Background
Sky Revolutions was approached by Farrans Construction, a renowned building and civil engineering contractor, to produce a construction timelapse and aerial film for the Birkenhead Dock Extension project. This ambitious project, valued at £17 million, aimed to modernise the Twelve Quays terminal in Birkenhead, significantly expanding its capacity for next-generation Roll-on/Roll-off (RoRo) ferries. The Twelve Quays terminal has been a critical transportation hub, replacing Liverpool as the main terminal for passenger and freight services to Dublin and Belfast since the early 2000s.
Project requirements
Farrans Construction required:
- A high-quality timelapse of the construction progress over the project’s duration.
- An aerial film to visually capture the project and its surrounding environment.
- Monthly drone filming to complement the time lapse footage.
- A final product that could be used for marketing purposes throughout 2020 and beyond.
Challenges and solutions
The West coast of England, where the project was located, experiences challenging weather conditions, particularly during winter months. This posed a risk to the integrity and functionality of the timelapse cameras. Sky Revolutions selected high-spec timelapse cameras specifically designed to withstand harsh weather conditions. The cameras were fixed securely to a gantry that hovered over the Mersey River, allowing for stable and uninterrupted filming despite the elements.
Capturing the entire scope of the construction process required meticulous planning and consistent monitoring over an extended period. Sky Revolutions implemented a systematic approach by conducting monthly drone filming sessions. This regularity ensured comprehensive documentation of the construction progress, allowing for a robust and engaging timelapse film.
Methodology
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Pre-production planning: Initial discussions with Farrans Construction focused on the project goals, expectations, and timelines. This collaboration laid the foundation for a successful filming schedule.
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Timelapse setup: The timelapse camera was securely installed on a gantry overlooking the construction site for four months. This strategic positioning allowed for continuous filming of the construction progress from a unique vantage point.
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Drone filming: Monthly drone filming sessions were conducted to capture aerial perspectives of the construction site. This included footage of the site’s development, showcasing both the scale and complexity of the project.
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Post-production editing: After the filming was completed, Sky Revolutions’ post-production team edited the footage to create a compelling narrative. The final timelapse film combined the footage captured from the gantry with aerial shots, highlighting the dramatic transformation of the dock.
Results
The resulting films—both the timelapse and aerial footage—effectively showcased the progress and modernisation of the Twelve Quays terminal. The nighttime shots added a visually striking element, with dock lights reflecting on the Mersey, enhancing viewer engagement.
David Huck, Managing Director for Group Ports at Peel Ports, remarked, “The past two years have seen heavy investment in the infrastructure at Twelve Quays to offer enhanced berthing facilities for larger, more modern vessels, helping reduce turnaround times and open up opportunities to grow the region’s import and export offering by expanding capacity by 20%.”
Conclusion
The collaboration between Sky Revolutions and Farrans Construction highlights the effectiveness of timelapse and aerial filming in documenting and promoting large-scale construction projects. The high-quality visuals produced serve not only to inform stakeholders but also to enhance marketing efforts for the contractor.
If you’re interested in exploring how Sky Revolutions can assist with your construction timelapse project, please get in touch with our team today.
