APEM has recently entered into a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) with Durham University.  The aim of the KTP scheme is to encourage collaboration between UK businesses and academic institutions.  APEM will be working in conjunction with Durham University’s Department of Geography to develop a commercial implementation of recent advances in aerial imaging technology for river catchment management which will facilitate compliance with the EU Water Framework Directive.

Steve Dugdale is working as a KTP research associate within APEM, and is currently looking at optimising APEM’s existing aerial photography capability.  His work to date has focused on the development of techniques for the analysis of large-scale particle size trends within fluvial corridors.  In collaboration with academics from Durham University, he has produced a system capable of quickly generating particle size maps showing both submerged and exposed gravels within a river corridor, and is now concentrating on modelling river depth from airborne imagery.  For further details of APEM’s aerial photography or particle size mapping capability visit the Aerial Surveys web pages or click here to download a PDF capability statement