LINK-GIS will soon include updated aerial photographs as part of its hundreds of layers of information. NKAPC staff is nearing completion of work with Photo Science of Lexington to make available detailed aerial photography of Campbell and Kenton Counties taken last year.
The new photography is expected to be ready by the end of next month.
“This is an upgrade effort for us for a few reasons,” said Trisha Brush, GISP, deputy director for GIS Administration.
“The photographs are in color and all at one inch equals 100 feet scale. In the past they were one inch equals 100 feet scale in the north and one inch equals 200 feet scale in the south.” she said.
This scale is larger and provides more detailed images for the user. In the past it was used only for urbanized areas to show necessary detail. But, because technology has prompted a decrease in the price of providing the larger scale, all aerial photographs produced from this latest flight will be produced at the more detailed level.
This update also includes revised topography lines produced through Light Detecting and Ranging (LiDAR), a state-of-the-art technology for creating elevation contours.
“LiDAR is sort of like radar, but uses light,” said Brush. “It helps with density and making the contour lines much more accurate.”
Now that the photographs have been provided to NKAPC, Brush and her team are pursuing a quality assurance/quality control (QAQC) process.
“We’re updating the planimetric data,” said Brush. “That includes things such as building footprints, the edge of pavement, parks, playgrounds, and fences—anything that defines structures or boundaries on the ground.”
Once it completes the QAQC process, staff will send all errors to the consultants for correction and updating. It will then be returned to NKAPC for release.
“There are many benefits to this update,” she said. “Aside from the data being more accurate and precise, it will be useful to the development community. The sanitation and water districts will benefit too,” she concluded.
The flyover that provided aerial photographs currently in use was in 2004. The next update is planned for 2010.