high-definition TV cameras. Flying at around 2,000ft, the cameras sweep the sea and the data is reviewed and analysed later.

This year the company, which also has offices in Aberdeen, won a $1.4m contract with the US department of Energy to do aerial studies over three years to assess areas under consideration for offshore windfarms – the first such surveys in the region.

First published at 10:50, Saturday, 22 September 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk