Visual Impact Studies, Viewshed and Exposure Maps
When you need to produce
visual impact study, viewshed maps or submit documentation for an
environmental review process, call us for help. Our custom built maps
are designed to show the visual exposure area for any given feature or
construction project.
Through many years in the
wireless industry I had some enlightening experiences while working
through zoning approvals for telecommunications tower sites. When
I started my mapping service, I noticed that the environmental industry
did not have many sources of inexpensive maps that show where the view
shed exists from any given point. Wirelessmapping.com can produce Visual
Impact Study Maps.
The visual or view shed
study maps available here will show a highlighted area on a topographic,
street map, or aerial photography. The color represents areas that can
be viewed from a given object (such as a building or tower or wind
turbine generator). You can specify the height of the center object as
well as the height of the observer. The view area is calculated based on
the local topographic terrain data. It does not allow for visual
obstructions such as trees or buildings that might actually obscure the
view.
NEW FEATURE!
We now have the ability to insert
the local tree and vegetation cover in our digital terrain models. This
means any viewshed maps can now reflect blockages caused by trees and/or
other obstacles such as buildings. Please call for pricing on these
advanced studies.
While these visual impact
and viewshed maps are useful to the wireless industry to evaluate radio
sites, they are also useful to anyone who needs to submit
environmental impact data. These could include NEPA / CEPA / MEPA /
SEQRA and other state environmental impact requirements. They may also
be needed in state historical preservation office (SHPO) applications
from time to time. If your zoning ordinance requires you to submit a
visual impact study or viewshed map we may be able to help.
Situations that might
require a visual impact study could include windmill farms or wind
power generator projects, radio and telecommunications towers,
forestry clear cut projects, large building construction, power lines,
and any other zoning or site review process. The studies are very
affordable. This allows the person applying for the zoning approval to
provide the information, or citizen groups to produce evidence of areas
that could be affected in their quest to make sure citizen concerns are
well represented. Demographic information on population and households
can be provided for the same affected areas. This could help preserve a
viewshed area.
The maps are helpful to
tourism and real estate agencies that want to tout locations that have
great views. Wouldn't it be nice to show the full vista area on a map to
entice a person to visit that spot. Your tourism bureau might like to
generate a map of a scenic highway overlook showing the areas visible
from a particular location. These are great additions to the normal
photographs that are used.
In addition to the maps, 3D
renderings can be generated that simulate a very real representation of
a particular line of sight view. Fly by animations are also possible.
Multiple views can be generated showing the actual terrain viewed over
the aerial photography or street maps. This can be helpful during site
plan review.
Visual
Impact Study and Viewshed Map Examples
Click on thumbnails
to see the full size image.
Viewshed
area overlaid on an aerial photo.
image.
Viewshed area on topographic map, two
sites are shown in yellow and magenta colors with the red area showing
the overlap from each site.
Simple single site viewshed area on
topographic map with range rings.
Example of a 3D rendering of a particular view.
This is an actual photo from the same
location.
To order a visual impact
map simply send the
geographic coordinates of your location to:
with the height of the center point and the height of the average
observer. A single map cost is $99.00 and demographic data is an
additional $49.00. We accept payment through PayPal or with purchase
orders from approved companies.
To submit payment for a
map click on the icon below:
This page last updated on
February 18, 2008 01:07 AM
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