From High Above

Aerial photogrammetric surveys to support emergency and disaster management in Australia

Australia experiences each year a range of natural disasters including floods, bushfires, server storms, landslides and earthquakes. Queensland and New South Wales have experienced an increasing number of flood events in the past few years. Both populated areas along the coast as well as isolated rural towns have been hit hard and emergency services have had a hard time dealing with these disasters. Floods are estimated to be the most costly natural disaster in Australia and cost local and state governments hundreds of millions. Read more

Technorati Tags: aerial photogrammetry, aerial survey, australia, bushfire, disaster management, emergency, flood

High Resolution Digital Aerial Imagery vs High Resolution Satellite Imagery – Part 1

The gap between these two usually complementary mapping technologies is getting smaller as both satellite and aerial imaging systems have benefited from great technology improvements in the last decade. These technologies can even overlap in terms of resolution, meaning that issues such as accuracy, acquisition and processing time need to be taken into account . It is more of a challenge to make informed decisions about which technology to choose for a mapping project. Nevertheless, each technology is alive and well and possess unique characteristics and strengths which need to be highlighted. Read more

Technorati Tags: aerial photography, aerometrex, earth observation, geospatial, photogrammetry, remote-sensing, sateliite images, ultracam

Beware of imitators – Common issues present in low-quality orthophotos

It may seem churlish to have a go at the competition, but we have become increasingly concerned at the quality and utility of products being offered by the second-tier and lower contractors appearing in the aerial photography market. In a market where pricing is a sensitive issue, some of these companies are delivering cheap imitations. Agencies who commission these services are finding out too late that the product is not as described on the packet. Remember: It is a long wait for the next budget cycle.

Rather than name names, we will focus instead on the issues that separate the sheep from the goats, so to speak. Read more

Technorati Tags: accuracy, aerial survey, digital aerial imagery, distortions, photogrammetry, quality, seamless