UK Perspectives: Millennium Aerial Photographic Survey - MAPS™

UK Perspectives
The UK's two largest aerial survey companies; NRSC Ltd and Simmons Aerofilms, under the name UK Perspectives have embarked on a unique project to create ortho-rectified photography for every square inch of land in England and South Wales. This national flying project is truly distinctive from others as all the imagery is map accurate and designed specifically for professional and business users.

Flown in colour at 1:10,000 scale, the project, branded MAPS™ will use over 21 km of aerial film to capture almost 155,000 square kilometres and will provide a benchmark from which urban and environmental change can be accurately monitored.

To create the ortho-photography, each analogue photographic frame is scanned at 1200 dpi to create digital imagery with a ground resolution of 25cm. The scanned imagery is then processed using 'state-of-the-art' digital photogrammetry software; SocetSet™. This software allows the distortions and inaccuracies associated with the camera system, plane movement and terrain relief to be removed. Both airborne and ground GPS measurements are used to ensure optimum map accuracy across the entire frame. Also as a part of the production process, a digital terrain model (DTM) is created, that when coupled with the photography allows 3D views of the landscape to be created.

The Crown Copyright free data is available in both hardcopy and digital formats on site centred kilometre tiles. Digital imagery is delivered with free viewing software that utilises Wavelet image compression technology (MrSID and ECW formats).

For further information on MAPS™ please contact Helen Stannard on +44 (0)1455 849229 or +44 (0) 208 207 0666. E-mail: info@ukperspectives.com Web: www.ukperspectives.com