Client
The Land Consultancy
Delivery
August 2025
Project Type
Topographic Survey and UAV LiDAR Survey
Location
Caithness, Scotland
Scope
We were engaged by The Land Consultancy to complete a topographic survey of the proposed Bettyhill Phase 2 Wind Farm located at Caithness. The purpose of the survey was to provide accurate topographic and ground modelling survey data to aid in the design and construction of the wind farm and provide base mapping detail for the geotechnical site investigations. This required capturing precise elevation and surface detail across a challenging landscape with environmentally sensitive areas. Survey data was collected using a combination of GNSS for ground control and UAV LiDAR for high-resolution aerial mapping methodology ensured a high level of accuracy and efficient site coverage while minimising disruption to the site and the environmentally sensitive areas.
Solution
The client required a 3D DWG drawing aligned to the Ordnance Survey grid. Due to the environmental aspects, the survey area was limited to within 100m of the existing vehicular tracks, proposed turbine sites and borrow pits. To meet these requirements, we used a UAV with a LiDAR sensor payload for rapid data acquisition without disturbing any habitats or areas of conservation. The southern section of the survey area fell within a flight restriction zone so this required close coordination with the relevant authorities to ensure our operations were compliant.
The team carried out a pre-survey walkover using GNSS techniques to establish control points and then undertook 20 flights to capture dense point cloud data of the terrain as well as high resolution RGB imagery. The data collected was then post processed back in the office to produce a detailed 3D topographic model, extracted from the LiDAR point cloud and supplemented with a high resolution orthomosaic image of the site generated from the RGB imagery.
Benefits
This project demonstrates how combining UAV LiDAR technology with GNSS control points delivers high precision topographic data in vast challenging environments safely, efficiently and accurately.
- Reduced environmental impact
- Efficient data capture with multiple deliverables from one dataset
- Detailed, accurate data for informed decision making and reporting
At Adaptive, we know that no two projects are the same. Get in touch with us today to learn more about our bespoke solutions.