Forth and Tay members

East Anglia ONE was the first offshore wind farm to gain planning approval using solely digital aerial bird surveys as part of the environmental impact assessment. APEM provided innovative aerial surveys, data, assessment and expert advice on the potential impacts of the East Anglia ONE offshore wind farm on seabirds and marine mammals, contributing to its successful consent.

Contract type: Bird and Marine Mammal Survey

Developers Scottish Power Renewables and Vattenfall Wind Power required data and expert advice on birds and marine mammals as part of the consenting for the East Anglian ONE offshore wind farm. APEM flew a series of aerial surveys over the wind farm area over a period of about 18 months, collecting baseline bird and marine mammal data. We also developed a migration model for migratory birds. More recently, the surveys have taken to the air. Developments in ultra-high resolution digital cameras have allowed camera systems mounted to aircraft to photograph huge areas quickly, cost effectively and more safely, while providing data that can be independently verified. The surveys captured around 90,000 images over the East Anglia ONE area using a novel grid-based survey design. These were then analysed by APEM’s in-house ornithologists. Seabirds including gannets, kittiwakes, lesser black-backed gulls, herring gulls, divers and auks were found in the area of the proposed wind farm.

APEM were thrilled to be able to support Australia’s first offshore wind project, Star of the South during its feasibility phase. Star of the South’s proposed location off the south coast of Gippsland, has the potential to supply up to 20% of Victoria’s electricity needs as well as creating jobs and investment in the local economy. RPS is supporting Star of the South with its offshore approvals and EIA work, including designing and managing the project’s marine ecology survey program. RPS chose APEM to deliver the marine wildlife surveys required for the EIA. The programme of digital aerial surveys that were undertaken for the Star of the South lasted for 24 months recording birds, marine mammals and any other receptors such as boats to characterise the baseline environment for the project. The key focus was on birds, recording species type, abundance, distribution and flight height and were flown at an industry leading 1.5cm GSD using a grid methodology.

Contract type: Marine Wildlife Survey

APEM’s ultra-high resolution digital aerial (not video) was used to capture a permanent record, which can be effortlessly reviewed again later if required and supports robust quality control procedures that we perform at every stage of the image analysis. Our experience with all forms of remote sensing practices led our technical scientists to consider how over land surveys could be adapted and applied to the marine environment. LiDAR was added in the second year of survey programme to aid the collection of accurate flight heights. The difficulty identifying Australian seabird species to species level meant that flight height ranges often had to be given in the first year. LiDAR ensured that in the second year we were able to provide accurate heights (within 1 metre) for every flying bird recorded, a critical input into collision risk modelling. This method is currently being used by a handful of developers around the world, however the approach is the gold standard in terms of robust flight height data to model potential collision risk to birds during operation. APEM’s global best practice survey design ensures we provide the highest quality data and advice that delivers exactly what our clients require to meet the needs of the regulators.