Newcastle University scientists are launching a new consultancy specialising in geomatics – hi-tech surveying that uses satellite technology and other advanced systems.
The new business, called the Geomatics Application Centre (GAC), was officially launched Wednesday at an event attended by companies from across the UK and the North East. And already the new service is helping English Heritage develop new ways of monitoring its ageing properties and is providing support for oil company Shell in its North Sea oil operations.
It is called a ‘spin-in’ business because it will still be linked with and based at the university, which will benefit from any income.
Geomatics at Newcastle University has already gained an international reputation, with researchers working on projects as diverse as monitoring coastal erosion, measuring the rise and fall in sea level and mapping Britain’s ‘bounce’.
Potential customers of the newly-formed GAC could include civil engineers and architects, although any business which would make use of three-dimensional modelling may also benefit.
For instance, Newcastle University geomatics researchers, together with engineers from the Resource Centre for Innovation and Design (RCID), created a 3D computer model of Antony Gormley’s sculpture the Angel of the North. This was then used to produce measurements required for fabrication by steel workers in Hartlepool.
GAC staff ¿ all experts in their field – will be running consultancy projects for companies and providing highly specialized continuing professional development (CPD) training for employees.
There is expertise in global positioning systems (GPS or satellite technology), digital photogrammetry, laser scanning, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), remote sensing, and spatial data visualisation.
Dr Jon Mills, lecturer in Geomatics with Newcastle University’s School of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, said: “Many businesses don’t realise what geomatics is even though they are probably using it every day.
Our expertise could help provide them with a commercial advantage ¿ we may, for example, be able to help provide solutions to problems that until now they have been unable to solve.
“We are essentially specialising in providing transfer of knowledge from a leading-edge research establishment to the commercial sector.”
