Our colleagues at BioConsult are involved in a multi-national project around the Wadden Sea. The Common Wadden Sea Secretariat issues assessments on the current ecological status of the Wadden Sea. These reports, compiled in cooperation between Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands, evaluate current developments within the Wadden Sea ecosystem identifying possible causes, issues and gaps in knowledge. Several reports in the sections ‘Habitats and communities’, ‘Species’ and ‘Humans activities’ have been prepared by the team at BioConsult SH.

http://qsr.waddensea-worldheritage.org/reports/migratory-birds

Associate Director Martin Scott raised £639 for the RNLI with a “passionate, informative, colourful and fun” talk on Birds of the Forth, on Friday in Aberdour, Fife. A very worthy cause!

HiDef are excited to be short listed for a RSPB Nature of Scotland Award, the Innovation Award, at a ceremony at the Scottish parliament in Edinburgh last night.

HiDef has developed an innovative method for assessing how many seabirds and marine mammals are present around offshore renewable energy developments using high resolution digital video cameras. By flying higher than conventional methods, this technique ensures that there is no disturbance to the wildlife being surveyed and more safely than was possible previously. The camera equipment is used in the lowest emissions aircraft possible, greatly reducing the contribution of offshore surveys to climate change.

HiDef has amassed vast quantities of data (petabytes) for many projects around Scotland now which have been summarised and provided for better assessment by the statutory regulatory bodies and non-statutory conservation bodies alike, and identified key locations of sea for species as diverse as red-throated divers, puffins, harbour porpoise and basking sharks. None of the projects that HiDef has worked on have been challenged by either government or third-parties, demonstrating the high quality and accuracy of the data collected.

Where HiDef has worked on mature projects, the proper use of innovative statistical techniques applied to HiDef’s digital aerial survey data has revealed new information about the scale of the potential effects of offshore wind farms on birds. This feeds back into how the potential impacts of wind farms are now being assessed for some species, and has re-defined how future monitoring should be designed.

Andy Webb, HiDef’s Managing Director said “HiDef’s legacy will be better located and assessed projects, where the requirements of the environment, conservation and sustainable development are properly balanced.

HiDef is pleased to announce Martin Scott’s promotion to the company’s Board as Commercial Director. Martin also fills the role of President of US entity BioConsult US-HiDef, Inc.

Martin has been a key member of the HiDef team for nearly four years, bringing his ornithological, consultancy and business expertise together to help HiDef expand its market share and become the first choice offshore aerial survey company in UK and Ireland.

Martin said: “I am delighted to have been asked to join the Board. The innovative approach HiDef continually takes is inspiring and presents many opportunities for the future. I very much look forward to fronting the companies continued commercial growth.”

Andy Webb, Managing Director added “it’s fantastic that Martin has accepted the position at a very exciting time for HiDef as the market opens up for our commercial services”.

HiDef recently successfully completed a commercial-scale aerial Phase 1 Habitat survey over a large site in north-east England for specialist consultancy EcoNorth.

The site had proved challenging in relation to access, timescales and land use and HiDef was approached to design and undertake the survey using our bespoke, high-resolution video rig. Predefined strip transects were flown at a non-intrusive height over the site, and objects were then identified and data analysed by professional ecologists at HiDef’s offices in Cumbria. Several terrabytes (TB) of ecological data was collated, analysed and safely stored for future review. The coverage achieved by the HiDef team was well in excess of what would have been possible by traditional terrestrial methods and means that the data can be revisited at any point in the future, a massive improvement over traditional practices.

Habitat types were classified as per the Joint Nature Conservation Committee’s (JNCC) guidance, with the HiDef ecology team also identifying locations of water bodies suitable for protected great crested newts. The high degree of spatial accuracy and exceptional ground resolution provided EcoNorth with the best scientific evidence possible in relation to this European protected species and allowed follow-up surveys to be conducted using eDNA water sampling techniques to clarify presence of newts at ponds.

The project was completed within six weeks, from start to report submission and will form part of the planning submission for the development proposal.

“Utilising new technology to resolve environmental challenges has become a trade mark of our work” said HiDef Managing Director Kit Hawkins “It is good to see our team again leading the field of innovation which help clients, planners, developers and the environment”

“We needed an innovative approach to providing a swift, accurate habitat map to inform the next phase of ecological surveys and HiDef’s aerial survey provided just that” explained Vicki Mordue Managing Director at EcoNorth. “The level of detail was such that we were able to see fish in ponds which allowed us to scope out ponds for great crested newts”.

