The study represents another important building block for the environmentally compatible expansion of offshore wind energy in German waters.

Link is: http://www.bioconsult-sh.de/de/nachrichten-archiv/seetaucherbestande-bleiben-trotz-ausbau-von-offshore-windkraft-stabil/

MarPAMM is an environment project to develop tools for monitoring and managing a number of protected coastal marine environments in Ireland, Northern Ireland and Western Scotland. It is a cross-border project because many marine species and habitats do not abide by administrative borders. To manage mobile species and border areas requires cooperation. MarPAMM partners will collect data on the abundance, distribution and movement of marine protected species and habitats. These data will help us produce new habitat maps and develop models for a range of species, including connectivity assessment for species with mobile life stages. This is what we do at HiDef and just one of the services we provide for industry and conservation bodies.

The rare visitor was identified swimming through SSE Renewables’ Seagreen offshore wind farm site by HiDef Aerial Surveying Ltd, who had been commissioned by the renewable energy developer to undertake a series of digital aerial wildlife surveys over the offshore wind farm site, 27km off the east coast of Scotland in the western North Sea. The work was part of a wider surveying exercise carried out by SSE Renewables, EDF Renewables and Red Rock Power Limited.

Whilst analysing video footage recorded from the site in August 2019 ecologists noted an unfamiliar shape in the cool North Sea waters. With the ability to zoom in up to 700% it became clear that the sequence of images actually showed a Swordfish, an enigmatic species more accustomed to warmer waters in the Caribbean or Mediterranean. Swordfish are large, highly migratory, predatory fish characterized by a long, flat, pointed bill. This fish measured two metres and was recorded close to the sea surface.

With only a single known previous recording in Scotland, a second opinion was sought to confirm the team’s identification. Jim Ellis from CEFAS (Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science) commented: “The distance from the tip of the bill to the origin of the first dorsal fin is a high proportion of the fork length. Marlins etc. have a proportionally shorter bill.” And so, the identification was ratified as a Swordfish, although not quite fully grown.

Walter Golet, from the University of Maine School of Marine Science, was also confident in the identification noting: “Swordfish have a huge latitudinal range and by the picture it appears to have a flat bill, and marlins (the only other confusion species) are all round.”

HiDef Associate Director Martin Scott said: “We have seen some incredible things over the years but this one is particularly gratifying. It shows how aware and alert our team are, not just on a day to day basis, but when confronted with an obscure oddity. With the aircraft flying at 200km per hour and 1800 feet up it really does just go to show how good our systems are at recording wildlife”

Lis Royle, Seagreen’s Consent Manager said: “We’re pleased we’ve been able to help record the second ever spotting of a swordfish in Scottish waters.

“It’s our duty to ensure that our projects are built with a detailed understanding of the natural environment and whilst we don’t expect the Seagreen swordfish to make an appearance again it was great to be able to capture this incredibly rare sighting during our survey work.”

HiDef would like to thank staff at SSE, Blue Planet Archive, Iain Stenhouse (BRI), Walter Golet (Gulf of Maine Research Institute), Jim Ellis (CEFAS)

Associate Director

HiDef Aerial Surveying Limited is known for its market leading, innovative digital aerial surveys, which have been deployed in seven countries. We are expanding rapidly across all of our services, combining technical and scientific excellence, and it is crucial to the company that we continue to lead in the innovation of new products based upon credible science. Our consultancy services include high-end data analysis, web-based application development, EIA, HRA, collision risk modelling and PVA working with our sister company BioConsult SH in Germany and other partners and domain experts.

HiDef is looking for a dynamic and energetic person to add to our team, based either at our Scottish or Cumbrian office. You will enter the company at Associate Director level and will have responsibility for delivering a range of scientific and consultancy services, mainly in offshore renewable energy projects.

Role and Responsibility:

This is a senior position within the company and offers significant career opportunities for the right person who is energetic, dynamic, a good team worker and has good communication skills. As an Associate Director, you will be a part of HiDef’s management team that manages all aspects of the business and to provide advice to the Board of Directors.

You will take responsibility for generating new business as appropriate. You will be able to demonstrate leadership in your area of expertise, experience of staff management and an interest in management and income generation.

