Aerial Photos

The Map Collection maintains a very small collection of thematic aerial photos such as settlement patterns, strip mines, etc. (U.S. Gov't aircraft photos). Please inquire for the Place Index to these. There is also a set for Athens County, 1950 and 1990 (large format) and all index contact sheets for Athens County. A full set of recent Athens and Hocking County aerial photographs can be consulted in the U.S. Consolidated Farm Service Agency, 70 North Plains Road, #107, The Plains (593-5333). Earlier flights (all years) are at the Natural Resources Conservation Service (same address and phone).

The Microsoft Terraserver provides free public access to a vast data store of maps and aerial photographs of the United States. There are assorted means navigation and in locating places. One can also toggle between USGS topographic mapping as finding aids and high resolution USGS aerial imagery of the same place.

One good site to locate and order current and historic U.S. aerial photography (including some digital options), Digital Orthophoto Quarter Quadrangle (DOQQ) data sets, and more is MapMart. Utilizing assorted techniques, either usng addresses or zooming in via a type map or image of one's choosing the searcher can hone in and mark out a 'project area' and produce a list of what is available for that area in regards to a wide variety of imagry and data and format. In regards to aerial photography, older historical items are included on the list and MapMart check for availability.

To order aerial photograph prints from the USGS try PHOTOFINDER. The USGS is coordinator for The National Aerial Photography Program (NAPP) is a federal interagency effort coordinated by the USGS to provide updated aerial photography of the conterminous US every 5 to 7 years. Searching is easy, including Zip Codes, there is usually a few recent editions to choose from (for older materials try MapMart above, or contact the Denver Office of the USGS direct).

The USGS also has a site to search and order Digital Orthohhoto Quadrangle (DOQ) which are computer-generated images, with various options, representing 7.5 or 3.75 minutes longitude/latitude quad areas. The DOQ combines the image characteristics of the original photograph with the georeferenced qualities of a map.

For the more specific technical query, and the professional, the USGS operates EarthExplorer site for locating the codes for specific aerial photographs, satellite images, and other cartographic products. (Note, the system used 'cookies to track your search, if making more than one search either choose to use new Java-Script version or delete your browser history before making another search.)

The U.S. Geological Survey's Geography - The National Map is a project to provide scientific information describing and interpretimg America's landscape by mapping the terrain, monitoring changes over time. There are a number of links to specific kinds of products and if your luck on with the above sites did not work out, try this one as well. The National Map links to a portal called the National Map Viewer which provides access to data from the USGS and its partners, including State and local implementations of the National Map.

For additional information also make sure to check the USGS related materials section.