HiDef’s colleagues at BioConsult SH have just released a book entitled “Birds of prey and wind farms: analysis of problems and possible solutions”.

The book, which was edited by BioConsult SH’s Managing Director, Georg Nehls, is aimed at wind farm developers, researchers, applied ecologists and landscape planners and discusses in detail the increase in number and capacity of wind farms in Germany and how this has affected birds of prey and their breeding success.

Several methods currently used to study the behaviour of birds of prey in relation to wind farms are discussed, including telemetry data, field observations, and comparisons of turbine base areas. Of particular interest to the UK renewables sector, Chapter 6 outlines the collision risk from wind turbines and analyses recorded fatalities. The book also establishes clear guidance to reduce impacts and estimate risks, as well as offer practical recommendations for future research.

Editors: Hötker, Hermann, Krone, Oliver, Nehls, Georg

Link to the publisher’s website

April is only just upon us, but the HiDef team has already completed and delivered our first Phase 1 habitat survey of the year. To those in the planning business this is a well-known term, but to those who are not it is perhaps more jargon!

Phase 1 habitat surveys are undertaken to map an area under consideration for development, based on the habitats and species present. Planners, developers and conservationists use it as a first-step tool to inform the requirement for any specialised surveys. In a nutshell, it tells us what is there.

The technique is a broad one, detailing vegetation communities using a set of standardised habitat definitions. The output from a Phase 1 survey is essentially a detailed (and colourful) map, with complimentary notes to provide further information on points of interest and habitats, with a supporting explanatory report.

A Phase 1 survey is often the first survey undertaken on a new site. From viewing the habitats, an experienced ecologist can identify what protected species may be using the area. What is a protected species? Well, otter, water vole, badger, bats, breeding birds and great crested newts fall into this category, while rabbits and grey squirrels for instance do not.

Phase 1 surveys are best conducted between April and October when deciduous and annual plant species are easier to identify, so we were glad to get our first survey in the bag so soon, at a site in Derbyshire. For our ecologists, it means an early season trip out of the office and getting back to basics, while for our clients it’s a source of comfort that another hurdle is successfully cleared in the planning process.

At HiDef, we have the capability to undertake Phase 1 surveys with boots on the ground, or from the air, for those sites with access issues. Give us a call to see if we can help you out.

On 7 March 2017, the Scottish Ministers awarded consent to the Kincardine Offshore Wind Farm project, located off the Aberdeenshire coast and with the potential to produce up to 48 megawatts (MW) of renewable power.

HiDef undertook a series of baseline ornithology and marine mammal surveys using our bespoke high-definition digital video aerial survey system, before supporting the Kincardine team with reporting and statistical analysis to support the consent application. The surveys recorded a range of maritime species in the area such as gannet, kittiwake, guillemot and minke whale, as well as less commonly found species such as basking shark.

Scottish Government Minister for Business, Innovation and Energy, Paul Wheelhouse gave consent for eight 6MW turbines, to be located approximately 15km south-east of Aberdeen.

Mr. Wheelhouse said:

“If the technology can be demonstrated at scale, it has huge potential to help Scotland meet its energy needs and to develop a supply chain that can service opportunities elsewhere in Europe and in markets such as south-east Asia and North America.”

The Kincardine project has the potential to support the creation of up to 110 jobs during assembly, installation and through ongoing operations and maintenance.

HiDef would like to congratulate the Kincardine team on the successful achievement of consent and we look forward to helping deliver the deployment of this exciting floating wind project.

HiDef can exclusively reveal that last week, at a confidential location and for a confidential client, Dicky Patounas, a former Leader of the Royal Air Force’s (RAF) aerobatic team the Red Arrows (known as “Red One”) safely completed another HiDef survey.

Dicky, who currently works with one of HiDef’s Air Operations Partners, DEA Limited, as Director of Business Development had a highly successful career with the RAF which not only included a spell as Red One, but also saw Dicky introduce the Eurofighter Typhoon into RAF service.

Speaking about the survey, Chris Whelan, HiDef’s Flight Operations and Data Manager, commented:

“HiDef takes extreme pride in ensuring that our operations are conducted safely and using the most experienced Air Operations Partners and aircrew.

To have someone of Dicky’s calibre flying our surveys is great for our clients and our team, knowing that the work is being safely completed to the highest level by an extremely experienced and competent pilot.”

Dicky added:

“DEA enjoys working with HiDef across their portfolio, playing our part in the development of some of the World’s largest offshore wind farms and helping to provide reliable information to support the conservation of our natural environment.

