AT computer screens across Cumbria and beyond, scores of experts spend their days poring over thousands of photos of the sea looking for signs of life.  

However, this is not a search and rescue operation or the hunt for some rare species, it is the day-to-day work of a multi-million-pound environmental surveying company, which is experiencing a boom driven by demand for renewable energy.  

HiDef Aerial Surveying, based on Dobies Business Park, Lillyhall, was originally founded in 2007 with 12 staff. Today it has over 140, many based in West Cumbria but also with an office in Edinburgh and others working from home in various locations. 

As national business development manager Dilwyn Jones explains, the company has grown particularly rapidly in the last five years. Alongside the increase in employees, its turnover has grown to over £15m in 2023 and is forecasted to top £20m next year, with its customers including the likes of energy giants Orsted and SSE.  

"It's really ramped up quite significantly, both in terms of staff and business. It's a major challenge trying to keep the two level so we can meet the demand,” said Dilwyn.  

When areas of seabed are officially released as potential sites for offshore wind farms by national governments, energy companies first have to carry out surveys to gauge the effect construction will have on wildlife and the environment.  

As part of this they have to pull together an environmental impact report, a key part of which involves assessing what birds and mammals are present in the area and how they use it.  

HiDef work closely with companies which provide planes to plan and execute flights over the proposed areas, carrying out aerial surveys with its bespoke camera rigs. The rigs film at extremely high frame rates and sharp resolution, producing hundreds of thousands of aerial photos. These flights are then repeated regularly over a number of months to build an accurate picture of activity within the area.  

The images are analysed by wildlife and environmental experts - who make up about 60 per cent of HiDef’s team - to identify factors including what bird and mammal species are located in the area or whether it is a migratory route or feeding ground.