Today, aerial maps are used in a large number of different online mapping and driving direction services, including MapQuest, Google Earth, Google Maps, and specialized applications showing the location of various features. Nearly every online use for online mapping is based on aerial photographs or maps. Geographic Information Systems, or GIS, is really a technology using sophisticated maps made up of aerial imagery via satellites to provide information about the terrain and specific land features. Great site comes in a variety of scales, in both color and black and white formats, to highlight a range of features with respect to the specific application. Today you can find thousands of geospatial and GIS aerial maps used. Aerial mapping can be very important to land surveying. Some parts of the earth have been photographed at altitude to produce a map, most land surveying applications require a more detailed image of the land at a larger scale, combined with the assortment of more precise data points. While aerial maps for general applications are most often created by using satellite imagery, land surveying applications are most often undertaken with the use of an airplane or helicopter. The advantage of aerial ways of mapping and surveying is they are unobtrusive, , nor require setting foot on the actual terrain. That is advantageous in situations with limited usage of the land or dangerous terrain, such as areas with steep slopes. It is also important to note that aerial surveys involve the creation of three-dimensional maps through precise measurements of elevation and location, as opposed to aerial photography, which generally will not contain the same degree of detail or data, although 3d models can be created using aerial photos. The most typical aerial surveying method is LiDAR, which uses laser beams to create a three-dimensional map or image of the land. When combined with GPS equipment, LiDAR collects information about elevation and location which can be turned into a topographical map. This date can be utilized in a wide variety of applications, from the creation of topographical maps to fly through simulations. This three-dimensional mapping system is quite popular for engineers, planners, mapping technicians, GIS professionals, and surveyors. Compared to similar methods for three-dimensional information gathering, it is extremely accurate, relatively fast, and cost-effective. While LiDAR and related methods represent the cutting edge of aerial surveying, the idea of aerial mapping and surveying goes back to the middle of the nineteenth century, when hot air balloons allowed surveyors to take the initial aerial photographs. Aerial surveying grew in popularity after the turn of the century. The 1957 launch of Sputnik marked the beginning of the satellite imaging era.Among the earliest forms of remote sensing useful for the creation of maps was photogrammery, a technique still used for this day. This is the ability to determine measurements through the use of photography. Aerial photogrammery, achieved with a camera in an airplane, involves the taking of photographs of the ground every few seconds as the plane flies in a straight line. This system was first used in combination with film cameras, although today digital cameras are used. By matching adjacent images, a complete picture of the region could be created. Aerial photogrammery can be used for terrain mapping, while close-range photogrammery can be used for a survey of creating facades or other features. By taking photos from two slightly different angles, a three-dimensional model (or Digital Elevation Model) can be created from the data collected. Aerial surveying and mapping methods are often preferred because they allow for the assortment of data from the wide area in a short period of time, particularly when in comparison to traditional surveying methods. The digital data collected using these procedures pays to for surveyors, engineers, geologists, city planners, and many other professionals who require highly precise visual maps of an area.
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