HiDef’s operations are understandably different to flying fast jets, but the technology is right up there with the best that the defence sector uses!”

As part of the DIVER project an international workshop on red-throated divers was held at BSH premises in Hamburg on 24-25 November 2016. The workshop was a great success with more than 40 diver researchers from different countries, representatives of German regulators and offshore wind energy industry attending the meeting.

During the 2 day meeting interim project results of the DIVER project were presented and discussed as well as presentations of international diver experts from Germany, Denmark, Sweden, the Netherlands, Lithuania, UK and USA. Main focus of the workshop presentations and discussions was on the effect of offshore wind farms to divers, but also different aspects of diver biology, such as diver diet and migration patterns.

The workshop agenda as well as most of the presentations (published with the permission of the authors) can be found below.

Thursday, 24 November 2016

Stefan Garthe (Germany): Introduction and current state of knowledge on divers in German waters

Thomas Merck (Germany): Welcome words of BfN

Jesper Kyed Larsen (Denmark): Divers and wind farms – a point of view from wind energy industry side

Presentation_Larsen

Sue O’Brien (UK): Evidence needs for offshore wind farm development in the UK

Presentation_O’Brien

Georg Nehls (Germany): Introduction to the DIVER project

Presentation_Nehls

Ramūnas Žydelis (Denmark): High mobility of Red-throated Divers revealed by satellite telemetry

Presentation_Zydelis_mobility

Volker Dierschke (Germany): Divers and wind farms – review of available information and perspectives for German marine areas

Presentation_Dierschke

Monika Dorsch (Germany): Red-throated Diver winter movements in areas with offshore wind farms

Presentation_Dorsch

Stefan Heinänen (Denmark): Red-throated Diver habitat use in the German North Sea based on aerial survey data

Presentation_Heinänen

Ramūnas Žydelis (Denmark): Red-throated Diver habitat use in the German North Sea based on telemetry data

Presentation_Zydelis_model

Friday, 25 November 2016

Petra Quillfeldt (Germany): Introduction to telemetry methods

Presentation_Quillfeldt

Carrie Gray (USA): Red-throated Loon telemetry project in the US

Ramūnas Žydelis (Lithuania): Red-throated Diver telemetry study in Lithuania

Presentation_Zydelis_LT

Ib Krag Petersen (Denmark): Geolocation study of Red-throated Divers in Iceland, Shetland and Orkney

Presentation_Petersen

Joel Schmutz (USA) (presented by Carrie Gray): Red-throated Loon telemetry study in Alaska

Presentation_Schmutz

Mats Eriksson (Sweden): Levels and trends in the Swedish population of Red-throated Diver in Sweden

Presentation_Eriksson

Birgit Kleinschmidt (Germany): Ecological diet analyses of Red-throated Divers wintering in the German North Sea based on molecular methods

Presentation_Kleinschmidt

Mardik Leopold (Netherlands): Foraging ecology of Red-throated Divers

Presentation_Leopold

Richard Caldow (UK) (presented by Sue O’Brien): Red-throated divers in the UK: site-based protection at sea and assessment of effects of marine activities in protected sites

Andy Webb (UK): Operational effects of Lincs and LID wind farms on red-throated divers in the Greater Wash

Presentation_Webb

HiDef is pleased to confirm that it has played a major role in assessing the potential environmental effects of Hexicon AB’s Dounreay Trì Floating Wind Demonstration (known as Dounreay Trì) project, by undertaking the ornithological impact assessment chapter of the Environmental Statement (ES) and working with SMRU Limited, who undertook the marine mammal impact assessment chapter.

This work builds upon the delivery of ultra-high-resolution video marine mammal and bird surveys across the Dounreay Trì site between January 2015 and December 2015 and the provision of both historic trend analysis (HTA) and survey reporting, undertaking using complex statistical methods.

The application was submitted to the Scottish Government in October 2016 and seeks a licence to construct and operate the Dounreay Trì project, which is located approximately 6km off Dounreay, Scotland. When constructed, the Dounreay Trì project will consist of a semi-submersible platform fitted with two wind turbines generators (WTG) and will have a total capacity of between 8MW and 12MW.

Hexicon AB is a Swedish company with a background within shipbuilding and technology development and plans to have the Dounreay Trì project in operation by the summer of 2018.

