Budget reflections from Blom UK – providing added value in tough times

By
Guest Author
– March 28, 2011Posted in: Behind the scenes, Our industry, Our work

Last week saw the release of the Government’s “budget for growth”.

While the experts pick their way through the details of the Chancellor’s speech, the initial opinion seems to be that the budget contains support for businesses, unless of course you’re an oil company or a bank.

Whether the budget will allow sustainable growth in the UK’s economy or not remains to be seen, as the results of it will take some time to filter through – but Blom will be doing our bit to help by providing cost-effective services and developing innovative solutions.

From Blom’s perspective, the increase in money available for road repair and regional railways could translate into more contracting opportunities for our LiDAR, surveying and aerial imagery services in these areas.

However, in return for this, the government has made it very clear that they are expecting private businesses (like Blom UK) to help Britain grow its way out of recession.

 

Innovative products

With everyone keeping an eye on their spending and a very tight rein on their budgets it will be important for us to emphasize how our data can be used to save them money. This not only comes from providing quality solutions at competitive prices, but also providing innovative products that allow clients to work in a more cost-effective manner.

Coming from the contracting side of the business, I have only had limited exposure to the added benefits of our off-the-shelf-products which are available in our hosted in service BlomURBEX® or offline through desktop viewers, but on joining the sales team I’ve seen how using our LiDAR data or imagery can benefit companies.

One example showing this added benefit is the use of Blom imagery by a local city council to improve their planning processes.

 

Multi-purpose solutions from Blom

The imagery was used for a number of purposes including planning applications, residents parking schemes, roof surveys and window cleaning.

The use of our data for visual intelligence resulted in faster, more informed and efficient decision-making and reduced the requirement for site visits.

High resolution aerial imagery helping to reduce the requirement of site visits

High resolution aerial imagery helping to reduce the requirement of site visits

This application of our data saved the council £11,000 in transport costs for one project alone. Multiply this across several projects, and the financial (and environmental) benefits are clear to see.

Looking at other aspects of the business, like airborne LiDAR and aerial photography for the rail and road sectors, the use of an airborne solution over a conventional land survey technique has its advantages from a financial and health and safety perspective.

 

Adding value to the Highways Agency

The Highways Agency has recognised the cost savings that can be achieved using aerial survey. Over the last seven years we have worked on many LiDAR and aerial imagery projects for them.

For example, as surveyors do not require access to the road network there is a direct saving to the Highways Agency as there is little or no requirement for traffic management.  The high density DTM surface provided is of a much higher resolution than could be provided by traditional land survey – and is captured in a fraction of the time.

LiDAR data – reducing the need to access dangerous locations to obtain a ground survey

LiDAR data – reducing the need to access dangerous locations to obtain a ground survey

Access all areas NOT required

Surveys can be carried out without the need for traffic management. Depending on the client’s data requirements and the configuration of the aircraft, it is possible to simultaneously capture data from multiple sensors at the same time, providing a more efficient use of the helicopter or aircraft.

This multi-tasking of the platform also helps to provide more cost effective solutions to clients.

Blom UK continue to help public and private sectors reduce cost by using our innovative aerial survey solutions.

Vicki Griffith, Bid Manager – Blom UK

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