You will be responsible for providing scientific advice on our digital aerial survey programme and data, for developing new and exciting technical solutions to problems and for scientific reporting and writing as well as have responsibility for providing and developing services linked to impact assessments for our clients.

Required Skills and Qualifications:

• Design of surveys for new projects and ensuring that our technical offering to clients meets the technical and scientific requirements expected of surveys;
• Data processing and analysis to meet our technical, contractual and scientific requirements;
• Overall responsibility for ensuring that client reports meet our contractual obligations and are of excellent scientific standard;
• Development of new technical or innovative solutions for our clients to provide new services and develop our contribution to offshore ornithology and marine mammal science;
• To publish or contribute to peer-reviewed publications to aid credibility for the company’s services;
• Ideally you will have a PhD or equivalent experience in marine based ecology.;
• Have excellent knowledge of statistical analysis and data modelling, ideally with experience of spatially explicit analysis methods;
• Be able to interact with engineers, domain experts in your scientific field and with client to develop new products;
• Have excellent writing skills with experience of producing technical reports and peer-reviewed publications.

HiDef offers an attractive salary, which includes 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays, profit share, work place pension scheme as well as sickness cover.

For applications, please supply an up-to-date CV to elaine.southward@www.hidefsurveying.co.uk by noon 24th January 2020.

Principal Consultant

HiDef Aerial Surveying Limited is known for its market leading, innovative digital aerial surveys, which have been deployed in seven countries. We are expanding all our services rapidly, combining technical and scientific excellence, and it is crucial that we continue to lead in the innovation of new products and outputs based upon credible science. Our consultancy services include high-end data analysis, web-based application development, EIA, HRA, collision risk modelling and PVA working as well as remote sensing via satellite imagery. You will work alongside our sister company BioConsult SH in Germany and other partners and domain experts in the appropriate fields.

HiDef is looking to strengthen its team, based either at our Scottish or Cumbrian office. You will enter the company at Principal level and will have responsibility for delivering a range of consultancy services, mainly in offshore renewable energy projects.

Role and Responsibility:

The positions will be responsible for providing advice on our digital aerial survey programme and data, reporting and writing as well as being responsible for providing and developing services linked to impact assessments for our clients, mainly involved in offshore renewables.

Required Skills and Qualifications:

Preparation of ornithology environmental impact assessment (EIA) for mainly offshore developments, including collision risk modelling (CRM), displacement analysis, cumulative impact assessment (CIA) and in-combination impact assessment, Habitats Regulations assessment (HRA) and Appropriate Assessment (AA);

• Interacting with clients and supporting them in their interaction with stakeholders;
• Review of documents, such as scoping reports and strategic environmental assessment (SEA) for clients;
• Providing advice on post-consent survey design and analysis;
• Development of new methods for use in impact assessment;
• Hold a good degree in an ecological or planning subject and have good industry experience in consulting, preferably in offshore ornithology;
• Have good knowledge of the legal basis for impact assessment in the UK. If you do not come from an ecological background, you must be able to use the scientific experience of ecologists in the company to provide a strong technical basis to your work;
• Have good writing skills and be able to co-ordinate the contributions of other writers into a coherent document;
• Be commercially aware and able to demonstrate leadership in your area of expertise and an interest in management and income generation.

This is an exciting opportunity and offers significant career opportunities for the right applicant with HiDef offering an attractive salary, which includes 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays, profit share, work place pension scheme as well as sickness cover.

For applications, please supply an up-to-date CV to elaine.southward@www.hidefsurveying.co.uk by noon 24th January 2020.

The first version of seabirds.net was launched in 2012 and was widely used for sharing ideas and discovering relevant new data sources, and was used in 160 countries in the past year.

“Seabirds.net has played a critical role in the development, growth, and reach of the World Seabird Union.” States Pat Jodice, chair of the World Seabird Union. “The site continues to provide a central place for seabird researchers to interact and share ideas, and in so doing has helped advance the conservation of seabirds around the globe.“

Version 2.0 of seabirds.net, which can be accessed at www.seabirds.net, now includes new tools to help seabird researchers and enthusiasts to discover each other, explore marine databases, and communicate on important issues.

