Report

Climate impact of aerial surveys and altitude data

The Directorate-General for Public Works and Water Management (Rijkswaterstaat) and the National Water Authority (Waterschapshuis) jointly collect products from Imaging Material (Beeldmateriaal) and the Elevation Model of the Netherlands (Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland). These are high-resolution aerial photographs and a detailed altimetry of the entire Netherlands, which are used for applications such as infrastructure planning and vegetation monitoring. These two organisations have commissioned CE Delft and Radboud University Nijmegen to:

  • identify the current climate impact of collecting these products per aircraft, as well as the climate impact of data processes such as processing, storage and distribution;
  • identify potential mitigation options and recommend control options for collecting these products in order to reduce the climate impact.

Current climate impact

  • in 2023, the climate impact amounted to 202 tonnes of CO2, which is equivalent to the emissions of 13 Dutch residents per year;
  • the collection per aircraft accounts for 86% of emissions, where low and high resolution imagery is roughly equal due to the difference in types of aircraft and the Elevation Model of the Netherlands accounts for only 1/3 of the products collected in the Netherlands;
  • data processes account for 14% of emissions, most of which are from primary central storage.

Mitigation options

We found several options that will reduce the climate impact of collection by aircraft in the short term:

  • focusing on more fuel-efficient aircraft;
  • bundling contracts, as many areas are subject to multiple collection by different authorities;
  • combining the collection of Imaging Material and the Elevation Model of the Netherlands products;
  • including less stringent operational requirements in the tender invitation.

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