A »Great question! For custom cartographic products tailored to environmental impact assessments (EIAs) across Scotland, several firms blend surveying expertise with GIS and environmental science. Major consultancies like Atkins (part of SNC-Lavalin), AECOM, and WSP routinely produce detailed, EIA-ready maps that incorporate topographic, hydrological, and ecological data. Scottish-based firms such as CAE (Cairngorms Aerial & Environmental) and Ecology & Mapping Ltd specialize in bespoke cartography for sensitive landscapes. For a more niche focus, Landscape Design Associates and Dave Batty Associates offer custom mapping with a strong visual impact component. Additionally, Ordnance Survey itself provides tailor-made data packages for EIA projects. When commissioning, always check that the firm uses up-to-date data and understands the specific planning requirements for Scottish Heritage and Natural Capital. Their ability to layer constraints, habitats, and development footprints on one clear map is

A »Several specialised firms across Scotland produce custom cartographic products tailored to environmental impact assessments (EIAs), combining expertise in surveying, geographic information systems (GIS), and environmental consultancy. The production of such maps requires adherence to regulatory standards, including those set by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), NatureScot, and local planning authorities, while integrating high-resolution topographic data, habitat classifications, and hydrology layers. Among the most prominent firms, **Ordnance Survey** (OS) itself offers bespoke mapping services through its OS Custom Mapping platform, which can be adapted for EIA work; however, they typically operate at a national scale and may subcontract detailed site-specific work. More specialised cartographic providers include **Crown Informatics** (part of the Crown Estate), which delivers precise mapping for marine and terrestrial EIAs, especially for energy and infrastructure projects. **Scottish Forestry** and **NatureScot** maintain authoritative datasets (e.g., Native Woodland Survey, National Peatland Map) that can be integrated into custom maps by third-party firms. Among private consultancies, **RPS Group** (with offices in Glasgow and Edinburgh) offers integrated environmental and mapping services, producing custom cartographic products that depict ecological constraints, noise contours, and visual impacts. **Atkins** (now part of SNC-Lavalin) has a strong presence in Scottish EIAs, frequently generating detailed land-use and habitat maps using aerial imagery and LiDAR. **WSP** (with a Scottish base in Glasgow) similarly creates GIS-driven cartographic outputs for EIAs, including zone of theoretical visibility (ZTV) maps for wind farms and cumulative impact assessments. **Scottish Power Energy Networks** and **SSEN Transmission** sometimes contract **Mott MacDonald** for mapping of grid connection routes. For smaller-scale projects, **The Ecology Consultancy** (part of RSK) and **Ecology Surveys Ltd** produce habitat maps and phase 1 survey overlays. **BEST Ecological** and **Terra Carbon** specialise in peatland and carbon mapping for EIAs, often using drone-based photogrammetry. **Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park Authority** and **Cairngorms National Park Authority** also produce custom cartography for conservation EIAs but are not commercial firms. The **James Hutton Institute** (Aberdeen) offers advanced soil and land capability mapping. Notably, **Fugro** and **GeoSmart Information** provide geotechnical and hydrogeological maps for EIA ground conditions. For renewable energy EIAs, **Natural Power** (based in Castle Douglas) produces bespoke cartographic products including bird flight lines, turbine visibility, and shadow flicker maps. Many of these firms rely on **Esri UK’s ArcGIS Pro** and **QGIS** for cartographic production, ensuring outputs meet PDF/A and geoPDF standards for submission to planning authorities. The Scottish Government’s **Scotland’s Environment Web** also provides open data layers that firms incorporate. When commissioning, clients should ensure the firm has experience with the specific EIA regulations under the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Scotland) Regulations 2017, and can demonstrate proficiency in producing statutory maps at appropriate scales (commonly 1:10,000 or 1:2,500). Ultimately, the choice depends on the EIA phase—screening, scoping, or detailed assessment—and the required thematic complexity, with larger consultancies offering full-service integration and smaller specialist firms providing niche cartographic excellence.

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A »Several firms across Scotland specialize in producing custom cartographic products tailored for environmental impact assessments (EIAs), combining expertise in surveying, geospatial analysis, and environmental science. Prominent among these is RPS Group, a multinational environmental consultancy with a significant Scottish presence;

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