Large Format Aerial Photography
All photographs are taken with a large format, gyro-stabilized, image motion compensated precision lens mapping camera that is mounted in a fixed-wing aircraft. We use high definition black and white, true color, and color infrared films.
Aerial photography costs are based on the number of negatives and flight time required to complete your project. The rate charged includes all materials, preflight planning, mobilizing the aircraft, crew and camera, flying to the project site, taking the photography and returning to Olympia, film processing, film labeling, cataloging of negatives for retrieval, and storage of film in a heat and flame resistant vault.
GPS Recorded Photo Centers
By interfacing a survey grade GPS receiver with the aerial camera, the WSDOT aerial imaging branch has the ability to record the geographic location of the center of aerial negatives.
Through post-processing of this airborne data we establish the position of the camera and the center of the lens at the instant of exposure.The established position is related to the center of the negative and is expressed in X&Y coordinates.
Photo centers tagged with X&Y coordinates are of value to our environmental customers who use the photo prints in the field with mapping grade GPS receivers to delineate the boundaries of wetlands, habitats, and noise.
Airborne Differential GPS Survey Control
The photographer uses one airborne survey grade GPS receiver interfaced with the camera to "time tag" negative centers in conjunction with survey grade GPS receivers stationed over previously surveyed ground control points within the project area. All GPS receivers operate continuously during the photo flight.
Through post-processing of the airborne GPS data, ground station GPS data, and supplemental information from a small number of targeted control points, an aerial triangulation network is established and validated. This network of control is used in the production of ortho photos and small-scale ortho photo mapping.
Airborne differential survey control for small scale mapping and ortho photos of large areas is valuable to our internal and external customers. It reduces the need for extensive conventional ground control surveys. Please call for technical details and pricing.