Speaking about HiDef’s work on the project, Kit Hawkins said:

“We are delighted to have been able to support Hexicon AB for almost two years now at the Dounreay Trì project. Initially, we undertook twelve months’ surveys across the site, which included surveying in challenging weather conditions which required us to make the most of our weather forecasting and survey execution skills.

Following this, we delivered a series of detailed reports to support the application for consent before undertaking the ornithological environmental impact assessment (EIA) chapter of the ES. A key aspect of our strategy since announcing the partnership with BioConsult SH is to deliver high-quality consultancy services and reporting. Having been selected to undertake this work on such a novel and innovative technology is a real feather in the cap for our growing consultancy team.”

Marcus Thor, Hexicon’s Project Director responded:

“HiDef’s experience and expertise, combined with the excellence of their offshore survey capability, meant that they were always the first-choice for our project team. HiDef’s work is always of a high standard and the advice given by HiDef’s expert ornithologists has helped smooth the consenting process no end.

Our aim is for this project to show how a multi turbine concept can help bring down the cost of offshore wind, enabling this form of renewable energy to be even more financially viable. HiDef has been an essential part of our progress so far and we look forward to continuing this relationship as we move forward.”

As market leader of the environmental survey sector HiDef captures and stores significant volumes of commercially sensitive date, with an archive of over 3000 Terabytes of video imagery the business took the bold step of registering for the relatively new ISO27001 standard, which is normally the domain of large security organisations, defence contractors, insurance companies and telecoms giants.

Over the last eight months, HiDef has been working hard to add the new standard to its existing accreditations. ISO 27001 is recognised as being the toughest standard to obtain, in part because it encompasses the requirement of so many other ISO standards. Months of hard work finally paid off last week, when the company gained the accreditation with flying colours.

ISO 27001 is an internationally recognised standard for an information security management system (ISMS). Data breaches are constantly making the headlines and have the potential to cause significant reputational harm and expense to both an organisation and its clients and so implementing a management system standard such as ISO 27001 is an important step in ensuring that access to data is appropriately authorised and protected. ISO 27001 covers all formats of information, whether printed or written on paper, stored electronically, transmitted by post or email, shown on films or spoken in conversation. Whatever form the information takes, or means by which it is stored, ISO 27001 provides a structured framework for reducing or eliminating the possibility of an information security breach.

HiDef’s Operations Director, Elaine Southward, was very pleased to confirm the award:

“I’m delighted that HiDef has achieved this challenging accreditation, as it demonstrates once again our commitment to ensuring best practise and maintaining our position as the sector leader.

ISO 27001 is an easy thing to commit to, but incredibly difficult to obtain. In todays’ commercial environment It is no longer enough to guarantee information security management by just adopting a data management standard – absolute data integrity now demands companies must have a standard that is regularly audited by a third party to ensure that it remains robust and fit for purpose.

I’m proud of our team, the process was rigorous and challenging. We wanted to be the first organisation within the sector to be awarded the standard, we had no idea that less than 500 companies have been accredited and we are among the smallest.”

Academics from the University of Kiel have recently confirmed what the UK offshore wind industry and statutory nature conservation advisers have known for a while – that HiDef’s bespoke ultra-high resolution digital video aerial technology remains the standard bearer for offshore wildlife surveys.

The study by renowned academics including Dr. Bettina Mendel and Prof. Stefan Garthe, which was published early last month (May 2016), has highlighted the effectiveness of HiDef’s technology, with a direct comparison to two still camera platforms. The study reports on the findings of inter-technique calibration surveys, where HiDef’s technology (used under license in Germany and Denmark by HiDef’s licensee, Bio Consult SH) was shown to have recorded high concentrations of both birds and marine mammals, whilst competitor systems, including main rival APEM, only recorded densities which were half as high. The report suggests that there is a 99% probability that this difference was statistically significant.

HiDef’s technology recorded high numbers of guillemot, while APEM’s only recorded very few. This was quite surprising, the report’s authors suggested, given that the weather conditions were almost optimal when this survey was undertaken, with minimal solar glare and a low sea state. Particularly surprising was the fact that both floating and flying guillemots were recorded much less by the rival technology, suggesting that the small and dark nature of guillemots was obviously often overlooked, even under prime survey conditions.

Mark Robinson, HiDef’s Managing Director welcomed the study:

“The academic community has confirmed what the UK renewables and conservation sectors have known for some time, that HiDef’s bespoke service provides accurate and scientifically robust densities and abundances for offshore wildlife. Having accurate data is essential for ensuring that the environmental effects of offshore development can be properly considered, leading to project consents which are robust and unchallengeable.

