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APEM Group - Case Study
Offshore energy is playing a significant role in helping the world meet its renewable energy targets. APEM were thrilled to be able to support Australia’s first offshore wind project, Star of the South during its feasibility phase.
The project
Star of the South’s proposed location off the south coast of Gippsland, has the potential to supply up to 20% of Victoria’s electricity needs as well as creating jobs and investment in the local economy.
Offshore wind facility design and engineering depends on site-specific conditions including the impact to wildlife. APEM have been delivering digital aerial surveys for environmental impact assessments (EIA) used in the early stages of offshore wind developments since 2009.
For Australia’s first ever proposed windfarm APEM were contracted by RPS, the lead offshore environmental consultancy based in Victoria, Australia.
RPS is supporting Star of the South with its offshore approvals and EIA work, including designing and managing the project’s marine ecology survey program. RPS chose APEM to deliver the marine wildlife surveys required for the EIA.
The proposed windfarm site off the coast of south east Australia
APEM’s ultra-high resolution digital aerial surveys are delivered throughout the world.
Our approach
The programme of digital aerial surveys that were undertaken for the Star of the South lasted for 24 months recording birds, marine mammals and any other receptors such as boats to characterise the baseline environment for the project. The key focus was on birds, recording species type, abundance, distribution and flight height and were flown at an industry leading 1.5cm GSD using a grid methodology.
APEM’s ultra-high resolution digital aerial (not video) was used to capture a permanent record, which can be effortlessly reviewed again later if required and supports robust quality control procedures that we perform at every stage of the image analysis.
The Star of the South project was a trail blazer for another reason. As well as using ultra-high resolution aerial digital surveys, APEM combined LiDAR technology, a technique that APEM pioneered.
Combined LiDAR surveys were first developed and trialled in 2018 at Race Bank offshore windfarm and Hornsea One offshore windfarm in the UK. Our experience with all forms of remote sensing practices led our technical scientists to consider how over land surveys could be adapted and applied to the marine environment.
LiDAR was added in the second year of survey programme to aid the collection of accurate flight heights. The difficulty identifying Australian seabird species to species level meant that flight height ranges often had to be given in the first year. LiDAR ensured that in the second year we were able to provide accurate heights (within 1 metre) for every flying bird recorded, a critical input into collision risk modelling.
This method is currently being used by a handful of developers around the world, however the approach is the gold standard in terms of robust flight height data to model potential collision risk to birds during operation.
APEM’s global best practice survey design ensures we provide the highest quality data and advice that delivers exactly what our clients require to meet the needs of the regulators.
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“A first of its kind survey in Australia was never going to be easy, combined with some of the world’s toughest lockdowns for Covid 19. Logistics were often challenging, managing surveys on the other side of the world, and often with late night calls to talk through the latest Covid restrictions. APEM were able to mobilise survey equipment and technicians into a new, unfamiliar market and location and complete all scheduled surveys.
APEM worked with local ornithology experts to ensure QA/QC was completed to a very high standard. We now have a robust data set, critical for the project impact assessment.”
– Anna Mildner, Senior Consultant – Environment at RPS
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Watch the project video which includes APEM’s Aerial Survey Task Specialist Manager Camil-Andrei Danila.
Find out more about Australia’s first proposed offshore wind farm – Star of the South and our partners RPS.
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