Matt DeFranco
Many companies and non profit agencies take aerial pictures of the earth’s surface that are used for a variety of purposes. Maps and pictures are created of the ground surface of the state. An aerial mapping company can do mapping through a variety of scientific techniques, including producing a Geographic Information System (GIS), topographic mapping, orthophotography, and aerial volume studies.
Aerial mapping companies are used commercially by developers, realtors, planners and civil engineers for various development projects, including environmental impact reports. Surveys are used for small individual boundary issues to the retracing of subdivision dividing lines.
Government agencies may use an aerial mapping company in California to develop Geographic Information Systems (GIS). A GIS is a topographic map showing the placement of sites such as fire stations, hospitals, schools, electrical and telephone switch stations and other infrastructure lines. These maps are invaluable in cases of large scale disaster such as the Kansas City or World Trade Center bombings.
Non profit organizations such as the California Coastal Records Project, which produces aerial photographic surveys of the California Coastline, also make use of aerial mapping companies in California. Other non-profits using aerial surveys include Cal State Northridge, California Aerial and Acoustic Sardine Survey, and Whittier College.
Topographic and hydrographic mapping also depends on aerial surveys. The US Forest Service (USFS)and the US Geographical Survey (USGS) use these photos to create topographic and hydrographic maps, which add overlays to the photos to provide elevations for maps of Forest Service and Wilderness lands. The USGS and NASA have jointly managed managed the Land Remote Sensing Satellite system since the early 1970′s. These data are also used by Aerial Mapping Company California.
Aerial photos are distorted by the curve of the earth. In order to correct this distortion, Orthophotography corrects this distortion through computer input so that the photo map shows the same uniform scale as a flat map, but it incorporates the aerial photographs.
You can see that sources for mapping data are very broad. Companies are based throughout the state of California. They provide a variety of services, from surveying and mapping for engineering projects to scenic photographs including hot air balloon rides and even weddings pictured from the air.
There is a strong overlap of networks in this field ranging from University programs to NASA and other government agencies such as USGS. Private companies know how to access the important elements of these networks. Many companies have been in business for years going back to the 1940′s in some cases. The consumer will be well rewarded by researching and comparing the various companies’ demonstrated expertise.
For more information visit California Aerial Mapping.
