HiDef has been selected by the U.S. Department of Energy to undertake an extended program of aerial surveys as part of the federal governments ‘smart from the start’ initiative. The contract award, worth $1.4 million will see HiDef conduct digital aerial several surveys over the lifecycle of the three year award with extensive coverage of areas under consideration for large scale offshore wind farms.
The surveys will also encompass large parts of territorial waters off the U.S. eastern seaboard. The first survey will be conducted within days and will herald the first time a digital survey technology has been commissioned in North America.
HiDef form part of a consortium of organisations led by Biodiversity Research Institute who will work to validate and expand on the science which underpins the permitting process for construction of offshore wind farms.
HiDef pioneered the use of digital technologies within the environmental permitting space in the United Kingdom in collaboration with various government agencies. The company were the first to apply the technology with The Crown Estate and remain the only company in the world who offer a digital video platform.
John Martin HiDef’s CEO said “ We are delighted with the award. We have invested heavily in sensor technology, software and infrastructure to ensure we can scale our capability to the meet the demands that the project presents. Out team have been working for months to prepare aircraft and staff to support the swift mobilisation needed. ”
[mappress] Offshore WIND Staff, March 01, 2012