RADMApp Evolution: Successfully automating the future of site selection

May 17th 2026

Aquatera has significantly improved and optimised our in-house GIS tool, RADMApp (Resource Analysis and Digital Mapping Application), thanks to a Research and Innovation Grant from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) Innovation and Knowledge Transfer Programme.

Our team have successfully completed a development project which has enhanced RADMApp’s capabilities and efficiency for all our users.

 

Suitability analysis for aquaculture within Scapa Flow (Orkney) using RADMApp

 

We are delighted to announce the successful completion of our recent RADMApp development project, supported by the Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) Innovation and Knowledge Transfer Programme, which concluded in February this year.

RADMApp is our custom-built Resource Analysis and Digital Mapping Application. It is a raster-based site selection Geographical Information System (GIS) tool and application framework developed by Aquatera, designed to be used across a wide range of scenarios and at any scale. It works by identifying the key decision-making factors and datasets required during site selection — from planning zones and conservation area extents, to wind, tidal, wave, and solar resources, alongside social, cultural, and economic activity data and presents it visually as geographical maps for analysis. The framework provides a universal and consistent system for classifying suitability levels across all criteria, enabling each to be scored and weighted to give the most viable site locations.

Since receiving the support from HIE, our team has worked to significantly enhance the RADMApp tool. By focusing on standardisation and automation, we have transitioned a number of manual processes into a streamlined, automated workflow — delivering more consistent outputs and greater operational efficiency.

To inform the tool's long-term direction, we conducted a series of interviews with representatives across key industry segments. These conversations provided valuable insight into market needs, ensuring that RADMApp's future development remains firmly aligned with the demands of the industries we serve.

Looking ahead, these enhancements position Aquatera to offer a more scalable and responsive service, equipping our partners with the data-driven clarity needed to navigate complex site selection decisions anywhere in the world. We extend our sincere thanks to Highlands and Islands Enterprise for their support in helping us take this important step forward in innovation.