WORKING AT HEIGHTS - Wind Energy Network

specialist surveying featureNavitus Bay Case StudyThe ChallengeThe Navitus Bay wind park,a joint venture betweenEneco Wind UK Ltd andEDF Energy, has recentlycompleted the third phaseof stakeholder and publicconsultation. The proposalsare for between 136 and 218offshore turbines in PooleBay at a distance of at least14 km from the coast.environment. Viewers wereable to toggle betweendifferent turbine sizes layoutsand follow the proposed cableroute from the wind turbinesto a substation at ThreeLegged Cross near Ringwood.The ResultThe model was usedextensively throughout the thirdphase of public consultationswhich took place at eightlocations along the coast.Around 2,000 visitors attendedthe exhibitions and they all hadthe opportunity to use the 3Dmodel to assess realistic viewsof the wind farm from anyrequested viewpoints whichwould otherwise have beenimpossible to provide.As always on suchschemes, Navitus Bayfaced a challenge toeffectively communicatethe appearance of thedevelopment when viewedfrom different locationsalong the coastline. Therewas some debate about theefficacy of traditional photo montages andthe number of views that could be offered.So, the Navitus Bay team turned to3DW, a Manchester based companywho specialise in creating interactive3D computer models of wind farmdevelopments to address visual impactissues in a dynamic and engaging format.To date, the company has produced3D models to support over 75 on andoffshore wind farm projects.The SolutionUsing a combination of Ordinance Surveyterrain data, aerial imagery, mappingdata and over 1,000 local photographs,3DW created a fully interactive 3D model,encompassing an area of 1,600 km2which represented prominent locationssuch as The Needles on the Isle ofWight, Bournemouth Pier and DurlstonLighthouse as well as the proposedturbine layouts.The resulting 3D model of the windfarm was one of the most extensive anddetailed ever produced and providesaccurate views of the proposed windfarm from any location within the 3DPositive feedbackFeedback on the 3D model wasoverwhelmingly positive. Irrespective ofwhether or not individuals agreed withthe Navitus Bay development, the modelclearly presented the proposals in a nontechnicaland unambiguous way whichfacilitated open, informed and constructivediscussions about the scheme.3DWwww.3dwebtech.co.uk108www.windenergynetwork.co.uk