England's landscape to be captured in 3D

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Europe

England's entire landscape will be mapped with 3D technology by 2020, the government's Environment Agency (EA) announced Saturday.

Using aircraft equipped with laser scanners, all of England's landscape – including rivers, fields and national parks – will be mapped, enabling the agency to generate new data to assess flood risk and inform conservation work.

The data will also be made available for free to the public and industry to be used by archaeologists, environmental and urban planners, and even gamers to make accurate 3D models of the landscape, said the EA.

Using aircraft equipped with laser scanners, all of England's landscape, including rivers, fields and national parks, will be mapped. /Photo via gov.uk

About 75 percent of England is currently mapped, but with only sporadic coverage of upland areas.

"This ambitious project will enhance our understanding of England's unique natural features and landscape, helping us better understand flood risk, plan effective defenses and fight waste crime," said James Bevan, CEO of EA.

"We will be able to gather, use and share such valuable data to contribute to environmental improvements and conservation. It's just one of the many ways the Environment Agency is using technology to help people and wildlife," said Bevan.

This project will enhance people's understanding of England's unique natural features and landscape. /VCG Photo

The EA has been using lidar, or light detection and ranging technology for 20 years to better understand flood risk. Maps are created by aircraft equipped with laser scanners, which measure the distance between the airplane and the ground.

The data collected can then be used to plan flood defenses across whole river catchments. It also helps environment officers spot sudden changes in the landscape that could indicate illegal waste dumping.

Source(s): Xinhua News Agency