Aerial Photos on the Ground

In yesterday’s lab we visited several sites to compare today’s ground cover with that of the aerial photos. Given that the photos were taken in 1977, there have been significant changes in the vegetation since then.  Each of the map markers has photos of the sites today. Some details of the stops follow:

• Waynesboro Dam Using the dam and reservoir it is easy to orient the photo. The clearcut to the northeast stands out.
• Buffer Strip / Harvest Border The pole-sized stand that has grown from the clearcut is clearly visible today. The straight logging trail is still visible today. The buffer strip has continued growing. Today gaps have developed in the stand as trees have died.
• Pipeline Climbing east from Old Forge Rd on the pipeline the harvest block on the west side of the road is clearly still visible today.
• Golf Course The golf course and the adjacent Ralph Brock Seed Orchard combine to make unique landmarks. The golf course has been maintained in the same condition for many years.
• Mont Alto State Park The pavilion in the Mont Alto State Park stands out on the ground, but is harder to see from an aerial photo. Parts of it are overtopped by nearby trees. The dark green color of the roof make it harder to see on a black and white photo.

For the last two sites visited more detail can be seen on the larger scale photos than on the smaller scale photos. The hilly nature of the landscape can’t be easily seen on the aerial photos. With stereoscopic viewing the landscape will pop out.

Click here to see the sites on Microsoft Bing Maps. Bing Maps has different imagery and very detailed birds’ eye views for this area.