Acquiring Aerial Photos Where and how to get aerial photography

Different options Buy or download existing photos Buy or download existing photos Hire a professional company to acquire new photos Hire a professional company to acquire new photos Acquire the photo yourself Acquire the photo yourself

Buy or download existing photos USGS USGS TerraServer USA TerraServer USA NASA astronaut photos NASA astronaut photos USDA Aerial Photography Field Office USDA Aerial Photography Field Office Corona photos Corona photos Listed as declassified satellite imagery Listed as declassified satellite imagery Geospatial One Stop Geospatial One Stop State and local GIS or planning offices State and local GIS or planning offices

Hire a professional Several companies available around the world Several companies available around the world Depending on the services to be provided it can be very expensive Depending on the services to be provided it can be very expensive Clearly define technical and legal specifications Clearly define technical and legal specifications May be necessary to hire someone to help with this May be necessary to hire someone to help with this Carefully evaluate the delivered product to make sure it meets the specifications Carefully evaluate the delivered product to make sure it meets the specifications May be necessary to hire someone to help with this May be necessary to hire someone to help with this

Do it yourself Often used for reconnaissance information and collecting land cover validation and training data Often used for reconnaissance information and collecting land cover validation and training data Usually not appropriate for precision mapping Usually not appropriate for precision mapping Becoming increasingly popular Becoming increasingly popular Usually small and medium format frame photography and videography Usually small and medium format frame photography and videography Sophistication ranges from hanging a camera out an airplane window to sophisticated systems with integrated sensors, mounts, and location and navigation instruments. Sophistication ranges from hanging a camera out an airplane window to sophisticated systems with integrated sensors, mounts, and location and navigation instruments.

Flight planning considerations Scale (flying height and focal length) Scale (flying height and focal length) Overlap (forward and sidelap) Overlap (forward and sidelap) Exposure interval (ground speed, film size, and forward overlap) Exposure interval (ground speed, film size, and forward overlap) Flight lines including turns for aircraft Flight lines including turns for aircraft Filters Filters Film type Film type Shutter speed Shutter speed Time of day and time of year (lighting conditions) Time of day and time of year (lighting conditions) Camera mount and controls Camera mount and controls Note: software exists to facilitate this process