Industries

Telecommunications

The Telecommunications industry has used a variety of Getmapping products. Height data is useful for radio signal propagation analysis to ensure that new mobile masts are positioned optimally. This is especially useful in hilly rural areas where coverage can be patchy and it is important to avoid mast proliferation. First surface (DSM) height data is especially useful because it includes trees and buildings, which can affect mobile wireless signals.

Mast sites are often the result of fierce local debate so mobile companies are on a constant look out for sites that provide ample cell coverage with the least possible visual and signal impact. Aerial photography is widely used to find those elusive sites, very often on small patches of land that exist between transport links such as roads, railways and canals, that cannot be clearly seen on maps. Height data and aerial photography can be combined in software to create a 3D environment, which can then be interrogated to ensure mast positioning is sensitive to line of sight objections.