North West Coast Aerial Survey

Sefton Council Technical Services Coastal Defence team have commissioned me to produce an aerial survey of the north-west coastline, from the Solway Firth on the Scottish border to the Great Orme on the North Wales coast, taking in the river estuaries of the Esk, Eden, Wampool, Esk (Cumbria), Irt, Mite, Duddon, Leven, Gilpin, Lune, Wyre, Douglas, Ribble, Mersey, Dee, and Clwyd. The total length of open coast is 430km, and photographs are to be taken every 1000m. , showing coastline and defences, and intertidal features such as beaches, salt marsh and mud flats.

River estuaries are to be photographed every 200m, along both sides and will show the estuary bank and defences, and features such as salt marsh and mud flats. All photographs will be taken within one hour of low tide, requiring detailed planning around days when low tide occurs at a suitable time, plus calculations of flying time and other logistics. Weather also has to be factored in, unfortunately no amount of planning can influence this part of the job. Photography will be carried out in March 2009, and will be shot on the 24.5 mp Nikon D3x, which will produce highly detailed images.