Dr Laura Williamson. Head of Science at HiDef Aerial Surveying, works in marine consultancy focussing on marine mammal and seabird risk mitigation and impact assessment during windfarm construction. She leads a team of Ecological Consultants and Data Scientists at HiDef, performing impact assessment, develops mitigation strategies and research programmes to meet clients’ regulatory and reporting requirements, and provides advice throughout the consent, construction, and operational phases. Laura completed her MRes and PhD at the University of Aberdeen, where she used data from digital aerial surveys and echolocation-click detectors (C-PODs) to complete species distribution modelling to study harbour porpoise distribution and behaviour. She has also performed benthic colonisation and decommissioning studies for offshore structures and has experience with the setup, deployment, operation, and recovery of offshore survey equipment (e.g. hydrophones, radar, sonar, IR cameras), as well as with analysis and reporting of data, and performing statistical modelling.
Head of Science | HiDef Aerial Surveying