Samuel Evans
Aerial Mapping – California provides an amazing array of services for creating aerial surveys, maps and pictures of California. These services include aerial mapping, surveys, GPS integration, aerial photography, orthophotography, topographic mapping, and aerial volume studies. California has a wide variety of companies and services.
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.
Aerial mapping company California resources are also used by non-profit organizations. The California Coastal Records Project has recorded aerial photographic surveys of the entire California Coastline. This technology has been used by other California organizations, such as Cal State Northridge, Whittier College, and the California Aerial and Acoustic Sardine Survey.
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.
A problem with aerial photography is that the pictures will show the curvature of the earth, which becomes a distortion when placed on a flat map. In Orthophotography, computer assisted adjustments are made so that distances on the map can be measured to scale with correct distances. The curve of the earth is eliminated in spite of the distance from which the picture is taken.
California Aerial Mapping Company resources are almost unlimited with companies based in the far north state, such as the Smith River, to San Diego. Services vary from more traditional surveying and mapping functions to the exotic, including aerial event photography for weddings, hot air balloons and scenic vistas.
Private services provided by an aerial mapping company California will incorporate government and university projects as needed for a particular project. Many companies have been in business for decades. The educated consumer will benefit by researching the particular specialties offered by different companies that will best match their needs.
For more information visit Digital Mapping Company.