When selecting a survey provider potential clients are faced with claim and counter claim by suppliers, especially about their technology and science. This study is the first scientific comparison where the supply chain was able to deploy their own preferred techniques, the results are confirmation of our long held views on how to deliver scientifically robust results, it also highlights the importance of using video technology.

The fact that results obtained from our technology were used as the study’s baseline further confirms our place as the industry’s gold standard. We look forward to discussing the implications of this work with our clients, the statutory nature conservation advisers and our wider industry colleagues”

This study is of particular importance to the renewables industry as it confirms the robustness of the results achieved by HiDef at offshore wind sites in the UK and provides comfort to both developers and regulators that the counts are scientifically accurate and reliable.

Those interested in further information this study, or requiring a copy, should e-mail:

enquiries@www.hidefsurveying.co.uk

HiDef Aerial Surveying is delighted to confirm that it has been delivering extreme high resolution video marine mammal and bird surveys to Hexicon AB since January 2015, in support of Hexicon’s application for consent for the Dounreay Tri Demonstrator project.

Hexicon is a Swedish company with a background within shipbuilding and technology development, which is applying for consent to build and operate a semi-submersible platform which will support two wind turbines at a site approximately 9km from the Dounreay power station, on the north coast of Scotland.

HiDef’s Commercial Director, Kit Hawkins, confirmed HiDef’s role on the project, stating:

“HiDef recognises the massive potential for floating offshore wind to help provide part of the UK’s future energy mix and we are therefore delighted to confirm that we have been supporting Hexicon since January 2015 at the Dounreay Tri Demonstrator project.

This project is a new and innovative technology which has the potential to strengthen the viability of offshore wind power and to continue to reduce the cost of generation. As a technology development company ourselves, we recognise the inherent value in the testing of new technology in real-world conditions.”

Marcus Thor, Hexicon’s Project Director responded:

“The cost-effectiveness of HiDef’s offering, coupled with their experience of working on floating wind projects and in Scottish Territorial Waters meant that they were always the first-choice for our project team.

We believe that the Dounreay Tri Demonstrator project will help shape the future of offshore wind, by demonstrating the effectiveness of floating foundations and helping to drive down cost.

HiDef has played a critical part of the early stages of our project’s development, including surveying in some challenging weather conditions this winter.”

HiDef Aerial Surveying Limited (HiDef) is delighted to confirm that it has been selected by DONG Energy to undertake ultra high resolution digital video aerial surveys at a new offshore wind farm site in the Irish Sea, known as the Isle of Man project.

The Isle of Man project, as a proposed development in the Isle of Man’s territorial seas, requires consent from the Isle of Man Government and as part of that consenting process, information has to be supplied about potential environmental impacts in the form of an Environmental Impact Assessment (known as an EIA).

The prediction of the nature and scale of any environmental impact needs to be based on reliable and scientifically accurate data, which is where HiDef excels. The transect-based survey method has now become the de facto standard in a number of countries including the United Kingdom, Germany and the United States of America because it has been proven to give accurate and precise abundance estimates for seabirds and marine mammals across the hundreds of surveys where it has been used.

The survey programme for the Isle of Man project will continue for up to two years and builds upon the work that HiDef has already successfully undertaken for DONG Energy, including at the nearby Burbo Bank Extension project, the Celtic Array Round 3 zone and the Northern Irish First Flight Wind project.

DONG Energy’s Jeremy Martin was pleased to confirm the award:

“DONG Energy is the market leader in offshore wind and we are firmly committed to the UK, having already invested in excess of £5 billion. We are pleased to confirm that we have commissioned HiDef to work with us on the Isle of Man project, following a successful ongoing partnership at the Burbo Bank Extension.

HiDef’s innovative approach and ability to deliver the right results was important in selecting them for this work. We strongly believe their industry-leading approach will provide a firm basis for successful consenting. Their unique use of high-resolution video was important in giving the Isle of Man Government the confidence that the data collected would be scientifically accurate and allow for a properly informed environmental assessment.”

HiDef’s Commercial Director, Kit Hawkins, responded:

“HiDef is delighted to have been selected by DONG Energy once again for this exciting project, especially given the Isle of Man project’s importance in delivering renewable energy post-2020.

HiDef shares DONG Energy’s vision that offshore wind is a central part of the future energy mix, offering long-term energy security to the UK and the Isle of Man. This contract award further outlines the confidence that both industry and Government has in our technique and technology.”