“Seabirds.net has been a fantastic tool that I have used myself many times” says HiDef’s Managing Director, Andy Webb. “It is fantastic for the company to support the project to update the web site and give it the functionality and resources needed by the global seabird research and conservation community “

The website has been programmed and curated by Dr Grant Humphries, ecological modeller at HiDef, who will continue his voluntary role as webmaster into the future.

Seabirds.net can be accessed at https://www.seabirds.net and membership is free.

Enquiries to: Grant.Humphries@www.hidefsurveying.co.uk or wsuadmin@seabirds.net

HiDef Aerial Surveying is celebrating 10 years since it undertook its first commercial flight. The journey has seen the company grow to be recognised as a world leader in aerial wildlife surveys.

The company began business in Whitehaven, West Cumbria, where it became a start-up for local firm REACT Engineering to establish a method of filming wildlife at a safe height above the sea without causing disturbance, over vast areas. Data is extracted from the videos and reporting is provided to clients ranging from government bodies to offshore wind operators. In 2016 the company took another step forward to join with German environmental consultancy BioConsult SH. This has supported expansion and movement into new markets, and the opening of a Scottish office in Linlithgow.

“HiDef is now a known and respected brand” said Managing Director Andy Webb. “We are a major local employer, with over 50 people on our payroll, and felt it was a very appropriate time to celebrate”.

Following on from a recent Royal visit by HRH Princess Anne, HiDef staff enjoyed a party at Ennerdale in the Lake District, where a number of staff where presented with long service awards, many having been with the company from day one.

HiDef is expanding and looking for birders to join our seabird identification team on a sub-contract or full time basis. Very competitive rates of pay. Based in either Cleator Moor, Cumbria or Linlithgow, West Lothian. Contact martin.scott@www.hidefsurveying.co.uk with a CV for more details.

SNH have just published “SNH Research Report 974 – Basking shark and minke whale pilot aerial survey report” for which HiDef were the main contractor. The report presents the results of a pilot study to trial the suitability of digital aerial surveys for collecting data on basking sharks and minke whales for the purposes of assessing distribution and abundance in the Sea of the Hebrides Marine Protected Area proposal. Three surveys were carried out which showed the method was applicable for collecting data. Full details can be read by downloading the report from here.

HiDef Managing Director Andy Webb said, ”It is pleasing to see that SNH agree with HiDef and deem digital video aerial surveys are as applicable for surveying sharks and cetaceans as they are for birds. We hope to expand on this work going forward and work with regulators to help monitor sites for conservation purposes”

HiDef Aerial Surveying is proud to announce the release of a new book by our Ecological Modeller, Dr. Grant Humphries, entitled “Machine Learning for Ecology and Sustainable Natural Resource Management”.

This book bridges a gap between data science and ecology through case studies and concepts, taking machine learning in ecology to a new level of understanding.

“Our motivation for writing the book came from years of applying machine learning methods to ecological datasets,” said Dr. Humphries. “What we have seen is that there is an ongoing disconnect between traditional ecology and new technologies and programming methods. We wanted to pull together a book that would highlight how machine learning technology can help us better understand our living planet”.

Andy Webb, Managing Director of HiDef said “it is fantastic to have someone in our Team who is working at the cutting edge of new artificial intelligence methods. This has been a labour of love for Grant, carried over from previous employment, but it is increasingly relevant to ecological studies today, and has already been put to good use in two contracts we have won here in the UK. It sits comfortably with Grant’s wide range of modelling skills.”

HiDef is dedicated to keeping abreast of the latest advancements in analytical techniques and this book will help to identify ways to keep the HiDef process on the cutting edge. The HiDef team congratulates Dr. Humphries on his achievement and encourages everyone with an interest in machine learning and ecological processes to take a look through the material.

HiDef Aerial Surveying Limited has passed their Achilles UVDB CAT C audit successfully again with 100% pass marks. HiDef continues to demonstrate that it maintains the highest standards against the latest industry best practice. In all the four sections, covering Health & Safety, Environment, Quality and Corporate Social Responsibility, HiDef scored an unbeatable 100%, emphasising that best practice is key to everything it does.

