Mount's Bay Labs

Times change, and so do we. Having emerged from a particularly challenging phase of my life, I've been rethinking what I offer as Mount's Bay Labs. Things seem to fall neatly into three camps... Research - in which I develop knowledge. Consulting - where I share my insight and understanding. Communication - communicating science, technology and spatial phenomena to a variety of audiences. I'm busy until autumn 2024 but after that? The sky's the limit!

Generative AI is everywhere and, like you, I'm tired of bland copy wherever I go. However, I think it's incredibly good at synthesising complexity - and a handy tool to communicate niche topics to a general audience. So this afternoon, I asked a popular model to interview me and regurgitate what it had learned about Mount's Bay Labs, so anyone can get the gist of what I've built and where I plan to take it. Here's its response: 1️⃣ "What is Mount’s Bay Labs?" Mount’s Bay Labs is like a special helper for people who want to understand the world better. You use cool tools like satellites, drones, and special cameras to see things from high up in the sky and down on the ground. You help businesses, farmers, and scientists learn about changes in the environment, like how plants are growing or how the land is changing. 2️⃣ "What services does Mount's Bay Labs offer?" Research: You look for new and exciting ways to use tools. You find out how to make the best use of satellites and drones to help people understand their land and crops better. Consulting: You talk to businesses and farmers to help them figure out what they need. You show them how to use the information you gather to make smart choices, like when to plant seeds or how to take care of their fields. Communication: You help share all the cool things you find out with everyone. You write stories and make presentations so that people can understand the important information and use it to help the Earth. 3️⃣ "What's the big mission that inspires me to go to work?" Your mission is to help everyone see and understand the changes happening in our world. You want to make sure that people can use the information you provide to make good choices for the environment and for their businesses. You believe that by working together, we can take care of our planet and make it a better place for everyone!

I'm told it's both #InternationalDayOfForests and #GlobalSurveyorsDay today. To mark this weird moment where worlds collide, here's a 25 m cube of terrestrial #lidar point cloud data I acquired in Epping Forest about eight years ago. The day I scanned these beautiful beech and veteran hornbeam trees saw more than a few memorable interruptions... The first was a family of foxes, stunned at my prowess in levelling tripods, clattering into a set-up behind a fallen oak. The second was an architect atop a horse, revelling in the sight of such cutting edge tech in one of London's more rural areas. The third and final interruption was an irate man with an equally irate spaniel, convinced Boris was about to build an extension of the A12 to connect Ilford and Watford. He wouldn't be convinced I wasn't in on it... I mean, what can you say? 🤣 Here's to those of you who have to handle cumbersome kit, great datasets and Joe Public in your working life - whether you scan highways, vessels or great hunks of wood. Cheers! For those of you who actually want to do stuff with point clouds of trees, I'd be delighted to have a chat! Drop me a DM and visit www.mountsbaylabs.com for more info.

Happy 'new CloudCompare release week'! We're particularly intrigued to explore the new tree isolation (qTreeIso) and 3D forest inventory (3DFin) tools. Collaborations always welcome - whether you're a sensor OEM, survey firm, geospatial analyst or researcher.

It was lovely to be back with a cohort of CENTA (Central England NERC Training Alliance) researchers this week, offering my insight and experiences as someone with a PhD working in industry and as a business owner. As many of you know, I've long followed what can best be described as a "non-traditional" pathway through my career to date. I think it's important that folk from all backgrounds are aware that there are numerous ways to forge a living. It's just as important that anyone considering what I call a 'portfolio career' is aware of the risks, the barriers and the challenges that might (and likely will) crop up along the way! I've no regrets following my personal passions (3D data looks incredible; the only certainty in life is change; scientific innovation is imperative if we want to survive in a society we recognise 20 years from now) and I hope the excellent researchers gained at least one nugget of wisdom from my time on the panel. I know I learned a lot from them! Good luck with your research, and keep in touch 👌 Thank you, Stephanie J Smith, for the invitation and for laying on a great event.