Aerial survey specialist Bluesky has launched a digital map layer accurately modelling the location and extent of trees and their proximity to buildings. Designed as a tool to aid help with the management of trees including maintenance, conservation and the issuing of tree preservation orders (TPOs) by Local Authorities, ProximiTREE details the exact spatial location and height of individual trees together with the circumference of its canopy

From this information a determination can also be made of the root extent and therefore the potential impact on either existing or proposed properties. 

Trees and hedges are fundamental elements of our countryside, however they also have a major part to play in urban areas. Trees and hedges in private gardens, parks and other open spaces, or lining the sides of streets, railways, rivers and canals are of great importance, particularly in residential areas. They can also provide valuable habitats for wildlife, improve the air we breathe, and help to conserve energy in nearby buildings. It is therefore essential that this valuable resource is effectively managed and if applicable protected.

However concern about the location of trees can be a major worry, not only when trees cause damage through subsidence but also because the proximity of trees can jeopardise house purchases, insurance claims, planning applications, mortgage loans and even cause disputes between neighbours. 

"ProximiTREE is designed to provide an easy-to-use reference base for all decisions relating to the location of trees including their proximity to either existing or proposed developments," says James Eddy, Operations Director at Bluesky. "Derived from the most detailed and up-to-date aerial photography it is suitable for use by property developers, Local Authority users and insurance companies in fact any one involved in the ownership, management or development of property close to trees."

ProximiTREE is derived from the most accurate and up to date aerial photography. Using overlapping images the exact location of every tree can be mapped and the height and extent of its canopy derived. ProximiTREE is suitable for use in most desktop Geographical Information Systems (GIS), web mapping applications and Computer Aided Design (CAD) packages. Both 2D and 3D versions of the map are available and ProximiTREE works alongside existing Bluesky datasets such as 3D buildings, terrain models and aerial imagery.