Aerial Mapping Technologies give mankind the ability to know a location in relation to the rest of the world with greater accuracy. These technologies have been available for many years, but are also relatively new. It was not until after the invention of the airplane an perfection of the camera that this technology was able to be developed. Shortly after World War II several companies were established that took the technology learned in wartime and applied it to civilian life.

Using photographs that were shot from an airplane, accurate maps of an area can be prepared. Maps that show the relation of the area to other boundaries are called orthophoto quadrangles, while those that incorporate elevations as well as location are digital topographical maps. Aerial mapping techniques allow for gathering of data quickly from the air that might take weeks or month for a crew working on the ground to collect.

When areas are rugged or steep, the plane gives access to places where it would be difficult for humans to access. Today, photographs shot from the air are analyzed using computers to prepare accurate maps of areas.

You may find that aerial mapping is comparable to or even less than the cost of ground surveys in some instances. The biggest cost saver is the fact that fewer man hours are involved. Data collected in one afternoon of flying would take a ground crew several weeks to collect as they form a grid collecting data every five feet.

Even though you will find aerial mapping gives very good data, some work by a ground crew may be necessary. Initial points as well as reference points may need to be marked in order to set the map on the correct bearings and correct to the right distance measurements. If the time is spent on these initial measurement, the resulting map can be very accurate.

In addition to photos shot from planes, satellite photos can also be used in aerial mapping. The high resolution of the satellite photos today cover even more area than is seen from a plane. In fact, satellite technology is used today for much of our national defense. Much of the technology used today was learned using photos shot from airplanes.

Aerial mapping gives a fast way to gather data for a map of large areas. Best use of this technology involves verification by ground crews using traditional methods of land surveying. Maps prepared using aerial mapping technologies should be compared to data that was gathered on the ground.