Intermap Technologies is a leading provider of three-dimensional (3D) elevation data and elevations maps. Our superior digital elevation models (DEMs) enable power companies to optimize wind energy placements. To understand how this 3D data is used to procure optimum wind energy placements, it will help to first understand what elevation data is and what wind energy is.

At Intermap Technologies, we offer a variety of high-quality DEMs, including a digital surface model (DSM) and a digital terrain model (DTM).

• Digital Surface Model – a DSM is a topographic model of the earth’s surface that includes buildings, vegetation, roads, and natural terrain features. The key benefit of the DSM is that it provides a geometrically correct base map.
• Digital Terrain Model – a DTM is a topographic model of the bare earth that has had vegetation, buildings, and other cultural features digitally removed, enabling users to infer terrain characteristics possibly hidden in the DSM.

What is Wind Energy?
Wind energy, or wind power, is the conversion of wind into a useful resource, such as electricity. A wind turbine is required to convert wind into power. The most common wind turbine design is the three-bladed wind turbine. The geographical location of wind turbines is critical in producing efficient wind energy. Finding the ideal geographical location of wind turbines is referred to as wind energy placement.

How does 3D Elevation Data produce optimum Wind Energy Placements?
3D Elevation Data is extremely helpful in acquiring optimum wind energy placements. In fact, it is not only helpful, but often times it is necessary in order to procure the best placement for wind turbines. Wind turbines must be placed in particular spots so that they can effectively and efficiently convert wind into energy. Elevation data helps determine where these ideal wind energy locations are by digitally presenting pertinent geographic and terrain information. Additionally, 3D data results in significantly reduced time, effort, risk, and costs and eliminates counterproductive and costly guesswork.

At Intermap Technologies, our superior digital elevation models, which are derived from our NEXTMap countrywide mapping program, include highly accurate and current wide area digital surface models (DSMs), digital terrain models (DTMs), orthorectified radar images (ORIs), and elevation shaded images (ESIs). As a result of using our 3D elevation data, you will save valuable time, avoid unnecessary risks, and reduce costs associated with planning, constructing, and maintaining your wind energy generation facility with reliable engineering-grade data. All of our DEMs provide critical information for wind energy project planning, including elevation, slope gradients, and ridge line locations so that you can procure optimum wind energy placement.

Intermap Technologies is a leading technology enabler of optimum wind energy placements. We use advanced information and modern technology to produce state-of-the-art 3D elevation data to enable you to optimize your wind turbine placement. Contact Intermap Technologies today to learn more about our 3D elevation maps and how they can help you.

Tags: Elevation Data, Wind Energy, wind turbines

This entry was posted on Sunday, May 17th, 2009 at 1:18 pm and is filed under Wind Energy. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.