from Governing.com Idea Center
Aerial of section of Dakota County, Minnesota
As satellite imagery and aerial photography have become more accessible, state and local governments are finding multiple uses for them in areas that include disaster response, law enforcement, transportation and urban planning.
In the last few years, a number of private companies, including
Pictometry and Multivision USA, have made aerial photographs more
technically advanced, affordable and easy-to-use. Using low-flying
planes, these companies take aerial photos with 40-degree side angles,
producing three-dimensional, oblique high-resolution images of
neighborhoods, landmarks, roads, and complete municipalities.
Emergency
responders, local planners and inspectors use the photos and
accompanying software to measure not only height, width and distances
but also elevation and bearings. It helps firefighters, for example,
measure the hose distance from water sources and hydrants to fires, and
aids police in planning raids by plotting where they'll enter and exit
a building.
In 2005, Dakota County, Minn., formed a cost-sharing
partnership with 11 cities to purchase aerial photos and software from
Pictometry. Dakota County assessors use the photos to view properties
and appraise them without leaving their desks nearly as often, saving
them time and money.
To see the software in action, visit
Dakota County's Web site, where anyone can pull up a parcel of land by clicking on the map or entering a property's address and identification number.
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