Managing Director, Andy Webb said “We are proud of the proven high standards we work to and our maximum scores demonstrate to clients and partners our capability and ongoing commitment to quality and safety. It’s important for us to that we deliver projects for our clients with reduced risk; these marks show the reliability of our systems and provide the proof our clients need. “

UK based company HiDef Aerial Surveying Ltd, today announced the company is moving forward once again to work outside Britain and Ireland, spreading their skill base to the global offshore aerial survey market. With a significant workload across the UK, Ireland and France, surveying for marine wildlife via unique digital video aerial survey methods has seen the company become established industry leaders. HiDef merged with German consultancy BioConsult SH two years ago and brought the survey systems to Germany and now lead the market there also.

“Our expansion into the global market marks a milestone in our growth as we introduce our world-class products to new audiences,” said Andy Webb, Managing Director of HiDef Aerial Surveying. “We will add new techniques and packages to our already successful offerings of digital video aerial surveys and further connect industry with the best ecological data allowing informed decisions and reduced risks”.

HiDef have previously undertaken US mid-Atlantic baseline studies funded by the United States Department of Energy and operated from a base in Boston, Massachusetts. This experience, and the recent launch of a new seabird collision risk app, has shown HiDef to be at the industry fore, applying knowledge as well as technology to solve marine wildlife questions.

“More countries are taking the European approach as standard now” said Andy, “The United States, Australia and Taiwan all recognise the expertise available in Europe and want to work with us rather than reinventing their own approaches”

Bird collision risk has been a major issue for consent of offshore wind farms. New work, led by HiDef Aerial Surveying, working with Sue King Consulting and DMP Statistical Solutions, for Marine Scotland has taken a major step forward in providing industry, regulators and their advisors with more realistic scenarios and outputs of potential collision rates.

“Good data requires a good model to produce robust results. HiDef has worked hard to provide the industry with auditable, accurate abundance data through our digital aerial survey methods, so we are pleased to also support the necessary modelling techniques. The launch of this product will now allow all parties to be able to undertake more realistic assessments and provide clarity to industry and conservation bodies” said HiDef Associate Director Dr. Ross McGregor.

The project created a new app that incorporates variability in input parameters, such as bird abundance, to provide a more realistic predicted collision rate of birds with wind turbines. In order to produce a model that was fit for purpose, stakeholders were consulted using a questionnaire based survey. The project has also embraced current technology with the publication of a ‘Shiny App’ available online to provide an easy access tool which is publicly available.

Project link: http://www.gov.scot/Topics/marine/marineenergy/mre/current/StochasticCRM

Enquiries to: Ross.McGregor@www.hidefsurveying.co.uk

HiDef are pleased to introduce new team member, Dr Grant Humphries. Grant adds a new dimension to the HiDef offering as Ecological Modeller and will bridge the gap between the ever changing technology we work with and interpreting this for our clients. He uses machine learning, non-parametric statistical, and deep learning methods with the latest tools derived in Python and the R programming languages, and is an expert data analyst of ecological data. Grant is also a skilled web developer, integrating analytical methods to create interactive, web-based decision support tools.

Canadian by birth, Grant is obsessed by all things on the ocean with interests in aviation and aeronautics, which eventually evolved into a passion for birds. He is extremely well travelled and has worked from Alaska to Antarctica on environmental projects, so brings a wealth of knowledge and modern expertise.

Grant enthused “I’m extremely pleased to be joining the HiDef team, and am looking forward to helping to provide a wider array of services to clients from around the world while drawing on the vast experience in the company. It is going to be great to work with the excellent data that HiDef generates from its surveys; it makes it so much easier to carry out high quality analyses when you are working with clean and accurate data.”

HiDef Manging Director Andy Webb welcomed Grant “we’re really excited to bring the considerable talents of Grant into HiDef. Increasingly, our clients have recognised our considerable knowledge of seabird biology and our ability to create innovative data analysis solutions to meet their needs. By appointing Grant to this position, we will be able to do much more work in this area, and offer a broader range of data modelling services, with the knowledge that these services will be rooted in our team’s formidable experience in seabird and marine ecology”.