Are You In Need Of A California Aerial Mapping Company?

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.

Developers, planners, realtors, civil engineers, and public planners use these companies. Aerial mapping is also used in preparing environmental impact reports. The scale of the surveys can vary from individual property boundaries to reviewing subdivision and township borders.

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.

Aerial mapping is used to develop topographic and hydrographic mapping. Contour overlays are added to create the commonly known “topo” map, produced by the United States Forest Service for Forest Service and Wilderness lands. The US Geographical Survey (USGS) has jointly managed Land Sat, or Land Remote Sensing Satellite system, with NASA since 1972, to gather information about the earth’s surface resources. This data is available and used by aerial mapping companies.

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.

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.

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 Aerial Mapping.